The origin of basaltic rocks in Niutoushan area— high pressure differentiation

The Niutoushan basaltic cone, consisting of subalkali (quartz-tholeiite and olivine-tholeiite) and alkali basalts, is Late Tertiary in age. Its major characteristics are generalized as follows:

1. Both early subalkali and late alkali bali basalts are formed under the same geological environment.
2. The continuity in chemical composition from subalkali to alkali and the low FeO/MgO in alkali basalts show that they are the products of cognate magmatic differentiation.
3. The change from low REE abundance and weak enrichment of LREE in subalkali to high REE abundance and strong enrichment of LREE in alkali basalts indicates obvious REE enrichment and fractionation during magmatic differentiation. Weak positive Eu anomalies in the REE patterns are indicative of their formation under low oxygen fugacity conditions.
4. According to the calculated values, 70–75% of the primary olivine tholeiitic magma had been separated as subalkaline basaltic magma, the rest residual magma became alkaline basaltic magma. This result is consistent to the field observation that the outcrop area of subalkali basalts is four times as much as that of alkali basalts.
5. The basaltic rocks of Niutoushan show an S-type distribution straddling the thermal barrier on Ol′-Ne′-Qu′ diagram and an evolution tendency for Ne to increase with increasing FeO/MgO. This is in agreement with the melting experimental data on olivine basalts at 10–20 kb.
6. Mantle-derived inclusions (spinel lherzolite) in this area occur in both alkali olivine basalts and olivine tholeiites. The latter is of extremely rare occurrence. The formation temperature and pressure of the inclusions in alkalibasalts and olivine tholeiites have been calculated. The results show that the alkaline basaltic magma was separated from the subalkaline basaltic magma at about 20 kb.

Basaltic rocks in Niutoushan were formed through the so-called “high pressure differentiation”, that is, at about 20 kb the crystallization of clinopyroxene and orthpyroxene resulted in the separation of subalkaline basaltic magma from the primary olivine tholeiitic magma, and then the residue gradually became alkaline olivine basaltic magma.     

The Timescales of Magma Mixing in the Plumbing System of Bezymianny Volcano (Kamchatka): Insights from Diffusion Chronometry

Intrusion of magma of contrasting composition into a magma chamber often triggers eruptions of arc volcanoes. Application of the diffusion chronometry method allowed us to determine the time when fresh magma was supplied to the shallow chamber of Bezymianny volcano in the case of six eruptions in 2006–2012 and to compare them to the recorded seismic activity of this volcano. Two types of eruptions of Bezymianny volcano were distinguished, with a contrasting orthopyroxene rim being formed in the respective magmas (a) up to 3 years and (b) up to 2 months before the beginning of an eruption. It was shown that these differences are caused by two different paths of magma supply to the shallow chamber of Bezymianny volcano.     

Strain and competence contrast estimation from fold shape

A new method to estimate strain and competence contrast from natural fold shapes is developed and verified by analogue and numerical experiments. Strain is estimated relative to the nucleation amplitude, A_N, which is the fold amplitude when the amplification velocities caused by kinematic layer thickening and dynamic folding are identical. A_N is defined as the initial amplitude corresponding to zero strain because folding at amplitudes smaller than A_N is dominantly by kinematic layer thickening. For amplitudes larger than A_N, estimates of strain and competence contrast are contoured in thickness-to-wavelength (H/λ) and amplitude-to-wavelength (A/λ) space. These quantities can be measured for any observed fold shape. Contour maps are constructed using existing linear theories of folding, a new nonlinear theory of folding and numerical simulations, all for single-layer folding. The method represents a significant improvement to the arc length method. The strain estimation method is applied to folds in viscous (Newtonian), power-law (non-Newtonian) and viscoelastic layers. Also, strain partitioning in fold trains is investigated. Strain partitioning refers to the difference in strain accommodated by individual folds in the fold train and by the whole fold train. Fold trains within layers exhibiting viscous and viscoelastic rheology show different characteristic strain partitioning patterns. Strain partitioning patterns of natural fold trains can be used to assess the rheological behaviour during fold initiation.     

