Glacial dispersal studies using indicator minerals and till geochemistry around two eastern Finland kimberlites

Diamondiferous kimberlites occur in eastern Finland, in the areas of Kaavi–Kuopio and Kuhmo. Active diamond exploration has been ongoing in the country for over two decades, but the Karelian craton still remains under explored given its size and potential. In order to develop techniques that can be applied to diamond exploration in glaciated terrains, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) carried out a detailed heavy mineral and geochemical survey of Quaternary till in 2001–2003 around two of the known kimberlitic bodies in Finland, Pipe 7 in Kaavi and Dyke 16 in Kuhmo. The mineralogical and geochemical signatures of these two kimberlites were studied in the basal till deposited down-ice from the targets. The kimberlites were selected to represent two different types in terms of shape, size, age and petrology, as well as showing contrasting country rocks and Quaternary deposits. Till samples up to 60 kg in weight were taken by excavator and by drill rig. Kimberlitic indicator mineral grains (0.25–1.0 mm) were concentrated using a GTK modified 3″Knelson Concentrator. Fine fractions (< 0.063 mm) of selected samples were analyzed by XRF and ICP-MS. The indicator grains down-ice from Pipe 7 form a well-defined fan in the basal till that can be followed for at least 2 km with a maximum concentration at 1.2 km distance from the pipe. Another kimberlitic body discovered during the study 300 m down-ice from Pipe 7 demonstrates that there are in fact at least two superimposed indicator fans. The results do not rule out the possibility of even more undiscovered kimberlitic sources in the area. In contrast, the indicator dispersal trail from Dyke 16 is shorter (1 km) and less well-defined than that at Kaavi, mainly due to the lower indicator content in the kimberlite itself and subsequently in till, as well as a large population of background chromites in till. The latter population is likely having been derived from the Archean Näätäniemi serpentinite massif and the associated ultramafic metavolcanics of the Kuhmo greenstone belt, located ca. 30 km up-ice from the sampling area. The indicator maximum at Seitaperä dyke swarm occurs immediately down-ice from the kimberlite, after which the concentration drops rapidly. Results of this study contribute to the overall understanding of the Quaternary history of the Kaavi and Kuhmo areas, and more importantly, provide key information to diamond exploration in these particular regions and also elsewhere in glaciated terrains.     

Phase equilibria modelling and LASS monazite petrochronology: P–T–t constraints on the evolution of the Priest River core complex,northern Idaho

Phase equilibria modelling, laser‐ablation split‐stream (LASS)‐ICP‐MS petrochronology and garnet trace‐element geochemistry are integrated to constrain the P–T–t history of the footwall of the Priest River metamorphic core complex, northern Idaho. Metapelitic, migmatitic gneisses of the Hauser Lake Gneiss contain the peak assemblage garnet + sillimanite + biotite ± muscovite + plagioclase + K‐feldspar ± rutile ± ilmenite + quartz. Interpreted P–T paths predict maximum pressures and peak metamorphic temperatures of ~9.6–10.3 kbar and ~785–790 °C. Monazite and xenotime ²⁰⁸Pb/²³²Th dates from porphyroblast inclusions indicate that metamorphism occurred at c. 74–54 Ma. Dates from HREE‐depleted monazite formed during prograde growth constrain peak metamorphism at c. 64 Ma near the centre of the complex, while dates from HREE‐enriched monazite constrain the timing of garnet breakdown during near‐isothermal decompression at c. 60–57 Ma. Near‐isothermal decompression to ~5.0–4.4 kbar was followed by cooling and further decompression. The youngest, HREE‐enriched monazite records leucosome crystallization at mid‐crustal levels c. 54–44 Ma. The northernmost sample records regional metamorphism during the emplacement of the Selkirk igneous complex (c. 94–81 Ma), Cretaceous–Tertiary metamorphism and limited Eocene exhumation. Similarities between the Priest River complex and other complexes of the northern North American Cordillera suggest shared regional metamorphic and exhumation histories; however, in contrast to complexes to the north, the Priest River contains less partial melt and no evidence for diapiric exhumation. Improved constraints on metamorphism, deformation, anatexis and exhumation provide greater insight into the initiation and evolution of metamorphic core complexes in the northern Cordillera, and in similar tectonic settings elsewhere.     

Discussion on the feature of strong earthquake: Orderly distribution in time, space and intensity before the Western Kunlun Mountain Pass M=8.1 earthquake

Introduction The Western Kunlun Mountain Pass M=8.1 earthquake occurred on November 14, 2001 is the other M=8 earthquake occurred 50 years after Dangxiong, Tibet M=8.0 earthquake in Chinese mainland. The earthquake has caused the attention of the seismologists in the following aspects: 1) The fracture length is more than 400 km, which is far away from the estimated length by the statistic empirical function between the magnitude and the fracture length (WANG, et al, 2002); 2) The aftersh…     

Sur les transformations adiabatiques réversibles d'une goutte de solution en suspension dans l'atmosphère

Résumé On considère, dans ce travail, une goutte de solution au repos dans l'air ou entraînée avec l'air mais sans mouvement propre par rapport à celui-ci. Après avoir défini le système à étudier et montré que son évolution au cours d'une transformation adiabatique réversible est déterminée par une variable indépendante, on établit l'équation de cette transformation donnant la variation de la température du système en fonction de la pression atmosphérique.

