Early Palaeozoic subduction in the southeastern Lachlan Fold Belt,Batemans Bay,New South Wales

The southeastern Lachlan Fold Belt at Batemans Bay on the New South Wales south coast is an accretionary complex with a prolonged deformation history. Early features include synsedimentary folds, mélange, disaggregated bedding and faults. Fabrics within the clast-in-matrix mélange and mudstone match those found in cores from the lower slopes of modern accretionary prisms. At the toe of the accretionary prism, the contact between the craton-derived Adaminaby Group and ocean floor deposits of the Wagonga Group is conformable. As subduction continued, the early structures were overprinted by (D₁) deformation that produced meridional north – south-trending, tight to isoclinal folds (F₁) and associated axial-plane cleavage (S₁). This west-dipping subduction occurred in the Late Ordovician/Early Silurian but probably began much earlier. A younger regional deformation (D₂) resulted in north – south-trending, open to tight folds (F₂), slightly oblique to F₁, and an axial-surface cleavage (S₂).     

Geological note: Pyro‐intrusive veins in the northeastern Sydney Basin

Stratigraphic and sedimentological investigation of the interglacial succession within the Cryogenian-aged Umberatana Group of the Northern and Central Flinders Ranges reveals a complex array of sedimentary successions lying between the Sturtian and Marinoan glacial deposits. The Sturtian–Marinoan Series boundary was first defined from the Adelaide area at the uppermost contact of the Brighton Limestone. In the Northern Flinders Ranges the Sturtian–Marinoan Series boundary has been positioned at the uppermost contact of the Balcanoona Formation, which is thought to correlate with the Brighton Limestone. In the Northern Flinders Ranges a major unconformity separates the Sturtian and Marinoan-aged sedimentary successions (Nepouie–Upalinna Subgroups). In moderately deep marine depositional settings, this submarine unconformity is located at the base of the Yankaninna Formation where erosion has deeply incised (up to 300 m) into the underlying Tapley Hill Formation. In shallower marine settings the unconformity is found at the base of the Weetootla Dolomite. In very deep water depositional settings this unconformity is not recognised, and the Yankaninna Formation appears to conformably overlie the Tapley Hill Formation suggesting that this erosional feature is restricted to shallow and moderately deep depositional settings. This unconformity presents a regionally persistent chronostratigraphic marker horizon, which reliably marks the Sturtian–Marinoan Series boundary at the base of the Yankaninna Formation from shallow shelfal to deep-water basinal settings throughout the Northern Flinders Ranges. In the Central Flinders Ranges the post-Sturtian glacial stratigraphy records a very similar depositional record to that observed in the Northern Flinders Ranges. In the Central regions the Tapley Hill Formation is overlain by deep-marine carbonates and calcareous shales of the Wockerawirra Dolomite and Sunderland Formations, respectively. The base of the Wockerawirra Dolomite is found to be in erosional contact with the underlying Tapley Hill Formation. This stratigraphic relationship, together with lithological similarities, indicates the Wockerawirra Dolomite and Sunderland Formation of the Central Flinders Ranges are lateral correlatives of the Yankaninna Formation of the Northern Flinders Ranges. The regional nature of the Sturtian–Marinoan unconformity in the Adelaide Geosyncline suggest the possible existence of a glacio-eustatic event that may correlate with glacials/glaciation elsewhere on the Earth during the Cryogenian.     

The genesis of Pb‐Zn sulphide occurrences in the Lower Devonian Buchan Group,Victoria

Six minor sulphide occurrences hosted by the Lower Devonian Buchan Group have been investigated. Sulphide minerals and associated phases are hosted by both dolostone and limestone lithologies along stylolitized bedding planes, cross‐cutting fractures, low angle minor faults and in cavities. Mineralization was closely associated with minor structures of inferred Tabberabberan age (Middle Devonian), which it appears to have post‐dated, but was largely strata‐bound in nature. The mineralogy of the occurrences is simple and characterized by the following generalized paragenesis which reflects the increasing oxidation state and pH of the mineralizing fluids: pyrite (pseudomorphous after marcasite)‐galena ± sphalerite ± pyrite‐dolomite ± barite‐calcite ± fluorite ± dolomite.

The sulphur isotope composition of sulphide minerals varies from ‐32.1 to +4.1‰, with iron and base metal sulphide minerals forming two distinct populations around ‐25‰ and 0‰, respectively. A single barite sample gives a sulphur isotope composition of +22.4‰, which is similar to that estimated for Early Devonian seawater. Fluid inclusions in fluorite and calcite homogenize at temperatures in the range 160 to 212° C and have average salinities of approximately 10 wt% NaCI eq. Sphalerite contains up to 1.81 wt% iron which correlates with colour, and up to 1.43 wt% cadmium. The Pb isotopic pattern of galena suggests a source region with U/Pb(= μ) lower than the crustal average, and a high Th/U.

