Stratigraphical framework of basaltic lavas in Torres Syncline main valley,southern Parana-Etendeka Volcanic Province

The Paraná-Etendeka Volcanic Province records the volcanism of the Early Cretaceous that precedes the fragmentation of the South-Gondwana supercontinent. Traditionally, investigations of these rocks prioritized the acquisition of geochemical and isotopic data, considering the volcanic stack as a monotonous succession of tabular flows. Torres Syncline is a tectonic structure located in southern Brazil and where the Parana-Etendeka basalts are well preserved. This work provides a detailed analysis of lithofacies and facies architecture, integrated to petrographic and geochemical data. We identified seven distinct lithofacies grouped into four facies associations related to different flow morphologies. The basaltic lava flows in the area can be divided into two contrasting units: Unit I - pahoehoe flow fields; and Unit II - simple rubbly flows. The first unit is build up by innumerous pahoehoe lava flows that cover the sandstones of Botucatu Formation. These flows occur as sheet pahoehoe, compound pahoehoe, and ponded lavas morphologies. Compound lavas are olivine-phyric basalts with intergranular pyroxenes. In ponded lavas and cores of sheet flows coarse plagioclase-phyric basalts are common. The first pahoehoe lavas are more primitive with higher contents of MgO. The emplacement of compound pahoehoe flows is related to low volume eruptions, while sheet lavas were emplaced during sustained eruptions. In contrast, Unit II is formed by thick simple rubbly lavas, characterized by a massive core and a brecciated/rubbly top. Petrographically these flows are characterized by plagioclase-phyric to aphyric basalts with high density of plagioclase crystals in the matrix. Chemically they are more differentiated lavas, and the emplacement is related to sustained high effusion rate eruptions. Both units are low TiO₂ and have geochemical characteristics of Gramado magma type. The Torres Syncline main valley has a similar evolution when compared to other Large Igneous Provinces, with compound flows at the base and simple flows in the upper portions. The detailed field work allied with petrography and geochemical data are extremely important to identify heterogeneities inside the volcanic pile and allows the construction of a detailed lithostratigraphical framework.     

青藏高原东北缘柳坪新生代苦橄玄武岩地球化学及其大陆动力学意义

柳坪苦橄玄武岩出露在青藏高原东北缘特殊的构造部位,位于青藏、华北和扬子三大构造域的交接转换区域。岩石形成年龄在23~7.1Ma之间,属于新近纪火山岩。岩石SiO2介于41.72%~42.82%之间,Na2OK2O,K2O/Na2O平均0.51,为一套典型的幔源钠质碱性玄武岩类。岩石微量及稀土元素具板内火山岩特征,Th、Rb等元素呈较明显的富集状态,而岩石显著的低K2O特征(0.48%~0.90%)明显不同于青藏高原北缘新生代钾质-超钾质火山岩系列。岩石87Sr/86Sr(0.704158~0.704668)、143Nd/144Nd(0.512831~0.513352)、206Pb/204Pb(18.729871~18.779184)、207Pb/204Pb(15.591395~15.602454)和208Pb/204Pb(39.097372~39.181458)等同位素变化特征具有显著的混源属性,投影点位于EMI、EMII、BSE及PREMA等典型地幔储库的过渡部位,并可能存在HIUM地幔源的部分参与,明显不同于单一地幔源局部熔融形成的玄武岩的同位素组成特征。表明新生代期间青藏东缘西秦岭-松潘地区受青藏、扬子及华北三大构造体系域的控制,西秦岭-松潘构造结处于从下部地幔到上部陆壳物质的总体汇聚拼贴阶段,地幔具有显著的混合特征。柳坪苦橄玄武岩正是在这种特定的构造背景下,由于新生代青藏高原软流圈地幔物质向东的流动,诱发西秦岭-松潘构造结多源混合的地幔橄榄岩局部熔融而形成。     

