Mg---NH4 exchange on humic acid: A radiotracer technique for conditional exchange constants in a seawater medium

A radiotracer technique, employing ²⁷Mg, is used to determine the Mg released by ammonium exchange on undis-solved humic acid in a seawater medium. This new method allows for the measurement of exchangeable Mg on the solid phase surface, which eliminates the problem caused by the high-Mg background in the seawater matrix. The precision calculated from the counting statistics is better than ±2%; the reproducibility among repeated counts ranged from ±1% to ±3%. The higher sensitivity of the method allows for monitoring the Mg---NH₄ exchange at concentrations as low as 30 mM NH₄. This is a major improvement relative to the data obtained with the analytical methods used so far, which allow detection of exchangeable Mg only at NH₄ concentrations higher than 1 M. The lower experimental concentrations are more in accordance with the natural ammonium levels found in anoxic marine sediments. For the undissolved humic acid used in this experiment, the amount of exchangeable Mg in apparent equilibrium with an ammonium-free seawater matrix was found to be 96.6 ± 0.4 meq/100g. The Mg---NH₄ exchange on humic acid in seawater comes to a steady-state value in < 18 min. The conditional equilibrium constant obtained for this reaction, K_cond = 0.039 ± 0.001 M⁻¹. The technique can be expanded to other geochemical solid phases in seawater and it can be modified to study the behavior of the major cations by using ²⁴Na, ⁴²K and ⁴⁹Ca.     

Lead isotopic disequilibrium between sulfide and plagioclase in the bushveld complex and the chemical evolution of large layered intrusions

The Pb isotopic compositions of coexisting plagioclase and sulfide from the Bushveld Complex were determined by laser ablation multi-collector ICPMS (LA MC-ICPMS). The samples are of the upper Critical Zone in the northeast corner of the Complex and were collected from drill core and underground mine exposures. All the rocks are fresh and exhibit no evidence for alteration, weathering, or disruption of the Pb isotope systematics subsequent to the initial cooling of the intrusion. Furthermore, individual plagioclase and sulfide crystals do not contain enough U to warrant correction for radiogenic in-growth. For these reasons, the measured Pb isotope ratios approximate the initial ones. For plagioclase, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ranges from 0.98 to 1.02 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb from 2.26 to 2.35. Low ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios characterize grain boundaries and partially annealed microcracks, some of which contain minute fragments of sulfide and other phases, and this accounts for most, if not all, the heterogeneity exhibited by individual samples. Real compositional differences exist, however, in plagioclase from different lithologic layers. For example, plagioclase ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb values vary from 1.004 in norite beneath the Merensky pyroxenite to 1.009 in the mineralized pyroxenite, and 0.997 in overlying norite. In most samples in which sulfide and plagioclase coexist, the sulfide ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio is lower and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio higher than the corresponding ones in plagioclase. For example, in a mineralized Merensky reef sample, average sulfide ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios are 0.993 and 2.313, respectively, while those in plagioclase are 1.000 and 2.292. In one sample, the sulfide is extremely heterogeneous, with ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios as low as 0.84 and 2.12. In this particular sample, the compositions must represent an isolated occurrence of addition of a young Pb component.The array of sulfide and plagioclase compositions requires multiple sources of Pb at the time of crystallization or soon thereafter. The disequilibrium between plagioclase and sulfide implies that some of the Pb originated from the isotopically distinct country rocks and was introduced at temperatures at which the composition of sulfide but not plagioclase could be modified. Thus, Bushveld sulfide, and to some extent plagioclase, do not reliably record the initial Pb isotopic composition(s) of the parent magma(s).     

Petrogenesis and chronology of lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 4472: A KREEPy regolith breccia from the Moon

