Origin of fluids in iron oxide–copper–gold deposits: constraints from δ 37Cl, 87Sr/86Sri and Cl/Br

The origin of the hypersaline fluids (magmatic or basinal brine?), associated with iron oxide (Cu–U–Au–REE) deposits, is controversial. We report the first chlorine and strontium isotope data combined with Cl/Br ratios of fluid inclusions from selected iron oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) deposits (Candelaria, Raúl–Condestable, Sossego), a deposit considered to represent a magmatic end member of the IOCG class of deposit (Gameleira), and a magnetite–apatite deposit (El Romeral) from South America. Our data indicate mixing of a high δ ³⁷Cl magmatic fluid with near 0‰ δ ³⁷Cl basinal brines in the Candelaria, Raúl–Condestable, and Sossego IOCG deposits and leaching of a few weight percent of evaporites by magmatic-hydrothermal (?) fluids at Gameleira and El Romeral. The Sr isotopic composition of the inclusion fluids of Candelaria, Raúl–Condestable, and El Romeral confirms the presence of a non-magmatic fluid component in these deposits. The heavy chlorine isotope signatures of fluids from the IOCG deposits (Candelaria, Raúl–Condestable, Sossego), reflecting the magmatic-hydrothermal component of these fluids, contrast with the near 0‰ δ ³⁷Cl values of porphyry copper fluids known from the literature. The heavy chlorine isotope compositions of fluids of the investigated IOCG deposits may indicate a prevailing mantle Cl component in contrast to porphyry copper fluids, an argument also supported by Os isotopes, or could result from differential Cl isotope fractionation processes (e.g. phase separation) in fluids of IOCG and porphyry Cu deposits.     

华南二叠纪层序地层与盆地演化

新兴的层序地层学,是盆地分析的重要手段。华南二叠纪是华南板块海西-印支阶段盆地演化的重要时期,沉积盆地类型划分为克拉通盆地、板内及板缘伸展盆地,以及东吴运动后出现的前陆盆地和弧后盆地。南方二叠系由11个层序和1个半超层序组成,不同类型沉积盆地中层序地层具有不同的层序特征和充填形式。二叠纪是海西-印支期盆地演化由成熟到消亡的转折阶段,它们发育于扩张环境下,总体上是由两个克拉通盆地夹持一个伸展盆地。两个克拉通盆地的发展不均衡,中央伸展盆地沿着加里东的拼合带发育。这一古地理古构造格局与加里东期十分相似,由此认为,华南晚古生代沉积的构造背景,并不是稳定的克拉通环境。     

Late-Variscan magmatism revisited: new implications from Pb-evaporation zircon ages on the emplacement of redwitzites and granites in NE Bavaria

Pb-evaporation zircon analyses coupled with a detailed cathodoluminescence (CL) study on the complete series of granitoids from the northern Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria, provide new evidence for the commencement and timing of late-Variscan magmatism. All granitoids analysed in this study were dated before by Rb-Sr and/or K-Ar methods. Investigated samples comprise medium-grained, I-type dioritic rocks (redwitzites), I/S-type granites (Leuchtenberg, Marktredwitz (G1), Zainhammer) and S-type granites (Falkenberg, Liebenstein, Mitterteich, Friedenfels, Steinwald, Flossenbürg, Bärnau). The zircon evaporation technique reveals three groups of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages which are interpreted to represent magmatic crystallisation: (1) ages of 324-321 Ma are found in all analysed redwitzites and in almost all I/S-type granites; (2) the granites of Falkenberg and Liebenstein yield ages of ~315 Ma; (3) ages between 312 and 310 Ma are recorded in the Mitterteich, Friedenfels, Steinwald and Flossenbürg granites. Titanite crystals from different redwitzite bodies yield conventional U-Pb ages of 325-322 Ma, identical to the Pb-evaporation zircon data of these rocks. The S-type granites of groups 2 and 3 contain zircons with relict cores but only a small number of them yield older ages, indicating that some of the cores must have lost their radiogenic Pb. From the geochronological data, we infer that metamorphic conditions of the Variscan crust produced different granite types at different times. The data support a model involving an early period of mantle-related magmatism which postdates the final convergence stage of the Variscan orogen. This magmatic activity was at the same time as the thermal peak of regional metamorphism and is followed by a late period of crustal anatexis, which is probably related to post-collisional extension of the thickened Variscan crust.     

