The Fedorivka layered intrusion (Korosten Pluton, Ukraine): An example of highly differentiated ferrobasaltic evolution

This study documents the petrography and whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry of 38 samples mainly from a drill core through the entire Fedorivka layered intrusion (Korosten Pluton), as well as mineral compositions (microprobe analyses and separated mineral fraction analyses of plagioclase, ilmenite, magnetite and apatite) of 10 samples. The Fedorivka layered intrusion can be divided into 4 lithostratigraphic units: a Lower Zone (LZ, 72 m thick), a Main Zone (MZ, 160 m thick), and an Upper Border Zone, itself subdivided into 2 sub-zones (UBZ₂, 40 m thick; UBZ₁, 50 m thick). Igneous lamination defines the cumulate texture, but primary cumulus minerals have been affected by trapped liquid crystallization and subsolidus recrystallization. The dominant cumulus assemblage in MZ and UBZ₂ is andesine (An_39–42), iron-rich olivine (Fo_32–42), augite (En_29–35Fs_24–29Wo_42–44), ilmenite (Hem_1–6), Ti-magnetite (Usp_52–78), and apatite. The data reveal a continuous evolution from the floor of the intrusion (LZ) to the top of MZ, due to fractional crystallization, and an inverse evolution in UBZ, resulting from crystallization downwards from the roof. The whole-rock Fe/Mg ratio and incompatible element contents (e.g. Rb, Nb, Zr, REE) increase in the fractionating magma, whereas compatible elements (e.g. V, Cr) steadily decrease. The intercumulus melt remained trapped in the UBZ cumulates due to rapid cooling and lack of compaction, and cumulus mineral compositions re-equilibrated (e.g. olivine, Fe–Ti oxides). In LZ, the intercumulus melt was able to partially or totally escape. The major element composition of the MZ cumulates can be approximated by a mixing (linear) relationship between a plagioclase pole and a mafic pole, the latter being made up of all mafic minerals in (nearly) constant relative proportions. By analogy with the ferrobasaltic/jotunitic liquid line of descent, defined in Rogaland, S. Norway, and its conjugated cumulates occurring in the Transition Zone of the Bjerkreim-Sokndal intrusion (Rogaland, a monzonitic (57% SiO₂) melt is inferred to be in equilibrium with the MZ cumulates. The conjugated cumulate composition falls (within error) on the locus of cotectic compositions fixed by the 2-pole linear relationship. Ulvöspinel is the only Ti phase in some magnetites that have been protected from oxidation. QUIlF equilibria in these samples show that magnetite and olivine in MZ have retained their liquidus compositions during subsolidus cooling. This permits calculation of liquidus fO₂ conditions, which vary during fractionation from ΔFMQ = 0.7 to − 1.4 log units. Low fO₂ values are also evidenced by the late appearance of cumulus magnetite (Fo₄₂) and the high V³⁺-content of the melt, reflected in the high V-content of the first liquidus magnetite (up to 1.85% V).     

The Apophysis of the Bjerkreim–Sokndal layered intrusion (Rogaland anorthosite province, SW Norway): A composite pluton build up by tectonically-driven emplacement of magmas along the margin of an AMC igneous complex

The Late-Proterozoic Bjerkreim–Sokndal layered intrusion (BKSK) is connected to a foliated, sheet-like igneous body (the Apophysis), that is a potential feeder for the BKSK magma chamber. Field, petrographical, geochemical and structural data are used to demonstrate that the Apophysis is a composite igneous body, constructed by coeval mafic to felsic magmas that were collected in a sub-vertical shear zone. Three liquid lines of descent are distinguished in the main Apophysis component (a felsic series, predominantly quartz mangeritic) and in coeval felsic rocks from the upper part of the BKSK. Minor mineralogical and geochemical discrepancies between these three trends are indicative of distinct sources and crustal contaminants, as well as slight differences in the differentiation mechanisms. Jotunitic to noritic cumulates or crystal-laden magmas, associated with their trapped melts, mingled with the felsic series in two distinct portions of the Apophysis. In one area, this association is dominated by a FTP (Fe–Ti–P-rich) jotunite, interpreted as an accumulation of pyroxenes + Fe – Ti oxides + apatite + plagioclase. In the second area, the melt dominates over the associated cumulate; it is a primitive (MgO-rich and K₂O-poor) jotunite, that was also involved in the genesis of another igneous body in the vicinity of the Apophysis. Magma mixing, in addition to mingling, was also potentially important in the petrogenesis of some jotunite rocks.     

