Chemical fractionations in meteorites—X. Ureilites

Four ureilites (Dyalpur, Goalpara, Haverö, and Novo Urei) were analyzed by radiochemical neutron activation analysis for Ag, Au, Bi, Br, Cd, Cs, Ge, In, Ir, Ni, Rb, Re, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, and U. An attempt has been made to resolve the data into contributions from the parent ultramafic rock and the injected, carbon- and gas-rich vein material. Interelement correlations, supported by analyses of separated vein material (WANKE et al, 1972), suggest that the vein material is enriched about 10-fold in refractory Ir and Re over moderately volatile Ni and Au, and is low in volatiles except Ge, C, and noble gases. It appears to be a refractory-rich nebular condensate that precipitated carbon by surface catalytic reactions at ˜500K and trapped noble gases but few other volatiles. The closest known analogue is a Cr- and C-rich fraction from the Allende meteorite, highly enriched in heavy noble gases and noble metals. By analogy with Allende, the gas-bearing phase in ureilites may have been an Fe, Cr-sulfide.

The ultramafic rock contains siderophiles and chalcophiles (Ni, Au, Ge, S, Se) at ˜0.05 of Cl chondrite level, and highly volatile elements (Rb, Cs, Bi, Tl, Br, Te, In, Cd) at ˜0.01 Cl level. It probably represents the residue from partial melting of a C3V-like chondrite body, under conditions where phase separation was incomplete so that some liquid was retained. The vein material was injected into this rock at some later time.     

Stable isotope study of carbonate sediments from the Coorong Area, South Australia

ABSTRACT
The mineralogy and isotope geochemistry of carbonate minerals in the Coorong area are determined by the water chemistry of different depositional environments ranging from seawater to evaporitically modified continental water. The different isotopic compositions of coexisting calcite and dolomite suggest that each of the above two minerals was formed from water of composition and origin unique to that specific mineral. In addition, the dolomite was not formed by simple solid state cation exchange.
The occurrence of two types of dolomite was shown by isotope analysis and SEM observations. The dolomite, which is isotopically light (δ¹³C = -1 to -2% 0 ; δ¹⁸O=+3 to +5%₀) and of fine grain size (˜ 0·5 μm) probably precipitated under the influence of evaporitically modified continental water. Coarser grained dolomite (up to 4 μm) is isotopically heavier (δ¹³C=+3 to +4%₀; δ¹⁸O=+5 to + 6%₀) contains Mg in excess of Ca and was formed in or close to equilibrium with atmospheric CO² probably by the dolomitization of aragonite.     

The mafic-ultramafic complex near Finero (Ivrea-Verbano Zone), I. Chemistry of MORB-like magmas

Geochemical data are presented for the meta-igneous, mafic-ultramafic complex near Finero. This complex is in contact with a phlogopite-bearing mantle peridotite and is subdivided into the Internal Gabbro unit, the Amphibole Peridotite unit, and the External Gabbro unit. The Internal Gabbro and the Amphibole Peridotite units consist of coarse-grained, chemically heterogeneous cumulates, whereas the External Gabbro unit is generally massive, chemically more uniform and approximately representative of the residual melt with MgO contents between 6.6 and 9.1% and Mg numbers between 38 and 58. Both whole-rock and mineral contents of Ni and Cr are significantly higher (at similar Mg numbers) in the Amphibole Peridotite unit than in the Internal Gabbro unit. The most straightforward interpretation of this is that the Amphibole Peridotite unit accumulated after the influx of fresh mafic (or ultramafic) magma into the magma chamber. Major-element chemical trends are continuous from the Amphibole Peridotite unit to the External Gabbro unit and are consistent with closed-system fractionation with no further addition of magma or contamination by wall or roof rock assimilation. In the External Gabbro unit, total FeO and TiO₂ contents are strongly correlated with each other (and with P₂O₅ and Zr) and reach values as high as 19 and 4%, respectively, indicating an advanced degree of crystal fractionation along a tholeftic trend. The External Gabbro samples have generally smooth normalized trace element patterns, which are consistent with being representative of a liquid composition. The residual nature of the External Gabbro magma is also indicated by negative Eu and Sr anomalies, clear evidence for prior feldspar fractionation. REE patterns are otherwise indistinguishable from N-type MORB, but Th and U are significantly more depleted than in MORB. This Th and U depletion is similar to that found in olivine basalts and picrites on Iceland and Hawaii; its origin is not well understood. No evidence is seen for any assimilation of crystal material, in sharp contrast with the situation of the igneous complex in Val Sesia near Balmuccia, where the magma composition is dominated by assimilation of crust. We suggest that the heat provided by at most two injections of magma near Finero was insufficient to induce crystal anatexis, in contrast with the excess heat supplied by multiple magma injections at Balmuccia.     