Authigenic quartz and albite in Devonian limestones: origin and significance

Euhedral quartz and albite crystals are common in Devonian (Givetian-Frasnian) shallow-marine shelf carbonates from the Belgian Ardennes. Several features such as morphology, the presence of carbonate inclusions, inversion temperatures and occurrence in the insoluble residues of stylolitic surfaces indicate that these crystals have developed authigenically. Oxygen isotope ratios point to an intermediate deep burial realm of origin at temperatures of 60–90°C. The predominance of illite and the almost total absence of smectite clay minerals is interpreted as an indication that illitization produced the silica needed for authigenesis. The mineral composition of inclusions indicates that the carbonate host rock must have consisted of low-Mg calcite already at the time of authigenesis. These inclusions represent an earlier diagenetic stage than the present carbonate rock, since they were protected from further diagenetic alteration by the surrounding quartz. The calcite inclusions display a higher Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca ratio than the carbonate host-rock. Because neomorphic diagenesis of the carbonate continued after silicate authigenesis, the contents of Mg and Sr in the calcite of the host carbonate are even lower. The authigenic feldspar mineralogy seems to be determined by the composition of the host-sediment.     

Evaluation of methods of spatial interpolation for monthly rainfall data over the state of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Five deterministic methods of spatial interpolation of monthly rainfall were compared over the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. The methods were the inverse distance weight (IDW), nearest neighbor (NRN), triangulation with linear interpolation (TLI), natural neighbor (NN), and spline tension (SPT). A set of 110 weather stations was used to test the methods. The selection of stations had two criteria: time series longer than 20 years and period of data from 1960 to 2009. The methods were evaluated using cross-validation, linear regression between values observed and interpolated, root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (r ²), coefficient of variation (CV, %), and the Willmott index of agreement (d). The results from different methods are influenced by the meteorological systems and their seasonality, as well as by the interaction with the topography. The methods presented higher precision (r ²) and accuracy (d, RMSE) during the summer and transition to autumn, in comparison with the winter or spring months. The SPT had the highest precision and accuracy in relation to other methods, in addition to having a good representation of the spatial patterns expected for rainfall over the complex terrain of the state and its high spatial variability.     

Changes in the onset and length of seasons from an ensemble of regional climate models over Spain for future climate conditions

This study analyses the length and onset of the four seasons based on the annual climatic cycle of maximum and minimum temperatures. Previous studies focused over climatically homogeneous mid-high latitude areas, employing fixed temperature thresholds (related to climatic features such as freezing point) that can be inadequate when different climate conditions are present. We propose a method related to the daily minimum and maximum temperature 25th and 75th point-dependent climatic percentiles. It is applied to an ensemble of regional climate models (RCMs) of 25-km horizontal resolution over the peninsular Spain and Balearic Islands, where a large variety of climatic regimes, from alpine to semi-desertic conditions, are present. First, baseline climate (1961–2000) ERA40-forced RCM simulations are successfully compared with the Spain02 daily observational database, following astronomical season length (around 90 days). This result confirms the validity of the proposed method and capability of the RCMs to describe the seasonal features. Future climate global climate model-forced RCMs (2071–2100) compared with present climate (1961–1990) simulations indicate the disappearance of winter season, a summer enlargement (onset and end) and a slight spring and autumn increase.     