Long-term neutralisation potential of red mud bauxite with brine amendment for the neutralisation of acidic mine tailings

Acid mine drainage is an environmental problem produced when sulphide in mine tailings dams comes in contact with O₂, bacteria and water. Oxidation occurs and a succession of reactions is responsible for producing acid and metals in the environment. One solution proposed is to use red mud bauxite (RMB) that is very alkaline to neutralise acidic tailings. Previous experiments showed that RMB has a good neutralisation capacity for a short time, but the long-term neutralisation potential is uncertain. So brine was added to RMB to verify if it can improve long-term alkalinity retention of RMB. Some authors have presented results where seawater or other natural or artificial Ca- and Mg-rich brines were used with RMB to convert the basicity (mainly NaOH) and other soluble alkalinity into low solubility hydroxide, carbonate and hydroxycarbonate minerals. Results showed that neutral pH conditions were maintained over the entire test for RMB and a mixture of RMB with brine. Addition of brine to RMB slightly lowered the pH compared to RMB alone. RMB alone lost a lot of dissolved alkalinity at the beginning of the test. Most of the alkalinity was lost in water after a few flushes for RMB samples. The addition of brine helped to keep neutralisation potential over more cycles of leaching.     

The north-eastern Polish anorthosite massifs: petrological, geochemical and isotopic evidence for a crustal derivation

ABSTRACT Deeply buried 1.5 Ga Polish anorthosites, accessible only by bore holes, reveal diagnostic features of some massif-type anorthosites (polybarism, jotunitic parent magma), diapirically emplaced in the mid crust together with the rapakivi granites of the EW-trending Mazury complex, intruded along a major crustal discontinuity. Geochemical modelling and isotope data corroborate recent experimental work on the basaltic system in dry conditions: the source rock of the parental magma is a gabbronorite, necessarily lying in the lower crust. Since no Archaean crust is known in the region, high initial ¹⁸⁸Os/¹⁸⁷Os ratios for sulphide-oxide isochrons and negative ε_Nd values are best accounted for by melting a ∼ 2.0 Ga mafic crust.     

Geochemistry of cumulates from the Bjerkreim–Sokndal layered intrusion (S. Norway). Part I: Constraints from major elements on the mechanism of cumulate formation and on the jotunite liquid line of descent

Whole-rock major element compositions are investigated in 99 cumulates from the Proterozoic Bjerkreim–Sokndal layered intrusion (Rogaland Anorthosite Province, SW Norway), which results from the crystallization of a jotunite (Fe–Ti–P-rich hypersthene monzodiorite) parental magma. The scattering of cumulate compositions covers three types of cumulates: (1) ilmenite–leuconorite with plagioclase, ilmenite and Ca-poor pyroxene as cumulus minerals, (2) magnetite–leuconorite with the same minerals plus magnetite, and (3) gabbronorite made up of plagioclase, Ca-poor and Ca-rich pyroxenes, ilmenite, Ti-magnetite and apatite. Each type of cumulate displays a linear trend in variation diagrams. One pole of the linear trends is represented by plagioclase, and the other by a mixture of the mafic minerals in constant proportion. The mafic minerals were not sorted during cumulate formation though they display large density differences. This suggests that crystal settling did not operate during cumulate formation, and that in situ crystallization with variable nucleation rate for plagioclase was the dominant formation mechanism. The trapped liquid fraction of the cumulate plays a negligible role for the cumulate major element composition. Each linear trend is a locus for the cotectic composition of the cumulates. This property permits reconstruction by graphical mass balance calculation of the first two stages of the liquid line of descent, starting from a primitive jotunite, the Tjörn parental magma. Another type of cumulate, called jotunite cumulate and defined by the mineral association from the Transition Zone of the intrusion, has to be subtracted to simulate the most evolved part of the liquid line of descent. The proposed model demonstrates that average cumulate compositions represent cotectic compositions when the number of samples is large (> 40). The model, however, does not account for the K₂O evolution, suggesting that the system was open to contamination by roof melts. The liquid line of descent corresponding to the Bjerkreim–Sokndal cumulates differs slightly from that obtained for jotunitic dykes in that the most Ti-, P- and Fe-rich melts (evolved jotunite) are lacking. The constant composition of the mafic poles during intervals where cryptic layering is conspicuous is explained by a compositional balance between the Fe–Ti oxide minerals, which decrease in Fe content in favour of Ti, and the pyroxenes which increase in Fe.     

