Preliminary Examinations of the Ore-forming Process by Fluid Mixing – a Test of MIX99

Abstract: Possible ore deposition by fluid mixing was preliminarily examined using MIX 99, a FORTRAN program developed for simulating water-rock interactions. We consider mixing of two fluids, the low f_O2 and high temperature source fluid and the high f_O2 and low temperature seawater. Oxygen fugacity of a mixed fluid formed by titration of seawater into the source fluid gradually decreases with decreasing temperature (model A). Sequential precipitation of ore-forming minerals was examined in this model. On the other hand, simultaneous precipitation of the minerals could be followed by simulation of instantaneous overall mixing of the two fluids (model B). Results of simulation of the both models revealed that a temporal sequence of mineralization observed in the Karuizawa mine, NE Japan, can be formed by model A, while model B is suitable for the mineralization of an active chimney found in the Rainbow hydrothermal area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.     

Fault tectonic analysis of Kii peninsula,Southwest Japan: Preliminary approach to Neogene paleostress sequence near the Nankai subduction zone

The southern part of the Outer Zone of Southwest Japan including the Kii peninsula belongs to the tectonic ‘shadow zone’, where fewer conspicuous active faults and less Quaternary sediments develop than in the Nankai subduction zone and Inner Zone of Southwest Japan. In order to study the paleostress sequence of the Kii peninsula, we analyzed fault‐slip data and tension gashes at pilot sites of Early–Middle Miocene forearc sediments and Late Cretaceous accretionary complex. According to the results, six faulting events are reconstructed in sequence: (i) east–west extension (normal faulting); (ii) east–west compression and north–south extension (strike‐slip faulting); (iii) NNW–SSE compression and ENE–WSW extension (strike‐slip faulting); (iv) northeast–southwest compression and northwest–southeast extension (strike‐slip faulting); (v) WNW–ESE compression (strike‐slip or reverse faulting); and (vi) NNE–SSW extension. The north–south to NNW–SSE trending dyke swarm of Middle Miocene age in the Kii peninsula is thought to be related to Event 3, implying that Event 3 was active at least during the Middle Miocene. Because Event 6 is recognized solely at a site, the overall latest faulting event seems to be Event 5. Assuming that the compression results from the motion of the crust or plate, the compression direction of Event 5 is in good accordance with the present‐day WNW crustal velocity vectors of the Kii peninsula. The stress trajectory map of Southeast Korea and Southwest Japan reveals that the current compression directions of the Kii peninsula correspond to the combinatory stress fields of the Himalayan and Philippine Sea tectonic domains.     

Multiple nitrogen isotopic components coexisting in ureilites

Abstract— Nitrogen and noble gas isotopic compositions and C abundance of ureilites were analyzed using a stepwise combustion technique. Four Antarctic ureilites, ALHA77257, Asuka 881931, Yamato 791538 and Yamato 790981 were analyzed. Multiple N isotopic components were observed in these ureilites. The δ¹⁵N values of these N components ranged from +160 to ?120%. The minimum δ¹⁵N values of typically ?120% were observed at combustion temperatures at 700–900 °C where large amounts of C were released. A heavy N component was observed in only two ureilites, ALHA77257 and Asuka 881931. Silicate-enriched fractions and C-concentrated fractions were prepared for these two ureilites. We conclude that both the light N and the heavy N are trapped in the carbonaceous vein minerals. The lack of correction between the N/C ratio and the ³⁶Ar/C ratio suggests that the primary carrier phase of the light N does not correspond to that of the planetary noble gases. We consider that the isotopically heavy N, which was observed in this study, is related to the heavy N observed among polymict ureilites. Small amounts (<0.5 ppm) of light N with the minimum δ¹⁵N value of ?120% were observed among the silicate fractions at the highest combustion temperature of 1200 °C, although the exact carrier phase of this light N is not known. We consider that the currently observed ureilites were produced by injection of several volatile-rich objects into volatile-poor ureilitic silicates.     

