Phase relations and liquid lines of descent of an iron-rich peralkaline phonolitic melt: an experimental study

We experimentally investigated the phase relations of a peralkaline phonolitic dyke rock associated with the Ilímaussaq plutonic complex (South Greenland). The extremely evolved and iron-rich composition (magnesium number = 2, alkalinity index = 1.44, FeO* = 12 wt%) may represent the parental magma of the Ilímaussaq complex. This dyke rock is therefore perfectly suited for performing phase-equilibrium experiments, since in contrast to the plutonic rocks of the complex, no major cumulate formation processes complicate defining a reasonable starting composition. Experiments were carried out in hydrothermal rapid-quench cold-seal pressure vessels at P = 100 MPa and T = 950–750 °C. H₂O contents ranging from anhydrous to H₂O saturated (~5 wt% H₂O) and varying fO₂ (~ΔlogFMQ ?3 to +1; where FMQ represents the fayalite–magnetite–quartz oxygen buffer) were applied. Reduced and dry conditions lead to substantial crystallization of alkali feldspar, nepheline, hedenbergite-rich clinopyroxene, fayalite-rich olivine and minor amounts of ulvøspinel-rich magnetite, which represent the phenocryst assemblage of the natural dyke rock. Oxidized and H₂O-rich conditions, however, suppress the crystallization of olivine in favor of magnetite and clinopyroxene with less or no alkali feldspar and nepheline formation. Accordingly, combined low fO₂ and aH₂O force the evolution of the residual melt toward decreasing SiO₂, increasing FeO* and alkalinity index (up to 3.55). On the contrary, high fO₂ and aH₂O produce residual melts with relatively low FeO*, high SiO₂ and a relatively constant alkalinity index. We show that variations of aH₂O and fO₂ lead to contrasting trends regarding the liquid lines of descent of iron-rich silica-undersaturated peralkaline compositions. Moreover, the increase in FeO* and alkalinity index (reduced and dry conditions) in the residual melt is an important prerequisite to stabilize late-magmatic minerals of the dyke rock, for example, aenigmatite (Na₂Fe₅TiSi₆O₂₀), coexisting with the most evolved melts at 750 °C. Contrary to what might be expected, experiments with high aH₂O and interlinked high fO₂ exhibit higher liquidus T’s compared with experiments performed at low aH₂O and fO₂ for experiments where magnetite is liquidus phase. This is because ulvøspinel-poor magnetite crystallizes at higher fO₂ and has a higher melting point than ulvøspinel-rich magnetite, which is favored at lower fO₂.     

Long‐distance fluid migration defines the diagenetic history of unique Ediacaran sediments in the East European Craton

The diagenetic history of the Ediacaran sedimentary rocks in the East European Craton (EEC) over the area extending from Arkhangelsk (Russia) in the north to Podolia (Ukraine) in the south was revealed by means of the XRD characterization and K–Ar dating of clay fractions, mudstone porosity measurements and organic geochemistry investigations. Mudstone porosity measurements produced direct evidence of shallow maximum burial of the Ediacaran sediments on the craton (Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Volyn), not exceeding 1.5 km, and much deeper burial at the cratonic margin, in Podolia and Poland. In general, illitization of smectite and biomarker indices indicates more advanced diagenesis at the cratonic margin. K–Ar dating of authigenic illite–smectite and aluminoceladonite revealed the Palaeozoic age of mineral diagenesis (ca. 450–300 Ma) both on the craton and its margin, with older ages generally observed in the north. When the maximum palaeotemperatures were evaluated from illite–smectite and biomarkers, based on the calibrations from the conventional burial diagenetic sections, a major mismatch was detected for the cratonic area: 100°C–130°C from illite––smectite and tens of ^oC lower from the lipid biomarkers. This diagenetic pattern was interpreted as the result of short‐lasting (in ky scale) pulses of potassium‐bearing hot fluids migrating from the Caledonian and Variscan orogens deep in the craton interior, effectively promoting illitization in porous rocks without altering the organic matter. Analogous short pulses of fluids were responsible for numerous diagenetic phenomena, including Mississippi Valley‐Type ore deposits, in the American Midwest, in front of the Appalachians. K–Ar dating indicates that the entire Proterozoic sedimentary cover of the Great Unconformity on the EEC remained untouched by measureable post‐sedimentary changes until the early Palaeozoic, thus for over 1000 My, which is an unprecedented finding.     

Asymmetric seafloor spreading and short ridge jumps in the Australian-Antarctic discordance

The crenulated geometry of the Southeast Indian ridge within the Australian-Antarctic discordance is formed by numerous spreading ridge segments that are offset, alternately to the north and south, by transform faults. Suggested causes for these offsets, which largely developed since ~ 20 Ma, include asymmetric seafloor spreading, ridge jumps, and propagating rifts that have transferred seafloor from one flank of the spreading ridge to the other. Each of these processes has operated at different times in different locations of the discordance; here we document an instance where a small (~ 20 km), young (< 0.2 Ma), southward ridge jump has contributed to the observed asymmetry. When aeromagnetic anomalies from the Project Investigator-1 survey are superposed on gravity anomalies computed from Geosat GM and ERM data, we find that in segment B4 of the discordance (between 125° and 126° E), the roughly east-west-trending gravity low, correlated with the axial valley, is 20–25 km south of the ridge axis position inferred from the center of magnetic anomaly 1. Elsewhere in the discordance, the inferred locations of the ridge axis from magnetics and gravity are in excellent agreement. Ship track data confirm these observations: portions of Moana Wave track crossing the ridge in B4 show that a topographic valley correlated with the gravity anomaly low lies south of the center of magnetic anomaly 1; while other ship track data that cross the spreading ridge in segments B3 and B5 demonstrate good agreement between the axial valley, the gravity anomaly low, and the central magnetic anomaly. Based on these observations, we speculate that the ridge axis in B4 has recently jumped to the south, from a ridge location closer to the center of the young normally magnetized crust, to that of the gravity anomaly low. The position of the gravity low essentially at the edge of normally magnetized crust requires a very recent (< 0.2 Ma) arrival of the ridge in this new location. Because this ridge jump is so young, it may be a promising location for future detailed studies of the dynamics, kinematics, and thermal effects of ridge jumps.The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Characteristics of high-mountain karst based on GIS and Remote Sensing

Spatial data were used to develop complex characteristics of a high-mountain karst. The numeric elaboration was conducted using the analytical capabilities of GIS software. Analysis was based on spatial data gained by elaborating aerial photography. The results were presented in map sets, as well as Geographic Information System format. The set of matched numerical methods used and the proposed algorithm for data analysis may be applied at other karst sites.