Magma mixing model for the genesis of middle crust in the Izu–Bonin–Mariana arc: evidence from plutonic rocks in the Mineoka-Setogawa ophiolitic mélange,central Japan

ABSTRACT

A Paleogene accretionary complex, the Mineoka–Setogawa belt is distributed adjacent to the northern portion of the collision zone between Honshu and Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) arcs in central Japan, comprising a mélange of ophiolitic fragments of various sizes. The Eocene-Oligocene plutonic rocks in this belt (gabbro, diorite, and tonalite) have been interpreted as fragments brought from the deep crust beneath the IBM arc through tectonic collisions. The geochemical characteristics of the gabbro and associated basaltic dike are similar to those of the Eocene IBM tholeiitic basalt; thus, the gabbro was likely formed via the crystallization of the Eocene tholeiitic basaltic magmas, which was produced by the partial meltings of a depleted mantle wedge. A comparison with experimental results and geochemical modeling indicates that the tonalite was generated by 10–30% dehydration melting of the gabbro. Actually, Eocene–Oligocene felsic veins, which are coeval with the plutonic rocks, occur in the Mineoka–Setogawa gabbro. Plagioclase crystals in the diorite comprise Ca-rich and -poor parts in a single crystal. Their compositional characteristics are consistent with those of plagioclase in the gabbro and tonalite, respectively. The textures and chemical composition of plagioclase indicate that the diorite was formed by the mixing between mafic and silicic magmas. The whole-rock composition of the diorite also indicates the evidence for the mixing between basaltic magmas which were fractionated to variable degrees and homogeneous silicic magma. The mixing model proposed from the first direct observations of the IBM middle crust exposed on the Mineoka–Setogawa belt is applied to the genesis of the Eocene to present intermediate rocks in the IBM arc. If the continental crust were created at intra-oceanic arc settings such as the IBM arc, the magma mixing model would be one of the most likely mechanisms for the genesis of the continental crust.     

A study on the duration and amplitude characteristics of earthquake ground motions

The duration, total power, rms amplitude, and peak ground acceleration (PGA) are examined using the data from the KiK-net digital borehole accelerograph arrays in Japan during three large earthquakes. We investigate correlations between the duration, PGA on the surface and hypocentral distance, instrumental seismic intensity, and the local site conditions. Also considered in this paper, are correlation between the duration and PGA. This present study suggests that PGA is inversely proportional to the duration.Comparing the duration, total power, rms amplitude, and PGA on the surface with those at the bottom of borehole, the duration and maximum amplitude characteristics of earthquake ground motions are investigated with emphasis on site amplification due to the local site conditions. The difference of amplification factors is not only site-dependent but also event-dependent. The comparison of the site amplification factors and the average shear-wave velocity in the upper 30-m showed a good agreement.This paper indicated that the duration and amplitude characteristics suffer a reciprocal effect due to the local site conditions and the site dependency of maximum amplitude PGA is greater than that of the duration. In view of the results, the duration is not less important than the maximum amplitude and frequency content in earthquake engineering. Moreover, this study provided meaningful information of input motion available to earthquake-resistant design.     

Jadeite, albite and nepheline as inclusions in spinel of chromitite from Hess Deep, equatorial Pacific: their genesis and implications for serpentinite diapir formation

Polymineralic inclusions which consist of a few grains of diopside, enstatite, jadeite, nepheline, albite, pargasite, phlogopites and olivine were found in chromian spinel in a chromitite pod and in troctolite from Hess Deep, equatorial Pacific. The inclusion mineral suite in chromitite is characterized by Na-Al silicates, such as jadeite, nepheline and albite. Jadeite and nepheline commonly coexist with enstatite, and tend to occur as interstitial grains between subhedral enstatite (or other minerals) and host spinel. Albite, diopside and enstatite occur as equant inclusions. The mafic minerals in the inclusions have similar chemistry to those found in the troctolite and dunite. The modes of occurrence and mineral chemistry of the inclusions are controlled by magmatic precipitation, and subsequent reequilibration due to decrease of temperature in the uppermost mantle. The mafic minerals in spinel inclusions were crystallized from a melt enriched in Cr and some incompatible components formed by melt-mantle interaction process mixed to various extent with subsequently supplied more primary melt. Albite and nepheline could also be formed at the magmatic stage. Jadeite was formed by a subsolidus reaction of albite and nepheline at low temperatures (250–300 °C) at slightly less than 3 kbar. This requires a remarkable temperature decrease, at least locally, of the uppermost mantle and crust. The Hess Deep rocks were formed in the uppermost mantle beneath a spreading-ridge axis at more than 1000 °C, and were transposed outwards from the axis by corner flow. At the off-ridge conditions, the rocks were cooled and serpentinized by circulation of sea water at the mantle depth to form jadeite in chromitite. The serpentinized portion could have risen as a kind of serpentinite diapir through the thin crust up to the ocean floor. Received: 24 January 1997 / Accepted: 6 November 1997     

Ore value-tonnage diagrams for resource assessment

An ore value-tonnage diagram has been proposed for assessing mineral resources. Diagrams of W+Mo, and Pb+Zn deposits show a good linearity between ore value and logarithms of cumulative ore tonnage. Diagrams of the massive sulfide, orthomagmatic, placer, porphyry, replacement, and stratabound types are also linear. It is assumed, therefore, that deposits of each of these commodities and these types belong to a single population. In contrast, the ore value-tonnage relations of all the deposits analyzed here is approximated by the combination of two exponential functions. The same feature is seen for deposits of the Cu+W+Mo, Cu+Pb+Zn, and Au+Ag commodities, and of the vein and unconformity-related types. This suggests that deposits belonging to each of such categories are divided into the high and low value groups. We can expect, accordingly, to find high value deposits of such categories.     