西江流域的有机碳侵蚀通量

在西江下游的马口水文站对径流进行了4个季节的有机碳采样分析。研究表明,西江径流有机碳的断面构成在各个季节均较为一致;季节性变化表现为,有机碳和悬浮物含量随流量的增加而增加。随着水体悬浮物含量的增加,悬浮物的有机碳含量呈对数趋势降低。西江流域的有机碳侵蚀通量为10.18×106gC/km2·yr.,是全球外流域有机碳侵蚀通量的2～3倍,其中以颗粒有机碳的侵蚀通量为主,达到8.30×106gC/km2·yr.,溶解有机碳的侵蚀通量为1.88×106gC/km2·yr.。反映了流域内较强的机械剥蚀过程,这与西江流域典型的季风气候、较大的地形高差,以及农业耕作历史长久、土地利用强度较大等因素有关。     

中国南方二叠纪层序岩相古地理特征及演化

在层序地层研究基础上,以沉积体系域和相关界面为编图单元,采用体系域压缩法和瞬时作图法,以油气勘探为目标,有针对性的编制了中国南方二叠纪11张层序岩相古地理图。在此基础上,全面系统地阐述了该区二叠纪层序岩相古地理特征及演化。结果表明,中国南方二叠纪层序古地理演化具有明显的继承性、不均一性、阶段性、方向性和同步性。与传统的岩相古地理图相比,层序岩相古地理图具有动态、精确、等时、成因连续和勘探实用等优点。     

山东淄博地区奥陶系层序地层划分和层序界面的识别标志

研究区为华北地台东部奥陶系发育最全的地区之一。区内出露下、中奥陶统 (两河口阶至宝塔阶 ,时限 4 95～ 4 4 5Ma)。岩石地层划分为三山子组和马家沟组。通过对野外剖面系统的观测 ,按碳酸盐岩台地层序地层的研究方法 ,识别出区内奥陶系 8个三级层序 (OSq1-OSq8)和 4种层序界面标志。平均每个三级层序延限约 6Ma ,OSq1由三山子组B段 (TST)和A段 (HST)组成。马家沟组含东黄山段、北庵庄段、土峪段、五阳山段、阁庄段、八陡段和新汶段。东黄山段至土峪段含 2个层序 (OSq2和OSq3 )。五阳山段和阁庄段包含 3个层序(OSq4 -OSq7)。八陡段 (TST)和新汶段 (HST)组成最上部一个层序 (OSq8)。通过与河北唐山等地区同期地层的对比 ,提出华北地台下、中奥陶统 (两河口阶至宝塔阶 )可划分为 11个三级层序 ,探讨了华北地台下、中奥陶统层序差异性的可能的控制因素。     

Performance of a multi-RCM ensemble for South Eastern South America

The ability of four regional climate models to reproduce the present-day South American climate is examined with emphasis on La Plata Basin. Models were integrated for the period 1991–2000 with initial and lateral boundary conditions from ERA-40 Reanalysis. The ensemble sea level pressure, maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation are evaluated in terms of seasonal means and extreme indices based on a percentile approach. Dispersion among the individual models and uncertainties when comparing the ensemble mean with different climatologies are also discussed. The ensemble mean is warmer than the observations in South Eastern South America (SESA), especially for minimum winter temperatures with errors increasing in magnitude towards the tails of the distributions. The ensemble mean reproduces the broad spatial pattern of precipitation, but overestimates the convective precipitation in the tropics and the orographic precipitation along the Andes and over the Brazilian Highlands, and underestimates the precipitation near the monsoon core region. The models overestimate the number of wet days and underestimate the daily intensity of rainfall for both seasons suggesting a premature triggering of convection. The skill of models to simulate the intensity of convective precipitation in summer in SESA and the variability associated with heavy precipitation events (the upper quartile daily precipitation) is far from satisfactory. Owing to the sparseness of the observing network, ensemble and observations uncertainties in seasonal means are comparable for some regions and seasons.