Petrography of Yamato 984028 lherzolitic shergottite and its melt vein: Implications for its shock metamorphism and origin of the vein

Yamato 984028 (Y984028) is a newly identified lherzolitic shergottite, recovered from the Yamato Mountains, Antarctica, in 1999. As part of a consortium study, we conducted petrographic observations of Y984028 and its melt vein in order to investigate its shock metamorphism. The rock displays the typical non-poikilitic texture of lherzolitic shergottite, characterized by a framework of olivine, minor pyroxene (pigeonite and augite), and interstitial maskelynite. Shock metamorphic features include irregular fractures in olivine and pyroxene, shock-induced twin-lamellae in pyroxene, and the complete conversion of plagioclase to maskelynite, features consistent with those found in other lherzolitic shergottites. The melt vein is composed of coarse mineral fragments (mainly olivine) entrained in a matrix of fine-grained euhedral olivine (with several modes of compositional zoning) and interstitial glassy material. Some coarse olivine fragments consist of an assemblage of fine-grained euhedral to subhedral olivine crystals, suggesting shock-induced fragmentation, recrystallization, and/or a process of sintering. The implication is that the fine-grained olivine crystals in the matrix of the melt vein represent complicated crystallization environments and histories.     

越南红河流域沉积物的镜下碳屑分析实验室处理方法对比研究

本文设计4个不同的实验方法,以越南红河流域原始森林区、河漫滩区和水下三角洲区3个不同沉积环境下的9个样品为实验对象,对镜下碳屑不同的实验室处理方法进行对比研究,实验发现样品用六偏磷酸钠分散法(方法A)和盐酸分散法(方法B)处理后,镜下碳屑形态不易分辨,杂质多,而用氢氟酸处理法(方法C)和附加醋酸酐混合液处理法(方法D),镜下碳屑的形态清晰,杂质少,碳屑数量容易统计,但是方法D中利用醋酸酐与浓硫酸混合液去纤维素与染色过程会使纤维素碳化,结果显示碳屑浓度明显比用前3种方法处理的浓度高。以上实验结果表明方法C是最优的。另外,本研究在进行碳屑统计时,利用NIS­Elements Br 3.0软件的自动统计计数功能,不仅可以减小人为计数产生的误差,还可以实现碳屑的多参数统计,有利于古环境、古气候、古植被变化的多信息解译。     

Majoritic garnet: A new approach to pressure estimation of shock events in meteorites and the encapsulation of sub-lithospheric inclusions in diamond

A means for estimating pressures in natural samples based on both the coupled substitution (Na+)^[1+] (Ti + ^[VI]Si)^[4+] = (M)^[2+] (Al + Cr)^[3+], and the classic pyroxene-stoichiometry majorite-substitution into garnet at high-pressure, is derived for garnets with majoritic chemistry. The technique is based on a compilation of experimental data for different bulk compositions. It is compositionally and thermally robust and can be used to estimate pressures experienced by natural materials during formation of majoritic garnet. In addition, it can be used either retrospectively, or in new experimental studies to establish the pressures of crystallization of reaction products, and determine if disequilibrium is recorded by the chemistries of majoritic garnets. Pressures are calculated based on majoritic chemistries in chondritic meteorites and diamond inclusions. Majoritic garnets associated with Mg perovskite in shocked L chondrites (n = 4) yield uniform pressures of 23.8 ± 0.2 GPa that are slightly higher than pressures recorded by majoritic garnet in shock-derived melt veins in L chondrites (22.4 ± 0.6 GPa; n = 5). Similar pressures are also exhibited by shock-derived majoritic garnets in H chondrites (22.2 ± 1.1 GPa; n = 3). Diamond inclusions with eclogitic and peridotitic majoritic garnet chemistries exhibit mean pressures of 10.7 ± 2.7 GPa (n = 30) and 8.3 ± 1.6 GPa (n = 15) respectively, consistent with a sub-lithospheric origin. However, pressures defined by majoritic diamond inclusions from Jagersfontein (22.3 ± 0.8 GPa and 16.9 ± 1 GPa), Monastery (15.7 ± 7 GPa) and Kankan (15.5 ± 0.2 GPa) show that these inclusions originated from the mantle transition zone. Thus, this new single-phase method for pressure estimation has unmatched potential to map the depth of formation of garnets with majoritic chemistries that occur as diamond inclusions in all parageneses except those that include Ca silicate perovskite. The derived pressures confirm the sub-lithospheric origin of eclogitic majoritic diamond inclusions, and thus provide a more comprehensive picture of the important role of storage of oceanic lithosphere in the transition zone.     

How to cut a sediment core for 210Pb geochronology

²¹⁰Pb geochronology is described mathematically, but how to cut a sediment core is not explicit. Thick sectioning may reduce dating reliability; but on the contrary, thin sectioning is time-consuming. Considering the counting error of excess ²¹⁰Pb, a new method was proposed for the determination of meaningful thickness for sectioning. The authors applied this method to a core from Tokyo Bay. To increase the thickness with depth, the treatment is helpful in reducing the sample number for measurement and improving the dating accuracy. In addition, the averaging effect involved in sectioning was discussed, and it was confirmed that the averaging effect in the new method on ²¹⁰Pb geochronology may generally be neglected.     

