Palaeogeography and clay mineralogy of mid-Cretaceous flysches in the Gibraltar Arc area

A combined sedimentological and mineralogical study of several mid-Cretaceous sequences of the western Betic Cordillera and northern Rif has lead to the distinction of three main palaeogeographic areas. The basins of these areas received influxes of terrigenous sediments from different source areas. The southern Iberian margin was fed from the Iberian palaeocontinent and its clay-mineral association is characterized by a high content of well crystallized illite and kaolinite; the distal part of this margin was locally starved of continental sedimentation, but contains a considerable clayey contribution, probably oceanic in origin, made up mainly of smectites, illite and palygorskite. The sediments in the North African margin and the southern part of the North African Flysch Trough came from the African continent, the typical Aptian-Albian clay-mineral association being well crystallized illite, illite-smectite mixed layers, kaolinite, chlorite and lesser quantities of vermiculite. The terrigenous supply to the Mauritanian Realm of the North African Flysch Trough came from the Meso-Mediterranean terrane, and its usual Aptian-Albian clay association is illite, vermiculite, illite-smectite mixed layers and kaolinite. A significant change in the clay mineralogy occurred during the late Albian-early Cenomanian in the two former areas, consisting of a decrease in the detrital supply and a concomitant increase in smectites and palygorskite.The sedimentological and mineralogical evolution of this area was controlled by a combination of tectonic, eustatic and climatic changes in the westernmost Tethys during the mid-Cretaceous.     

Geodynamic significance of ophiolites within the Calabrian Arc

Abstract Slices of oceanic lithosphere belonging to the neo‐Tethys realm crop out discontinuously in the northern Calabrian Arc, Southern Apennines. They consist of high‐pressure–low‐temperature metamorphic ophiolitic sequences formed from metaultramafics, metabasites and alternating metapelites, metarenites, marbles and calcschist. Ophiolites occupy an intermediate position in the northern Calabrian Arc nappe pile, situated between overlying Hercynian continental crust and the underlying Apenninic limestone units. In the literature, these ophiolitic sequences are subdivided into several tectonometamorphic units. Geochemical characteristics indicate that metabasites were derived from subalkaline basalts with tholeiitic affinity (transitional mid‐oceanic ridge basalt type), and a harzburgitic‐lherzolitic protolith is suggested for the serpentinites. The pressure–temperature‐deformation paths of the metabasites from different outcrops display similar features: (i) the prograde segment follows a typical Alpine geothermal gradient up to a metamorphic climax at 350°C and 0.9 GPa and crystallization of the high‐pressure mineral assemblage occurs along a pervasive foliation developed during a compressive tectonic event; and (ii) the retrogression path can be subdivided in two segments, the first is characterized by nearly isothermal decompression to approximately 400°C and 0.3 GPa and the second follows a cooling trajectory. During low‐pressure conditions, a second deformation event produces millimetric to decametric scale asymmetric folds that describe west‐verging major structures. The third deformation event is characterized by brittle extensional structures. The tectonometamorphic evolution of the ophiolitic sequences from the different outcrops is similar. Both thermobarometric modeling and tectonic history indicate that the studied rocks underwent Alpine subduction and exhumation processes as tectonic slices inside a west‐verging accretionary wedge. The subduction of oceanic lithosphere was towards the present east; therefore, the Hercynian continental crust, overthrusted on the ophiolitic accretionary wedge after the neo‐Tethys closure, was part of the African paleomargin or a continental microplate between Africa and Europe.     

Seismic hazard of the Eastern Mediterranean

Earthquake hazard parameters such as maximum magnitude, annual mean seismic activity rate, and the Gutenberg-Richter parameter, have been evaluated for the Hellenic and Cyprean Arc regions of the Eastern Mediterranean. The applied maximum likelihood procedure permits the combination of both historical and instrumental data. The collected data from different sources cover earthquakes with magnitude ≥ 3.5 throughout the last two centuries. The historical part of the catalogue only contains the strongest events, whereas the complete part can be divided into several subcatalogues, each assumed complete above a specific threshold of magnitude. The hazard parameters assessment is performed for the two study regions. The Hellenic Arc region was found to be of higher seismicity level than the Cyprean Arc region. The number of annually expected earthquakes with magnitude ≥ 3.5 is much larger in the Hellenic Arc (56±2) than in the Cyprean Arc (35±2). The maximum magnitude calculated in the Hellenic Arc zone is 7.8±0.4 for the time period equal to the length of the catalogue, i.e., 210 years. For the Cyprean Arc zone, the maximum possible magnitude is 6.8±0.4 for the time span of 330 years.     

