Eclogite and carpholite-bearing metasedimentary rocks in the North Qilian suture zone, NW China: implications for Early Palaeozoic cold oceanic subduction and water transport into mantle

Low‐temperature eclogite and eclogite facies metapelite together with serpentinite and marble occur as blocks within foliated blueschist that was originated from greywacke matrix; they formed a high‐pressure low‐temperature (HPLT) subduction complex (mélange) in the North Qilian oceanic‐type suture zone, NW China. Phengite–eclogite (type I) and epidote–eclogite (type II) were recognized on the basis of mineral assemblage. Relic lawsonite and lawsonite pseudomorphs occur as inclusions in garnet from both types of eclogite. Garnet–omphacite–phengite geothermobarometry yields metamorphic conditions of 460–510 °C and 2.20–2.60 GPa for weakly deformed eclogite, and 475–500 °C and 1.75–1.95 GPa for strongly foliated eclogite. Eclogite facies metasediments include garnet–omphacite–phengite–glaucophane schist and various chloritoid‐bearing schists. Mg‐carpholite was identified in some high‐Mg chloritoid schists. P–T estimates yield 2.60–2.15 GPa and 495–540 °C for Grt–Omp–Phn–Gln schist, and 2.45–2.50 GPa and 525–530 °C for the Mg‐carpholite schist. Mineral assemblages and P–T estimates, together with isotopic ages, suggest that the oceanic lithosphere as well as pelagic to semi‐pelagic sediments have been subducted to the mantle depths (≥75 km) before 460 Ma. Blueschist facies retrogression occurred at c. 454–446 Ma and led to eclogite deformation and dehydration of lawsonite during exhumation. The peak P–Tconditions for eclogite and metapelite in the North Qilian suture zone demonstrate the existence of cold subduction‐zone gradients (6–7 °C km^?1), and this cold subduction brought a large amount of H₂O to the deep mantle in the Early Palaeozoic times.     

Aqueous uptake of uranium onto pyrite surfaces; reactivity of fresh versus weathered material

In order to better understand the interaction between aqueous uranium and pyrite (FeS₂) the uptake of uranium onto the surfaces of both weathered and freshly generated pyrite surfaces was examined using batch sorption experiments. Analysis was performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results clearly indicate that freshly polished pyrite surfaces are efficient scavengers of uranium from solution, while weathered surfaces exhibit only limited uptake. Results also indicate partial reduction of uranium at the pyrite surfaces, with a heterogeneous distribution of U(IV) and U(VI) species.     

Geochemistry of basic dikes in the Lanzo massif (Western Alps): Petrogenetic and geodynamic implications

The Alpine peridotite massif of Lanzo (Italy) contains three generations of basic dikes (gabbros and basalts). The older gabbros are plagioclase-rich mantle segregates while the younger gabbro dikes are cumulates very similar in chemical composition to recent oceanic gabbros and gabbros from ophiolitic complexes. They both were derived from the N-type mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) magmas which were progressively more depleted in incompatible elements and were probably generated during a dynamic melting of a rising mantle diapir. The basaltic dikes are the N-type MORB and closely resemble the Alpine-Apennine ophiolitic basalts. They were derived from a different upper mantle source than the parental magmas of the gabbros. The source of the basalts was less depleted in light REE. The presence of basic magmas with N-type MORB affinities in the Lanzo massif is consistent with the close genetic relationship between the Alpine peridotite body and the ophiolites of the Liguro-Piemontese basin.     

Carbon isotope fractionation in wood during carbonization

A significant uncertainty exists as to whether δ¹³C values in charcoal meaningfully represent the stable isotopic content of the original material, with studies suggesting variable responses to both natural and laboratory heating. An extensive study was undertaken using fully homogenised samples of wood taken from Eucalyptus spp., Quercus robur and Pinus radiata. The results demonstrate that the duration of heating had no tangible effect on the final composition of the charred material, with the δ¹³C and carbon content of wood fixed after 30 min of heating. Furthermore, all three wood types become progressively depleted in ¹³C with increasing temperature. The results demonstrate that even at temperatures commonly reached in natural fires (<450 °C) isotopic fractionation of up to 1.3‰ can take place indicating that the absolute values obtained from charcoal extracted for paleoenvironmental reconstruction must be interpreted with caution.     

Magmatic and hydrothermal inclusions in carbonatite of the Magnet Cove Complex,Arkansas

The carbonatite at Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA contains a great variety and abundance of magmatic and hydrothermal inclusions that provide an informative, though fragmentary, record of the original carbonatite melt and of late hydrothermal solutions which permeated the complex in postmagmatic time. These inclusions were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Primary magmatic inclusions in monticellite indicate that the original carbonatite melt contained approximately 49.7 wt% CaO, 16.7% CO₂, 15.7% SiO₂, 11.4% H₂O, 4.4% FeO+Fe₂O₃, 1.1% P₂O₅ and 1.0% MgO. The melt was richer in SiO₂ and iron oxides than the carbonatite as now exposed; this is attributed to crystal settling and relative enrichment of calcite at shallower levels. The density of the carbonatite melt as revealed by the magmatic inclusions was approximately 2.2–2.3 g/cc. Such a light melt should separate rapidly from any denser parent material and could be driven forcibly into overlying crustal rocks by buoyant forces alone. Fluid inclusions in apatite suggest that a separate (immiscible) phase composed of supercritical CO₂ fluid of low density coexisted with the carbonatite magma, but the inclusion record in this mineral is inconclusive with respect to the nature of any other coexisting fluids. Maximum total pressure during CO₂ entrapment was about 450 bars, suggesting depths of 1.5 km or less for apatite crystallization and supporting earlier proposals of a shallow, subvolcanic setting for the complex. Numerous secondary inclusions in the Magnet Cove calcite contain an intriguing variety of daughter minerals including some 19 alkali, alkaline earth and rare earth carbonates, sulfates and chlorides few of which are known as macroscopic phases in the complex. The exotic fluids from which the daughter minerals formed are inferred to have cooled and diluted through time by progressive mixing with local groundwaters. These fluids may be responsible for certain late veins and elemental enrichments associated with the complex.     

