Gas mixing with aqueous solution in the ore-forming hydrothermal process: an example of gold

The mixing of gas and aqueous fluid in hydrothermal ore-forming processes is discussed with reference to gold deposits to demonstrate that this phenomenon may affect ore deposition. Data on fluid inclusions in samples from the Sukhoi Log and Olimpiadinskoe deposits in Russia are utilized to demonstrate possible implications of gas mixing with hydrothermal solution when gold ores are formed. A simplified thermodynamic model is suggested to show how interaction between aqueous saline solutions with pure carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide—methane mixture may affect gold solubility. Further studying such processes may provide interesting information for understanding the genesis of ore mineralization.     

Diamonds in the products of the 2012–2013 Tolbachik eruption (Kamchatka) and mechanism of their formation

The origin of diamonds in the lava and ash of the recent Tolbachik eruption of 2012–2013 (Kamchatka) is enigmatic. The mineralogy of the host rocks provides no evidence for the existence of the high pressure that is necessary for diamond formation. The analysis of carbon isotope systematics showed a similarity between the diamonds and dispersed carbon from the Tolbachik lava, which could serve as a primary material for diamond synthesis. There are grounds to believe that the formation of Tolbachik diamonds was related to fluid dynamics. Based on the obtained results, it was suggested that Tolbachik microdiamonds were formed as a result of cavitation during the rapid movement of volcanic fluid. The possibility of cavitation-induced diamond formation was previously theoretically substantiated by us and confirmed experimentally. During cavitation, ultrahigh pressure is generated locally (in collapsing bubbles), while the external pressure is not critical for diamond synthesis. The conditions of the occurrence of cavitation are rather common in geologic processes. Therefore, microdiamonds of such an origin may be much more abundant in nature than was supposed previously.     

Provenance analysis for Middle Eocene sediments in the West Kamchatka sedimentary basin (Tigil area)

The paper presents the results of reconstruction of Middle Eocene provenances for the West Kamchatka sedimentary basin (WKSB) corresponding to the Tigil area. It has been established that the early (Eocene) evolution stage of WKSB was marked by the deposition of terrigenous sediments in intermontane depressions followed by the accumulation of shallow-marine sediments after transgression. In terms of the composition, sandstones of the Middle Eocene Snatol Formation correspond to graywackes. With respect to the geochemistry of sandstones, their provenances were confined to an active continental margin and island arc. The mineral composition of the heavy fraction suggests an alternating dominance of felsic and mafic rocks in the provenances. Dating of the clastic zircon from sandstones of the Snatol Formation by the LA-ICP-MS method revealed a wide variation range of their age. The most significant peak is close to the age of calc-alkaline magmatism in the Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt. This fact provides insight into the Eocene paleogeography: the major rock provenances were located in the Okhotsk–Chukotka volcanic belt and the eastern Achaivayam–Valagin island arc. Local sources of clastic material were represented by the Utkholok and Kinkil volcanic belts.     

Some general relations of the development of complex molecular objects at early stages of biosphere formation as a consequence of the physical properties of condensed medium

We analyzed the character of molecular transformations under conditions of condensed media, in which intermolecular interactions always occur. It was shown that, instead of discrete transfer of external energy into the molecule, the energy characteristics of the condensed medium (appearance of zones) could result in gradual accumulation of internal energy in reaction centers owing to sequential thermal collisions with particles of the medium initiating the chemical reaction. This does not require high temperatures. The established physical properties related to the energy characteristics of condensed media could play an important role in molecular transformations and, consequently, formation of complex molecular objects at early stages of biosphere formation.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Okhotsk and Japan marginal seas

The results of ICP-MS trace-element (LILE, HFSE, REE) study of the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Okhotsk and Japan seas and geochronological K-Ar dating of the Eocene volcanic rocks are presented. Specifics of volcanism developed on submarine rises of these seas was characterized for the first time, and magma sources and geodynamic settings of the volcanic complexes predating the formation of the deep-water basins were determined. It is established that the Late Mesozoic magmas were formed in a subduction setting from spinel peridotites of suprasubduction mantle wedge, which was metasomatically reworked by aqueous fluids that were released by dehydration of sedimentary layer of subducting oceanic plate. This follows from the elevated concentrations of H₂O, alkalis, potassium, LILE and LREE, and lowered HFSE (including Ta-Nb minimum) and HREE contents, at lowered Sm/Yb, Nb/Ta, Nb/Y and elevated La/Nb, Ba/La, and Zr/Y ratios. Eocene adakite-like volcanic rocks were identified for the first time in the Sea of Okhotsk. They vary from andesitic to more felsic compositions with elevated MgO (>4%) and elevated La/Yb (>14) and Sr/Y (50–60) ratios. Identification of adakite-like volcanic rocks serves as evidence in support of the transform continental-margin (or plate sliding) setting, which is characterized by breaking apart of subduction slab and formation of slab “windows” acting as pathways for the transfer of asthenospheric mantle into continental lithosphere. New geochemical data on the Late Mesozoic–Early Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Okhotsk and Japan seas and analysis of literature data were used to distinguish two geodynamic settings within these seas: subduction and transform margin. Similar settings operated at that time in the adjacent continental- margin volcanic belts (Akinin and Miller, 2011; Martynov and Khanchuk, 2013; et al.).     

