Tectonic vs. gravitational morphostructures in the central Eastern Alps (Italy): Constraints on the recent evolution of the mountain range

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) influence landscape development in tectonically active mountain ranges. Nevertheless, the relationships among tectonics, DSGSDs, and topography are poorly known. In this paper, the distribution of DSGSDs and their relationships with tectonic structures and active processes, surface processes, and topography were investigated at different scales. Over 100 DSGSDs were mapped in a 5000 km² sector of the central Eastern Alps between the Valtellina, Engadine and Venosta valleys. Detailed lineament mapping was carried out by photo-interpretation in a smaller area (about 750 km²) including the upper Valtellina and Val Venosta. Fault populations were also analysed in the field and their mechanisms unravelled, allowing to identify different structural stages, the youngest being consistent with the regional pattern of the ongoing crustal deformation. Finally, four DSGSD examples have been investigated in detail by geological and 2D geomechanical modelling.DSGSDs affect more than 10% of the study area, and mainly cluster in areas where anisotropic fractured rock mass and high local relief occur. Their onset and development is subjected to a strong passive control by mesoscopic and major tectonic features, including regional nappe boundaries as well as NW–SE, N–S and NE–SW trending recent brittle structures. The kinematic consistency between these structures and the pattern of seismicity suggests that active tectonics may force DSGSDs, although field evidence and numerical models indicate slope debuttressing related to deglaciation as a primary triggering mechanism.     

Evolution of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system during the Late Quaternary: influence of climate change on fan sedimentation

This paper presents an overview of the evolution of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system during the last 200 kyr, over a series of glacial to interglacial cycles. Six individual deep‐sea fans were identified from an extensive field data set. Each fan comprises a canyon, channel system and terminal lobes. Two of these fan systems were possibly active at the same time, at least during some periods. Large‐scale slope failures destroyed channel segments and caused the formation of new submarine fan systems. These slope failures thus played an important role in the overall evolution of the turbidite system. During the last glacial maximum (ca 25 to 14·8 ka) the central and eastern parts of the Nile deep‐sea turbidite system were relatively inactive. This inactivity corresponds to a lowstand in sea‐level, and a period of arid climate and relatively low sediment discharge from the Nile fluvial system. Rapid accumulation of fluvial flood‐derived deposits occurred across the shallower part of the submarine delta during sea‐level rise between ca 14·8 and 5 ka. The most recent deep‐sea channel–lobe system was very active during this period of rising sea‐level, which is also associated with a wetter continental climate and increased sediment and water discharge from the Nile. Increased sediment deposition in shallower water areas led to occasional large‐scale slope failure. The Nile deep‐sea turbidite system was largely inactive after ca 5 ka. This widespread inactivity is due to retreat of the coastline away from the continental shelf break, and to a more arid continental climate and reduced discharge of sediment from the Nile. The Nile deep‐sea turbidite system may be more active during periods of rising and high sea‐level associated with wetter climates, than during lowstands, and may rapidly become largely inactive during highstands in sea‐level coupled with arid periods. These acute responses to climate change have produced sedimentary/stratigraphic features that diverge from traditional sequence models in their nature and timing. This large‐scale sedimentary system responded to monsoon‐driven climate change and sea‐level change in a system‐wide and contemporaneous manner.     

黑龙江省五星Cu-Ni-Pt-Pd矿床的PGE-Au元素地球化学特征与成因探讨

对黑龙江省东部五星Cu-Ni-Pt-Pd矿床的矿体和与成矿有关的镁铁质杂岩的PGE-Au以及铁族、亲铜元素的地球化学特征研究表明：它们均以亏损Cr、IPGE和富集Ni、Co、Cu、Pt和Pd（Pt     

Provenance of the late Proterozoic to early Cambrian metaclastic sediments of the Sierra de San Luis (Eastern Sierras Pampeanas) and Cordillera Oriental, Argentina