Authigenic zeolites in the sedimentary mantle of the world ocean

The paper deals with results of general and systematic analysis of data from deep-sea drilling (360 stations) and a personal study carried out by the authors on the distribution and facies location of authigenic zeolites in the sedimentary mantle of the World Ocean.The scheme of zeolite distribution, compiled for the Holocene—Pleistocene, Miocene, Eocene and Cretaceous periods confirmed the previously established global stratification of zeolites. It showed that the main mass of phillipsite was formed during the Pleistocene—Holocene, while clinoptilolite was a predominant mineral in Eocene and Cretaceous rocks. Both zeolites were wide-spread in the Oligocene and Miocene. Facies location and paragenesis of associated minerals as well as the original material of their formation are different for phillipsite and clinoptilolite.The most probable reasons for vertical stratification of oceanic zeolites of global significance are changes of the character of volcanism in time and general evolution of sedimentation in the World Ocean.     

Geochemical types of Volkhovites and possible diamond resource potential of areas occupied by Holocene fluidisites

Volkhovites—tektite-like glasses—have been detected in the Holocene glacial drift along the right bank of the Volkhov River. A cryptomagmatic model of their formation and pre-Holocene age of volkhovite melts, cinder, and frothed glasses has been suggested (Skublov et al., 2007). Four geochemical types of volkhovites are distinguished: (1) manganous (Mn, Fe, Cr, V, Si, Nb, Pb, H), (2) magnesian (Mg, Al, Ti, F, B), (3) potassic (K, Rb, Cs), and (4) calcic (Ca, REEs, Ba, U, Th, Ta, Hf, Y, Sc, Cl). In light of the geochemical data, volkhovites are regarded as natural silicate glasses of kimberlite-carbonatite composition. Their types are called kimberlitic (Mn type), kimberlitic-carbonatitic (Mg type), lamproitic-carbonatitic (K type), and carbonatitic (Ca type). Volkhovites are suggested to be indicators of undiscovered diamond mineralization of kimberlite or carbonatite (Chagatai) types.     

内蒙额济纳旗霍布哈尔地区构造片岩带的发现及其构造意义

野外调查发现在靠近中蒙边界的额济纳旗霍布哈尔地区存在带状构造片岩,片理倾向南东,拉伸线理沿北东向,片岩内存在指示左行剪切的旋转碎斑系、不对称压力影等显微剪切组构。显微构造尺度上,片理结构由片理域与微片石组成,形成极易开裂的潜在破裂面。区内构造片岩是北东向韧性剪切带的组成部分,成因与韧性的剪切运动有关,经样品UY-1的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年法测定,得到糜棱岩化的流纹斑岩年龄为286.3Ma±2.0Ma,后期侵入的闪长岩年龄为284.2Ma±2.4Ma,约束了构造片岩的形成时代为286.3Ma^284.2Ma(早二叠世)。结合区域地质资料,认为构造片岩带的形成与早二叠世阿尔金-东蒙古断裂的左行走滑剪切活动有关。     

黔西南水银洞金矿床流体包裹体研究

水银洞金矿床是黔西南典型的特大型卡林型金矿床之一。但其成矿流体来源尚有争议。通过对水银洞金矿床脉石英和方解石中流体包裹体的温度与压力、盐度与密度、包裹体成分和包裹体H和O同位素等方面的研究,指出水银洞卡林型金矿床成矿流体属中低温(96.7~220℃)、低盐度(NaCl)0.635%~9.861%,平均值为4.282%±2.260%、中等密度(0.725~0.977 g/cm3,平均值为0.910±0.061 g/cm3);脉石英阶段流体水化学类型属Cl--Na+型或SO42--Cl-Na+型,方解石阶段属SO42--Cl--Ca2+型。成矿流体压力可能为高-超高压(160±40 MPa);成矿流体主要是大气降水形成的地下热水,可能有部分岩浆热液的掺入。     