Andesite and dacite genesis via contrasting processes: the geology and geochemistry of El Valle Volcano,Panama

The easternmost stratovolcano along the Central American arc is El Valle volcano, Panama. Several andesitic and dacitic lava flows, which range in age 5–10 Ma, are termed the old group. After a long period of quiescence (approximately 3.4 Ma), volcanic activity resumed approximately 1.55 Ma with the emplacement of dacitic domes and the deposition of dacitic pyroclastic flows 0.9–0.2 Ma. These are referred to as the young group. All of the samples analyzed are calc-alkaline andesites and dacites. The mineralogy of the two groups is distinct; two pyroxenes occur in the old-group rocks but are commonly absent in the young group. In contrast, amphibole has been found only in the young-group samples. Several disequilibrium features have been observed in the minerals (e.g., oscillatory zoning within clinopyroxenes). These disequilibrium textures appear to be more prevalent among the old- as compared with the young-group samples and are most likely the result of magma-mixing, assimilation, and/or polybaric crystallization. Mass-balance fractionation models for major and trace elements were successful in relating samples from the old group but failed to show a relationship among the young-group rocks or between the old- and young-group volcanics. We believe that the old-group volcanics were derived through differentiation processes from basaltic magmas generated within the mantlewedge. The young group, however, does not appear to be related to more primitive magmas by differentiation. The young-group samples cannot be related by fractionation including realistic amounts of amphibole. Distinctive geochemical features of the young group, including La/Yb ratios〉15, Yb〈1, Sr/Y〉150, and Y〈6, suggest that these rocks were derived from the partial melting of the subducted lithosphere. These characteristics can be explained by the partial melting of a source with residual garnet and amphibole. Dacitic material with the geochemical characteristics of subducted-lithosphere melting is generated apparently only where relatively hot crust is subducted, based on recent work. The young dacite-genesis at El Valle volcano is related to the subduction of relatively hot lithosphere.     

The Composition and Origin of the Connemara Dolomitic Marbles and Ophicalcites, Ireland

The Connemara ophicalcites and associated marbles contain varyingproportions of calcite, dolomite, tremolitic amphibole, serpentinizedolivine, diopside, humite, phlogopite, clinochlore, and quartz.They formed from a chemically precipitated 'primary' dolomitewith a small amount of mica and clay minerals in which muchof the trace and minor element content of the rock, e.g. Al,Fe, Ti, Zn, Ni, Cr, Zr, K, Rb, and rare earths was concentrated.The rock was probably silicified after deposition, possiblyduring metamorphism, and was probably not deposited with majoradmixed detrital quartz or feldspar. The formation during metamorphismof complementary segregated layers rich in either olivine (Fo_98±2)or calcite resulted from important chemical changes controlledby the composition of the stable metamorphic minerals, i.e.those for which solution concentrations exceeded the solubilityproduct for the pore fluid. The mineralogy influenced the localconcentrations of both major and trace elements and emphasizesthe importance of solutions and the stable metamorphic mineralogyin manipulating the composition of some metamorphic rocks. Somecriteria for recognizing segregated layers in metamorphic rocksare given. Serpentinization was probably by addition of water and silicaand not by movement of Fe or Mg. Chemical analyses of forty-threesamples each for twenty-six oxides and elements are given andthe first occurrence of humite in Connemara is reported.     