Metal-residence sites in lavas and tuffs from Volcán Popocatépetl, Mexico: implications for metal mobility in the environment

 Volcan Popocatépetl is a Quaternary stratovolcano located 60 km southeast of Mexico City. The summit crater is the site of recent ash eruptions, excess degassing, and dacite dome growth. The modern cone comprises mainly pyroclastic flow deposits, airfall tephras, debris flows, and reworked deposits of andesitic composition; it is flanked by more mafic monogenetic vents. In least-degassed fallout tuffs and mafic scoria, transition metals are concentrated in phases formed before eruption, during eruption, and after eruption. Preeruptive minerals occur in both lavas and tephra, and include oxides and sulfides in glass and phenocrysts. The magmatic oxides consist of magnetite, ilmenite, and chromite; the sulfides consist of both (Fe,Ni)_1-xS (MSS) and Cu–Fe sulfide (ISS). Syn- and posteruptive phases occur in vesicles in both lavas and tephra, and on surfaces of ash and along fractures. The mineral assemblages in lavas include Cu–Fe sulfide and Fe–Ti oxide in vesicles, and Fe sulfide and Cu–Fe sulfide in segregation vesicles. Assemblages in vesicles in scoria include Fe–Ti oxide and rare Fe–Cu–Sn sulfide. Vesicle fillings of Fe–Ti oxide, Ni-rich chromite, Fe sulfide, Cu sulfide, and barite are common to two pumice samples. The most coarse-grained of the vesicle fillings are Cu–Fe sulfide and Cu sulfide, which are as large as 50 μ in diameter. The youngest Plinian pumice also contains Zn(Fe) sulfide, as well as rare Ag–Cu sulfide, Ag–Fe sulfide, Ag bromide, Ag chloride, and Au–Cu telluride. The assemblage is similar to those typically observed in high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization. The fine-grained nature and abundance of syn- and/or posteruptive phases in porous rocks makes metals susceptible to mobilization by percolating fluids. The abundance of metal compounds in vesicles indicates that volatile exsolution prior to and/or during eruption played an important role in releasing metals to the atmosphere. Received: March 1997 · Accepted: 27 May 1997     

Measuring the maritime economy: Spain in the European Atlantic Arc

Despite the importance of the socio-economic dimension of the use of marine waters, there has been little research in the field until recently, when interest has grown in the concept of ‘blue growth'. This paper aims to contribute to filling this gap with a socio-economic assessment of the main maritime sectors, focused on the Spanish part of the European Atlantic Arc. To this end, it first proposes a theoretical structure for the maritime economy and then collects and classifies comparable and reliable maritime socio-economic indicators. The data obtained allows us to assess the size of the Spanish maritime sector and the position of the Spanish Maritime Cluster in the wider context of the maritime economy of the European Atlantic, as well as discuss the appropriateness of a strategy of forming clusters at the national level vs. a transnational approach. The results indicate differences between regions in the European Atlantic Arc that complicate the development of integrated policies to stimulate blue growth. Extending our knowledge of the maritime economy of the European Atlantic Arc will make it possible to design strategies that address the real issues, increasing the likelihood of these being effective.     