Provenance studies have been performed utilising major and trace elements, Nd systematics, whole rock Pb–Pb isotopes and zircon U/Pb SHRIMP data on metasedimentary rocks of the Sierra de San Luis (Nogolí Metamorphic Complex, Pringles Metamorphic Complex, Conlara Metamorphic Complex and San Luis Formation) and the Puncoviscana Formation of the Cordillera Oriental. The goal was the characterisation of the different domains in the study area and to give insights to the location of the source rocks. An active continental margin setting with typical composition of the upper continental crust is depicted for all the complexes using major and trace elements. The Pringles Metamorphic Complex shows indications for crustal recycling, pointing to a bimodal provenance. Major volcanic input has to be rejected due to Th/Sc, Y/Ni and Cr/V ratios for all units. The εNd_{(540 Ma)} data is lower for the San Luis Formation and higher for the Conlara Metamorphic Complex, as compared to the other units, in which a good consistency is given. This is similar to the T_DM ages, where the metapsammitic samples of the San Luis Formation are slightly older. The spread of data is largest for the Pringles Metamorphic Complex, again implying two different sources. The whole rock ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb isotopic data lies in between the South American and African sources, excluding Laurentian provenances. The whole rock Pb–Pb data is almost indistinguishable in the different investigated domains. Only the PMC shows slightly elevated ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values. Possible source rocks for the different domains could be the Quebrada Choja in the Central Arequipa–Antofalla domain, the Southern domain of the Arequipa–Antofalla basement, the Brazilian shield or southern Africa. Zircon SHRIMP data point to a connection between the Puncoviscana Formation and the Conlara Metamorphic Complex. Two maxima around 600 Ma and around 1000 Ma have been determined. The Nogolí Metamorphic Complex and the Pringles Metamorphic Complex show one peak of detrital zircons around 550 Ma, and only a few grains are older than 700 Ma. The detrital zircon ages for the San Luis Formation show age ranges between 590 and 550 Ma. A common basin can be assumed for the Conlara Metamorphic Complex and the Puncoviscana Formation, but the available data support different sources for the rest of the Complexes of the Sierra de San Luis. These share the diminished importance or the lack of the Grenvillian detrital peak, a common feature for the late Cambrian–early Ordovician basins of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, in contrast to the Sierras de Córdoba, the PVF and the Conlara Metamorphic Complex.     

西藏冈底斯东部然乌地区早白垩世岩浆混合作用:锆石SHRIM PU-Pb年龄和Hf同位素证据

目前对西藏冈底斯带早白垩世大规模岩浆作用的岩石成因以及冈底斯带不同构造单元的东延仍存在不同看法。为探讨这些问题,文中对冈底斯带东部地区然乌岩体中的闪长岩脉进行了锆石SHRIM PU-Pb定年和锆石Hf同位素分析。结果表明:然乌岩体中闪长岩脉的锆石SHRIM PU-Pb年龄为(114.2±0.9)Ma,与二长花岗岩为同期侵位。然乌闪长岩脉具有不均一的锆石Hf同位素组成,其εHf(t)值介于-4.2～+4.9,对应的Hf同位素地壳模式年龄为0.85～1.44Ga。闪长岩脉的全岩εNd(t)值为-4.7,Nd同位素两阶段模式年龄(TDM2)为1.29Ga,与锆石Hf同位素模式年龄一致。然乌地区同期发生的闪长质岩浆和花岗质岩浆侵位以及不均一的锆石Hf同位素组成,很可能表明然乌地区大约在115Ma发生了重要的岩浆混合作用。结合锆石Hf同位素地壳模式年龄的区域性对比,我们认为,与北冈底斯带相比,然乌地区同中冈底斯带之间具有更好的可对比性。     