Northwest Africa (NWA) 4472 is a polymict lunar regolith meteorite. The sample is KREEP-rich (high concentrations of potassium, rare earth elements and phosphorus) and comprises a heterogeneous array of lithic and mineral fragments. These clasts and mineral fragments were sourced from a range of lunar rock types including the lunar High Magnesian Suite, the High Alkali Suite, KREEP basalts, mare basalts and a variety of impact crater environments. The KREEP-rich nature of NWA 4472 indicates that the sample was ejected from regolith on the nearside of the Moon in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane and we have used Lunar Prospector gamma-ray remote sensing data to show that the meteorite is most similar to (and most likely sourced from) regoliths adjacent to the Imbrium impact basin.U-Pb and Pb-Pb age dates of NWA 4472 phosphate phases reveal that the breccia has sampled Pre-Nectarian (4.35 Ga) rocks related to early episodes of KREEP driven magmatism. Some younger phosphate U-Pb and Pb-Pb age dates are likely indicative of impact resetting events at 3.9-4 Ga, consistent with the suggested timing of basin formation on the Moon. Our study also shows that NWA 4472 has sampled impact melts and glass with an alkali-depleted, incompatible trace element-rich (high Sc, low Rb/Th ratios, low K) compositional signature not related to typical Apollo high-K KREEP, or that sampled by KREEPy lunar meteorite Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 169. This provides evidence that there are numerous sources of KREEP-rich protoliths on the Moon.     

地质实验室绘制标准曲线的数学模拟法

本文讨论了一种新的绘制标准曲线方法——数学模拟法。该方法不仅具有作图法的度和实验意义,而且还有线性回归法的数学意义。     

Petrology of andesites from the Yamato central rise,Sea of Japan

The composition of andesites from the Yamato central submarine rise and adjacent structures (Sea of Japan) points to the presence of a Late Cretaceous shortened and Oligocene-Miocene extended calc-alkaline series. With the general similarity of mineral assemblages of andesites, they are distinct in composition of minerals, which testifies to different formation conditions. The andesites of the extended type are the products of crystallization differentiation, whereas those of the shortened type are characterized by nonequilibrium composition of minerals, which reflects the heterogeneous primary melt, the composition of which discretely varied (probably repeatedly) during crystallization.     

云南大硐厂铅锌矿床中的硫碲铋矿A

硫碲铋矿Ａ产于云南省大硐厂铅锌矿床，与自然铋、辉铋铅矿共生。晶体呈柱状，粒度０．０２￣０．３ｍｍ。反光显微镜下呈淡黄色，弱非均质性，反射率Ｒｃ′＝５２．４％，Ｒ０＝４８．８％（波长为５４０ｎｍ），显微压入硬度Ｈｖ＝４６￣７２ｋｇ／ｍｍ＾２。主要粉晶谱线：３．０６５（１０），２．１２０（７），１．３４６（５），２．２２０（４）。三方晶系，空间群为Ｄ３ｄ＾５－Ｒ３↑－ｍ，晶胞参数ａ＝０．４２４１ｎｍ，     

Platinum group minerals in podiform chromitites of the Bou Azzer ophiolite, Anti Atlas, Central Morocco

Summary The Neoproterozoic Bou Azzer ophiolite complex hosts numerous, small lenticular bodies of massive and disseminated chromite. Metallurgical-grade high-Mg and high-Cr spinels (cores with 48–62 wt% Cr₂O₃) reveal complex alteration patterns of successive Cr and Mn enrichment and loss of Al towards the rims, while the Mg# ratios [(Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺)] remain almost constant. Concentration patterns of platinum-group elements are typical for ophiolitic chromitite poor in sulfides, with predominance of the IPGE, variable Rh, and low Pt and Pd. The most abundant platinum-group mineral is Rh-bearing laurite that occurs either included in spinel or in silicate matrix, whereas Os-Ir-Ru alloy is always included in spinel. Laurite inclusions reveal complex intergrowth textures with Rh-Ru-Pt rich alloy, and with Rh-rich sulfide. Most laurites display trends to sulfur-poor compositions leading to local formation of very fine-grained Ru-Os-Ir alloy phases. Ni-Co-Fe sulfides, arsenides and sulfarsenides devoid of PGE are associated with the alteration of chromite. Textural position and chemical composition of the base metal inclusions, as well as comparison of alteration features between chromite and accessory chromian spinel in the Co-Ni-As ores of the Bou Azzer ophiolite indicate a close connection. It is suggested that hydrothermal fluids percolated through the marginal zones of the ophiolite belt during greenschist facies metamorphism and deposited Ni-Co-Fe arsenides, sulfarsenides and minor sulfides as accessories within altered chromitites, and also in structurally favourable zones as Ni-Co-As ores. Author’s address: Dr. Frank Melcher, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany     

Ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the forbidden zone: the Xugou garnet peridotite, Sulu terrane, eastern China