冈底斯东段泽当大型钨铜钼矿新发现及走滑型陆缘成矿新认识

冈底斯成矿带以斑岩型铜矿(伴生钼矿)为主体,通常作为"挤压型"陆缘岩浆弧—"碰撞裂谷带"斑岩成矿的典型代表而被广泛关注,但层矽卡岩型钨铜钼矿和斑岩型独立钼矿的勘查和研究却未能引起足够的重视,尤其是层矽卡岩型白钨矿的发现,填补了区带矿种的空白;在雅鲁藏布江缝合带边部发现的隐伏斑岩型钼矿,突破了"挤压型"陆缘成矿认识的传统误区。中国冶金地质总局新近发现的冈底斯东段则当钨铜钼矿,既是一处大型钨铜钼矿详查开发基地,又是一组统一于陆缘走滑断裂构造成矿体制作用的钨、铜、钼矿床组合,称为"泽当矿田"。在NWW向雅鲁藏布江缝合带陆缘走滑断裂作用下,早期(68～40.3Ma)拉分型转换构造——NEE向剥离断层,控制了层矽卡岩型钨铜钼矿的形成;在NEE向冲木达陆缘走滑断裂作用下,晚期(30.26～23.62Ma)推闭型转换构造——NWW向逆冲断层,控制了隐伏斑岩型钼矿的形成。层矽卡岩型矿床形成和改造于68～66Ma和57～40.3Ma,叠加富集于斑岩型矿床的形成阶段——30.26～23.62Ma。     

Effect of time-evolving age and convergence rate of the subducting plate on the Cenozoic adakites and boninites

Partial melting of subducting oceanic crust expressed as high-Mg volcanic rocks such as adakites and boninites has been actively studied for decades, and Lee and King (2010) reported that time-evolving subduction parameters such as the age and the subduction rate of the converging oceanic plate play important roles in transient partial melting of the subducting oceanic crust (e.g., Aleutians). However, few subduction model experiments have considered time-evolving subduction parameters, posing problems for studies of transient partial melting of subducting oceanic crust in many subduction zones. Therefore, we constructed two-dimensional kinematic–dynamic subduction models for the Izu–Bonin, Mariana, Northeast Japan, Kuril, Tonga, Java–Sunda, and Aleutian subduction zones that account for the last 50 Myr of their evolution. The models include the time-evolving age and convergence rate of the incoming oceanic plate, so the effect of time-evolving subduction parameters on transient partial melting of oceanic crust can be evaluated. Our model calculations revealed that adakites and boninites in the Izu–Bonin and Aleutian subduction zones resulted from transient partial melting of oceanic crust. However, the steady-state subduction model using current subduction parameters did not produce any partial melting of oceanic crust in the aforementioned subduction zones, indicating that time-evolving subduction parameters are crucial for modeling transient eruption of adakites and boninites. Our model calculations confirm that other geological processes such as forearc extension, back-arc opening, mantle plumes and ridge subduction are required for partial melting of the oceanic crust in the Mariana, Northeast Japan, Tonga, and southeastern Java–Sunda subduction zones.     

直流电弧原子发射光谱法测定钛和钛合金中微量杂质元素

高纯度的钛及钛合金具有良好的可塑性,当有杂质存在时变得脆而硬而影响其性能,准确分析杂质元素的含量有利于对钛生产工艺进行质量控制。对于杂质元素的分析,现行国家标准方法是采用样品蒸发温度较高的直流电弧作为光源,摄谱仪测定,需要经过显影、定影、测量黑度等步骤,操作繁琐,流程长,测量误差较大。本文应用中阶梯光栅和电荷耦合器件(CCD)组成的直流电弧(DC Arc)原子发射光谱仪(波长范围200~800nm),谱线干扰分析和谱线强度测量可以同时进行,能更大限度地获取光谱信息,建立了快速测定钛及钛合金中10种微量杂质元素(锰锡铬镍铝钼钒铜锆钇)的分析方法。实验讨论了测定过程中的四类谱线干扰,包括钛作为基体元素的谱线干扰、钛合金中添加的化学成分元素干扰、铁谱线的干扰、杂质元素之间的干扰,确定了适当的分析线;并应用一种浅孔薄壁细颈杯形电极装入试样,提高了样品的蒸发效果;用氯化银和碳粉的混合物作缓冲剂,提高了待测元素的谱线强度。本方法的检测范围为0.001%~0.06%,精密度小于15%,回收率为90.0%~110.0%,适合于大批量钛及钛合金样品中杂质元素的同时检测。     