塔里木盆地塔北东部下奥陶统基质白云岩的稀土元素特征及其成因

白云岩成因机制的核心问题之一是白云石化流体的来源.本文选择塔北东部地区下奥陶统蓬莱坝组白云岩、云质灰岩作为研究对象,在沉积学和岩石学基础上对基质白云岩的稀土元素地球化学特征进行了分析研究.结果表明,白云岩、云质灰岩中Sc、Th、Hf、Zr等元素的含量远远低于这些元素在陆源沉积物中的含量,并且Th、Zr的含量与Y/Ho比值间不具有明显的正相关关系,La的正异常、较高的Y/Ho比值等特征均表明塔北东部下奥陶统蓬莱坝组碳酸盐岩形成的环境为未受陆源物质混染的浅海相沉积.而白云岩负Ce异常、正La异常、轻微富集的Gd正异常以及La正异常与Y异常的正相关性等典型稀土元素特征均反映了白云石化流体具有典型的海水来源特征;而基质白云岩与白云质灰岩之间的ΣREE+Y,ΣLREE和∑HREE含量差异表明,在白云石化过程中稀土元素发生了一定程度的流失,且HREE较之于LREE更易于发生流失,因此白云石化过程中成岩流体对HREE的移出量大于LREE的移出量是塔北东部下奥陶统白云岩具有相对富集的LREE及相对较低的Y/Ho比值的主要原因.结合岩石学、沉积学、微量元素以及稳定同位素特征的综合分析认为,塔北东部地区下奥陶统蓬莱坝组基质白云岩是海水白云石化作用的结果.个别白云岩样品的Eu正异常以及同层位构造裂隙方解石的δ~(18O) 、~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr以及流体包裹体均表明下奥陶统蓬莱坝组受到后期热液流体的影响,但其对研究样品基质白云岩的影响程度比较弱.     

Crescentiella morronensis (Crescenti) (incertae sedis) dominated microencruster association in Lower Cretaceous (lower Aptian) limestones from the Rarău Massif (Eastern Carpathians,Romania)

Analysis of eight outcrops from Rarău Massif (Eastern Carpathians, Romania) revealed a rich assemblage of encrusting organisms mostly of problematic biological affiliation within platform-margin facies – Crescentiella morronensis, Radiomura cautica, Koskinobullina socialis, Pseudorothpletzella schmidi, Lithocodium aggregatum and bacinellid structures, encrusting calcified sponges (Calcistella jachenhausenensis, Neuropora lusitanica) and foraminifera (Coscinophragma cribrosa). Orbitolinids, calcareous green algae and rudists assign an early Aptian age (Bedoulian) for the studied limestones. In terms of species variety, abundance and structural microfabrics the studied microencruster association show similarity with the Upper Jurassic communities from reef and peri-reefal sedimentary settings. Comparisons with such assemblages are emphasized here. The presence of the sporolithacean and peyssonneliacean red algae (Sporolithon rude and Polystrata alba) contributes also to the construction of superimposed crusts. Even if the known stratigraphic range of the microencrusters is not strictly limited to the late Jurassic, reports of comparable associations in Urgonian-type facies is poorly documented. Therefore, it exemplifies the resistance and flourishing events of many encrusters throughout the Mesozoic.     

东天山天宇铜镍硫化物矿床磁黄铁矿Re-Os同位素物质来源示踪

天宇岩浆铜镍硫化物矿床的矿体由浸染状矿体和块状矿体组成。采用同位素稀释Triton-plus测定了浸染状矿石和块状矿石的磁黄铁矿Re-Os同位素比值。结果表明:浸染状矿石w(Re)为11.82×10~(-9)~45.28×10~(-9),w(Os)为0.944×10~(-9)~8.528×10~(-9),187Os/188Os初始比值为0.885~2.332,γOs为607~1763;块状矿石w(Re)为49.38×10~(-9)~315.10×10~(-9),w(Os)为0.191×10~(-9)~42.420×10~(-9),187Os/188Os初始比值为0.654~3.322,γOs为423~2555。Re、Os含量、同位素组成和特征值表明,该矿床物质为壳-幔混合来源,块状矿石可能比浸染状矿石经历了更强的地壳物质混染。浸染状矿体发育透闪石化、蛇纹石化、绿泥石化蚀变,表明存在岩浆期后热液活动,但块状矿体热液蚀变不明显,块状矿石的Re-Os同位素特征可能是与地壳岩石直接作用的结果。地壳混染作用发生在深部岩浆房,同时也发生在岩浆侵位及再次迁移过程中,这些过程造成块状矿体与浸染状矿体不同的同位素特征。     

Geologic evolution of a Cretaceous tectonometamorphic unit in the Franciscan Complex,western California

