Geology, Mineralogy, and Formation Environment of the Disseminated Gold-Silver Telluride Bulawan Deposit, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Abstract: The Bulawan deposit is located in the porphyry copper belt of southwest Negros island, Philippines. Propylitic, K–feldspar, sericitic, and carbonate alteration types can be distinguished in the deposit. Propylite alteration occurs mainly in Cretaceous-Eocene andesitic lavas and agglomerates while K–feldspar, sericite and carbonate alteration types occur mostly in the Middle Miocene dacite porphyry breccia pipes and stocks which were intruded into the andesites. K-feldspar zones occur in the inner parts of the sericitized zone. Sericite alteration overprinted the propylitized and K-feldspar alteration zones, at lower temperature than epidote and chlorite in the propylitized zone. Carbonate alteration is associated with the mineralization in the center of the breccia pipes and along faults. Mineralization consists of gold-silver telluride ores that are hosted by the carbonate– and sericite-altered dacite porphyry breccia pipes. The Bulawan ores occur mainly as disseminations, but unlike many epithermal gold deposits, lack classical epithermal colloform and crustiform quartz veins. The ore minerals are sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite and tetrahedite-tennantite with minor amounts of electrum, calaverite, petzite, sylvanite, hessite, tellurobismuthite, coloradoite, altaite, and rucklidgeite. Electrum and telluride minerals are associated mostly with calcite and dolomite-ankerite minerals. Fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite in clasts of propylitized andesite in the breccia pipes homogenize from about 300° to 400°C while fluid inclusions in quartz, calcite and sphalerite within the dacite porphyry breccia pipes homogenize between 300° to 310°C. The ores were formed around 300°C from hydrothermal solutions with salinity of about 6. 6 wt % NaCl equivalent. The presence of sylvanite and calaverite as intergrowths with each other, and the Ag content of calaverite are consistent with the above temperature estimate. Based on paragenesis, the Bulawan deposit formed in a pyrite-stable environment, with pH between 3. 4 and 5. 5, f_O2 between 10^-32 to 10^-30 atm, f_S2 between 10^-9.8 to 10^-7.8 atm, f_Te2 between 10^-8.9 to 10^-6.5 atm, and total sulfur content about 10^-2.8 molal. The dominant reduced sulfur species in the ore solutions may have been H₂S_(aq), and the likely aqueous tellurium species were H₂Te_(aq) and H₂TeO_3(aq). The ore minerals in the Bulawan deposit were probably formed by mixing of slightly saline and low salinity fluids.     

滇东北及毛坪铅锌矿遥感地质与成矿预测

根据遥感构造、含矿岩性地层、岩石蚀变异常等多种遥感地质信息,采用地质异常单元统计预测方法,对毛坪铅锌矿进行多元信息成矿预测,明确了找矿方向。     

The Deccan Trap – Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary connection; new 40Ar/39Ar ages and critical assessment of existing argon data pertinent to this hypothesis

The Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (KPgB) was dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method herein from the western interior of North America at 65.48 ± 0.12 Ma (1σ), in good agreement with other recent published estimates. For the Deccan Traps, India, new argon ages as well as others available in the literature, are assessed for reliability based on (a) statistical reliability of plateau/isochron sections and (b) freshness of material dated utilizing the alteration index method. From tholeiitic lavas from the Composite Western Ghats Section (CWGS), only six ages are found to be reliable estimates of the time of crystallization. These ages along with the magnetic polarity of the lavas agree with the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS) at ∼67–64 Ma. Alkaline rocks from the Anjar area of Kutch, provide three reliable ages that suggest a hiatus in lava extrusion around KPgB. For the Rajahmundry basalts, the upper flow’s age defines its formation during chron 29n; a single age from the lower reversed polarity flow appears somewhat dichotomous when plotted against the GPTS. The reliable lava ages indicate the most voluminous (reversed polarity) sections of the CWGS were extruded at a time statistically indistinguishable from that of the KPgB. The Deccan Trap – KPgB faunal extinction hypothesis remains plausible, but must compete with the latest report, favoring a very close temporal connection (∼0.03 m.y.) between the Chixculub (Impact) Crater and the KPgB.     

