Resolving impact volatilization and condensation from target rock mixing and hydrothermal overprinting within the Chicxulub impact structure

This work presents isotopic data for the non-traditional isotope systems Fe, Cu, and Zn on a set of Chicxulub impactites and target lithologies with the aim of better documenting the dynamic processes taking place during hypervelocity impact events, as well as those affecting impact structures during the post-impact phase. The focus lies on material from the recent IODP-ICDP Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drill core obtained from the offshore Chicxulub peak ring. Two ejecta blanket samples from the UNAM 5 and 7 cores were used to compare the crater lithologies with those outside of the impact structure. The datasets of bulk Fe, Cu, and Zn isotope ratios are coupled with petrographic observations and bulk major and trace element compositions to disentangle equilibrium isotope fractionation effects from kinetic processes. The observed Fe and Cu isotopic signatures, with δ^56/54Fe ranging from ?0.95‰ to 0.58‰ and δ^65/63Cu from ?0.73‰ to 0.14‰, mostly reflect felsic, mafic, and carbonate target lithology mixing and secondary sulfide mineral formation, the latter associated to the extensive and long-lived (>10⁵ years) hydrothermal system within Chicxulub structure. On the other hand, the stable Zn isotope ratios provide evidence for volatility-governed isotopic fractionation. The heavier Zn isotopic compositions observed for the uppermost part of the impactite sequence and a metamorphic clast (δ^66/64Zn of up to 0.80‰ and 0.87‰, respectively) relative to most basement lithologies and impact melt rock units indicate partial vaporization of Zn, comparable to what has been observed for Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer sediments around the world, as well as for tektites from various strewn fields. In contrast to previous work, our data indicate that an isotopically light Zn reservoir (δ^66/64Zn down to ?0.49‰), of which the existence has previously been suggested based on mass balance considerations, may reside within the upper impact melt rock (UIM) unit. This observation is restricted to a few UIM samples only and cannot be extended to other target or impact melt rock units. Light isotopic signatures of moderately volatile elements in tektites and microtektites have previously been linked to (back-)condensation under distinct kinetic regimes. Although some of the signatures observed may have been partially overprinted during post-impact processes, our bulk data confirm impact volatilization and condensation of Zn, which may be even more pronounced at the microscale, with variable degrees of mixing between isotopically distinct reservoirs, not only at proximal to distal ejecta sites, but also within the lithologies associated with the Chicxulub impact crater.     

Photooxidation of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide. II: Mechanism evaluation

The mechanisms for atmospheric photooxidation of CH₃SCH₃ and CH₃SSCH₃ developed in Part I are evaluated by a series of outdoor smog chamber experiments. Measured product yields, including SO₂, H₂SO₄, CH₃SO₃H and HCHO, are reported. The predictions of the mechanisms developed in Part I are found to be in substantial agreement with the measured concentrations from the smog chamber. By comparison of mechanism predictions and observations, critical uncertainties in the mechanism are identified.     

Effect of exposure time on the bioaccumulation of Cd, Mg, Mn and Zn in Cystoseira abies-marina samples subject to shallow water hydrothermal activity in São Miguel (Azores)

Shallow water hydrothermal vents can be compared to polluted places due to high concentrations of heavy metals, and are thus good models for bioaccumulation studies. The present study intended to estimate the time of exposure required for the accumulation of certain elements to stabilize in specimens of Cystoseira abies-marina , to be used as a reference in future work. Cystoseira abies-marina intertidal specimens were transplanted from Mosteiros (a non-hydrothermal and pristine site) to Ferraria (with hydrothermal activity) and left there. Transplanted samples were collected after 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks and the concentrations of Cd, Mg, Mn and Zn were measured through flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Although further studies with increased periods of exposure are needed because the concentration of these elements never stabilized in the collected samples, there is strong evidence that increased time of exposure led to increased concentrations of Cd, Mg, Mn, but not Zn. These results are consistent with the assumption that C. abies-marina is bioaccumulating some of the heavy metals and can thus be a good indicator for polluted waters.     

2: Hydrothermal ore deposits related to post-orogenic extensional magmatism and core complex formation: The Rhodope Massif of Bulgaria and Greece

The Rhodope Massif in southern Bulgaria and northern Greece hosts a range of Pb–Zn–Ag, Cu–Mo and Au–Ag deposits in high-grade metamorphic, continental sedimentary and igneous rocks. Following a protracted thrusting history as part of the Alpine–Himalayan collision, major late orogenic extension led to the formation of metamorphic core complexes, block faulting, sedimentary basin formation, acid to basic magmatism and hydrothermal activity within a relatively short period of time during the Early Tertiary. Large vein and carbonate replacement Pb–Zn deposits hosted by high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Central Rhodopean Dome (e.g., the Madan ore field) are spatially associated with low-angle detachment faults as well as local silicic dyke swarms and/or ignimbrites. Ore formation is essentially synchronous with post-extensional dome uplift and magmatism, which has a dominant crustal magma component according to Pb and Sr isotope data. Intermediate- and high-sulphidation Pb–Zn–Ag–Au deposits and minor porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization in the Eastern Rhodopes are predominantly hosted by veins in shoshonitic to high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks of closely similar age. Base-metal-poor, high-grade gold deposits of low sulphidation character occurring in continental sedimentary rocks of synextensional basins (e.g., Ada Tepe) show a close spatial and temporal relation to detachment faulting prior and during metamorphic core complex formation. Their formation predates local magmatism but may involve fluids from deep mantle magmas.The change in geochemical signatures of Palaeogene magmatic rocks, from predominantly silicic types in the Central Rhodopes to strongly fractionated shoshonitic (Bulgaria) to calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline (Greece) magmas in the Eastern Rhodopes, coincides with the enrichment in Cu and Au relative to Pb and Zn of the associated ore deposits. This trend also correlates with a decrease in the radiogenic Pb and Sr isotope components of the magmatic rocks from west to east, reflecting a reduced crustal contamination of mantle magmas, which in turn correlates with a decreasing crustal thickness that can be observed today. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of the related hydrothermal systems show a concomitant increase of magmatic relative to meteoric fluids, from the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits of the Central Rhodopes to the magmatic rock-hosted polymetallic gold deposits of the Eastern Rhodopes.     

