Mantle Mush Compaction: a Key to Understand the Mechanisms of Concentration of Kimberlite Melts and Initiation of Swarms of Kimberlite Dykes

Kimberlite pipes or dykes tend to occur in clusters (a few kilometresin diameter) within fields 30–50 km in diameter. Theyare generally considered to originate from low degrees of partialmelting of carbonated peridotite within zones of ascending mantle.Numerical modelling shows that at the depth of formation ofkimberlite melts (>>200 km), mantle compaction processescan result in the formation of melt pockets a few tens of kilometresacross, with melt concentrations up to 7%. The initiation ofswarms of kimberlite dykes at the top of these melt pocketsis inevitable because of the large excess pressure between themelt and the surrounding solid, which exceeds the hydraulicfracturing limit of the overlying rocks. After their initiationat mantle depth the swarm of dykes may reach the surface ofthe Earth when the entire cratonic lithosphere column is inextension. We propose that kimberlite fields represent the surfaceenvelope of dyke swarms generated inside a melt pocket and thatkimberlite clusters represent the discharge of melt via dykesoriginating from sub-regions of the pocket. This model reproducesthe worldwide average diameter of kimberlite fields and is consistentwith the observation that some of the main kimberlite fieldsdisplay age ranges of c. 10 Myr. It is deduced that, at thescale of the Kaapvaal craton, different fields such as Kimberley,N. Lesotho and Orapa, dated at 80–90 Ma, probably resultfrom synchronous melt pockets forming inside an ascending mantleflow. The same model could apply to the fields of the Rietfontein,Central Cape and Gibeon districts dated at 60–70 Ma. Itis suggested that the same mantle flow that produced the Kimberley,N. Lesotho and Orapa fields migrated over 20–30 Myr afew hundred kilometres westward to form the Rietfontein, CentralCape and Gibeon fields. KEY WORDS: kimberlites; mantle; compaction; convection; volcanism     

喀拉昆仑火烧云一带早侏罗世双峰式火山岩的发现及意义

喀拉昆仑火烧云北火山岩发育在乔尔天山断裂附近,玄武岩体和安山岩体在时空上紧密伴生。主量元素测试结果显示,其中玄武岩和英安岩的Si O2含量分别为48.84%~52.44%和62.22%~65.63%,具有明显的Daly间断面,属于典型的双峰式火山岩。玄武岩Al2O3含量较低,MgO、Ca O、Ti O2含量较高,Sr、Ba、K等微量元素强烈亏损,高场强元素Ta、Nb、Ti、Zr无亏损。英安岩具有相对较高的Al2O3、Na2O、K2O含量,较低的MgO、Ca O、Ti O2含量;微量元素具富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Th、U、K)、亏损高场强元素(Ta、Nb、Ti),显示典型岛弧环境特征。岩石地球化学特征表明二者同属钙碱系列,形成于弧后盆地,属同源演化,英安岩为玄武岩结晶分异的产物。通过对英安岩进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb方法测年,获得流纹岩形成年龄为(195.5±1.1)Ma,属于早侏罗世。通过对该区域构造演化进行分析讨论,认为乔尔天山一带盆地整体可能处于弧后盆地的发育阶段,盆地形成过程中岩石圈地幔未被拉断,没有洋壳形成。     

中国东北地区新生代火山活动的构造背景

中国东北地区新生代以玄武岩为主的喷发经历了60~29 Ma、25~15 Ma、＜2 Ma三期及不同喷发期之间的过渡阶段,而每一期又可以分为若干旋回。火山作用形成于不同的构造部位,沿断裂和非断裂分布的玄武岩均有存在,且与不同时期的大陆边缘构造演化相匹配。不同的构造背景下火山活动的分布也不同,且具明显的迁移性。构造环境体现为非造山大陆边缘张裂隙、上地幔上隆的陆内拉张环境、陆内非造山环境等特征。上新世晚期—更新世以来的火山活动与中国西南部地区的大陆板块间的碰撞作用没有关系。     

腾冲火山岩斜长石斑晶的过剩氩兼论火山活动的分期

在腾冲黑空山、打鹰山和马鞍山火山岩的斜长石斑晶里首次发现存在过剩氩,并从基质中得到比以往的全岩年龄更年轻的KAr年龄,论证了以往所发表这一时间段的KAr 年龄结果可能因过剩氩而偏老,结合马鞍山已经取得的10 ka左右的U系年龄结果认为,腾冲最近一期火山活动的终止时间应为全新世。     

Mixing and chemical interdiffusion of trachytic and latitic magma in a subvolcanic complex of the Tertiary Westerwald (Germany)

