Early Proterozoic granitoids of the Olenek complex (northern Siberian craton): petrogenesis and geodynamic setting

The paper deals with geological and geochemical studies of granitoids of the Olenek complex in the Olenek uplift of the basement of the northern Siberian craton. The age of these granitoids was earlier estimated at 2036 ± 11 Ma. The granitoids of the Olenek complex correspond in composition to high-alumina quartz diorites, granites, and leucogranites of the normal petrochemical series. According to geochemical and mineralogical characteristics, the quartz diorites can be assigned to granites of the transitional I-S type, and the granites and leucogranites, to S-type granites. The 8_Nd(T values in the granites of the Olenek complex vary from -0.2 to + 1.4, and the Nd model age is 2.4-2.5 Ga. The quartz diorite is characterized by 8_Nd(T) = + 3.0 and a Nd model age T(DM) = 2.2 Ga. The geochemical characteristics of the granites and leucogranites indicate their formation through the melting of a source of graywacke composition, whereas the quartz diorites resulted, most likely, from the mixing of granitic and basaltic melts. The fact that the granitoids of the Olenek complex intruded the folded rocks of the Eekit Formation but stay virtually undeformed massive bodies suggests that they formed at the postdeformation stage of the regional evolution after the completion of the Paleoproterozoic orogenic events. The intrusion of granitoids marks the completion of the formation of the Early Proterozoic Eekit fold belt on the western (in the recent coordinates) margin of the Birekta terrane of the Olenek superterraine and the final formation of the superterrane structure. At the next stage of magmatism (1.98-1.96 Ga), best pronounced in the uplifts of the basement of the northern Siberian craton, all terranes forming the Anabar and Olenek superterranes assembled into a single structure.     

Zircon U–Pb and Wolframite Sm–Nd Dating of the Bayinsukhtu Tungsten Deposit in Southern Mongolia and its Geological Significance

The Bayinsukhtu tungsten deposit is a newly discovered quartz‐vein tungsten deposit in the Xing'an–Mongolia Orogenic Belt (XMOB) in southern Mongolia, hosted by the Bayinsukhtu granite porphyry. The granite porphyry is located mainly south of the study area, over 3 km². The rock consists of quartz and feldspar phenocrysts in a fine‐grained matrix, also mainly composed of feldspar and quartz. The granite porphyry samples demonstrate high SiO₂ and high alkalinity. All samples also straddle the high‐potassium calc‐alkaline series. In a plot of the molar ratios of A/NK versus A/CNK, the granites are metaluminous. The chondrite‐normalized REE patterns are characterized by large negative Eu anomalies and fractionated LREEs. The U–Pb age of zircons from the granite porphyry is 298.8 ± 1.8 Ma, and the Sm–Nd age of the five wolframite samples from the tungsten deposit is 303 ± 19 Ma. The cooling age of the granite porphyry and tungsten mineralization is within the error of measurement and is of the Late Carboniferous age. Geological and geochronological evidence shows that the tungsten mineralization and the granite porphyry at Bayinsukhtu are genetically closely related and that they are results of Carboniferous magmatism. Their tectonic setting is related to the accretion of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt during the late Paleozoic era.     

Theropod assemblages and a new ichnotaxon Gigandipus chiappei ichnosp. nov. from the Jiaguan Formation,Lower Cretaceous of Guizhou Province,China

A newly discovered Jiaguan Formation(Lower Cretaceous) tracksite from the Linjiang region of Guizhou Province, China, reveals the first example of a Cretaceous track morphotype attributable to the non-avian theropod ichnogenus Gigandipus, here named Gigandipus chiappei ichnosp nov. The theropod dominated locality also reveals the second report of the avian theropod ichnogenus Wupus, one of the largest avian traces currently known from the Lower Cretaceous. The Linjiang site provides evidence to support previous interpretations of a distinctive Lower Cretaceous theropod-dominated ichnofauna that was widespread in China and East Asia and highlights the similarity between Lower Cretaceous theropod ichnotaxa in East Asia and those found in the Lower Jurassic both in East Asia and elsewhere. These similarities in turn create various ichnotaxonomic challenges familiar to researchers working on theropod tracks, and we recommend caution in the naming of new theropod ichnotaxa at the ichnogenus level.     