A genetic hypothesis is proposed which involves the circulation of saline fluids through the Snowy River Volcanics, which directly underlie the Buchan Group, during or at some time after the Tabberabberan Orogeny. Although the Buchan occurrences show features characteristic of both Mississippi Valley‐type and stratiform ore deposits, they are most directly comparable to the epigenetic zones of Irish carbonate‐hosted base‐metal deposits. However, Pb‐Zn sulphide mineralization at Buchan appears to have been associated with minor compressional structures, suggesting that a simple correlation with the Irish deposits is not directly applicable.     

西藏多巴小区下古生界德吾卡下组岩石特征及时代讨论

笔者2012年在班戈西1/5万区域地质调查工作中,依据桑日PM5号剖面中岩石组合特征及笔石化石将原德吾卡下组划分为上下二段。下段主要为笔石粉砂岩相。上段主要为中层生物碎屑粉晶灰岩与灰绿、黄绿、黄褐色薄层粉砂岩互层。在下段笔石粉砂岩层位中获得的笔石化石,经鉴定种属为Monograptus sp,时代为早志留世。     

华北克拉通南缘中-新元古代沉积地层对比研究及其地质意义

华北克拉通南缘新太古代-古元古代变质结晶基底之上不整合覆盖着巨厚的中-新元古代陆源碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩沉积盖层,根据沉积建造特征,将其划分为三个不同的地层分布小区,分别为嵩箕地层小区、渑池-确山地层小区和熊耳山地层小区.嵩箕小区位于熊耳裂谷盆地东北缘,以硅质碎屑岩(砂岩)为主,渑池-确山地层小区位于熊耳裂谷盆地北缘,以硅质碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩(白云岩)过渡相为主,熊耳山地层小区位于熊耳裂谷盆地南缘,以碳酸盐岩为主.本文通过对三个地层小区的沉积地层剖面和岩石学特征进行研究,认为华北南缘从中元古代开始处于河流相-浅海相的沉积环境,从南向北,海水由深变浅.根据地层的岩性、沉积构造及其组合特征,将其划分为低水位、海侵和高水位沉积体系,最大海侵时期为青白口系早期.通过对熊耳山地区的官道口群的岩相学和地球化学分析,并结合其已有的碎屑锆石年龄和另外两个地层小区的五佛山群和汝阳群的碎屑锆石年龄以及它们的地球化学特征,表明三个地层区的沉积地层在中元古代均处于被动大陆边缘环境,而新元古代则可能处于与大陆岛弧相关的沉积盆地,这一结果表明从中元古代到新元古代华北南缘可能受到秦岭造山带早期微陆块俯冲碰撞的影响,由被动大陆边缘向活动大陆边缘过渡的过程.三套地层最年轻的碎屑锆石207 Pb/206Pb年龄基本上在1600Ma左右,从而限定了其最大沉积时代不早于1600Ma.其锆石年龄大多数都分布于古元古代(1700 ～ 2400Ma),太古代的年龄极少,说明其物源区以古元古代的地质体为主,且碎屑锆石年龄峰值为～ 1.93Ga,反映了华北南缘在～1.93Ga发生过重要的构造-热事件,与华北克拉通古元古代中期发生的变质作用时间(～ 1.91Ga)一致.三套沉积地层的碎屑锆石εHf(t)值变化较大(-20～ +6),表明既有新生地壳物质的加入,也有古老地壳物质的再循环.Hf两阶段模式年龄分布于2.3～3.8Ga之间,明显大于其207pb/206pb年龄,大部分锆石的Hf同位素组成集中于2.6Ga和3.0Ga地壳演化线区域内,峰值为2.75Ga,表明2.75Ga左右是华北克拉通南缘重要的陆壳生长期.     

Eocene volcanism during the incipient stage of Izu–Ogasawara Arc: Geology and petrology of the Mukojima Island Group,the Ogasawara Islands

The Ogasawara Islands mainly comprise Eocene volcanic strata formed when the Izu–Ogasawara–Mariana Arc began. We present the first detailed volcanic geology, petrography and geochemistry of the Mukojima Island Group, northernmost of the Ogasawara Islands, and show that the volcanic stratigraphy consists of arc tholeiitic rocks, ultra‐depleted boninite‐series rocks, and less‐depleted boninitic andesites, which are correlatable to the Maruberiwan, Asahiyama and Mikazukiyama Formations on the Chichijima Island Group to the south. On Chichijima, a short hiatus is identified between the Maruberiwan (boninite, bronzite andesite, and dacite) and Asahiyama Formation (quartz dacite and rhyolite). In contrast, these lithologies are interbedded on Nakodojima of the Mukojima Island Group. The stratigraphically lower portion of Mukojima is mainly composed of pillow lava, which is overlain by reworked volcaniclastic rocks in the middle, whereas the upper portion is dominated by pyroclastic rocks. This suggests that volcanic activity now preserved in the Mukojima Island Group records growth of one or more volcanoes, beginning with quiet extrusion of lava under relatively deep water followed by volcaniclastic deposition. These then changed into moderately explosive eruptions that took place in shallow water or above sea level. This is consistent with the uplift of the entire Ogasawara Ridge during the Eocene. Boninites from the Mukojima Island Group are divided into three types on the basis of geochemistry. Type 1 boninites have high SiO₂ (>57.0 wt.%) and Zr/Ti (>0.022) and are the most abundant type in both Mukojima and Chichijima Island Groups. Type 2 boninites have low SiO₂ (<57.1 wt.%) and Zr/Ti (<0.014). Type 3 boninites have 57.6–60.7 wt.% SiO₂ and are characterized by high CaO/Al₂O₃ (0.9–1.1). Both type 2 and 3 boninites are common on Mukojima but are rare in the Chichijima Island Group.     