A special kind of magma mixing is extraordinarily well exposed in the Bittersberg subvolcanic complex in the Tertiary volcanic field of the German Westerwald: A trachytic melt has been penetrated by a latitic dyke which has been dispersed within the host magma as small spherical enclaves (globules). Whole rock analyses of the globules show a change in composition that cannot be explained by a simple mechanical mixing between the endmembers. The most evolved globules have a phonolitic composition. Microprobe measurements in the microlithic matrix of the host rock and the guest indicate a diffusive motion of the alkalis from the host into the globules. On the other hand, an opposite trend can be observed for Ca, Mg, Fe and Ti, which are impoverished in the globules. The trace elements and the middle rare earth elements (MREE) has also been involved in the diffusive exchange. The REE-pattern of the most evolved (phonolitic) globules shows a characteristic trough in the area of the MREE which is almost identical to the REE-pattern of many phonolites. The phonolites and the alkali-rich trachytes of the Westerwald show similar globular textures as the Bittersberg volcanics. Therefore, generation of these rocks involving diffusive element exchange during mixing processes in a magma reservoir situated on a deeper crustal level may be possible.     

The influence of tectonic subsidence on volcaniclastic sedimentation: The Cretaceous upper Daeri Member,Wido Island,Korea

The Daeri Member, a Cretaceous volcanic–sedimentary succession, can be divided into lower, middle, and upper parts based on vertical changes in its lithologic characters. The lower Daeri Member is composed of siliciclastic deposits formed in a semi‐arid floodplain environment, which is overlain by the middle Daeri Member consisting mainly of andesite lava flow. After the emplacement of the andesite, activities of intrabasinal normal faults created accommodation on hanging wall blocks together with the development of intrabasinal topographic relief. The upper Daeri Member occurs only in hanging wall blocks and is composed of rhyolitic volcaniclastic sediments formed during an explosive volcanic eruption. Following the eruption, owing to semi‐arid climatic conditions and the destruction of vegetation, the eruptive materials were easily remobilized and deposited by episodic sediment gravity flows, resulting in deposition of the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits with sheet‐like geometry. Away from the intrabasinal normal faults, the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits show a decrease in grain size together with changes in inferred depositional processes from debris flows to hyperconcentrated flows and supercritical sheetfloods. This suggests that the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits were stacked on alluvial fan environments induced by intrabasinal topographic relief associated with normal fault activities. In addition, episodic movement of the faults gave rise to periodic fluctuation of the accommodation and an increase in gradient of the alluvial fan surface, resulting in the development of coarsening‐upward trends in the resedimented volcaniclastic deposits. The development of the alluvial fan and the coarsening‐upward trends indicate that dynamic tectonic subsidence and concomitant changes in the intrabasinal physiographic relief influenced the depositional processes and sizes of the transported volcaniclastic sediments of the upper Daeri Member. Thus, it is necessary to carefully observe tectonic signatures in volcaniclastic successions, particularly the syneruptive lithofacies, in order to reconstruct the tectonic and volcanic histories of receiving basins.     

Middle Permian organic carbon isotope stratigraphy and the origin of the Kamura Event

Large carbon cycle perturbations associated with the Middle Permian (Capitanian) mass extinction have been widely reported, but their causes and timing are still in dispute. Low resolution carbon isotope records prior to this event also limit the construction of a Middle Permian chemostratigraphic framework and global or local stratigraphic correlation, and hence limit our understanding of carbon cycle and environmental changes. To investigate these issues, we analyzed the ¹³C_org values from the Middle Permian chert-mudstone sequence (Gufeng Formation) in the Lower Yangtze deep-water basin (South China) and compared them with published records to build a chemostratigraphic scheme and discuss the underlying environmental events. The records show increased δ¹³C_org values from late Kungurian to early Guadalupian, followed by a decrease to the late Wordian/early Capitanian. The early-mid Capitanian was characterized by elevated δ¹³C_org values suggesting the presence of the “Kamura Event”: an interval of heavy positive values seen in the δ¹³C_carb record. We propose that these heavy Capitanian δ¹³C values may be a response to a marked decline in chemical weathering rates on Pangea and associated reduction in carbonate burial, which we show using a biogeochemical model. The subsequent negative δ¹³C excursion seen in some carbonate records, especially in shallower-water sections (and in a muted expression in organic carbon) coincide with the Capitanian mass extinction may be caused by the input of isotopically-light carbon sourced from the terrestrial decomposition of organic matter.     