---

Summary A drop of a solution is considered, which is without movement in the air or carried with the air without an own movement. This system is defined and it is shown that its evolution in the course of an adiabatic reversible transformation is determined by an independent variable. An equation of this transformation is drawn up which gives the variation of the temperature of the system as a function of the atmospheric pressure.

---

Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Lösungstropfen untersucht, der gegenüber der Luft im Ruhezustand ist oder ohne Eigenbewegung gegenüber der Luft von dieser mitgeführt wird. Das zu betrachtende System wird definiert und es wird gezeigt, daß seine Entwicklung im Laufe einer adiabatischen, reversiblen Umwandlung durch eine unabhängige Variable bestimmt wird; schließlich wird die Gleichung dieser Umwandlung aufgestellt, durch die die Temperaturänderung des Systems als Funktion des Luftdruckes ausgedrückt wird.

     

Certain peculiarities in the distribution of mercury in meteorites

This paper presents chemical analyses of mercury in 123 specimens of 58 meteorites. A statistical comparison is made of the mercury content in meteorites (using all available data) as a function of their composition and texture.The average mercury abundance in stony meteorites is estimated as 6.6 ppm. Stony and iron meteorites differ significantly in mercury content. Among stones, chondrites and achondrites show significant differences in the mercury content. In ordinary cbondrites, mineralogy and texture do not seem to have a significant influence on the distribution of mercury, judging from the available number of analyses. Carbonaceous chondrites, in which we found up to 500 ppm mercury, stand out among all other varieties of chondrites. Iron meteorites fall at the other extreme, having the lowest mercury concentrations (generally 0-0x ppm). In specimens of several meteorite classes, troilite is a good mercury concentrator, having a consistently higher mercury content than the meteorite as a whole. Nonetheless, troilite generally accounts for less than one-half the total mercury content of the meteorite.     

Strength criterion for cross-anisotropic sand under general stress conditions

By incorporating the fabric effect and Lode’s angle dependence into the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, a strength criterion for cross-anisotropic sand under general stress conditions was proposed. The obtained criterion has only three material parameters which can be specified by conventional triaxial tests. The formula to calculate the friction angle under any loading direction and intermediate principal stress ratio condition was deduced, and the influence of the degree of the cross-anisotropy was quantified. The friction angles of sand in triaxial, true triaxial, and hollow cylinder torsional shear tests were obtained, and a parametric analysis was used to detect the varying characteristics. The friction angle becomes smaller when the major principal stress changes from perpendicular to parallel to the bedding plane. The loading direction and intermediate principal stress ratio are unrelated in true triaxial tests, and their influences on the friction angle can be well captured by the proposed criterion. In hollow cylinder torsional shear tests with the same internal and external pressures, the loading direction and intermediate principal stress ratio are related. This property results in a lower friction angle in the hollow cylinder torsional shear test than that in the true triaxial test under the same intermediate principal stress ratio condition. By comparing the calculated friction angle with the experimental results under various loading conditions (e.g., triaxial, true triaxial, and hollow cylinder torsional shear test), the proposed criterion was verified to be able to characterize the shear strength of cross-anisotropic sand under general stress conditions.     

湖南大义山晚侏罗世富硼型成锡矿A型花岗岩成因及地质意义

位于南岭成矿带和钦-杭成矿带(简称钦-杭带)交汇部位的湖南大义山锡矿是南岭地区典型的富硼型锡多金属矿床。为厘清大义山锡矿成矿动力学背景,深化南岭地区钨锡矿成矿机制,本文以大义山成锡矿黑云母二长花岗岩为研究对象,开展了系统的岩石学和地球化学研究。研究发现,大义山锡矿具有富硼的特征,成矿黑云母二长花岗岩发育电气石"囊包",电气石在蚀变矿物中广泛发育,并与锡矿化紧密共生,这些特征表明成矿花岗岩具有富硼的特征,并发生了岩浆热液流体出溶。地球化学分析显示,黑云母二长花岗岩具有较高含量的Al2O3(13.67%~14.00%)、Na2O (3.65%~3.90%)、K2O (3.49%~4.24%)以及较高的FeOT/(FeOT+MgO)比值(0.95~0.97)、FeOT/MgO比值(18.75~32.69)、A/CNK比值(1.15~1.26)和10000×Ga/Al比值(3.48~4.08),较低的CaO (0.54%~0.59%)、P2O5(0.04%~0.06%)含量和锆饱和温度(716~725℃)。球粒陨石标准化稀土元素配分具有明显的四分组效应,强烈的Eu负异常,微量元素富集Rb、Th、U、Ta和Nd等元素,亏损Ba、Nb、Sr、Eu等元素。表明成矿花岗岩具有高分异的特征,与A2型花岗岩特征相近。Nd-Hf同位素分析显示,黑云母二长花岗岩与南岭地区成锡矿花岗岩及钦-杭带A型花岗岩同位素特征基本一致,表明岩浆主要来源于中元古代壳源物质熔融,并有幔源物质的加入。综合本文及前人研究成果,推测南岭地区燕山期伸展作用与Izanagi俯冲板块开天窗或撕裂有关,在此背景下,软流圈物质上涌,引发下地壳物质熔融,形成了富硼的壳幔源混合型花岗质岩浆。岩浆中较高的硼含量促使岩浆发生强烈的结晶分异,并有利于晚期锡矿的形成。     

