Inclusions of silicate and sulfate melts in chrome diposide from the Inagli deposit,Yakutia, Russia

Melt inclusions were studied in chrome diopside from the Inagli deposit of gemstones in the Inagli massif of alkaline ultrabasic rocks of potassic affinity in the northwestern Aldan shield, Yakutia, Russia. The chrome diopside is highly transparent and has an intense green color. Its Cr₂O₃ content varies from 0.13 to 0.75 wt %. Primary and primary-secondary polyphase inclusions in chrome diopside are dominated by crystal phases (80–90 vol %) and contain aqueous solution and a gas phase. Using electron microprobe analysis and Raman spectroscopy, the following crystalline phases were identified. Silicate minerals are represented by potassium feldspar, pectolite [NaCa₂Si₃O₈(OH)], and phlogopite. The most abundant minerals in the majority of inclusions are sulfates: glaserite (aphthitalite) [K₃Na(SO₄)₂], glauberite [Na₂Ca(SO₄)₂], aluminum sulfate, anhydrite (CaSO₄), gypsum (CaSO₄ × 2H₂O), barite (BaSO₄), bloedite [Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂ × 4H₂O], thenardite (NaSO₄), polyhalite [K₂Ca₂Mg(SO₄)₄ × 2H₂O], arcanite (K₂SO₄), and celestite (SrSO₄). In addition, apatite was detected in some inclusions. Chlorides are probably present among small crystalline phases, because some analyses of aggregates of silicate and sulfate minerals showed up to 0.19–10.3 wt % Cl. Hydrogen was identified in the gas phase of polyphase inclusions by Raman spectroscopy. The composition of melt from which the chrome diopside crystallized was calculated on the basis of the investigation of silicate melt inclusions. This melt contains 53.5 wt % SiO₂, considerable amounts of CaO (16.3 wt %), K₂O (7.9 wt %), Na₂O (3.5 wt %), and SO₃ (1.4 wt %) and moderate amounts of Al₂O₃ (7.5 wt %), MgO (5.8 wt %), FeO (1.1 wt %), and H₂O (0.75 wt %). The content of Cr₂O₃ in the melt was 0.13 wt %. Many inclusions were homogenized at 770–850°C, when all of the crystals and the gas phase were dissolved. The material of inclusions heated up to the homogenization temperature became heterogeneous even during very fast quenching (two seconds) producing numerous small crystals. This fact implies that most of the inclusions contained a salt (rather than silicate) melt of sulfate-dominated composition. Such inclusions were formed from salt globules (with a density of about 2.5 g/cm³) occurring as an emulsion in the denser (2.6 g/cm³) silicate melt from which the chrome diopside crystallized.     

Metamorphic rocks of the Murmansk domain (Kola Peninsula) as compared with the oldest rock associations of the northeastern Baltic shield,Canada, and Greenland

Rock associations characterized by heterogeneous sets of petrogeochemical parameters were compared by quantifying the degree of their similarity-dissimilarity and searching for discrimination trends between them. Using procedures specially developed for this purpose, it was demonstrated for the first time that the lithotectonic complexes of the Murmansk domain are fundamentally different from those of typical granulite-gneiss terrains and resemble the granite-greenstone terrains of the Baltic shield, Greenland, and Canada. Based on the whole data set, the Murmansk domain can be considered as a deeply eroded Archean granite-greenstone terrain retaining only the tonalite-trondhjemite-gneiss basement with abundant supracrustal enclaves. A trend of the compositional difference between the older and younger rock associations is similar to that between the tholeiitic and boninitic volcanic series. It was suggested that the petrogeochemical “age” trend reflects the initial stage of the compositional evolution of the metamagmatic rocks of the region from metamorphic rocks similar to tholeiites at the early stages to the Paleoproterozoic boninite-like rocks, which are believed to be linked to the unique PGE-bearing province of the northeastern Baltic shield. This implies that the specific metallogenic features of the region emerged already in the Archean, which supported the suggestion on the long duration of geological processes in the Early Precambrian.     

Conditions of Quaternary magmatism at Spitsbergen Island

Petrological and geochemical data obtained on the Quaternary lavas of volcanoes at Spitsbergen Island indicate that the rocks were produced via the deep-seated crystallization of parental alkaline magmas at 8–10 kbar. The character of clinopyroxene enrichment in incompatible elements indicates that the mineral crystallized from more enriched melts than those inferred from the composition of the host lavas. These melts were close to the parental melts previously found as veinlets in mantle hyperbasite xenoliths in the lavas. According to the character of their enrichment in Pb and Sr radiogenic isotopes and depletion in Nd, the basalts from Spitsbergen Island define a single trend with the weakly enriched tholeiites of the Knipovich Ridge, a fact suggesting the closeness of the enriched sources beneath the continental margin of Spitsbergen and beneath the spreading zone. Magmatic activity at Spitsbergen was related to the evolution of the Norwegian-Greenland basin, which evolved in pulses according to the shift of the spreading axes. The most significant of the latter events took place in the Neogene, when the Knipovich Ridge obtained its modern position near the western boundary of Spitsbergen. Early in the course of the evolution, the emplacement of alkaline melts generated at Spitsbergen into the oceanic mantle could form the enriched mantle, which was later involved in the melting process beneath the spreading zone.     

