Gold ore-forming fluids of the Tanami region, Northern Australia

Fluid inclusion studies have been carried out on major gold deposits and prospects in the Tanami region to determine the compositions of the associated fluids and the processes responsible for gold mineralization. Pre-ore, milky quartz veins contain only two-phase aqueous inclusions with salinities ≤19 wt% NaCl eq. and homogenization temperatures that range from 110 to 410°C. In contrast, the ore-bearing veins typically contain low to moderate salinity (<14 wt% NaCl eq.), H₂O + CO₂ ± CH₄ ± N₂-bearing fluids. The CO₂-bearing inclusions coexist with two-phase aqueous inclusions that exhibit a wider range of salinities (≤21 wt% NaCl eq.). Post-ore quartz and carbonate veins contain mainly two-phase aqueous inclusions, with a last generation of aqueous inclusions being very CaCl₂-rich. Salinities range from 7 to 33 wt% NaCl eq. and homogenization temperatures vary from 62 to 312°C. Gold deposits in the Tanami region are hosted by carbonaceous or iron-rich sedimentary rocks and/or mafic rocks. They formed over a range of depths at temperatures from 200 to 430°C. The Groundrush deposit formed at the greatest temperatures and depths (260–430°C and ≤11 km), whereas deposits in the Tanami goldfield formed at the lowest temperatures (≥200°C) and at the shallowest depths (1.5–5.6 km). There is also evidence in the Tanami goldfield for late-stage isothermal mixing with higher salinity (≤21 wt% NaCl eq.) fluids at temperatures between 100 and 200°C. Other deposits (e.g., The Granites, Callie, and Coyote) formed at intermediate depths and at temperatures ranging from 240 to 360°C. All ore fluids contained CO₂ ± N₂ ± CH₄, with the more deeply formed deposits being enriched in CH₄ and higher level deposits being enriched in CO₂. Fluids from deposits hosted mainly by sedimentary rocks generally contained appreciable quantities of N₂. The one exception is the Tanami goldfield, where the quartz veins were dominated by aqueous inclusions with rare CO₂-bearing inclusions. Calculated δ ¹⁸O values for the ore fluids range from 3.8 to 8.5‰ and the corresponding δD values range from −89 to −37‰. Measured δ ¹³C values from CO₂ extracted from fluid inclusions ranged from −5.1 to −8.4‰. These data indicate a magmatic or mixed magmatic/metamorphic source for the ore fluids in the Tanami region. Interpretation of the fluid inclusion, alteration, and structural data suggests that mineralization may have occurred via a number of processes. Gold occurs in veins associated with brittle fracturing and other dilational structures, but in the larger deposits, there is also an association with iron-rich rocks or carbonaceous sediments, suggesting that both structural and chemical controls are important. The major mineralization process appears to be boiling/effervescence of a gas-rich fluid, which leads to partitioning of H₂S into the vapor phase resulting in gold precipitation. However, some deposits also show evidence of desulfidation by fluid–rock interaction and/or reduction of the ore-fluid by fluid mixing. These latter processes are generally more prevalent in the higher crustal-level deposits.     

A transdisciplinary analysis of water problems in the mountainous karst areas of Morocco

Water management and engineering in the karstic High Atlas of Morocco are difficult tasks under the prevailing geological, hydrogeological, geomorphological, vegetational and climatic conditions. It is important to be able to understand and predict the characteristics and availability of water for future water planning in the region under changing climatic and agricultural conditions. An interdisciplinary analysis of problems and adequate hydrological modelling tools developed by geologists, hydrologists and biologists are necessary. The karst areas of the High Atlas Mountains are characterised by impermeable triassic basalt underlying substantial subsurface reservoirs with high potential discharge rates. The karst groundwater aquifers are extensive but largely unknown in dimension, probably with a hierarchical network of groundwater flow paths. It is estimated that approximately 70% of the surface water is directly lost to groundwater. Steep landslide- and debris flow prone slopes exist next to coarse-grained, highly porous river beds. Infrequent, high intensity rainfall or snowmelt causes a particularly high flood risk to these karst areas. In addition, agriculture and land use changes have degraded the karst areas. The most important driving forces for degradation include permanent overgrazing even during droughts and the use of firewood by a continually growing population. Large scale degradation of vegetation has occurred in the oro-mediterranean (mountainous Mediterranean) zone, between 2600 and 3400 m which coincides with the most important zone for karstic groundwater creation. The combination of high amounts of groundwater flow and rapid surface flow due to sparse vegetation has increased the problems of flood flow.     

