Whole-rock Geochemistry of Basic Schists from the Besshi Area, Central Shikoku: Implications for the Tectonic Setting of the Besshi Sulfide Deposit

Abstract. Whole-rock chemical compositions of the Besshi basic schist closely associated with the Besshi massive sulfide deposit from the Sanbagawa Belt are reported. Studied samples were collected from four outcrops around the Dozan-goe, central Shikoku. Common metamorphic mineral assemblage of the basic schist is albite + epidote + actinolite + chlorite ± muscovite ± quartz. Major element contents are similar to those of typical tholeiitic basalts. Trace element patterns of the basic schist normalized to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) are generally flat, although concentrations of highly mobile large-ion lithophile elements are quite variable. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns are flat to slightly light REE-depleted patterns. In the Hf-Th-Ta and Nb-Zr-Y discrimination diagrams, basic schist samples closely associated with the sulfide deposit are plotted within the N-MORB field. The Th/Nb ratios of the basic schist are also comparable to those of N-MORB. These geo-chemical lines of evidence indicate that the protolith of the Besshi basic schist is N-MORB and the Besshi sulfide deposit was formed by hydrothermal activity in conjunction with MOR volcanism.     

Suprasubduction zone ophiolite formation along the periphery of Mesozoic Gondwana

Neotethyan suprasubduction zone ophiolites represent anomalous oceanic crust developed in older host basins during trench rollback cycles and later entrapped in orogenic belts as a result first of trench-passive margin and then continent–continent collisions. The Middle Jurassic Mirdita zone ophiolites in northern Albania constitute a critical transition between the dominantly mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-related Early Jurassic Alpine–Apennine ophiolites in the west and supra-subduction zone (SSZ)-generated Cretaceous Eastern Mediterranean ophiolites in the east. The previously recognized Western- and Eastern-type ophiolites in the Mirdita zone display significant differences in their internal structure and pseudostratigraphy, but their geochemical affinities are more gradational in contrast to the earlier claims that these ophiolites may have formed in different tectonic settings at different times. Crosscutting relations of dike intrusions in the Eastern-type ophiolites indicate changes in the chemistry of magmatic plumbing systems from basaltic to andesitic, dacitic, rhyodacitic, and boninitic compositions through time and from west to east. The chemostratigraphy of the extrusive sequence in the Western-type ophiolites shows that the MORB-like tholeiitic rocks display a significant decrease in their TiO₂ contents and Zr concentrations stratigraphically upward, although their ε_Nd(T) values (+ 7.3 to + 6.9) show minor variation. The basaltic andesites in the upper 100 m of the Western extrusive sequence have island arc tholeiite (IAT)-like chemical characteristics (low-Ti, lower HFSE and HREE distribution, significant LREE depletion and higher Co, Ni, and Cr contents) that signify increased subduction influence in magma/melt evolution. The Eastern-type extrusive rocks range in composition from basaltic andesite to andesite, dacite and rhyodacite stratigraphically upward mimicking the temporal changes in the sheeted dikes, and they display constant Zr ( 50 ppm) but significantly varying Cr contents. The TiO₂ contents of their pyroxenes are < 0.3 wt.%, and their ε_Nd(T) values decrease from + 6.5 in the lower parts to  + 3.1 in the uppermost section of the sequence. Farther east in the extrusive sequence the youngest boninitic lavas and dikes have ε_Nd(T) values between − 1.4 and − 4.0. These chemical variations through time point to a mantle source increasingly contaminated by subduction-derived aqueous fluids and sediments, which were incorporated into the melt column beneath an extending protoarc–forearc region. Slab retreat and sinking played a major role in establishing asthenospheric upwelling and corner flow beneath the forearc mantle that in turn facilitated shallow partial melting of highly depleted harzburgitic peridotites, producing boninitic magmas. This chemical progression in the Mirdita zone ophiolite volcanism is similar to the temporal variations in magma chemistry documented from very young intraoceanic arcs built on recently generated backarc crust (i.e., South Sandwich arc). The Western and Eastern-type ophiolites in the Mirdita zone are therefore all subduction-related with the subduction zone influence in the lavas increasing stratigraphically upward as well as eastwards, suggesting a west-dipping slab geometry. The Mirdita zone and the Western Hellenic ophiolites in the Balkans were produced within a marginal basin that had evolved between the Apulian and Pelagonian microcontinents, and were subsequently emplaced onto their passive margins diachronously through different collisional processes.     