Improved Platinum-Group Element Extraction by NiS Fire Assay from Chromitite Ore Samples Using a Flux Containing Sodium Metaphosphate

Many chromite-rich rocks contain relatively high concentrations of the platinum-group elements (PGE). In many cases, the phases carrying PGE occur as either platinum-group minerals (PGM) or as base metal sulfides in solid solution in sulfides. In some cases, such as the UG-2 unit of the Bushveld Complex, the PGM are occluded inside chromite grains. Chromites are notably difficult to dissolve in most fluxes and if the chromite contains some PGM the possibility exists that not all the PGE will be recovered during fusion. In this work, shortcomings in published methods of analysis based on the nickel sulfide fire assay procedure were investigated and a new procedure developed based on the addition of sodium metaphosphate to the fusion mixture. Optimum composition of the fusion mixture was found to be 10 g sodium metaphosphate and 9 g silica to 10 g sample, 15 g sodium carbonate, 30 g lithium tetraborate, 7.5 g nickel and 4.5 g sulfur to achieve complete dissolution of chromite grains. The new flux mixture was evaluated by the analysis of reference material CHR-Pt+ (which is known to contain PGM inside chromite grains) and no undissolved chromite grains were found in the glassy slag. Analysis of the nickel sulfide beads from this fire assay using neutron activation analysis showed similar results for Rh and Ru when compared with published conventional true (or accepted) values, while Au, Ir, Os, Pd and Pt values determined here were 10 to 30% higher than the corresponding published conventional true values. It was concluded that the addition of sodium metaphosphate improved chromite dissolution in the flux and appears to improve PGE recovery.     

塔中北斜坡碳酸盐岩岩溶储层油气差异富集特征

塔中北斜坡下奥陶统岩溶储层基本为低孔低渗储层,主要的储集空间为溶蚀孔、洞和断裂活动产生的裂缝。储层呈现“横向连片,纵向分层”特点,优质储层主要呈层状叠合分布在不整合面下0~200m范围内的垂直渗流带和水平潜流带。岩溶储层具有大面积、多储集段含油气的特点,平面上整体表现为“西油东气,内油外气”的分布特征。鹰山组直接盖层良3—5段致密灰岩平面上具有“东厚西薄,北厚南薄”的分布特点,剖面上呈现“块状分布,横向相连,纵向叠置”的展布特征。鹰山组内部多套高阻层相互叠置,与下伏含油气层构成良好的配置关系,形成一套或多套储盖组合,控制油气的分层聚集。塔中北斜坡发育着一系列NE向左行走滑断裂,以之为边界,可以分为若干个构造区块。区块内油气水正常分异,相对高的部位聚集油气、低部位出水。块体内部油气多富集在距主干走滑断裂0.5~4.0km范围内。      

Thermodynamic study of calcic amphiboles

The paper reports original thermochemical data on six natural amphibole samples of different composition. The data were obtained by high-temperature melt solution calorimetry in a Tian–Calvet microcalorometer and include the enthalpies of formation from elements for actinolite Ca_1.95(Mg_4.4Fe _0.5 ²⁺ Al₀₁)[Si_8.0O₂₂](OH)₂(–12024 ± 13 kJ/mol) and Ca_2.0(Mg_2.9Fe _1.9 ²⁺ Fe _0.2 ³⁺ )[Si_7.8Al_0.2O₂₂](OH)₂, (–11462 ± 18 kJ/mol), and Na_0.1Ca_2.0(Mg_3.2Fe _1.6 ²⁺ Fe _0.2 ³⁺ )[Si_7.7Al_0.3O₂₂](OH)₂ (–11588 ± 14 kJ/mol); for pargasite Na_0.5K_0.5Ca_2.0-(Mg_3.4Fe _1.8 ²⁺ Al_0.8)[Si_6.2Al_1.8O₂₂](OH)₂ (–12316 ± 10 kJ/mol) and Na_0.8K_0.2Ca_2.0(Mg_2.8Fe _1.3 ³⁺ Al_0.9) [Si_6.1Al_1.9O₂₂](OH)₂ (–12 223 ± 9 kJ/mol); and for hastingsite Na_0.3K_0.2Ca_2.0(Mg_0.4Fe _1.3 ²⁺ Fe _0.9 ³⁺ Al_0.2) [Si_6.4Al_1.6O₂₂](OH)₂ (?10909 ± 11 kJ/mol). The standard entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy of formation are estimated for amphiboles of theoretical composition: end members and intermediate members of the isomorphic series tremolite–ferroactinolite, edenite–ferroedenite, pargasite–ferropargasite, and hastingsite.