ABSTRACT

The Franciscan Yolla Bolly terrane of the NE California Coast Ranges consists mainly of quartzose metagreywackes containing sparse high-pressure/low-temperature (HP/LT) neoblastic minerals, including ubiquitous lawsonite. Some Yolla Bolly rocks also contain one or more of the newly grown phases, pumpellyite, aragonite, glaucophane, and/or jadeitic pyroxene. These blueschist-facies metasandstones recrystallized under physical conditions of ~200–300°C and ~8 kbar at subduction-zone depths approaching 30 km. Petrologically similar Franciscan metaclastic-rich map units – Yolla Bolly terrane-like rocks, here designated the ‘YB’ unit – crop out in the central and southern California Coast Ranges. Recently published detrital zircon U?Pb SIMS and LA-ICPMS data for 19 ‘YB’ metagreywackes indicate maximum ages of formation as follows: ~110–115 Ma (8) in the NE California Coast Ranges; ~95–107 Ma (7) in the San Francisco Bay area + Diablo Range; and ~85–92 Ma (4) in the dextrally offset Nacimiento Block. These fault-bounded ‘YB’ strata do not constitute coeval parts of a single tectonostratigraphic unit. Instead the term tectonometamorphic is proposed for such time-transgressive map units. Based on the current and likely Cretaceous 30° angular divergence between NS-palaeomagnetic stripes of the Farallon oceanic plate and the NNW-trending California convergent margin, I infer that arrival at the arc margin and underflow of a relatively thick segment of oceanic crust and its largely clastic sedimentary blanket may have resulted in progressive southeastward migration of an accreted, subducted, then exhumed HP/LT metagreywacke section. During the ~30 million year interval, ~115–85 Ma, the locus of ‘YB’ accretion, underflow, and tectonic regurgitation evidently moved SE along an ~1000 km stretch of the accretionary margin of western California.     

Geology,U-Pb geochronology,and stable isotope geochemistry of the Tunca semi-massive sulfide mineralization,Black Sea region,NE Turkey: Implications for ore genesis

Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary sequences of the Eastern Pontide orogenic belt, NE Turkey, are host to significant VMS mineralization, including near Tunca. The initial stages of felsic volcanism within the mineralized area are marked by the eruption of dacitic lavas and breccias of the Kızılkaya Formation. This was accompanied by the emplacement of domelike hematitic dacites. Autobrecciated and volcaniclastic rocks, both in situ and resedimented, were likely generated from extrusive portions of these dacite bodies. Basaltic volcanism is marked by the eruption of the lava flows and pillow lavas of the Çağlayan Formation. Hiatuses in basaltic activity are marked by thin horizons of volcaniclastics and mudstones. The uppermost felsic volcanic units were accompanied by resedimentation of autoclastic facies from previous volcanism and represent the latest phase of Upper Cretaceous volcanism in the area. The semi-massive sulfide mineralization is associated with a late stage of the initial felsic volcanism. U-Pb LA-ICP-MS zircon dating of a dacitic tuff breccia yielded an age of 88.1 ± 1.2 Ma (Coniacian-Upper Cretaceous), which is interpreted to be the age of the sulfide occurrences.A concentric zoned alteration pattern is observed in the footwall rocks. The alteration pattern is considered to have formed by lateral migration of hydrothermal fluids which had ascended along the discharge conduit. Fluid inclusion data indicate precipitation or mobilization processes within a relatively narrow temperature range of 152–255 °C (avg. 200 °C). The low-salinity fluids in the fluid inclusions, less than 5.9 wt% NaCl equivalent, are consistent with typical modified seawater-dominant hydrothermal vent fluids. Sulfur isotope analysis of the Tunca sulfides yields a narrow range of 1.5–4.1 per mil. These δ³⁴S values are also typical of many VMS deposits. Most of the recorded δ¹⁸O values (+7.1 to +14.0 per mil) are greater than 9 per mil. The most intensely hydrothermally altered rocks tend to have lower δ¹⁸O values relative to the less altered rocks. Collectively, the geologic relationships, mineralization style, and the lack of seafloor ore facies suggest that mineralization is principally of sub-seafloor origin. The most geologically reasonable interpretation of the genesis of the Tunca mineralization is the continuous interaction between the host rocks and seawater-derived fluids, without significant involvement of a magmatic fluid.