Immiscible two-liquid regions in the Fe-O-S system at high pressure: Implications for planetary cores

We have determined phase relations in the Fe-O and Fe-O-S systems in the range of 15-21 GPa and 1825-2300 °C. Below the liquidus temperatures, solid FeO and metallic liquids are observed in both the Fe-O and the Fe-O-S systems. An immiscible two-liquid region exists in the Fe-O binary system in the pressure range investigated, and the immiscibility gap between Fe-rich metallic liquid and FeO-rich ionic liquid does not greatly change with either pressure or temperature. On the other hand, an immiscible two-liquid region in the Fe-O-S ternary system narrows significantly with increasing pressure at constant temperature and vice versa, and it almost disappears at 21 GPa, and 2300 °C. Immiscible two-liquid regions are thus not expected to exist in the Fe-O-S system in the Earth's core, suggesting that both oxygen and sulfur can be incorporated into the core. Our results are consistent with a geochemical model for the core containing 5.8 wt.% oxygen and 1.9 wt.% sulfur as proposed by McDonough and Sun [McDonough, W.F., Sun, S.-S., 1995. The composition of the Earth. Chem. Geol. 120, 223-253].     

A Fluid Inclusion Study on Columnar Adularia from the Hishikari Low-sulfidation Epithermal Gold Deposit, Japan

Abstract: In the Hishikari low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, Japan, columnar adularia crystals commonly precipitated directly on to the fracture surface of wall rock, and then electrum precipitated on the columnar adularia with fine-grained adularia and quartz. To reveal the characteristics of mineralizing fluids and the elevation of paleo-water tables at the earliest stage of mineralization in the Honko-Sanjin zone of the Hishikari deposit, the fluid inclusions in the columnar adularia in gold-bearing quartz–adularia veins were studied.
Coexistence of vapor-rich and liquid-rich two–phase primary fluid inclusions indicates the deposition of columnar adularia from boiling fluids. The precipitation temperatures range from 175 to 215C, and generally increase with depth. The temperatures of final melting point of ice range from –1.2 to –0.1C with an average of –0.5C, corresponding to salinity ranging from 0.2 to 2.1 wt% NaCl equivalent with an average of 0.9 wt% NaCl (eq.). Concentrations of non-condensable gases such as CO₂ were under the detection limit of a laser Raman microprobe spectrometer. From the precipitation temperature of columnar adularia in the Hosen–2 vein and the boiling point – depth curve for a 0.9 wt% NaCl (eq.) fluid, paleo-water table was estimated to be at an elevation of about +170 m. The elevation of the paleo-water tables for other veins was estimated to range from +140 to +215 m.     

Gas Measurement of Fluid Inclusions from the Hishikari Epithermal Gold Deposit, Southern Kyushu, Japan, Using Laser Raman Microprobe

Abstract. Laser Raman microprobe analysis was performed on the fluid inclusions from the Honko-Sanjin zone in the Hishikari epithermal gold deposit, southern Kyushu, Japan. Gas concentrations of fluid inclusions through the zone were below detection limits (e.g., 5 mmole/kg H₂O for CO₂), with an exception at shallow portion in which the CO₂/N₂ mole ratio was determined to be 5.3. Boiling of hydrothermal solutions probably separated gases from ore fluids at the deep portion of the deposit, and migration of gases to shallow portion resulted in CO₂-rich steam-heated water and related acid alteration.     

Late Mesozoic low-P/high-T metamorphism preceding emplacement of Cretaceous granitic rocks in the Gosaisho-Takanuki district, Abukuma metamorphic belt

Abstract The central part of Abukuma metamorphic belt consists of two geologic units, the Gosaisho Group and the Takanuki Group. Although the deformation styles differ between the Gosaisho and the Takanuki Groups, their rock facies show a gradual transition. In both Groups early regional low-pressure (over 3 kb) metamorphism has been overprinted by contact metamorphism. Evidence for the P/T condition of the regional metamorphism is recorded in cores of armored minerals. Metamorphic zones have been defined on mineral rim assemblages of meta-mafite, meta-pelite and meta-calc-siliceous schist and on the degree of graphitization of meta-pelite. The mineral-core chemistry of plagioclase, Ca-amphibole and garnet changes with increasing metamorphic grade, and indicates that the regional metamorphism of the Gosaisho Group took place in a high pressure region of the andalusite stability field. The Takanuki metamorphic rocks are structurally overlain by the Gosaisho Group and have undergone regional metamorphism whose conditions have passed near the triple point of Al-silicates and kyanite has crystallized. The contact aureoles in both groups are developed around middle Cretaceous granitic intrusions. Rims of plagioclase, Ca-amphibole and garnet overgrew on the mineral-cores during the contact metamorphism. The regional metamorphism began after the sedimentation of Jurassic chert and was succeeded by the contact metamorphism in the middle Cretaceous.     

A new chemical index of weathering for metamorphic silicate rocks in tropical regions: A study from Sri Lanka

Weathered and fresh samples of metamorphic rocks from Sri Lanka were collected from various localities and analysed for major elements by XRF method (RIGAKU, KG-X System, Japan). The content of water was determined by the ignition method.

The XRF results, obtained from these samples form the basis of a new index of chemical weathering, particularly for Sri Lanka, which is named the Silica-Titania Index, and is calculated as follows: Silica-Titania Index = {(SiO₂/TiO₂)/[(SiO₂/TiO₂) × (Al₂O₃/TiO ₂) × (SiO₂/Al₂O₃)]} × 100(molecular proportions).

The index can be used to determine the degree of weathering in chemically weathered silicate rocks of other countries in tropical regions. A triangular diagram plots the position of this index. The point load strengths of fresh rocksand weathered rocks with different degrees of weathering were correlated with the values of this new chemical index. The relative variation in strengths of fresh rocks and weathered rocks clearly indicates its suitability and usefulness for engineering geologists.