嫩江科洛地区晚侏罗世深熔花岗岩对嫩江-黑河构造带的响应

通过对嫩江-黑河构造带内的岩石建造研究,在嫩江科洛地区识别出一套深熔花岗岩体,岩石宏观上为一套具非典型花岗岩结构的深熔型侵入岩,具交代结构、斑杂状构造和眼球状构造。对深熔花岗岩进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄测试,获得了3组不谐和的U-Pb年龄: 390 Ma、157~163 Ma和113 Ma。其中,113 Ma年龄代表了岩石遭受后期变质热事件年龄; 157~163 Ma的年龄代表了原岩结晶年龄。综合分析深熔花岗岩成因,认为其主要与嫩江-黑河断裂深部韧性剪切热效应作用下发生的深熔有关,深熔花岗岩的划分和厘定为深入研究嫩江-黑河断裂带在中生代的活动提供了新的素材。     

羌塘盆地晚侏罗世夏里组磁学参数指示的沉积环境及其成盐意义

羌塘盆地位于青藏高原中部,是一个具有沉积钠盐、钾盐远景的蒸发岩盆地。最近在羌塘盆地上侏罗统夏里组中发现多处具有钾、钠异常的盐泉这一重要的找钾盐线索,然而目前对上侏罗统夏里组的古环境演变仍然不甚了解,限制了对晚侏罗世羌塘盆地的成盐(成钾)条件和可能的层位等重大科学问题的理解。因此本文以热磁分析为主,对羌塘盆地雁石坪地区上侏罗统夏里组沉积物进行高分辨率岩石磁学研究,并讨论其古环境意义。最后,根据成盐(成钾)理论,综合分析羌塘盆地上侏罗统夏里组成盐(成钾)的构造、气候和物源条件。κ-T曲线、磁滞回线和热退磁结果共同表明磁铁矿和赤铁矿是夏里组的主要载磁矿物;磁学参数分析表明夏里组上段赤铁矿含量相对增加,揭示夏里组上段形成于干旱气候环境;综合分析构造、气候和物源条件表明,羌塘盆地上侏罗统夏里组上段最为具备良好的成盐(成钾)条件。     

浙江新昌早白垩世木化石新材料及内含真菌菌丝化石

浙江新昌下白垩统馆头组是我国南方地区为数不多的白垩纪木化石产出层位。本文报道了新昌地区馆头组木化石新材料及其内含真菌菌丝化石。木化石具明显生长轮,管胞径壁纹孔南洋杉式(多数单列、椭圆形、紧挤排列,偶见双列互生排列);交叉场纹孔南洋杉式;木射线单列式,多数2~11个细胞高。当前木化石新材料具有与现生南洋杉科植物相类似的木材解剖特征,显示其应归入贝壳杉型木属(Agathoxylon Hartig)。鉴于该类型木化石的分类现状仍有待厘清,将其定为Agathoxylonsp.。木化石内含真菌菌丝化石,管状,具横隔,平直或弯曲,常以不同角度分叉,菌丝壁光滑,具典型的锁状联合,属于担子菌类。当前木化石木材组织具有明显的木材腐朽特征,与现代真菌造成的木材白腐一致,推断此真菌化石为木材白腐菌。新昌地区贝壳杉型木属木化石新材料的发现进一步丰富了馆头组木化石的多样性,有助于增进对南方地区早白垩世植物群组成特征的认识。当前真菌菌丝化石是我国南方地区首次发现白垩纪担子菌化石,为探究白垩纪时期森林生态系统真菌与植物的相互作用提供了新的化石证据。     

Early Cretaceous K-rich rhyolites from the Duolong Cu–Au deposit,southern Qiangtang,China: evidence for crustal growth

We report new zircon U–Pb age, Hf isotopic, and major and trace element data for rhyolites from the Duolong Ore Concentration Area of the Southern Qiangtang Terrane. Building on previous studies, we constrain the tectonic setting and propose a model to explain the geodynamics and crustal growth during regional magmatism in the Early Cretaceous. The analysed rhyolites yield laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb ages of 115 and 118 Ma. The rocks are K-rich (K₂O = 6.66–9.93 wt.%; K₂O/Na₂O = 8.2–19.7 wt.%), alkaline and peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.02–1.46), and are characterized by high SiO₂ contents (72.8–78.8 wt.%) similar to highly fractionated I-type granites. Fractionation of Fe–Ti oxides, plagioclase, hornblende, Ti-bearing phases, apatite, monazite, allanite and zircon contributed to the variations in major and trace element chemistry. High K₂O contents are likely due to partial melting of the continental crust. The samples have positive zircon εHf(t) values ranging from +7.1 to +11.2. These features, together with young zircon Hf crustal model ages of 489–721 Ma, indicate that the K-rich rhyolites were derived from juvenile lower crust with an input of a mantle-derived component. We suggest that the Early Cretaceous K-rich rhyolites formed in a continental arc setting during northward subduction of Bangong Co–Nujiang oceanic lithosphere. Basaltic magma underplating was responsible for vertical crustal growth, triggered by slab roll-back in the Duolong Ore Concentration Area in the Early Cretaceous.     

Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Bayanhushuo area,southern Great Xing’an Range,NE China: constraints from zircon U–Pb geochronological and geochemical data of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks

This study presents new zircon U–Pb geochronology, geochemistry, and zircon Hf isotopic data of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks that crop out in the Bayanhushuo area of the southern Great Xing’an Range (GXR) of NE China. These data provide insights into the tectonic evolution of this area during the late Mesozoic and constrain the evolution of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. Combining these new ages with previously published data suggests that the late Mesozoic volcanism occurred in two distinct episodes: Early–Middle Jurassic (176–173 Ma) and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (151–138 Ma). The Early–Middle Jurassic dacite porphyry belongs to high-K calc-alkaline series, showing the features of I-type igneous rock. This unit has zircon ε_Hf(t) values from +4.06 to +11.62 that yield two-stage model ages (T_DM2) from 959 to 481 Ma. The geochemistry of the dacite porphyry is indicative of formation in a volcanic arc tectonic setting, and it is derived from a primary magma generated by the partial melting of juvenile mafic crustal material. The Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks belong to high-K calc-alkaline or shoshonite series and have A₂-type affinities. These volcanics have ε_Hf(t) and T_DM2 values from +5.00 to +8.93 and from 879 to 627 Ma, respectively. The geochemistry of these Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks is indicative of formation in a post-collisional extensional environment, and they formed from primary magmas generated by the partial melting of juvenile mafic lower crust. The discovery of late Mesozoic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks within the southern GXR indicates that this region was in volcanic arc and extensional tectonic settings during the Early–Middle Jurassic and the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous, respectively. This indicates that the Mongol–Okhotsk oceanic plate was undergoing subduction during the Early–Middle Jurassic, and this ocean adjacent to the GXR may have closed by the Late Middle Jurassic–Early Late Jurassic.     

Origin of abundant moonmilk deposits in a subsurface granitic environment

Subsurface granitic environments are scarce and poorly investigated. A multi‐disciplinary approach was used to characterize the abundant moonmilk deposits and associated microbial communities coating the granite walls of the 16th Century Paranhos spring water tunnel in Porto city (north‐west Portugal). It is possible that this study is the first record of moonmilk in an urban subsurface granitic environment. The morphology and texture, mineralogical composition, stable isotope composition and microbial diversity of moonmilk deposits have been studied to infer the processes of moonmilk formation. These whitish secondary mineral deposits are composed of very fine needle‐fibre calcite crystals with different morphologies and density. Calcified filaments of fungal hyphae or bacteria were distinguished by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Stable isotope analysis revealed a meteoric origin of the needle‐fibre calcite, with an important contribution of atmospheric CO ₂, soil respiration and from weathering of Ca‐bearing minerals. The DNA ‐based analyses revealed the presence of micro‐organisms related to urban contamination, including Actinobacteria, mainly represented by Pseudonocardia hispaniensis , Thaumarchaeota and Ascomycota, dominated by Cladosporium . This microbial composition is consistent with groundwater pollution and contamination sources of the overlying urban area, including garages, petrol stations and wastewater pipeline leakage, showing that the Paranhos tunnel is greatly perturbed by anthropogenic activities. Whether the identified micro‐organisms are involved in the formation of the needle‐fibre calcite or not is difficult to demonstrate, but this study evidenced both abiotic and biogenic genesis for the calcite moonmilk in this subsurface granitic environment.     

Study of late-Mesozoic magmatic rocks and their related copper-gold-polymetallic deposits in the Guichi ore-cluster district,Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt,East China

ABSTRACT

The Guichi ore-cluster district in the Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt hosts extensive Cu–Au–Mo polymetallic deposits including the Tongshan Cu–Mo, Paodaoling Au, Matou Cu–Mo, Anzishan Cu–Mo, Guilinzheng Mo and Zhaceqiao Au deposits, mostly associated with the late Mesozoic magmatic rocks, which has been drawn to attention of study and exploration. However, the metallogenic relationship between magmatic rocks and the Cu–Au-polymetallic deposits is not well constrained. In this study, we report new zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopic, and geochemical data for the ore-bearing intrusions of Guichi region. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb ages for the Anzishan quartz diorite porphyrite is 143.9 ± 1.0 Ma. Integrated with previous geochronological data, these late Mesozoic magmatic rocks can be subdivided into two stages of magmatic activities. The first stage (150–132 Ma) is characterized by high-K calc-alkaline intrusions closely associated with Cu–Au polymetallic ore deposits. Whereas, the second stage (130–125 Ma) produced granites and syenites and is mainly characterized by shoshonite series that are related to Mo–Cu mineralization. The first stage of magmatic rocks is considered to be formed by partial melting of subducted Palaeo-Pacific Plate, assimilated with Yangtze lower crust and remelting Meso-Neoproterozoic crust/sediments. The second stage of magmatism is originated from partial melting of Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic crust, mixed with juvenile crustal materials. The depression cross to the uplift zone of the Jiangnan Ancient Continent forms a gradual transition relation, and the hydrothermal mineralization composite with two stages have certain characteristics along the regional fault (Gaotan Fault). Guichi region results from two episodes of magmatism probably related to tectonic transition from subduction of Palaeo-Pacific Plate to back-arc extensional setting between 150 and 125 Ma, which lead to the Mesozoic large-scale polymetallic mineralization events in southeast China.