Characteristics of black shale in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng and lower Silurian Longmaxi formations in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,China

Geochemical and mineralogical analyses, in addition to isothermal adsorption experiments on field samples, are used to characterise the sedimentary environments, reservoirs and adsorbed gas of the Upper Ordovician Wufeng–lower Silurian Longmaxi formations in the Sichuan Basin and its peripheral areas. The sedimentary environment of the Wufeng and the lower part of Longmaxi formations is a deep-water shelf with five different lithologies identified: siliceous shale, black shale, siltstone, biolithite limestone and bentonite. The black shale in the Wufeng and the lower part of Longmaxi formations is 50 m thick, with an average organic carbon content (TOC) of 3.81 wt% and a maturity (Ro) of 1.62%. Quartz comprises 54.94 vol% of the shale and positively correlates with the TOC. Micropores in the black shale include intergranular pores, intragranular pores, organic matter pores and microfractures. Among these pores, spaces between clay sheets and organic molecules represent a favourable storage space for the accumulation and preservation of oil and gas. The Langmuir volume parameter ranges between 1.52 and 3.01 cm³/g, with an average value of 2.33 cm³/g. The presence of organic matter pores and pores between clay sheets in the black shale is the main and controlling factor for accumulated gas.     

Playa‐lake sedimentation and organic matter accumulation in an Andean piggyback basin: the recent record from the Cuenca de Pozuelos,North‐west Argentina

Expansive playa‐lake systems situated in high‐altitude piggyback basins are important and conspicuous components of both modern and ancient cordilleran orogenic systems. Extant playa lakes provide vital habitat for numerous endemic species, whereas sediments from these deposystems may record signals of climate change or develop natural resources over geological time. Laguna de los Pozuelos (North‐west Argentina) provides the opportunity for an actualistic sedimentological and geochemical assessment of a piggyback basin playa lake in an area of critical interest for understanding Quaternary palaeoclimate dynamics. Silty clays and diatom ooze are the dominant playa‐lake centre microfacies, with concentrations of total organic carbon and biogenic silica commonly exceeding 1·5 wt% in this sub‐environment. Elemental and stable isotopic analyses point to a mixed organic matter composition in the playa‐lake centre, with substantial contributions from algae and transported aquatic macrophytes. Bulk sediment and organic mass accumulation rates in the southern playa‐lake centre approach 0·22 g cm^?2 year^?1 and 2·89 mg cm^?2 year^?1, respectively, indicating moderately rapid deposition with negligible deflation over historic time. Playa margin facies contain higher percentages of fragmented biogenic carbonate (ostracods and charophytes) and inorganically precipitated aragonite crusts due to seasonal pumping and evaporation of ground water. Organic matter accumulation is limited along these heavily bioturbated wet and dry mud flats. Fluvial–lacustrine transitional environments, which are key waterbird habitats, are either silty terminal splay (northern axis) or sandy deltas (southern axis) containing highly oxidized and partially allochthonous organic matter. Modern analogue data from Laguna de los Pozuelos provide key insights for: (i) environmental reconstructions of ancient lake sequences; and (ii) improving facies models for piggyback basins.     

Diagenesis and hydrocarbon emplacement in the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation tight sandstones in the southern Ordos Basin,China

The Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the southern Ordos Basin is a tight sandstone but productive hydrocarbon exploration target. A variety of analyses, including thin-sections, cathodoluminescence (CL), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fluorescence, isotope and fluid inclusion, have been used to analyse the reservoir petrology and diagenesis to understand the evolution of reservoir porosity. The sandstones are mostly feldspathic litharenites and lithic arkoses with low porosities (7.6% on average) and extremely low permeabilities (0.49 mD on average). A complex diagenetic alteration history of the reservoir caused different kinds of reduction in reservoir porosity. The carbonate cements are sourced from adjacent organic-rich mudstone and precipitated with a higher content near the edges of sandstone units and a lower content at the centres of sandstone units, resulting in two different diagenetic evolution paths. The analysis of porosity evolution history and hydrocarbon emplacement produced the following conclusions: (1) during the eodiagenesis period, mechanical compaction reduced the primary porosity dramatically from 40 to 19%; and (2) during the mesodiagenesis period, the first-phase oil charged the reservoir (porosity ranging from 14 to 19%) as bitumen along detrital grains forming a preferential pathway for subsequent oil emplacements. In the second-phase of oil charge, the reservoir porosity ranged from 9 to 14% limiting water–rock reactions. During the third-phase of oil charge, porosity of the reservoir remained at 9%. In general, the densification period (with a porosity close to 10%) of the reservoir occurs at the same time as the major oil emplacement and may be an explanation for the low oil saturation of the Chang 8 tight sandstone.     

