Tectonothermal events in the Olympic IOCG Province constrained by apatite and REE-phosphate geochronology

The Olympic iron oxide–copper–gold province in South Australia contains numerous deposits and prospects, including the Olympic Dam Cu–U–Au–Ag deposit and the Acropolis prospect. The Acropolis prospect comprises massive, coarse-grained magnetite–apatite veins partly replaced by a hematite-stable assemblage. The apatite grains in the veins contain zones with abundant inclusions of other minerals (including monazite and xenotime) and low trace-element concentrations relative to the inclusion-free zones. The inclusion-rich apatite zones are interpreted to be formed from the recrystallisation of the inclusion-free apatite and remobilisation of U, Th and rare earth element (REE) from apatite into monazite and xenotime. Apatite, monazite and xenotime are all established U–Th–Pb geochronometers and offer the potential to constrain the alteration history of the Acropolis prospect. The LA-ICPMS U–Pb age of inclusion-free apatite is within error of the age of the host volcanic units (ca 1.59 Ga). Inclusion-rich apatite yields both near-concordant analyses that are within error of the inclusion-free apatite as well as highly disturbed (discordant) analyses. The most concordant analyses of monazite (Th–Pb) inclusions and xenotime (U–Pb) inclusions and rim grains indicate an alteration event occurred at ca 1.37 Ga and possibly also at ca 500 Ma. The disparity in age of the inclusion-rich apatite and the REE-phosphate inclusions (and rim grains) is suggested to be owing to the apatite being initially recrystallised at ca 1.59 Ga and modified again by a later event that also formed (or coarsened) most of the inclusions. Partial resetting of the majority of the monazite inclusions as well as the presence of significant amounts of common Pb has complicated the interpretation of the monazite results. In contrast, xenotime is a more robust geochronometer in this setting. The ages of the two post-1.59 Ga events that appear to have affected the Acropolis prospect do not correspond to any events known to have occurred in the Gawler Craton. The earlier (ca 1.37 Ga) age instead corresponds best with metamorphic–magmatic–hydrothermal activity in Laurentia, consistent with the proximity of Laurentia and the Gawler Craton inferred from palaeogeographic reconstructions. The later (ca 500 Ma) event corresponds to the Delamerian Orogeny and has been shown by prior studies to have also affected the Olympic Dam deposit.     

Development of groundwater favourability map using GIS-based driven data mining models: an approach for effective groundwater resource management

The development of groundwater favourability map is an effective tool for the sustainability management of groundwater resources in typical agricultural regions, such as southern Perak Province, Malaysia. Assessing the potentiality and pollution vulnerability of groundwater is a fundamental phase of favourability mapping. A geographic information system (GIS)-based Boolean operator of a spatial analyst module was applied to combine a groundwater potentiality map (GPM) model and a groundwater vulnerability to pollution index (GVPI) map, thereby establishing the favourable zones for drinking water exploration in the investigated area. The area GPM model was evaluated by applying a GIS-based Dempster–Shafer–evidential belief function model. In the evaluation, six geoelectrically determined groundwater potential conditioning factors (i.e. overburden resistivity, overburden thickness, aquifer resistivity, aquifer thickness, aquifer transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity) were synthesized by employing the probability-based algorithms of the model. The generated thematic maps of the seven hydrogeological parameters of the DRASTIC model were considered as pollution potential conditioning factors and were analysed with the developed ordered weighted average–DRASTIC index model algorithms to construct the GVPI map. Approximately 88.8 and 85.71% prediction accuracies for the Groundwater Potentiality and GVPI maps were established using the reacting operating characteristic curve method and water quality status–vulnerability zone relationship scheme, respectively. Finally, the area groundwater favourability map (GFM) model was produced by applying a GIS-based Boolean operator on the Groundwater Potentiality and GVPI maps. The GFM model reveals three distinct zones: ‘not suitable’, ‘less suitable’ and ‘very suitable’ zones. The area analysis of the GFM model indicates that more than 50% of the study area is covered by the ‘very suitable’ zones. Results produce a suitability map that can be used by local authorities for the exploitation and management of drinking water in the area. The study findings can also be applied as a tool to help increase public awareness of groundwater issues in developing countries.     