Stable isotope study of the Archaean rocks of the Vredefort impact structure,central Kaapvaal Craton,South Africa

The Vredefort dome in the Kaapvaal Craton was formed as a result of the impact of a large meteorite at 2.02 Ga. The central core of Archaean granitic basement rocks is surrounded by a collar of uplifted and overturned strata of the Witwatersrand Supergroup, exposing a substantial depth section of the Archaean crust. Orthogneisses of the core show little variation in whole-rock δ ¹⁸O value, with the majority being between 8 and 10‰, with a mean of 9.2‰ (n = 35). Quartz and feldspar have per mil differences that are consistent with O-isotope equilibrium at high temperatures, suggesting minimal interaction with fluids during subsequent cooling. These data refute previous suggestions that the Outer Granite Gneiss (OGG) and Inlandsee Leucogranofels (ILG) of the core represent middle and lower crust, respectively. Granulite-facies greenstone remnants from the ILG have δ ¹⁸O values that are on average 1.5‰ higher than the ILG host rocks and are unlikely, therefore, to represent the residuum from the partial melting event that formed the host rock. Witwatersrand Supergroup sedimentary rocks of the collar, which were metamorphosed at greenschist-to amphibolite-facies conditions, generally have lower δ ¹⁸O values than the core rocks with a mean value for metapelites of 7.7‰ (n = 45). Overall, through an ∼20 km thick section of crust, there is a general increase in whole-rock δ ¹⁸O value with increasing depth. This is the reverse of what is normal in the crust, largely because the collar rocks have δ ¹⁸O values that are unusually low in comparison with metamorphosed sedimentary rocks worldwide. The collar rocks have δD values ranging from −35 to −115‰ (average −62‰, n = 29), which are consistent with interaction with water of meteoric origin, having a δD of about −25 to −45‰. We suggest that fluid movement through the collar rocks was enhanced by impact-induced secondary permeability in the dome structure. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Li-Sr-Nd isotope signatures of the plume and cratonic lithospheric mantle beneath the margin of the rifted Tanzanian craton (Labait)

Lithium concentrations and isotopic compositions of olivine and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of coexisting clinopyroxene from peridotite xenoliths from the Quaternary Labait volcano, Tanzania, document the influence of rift-related metasomatism on the ancient cratonic mantle. Olivines show negative correlations between Fo content and both δ⁷Li and Li concentrations. Olivines in iron-rich peridotites (Fo_85–87) have high Li concentrations (3.2–4.8 ppm) and heavy δ⁷Li (+5.2 to +6.6). In contrast, olivines in ancient, refractory peridotites have lower Li concentrations (∼2 ppm) and relatively light δ⁷Li (+2.6 to +3.5). This reflects mixing between ancient, refractory cratonic lithosphere and asthenosphere-derived rift magmas. A uniquely fertile, deformed, high-temperature garnet lherzolite, interpreted to be from the base of the lithosphere, has a ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7029 and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of 0.51286, similar to HIMU oceanic basalts. It provides the best estimate of the Sr–Nd isotope composition of the upwelling mantle (i.e., plume, sensu lato) underlying this portion of the East African Rift, and is slightly less radiogenic compared to previous estimates of the plume that were based on rift basalts. Although elevated δ⁷Li are not exclusive to HIMU source regions, the data collectively indicate that the plume beneath Labait has HIMU characteristics in Sr, Nd and Li isotope composition. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Timing of UHP metamorphism in the Hong’an area,western Dabie Mountains,China: evidence from zircon U–Pb age,trace element and Hf isotope composition

The Hong’an area (western Dabie Mountains) is the westernmost terrane in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogen that preserves UHP eclogites. The ages of the UHP metamorphism have not been well constrained, and thus hinder our understanding of the tectonic evolution of this area. LA-ICPMS U–Pb age, trace element and Hf isotope compositions of zircons of a granitic gneiss and an eclogite from the Xinxian UHP unit in the Hong’an area were analyzed to constrain the age of the UHP metamorphism. Most zircons are unzoned or show sector zoning. They have low trace element concentrations, without significant negative Eu anomalies. These metamorphic zircons can be further subdivided into two groups according to their U–Pb ages, and trace element and Lu–Hf isotope compositions. One group with an average age of 239 ± 2 Ma show relatively high and variable HREE contents (527 ≥ Lu_N ≥ 14) and ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios (0.00008–0.000931), indicating their growth prior to a great deal of garnet growth in the late stage of continental subduction. The other group yields an average age of 227 ± 2 Ma, and shows consistent low HREE contents and ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios, suggesting their growth with concurrent garnet crystallization and/or recrystallization. These two groups of age are taken as recording the time of prograde HP to UHP and retrograde UHP–HP stages, respectively. A few cores have high Th/U ratios, high trace element contents, and a clear negative Eu anomaly. These features support a magmatic origin of these zircon cores. The upper intercept ages of 771 ± 86 and 752 ± 70 Ma for the granitic gneiss and eclogite, respectively, indicate that their protoliths probably formed as a bimodal suite in rifting zones in the northern margin of the Yangtze Block. Young Hf model ages (T _DM1) of magmatic cores indicate juvenile (mantle-derived) materials were involved in their protolith formation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Zircon coronas around Fe–Ti oxides: a physical reference frame for metamorphic and metasomatic reactions