新疆西准噶尔苏云河钼矿床含矿岩体地球化学和年代学

苏云河钼矿床位于新疆西准噶尔巴尔鲁克山西段,容矿岩石为二长花岗岩和二长花岗斑岩。这些花岗岩具有类似的地球化学特征:富集Rb、Th、U和LREE,相对亏损Ba、P、Ti,属于高钾钙碱性I型花岗岩系列,局部经历过强烈的分离结晶作用。LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年结果显示苏云河钼矿区的成岩年龄为309.3~310.2 Ma,这表明与成矿有关的岩浆活动发生于晚石炭世。黑云母的Ti温度计表明Ⅰ号和Ⅲ号岩体的结晶温度相近,为695~728℃;而Ⅱ号岩体的结晶温度较低,为642~668℃。同时根据角闪石-斜长石压力计获得Ⅰ号和Ⅲ号岩体的结晶压力为(3.0~3.9)×108Pa。综合地球化学研究表明,苏云河钼矿区3个岩体均形成于岛弧环境。此外,以苏云河钼矿床为代表的巴尔鲁克山成矿带与哈萨克斯坦境内的巴尔喀什成矿带在岩石地球化学、成岩成矿时代等方面具有许多类似的特点,表明巴尔鲁克山成矿带可能是巴尔喀什成矿带在中国境内的延伸。     

北祁连西段柳沟峡铁（铜）矿田牙形刺的发现及其地质意义

笔者依据北祁连山西段柳沟峡铁铜矿田原定长城系朱龙关群含铁（铜）矿火山沉积宕系中新发现的牙形刺化石Ｐｈａｋｅｌｏｄｕｓｏｆｆｅｎｕｉｓ（Ｍｕｌｌｅｒ）Ｐｒｏａｃｏｎｔｉｏｄｕｓ；（∈２－３、∈３）和青白口系大柳沟群碳酸盐岩中新发现的Ｔｒｉｐｏｄｕｓ？Ｓｐ（Ｏ１），并与青海郭密寺地区中寒武统黑茨沟群中所发现的牙形刺化石（∈３－Ｏ１）属种相类似而论，认为上述原定地层还有可能重新厘定为寒武一奥陶系和奥陶系。这一发现为研究和恢复北祁连西段区域构造格架及区域构造演化历史提供了早古生代化石依据，对查明铁（铜）矿等的形成环境、总结成矿规律、扩大找矿效果具有较深远的意义。     

新疆北部幔源岩浆矿床的类型、时空分布及成矿谱系

新疆北部与幔源岩浆有关的矿床种类齐全,成矿环境复杂,时代和类型繁多,在中国乃至世界颇具特色。主要矿床类型包括铬铁矿矿床、钒钛磁铁矿矿床、铜镍硫化物矿床、铂族元素(PGE)矿床、铜镍-钒钛铁复合型矿床、含钴磁铁矿矿床、玄武岩自然铜矿床、热液型钴-多金属矿床,以及非金属矿床等。按照含矿地质体的类型,可分为6种类型:蛇绿岩型、层状杂岩型、小侵入体型、阿拉斯加型、浅成岩型和喷出岩型。这些幔源岩浆矿床可划分为3个成岩成矿系列:铜镍系列、钛铁系列和铬铁系列。钛铁系列以碱性层状岩体型钒钛磁铁矿、铁磷矿为代表,岩石具有明显的富Fe特征,属于碱性富铁质的高钛玄武岩系列;铜镍系列以小侵入体型铜镍矿、阿拉斯加型铜镍-PGE矿为代表,岩石属于铁质的拉斑玄武岩-钙碱性系列;铬铁系列主要为蛇绿岩型铬铁矿,岩石具富Mg贫Fe特征,属于镁质系列。3个系列的岩浆都具有亏损地幔源特征,可能都与地幔柱活动有关;岩浆源区富含相应的成矿元素,是形成3个系列矿床相应成矿地质体的主要条件。3个系列矿床的成矿机制可分为深部熔离/岩浆分异、就地分凝、矿浆贯入、岩浆热液等过程。根据各系列矿床之间存在的紧密联系,建立了与幔源岩浆作用有关的3个系列矿床综合模式: 亏损地幔部分熔融产生的幔源岩浆在上升过程中发生熔离/分异,分离为3个系列,由于外部物质加入在地壳深部发生分异和熔离,在不同深度富集形成铬铁矿、钒钛磁铁矿和铜镍硫化物矿床,临近地表时流体富集和分离成含矿流体,分别形成浅成岩型磁铁矿和喷出岩型自然铜矿。新疆北部各类幔源岩浆矿床从早到晚主要产于3期构造阶段/构造类型: 大陆裂解期、板块俯冲期、碰撞/后碰撞造山期(又分3个阶段: 碰撞后伸展阶段、幔柱叠加造山阶段、后碰撞结束阶段)。