冲绳海槽海底热液喷出口附近海水中~(210)Pb和~(210)Po的行为

讨论了在冲绳海槽伊平屋海岭和南奄西海丘两处海底热液喷出口附近海水中的铀系子体放射性核素2 10 Pb和2 10 Po浓度的垂直分布剖面 .在伊平屋海岭 ,甲烷及2 2 2 Rn的数据表明海底热液活动不强 ,总2 10 Pb和2 10 Po放射性均低于它们各自母体的放射性 ,2 10 Pb和2 10 Po在海水中的平均停留时间分别为 2 0和 2～ 5a ,而在以“黑色烟雾”为特征的海底热液活动强烈的南奄西海丘 ,在”烟雾”中的总2 10 Pb含量 ( 0 1 6 7× 1 0 -3～ 2 50× 1 0 -3Bq/kg)相对其母体2 2 6Ra贫乏 ,而总2 10 Po含量 ( 1 83× 1 0 -3～ 2 83×1 0 -3Bq/kg)则相对其母体2 10 Pb过剩 .该处海水中的2 10 Po的放射性高于东海陆架区及冲绳海槽其他海区 ,并且显示了2 10 Po过剩 .2 10 Pb/ 2 2 6Ra以及2 10 Po/ 2 10 Pb放射性比值的范围分别为 0 1～ 0 4和 1 1～ 7 8.在热液扩散带中2 10 Pb被优先从海水中清除 .控制南奄西海丘海水中2 10 Pb浓度的可能机制涉及到2 10 Pb通过扩散作用的横向输送 .在热液扩散带中高2 10 Po/ 2 10 Pb放射性比值表明2 10 Pb的耗尽及2 10 Po从海底热液喷出口的加入 .     

冲绳海槽海底热液喷出口附近海水中210Pb和210Po的行为

讨论了在冲绳海槽伊平屋海岭和南奄西海丘两处海底热液喷出口附近海水中的铀系子体放射性核素210Pb和210Po浓度的垂直分布剖面.在伊平屋海岭,甲烷及222Rn的数据表明海底热液活动不强,总210Pb和210Po放射性均低于它们各自母体的放射性,210Pb和210Po在海水中的平均停留时间分别为20和2～5a,而在以“黑色烟雾”为特征的海底热液活动强烈的南奄西海丘,在”烟雾”中的总210Pb含量(0.167×10-3～2.50×10-3Bq/kg)相对其母体226Ra贫乏,而总210Po含量(1.83×10-3～2.83×10-3Bq/kg)则相对其母体210Pb过剩.该处海水中的210Po的放射性高于东海陆架区及冲绳海槽其他海区,并且显示了210Po过剩.210Pb/226Ra以及210Po/210Pb放射性比值的范围分别为0.1～0.4和1.1～7.8.在热液扩散带中210Pb被优先从海水中清除.控制南奄西海丘海水中210Pb浓度的可能机制涉及到210Pb通过扩散作用的横向输送.在热液扩散带中高210Po/210Pb放射性比值表明210Pb的耗尽及210Po从海底热液喷出口的加入.     

Evidence from the Rb‐Sr system for 4.4 Ga alteration of chondrules in the Allende (CV3) parent body

Abstract— The timing and processes of alteration in the CV parent body are investigated by the analysis of Sr isotopes, major and trace elements, and petrographic type and distribution of the secondary minerals (nepheline and sodalite) in 22 chondrules from the Allende (CV3) chondrite. The Sr isotopic compositions of the chondrules are scattered around the 4.0 Ga reference line on the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr evolution diagram, indicating that the chondrules have been affected by late thermal alteration event(s) in the parent body. The degree of alteration, determined for individual chondrules based on the distribution of nepheline and sodalite, is unrelated to the disturbance of the Rb‐Sr system, suggesting that the alteration process that produced nepheline and sodalite is different from the thermal process that disturbed the Rb‐Sr system of the chondrules. Considering the geochemical behavior of Rb and Sr, the main host phase of Sr in chondrules is likely to be mesostasis, which could be most susceptible to late thermal alteration. As there is a poor connection between the alteration degree determined from abundances of nepheline and sodalite and the disturbance of Rb‐Sr isotopic system, we consider the mesostasis to provide a constraint on the late parent body alteration process. From this point of view, 23 mesostasis‐rich chondrules, including those from literature data, were selected. The selected chondrules are closely correlated on the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr evolution diagram, with an inferred age of 4.36 ± 0.08 Ga. This correlation would represent an age of the final major Sr isotopic redistribution of the chondrules in the parent body.     

