http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112001272

Our blue planet Earth has long been regarded to carry full of nutrients for hosting life since the birth of the planet.Here we speculate the processes that led to the birth of early life on Earth and its aftermath, finally leading to the evolution of metazoans.We evaluate:（1） the source of nutrients,（2） the chemistry of primordial ocean,（3） the initial mass of ocean,and（4） the size of planet.Among the life-building nutrients,phosphorus and potassium play a key role.Only three types of rocks can serve as an adequate source of nutrients:（a） continent-forming TTG（granite）,enabling the evolution of primitive life to metazoans;（b） primordial continents carrying anorthosite with KREEP（Potassium,Rare Earth Elements, and Phosphorus） basalts,which is a key to bear life;（c） carbonatite magma,enriched in radiogenic elements such as U and Th,which can cause mutation to speed up evolution and promote the birth of new species in continental rift settings.The second important factor is ocean chemistry.The primordial ocean was extremely acidic（pH = 1-2） and enriched in halogens（CI,F and others）,S,N and metallic elements（Cd,Cu,Zn,and others）,inhibiting the birth of life.Plate tectonics cleaned up these elements which interfered with RNA.Blue ocean finally appeared in the Phanerozoic with pH = 7 through extensive interaction with surface continental crust by weathering,erosion and transportation into ocean.The initial ocean mass was also important.The birth of life and aftermath of evolution was possible in the habitable zone with 3-5 km deep ocean which was able to supply sufficient nutrients. Without a huge landmass,nutrients cannot be supplied into the ocean only by ridge-hydrothermal circulation in the Hadean.Finally,the size of the planet plays a crucial role.Cooling of massive planets is less efficient than smaller ones,so that return-flow of seawater into mantle does not occur until central stars finish their main sequence.Due to the suitable size of Earth,the dawn of Phanerozoic witnessed the initiation of return-flow of seawater into the mantle,leading to the emergence of huge landmass above sea-level,and the distribution of nutrients on a global scale.Oxygen pump also played a critical role to keep high-PO₂ in atmosphere since then,leading to the emergence of ozone layer and enabling animals and plants to invade the land. To satisfy the tight conditions to make the Earth habitable,the formation mechanism of primordial Earth is an important factor.At first,a ’dry Earth’ must be made through giant impact,followed by magma ocean to float nutrient-enriched primordial continents（anorthosite + KREEP）.Late bombardment from asteroid belt supplied water to make 3-5 km thick ocean,and not from icy meteorites from Kuiper belt beyond cool Jupiter.It was essential to meet the above conditions that enabled the Earth as a habitable planet with evolved life forms.The tight constraints that we evaluate for birth and evolution of life on Earth would provide important guidelines for planetary scientists hunting for life in the exosolar planets.     

Multistage Metamorphic Evolution of the Trivandrum Granulite Block, Southern India

The Trivandrum Granulite Block (TGB), southern India records evidence for three distinct stages of evolution (M1–;M3) during the Pan-African high grade metamorphism, with possible temperature gradient from north to south of the terrain as detected from mineral phase equilibria thermobarometry in three classic localities, namely Nuliyam, Kunnanpara and Nellikkala. The charnockites, both incipient and massive, were formed during the first stage (M1) at temperatures higher than their host rocks, and at appreciably lower pressures. Charnockite formation was dominantly controlled by an increase in partial pressure of CO₂, along structural locales during subisothermal decompression, although an increase of potash activity could have also been an important factor in this process. The charnockites at Nellikkala in the northern margin of TGB were formed under appreciably more H₂O-rich conditions (X_H2O = 0.53±0.03) than those at Nuliyam (X_H2O = 0.25±0.02) in the southern margin. It is inferred that during the period between the metamorphic stages M1 and M2, the terrain experienced subisobaric cooling. Comparison of results from thermobarometry with data on absolute age determinations from geochronology of the metamorphic rocks in TGB allows the interpretation that the M1 metamorphic event took place during 540–;600 Ma, M2 at about 530 Ma and M3 in the interval of 440–;470 Ma. Mineralogic and thermobarometric evidence for earlier high-grade metamorphic processes, if any, have been erased from these rocks. The processes of charnockite formation and post-peak retrograde metamorphism in the TGB took place under high geothermal gradients (40–;150°/km). This probably testifies to the existence of a local heat source, either magmas at depth or mantle (plume) beneath the region. The general metamorphic cycle in the TGB is estimated to be ca. 100–;160 Ma, which is much shorter in time span than that in the other regions of southern Peninsular India such as the Karnataka Craton and the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt. During this period, the terrain experienced rapid exhumation of approximately 6–;7 cm/year, with the total amplitude of vertical movements estimated to be about 16–;17 km.     