Ilmenite in coronitic gabbros from the Bamble and Kongsberg sectors, southern Norway, is surrounded by zircons ranging in diameters from a fraction of a micrometer to 10 μm across. The zircons are inert during subsequent metamorphism (amphibolite- to pumpellyite–prehnite facies) and metasomatism (scapolitization and albitization) and can be found as trails in silicates (phlogopite, talc, chlorite, amphibole, albite, and tourmaline) in the altered rocks. The trails link up to form polygons outlining the former oxide grain boundary. This 3-dimensional framework of zircons is used to (a) recognize metasomatic origin of rocks, (b) quantify the mobility of elements during mineral replacement, (c) establish the growth direction of reaction fronts and to identify the reaction mechanism as dissolution–reprecipitation. Zircon coronas on Fe–Ti oxides have been described from a number of terrains and appear to be common in mafic rocks (gabbros and granulites) providing a tool for a better understanding of metasomatic and metamorphic reactions.     

Influence of temperature,composition, silica activity and oxygen fugacity on the H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O storage capacity of olivine at 8 GPa

Olivine crystals were grown in the presence of a hydrous silicate fluid during multi-anvil experiments at 8 GPa and 1,000–1,600°C. Experiments were conducted both in a simple system (FeO–MgO–SiO₂–H₂O) and in a more complex system containing additional elements (CaO–Na₂O–Al₂O₃–Cr₂O₃–TiO₂–FeO–MgO–SiO₂–H₂O). Silica activity was buffered by the presence of either pyroxene (high a _SiO2) or ferropericlase (low a _SiO2), and was buffered by the presence of Ni + NiO or Fe + FeO, or constrained by the presence of Fe₂O₃. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify pyroxene polymorphs in the run products. Clinoenstatite was present in the 1,000°C experiment, and enstatite in experiments at 1,400–1,520°C. The H₂O content of olivine was measured using secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the nature of hydrous defects. The H₂O storage capacity of olivine decreases with increasing temperature at 8 GPa. In contrast to previous experimental results at ≤2 GPa, no significant effect of varying oxygen fugacity is evident, but H₂O storage capacity is enhanced under conditions of low silica activity. No significant growth of low wavenumber (<3,400 cm⁻¹) peaks, generally associated with high at low pressure, was observed in the FTIR spectra of olivine from the high experiments. Our experiments show that previous high pressure H₂O storage capacity measurements for olivine synthesized under more oxidizing conditions than the Earth’s mantle are not likely to be compromised by the of the experiments. However, the considerable effect of temperature on H₂O storage capacity in olivine must be taken into account to avoid overestimation of the bulk upper mantle H₂O storage capacity.     

Chemical and boron-isotope variations in tourmalines from an S-type granite and its source rocks: the Erongo granite and tourmalinites in the Damara Belt,Namibia

Tourmaline is widespread in metapelites and pegmatites from the Neoproterozoic Damara Belt, which form the basement and potential source rocks of the Cretaceous Erongo granite. This study traces the B-isotope variations in tourmalines from the basement, from the Erongo granite and from its hydrothermal stage. Tourmalines from the basement are alkali-deficient schorl-dravites, with B-isotope ratios typical for continental crust (δ¹¹B average −8.4‰ ± 1.4, n = 11; one sample at −13‰, n = 2). Virtually all tourmaline in the Erongo granite occurs in distinctive tourmaline-quartz orbicules. This “main-stage” tourmaline is alkali-deficient schorl (20–30% X-site vacancy, Fe/(Fe + Mg) 0.8–1), with uniform B-isotope compositions (δ¹¹B −8.7‰ ± 1.5, n = 49) that are indistinguishable from the basement average, suggesting that boron was derived from anatexis of the local basement rocks with no significant shift in isotopic composition. Secondary, hydrothermal tourmaline in the granite has a bimodal B-isotope distribution with one peak at about −9‰, like the main-stage tourmaline, and a second at −2‰. We propose that the tourmaline-rich orbicules formed late in the crystallization history from an immiscible Na–B–Fe-rich hydrous melt. The massive precipitation of orbicular tourmaline nearly exhausted the melt in boron and the shift of δ¹¹B to −2‰ in secondary tourmaline can be explained by Rayleigh fractionation after about 90% B-depletion in the residual fluid. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.