Contrasting water–rock interaction behaviors of antimony and arsenic in contaminated rivers around an antimony mine,Hunan Province,China

Although antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) exhibit similar geochemical behavior and toxicity in the environment, growing evidence suggests that their water–rock interaction behavior in contaminated rivers is quite different. Twenty-nine river water samples were collected between September and November 2018 from contaminated rivers around an antimony mine in Hunan Province, China. The concentrations of As and Sb were inversely proportional to the water flow distance. The rates and magnitudes of Sb decrease were more prominent than those of As. Silicate mineral dissolution from rocks such as silicified limestone increased the As and Sb concentration of in-mine-district (IMD) water. Dissolution of carbonate minerals, ion exchange, and competitive adsorption were the major water–rock interactions, resulting in rapidly decreasing As and Sb concentration in IMD direct impacted water and IMD indirect impacted water. The behaviors of As and Sb during water–rock interaction were dissimilar for areas dominated by carbonate and silicate minerals.     

The evolution of the terrestrial-terminating Irish Sea glacier during the last glaciation

Here we reconstruct the last advance to maximum limits and retreat of the Irish Sea Glacier (ISG), the only land-terminating ice lobe of the western British Irish Ice Sheet. A series of reverse bedrock slopes rendered proglacial lakes endemic, forming time-transgressive moraine- and bedrock-dammed basins that evolved with ice marginal retreat. Combining, for the first time on glacial sediments, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) bleaching profiles for cobbles with single grain and small aliquot OSL measurements on sands, has produced a coherent chronology from these heterogeneously bleached samples. This chronology constrains what is globally an early build-up of ice during late Marine Isotope Stage 3 and Greenland Stadial (GS) 5, with ice margins reaching south Lancashire by 30 ± 1.2 ka, followed by a 120-km advance at 28.3 ± 1.4 ka reaching its 26.5 ± 1.1 ka maximum extent during GS-3. Early retreat during GS-3 reflects piracy of ice sources shared with the Irish-Sea Ice Stream (ISIS), starving the ISG. With ISG retreat, an opportunistic readvance of Welsh ice during GS-2 rode over the ISG moraines occupying the space vacated, with ice margins oscillating within a substantial glacial over-deepening. Our geomorphological chronosequence shows a glacial system forced by climate but mediated by piracy of ice sources shared with the ISIS, changing flow regimes and fronting environments.     

鲜水河断裂带乾宁段岩石特征与内部结构及其物理-化学性质

断裂带的变形行为和断层滑移机制是目前地震研究关注的热点,断裂带岩石特征、内部结构与物理化学性质是确定断层蠕滑或粘滑行为以及断层滑移机制的基础和关键。本文以鲜水河断裂带乾宁段地表出露的断裂岩为研究对象,通过野外地质调查、室内光学显微镜、扫描电镜、粒度统计、粉末X射线衍射分析（XRD）和薄片X射线荧光光谱分析（XRF）等多种研究方法,对鲜水河断裂带岩石特征、结构构造、物性、矿物成分及化学元素分布开展了详细的分析,并探讨了相关变形行为和滑移机制。分析表明：（1）断裂带核部主要由黑色断层泥、浅黄色及黄色断层角砾岩和灰色碎裂岩、灰色断层角砾岩组成,呈单核对称结构;（2）黑色断层泥厚3~5cm,具有快速滑动结构特征,表现为断层粘滑行为。断层泥可划分出13个滑移带,最窄滑移带厚约40μm,至少代表13期古地震事件;（3）断层泥主要由伊利石、高岭石和石英等矿物组成,其中边部伊蒙混层含量异常高,为最新一次古地震的主滑移带。由于伊利石和伊蒙混层（或蒙脱石）为主要黏土矿物的断层泥渗透率低、孔隙流体压力大,以及发现断层泥楔入脉,表明地震过程中断层滑动存在热增压弱化机制;（4）从断层泥不同滑动带中碎块蚀变程度和矿物分布特征来看,地震主滑动带有向碎裂岩方向迁移的趋势。推测断层在滑动过程中,更趋向于向弱矿物含量高（如伊利石、伊蒙混层）、强矿物含量低（如方解石、高岭石）的围岩一侧迁移。     

