The ClBrI composition of 3.23 Ga modified seawater: implications for the geological evolution of ocean halide chemistry

Fluid inclusion leachates obtained from vug and vein quartz samples from an Archean (3.23 Ga) Fe-oxide hydrothermal deposit in the west-central part of the Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa, were analyzed by ion chromatography for chloride, bromide, and iodide. The deposit, known as the ironstone pods, formed by seafloor hydrothermal activity and fluid discharge. Quartz is dominated by type I liquid-vapor, aqueous inclusions with a bimodal salinity distribution (0–0.25 M_Cl⁻ and 0.9–1.8 M_Cl⁻). Bulk analytical salinities range from 0.45 to 0.99 M_Cl⁻ represent averages of type I inclusions. Bulk fluid inclusion bromide and iodide concentrations are 1.44–3.32 mM and 0.01–0.12 mM, respectively. For comparison, modern seawater has halogen contents of 590 mM chloride, 0.9 mM bromide, and 0.5 μM total iodine. In the fluids from the ironstone pods, bromide and iodide are enriched relative to chloride, when compared with modern seawater.Approximate Br⁻Cl⁻ and I⁻Cl⁻ ratios of 3.2 Ga Barberton seawater are 2.5 × 10⁻³ and 40 × 10⁻⁶, respectively. Dispersion to higher values was caused principally by reaction with organic sediments whose trends are similar to those seen for modern vent fluids at unsedimented and sedimented ridges, relative to modern seawater. These halide ratios are greater than those of modern seawater, suggesting a change in the halide ratios of seawater over geological time. The analytical data are consistent with a model in which marine organic sedimentation has fractionated bromine and iodine out of seawater relative to chloride, thereby causing the halide ratios of seawater to decrease from high early and mid-Archean values towards their present day values.     

U–Pb ages of Neoarchean granitoids from the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA: implications for crustal evolution in the Archean Wyoming province

Zircons in basement rocks from the eastern Wyoming province (Black Hills, South Dakota, USA) have been analyzed by ion microprobe (SHRIMP) in order to determine precise ages of Archean tectonomagmatic events. In the northern Black Hills (NBH) near Nemo, Phanerozoic and Proterozoic (meta)sedimentary rocks are nonconformably underlain by Archean biotite–feldspar gneiss (BFG) and Little Elk gneissic granite (LEG), both of which intrude older schists. The Archean granitoid gneisses exhibit a pervasive NW–SE-trending fabric, whereas an earlier NE–SW-trending fabric occurs sporadically only in the BFG, which is intruded by the somewhat younger LEG. Zircon crystals obtained from the LEG and BFG exhibit double terminations, oscillatory zoning, and Th/U ratios of 0.6±0.3—thereby confirming a magmatic origin for both lithologies. In situ analysis of the most U–Pb concordant domains yields equivalent ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages (upper intercept, U–Pb concordia) of 2559±6 and 2563±6 Ma (both ±2σ) for the LEG and BFG, respectively, which constrains a late Neoarchean age for sequential pulses of magmatism in the NBH. Unzoned (in BSE) patches of 2560 Ma zircon commonly truncate coeval zonation in the same crystals with no change in Th/U ratio, suggesting that deuteric, fluid-assisted recrystallization accompanied post-magmatic cooling. A xenocrystic core of magmatic zircon observed in one LEG zircon yields a concordant age of 2894±6 Ma (±2σ). This xenocryst represents the oldest crustal material reported thus far in the Black Hills. Whether this older zircon originated as unmelted residue of 2900 Ma crust that potentially underlies the Black Hills or as detritus derived from 2900 Ma crustal sources in the Wyoming province cannot be discerned. In the southern Black Hills (SBH), the peraluminous granite at Bear Mountain (BMG) of previously unknown age intrudes biotite–plagioclase schist. Zircon crystals from the BMG are highly metamict and altered, but locally preserve small domains suitable for in situ analysis. A U–Pb concordia upper intercept age of 2596±11 Ma (±2σ) obtained for zircon confirms both the late Neoarchean magmatic age of the BMG and a minimum age for the schist it intrudes. Taken together, these data indicate that the Neoarchean basement granitoids were emplaced at 2590–2600 Ma (SBH) and 2560 Ma (NBH), most likely in response to subduction associated with plate convergence (final assembly of supercontinent Kenorland?). In contrast, thin rims present on some LEG–BFG zircons exhibit strong U–Pb discordance, high common Pb, and low Th/U ratios—suggesting growth or modification under hydrothermal conditions, as previously suggested for similar zircons from SE Wyoming. The LEG–BFG zircon rims yield a nominal upper intercept date of 1940–2180 Ma, which may represent a composite of multiple rifting events known to have affected the Nemo area between 2480 and 1960 Ma. Together, these observations confirm the existence of a Paleoproterozoic rift margin along the easternmost Wyoming craton. Moreover, the 2480–1960 Ma time frame inferred for rifting in the Black Hills (Nemo area) corresponds closely to a 2450–2100 Ma time frame previously inferred for the fragmentation of supercontinent Kenorland.     