Dating young MORB of the Central Indian Ridge (19°S): Unspiked K-Ar technique limitations versus 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating method

We have applied the unspiked K-Ar and the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar methods to samples precisely collected and localised, on both Central Indian Ridge flanks, to test their effectiveness and reliability when applied to the dating of recent (i.e. less than 1 Ma) MORBs. Twenty six samples) from the sixty five samples collected every ∼500 m up to the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary on both ridge flanks, were selected based on their distance from the ridge axis. Therefore, we can evaluate whether the isotopic ages are a good indicator of the crystallisation age by considering their geographic position with respect to the ridge axis (zero age) and the B/M magnetic boundary. Direct comparison of the isotopic and model ages shows that only 9 out of 26 samples were successfully dated. The GIMNAUT – MORB's test case amply demonstrates that the unspiked K-Ar technique, when applied to submerged volcanic samples, is subject to potentially defective assumptions of trapped atmospheric argon, excess/fractionated argon and extremely sensitive to alteration. Although the unspiked K-Ar technique is theoretically capable to produce high precision ages, the comparison with the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar techniques reveals that only 15% (i.e. 4 samples out of 26) of the ages obtained here are geologically meaningful. Five of the seven ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating experiments provide meaningful ages. Because potential sources of systematic errors such as excess ⁴⁰Ar*, recoil of ³⁹Ar_K and ³⁷Ar_Ca can be identified and because effects of alteration are significantly reduced by the pre-heating of the samples up to 500–600°c, the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating method appears to be the method of choice to date MORBs.     

大西洋中脊玄武岩岩浆源区性质、潜在温度及其指示意义

洋中脊玄武岩（MORB）的微量元素成分和同位素比值具有变化范围大的特点,这些变化很难简单地用地幔部分熔融和结晶分异等岩浆演化过程来解释。传统观点认为洋中脊玄武岩的地球化学成分的多样性是由其下部地幔成分的大尺度不均一性决定的。这种地幔不均一性则是外来物质的加入造成的,如再循环的地壳物质、下大陆岩石圈、交代的岩石圈和外地核等成分加入到上地幔中。在本研究中,我们对大西洋洋中脊的玄武岩展开研究工作,评估了玄武岩源区的温压条件并综合对比了微量元素和同位素比值。靠近地幔柱的洋中脊玄武岩的地球化学和同位素成分具有较大的变化。地幔柱对洋中脊地区的影响范围可以达到1400公里,但并不是每个地幔柱都能够影响其周围1400km范围内的所有洋中脊脊段。未受地幔柱影响的洋中脊玄武岩成分和地幔潜在温度均没有异常表现。我们认为上述现象是由于地幔柱柱头形状不同造成的。地幔柱的流动形状可以分为管状和饼状两种,饼状地幔柱影响其周围的地幔是没有方向性的,而管状地幔柱对其周围地幔的影响在方向上具有选择性。沿着大西洋中脊的玄武岩的元素和同位素比值变化较大,暗示其源区具有较高的不均一性。我们认为该地区地幔不均一性主要是由于上地幔中加入了俯冲板片和拆沉下地壳造成的。另外,地幔柱的活动也不容忽视,它们影响了其周围部分洋脊段的成分变化。     

南大西洋慢速洋中脊与地幔柱相互作用研究进展与展望

揭示洋中脊与地幔柱(脊-柱)之间的可能联系为认识地球深部物质组成与深部地幔动力学过程提供了重要窗口,也是过去40多年以来固体地球科学研究领域的前沿与热点。在绵延八万多千米的全球洋中脊系统中,部分洋脊片段会受到地幔柱作用不同程度的影响。研究显示,大西洋的形成演化与地幔柱作用之间具有密切联系,尤其在南大西洋的裂解、打开演化过程中,南大西洋中脊系统始终与其周围地幔柱(如圣赫勒拿、阿森松、特里斯坦、高夫、发现等地幔柱)之间具有不同程度的相互作用关系,导致沿脊出露玄武岩在地球化学组成上呈现出明显的不均一性特征。本文在系统性总结脊-柱相互作用研究现状与南大西洋地区地质构造演化特征的基础上,详细阐述了南大西洋中脊13.2°S～24.2°S地区玄武岩的岩石地球化学特征;揭示了南大西洋中脊研究区的岩浆演化、地幔源区性质;指示出圣赫勒拿地幔柱物质向南大西洋中脊系统传播的主要方向;圈定了圣赫勒拿地幔柱对南大西洋中脊系统地幔源区性质在沿脊方向的影响范围(14.2°S～20.4°S);同时推测了南大西洋中脊系统与圣赫勒拿地幔柱之间受地幔柱影响的软流圈地幔物质在大洋岩石圈底部的空间展布。最后本文提出了关于南大西洋...     

阿尔金红柳沟蛇绿岩研究进展

实测了2条阿尔金地区红柳沟蛇绿混杂带的地质剖面.地球化学的研究发现混杂带中含有2种基性火山岩:MORB型和OIB型,其稀土配分型式分别为平坦型和轻稀土富集型,结合同位素ε_Nd值,推断混杂带中变基性火山岩来自于不同的岩浆源.变质橄榄岩稀土总量低,具有亏损型和平坦型2种不同的稀土配分型式.这种MORB和OIB的组合代表了地幔柱物质与洋壳物质的混合作用.     