A comparison of terpenoid and leaf fossil vegetation proxies in Paleocene and Eocene Bighorn Basin sediments

Plant-derived terpenoids, long recognized as biomarkers, can help reveal the major taxonomic groups of land plants present in ancient environments, even if rocks and sediments do not preserve plant macro- or microfossils. Previous studies have used simple di- to triterpenoid ratios to reconstruct floral changes in the geologic past, but few have compared terpenoid ratios with estimates of floral composition from fossils. Further, reconstructions have not taken into account differences in biomarker production (i.e. concentration relative to leaf biomass) between different types of plants. Here, we have examined terpenoids from early Cenozoic fluvial rocks from the Bighorn Basin (Wyoming, USA), where fossil flora has been studied in detail. We analyzed the distributions of diterpenoids, triterpenoids and n-alkanes from leaf wax in a total of 43 samples from 15 stratigraphic horizons of late Paleocene (63 Ma) to early Eocene (53 Ma) in age. In nearly all samples, triterpenoids, derived from angiosperms, were significantly lower in abundance than conifer-specific diterpenoids, a finding that contrasted with plant fossil evidence for the same rocks. This suggests that di- to triterpenoid ratios severely underestimate the abundance of angiosperms in paleovegetation. Angiosperms dominated n-alkane production among modern plants, and we propose a new paleovegetation proxy based on the ratio of diterpenoids (conifers) to n-alkanes (angiosperms), corrected for lipid production estimated from extant vegetation. Using diterpenoids and alkanes, we infer the composition of paleovegetation to be similar to that inferred from plant fossils. Although the approach works well for the Bighorn Basin, we stress the new paleovegetation proxy will need to be evaluated for other time periods, communities, paleogeography and depositional environments with pollen or megafossil data available.     

Amoeboid olivine aggregates and related objects in carbonaceous chondrites: records of nebular and asteroid processes

Amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs) are the most common type of refractory inclusions in CM, CR, CH, CV, CO, and ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites Acfer 094 and Adelaide; only one AOA was found in the CB_b chondrite Hammadah al Hamra 237 and none were observed in the CB_a chondrites Bencubbin, Gujba, and Weatherford. In primitive (unaltered and unmetamorphosed) carbonaceous chondrites, AOAs consist of forsterite (Fa_<2), Fe, Ni-metal (5-12 wt% Ni), and Ca, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) composed of Al-diopside, spinel, anorthite, and very rare melilite. Melilite is typically replaced by a fine-grained mixture of spinel, Al-diopside, and ±anorthite; spinel is replaced by anorthite. About 10% of AOAs contain low-Ca pyroxene replacing forsterite. Forsterite and spinel are always ¹⁶O-rich (δ^17,18O∼−40‰ to −50‰), whereas melilite, anorthite, and diopside could be either similarly ¹⁶O-rich or ¹⁶O-depleted to varying degrees; the latter is common in AOAs from altered and metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites such as some CVs and COs. Low-Ca pyroxene is either ¹⁶O-rich (δ^17,18O∼−40‰) or ¹⁶O-poor (δ^17,18O∼0‰). Most AOAs in CV chondrites have unfractionated (∼2-10×CI) rare-earth element patterns. AOAs have similar textures, mineralogy and oxygen isotopic compositions to those of forsterite-rich accretionary rims surrounding different types of CAIs (compact and fluffy Type A, Type B, and fine-grained, spinel-rich) in CV and CR chondrites. AOAs in primitive carbonaceous chondrites show no evidence for alteration and thermal metamorphism. Secondary minerals in AOAs from CR, CM, and CO, and CV chondrites are similar to those in chondrules, CAIs, and matrices of their host meteorites and include phyllosilicates, magnetite, carbonates, nepheline, sodalite, grossular, wollastonite, hedenbergite, andradite, and ferrous olivine.Our observations and a thermodynamic analysis suggest that AOAs and forsterite-rich accretionary rims formed in ¹⁶O-rich gaseous reservoirs, probably in the CAI-forming region(s), as aggregates of solar nebular condensates originally composed of forsterite, Fe, Ni-metal, and CAIs. Some of the CAIs were melted prior to aggregation into AOAs and experienced formation of Wark-Lovering rims. Before and possibly after the aggregation, melilite and spinel in CAIs reacted with SiO and Mg of the solar nebula gas enriched in ¹⁶O to form Al-diopside and anorthite. Forsterite in some AOAs reacted with ¹⁶O-enriched SiO gas to form low-Ca pyroxene. Some other AOAs were either reheated in ¹⁶O-poor gaseous reservoirs or coated by ¹⁶O-depleted pyroxene-rich dust and melted to varying degrees, possibly during chondrule formation. The most extensively melted AOAs experienced oxygen isotope exchange with ¹⁶O-poor nebular gas and may have been transformed into magnesian (Type I) chondrules. Secondary mineralization and at least some of the oxygen isotope exchange in AOAs from altered and metamorphosed chondrites must have resulted from alteration in the presence of aqueous solutions after aggregation and lithification of the chondrite parent asteroids.     

