238U-206Pb, 235U-207Pb,systematics on Pyrenean basement

U-Pb ages for zircons of pyreneean gneisses and associated granites are comparable to whole rock Rb-Sr ages of 580, 320 m.y. and recent. Inherited radiogenic Pb in the granites limits the dating accuracy but points out an important contribution of crustal material in their formation.     

La mesure de l'anisotropie de susceptibilité magnétique dans les flyschs: Application à la recherche des directions des paléocourants

Studies made on the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of artificial sediments have shown that there are correlations between the orientation of anisotropy axes and of transport directions. Thus, the analysis of parameters of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility can constitute a means to investigate transport directions in flysch. To test this method in a natural model, the authors have made some measurements on flysch beds belonging to the “grés d'Annot complex”. The sediments have been sampled in the Contes and Peira-Cava synclines where the directions of paleocurrents have been determinated by classical methods. Results obtained both in Contes and in Peira-Cava on fine-grained detrital beds show a good agreement between directions of paleo-transport deduced from orientation of anisotropy axes and those established by classical methods on the levels showing “sole-marks”. However, in some beds of the Peira-Cava syncline, which are characterized by coarser grain size and “sole-marks” of good quality, the scattering of the directions of the anisotropy axes is very great and in some cases the measurements are not reproducible in the same sample.It appears, therefore, that the measurement of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility can constitute a good approach to analysing emplacement modes of fine-grained flysch deposits in which the use of classical methods is often difficult. This method of paleocurrent analysis complements the other techniques used in this field of research.     

Composition isotopique du plomb et du soufre des galènes liées aux formations sédimentaires interprétations géologiques et géophysiques

Stratiform deposits found in mesozoic sedimentary layers, in Marocco and in France, have been analysed to determine lead and sulphur isotopic compositions.For the sulphur, the results indicate a low temperature formation, and are in good agreement with synsedimentary theories. The lead isotopic compositions are anomalous: J type for french galenas, B type for these of Marocco. The authors propose that the lead of these galenas have had a continental origin; the two different histories of the continental areas explain the galena anomalous compositions; two factors are particulary important: the age of the crust formation, and after that, the time of separation of lead from uranium and thorium in the continental crust.     

238U/206Pb-235U/207Pb-232Th/208Pb zircon geochronology in alpine and non-alpine environment

Based on regular arrays in a U-Pb diagram of data points of zircons from polymetamorphic rocks of the Alps quantitative models are developed that include several episodic lead losses, continuous lead losses during discrete periods and combinations of both.The data from the Alps can be explained by assuming an initial age of the zircons of 2000 and/or 2500–2600 m.y. and three episodic lead losses 520–580 m.y., 300 m.y. and 30 m.y. ago with regionally varying intensities of the events as can be seen from the efficiency parameters which define the shape of the discordia. On the other hand, zircon data from North American basement rocks satisfy a model assuming a discrete interval of continuous lead loss that starts with the time of uplift of the rocks.The Th-U-Pb diagrams are valuable for recognising whether the history of the zircons and their host rock is a complex one or not which is not always noticeable in a U-Pb diagram.     

Fractionnement des éléments en trace Li,Rb, Ba,Sr dans les séries andésitiques et shoshonitiques du Pérou. Comparaison avec d'autres zones orogéniques

In the calc-alkaline rocks of Peru, the rubidium content and the K/Ba, Rb/Sr ratios increase, while the strontium content and the K/Rb, Ba/Rb ratios decrease according to the distance of the trench. It is suggested that theses variations are related to a fractionation of plagioclase and contamination with differential migration of mobile elements. A comparative study between andesites of various localities shows in Peru an enrichment in Rb, Sr and Ba and a disparition of the Rb-Ba correlation; this last observation looks characteristic of continental margin andesites. The shoshonitic rocks differ from the andesites by a high content of Sr and Ba. The genetic relationships between these two kinds of rocks are discussed. It appears that the shoshonites are originated from a different magmatic source.     

Datation 87Rb-87Sr du massif granitique du Mendic et des porphyroïdes a l'est de la Montagne Noire —un exemple de relation entre pluton et volcans

In the East of Montagne Noire (South Massif Central), the granitic Mendic massif and the porphyroïds have been dated as 510±20 m.y. with a corresponding initial ratio of 0.706±0.001. Within the limits of the analytical errors, we cannot distinguish between two separate isochrons. The Mendic-porphyroïds represents a volcano-plutonic association. The age of 510 m.y. is somewhat younger than the one determined on the orthogneisses of the Central zone (530 m.y.). It can be connected to a post-orogenic magmatism of the cadomian orogenesis. At last the Sr of the minerals of the Mendic massif has been partially remobilised during the hercynian orogeny (285 m. y.).     

Fractionnement dans les suites ignimbritiques de Toscane. Un example de rejuvenation crustale

By means of flame spectrometry, K and Rb were measured in minerals and rocks belonging to several ignimbrite suite in Toscane, (Italy).