弧后盆地玄武岩(BABB)数据挖掘:与MORB及IAB的对比

弧后盆地玄武岩(BABB)全球分布有限,与板块俯冲有关,位于岛弧外侧,规模小,寿命短,现代BABB主要分布于西太平洋。通常认为,BABB地球化学成分变化较大,包括正常洋中脊玄武岩(N-MORB)、富集洋中脊玄武岩(E-MORB)、岛弧玄武岩(IAB)及少量洋岛玄武岩(OIB)组分。在玄武岩构造判别图中,BABB大多在洋中脊玄武岩(MORB)范围内,说明BABB类似MORB。新的全球MORB数据研究表明,MORB包含了从MORB到OIB及IAB的组分,而BABB相对于MORB更富集Cs,Rb,U,Ba,Th和Pb等不相容元素,有明显的Nb-Ta负异常,表明BABB兼具MORB和IAB的地球化学特征,是俯冲流体及沉积物参与其岩浆作用过程所致,大多是在湿的条件下部分熔融形成的。弧后盆地可分为初始弧后盆地和成熟弧后盆地,前者玄武岩具有明显的岛弧玄武岩的地球化学特征,而后者玄武岩更接近MORB的特征。     

Geochemical Features and Tectonic Setting of Greenstones from Kunimiyama, Northern Chichibu Belt, Central Shikoku, Japan

Abstract. We report whole‐rock chemical data for the greenstones from the Kunimiyama area in the Northern Chichibu Belt and their implications on the tectonic setting of these rocks. The Kunimiyama greenstones are associated with stratiform fer‐romanganese deposits or bedded cherts in the northern part of the study area, but are closely associated with a thick limestone block or bedded cherts in the southern part. The constituent minerals of greenstones are albitized plagioclase, clinopy‐roxene, chlorite, calcite, epidote, pumpellyite, prehnite, quartz, celadonite, sericite and opaque minerals such as iron oxyhy‐droxide and hematite. These mineral assemblages, epidote + pumpellyite + chlorite and chlorite + pumpellyite + prehnite, suggest that the metamorphic grade of greenstones from the Kunimiyama area is prehnite‐pumpellyite facies. The whole‐rock chemical compositions of greenstones associated with ferromanganese deposits are generally similar to those of normal mid‐ocean ridge basalt (N‐MORB). In contrast, the chemical compositions of the greenstones associated with the limestone block are comparable to those of ocean island alkaline basalt. Greenstones associated with bedded cherts are of enriched MORB and ocean island basalt, as well as N‐MORB origins, suggesting they probably formed as a result of plume‐related MOR volcanism in the Panthalassa Ocean in Early Permian and by tectonic mixing of ocean island basalts with oceanic ridge crustal fragments during accretion/subduction processes. These geological and geochemical lines of evidence suggest that the Kunimiyama greenstones are allochthonous blocks of accreted oceanic crust and seamounts. The ferromanganese deposits are frequently accompanied by reddish greenstones. Compared to common greenish greenstones, the reddish greenstones are characterized by high MnO and rare earth element contents and distinct negative Ce anomalies, implying a slight contribution of hydro thermal component forming the ferromanganese deposits.     

青海沱沱河地区乌石峰蛇绿混杂岩的地球化学特征及其形成环境

青海沱沱河地区乌石峰蛇绿混杂岩位于西金乌兰-风火山逆冲带中。通过对其岩石学和全岩地球化学研究,探讨了蛇绿混杂岩的构造类型及其形成环境。晚古生代乌石峰蛇绿构造混杂岩的岩石组合以及蛇绿混杂岩中玄武岩类岩石(主要为辉绿岩及辉长岩)的地球化学特征对构造环境的指示表明:其地球化学特征与MORB相似,超基性岩和基性岩形成于大洋板内环境与洋中脊环境的复合构造环境中。是古特提斯洋洋盆残片,体现了古特提斯洋壳的闭合位置,是古特提斯洋在早二叠世末闭合过程中形成的增生楔的一部分。     

A Petrogenetic Model of Basalts from the Northern Central Indian Ridge: 3-11°S

Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts (MORB) from the Northern Central Indian Ridge (NCIR) were recovered between latitudes 3° and 11°S and are olivine tholeiite with higher abundances of K and Rb.They are of typical transitional MORB (T-MORB) variety and appear to have been generated from an enriched-mantle peridotite source. The primitive NCIR MORBs having Mg# ＞ 0.68 are the product of partial melting at an estimated pressure of ～ 1 GPa. It is inferred that the magma was subsequently modified at a pressure ＞ 1 GPa by crystal fractionation and spinel was the first mineral to crystallize followed by separation of relatively Fe-rich olivine with subsequent decrease in pressure. During progressive fractionation at lower pressure (between 1-0.5 GPa), the bulk composition of the magma became systematically depleted in MgO, and enriched in ∑FeO, TiO2, P2O5 and Na2O. There was,however, limited gradual depletion in Al2O3 and CaO and concomitant enrichment in K2O. With the progressive fractionation these basalts became gradually enriched in V, Co, Y, Zr and to some extent in Sr, and depleted in Ni and Cr. In addition, the ∑REE of the magma also increased with fractionation,without any change in (La/Yb)n value.