Fluid inclusions in charnockites from the Bjerkreim-Sokndal massif (Rogaland,southwestern Norway): fluid origin and in situ evolution

Fluid inclusions and mineral associations were studied in late-stage charnockitic granites from the Bjerkreim-Sokndal lopolith (Rogaland anorthosite province). Because the magmatic and tectonic evolutions of this complex appear to be relatively simple, these rocks are a suitable case for investigation of the origin and evolution of granulitic fluids. Fluid inclusions, primarily contained in quartz, can be divided into four types: carbonic (type I), N₂-bearing (type II), CO₂+H₂O (type III) and aqueous inclusions (type IV). For each type, the role of leakage and fluid mixing are discussed from microthermometric and Raman spectrometric data. The most striking features of CO₂-rich inclusions (the predominant fluid) is the presence of graphite in numerous, trail-bound inclusions (Ib) and its absence in a few isolated, very dense (d=1.16), pure CO₂ inclusions (Ia) and in the late carbonic inclusions (Ic). Fluid chronology and mineral assemblages suggest that carbonic Ia inclusions represent the first fluid (pure CO₂) trapped at or close to magmatic conditions (T=780–830° C, fO₂=10^-15 atm and P=7.4±1 kb), outside the graphite stability field. In contrast, type Ib inclusions enclosed graphite particles from a channelized fluid during retrograde rock evolution (P=3–4 kb and T=600° C). Decreases in T-fO₂ could explain a progressive evolution from a CO₂-rich fluid to an H₂O-rich fluid in a closed C–O–H system. However, graphite destabilization observed in type Ic inclusions implies some late introduction of external water during the last stage of retrogression. The main results of this study are the following: (1) a carbonic fluid was present in an early stage of rock evolution (probably in the charnockitic magma) and (2) this granulite occurrence offers good evidence of crossing the graphite stability field during post-magmatic evolution.     

New evidence of slope instability in the Outardes Bay delta area, Quebec, Canada

The Outardes Bay delta constitutes one of the best sites to study the formation of failure deposits in a modern lowstand environment. These deposits are located in a pseudo-shelf-edge position along the northern part of the Laurentian Channel in the St. Lawrence Estuary. The site has been investigated over the past 20 years with a Raytheon model RTT1000 boomer (3.5 kHz, 400 J) on the shelf, and most recently with a Simrad model EM 1000 multibeam sonar (95 kHz) on the slope to provide high-resolution seismic and bathymetric data. The seismic data show wavy, chaotic and contorted reflectors which are typical in marine environments characterised by instability features. The multibeam sonar data have revealed many slope instability features such as creep folds, channel incisions, debris flows, and rotational slide scars. Thus, these interpreted features are in direct relationship with the seismic interpretation of the data collected upslope. These geomorphological and geophysical signatures express both past and present sedimentological processes. Some of the mass movement signatures observed in the surveyed area are believed to be related with the great MS~7 Charlevoix earthquake in 1663.     