柴达木盆地北缘全吉群红藻山组凝灰岩锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

全吉群是不整合于柴达木北缘全吉(欧龙布鲁克)地块变质基底之上的第一套盖层型沉积,目前多数研究者认为其时代大体为新元古代晚期。本文在柴北缘全吉山的全吉群红藻山组建组剖面上,对位于该组下部的两层凝灰岩开展了LA-MC-ICPMS锆石U-Pb同位素定年研究,获得其岩浆锆石的U-Pb同位素年龄分别为(1 640±15) Ma和(1 646±20) Ma,标定了红藻山组的形成年龄,为柴北缘中新元古界年代地层的重新厘定与划分,提供了新的、直接的年代学约束,具有重要的科学意义。首先,这一新进展表明,在柴北缘地区,传统的全吉群红藻山组以下各组的时代,并非一直以来的“新元古代晚期南华纪-震旦纪(埃迪卡拉纪)”,而应属于国内的中元古代长城纪、国际上的古元古代固结纪(Statherian,1 800~1 600 Ma)晚期;其次,根据当前定年并结合新近在红藻山组与上覆地层之间发现有古风化壳及区域性不整合、全吉群上部发育有埃迪卡拉纪化石及冰碛砾岩等证据,本文进一步确认,柴北缘全吉群在红藻山组与其上覆黑土山组等地层单位之间其实存在着相当长时间的地层缺失,传统的“全吉群”应予解体。由此并参考已有资料,本文认为,早先代表柴达木地块形成的“全吉运动”并不能与华南的“晋宁运动”对比,而应与华北的“吕梁运动”相当,全吉地块乃至整个柴达木及周边地区的中、新元古代地质演化历史及其大地构造亲缘属性等,都应重新予以考虑。     

内蒙古锡林浩特地区中元古代锡林浩特岩群的厘定及其意义

通过大比例尺填图和剖面研究, 将内蒙古锡林浩特地区的"锡林郭勒杂岩"解体分为3大部分: 一套表壳岩、晚元古代基性-超基性侵入岩和早古生代酸性侵入岩.在此基础上根据变质岩的岩性组合和变形变质特点, 可将其中的表壳岩化分为4个岩性段: 黑云(石榴石)斜长片麻岩, 间夹多层条纹状斜长角闪岩, 在其顶部多见薄层含磁铁石英岩; 中粗粒黑云斜长片麻岩和细粒长英质片麻岩; 混合岩化条带状黑云(角闪)斜长片麻岩, 含石榴石黑云二长片麻岩夹条纹状斜长角闪岩组合; 夕线石黑云斜长片麻岩, 条纹状黑云斜长片麻岩, 间夹含石榴石黑云母石英片岩.通过对比区域内宝音图群、艾勒格庙组、白乃庙群等古老地块的岩石组合, 发现在原岩建造、变质级别、沉积环境等特征上均有区别, 应将这套表壳岩单独厘定为锡林浩特岩群, 它们组成了锡林郭勒微陆块前寒武变质基底岩系, 其地质特征的研究对锡林郭勒微陆块基底的形成和演化及华北板块与西伯利亚板块的构造关系演化有重要意义.      

陆地沉积物对大洋缺氧事件的响应：六盘山群黑色页岩地球化学特征及其意义

通过对六盘山群中上部湖相沉积中一层黑色页岩年代（113.45~112.98 Ma）及其下部泥灰岩的元素地球化学特征研究发现,黑色页岩形成于干热而相对湿润气候背景下的缺氧还原环境中,与典型缺氧事件黑色页岩的地球化学特征基本一致,说明该黑色页岩记录了六盘山地区对全球白垩纪大洋缺氧事件OAE1b (约113～111 Ma)的响应,可能指示该期大洋缺氧事件是一次全球性的气候变化事件。     

The chemical evolution of dwarf spheroidal galaxies: dissecting the inner regions and their stellar populations

Using three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of isolated dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs), we undertake an analysis of the chemical properties of their inner regions, identifying the respective roles played by Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and Type II supernovae (SNe II). The effect of inhomogeneous pollution from SNe Ia is shown to be prominent within two core radii, with the stars forming therein amounting to ∼20 per cent of the total. These stars are relatively iron-rich and α-element depleted compared to the stars forming in the rest of the galaxy. At odds with the projected stellar velocity dispersion radial profile, the actual three-dimensional one shows a depression in the central region, where the most metal-rich (i.e. [Fe/H]-rich) stars are partly segregated. This naturally results in two different stellar populations, with an anticorrelation between [Fe/H] and velocity dispersion, in the same sense as that observed in the Sculptor and Fornax dSphs. Because the most iron-rich stars in our model are also the most α depleted, a natural prediction and test of our model is that the same radial segregation effects should exist between [α/Fe] and velocity dispersion.