从洋壳俯冲到陆壳俯冲和碰撞：来自羌塘中西部地区榴辉岩和蓝片岩地球化学的证据

羌塘中部晚三叠世低温/高压变质带是目前青藏高原内部延伸规模最大的高压变质带,但大量关键高压变质岩石出露地区地球化学资料匮乏,严重制约了对高压变质带原岩建造以及构造演化的全面认识。本文以羌塘中西部地区尚无地球化学资料的果干加年山榴辉岩和红脊山蓝片岩为研究对象,进行了系统的地球化学以及原岩恢复工作。研究表明,果干加年山榴辉岩呈透镜状产于围岩石榴石多硅白云母片岩和少量大理岩中,其原岩为亚碱性玄武岩,具有较低的稀土总量(∑REE=51.19×10-6~59.43×10-6)和轻稀土亏损的特征[(La/Yb)N=0.59~0.70],不具有Nb、Ta、Ti的亏损,与典型的N-MORB特征一致,暗示其原岩可能来源于亏损的地幔源区,形成于洋中脊环境。红脊山地区基性蓝片岩的原岩为碱性玄武岩-亚碱性玄武岩,具有高的TiO2(2.97%~4.14%)和P2O5(0.29%~0.48%)含量,富集轻稀土元素[(La/Yb)N=6.10~11.6]和高场强元素,地球化学特征类似于OIB。但是这些基性蓝片岩与大量的陆源碎屑岩伴生产出,且具有明显的硅铝质上地壳物质混染的特征,与南羌塘地区二叠纪大陆板内基性岩墙的产出特征以及地壳混染特征一致,可能是其俯冲消减的产物。通过本文研究结果并结合区域内已识别出的E-MORB型洋壳和洋岛/海山物质深俯冲的证据,我们认为羌塘中部晚三叠世高压变质带以洋壳物质深俯冲为主,同时亦保留了部分陆壳物质俯冲的证据,暗示大洋向北俯冲消减结束之后,又牵引至少一部分南羌塘北缘陆壳物质经历了随后的俯冲过程。     

青藏高原南部及邻区深部碳释放规模与成因

不同构造背景下的深部碳释放通量与机制研究对于深刻理解长时间尺度的气候变化具有重要意义,以往的相关研究多集中在洋中脊、大洋俯冲带和大陆裂谷等地质单元,缺少对大陆碰撞带深部碳释放规模与机理的关注,从而制约了对大陆碰撞带深部碳循环过程及其气候环境效应的进一步认识。青藏高原起源于印度和欧亚大陆的碰撞,是研究大陆碰撞带深部碳循环的理想地区。为此,在近年来青藏高原温室气体释放野外观测与研究的基础上,本文估算了高原南部及邻区火山-地热区的CO₂释放规模并探讨了其释放模式。气体He-C同位素地球化学与温泉水热活动特征等显示,青藏高原南部及邻区的深部碳释放主要受深部岩浆房、断裂和浅部水热系统等因素的控制。依据深部流体源区和上升运移控制因素的差异,可以将青藏高原南部及邻区的深部碳释放划分为三大类：(1)以壳内水热系统脱碳为主的藏南地区;(2)深大断裂控制的以水热系统脱碳为主的川西地区;(3)深部岩浆房和浅部水热系统共同控制的滇西南地区。青藏高原南部土壤微渗漏CO₂释放通量介于18.7～52.3Mt/yr之间,温泉溶解无机碳释放通量约为0.13Mt/yr;高原邻区...     

日喀则蛇绿岩研究中的几个问题

日喀则蛇绿岩是中国最著名的蛇绿岩,但是,许多问题存在争论,许多现象没有搞清楚。文中讨论了日喀则蛇绿岩中一些重要的现象以及对目前发现的许多矛盾如何考虑的问题。例如,(1)日喀则蛇绿岩中是否存在席状岩墙群?是否存在席状岩床群?本文认为,席状岩墙群应当是存在的,因为有不对称冷凝边出现。而席状岩床群可能是有问题的,岩床作为侵入体可以出现在许多地方,但是,蛇绿岩中不可能出现席状岩床群,尤其还把它作为蛇绿岩岩石组合的一个单元。笔者认为,所谓的席状岩床群可能是席状岩流群,它不是一个独立的单元,是玄武岩单元下部的成员。(2)日喀则蛇绿岩是否统统是蛇绿岩是一个需要考虑的问题,雅鲁藏布江东西两段出现的岩石组合及其产出背景与日喀则地区的蛇绿岩明显不同,其中有些可能未必是蛇绿岩。(3)自1972年彭罗斯会议以来,蛇绿岩研究发展到现在,可能已经进入了一个关键时期。文中回顾了蛇绿岩的定义及其构造意义,指出1972年彭罗斯会议关于蛇绿岩的定义仍然是适用的。蛇绿岩可以概括为洋壳+地幔,这个洋壳来自板块扩张脊,是年轻的;这个地幔是大洋岩石圈地幔,也可能保留有古老岩石圈地幔的印记。蛇绿岩产于板块扩张脊,这是蛇绿岩构造含义的唯一解,蛇绿岩不存在多解性。(4)日喀则蛇绿岩的许多基本观点主要是法国学者提出来的,如关于岩床群的见解,慢速扩张的见解等。但是,上述见解是否都是对的是需要思考的。日喀则蛇绿岩具有得天独厚的条件,我们应当很好利用这个条件,努力把我们的研究做好,为全球蛇绿岩研究贡献我们的一份力量。     