Formation and alteration of plagiogranites in an ultramafic-hosted detachment fault at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (ODP Leg 209)

We examined small-scale shear zones in drillcore samples of abyssal peridotites from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. These shear zones are associated with veins consisting of chlorite + actinolite/tremolite assemblages, with accessory phases zircon and apatite, and they are interpreted as altered plagiogranite melt impregnations, which originate from hydrous partial melting of gabbroic intrusion in an oceanic detachment fault. Ti-in-zircon thermometry yields temperatures around 820°C for the crystallization of the evolved melt. Reaction path modeling indicates that the alteration assemblage includes serpentine of the adjacent altered peridotites. Based on the model results, we propose that formation of chlorite occurred at higher temperatures than serpentinization, thus leading to strain localization around former plagiogranites during alteration. The detachment fault represents a major pathway for fluids through the oceanic crust, as evidenced by extremely low δ¹⁸O of altered plagiogranite veins (+3.0–4.2‰) and adjacent serpentinites (+ 2.6–3.7‰). The uniform oxygen isotope data indicate that fluid flow in the detachment fault system affected veins and adjacent host serpentinites likewise. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

川西冕宁-德昌稀土矿带霓长岩的地球化学特征及地质意义

霓长岩化作用是指碳酸岩(或碱性岩)流体对围岩的交代蚀变,它是碳酸岩型稀土(REE)矿床常见的蚀变类型,其所形成的岩石即为霓长岩。对霓长岩的深入研究可以鉴别碳酸岩体的存在,厘定碳酸岩岩浆(或流体)的地球化学性质及源区特征,这对于找寻碳酸岩相关的矿产资源(尤其是REE)以及剖析矿床成因机制有着重要的地质意义。川西冕宁-德昌稀土矿带是中国最重要的轻稀土矿带之一,包括牦牛坪超大型、大陆槽大型、木落寨和里庄中小型REE矿床以及一系列矿点。REE矿化与碳酸岩-碱性岩杂岩体密切相关,受一系列新生代走滑断裂的控制。该矿带广泛发育霓长岩化蚀变带,尤以大陆槽及里庄矿床为显著。岩相学分析表明,大陆槽和里庄霓长岩中的矿物多呈他形粒状结构,主要由长石、黑云母、霓辉石以及少量副矿物组成;主微量元素分析表明,霓长岩的碱质(K_2O+Na_2O)、MgO、Fe_2O_3T含量较高,且富集REE、Sr、Ba等微量元素;电子探针分析表明,霓长岩中的霓辉石Fe OT含量较高,长石Na_2O及K_2O含量较高,Ca O含量极低。An-Ab-Or三角图解显示长石主要为透长石和钠长石,属碱性长石系列;黑云母的地球化学成分图解表明云母的成因类型为交代型且具有相对富镁、贫铁等特征,属镁质黑云母。霓长岩化作用的交代流体含有较高的CO_2组分,且富含碱质、Mg、Fe及REE、Sr、Ba等元素。对比霓长岩与原岩的主微量元素发现:相比于正长岩原岩,在主量元素中,霓长岩的Fe、Mg、Ca等元素含量增加,Si、Al等元素含量降低;微量元素中,霓长岩的REE及Sr、Ba等元素显著增加。这意味着交代流体含有的Fe_2O_3T、MgO、CaO等组分在霓长岩化过程中被带进了围岩,而SiO_2和Al_2O_3等从围岩中被逐出。大陆槽及里庄矿区发育的角砾岩指示了矿区曾经历过频繁的角砾岩化事件,这提高了霓长岩作用的强度,并且为矿脉的穿插及REE矿物的沉淀提供了空间。在霓长岩化过程中,流体-围岩的组分交换反复发生,这削弱了REE络合物的稳定性,伴随多期次的热液活动及构造事件,最终完成REE活化→迁移→沉淀的过程。     