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE OF THE PERMIAN VOLCANISM IN LUCAOGOU FORMATION IN JIMSAR SAG,JUNGGAR BASIN,NORTHWEST CHINA

The lithological features, the types of organic matter and its occurrence and carbon and oxygen isotopic value were clarified by combining core observation, thin slice authentication, X ray diffraction analysis, kerogen type identification and carbon and oxygen isotope analysis. The characteristic of strata, the distribution of volcanoes of Junggar Basin were also taken into consideration. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to evaluate environmental response of volcanism in Lucaogou formation in Jimsar sag. The results show that rocks is a mixed sedimentation of effusive rock and carbonate rocks, volcanic materials is widely developed in Lucaogou formation and origins from the edge of sag or distant source volcano activity. Organic matter is predominantly unstructural algae and asphaltene. The carbon isotopic value of carbonates ranges between 6.8‰ and 9.7‰ with an average of 8.3‰, featured in high positive excursions, while oxygen isotopic value varies from -11.9‰ to -4.3‰ with an average of -6.2‰. During the period of volcanic activity, the volcanic material released high amounts of nutrient to the lake basin, which is beneficial to the algae and other organic organisms. In the poor oxygen and calm water environments, the organic matter is distributed in the laminar algal and the carbon isotope value is high positive drift. During the intermittent period of volcanic activity, the lake level decreased and the lake bottom water changed to the oxygen-enriched environments. The organic matter is locally enriched or dispersed in local layers, and the carbon isotope values decreased slightly. The frequent volcanic activity promoted the organism boom, which lead carbon isotope value to have high positive characteristics and change trends.     

南极乔治王岛阿德默勒尔蒂湾火山活动时空演化

在乔治王岛中部的阿德默勒尔蒂湾 ,凯勒半岛、于尔曼山嘴和埃内坎角是第三纪火山岩集中分布区。野外地质调查和同位素年代学研究表明 ,凯勒半岛发生了三期火山喷发 (三个火山喷发旋回 ) ,同时伴随着火山活动中心的不断北移 ;在第二期火山喷发之后 ,火口塌陷 ,形成破火山 ,之后在半岛北部又发生火山喷发 ,并向东迁移到于尔曼山嘴。因此凯勒半岛是一复活破火山 ,火山活动具有随时间迁移的特性。埃内坎角火山活动虽与上述两地区大致同时 ,但化学成分上不存在明显演化关系 ,应属另一相对独立的火山活动中心     

The possible synglaciogenic Ediacaran hematitic banded iron salt formation (BISF) at Hormuz Island,southern Iran: Implications for a new style of exhalative hydrothermal iron-salt system

The Ediacaran BISF at Hormuz Island is a newly identified glaciogenic iron-salt deposit in the Tethyan margin of Gondwana. The BISF was formed by synchronous riftogenic A-type submarine felsic volcanism and evaporate deposition. The mineralization occurs in a proximal felsic tuff cone and jaspilitic distal zones and contains 1 million tonne of hematite-rich ore with an average grade of 58% Fe. The ore structure shows cyclicity of macrobandings, mesobandings and microbandings of anhydrite, halite, hematite and chert, which marks a new record in BIFs geohistory. The alteration minerals in the proximal and distal zones are actinolite, ripidolite, epidote, sericite, tourmaline, clinochlore, anhydrite and clay minerals. The occurrence of metamorphosed polygenetic bullet-shape dropstones in BISF attests that there was probably a continuous process of ice melting, episodic submarine volcanism and exhalative hydrothermal banded iron salt formation during the Late Ediacaran time. The non-metamorphosed Neoproterozoic stratigraphy, the presence of genus Collenia, U-Pb dating (558 ± 7 Ma) and the marked negative δ¹³C excursion in cap carbonates are representative of Late Ediacaran glaciation, which has been identified worldwide. The REE+Y display light REE enrichment, unusually strong Tb-Tm anomaly, a weak positive Y anomaly, but no distinguished Eu and Ce anomalies, reflecting the glaciogenic nature of the BISF. The contents of Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Th, La, Ce and Y in BISF, dropstones, halite and cap carbonates are similar to those of the Neoproterozoic glaciogenic BIFs. Also, the Ni/Fe, P/Fe ratios and Fe/Ti – Al/Al + Fe + Mn + Ca + Na + K diagram suggest an exhalative hydrothermal Ediacaran-type BISF. The absence of brecciated magnetite in the ore association and the low contents of copper (9–493 ppm) and gold (<5–8 ppb) are not in favor of the IOCG – Kiruna-type iron oxide ores. The co-paragenesis of hematite with several alteration minerals, in particular actinolite, tourmaline and anhydrite, indicates that the exhalative hydrothermal fluids were generated by the interaction of seawater with the felsic rocks and sediments at about 200–500 °C. The interaction of seawater with felsic magma and sediments led to the formation of Mg-rich alteration minerals, leaching Si, Fe, Mn and other elements and forming the potential ore fluids. It is highlighted that the A-type alkaline submarine felsic volcanism could be considered as an exploration target for BISF.