Deep seismic reflection profiling in the Archaean northeastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: implications for crustal architecture and mineral potential

Deep seismic reflection data across the Archaean Eastern Goldfields Province, northeastern Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, have provided information on its crustal architecture and on several of its highly mineralised belts. The seismic reflection data allow interpretation of several prominent crustal scale features, including an eastward thickening of the crust, subdivision of the crust into three broad layers, the presence of a prominent east dip to the majority of the reflections and the interpretation of three east-dipping crustal-penetrating shear zones. These east-dipping shear zones are major structures that subdivide the region into four terranes. Major orogenic gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields Province are spatially associated with these major structures. The Laverton Tectonic Zone, for example, is a highly mineralised corridor that contains several world-class gold deposits plus many smaller deposits. Other non crustal-penetrating structures within the area do not appear to be as well endowed metallogenically as the Laverton structure. The seismic reflection data have also imaged a series of low-angle shear zones within and beneath the granite–greenstone terranes. Where the low-angle shear zones intersect the major crustal-penetrating structures, a wedge shaped geometry is formed. This geometry forms a suitable fluid focusing wedge in which upward to subhorizontal moving fluids are focused and then distributed into the nearby complexly deformed greenstones.     

Formation of Paleoproterozoic eclogitic mantle, Slave Province (Canada): Insights from in-situ Hf and U–Pb isotopic analyses of mantle zircons

In-situ Hf isotope analyses and U–Pb dates were obtained by laser ablation-MC-ICP-MS for a zircon-bearing mantle eclogite xenolith from the diamondiferous Jericho kimberlite located within the Archean Slave Province (Nunavut), Canada. The U–Pb zircon results yield a wide range of ages (2.0 to 0.8 Ga) indicating a complex geological history. Of importance, one zircon yields a U–Pb upper intercept date of 1989 ± 67 Ma, providing a new minimum age constraint for zircon crystallization and eclogite formation. In contrast, Hf isotope systematics for the same zircons display an intriguing uniformity, and corresponding Hf depleted mantle model ages range between 2.1 ± 0.1 and 2.3 ± 0.1 Ga; the youngest Hf model age is within error to the oldest U–Pb date.

The Jericho eclogites have previously been interpreted as representing remnants of metamorphosed oceanic crust, and their formation related to Paleoproterozoic subduction regimes along the western margin of the Archean Slave craton during the Wopmay orogeny. Hf isotope compositions and U–Pb results for the Jericho zircons reported here are in good agreement with a Paleoproterozoic subduction model, suggesting that generation of oceanic crust and eclogite formation occurred between 2.0 and 2.1 Ga. The slightly older Hf depleted mantle model ages (2.1 to 2.3 Ga) may be reconciled with this model by invoking mixing between ‘crustal’-derived Hf from sediments and more radiogenic Hf associated with the oceanic crust during the 2 Ga subduction event. This results in intermediate Hf isotope compositions for the Jericho zircons that yield ‘fictitiously’ older Hf model ages.     

内蒙古大青山-乌拉山地区孔兹岩系的早期变质地层结构——下地壳近水平顺层滑脱变形的产物

近年来孔兹岩系作为高级变质岩区一套特征性的变质沉积岩石组合而受到广泛关注，但其变质地层结构及其相关的构造作用和构造样式还不为人所了解。通过对内蒙古大青山一乌拉山地区以孔兹岩系发育为特征的高级变质杂岩的研究发现，区内孔兹岩系自下而上由3个岩石地层单位组成：榴云片麻岩岩组、透辉片麻岩岩组和大理岩岩组，表现出由细碎屑沉积-碎屑沉积和钙质化学沉积的混合物-镁质碳酸盐组成的沉积旋回。这些变质地层不仅遭受到具有近等温降压顺时针P-T演化特征的麻粒岩相变质作用的改造，同时，还遭受到近水平顺层滑脱变形构造、穹-褶构造和近东西向陡倾叶理带这三种构造形式为主的多期变形的改造。由此，这些变质地层在空间上多以不规则条带状、不规则团块状或透镜状形式出露，同时，各地层单位在空间上具有“犬牙交错，参差产出”，“岩层缺失，隔层相触”的特征。研究结果表明，区内孔兹岩系目前的产出状态及“犬牙交错，参差产出”的特征是穹-褶构造尤其是近东西向陡倾叶理带叠加改造的结果，在消除其改造的影响后可以确定，由于近水平顺层滑脱变形改造的结果，这些变质地层发生“岩层缺失，隔层相触”，在空间上表现为以近水平的长轴近东西向的扁豆体堆叠而成的早期变质地层结构，这是高级变质地层所特有的变质地层结构。     

Glacial dispersal studies using indicator minerals and till geochemistry around two eastern Finland kimberlites