Tectonomagmatic origin of Precambrian rocks of Mexico and Argentina inferred from multi-dimensional discriminant-function based discrimination diagrams

Several new multi-dimensional tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams employing log-ratio variables of chemical elements and probability based procedure have been developed during the last 10 years for basic-ultrabasic, intermediate and acid igneous rocks. There are numerous studies on extensive evaluations of these newly developed diagrams which have indicated their successful application to know the original tectonic setting of younger and older as well as sea-water and hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks. In the present study, these diagrams were applied to Precambrian rocks of Mexico (southern and north-eastern) and Argentina. The study indicated the original tectonic setting of Precambrian rocks from the Oaxaca Complex of southern Mexico as follows: (1) dominant rift (within-plate) setting for rocks of 1117–988 Ma age; (2) dominant rift and less-dominant arc setting for rocks of 1157–1130 Ma age; and (3) a combined tectonic setting of collision and rift for Etla Granitoid Pluton (917 Ma age). The diagrams have indicated the original tectonic setting of the Precambrian rocks from the north-eastern Mexico as: (1) a dominant arc tectonic setting for the rocks of 988 Ma age; and (2) an arc and collision setting for the rocks of 1200–1157 Ma age. Similarly, the diagrams have indicated the dominant original tectonic setting for the Precambrian rocks from Argentina as: (1) with-in plate (continental rift-ocean island) and continental rift (CR) setting for the rocks of 800 Ma and 845 Ma age, respectively; and (2) an arc setting for the rocks of 1174–1169 Ma and of 1212–1188 Ma age. The inferred tectonic setting for these Precambrian rocks are, in general, in accordance to the tectonic setting reported in the literature, though there are some inconsistence inference of tectonic settings by some of the diagrams. The present study confirms the importance of these newly developed discriminant-function based diagrams in inferring the original tectonic setting of Precambrian rocks.     

胶北地块与金成矿有关的郭家岭岩体和上庄岩体年代学及地球化学研究

胶东半岛是我国最主要的原生金矿矿集区,金矿的主要控矿围岩是郭家岭花岗岩,通过研究郭家岭花岗岩的地球化学特征对研究金矿的成因和物质来源具有指示性意义。本文研究的两个花岗岩岩体为上庄岩体和郭家岭岩体,两岩体同属郭家岭型花岗岩。通过对两岩体的花岗岩样进行岩相学矿相学观察、全岩主、微量元素和U-Pb同位素分析,获得胶东半岛中生代岩浆岩的成因机制与源区性质及自然金的产出形式等科学信息。LAICP MS锆石U-Pb年龄得出郭家岭岩体年龄125.4±2.2 Ma,上庄岩体U-Pb年龄128.8±2.0 Ma,都为中生代早白垩世,两岩体年龄相差3Ma,在年龄误差范围来看可以把两岩体作为同一期岩体,也在年龄角度证实两岩体都同属郭家岭花岗岩。两岩体的锆石组成都含有太古宙和晚侏罗纪的继承锆石,指示两岩体的成岩物质来源具相似性,都包含太古宙岩石成分和晚侏罗世花岗岩成分。两岩体具有相似的稀土元素和微量元素分配模式,表现出明显的LREE富集和HREE极度亏损,没有明显的铕负异常。郭家岭岩体和上庄岩体花岗岩都具有类似埃达克岩的特征,都具有高的Sr含量(913×10-6~1325×10-6),低的Y含量(2.2×10-6~8.4×10-6)和Yb含量(0.21×10-6~0.68×10-6),较高的(Dy/Yb)N比值1.62~2.28,暗示花岗岩岩浆形成时石榴石是一个重要的残留相,而没有斜长石作为残留相。两岩体具有较低的MgO、Cr、Ni含量和Mg#,反映郭家岭型花岗岩岩浆的形成可能是岛弧环境榴辉岩相压力条件下洋壳玄武质岩石的部分熔融。