High‐resolution lithostratigraphy and organic carbon isotope stratigraphy of the Lower Triassic pelagic sequence in central Japan

After the severest mass extinction event in the Phanerozoic, biotic recovery from the extinction at the Permian–Triassic boundary required approximately 5 my, which covers the entire Early Triassic. It is important to obtain information on the superocean Panthalassa, which occupied most of the world ocean, to explore paleoenvironmental changes during the Early Triassic at the global scale. In order to establish the continuous lithostratigraphy of pelagic sediments in Panthalassa during the Early Triassic, high‐resolution reconstruction of the Lower Triassic pelagic sequence in Japan was conducted for the first time based on detailed field mapping and lithostratigraphic correlation in the Inuyama area, central Japan. The reconstructed Early Triassic sequence is approximately 9.5 m thick, consists of five rock types, and is divided into eight lithological units. For the reconstructed continuous sequence, measurement of carbon isotopic composition of sedimentary organic matter (δ¹³C_org) was carried out. Stratigraphic variation of the δ¹³C_org value shows large‐amplitude fluctuations between ?34.4 and ?21.0‰ throughout the sequence. In order to establish a higher resolution age model for the reconstructed Lower Triassic pelagic sequence, we correlated δ¹³C_org records in the Inuyama area with high‐resolution isotopic profiles of carbonate carbon (δ¹³C_carb) from shallow‐marine carbonate sequences in southern China based on the similarity in general variation patterns with age constraints by radiolarian and conodont biostratigraphy. The result provides a high‐resolution time scale for the pelagic sequence of Panthalassa during the Smithian and Spathian. The age model suggests a drastic increase in sedimentation rate during the late Smithian, which should have been caused by the increase in terrigenous input to this site.     

Ore Mineralogy and Mineral Chemistry of the Ashanti Gold Deposit at Obuasi, Ghana

Abstract: The gold deposit at Ashanti occurs in the Proterozoic Birimian formation of Ghana. Two main ore types mined from the deposit are gold-bearing quartz veins, and gold-sulfide disseminations in metasediments and metavolcanics. The main sulfide minerals in the gold-sulfide disseminated ores are arsenopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite, and to a very minor extent, sphalerite and tetrahedrite. Carbonate alteration and sericitization are prominent in the metavolcanics and the metasediments, respectively. In the quartz veins, pyrite and arsenopyrite commonly occur in small amounts, but gold mostly occurs in contact with tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, galena, aurostibite, and sphalerite. Pyrrhotite is absent in the quartz veins.
Microprobe studies indicate that As content of homogeneous arsenopyrite grains ranges from 27. 0 to 31. 7 atm%, and gives mineralization temperatures from 170 to 430°C, although mostly from 300 to 400°C. Chlorite geothermometry using temperature dependence of substitution of Al for Si in the tetrahedral site gives formation temeratures of 330 to 400°C, comparable to the arsenopyrite temperatures. Applying sphalerite–pyrite–pyrrhotite geobarometry to sphalerite with FeS contents from 13. 6 to 12. 5 mol%, the pressure was estimated to be in a range from 5. 9 to 7. 0 kb at the stage of elevated temperatures.
Mineralogical observations, especially absence of pyrrhotite in the quartz veins, together with microprobe data for gold and associated minerals suggest that the fluids having ascended through fissures in the Ashanti deposit were reduced by the reaction with carbonaceous materials in the metasediments during the declining stage of the regional metamorphism.