Cordierite gneisses of southern Kerala,India: petrology,fluid inclusions and implications for crustal uplift history

The cordierite-bearing gneisses occurring as elongate patches in an 8- to 10-km-wide zone along the Achankovil fault-lineament at the northern margin of the southern Kerala crustal segment represent an important lithological unit in the Archaean granulite terrane of south India. The textural relationships in these rocks are consistent with the following main reactions: (1) garnet+quartz=cordierite+hypersthene; (2) garnet+sillimanite+quartz=cordierite; (3) hypersthene+sillimanite+quartz=cordierite; (4) sillimanite+spinel=cordierite+corundum; and (5) biotite+quartz+sillimanite=cordierite+K-feldspar. Many of the mineral associations and reaction textures, including the remarkable preservation of symplectites, are indicative of partial replacement of high-pressure assemblages by cordierite-bearing lower-pressure ones during an event of rapid decompression. Temperature estimates from coexisting mineral phases show 710° (garnet-biotite), 791° (garnet-cordierite) and 788° C (garnet-orthopyroxene). Pressure estimates from mineral assemblages range from 5.4 to 7 kb. Detailed fluid inclusion studies in quartz associated with cordierite show high-density CO₂ (0.80–0.95 g/cm³) as the dominant fluid phase, with traces of probable CH₄ (?) in the sillimanite-bearing rocks. The isochore for the higher-density fluid inclusions defines a pressure of 5.5 kb. The fracture-bound CO₂ and CO₂-H₂O (±CH₄?) inclusions indicate simultaneous entrapment at 400° C and 1.7 kb in the cordierite-hypersthene assemblage and 340° C and 1.2 kb in the cordierite-sillimanite assemblage. The P-T path delineated from combined solid and fluid data corresponds to the piezothermic array of the gneisses and is characterized by T-convex nature, indicative of rapid and virtually isothermal crustal uplift, probably aided by extensional tectonics.     

Giant radiating mafic dyke swarm of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province: Identifying the mantle plume centre

In many continental large igneous provinces, giant radiating dyke swarms are typically interpreted to result from the arrival of a mantle plume at the base of the lithosphere. Mafic dyke swarms in the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) have not received much attention prior to this study. We show that the geochemical characteristics and geochronological data of the mafic dykes are broadly similar to those of the spatially associated lavas, suggesting they were derived from a common parental magma. Based on the regional geological data and our field observations, we mapped the spatial distribution patterns of mafic dyke swarms in the ELIP, and recognized six dyke sub‐swarms, forming an overall radiating dyke swarm and converging in the Yongren area, Yunnan province. This location coincides with the maximum pre‐eruptive domal uplift, and is close to the locations of high‐temperature picrites. Our study suggests that the Yongren area may represent the mantle plume centre during the peak of Emeishan magmatism.     

内蒙古土贵乌拉孔兹岩带超高温变质作用:变质反应结构及P-T指示

内蒙古土贵乌拉地区分布了含石榴石花岗岩、夕线石榴黑云片麻岩以及二者以不同比例互层状组成的岩石,超高温变质岩以暗色含尖晶石堇青石夕线石榴黑云片麻岩条带或透镜体产于石榴石花岗岩和夕线石榴片麻岩中.基于[K]FMAS[H]系统以及岩石成因格子,认为超高温变质岩经历了三个阶段的变质:早期变质作用阶段,以同一石榴石颗粒中含有夕线石、尖晶石、石英等单相矿物包体为特征,表明变质作用进入到尖晶石 石英组合稳定域;峰期变质作用阶段,以尖晶石 石英、假蓝宝石 石英、斜方辉石 夕线石 石英三种超高温矿物组合为特征,表明峰期变质条件稳定在这三种矿物组合稳定域,指示变质温度高于1000℃;退变质阶段过程中,粗颗粒斜方辉石边部和核部Al含量的重新平衡,指示温度降低到950～970℃左右,表明了近等压冷却的退变质作用,随后由于快速抬升,发生了近等温降压的退变质作用,这个过程以各种反应边和后成合晶结构为标志,例如尖晶石与石英、假蓝宝石与石英之间有堇青石的反应边,石榴石外围有堇青石和斜方辉石的后成合晶.最后黑云母和斜方辉石分解为黑云母标志着高级变质作用的结束.内蒙古土贵乌拉地区超高温变质岩经历了逆时针的P-T演化特点.     