Mercury in the Broken Hill (N.S.W., Australia) lead-zinc-silver lodes

In the Pb-Zn-Ag lodes at Broken Hill, significant Hg remains located in sphalerite and in tetrahedrite inclusions in galena, despite prograde granulite facies regional metamorphism that has resulted in recrystallization of the ore. The stratigraphically uppermost No. 3 lens has the highest Hg content, with sphalerite and galena concentrates containing up to 149,000 ppb and 198,000 ppb Hg, respectively, in Ag-Sb-rich parts of the lode.The No. 2 and 1 lenses and A lode have generally low Hg contents, but narrow tetrahedrite-rich sections contain up to 83,000 ppb Hg in sphalerite concentrates and 82,000 ppb in galena concentrates. The stratigraphically lowermost B lode has a moderately high Hg content with sphalerite concentrates containing from 4400 to 41,000 ppb Hg and galena concentrates from 30 to 21,000 ppb Hg.Programmed heating determinations showed Hg in sphalerite concentrates to be contained principally in the sphalerite structure, with subordinate amounts in tetrahedrite inclusions. Mercury in galena concentrates is almost wholly contained in tetrahedrite inclusions, with lesser amounts in dyscrasite and pyrargyrite.Piercement bodies show increased Pb, Ag, Sb, As and Hg contents due to preferential migration of galena and tetrahedrite. The Hg content of sphalerite in these bodies is approximately doubled relative to the source lode, and the Hg content of galena concentrates is increased sevenfold, due to an increase of tetrahedrite inclusions.Coarse-grained sulfide-gangue pods and pegmatites, which reflect partial melting and remobilization of parts of the lode, have a mean Hg content less than the same volume of host lode. Within these bodies Hg is strongly partitioned into sphalerite, which contains from 14,000 to 33,000 ppb Hg, whereas galena contains only from 10 to 570 ppb Hg, due to the absence of Hg-bearing tetrahedrite inclusions.Within the lode environment, trace amounts of Hg in veins formed during retrograde metamorphism are located in sphalerite which contains up to 29,000 ppb Hg.The presence of significant amounts of Hg in Ag-Sb-As minerals in a siderite-rich vein within the main lode and in the Consols lode (located 700 m from the main lode) indicates that Hg remains associated with these elements over a wide range of conditions.In the wall rocks, there is no Hg halo which is exclusive of disseminated sulfide minerals. Under high-grade regional metamorphism, trace amounts of Hg in the Broken Hill lode are retained within pre-metamorphism host minerals. However, mobilization of Hg does take place in veins associated with retrograde metamorphism after localized breakdown of tetrahedrite.     

Mapping hydrothermal alteration in the Comstock mining district,Nevada, using simulated satellite‐borne hyperspectral data

Hydrothermal alteration mapping with spaceborne hyperspectral data was simulated in the Comstock mining district, Nevada in order to evaluate the mineral mapping capabilities of the proposed Australian Resource Information and Environment Satellite (ARIES‐1). As a result, a suite of hydrothermal alteration minerals, including kaolinite, dickite, illite, chlorite, alunite and carbonate was identified from the simulated data in the 0.4–2.5 μm wavelength region and their areal abundance variations mapped accordingly. The recognised alteration zoning shows a major change in alteration assemblages across the Comstock and Silver City Faults, and a gradual variation from north to south along the faults. In the bleached Miocene volcanic rocks, dickite, kaolinite, illite and alunite were recognised. Coexistence of dickite of relatively high temperature, high‐crystallinity kaolinite of medium temperature and low‐crystallinity kaolinite of low temperature suggests supergene processes overprinting earlier hypogene alteration. The bleached rocks probably represent hydrothermal alteration in the fluid up‐flow zones in the central and shallower parts of the hydrothermal system. Illite in the bleached zones is characterised by relatively short AI–OH band wavelengths (2190–2200 nm), indicating no or very low Fe and/or Mg contents. Fault‐controlled propylitic alteration is mapped in the central part of the district mainly in the footwall of the Comstock Fault. The associated illite is characterised mainly by medium AI–OH band wavelengths (2200–2208 nm). This propylitic alteration may be contemporaneous with Au–Ag mineralisation. Additional and more extensive propylitic zones, containing illite with long AI–OH band wavelengths (2204–2216 nm), were mapped in the southern part of the district. These zones resulted from either a pre‐mineralisation propylitic alteration, or the peripheral hydrothermal alteration in the fluid down‐flow zones of the Miocene hydrothermal system.