西秦岭北带大草滩群的解体及其地质意义——兼论北秦岭加里东运动的性质

分布于西秦岭北带的上泥盆统大草滩群 (D3dc) ,被众多研究秦岭的地质学家认为是典型的造山后的磨拉石建造 ,并将这套地层作为北秦岭加里东运动最直接、重要的证据之一。我们的工作发现 ,大草滩群是由两套不同时代、不同沉积建造的地层体经逆冲—推覆构造作用形成的地层叠置系统。因此 ,原大草滩群予以解体 ,建议取消。这一认识对探讨北秦岭加里东运动的性质以及整个北秦岭构造演化历史提供了重要资料     

亚洲陆权博弈视角下中国北方地缘战略价值论析

古代东亚大陆往往会形成农耕民族(中原王朝)与游牧渔猎民族(北方陆权力量)相并立的二元格局,在两者对抗与博弈的数千年历史中,中国北方地区为保持"中华文明有机体"的生存和发展发挥了不可替代的作用。目前中国北方地区仍然具有重要的地缘战略价值。根据"国家有机体"理论的基本内核,借鉴亚洲陆权博弈的历史经验,结合新形势和新条件来研究中国北方地缘形势,可以将它划分为五个相互交叉和包含的部分——核心地带、上游地带、四个走廊地带、七大要区和两大枢区。这五个部分有着不同的特点和战略价值,就目前的形势而言,东北要区和新疆要区在安全和发展上与中国的外向地缘政治和地缘经济形势存在着重大关联,它们的战略意义更为突出。     

古新世-始新世暖期北半球野火演化研究

古近纪是现代气候和植被形成的关键过渡期,而野火活动与气候、植被和碳循环等存在耦合关系.开展古新世-始新世(66～34 Ma)3个特征暖期,即古新世-始新世极热事件(PETM,约55.9 Ma)、早始新世气候适宜期(EECO,53.3～49.1 Ma)、中始新世气候适宜期(MECO,约40.5～40.1 Ma)的野火活动研究,对于揭示气候和植被变化特征及其影响具有重要意义.本研究基于蒙古高原南部二连盆地古新世-始新世野火记录,并结合北半球该时段其他12个地点的野火研究数据,从长尺度地质记录视角,重建北半球野火活动特征与演变,并探讨其驱动机制.研究结果显示古新世-始新世不同特征暖期野火发生规模和强度存在差异,PETM极端暖期较EECO和MECO暖期野火强度更大,但不十分显著.古新世-始新世暖期并没有持续的、大规模的野火发生,呈现\"低野火状态\",总体不支持强调燃烧活动影响全球碳循环的\"野火假说\".通过野火发生与温度、降水、植被以及CO2浓度等环境因子之间的关系分析,对\"古近纪低火谜题\"进行初探,认为古新世-始新世气候的季节性并不分明,较短的干季不利于可燃\"燃料\"和潜在火源的形成,很可能是新生代早期\"低野火\"的主因.     

Le Silurien de la région d'Oulad Abbou (Meseta occidentale,Maroc) : une sédimentation péritidale sous contrôle tectonique

In the Oulad Abbou syncline, western coastal Meseta, the Silurian deposits exhibit siliciclastic or mixed siliciclastic/carbonate tidal facies that recorded alkaline basalt flows and syn-sedimentary deformations. These facies are staked into peritidal shallowing upward sequences reflecting the evolution from an infratidal to a supratidal environment. These sequences recorded low-amplitude and high-frequency sea-level variations. The built-up of these rhythmic sequences is related to distensive tectonic that allowed the development of isolated platform from extensive siliciclastic influx. This tectonic event is well recorded in the palaeogeographic evolution of the northern Gondwana platform during the Lower Palaeozoic time. To cite this article: A. Attou, N. Hamoumi, C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).