Uranium and potassium in calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from Sardinia

The U content of major rock-forming minerals in a suite of calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from Sardinia is very low and their partition coefficient of U (D^U = C^S/C^L) is smaller than 0.1. The values of D^U of the mineral phases decrease from basalt to dacite and, in all rocks, the bulk of U and K is present in the groundmass. The apparent close association between K and U in basic and intermediate rocks probably reflects the fact that most of their rock-forming minerals are relatively ‘inert’ with respect to both of these elements.     

Statistical Analysis of Anisotropic Damage of the Bukit Timah Granite

Summary This paper presents a method to analyze probabilistic anisotropic initial damage of a rock mass. A three-dimensional geometric model of cracks in a rock mass is established in terms of several parameters, such as orientations, spacing and normalized sizes of cracks in the rock mass. The dip, dip direction, spacing, and normalized size of cracks of the Bukit Timah granite in Singapore were obtained from visual inspection of rock cores, color TV imaging, and impression packer tests in the boreholes at a site of geological investigation. Using the measured data, probabilistic distribution laws of geometric parameters of cracks on the surface of the boreholes are derived. Based on these statistical distributions and using Monte-Carlo simulation method, the distribution of anisotropic initial damage of the Bukit Timah granite is derived and found to have a beta distribution. This anisotropic initial damage distribution of a rock mass can be used in probabilistic analysis of rock mass responses to both static and dynamic loads.     

Structural properties of (Mn1-x Fe x )Nb2O6 columbites from X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy

A suite of (Mn_1-x Fe _x )Nb₂O₆ (x=0, 0.05, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1) columbite samples has been prepared by solid-state reaction from oxides. X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic investigations have been carried out in order to gain different perspectives on how the solid solution adapts at different length scales to cation mixing. X-ray powder diffraction and powder absorption IR spectroscopy data are presented. The powder diffraction data show that there is no significant excess volume of mixing on the Fe–Mn columbite join. All the unit-cell parameters decrease linearly as a function of increasing Fe content. Substitution of Fe²⁺ for the larger Mn²⁺ cation causes a decrease in the volume of the A polyhedron, which also becomes more regular with respect to both bond-length and edge-length distortion parameters. No significant variation of the B site has been observed. Wavenumber shifts of the IR peaks nearly all vary linearly with composition, consistent with linear variations of the lattice parameters. Line broadening has been quantified by autocorrelation analysis of the IR spectra. This is interpreted as suggesting that there is some element of local strain or positional disorder at the length scale of second or third nearest neighbours around sites occupied by Fe.     

An Overview of Dissolved and Suspended Matter Fluxes in the Loire River Basin: Natural and Anthropogenic Inputs

The spatial and temporal distributions of major elements were investigated in the surface waters and in associated suspended matter at two sites of the upper Loire basin (Orleans and Brehemont) between 1995 and 1998.According to geochemical and isotopic patterns, the dissolved load appears to result from a process of mixing rainwater inputs, weathering processes of carbonate and silicate bedrock, and agricultural and urban inputs. Natural inputs influence 60% of water chemical composition at both sites. Annual dissolved fluxes were estimated to be 1300 10³ t/y at Orleans and 1620 10³ t/y at Brehemont. Major elements are transported mainly in the dissolved fraction. After correcting for atmospheric and anthropogenic inputs, the silicate specific export rate was calculated to be 11 t/y/km² throughout the basin and the carbonate specific export rate to be from 47 t/y/km² at Orleans to 23 t/y/km² at Brehemont.The suspended load appears to result from at least two particle reservoirs: a silicate reservoir and a carbonate reservoir. The silicate reservoir has a detrital origin, mainly during periods of high flow, while the carbonate reservoir has a detrital origin during periods of high flow and an authigenic origin during periods of low flow. Of the total annual flow of suspended matter, this authigenic material represents 16% at Orleans, 25% at Brehemont and 37% in the fluvial part of the estuary. After correcting authigenic inputs, the specific export rate due to mechanical weathering was estimated to be 8 t/y/km² throughout the Loire basin.     

中国已查明的铁矿资源的结构特征

以中国2005年的铁储量库为基础,总结了中国铁矿查明资源的矿床类型、矿石类型、矿石品级、矿产组合、勘查程度、矿体埋深等的结构特征。结果表明：中国铁矿床类型以沉积变质型、岩浆型、接触交代-热液型及火山岩型为主,查明铁矿资源绝大多数为单一矿产和主要矿产,虽然品位低,但以易选的磁铁矿石和钒钛磁铁矿石为主;勘查程度高,开发利用的风险较小;勘查深度浅,开采技术和经济条件有利,深部找矿潜力大。