Diamondiferous kimberlites occur in eastern Finland, in the areas of Kaavi–Kuopio and Kuhmo. Active diamond exploration has been ongoing in the country for over two decades, but the Karelian craton still remains under explored given its size and potential. In order to develop techniques that can be applied to diamond exploration in glaciated terrains, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) carried out a detailed heavy mineral and geochemical survey of Quaternary till in 2001–2003 around two of the known kimberlitic bodies in Finland, Pipe 7 in Kaavi and Dyke 16 in Kuhmo. The mineralogical and geochemical signatures of these two kimberlites were studied in the basal till deposited down-ice from the targets. The kimberlites were selected to represent two different types in terms of shape, size, age and petrology, as well as showing contrasting country rocks and Quaternary deposits. Till samples up to 60 kg in weight were taken by excavator and by drill rig. Kimberlitic indicator mineral grains (0.25–1.0 mm) were concentrated using a GTK modified 3″Knelson Concentrator. Fine fractions (< 0.063 mm) of selected samples were analyzed by XRF and ICP-MS. The indicator grains down-ice from Pipe 7 form a well-defined fan in the basal till that can be followed for at least 2 km with a maximum concentration at 1.2 km distance from the pipe. Another kimberlitic body discovered during the study 300 m down-ice from Pipe 7 demonstrates that there are in fact at least two superimposed indicator fans. The results do not rule out the possibility of even more undiscovered kimberlitic sources in the area. In contrast, the indicator dispersal trail from Dyke 16 is shorter (1 km) and less well-defined than that at Kaavi, mainly due to the lower indicator content in the kimberlite itself and subsequently in till, as well as a large population of background chromites in till. The latter population is likely having been derived from the Archean Näätäniemi serpentinite massif and the associated ultramafic metavolcanics of the Kuhmo greenstone belt, located ca. 30 km up-ice from the sampling area. The indicator maximum at Seitaperä dyke swarm occurs immediately down-ice from the kimberlite, after which the concentration drops rapidly. Results of this study contribute to the overall understanding of the Quaternary history of the Kaavi and Kuhmo areas, and more importantly, provide key information to diamond exploration in these particular regions and also elsewhere in glaciated terrains.     

渤海湾盆地大型基岩潜山储层特征及其控制因素 ——以渤中19-6凝析气田为例

渤中19-6气田是渤海湾盆地近期发现的规模最大的深层变质基岩凝析气田,探明储量超过千亿立方米,气柱高度超1000 m,现今埋深大于4000 m,储层规模大但非均质性强.基于三维地震、钻井、测井以及薄片资料,明确了基岩潜山储层的发育特征,并探讨了优质储层形成的主控因素.结果表明:基岩潜山以太古宇变质花岗岩为主要的储集岩性...     

河北小营盘石英—碳酸盐型金矿成矿地质特征

小营盘金矿赋存在稳定的缓倾斜石英脉中，但单纯的白色石英脉仅有微弱矿化，只有经过Ｓ懊断层剪切拉张破裂和叠加铁白云石化及硫化物蚀变的石英脉才能成为矿体，金矿体的顶底面常被铁白云石蚀变岩和糜棱岩所包裹，而且部分蚀变岩的金含量也达到工业品位，石英脉与蚀变岩作用构成矿体。因此，早期金成矿作用的时代大致与铁白云蚀变同期，含金铁白云石蚀变岩的δ＾１３Ｃ值平均为－４．１３‰，Ｐｂ－Ｐｂ等时线年龄为２７１１±２３８     

华北南缘中元古界高山河群碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义*

为了探讨华北板块南缘中元古代沉积地层的时代归属和物质来源、区域古地理格局和大地构造特征,对豫西灵宝福地地区的高山河群进行碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学和锆石微量元素特征研究。获得的高山河群年龄最小(年轻)的单颗碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄值为1685±39 Ma,从而限制了高山河群最早沉积年龄不早于1700 Ma。结合上覆的龙家园组年代学标定(1594±12 Ma),将高山河群的形成年代限定为1700—1600 Ma,即中元古代长城纪的中晚期,属国际地质年表的“固结纪”。高山河群中碎屑锆石 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb 年龄范围为1685—2751 Ma,呈现1850 Ma、2150 Ma、2300 Ma和2500 Ma共4个年龄峰值,对应于华北克拉通古元古代重要的地质事件,并且高山河群以1850 Ma和2500 Ma峰值年龄段的地质体为主要的物源区。根据高山河群与云梦山组碎屑锆石年龄频率对比,推测在豫西地区西侧存在以往报道较少的年龄为2500 Ma的地质体。根据熊耳群火山岩及其对应锆石的地球化学特征和熊耳期盆地动力学性质,并结合高山河群沉积相特征和沉积盆地构造属性,认为熊耳群形成于与“岛弧”共生的拉张性质的弧后盆地地区,而其上覆的高山河群为弧后盆地靠近大陆一侧的具有被动大陆边缘性质的滨浅海沉积。     

华北克拉通破坏前的状态——对讨论华北克拉通破坏问题的一个建议

中生代华北克拉通破坏是目前引人关注的研究课题。鉴于目前一些文章在表达克拉通状态时引用的地质图件不准确,忽略了华北克拉通从古至今的不同阶段的演化,不能正确的表达克拉通在破坏之前或之后的状态,本文强调华北克拉通破坏前的状态是研究的重要基础。华北克拉通是经历过多期克拉通化形成的。