低浓度磷酸一酯的膜富集和气相色谱测定

磷酸一酯（ＲＯ）Ｐ（Ｏ）（ＯＨ）２是一种强极性的有机磷化合物。研究了水体中磷酸一（１－萘）酯的富集和上色谱分析,建立了一个简便快速、高灵敏度、实用的分析方法。富集是采用固相萃取方法,选用载有十八烷基硅烷的尼龙滤膜吸附,甲醇洗脱,回收率达７２％￣７％。它的气相色谱分析选用ＢＳＴＦＡ为衍生剂,反应条件为温度６５℃,反应时间３０ｍｉｎ,获得了满意的结果。方法的最低检测限为０。０６ｎｇ。     

西秦岭泥盆系Au背景值的确定、元素地球化学特征及地质意义

根据地层地球化学研究,秦岭地区Au背景值为2.9×10-9,从西到东,自礼岷→文康→西成→凤太→板沙→镇旬→柞山地区金含量逐渐降低。凤太盆地、西成盆地、礼岷盆地泥盆系金背景值分别为3.1×10-9、3.2×10-9、4.7×10-9,为重要的金多金属地球化学成矿区。金在地层中的分布受岩性和沉积环境的控制,泥盆系是本区金成矿的矿源层,其中千枚岩、板岩、片岩、粉砂岩是金矿的重要源岩。与其他沉积盖层相比,秦岭中上泥盆统富集Au、Ag、Cu、Co、Ni、Cr、Pb、Zn。与上地壳丰度对比,Au、As、Sb、Ag、Co、Ni、Cr、V、Pb、Zn较富集。泥盆系中发育热水沉积岩,含Au较高。研究表明,在热水沉积中Au发生了预富集作用,沿海底同生断裂发育的钠质热水沉积过程中Au富集形成了矿源层。     

珠江口盆地荔湾凹陷上渐新统—早中新统物源特征及其对沉积充填的影响

利用化学蚀变指数法恢复物源区的风化历史及沉积物通量是一种经济实用、行之有效的方法。前人对珠江口盆地荔湾凹陷对应物源区的研究相对薄弱。本文通过对区内岩心测试数据进行化学蚀变指数分析,恢复晚渐新世—早中新世物源区的风化历史,并进行沉积物通量的估算,在此基础上探讨物源特征对研究区内沉积充填的控制作用。研究表明,晚渐新世研究区对应物源区经历了强烈风化阶段,该阶段产生的丰富的沉积物供给是研究区西北部快速进积、规模壮观的陆架边缘三角洲及斜坡重力流沉积体系发育的重要控制因素之一;早中新世,西北物源区风化减弱,沉积供给减少,但研究区东部沉积物供应较西部要充分得多,表明早中新世,研究区南部除了来自西北部的主要物源外,局部物源对该时期的沉积具有重要影响;推测东部物源(东部古隆起、兴宁古隆起)的突然复活是促进研究区东部早中新世沟槽形成发育的重要原因之一。在超深水区进行沉积物源区的研究中,这种半定量的方法对盆内局部物源的确定具有重要的指示意义。