胶北地体早前寒武纪重大岩浆事件、陆壳增生及演化

早前寒武纪重大岩浆事件是早期陆壳增生及演化的主要地质作用。本文通过系统总结最近几年胶北地体早前寒武纪重大岩浆事件代表性岩石的岩相学、锆石U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学及锆石Hf同位素研究的最新成果,厘定出太古宙~2.9Ga、2.7Ga及2.5Ga三期以TTGs岩浆事件为代表的陆壳增生事件。这些TTGs具有典型太古宙高铝TTGs的地球化学特征及正的εHf(t)值,锆石Hf模式年龄主要集中在ca.3.2~2.7Ga。两种不同的构造模式被用来理解胶北太古宙TTGs(陆壳)的成因:(1)加厚基性下地壳的部分熔融;(2)俯冲洋壳的部分熔融。根据胶北TTGs在时间上呈事件性侵位,空间上呈面状分布,以及相对较低的Mg#、Cr及Ni含量,前者可能更适合胶北TTGs的成因。确定了胶北古元古代2.2~2.0Ga黑云母/角闪石二长花岗片麻岩及~1.8Ga以二长(正长)花岗岩为代表的多期陆壳重熔事件。综合这些研究结果,初步总结出胶北早前寒武纪陆壳形成及演化历史:1)2.9Ga,主要为基性地壳(洋壳)的增生,并可能存在规模有限的、被剥蚀殆尽的太古宙早期陆壳;2)在~2.9Ga、~2.7Ga及~2.5Ga,由于地幔(热)柱上涌,ca.3.3~2.7Ga新生的加厚基性玄武质下地壳发生事件性部分熔融,并伴随有早期陆壳的重熔,形成主要由TTGs及少量陆壳重熔型(高钾)花岗岩组成的太古宙陆壳;3)ca.2.2~2.0Ga,可能由于地幔物质上涌,陆壳伸展,形成裂谷,陆壳物质重熔,形成ca.2.2~2.0Ga花岗质岩石;4)ca.1.95~1.85Ga,发生强烈的挤压碰撞构造作用,裂谷闭合,卷入挤压作用的物质发生高角闪岩相到高压麻粒岩相变质;5)~1.8Ga,地幔物质上涌,陆壳伸展减薄,陆壳物质重熔,形成~1.8Ga花岗岩。     

Vertical distribution of trace elements in the surface waters offshore Nova Scotia

Concentrations of the trace elements Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni were measured in shallow vertical profiles (maximum depth 500 m) off the Scotian Shelf in the western North Atlantic. The distributions of the trace elements show variations with depth, the most consistent of which are for Fe and Zn. A minimum concentration near the surface followed by an increase with depth is attributed to in situ mechanisms.     

Distribution of DDT in sediments off the central California coast

A collaborative sampling cruise off the central California coast was conducted to evaluate contaminant transport pathways along and across the shelf in the spring of 2002. The area has a complex current structure and net transport routes are not known for sure. Sediment characteristics, and organic and trace metal contaminants were analyzed in sediments taken from locations near shore, out to the heads of several canyons. Relative to the continental shelf and Pioneer Canyon stations, DDT was found at higher concentrations in Ascension and Monterey Canyons. Monterey Bay still receives DDT from terrestrial runoff and may be the source of DDT found in Ascension Canyon. DDT concentrations in Monterey Bay biota indicate bioaccumulation is occurring at depth due to continuing input from the shore. Effects on the deep ocean benthic community is unknown.     

Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks of the Intra-Sudetic Basin, Bohemian Massif: petrological and geochemical characteristics

Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks in the Intra-Sudetic Basin of the Bohemian Massif in the Czech Republic can be subdivided into two series: (I) a minor bimodal trachyandesite-rhyolite series of Upper Carboniferous age with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of ca. 0.710 and ε_Nd values of −6.1 also characteristic of volcanics of the near Krkonoše Piedmont Basin (0.707 and −6.0, Ulrych et al., 2003) and (II) a major differentiated basaltic trachyandesite-trachyandesite-trachyte-rhyolite series of Lower Permian age with lower initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of ca. 0.705-0.708 and ε_Nd values ranging from −2.7 to −3.4/−4.1/. The newly recognized volcanic rocks of trachytic composition indicate that the rocks were formed by magmatic differentiation of similar parental melts rather than constituting a bimodal mafic-felsic sequence from different sources. Both series are generally of subalkaline affinity and calc-alkaline character with some tholeiitic tint (FeO/MgO vs. SiO₂, presence of orthopyroxene). The magmatic activity occurred in cycles in a layered chamber, each starting primarily with felsic volcanics and ending with mafic ones. The mafic rocks represent mantle-melt(s) overprinted by crust during assimilation-fractional crystallization. The Sr-Nd isotopic data confirm a significant crustal component in the volcanic rocks that may have been inherited from the upper mantle source and/or from assimilation of older crust during magmatic underplating and shallow-level melt fractionation.