Stability of pentlandite in the Fe-Ni-Co-S system

Pentlandite has a wide compositional range in the Fe-Ni-Co-S system and the Fe-Ni-S system. The metal : sulfur atomic ratio is approximately 9 : 8. The Co content of pentlandite from the Kamaishi ore deposit and one from the Outokumpu ore deposit (Knop et al. 1965) varies from a Co-free to nearly a Co₉S₈ composition. Pentlandite forms a complete solid solution between (Fe, Ni)_9±x S₈ and Co_9±x S₈ in the 600°–300°C temperature range. On the other hand, it is presumed that the pentlandite solid solution decomposes into two fields toward the (Fe, Ni)₉S₈ and Co₉S₈ members at 200°C. The field of solid solution at 500°C is the most extensive and includes all of the other solid-solution fields. The metal : sulfur ratio of the solid solution varies systematically, i.e., the Fe-rich field sinks toward the Fe-Ni-Co plane away from the M₉S₈ section, and contrarily the Ni-rich field shifts toward the sulfur apex. The d ₀₄₄ value decreases with increasing S, Ni, or Co contents in pentlandite. The Kamaishi pentlandites, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, lie within or close to the solid-solution field at 300°C, showing a very good correlation with the Co : Ni ratio of the homogeneous natural pyrrhotite phase.     

Mineral Paragenesis and Fluid Inclusions of Some Pluton-hosted Vein-type Copper Deposits in the Coastal Cordillera, Northern Chile

Abstract. Formation conditions of some vein-type copper deposits of the Tocopilla district (Deseada, San Jose, Santa Rosa) and the Gatico district (Yohanita, Toldo-Velarde, Argentina) in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile were inferred from mineral paragenesis and fluid inclusion data, and were compared with those of neighboring stratiform copper deposits. The vein-type copper deposits are hosted in Late Jurassic dioritic to quartz-dioritic plutons intruding extensively an andesite-dominant volcanic pile of the Jurassic La Negra Formation. Primary mineralization is characterized by chalcopyrite + magnetite + pyrite + bornite, and supergene alteration of these minerals produced anilite, covellite, atacamite and chrysocolla. The hypogene mineral assemblage indicates relatively high sulfur fugacity and weakly oxidized conditions, distinct from the stratiform copper deposits formed under low sulfur fugacity and moderately oxidized conditions. Furthermore, the fluid inclusion data of the vein-type deposits indicate high temperature (401–560C) and high salinity (39–68 wt% NaCl equiv.) ranges in contrast to the stratiform deposits, suggesting that this type of deposits formed by magma-associated hypersaline ore fluids.     

Closed-system geochemical recycling of crustal materials in alpine-type peridotite

We examined aluminous mafic rock (with or without corundum or sapphirine) alternating with peridotite from the Ronda peridotite massif, southern Spain. On the basis of petrographic characteristics, these mafic rocks show a decompression history from high pressure (P > 1.5 GPa), but on the basis of their geochemical characteristics, they are crystal accumulates of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and olivine formed within the lower crust (P < 1 GPa). A complex evolution history, including higher-pressure recrystallization after initial formation as cumulate gabbros at lower-pressure conditions, is proposed. The aluminous mafic rocks and their peridotite hosts are inferred to be recycled crustal materials now observed as centimeter-scale layered components in alpine-type peridotite. The rocks retained their original cumulate compositions; that is, their compositions were not affected by melting and metasomatic modifications during subduction, intense deformation within the upper mantle, and upwelling to the surface.     

Mineral chemistry and petrogenesis of chromitites from the Khoy ophiolite complex,Northwestern Iran: Implications for aggregation of two ophiolites

The Khoy ophiolitic complex in Northwestern Iran is a part of the Tethyan ophiolite belt, and is divided into two sections: the Eastern ophiolite in Qeshlaq and Kalavanes (Jurassic–Cretaceous) and the Western ophiolite in Barajouk, Chuchak and Hessar (Late Cretaceous). Our chromitites can be clearly classified into two groups: high‐Al chromitites (Cr# = 0.38–0.44) from the Eastern ophiolite, and high‐Cr chromitites (Cr# = 0.54–0.72) from the Western ophiolite. The chromian spinels in high‐Al chromitite include primary mineral inclusions mainly as Na‐bearing diopside and pargasite with subordinate rutile and their formation was probably related to reaction between a MORB (mid‐ocean‐ridge basalt)‐like melt with depleted harzburgite, possibly in a back‐arc setting. Their host harzburgites contain clinopyroxene with higher contents of Al₂O₃, Na₂O, Cr₂O₃, and TiO₂ relative to Western harzburgites and are possibly residue after moderate partial melting (~15 %) whereas the Western harzburgite is residue after high partial melting (~25 %). The chromian spinel in the Western Khoy chromitites contains inclusions such as clinopyroxene, olivine and platinum group mineral‐bearing sulfides. These Western chromitites were possibly formed at two stages during arc growth and are divided into the moderately high‐Cr# chromitites (Barajouk and Hessar) and the high‐Cr# chromitites (Chuchak A and C). The former crystallized from island‐arc‐tholeiite (IAT) melts during reaction with the host depleted harzburgites, whereas the latter crystallized from boninitic melts (second stage melt) during reaction with highly depleted harzburgite in a supra‐subduction‐zone environment. Based on the mineral chemistry of chromian spinels, pyroxenes, and mineral inclusions, the chromitites and the host peridotites from the Eastern and Western Khoy ophiolites were formed in a back‐arc basin and arc‐related setting, respectively. The Khoy ophiolitic complex is a tectonic aggregate of the two different ophiolites formed in two different tectonic settings at different ages.