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of stromatolitic carbonates from the greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah basin of Peninsular India

Oldest rocks are sparsely distributed within the Dharwar Craton and little is known about their involvement in the sedimentary sequences which are present in the Archean greenstone successions and the Proterozoic Cuddapah basin.Stromatolitic carbonates are well preserved in the Neoarchean greenstone belts of Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah Basin of Peninsular India displaying varied morphological and geochemical characteristics.In this study,we report results from U-Pb geochronology and trace element composition of the detrital zircons from stromatolitic carbonates present within the Dharwar Craton and Cuddapah basin to understand the provenance and time of accretion and deposition.The UPb ages of the detrital zircons from the Bhimasamudra and Marikanve stromatolites of the Chitradurga greenstone belt of Dharwar Craton display ages of 3426±26 Ma to 2650±38 Ma whereas the Sandur stromatolites gave an age of 3508±29 Ma to 2926±36 Ma suggesting Paleo-to Neoarchean provenance.The U-Pb detrital zircons of the Tadpatri stromatolites gave an age of 2761±31 Ma to1672±38 Ma suggesting Neoarchean to Mesoproterozoic provenance.The Rare Earth Element(REE)patterns of the studied detrital zircons from Archean Dharwar Craton and Proterozoic Cuddapah basin display depletion in light rare earth elements(LREE)and enrichment in heavy rare earth elements(HREE)with pronounced positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies,typical of magmatic zircons.The trace element composition and their relationship collectively indicate a mixed granitoid and mafic source for both the Dharwar and Cuddapah stromatolites.The 3508±29 Ma age of the detrital zircons support the existence of 3.5 Ga crust in the Western Dharwar Craton.The overall detrital zircon ages(3.5-2.7 Ga)obtained from the stromatolitic carbonates of Archean greenstone belts and Proterozoic Cuddapah basin(2.7-1.6 Ga)collectively reflect on^800-900 Ma duration for the Precambrian stromatolite deposition in the Dharwar Craton.     

Genesis of the Bianjiadayuan Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit,Inner Mongolia,China:Constraints from in-situ sulfur isotope and trace element geochemistry of pyrite

The Southern Great Xing'an Range(S(GXR)which forms part of the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is known as one of the most important Cu-Mo-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au metallogenic belts in China,hosting a number of porphyry Mo(Cu),skarn Fe(Sn),epithermal Au-Ag,and hydrothermal veintype Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposits.Here we investigate the Bianjiadayuan hydrothermal vein-type Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit in the southern part of the SGXR.Porphyry Sn± Cu± Mo mineralization is also developed to the west of the Ag-Pb-Zn veins in the ore field.We identify a five-stage mineralization process based on field and petrologic studies including(i)the early porphyry mineralization stage,(ii)main porphyry mineralization stage,(iii)transition mineralization stage,(iv)vein-type mineralization stage and(v)late mineralization stage.Pyrite is the predominant sulfide mineral in all stages except in the late mineralization stage,and we identify corresponding four types of pyrites:Pyl is medium-grained subhedral to euhedral occurring in the early barren quartz vein;Py2 is medium-to fine-grained euhedral pyrite mainly coexisting with molybdenite,chalcopyrite,minor sphalerite and galena;Py3 is fine-grained,subhedral to irregular pyrite and displays cataclastic textures with micro-fractures;Py4 occurs as euhedral microcrystals and forms irregularly shaped aggregate with sphalerite and galena.LA-ICP-MS trace element analyses of pyrite show that Cu,Pb,Zn,Ag,Sn,Cd and Sb are partitioned into pyrite as structurally bound metals or mineral micro/nano-inclusions,whereas Co,Ni,As and Se enter the lattice via isomorphism in all types of pyrite.The Cu,Zn,Ag,Cd concentrations gradually increase from Pyl to Py4,which we correlate with cooling and mixing of ore-forming fluid with meteoric water.Py2 contains the highest contents of Co,Ni,Se,Te and Bi,suggesting high temperature conditions for the porphyry mineralization stage.Ratios of Co/Ni(0.03-10.79,average 2.13)and sulphur isotope composition of sulfide indicate typical hydrothermal origin for pyrites.The δ~(34)S_(cDT) values of Pyl(0.42‰-1.61‰,average1.16‰),Py2(-1.23‰to 0.82‰,average 0.35‰),Py3(—0.36‰to 2.47‰average 0.97‰).Py4(2.51‰--3.72‰,average 3.06‰),and other sulfides are consistent with those of typical porphyry deposit(-5‰to 5‰),indicating that the Pb-Zn polymetallic mineralization in the Bianjiadayuan deposit is genetically linked to the Yanshanian(Jurassic-Cretaceous)magmatic-hydrothermal events.Variations of δ~(34) S values are ascribed to the changes in physical and chemical conditions during the evolution and migration of the ore-forming fluid.We propose that the high Sn content of pyrite in the Bianjiadayuan hydrothermal vein-type Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit can be used as a possible pathfinder to prospect for Sn mineralization in the surrounding area or deeper level of the ore field in this region.