The Xugou garnet peridotite body of the southern Sulu ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) terrane is enclosed in felsic gneiss, bounded by faults, and consists of harzburgite and lenses of garnet clinopyroxenite and eclogite. The peridotite is composed of variable amounts of olivine (Fo₉₁), enstatite (En_92?93), garnet (Alm_20?23Prp_53?58Knr_6?9Grs_12?18), diopside and rare chromite. The ultramafic protolith has a depleted residual mantle composition, indicated by a high‐Mg number, very low CaO, Al₂O₃ and total REE contents compared to primary mantle and other Sulu peridotites. Most garnet (Prp_44?58) clinopyroxenites are foliated. Except for rare kyanite‐bearing eclogitic bands, most eclogites contain a simple assemblage of garnet (Alm_29?34Prp_32?50Grs_15?39) + omphacite (Jd_24?36) + minor rutile. Clinopyroxenite and eclogite exhibit LREE‐depleted and LREE‐enriched patterns, respectively, but both have flat HREE patterns. Normalized La, Sm and Yb contents indicate that both eclogite and garnet clinopyroxenite formed by high‐pressure crystal accumulation (+ variable trapped melt) from melts resulting from two‐stage partial melting of a mantle source. Recrystallized textures and P–T estimates of 780–870 °C, 5–7 GPa and a metamorphic age of 231 ± 11 Ma indicate that both mafic and ultramafic protoliths experienced Triassic UHP metamorphism in the P–T forbidden zone with an extremely low thermal gradient (< 5 °C km^?1), and multistage retrograde recrystallization during exhumation. Develop of prehnite veins in clinopyroxenite, eclogite, felsic blocks and country rock gneiss, and replacements of eclogitic minerals by prehnite, albite, white mica, and K‐feldspar indicate low‐temperature metasomatism.     

The effect of anatase, rutile and sodium titanate on the dissolution of boehmite and gibbsite at 90 °C

Industrial plants that refine bauxite to alumina using the high temperature process have always held the belief that anatase was detrimental to the extraction of boehmite while rutile was not. This study shows that this effect is real and that it is observable at temperatures as low as 90 °C. The extraction of gibbsite is shown to be unaffected which leads us to believe that the kinetics of both the Ti-bearing mineral and the Al-bearing mineral is important in this phenomenon. In addition, it is shown that not only is the presence of anatase an issue in boehmite extraction but so too is the presence of sodium titanate. Rutile was found to have the least impact of the three mineral phases.     

库车坳陷下侏罗统沉积特征及砂体展布

库车坳陷位于塔里木盆地北部，北缘是南天山山前断裂带，南缘是塔北隆起，呈NEE向展布，东西长250km，南北宽20－60km，面积约21170km^2。下侏罗统自下而上发育阿合组、阳霞组。对吐格尔明、克孜勒努尔、库车河剖面及依南2井岩芯观察发现，阿合组和阳霞组按其岩性特征均可以划分为5个岩性段，各个岩性段在全具有对比性。还可分出4类和17个亚类岩相。阿合组细砂岩以上的粗碎屑岩含量为80％以上；阳霞组细砂岩以上的碎屑岩含量为50％－60％。砂岩厚度占总地层厚度的50％－60％以上，是油气勘探的重要目的层系。以吐格尔明剖面为代表的依南2井以东地区的阿合组和阳霞组岩矿特征基本相似，以克孜勒努尔地区为代表的依南2井以西地区有较大差异，即阳霞组长石含量几乎为零。两区共同点是以岩屑砂岩为主，成分成熟度低，结构成熟度中等，岩屑含量较高。从岩性组合、沉积构造、微观岩石成分、结构和砂体形态等方面的综合分析认为，辫状三角洲沉积体系是该区阿合组和阳霞组的主要沉积体系。阿合组砂体纵向上以多个辫状三角洲平原上的辫状分流河道砂岩加积复合为主，横向上指状镶嵌叠置呈东西向展布。阳霞组第3岩性段砂体纵向上以多个辫状三角洲前缘上的水下辫状分流河道砂岩加积复合为主，横向上指状镶嵌叠置也呈东西向展布。第2、4、5岩性段砂体以河道滞流砂岩侧砂为主，横向叠瓦状叠置呈东西向展布。