New evidence of slope instability in the Outardes Bay delta area, Quebec, Canada

The Outardes Bay delta constitutes one of the best sites to study the formation of failure deposits in a modern lowstand environment. These deposits are located in a pseudo-shelf-edge position along the northern part of the Laurentian Channel in the St. Lawrence Estuary. The site has been investigated over the past 20 years with a Raytheon model RTT1000 boomer (3.5 kHz, 400 J) on the shelf, and most recently with a Simrad model EM 1000 multibeam sonar (95 kHz) on the slope to provide high-resolution seismic and bathymetric data. The seismic data show wavy, chaotic and contorted reflectors which are typical in marine environments characterised by instability features. The multibeam sonar data have revealed many slope instability features such as creep folds, channel incisions, debris flows, and rotational slide scars. Thus, these interpreted features are in direct relationship with the seismic interpretation of the data collected upslope. These geomorphological and geophysical signatures express both past and present sedimentological processes. Some of the mass movement signatures observed in the surveyed area are believed to be related with the great MS~7 Charlevoix earthquake in 1663.     

Petrogenesis of monzonoritic dykes in the Egersund-Ogna anorthosite (Rogaland,S.W. Norway): trace elements and isotopic (Sr,Pb) constraints

Two major monzonoritic dykes occur in the Egersund-Ogna anorthositic massif (S.W. Norway): the Lomland dyke, which varies from norite to monzonite, and the Vettaland ferronoritic dyke. They are characterized by high Fe, Ti and P contents, low SiO₂, variable K₂O (0.5%–4.5%) and high Fe/Mg ratios. Small variations in REE distribution are observed inside the Lomland dyke [La/Yb=12; LREE ca. 150–180 (chondrite-normalized values), neutral to slightly positive Eu anomaly]. Part of the Vettaland dyke is severely depleted in Zr, Rb and REE and shows a positive Eu anomaly. All rocks are depleted in U and Th, and show very low Cr and Ni contents, as well as high Sr contents (400–600 ppm). Variation within the Lomland dyke is satisfactorily ex-plained through subtraction of an apatite-bearing noritic cumulate. The role of apatite is predominant in controlling the REE behaviour. Eutectic partial melting of a Fe-rich noritic cumulate (containing apatite) under low pH₂O conditions is suggested for the Vettaland dyke by REE modelling. Sr isotopic initial ratios are different in Lomland (ca. 0.708) and Vettaland (ca. 0.706) dykes. These values preclude direct derivation from the mantle as well as comagmatic relationship with anorthosite. Contamination of a mantle derived magma by deep crustal material or anatexis of the LIL depleted lower crust is compatible with the low U and Th contents, and with the Pb isotopic ratios. The Vettaland partial melting process is extended to all monzonoritic types, the necessary heat being provided by the high temperature anorthositic crystal mush. Chargé de Recherches du F.N.R.S (Belgium)     

The use of geochemical methods to characterize the metamorphic domain in the Belgian ardennes

In the Belgian Ardennes anticline, low-grade metamorphism has locally affected the sil topelitic Lower Devonian formations. In the metamorphic domain, the Ti content of stream sediments is very high ( >0.17%), giving rise to a widespread regional Ti anomaly. This anomaly faithfully follows the limits of the metamorphic external zone proposed by Beugnies (1986). This is due to the appearance of ilmenite in the metamorphosed rocks and its subsequent concentration in the stream sediments. A statistical study of major- and trace-element contents of rocks sampled outside the metamorphic domain indicates a strong correlation between Ti and Al, K and Rb, suggesting that the Ti content is related to the illite content of the samples. Ti is therefore washed away with the clay fraction in the weathering process leading to stream sediment formation. Indeed, outside the metamorphic area, Ti is not involved in the main factors governing trace-element distribution in the stream sediments. The use of stream sediment geochemical prospecting provides a confirmation of petrological and structural work and may thus help in the accurate mapping of metamorphism limits.