大别山晓天—磨子潭韧性剪切带主要造岩矿物的变形与应变分析

大别山北缘的晓天—磨子潭韧性剪切带主体发育在北大别片麻岩之上,具有近水平左行剪切的运动学特征;剪切带自中心向外围依次发育超糜棱岩、糜棱岩、初糜棱岩、变形片麻岩(片岩)、围岩,发生变形的主要造岩矿物包括石英、长石、角闪石、云母等。岩石有限应变测量和矿物颗粒形态学优选方位统计显示,随着糜棱岩化程度的加强,主要造岩矿物平均粒径均呈递减变化;矿物长短轴所反映的应变均呈加强的趋势,矿物长轴与X的锐夹角皆逐渐变小;以90°为一个区间统计的矿物长轴定向显示,变形矿物的长轴在钝角区间(顺剪切方向)有优选,以15°为一个区间统计的矿物长轴定向显示,矿物定向存在一定对称性,即在锐夹角区的优选区间和钝夹角区的优选区间互为补角区间。此外,云母矿物的应变在不同样品中均显示最大,其次为石英、角闪石、长石;随着构造岩类型的不同,应变的变化趋势最明显的也是云母,其次为石英,角闪石和长石变化不明显;矿物长轴与X轴夹角的统计表明,云母、角闪石长轴与X轴锐夹角比石英、长石均偏小。矿物的变形还表明,指示剪切带剪切方式最明显的是云母类矿物,尤其是云母鱼构造,是判定运动方向的可靠标志,其次是角闪石,较之斜长石更易形成不对称残斑构造;综合矿物在剪切带中的含量和分布,结构特点,以及对剪切带应变反映的"灵敏性"等方面的因素,石英矿物最能表现剪切带的整体应变状态,是较为理想的应变标志矿物。上述结果表明不同矿物随变形环境的渐变,在粒径、应变、形态学优选等方面具有较统一的变化,即不同变形矿物在反映剪切带的剪切作用方式、应力—应变等特征时是较为一致的;同时不同矿物在上述变化中又表现出区别于其他矿物的各自特点,这反映了矿物自身的晶体结构、结晶形态、力学性质、变形习性等特性。所以,对于研究韧性剪切带而言,针对不同研究内容,要综合不同矿物的变形情况来选取合适的变形矿物及其变形组构来研究,才能得到更准确的结果和更合理的解释。     

准噶尔盆地东部沙帐地区中二叠统平地泉组一段致密油源储组合模式

综合利用录井、镜下薄片及压汞等资料,对准噶尔盆地东部沙帐地区中二叠统平地泉组一段致密油储集层岩性、储集空间和孔隙结构等特征进行了分析,在此基础上结合平一段致密油纵向岩性组合特征及源储关系,总结了平一段致密油源储组合模式。研究发现平一段致密油储集层岩性以碎屑岩为主,云质类岩石次之,储层孔隙结构具"粗态型"、"偏细态型"和"细态型",储集空间表现为常规孔隙与纳米孔隙并存;平一段源储组合表现为"泥包砂"、"砂包泥"和"砂泥互层"。研究表明:平一段储集层表现为致密储层特征,纳米孔喉是致密油储层的主体孔喉,平一段致密油具有源储一体型、源储交接型和源储隔离型三类组合模式。     

重庆城口高燕锰矿床矿物解离度与工艺粒度研究

随着当前矿产资源日趋贫、细、杂,合理利用低品位和复杂多金属矿石是目前选矿工作的重要问题（吴荣庆, 2008）,只有通过对矿物原料或产物中元素或矿物的状态和性质的系统研究,阐明其行为规律,指导和配合矿物加工研究和生产,才能有针对性地选择选矿方法和工艺流程（贾木欣, 2007）,实现对矿物资源的综合利用（吕宪俊,2001）。而矿物工艺粒度、解离度对选矿发挥着不可缺少的重要作用。矿物解离是选矿的必要条件之一,矿物工艺粒度、磨矿粒度等因素对矿物解离度都有影响,这些因素致使解离度和工艺粒度之间关系复杂化（洪秉信,傅文章., 2012）。本文通过对重庆城口高燕锰矿床矿物解离度与工艺粒度的研究,从而探讨解离度与工艺粒度对选矿加工的影响。     

西藏自治区的构造地质演化和成矿地质单元划分

西藏自治区现代意义的地质调查和研究工作始于和平解放后的1951年。经过近60多年来几代地质人的努力,西藏地质工作从无到有,已取得了辉煌的成就,目前西藏自治区的地质概貌和矿产资源概貌已基本查清。本文即是《西藏矿产志》编写工作中对这两个概貌的基本总结。