Integration of zircon and apatite U–Pb geochronology and geochemical mapping of the Wude basalts(Emeishan large igneous province):A tool for a better understanding of the tectonothermal and geodynamic evolution of the Emeishan LIP

Radiogenic isotopic dating and Lu–Hf isotopic composition using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS)of the Wude basalt in Yunnan province from the Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP)yielded timing of formation and post-eruption tectonothermal event.Holistic lithogeochemistry and elements mapping of basaltic rocks were further reevaluated to provide insights into crustal contamination and formation of the ELIP.A zircon U–Pb age of 251.3±2.0 Ma of the Wude basalt recorded the youngest volcanic eruption event and was consistent with the age span of 251-263 Ma for the emplacement of the ELIP.Such zircons hadε_Hf(t)values ranging from7.3 to+2.2,identical to those of magmatic zircons from the intrusive rocks of the ELIP,suggesting that crust-mantle interaction occurred during magmatic emplacement,or crust-mantle mixing existed in the deep source region prior to deep melting.The apatite U–Pb age at 53.6±3.4 Ma recorded an early Eocene magmatic superimposition of a regional tectonothermal event,corresponding to the Indian–Eurasian plate collision.Negative Nb,Ta,Ti and P anomalies of the Emeishan basalt may reflect crustal contamination.The uneven Nb/La and Th/Ta values distribution throughout the ELIP supported a mantle plume model origin.Therefore,the ELIP was formed as a result of a mantle plume which was later superimposed by a regional tectonothermal event attributed to the Indian–Eurasian plate collision during early Eocene.     

Geochronological and geochemical evidence for a Late Ordovician to Silurian arc-back-arc system in the northern Great Xing'an Range,NE China

The early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Xing'an-Mongolian Orogenic Belt is dominated by two oceanic basins on the northwestern and southeastern sides of the Xing'an Block,i.e.,the Xinlin-Xiguitu Ocean and the Nenjiang Ocean.However,the early development of the Nenjiang Ocean remains unclear.Here,we present zircon U-Pb geochronology and whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic data on the gabbros in the Xinglong area together with andesitic tuffs and basalts in the Duobaoshan area.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of gabbros and andesitic tuffs yielded crystallization ages of 443-436 Ma and 452-451 Ma,respectively.The Early Silurian Xinglong gabbros show calc-alkaline and E-MORB affinities but they are enriched in LILEs,and depleted in HFSEs,with relatively low U/Th ratios of 0.18-0.36 andεNd(t)values of-1.6 to+0.5.These geochemical features suggest that the gabbros might originate from a mantle wedge modified by pelagic sediment-derived melts,consistent with a back-arc basin setting.By contrast,the andesitic tuffs are characterized by high MgO(>5 wt.%),Cr(138-200 ppm),and Ni(65-110 ppm)contents,and can be termed as high-Mg andesites.Their low Sr/Y ratios of 15.98-17.15 and U/Th values of 0.24-0.25 and moderate(La/Sm)_n values of 3.07-3.26 are similar to those from the Setouchi Volcanic Belt(SW Japan),and are thought to be derived from partial melting of subducted sediments,and subsequent melt-mantle interaction.The Duobaoshan basalts have high Nb(8.44-10.30 ppm)and TiO2 contents(1.17-1.60 wt.%),typical of Nb-enriched basalts.They are slightly younger than regional adakitic rocks and have positiveεNd(t)values of+5.2 to+5.7 and are interpreted to be generated by partial melting of a depleted mantle source metasomatized by earlier adakitic melts.Synthesized with coeval arc-related igneous rocks from the southeastern Xing'an Block,we propose that the Duobaoshan high-Mg andesitic tuffs and Nbenriched basalts are parts of the Late Ordovician and Silurian Sonid Zuoqi-Duobaoshan arc belt,and they were formed by the northwestern subduction of the Nenjiang Ocean.Such a subduction beneath the integrated Xing'an-Erguna Block also gave rise to the East Ujimqin-Xinglong igneous belt in a continental back-arc basin setting.Our new data support an early Paleozoic arc-back-arc model in the northern Great Xing'an Range.     

用卫星热红外信息研究关联断层活动的时空变化--以南北地震构造带为例

断层活动不是孤立的,一条断层的活动可能影响其他断层,并引起这些断层的活动,这些相互作用的断层称为关联断层.本文利用卫星热红外信息以南北地震构造带为例,分析了关联断层活动的时空变化,所使用的信息是经过处理的地表亮温残差低频分量TLOW.结果表明,在一定时段内研究区一些断层间除地震活动表现出相互呼应关系外,其地表亮温残差低频分量TLOW曲线相似,相关系数高,说明热红外信息与地震信息共同反映一个地区断层的关联活动.此外,也存在单独由地表亮温残差低频分量TLOW相关表现断层关联活动的情形,即断层间无地震活动的呼应关系,但也存在TLOW曲线的相关性,同样显示关联断层的相互作用.对TLOW的时空过程分析表明,关联活动组合可随时间发生变化.例如,1988～1994年间红河断裂与澜沧-耿马断裂、金沙江断裂等构成关联活动组合,1994～1998年又与小金河断裂、安宁河-小江断裂构成关联活动组合,这样的时空变化过程可能是地壳应力场重新分配的反映.本文的研究结果证明,卫星热红外信息有望成为研究断层相互作用的一个新的独立物理量,并将对地震动力学和构造物理学的发展有重要意义.     

柯坪塔格断裂西段古地震初步研究

柯坪塔格断裂位于西南天山柯坪塔格推覆构造的最前缘,以皮羌断裂为界分成东西两段。在柯坪塔格断裂西段开挖了6个规模较大的探槽,6个探槽都揭露出断层,但其中3个探槽的古地震事件不清晰,另外3个探槽有古地震遗迹。通过分析研究,共确定了全新世以来的4次古地震事件:第1次古地震事件发生于距今约12ka,第2次事件发生于距今约8·6ka,第3次事件大致发生于距今约5ka,第4次事件发生于距今(1·73±0.15)ka以来,很可能是1961年西克尔6·8级地震。这4次古地震事件具有约3~5ka的准周期重复特征。天山南麓有5~6排推覆体,每排推覆体的前缘都发育活动逆断裂,它们向下收敛于寒武系底部的滑脱面,因此,天山南麓的地震破裂非常复杂,这4次古地震事件的震级、发震构造等问题都有待于今后的深入研究     

阿拉善地块南缘的左旋走滑断裂与阿尔金断裂带的东延

阿拉善地块南缘发育了由5条走向近EW、向西收敛、向东撒开的断裂组成的断裂束,每条断裂长度一般>100km,控制第四纪盆地呈EW向长条状展布,卫片上线性影像清晰,晚第四纪以来表现出左旋走滑活动的特点。断裂束西段的金塔南山断裂与阿尔金断裂带东段的宽滩山段趋于交会,并与文殊山构造隆起之间构成构造转换关系。分析认为金塔南山断裂以及整个阿拉善南缘断裂束是阿尔金断裂左旋运动的东延部分,断裂束在平面上“帚状”的、向东撒开的构造样式有利于走滑运动量的分解、消减和吸收,符合走滑断裂末端的构造特点。阿拉善南缘断裂束的左旋走滑活动有可能是阿尔金断裂带进一步向东扩展的结果,其时代可能发生于早更新世末—中更新世初