塔里木盆地塔北、塔中地区寒武系-奥陶系碳酸盐岩中鞍形白云石胶结物特征

通过对塔里木盆地中、北部地区寒武系—奥陶系碳酸盐岩的研究,发现鞍形白云石胶结物发育比较普遍,常见于孔洞或裂缝之中,乳白色,晶体粗大,晶面弯曲或呈阶梯状,镜下波状消光,晶体内部常见微裂缝,常与热液矿物共生。本文对28个鞍形白云石样品进行了碳、氧、锶同位素测试,结果显示鞍形白云石的δ~(13)C和δ~(18)O值分别介于-2.446‰～0.686‰和-9.101‰～-5.117‰之间,~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值介于0.708 6～0.710 2之间;流体包裹体测温分析表明,鞍形白云石中气—液两相包裹体的均一温度(T_h)介于121～159.5℃之间,但集中分布在135～145℃之间;根据最后冰融点温度(T_m)求得的白云岩化流体盐度介于21.3%～23.1%之间。这些数据表明,该类型白云石形成于热卤水(盐度是海水的5～8倍)之中。塔里木盆地鞍形白云石与世界范围内其它盆地的鞍形白云石的碳、氧同位素特征基本相似,但其~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值相对偏低。导致这一现象的原因可能是鞍形白云石形成于来自深部的岩浆热液流体之中,这些流体伴随岩浆侵位或通过切穿基底的深大断裂及其与之相连的次级断裂系统从深部直接进入碳酸盐岩地层中,未经过碎屑岩输导层的长时间运移,所以导致其中形成的鞍形白云石~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值偏低。     

Effect of temperature on the dissolution and thermal alteration of combined amino acids fixed in natural sediment under simulated hydrothermal conditions

Seafloor sediment containing biogenic amino acids was heated with NaCl solutions at 50–200 °C for 240 h to investigate the dissolution process of amino acids and evaluate their stabilities under hydrothermal conditions. Dissolved amino acids in the combined phase (dissolved combined amino acids, DCAAs) and free phase (dissolved free amino acids, DFAAs) were rapidly released into the solution during heating. The amount of DCAAs in the solutions was 4–9 times higher than the amount of DFAAs at each temperature. When heated at ⩽ 100 °C, most of the total dissolved hydrolyzable amino acids (TDHAAs) were in the combined form (DCAAs/TDHAAs ratios > 0.9). The compositions of the DCAAs in solutions heated at ⩽ 100 °C were similar to that of the total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAAs) of the initial sediment, indicating that the DCAAs, which are derived from organisms and biodebris in the sediment, are barely altered during the hydrothermal reaction at these temperatures. On the other hand, the DCAAs/TDHAAs ratios were 0.72 and 0.57 at 150 and 200 °C, respectively, and the compositions of the DCAAs at 150 and 200 °C were significantly different from that of the initial THAAs. In addition, non-protein amino acids (β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid), which are sensitive biochemical indicators of the diagenetic alteration of natural organic matter, drastically increased to 80.9% of the DCAAs after heating at 200 °C. These results suggests that DCAAs are thermally unstable in the hydrothermal solutions at ⩾ 150 °C. These DCAA would be transformed into thermally stable geo-polymers such as humic-like substances and hydrolyzable kerogens.     

云南白马寨铜镍硫化物矿床形成过程的定量模拟

岩浆的分离结晶作用和地壳同化混染作用是造成硫饱和的重要因素。本文以金平-Song Da地区二叠纪低钛苦橄岩为原生岩浆,使用MELTS程序模拟了岩浆在分离结晶和围岩同化混染作用的控制下达到硫饱和,发生硫化物熔体的熔离。模拟结果表明,低钛苦橄质岩浆从源区上升到浅部岩浆房的过程中发生了约10%的橄榄石的分离结晶,形成高镁的玄武质岩浆。高镁玄武质岩浆在浅部岩浆房内同化混染>18%的围岩,并经历约27%硅酸盐矿物的分离结晶后达到硫饱和。熔离的硫化物熔体在岩浆通道内聚集形成了白马寨铜镍硫化物矿。经历硫化物熔体熔离后的残余岩浆喷出地表形成了金平地区亏损Ni和Cu并具有强烈地壳混染特征的低钛玄武岩。     

Reply to comments by R. Von Herzen, E.E. Davis, A.T. Fisher, C.A. Stein and H.N. Pollack on “Earth's heat flux revised and linked to chemistry”

The lengthy comment by Von Herzen et al. does not address the most important conclusions of the paper by Hofmeister and Criss [Hofmeister, A.M., Criss, R.E., 2005, Earth's heat flux revisited and linked to chemistry. Tectonophys. 395, 159–177.]. These are 1) that actual measurements better describe the Earth than do simplistic models with demonstrably unrealistic boundary conditions that diverge markedly from the data; and 2) that the models are unconstrained, resulting in a series of papers proposing values for the global flux that have become increasingly disparate from the growing data base over time (Fig. 3 in our paper). We disagree strongly with penultimate concluding statement of Von Herzen et al., “that it is preferable to base surface heat flow analysis not only on the extensive measurements but also on well understood processes that are known to bias the values and statistics of the measurements,” as our Fig. 3 demonstrates that no consistent magnitude has been assigned to the alleged advective flux, so that neither the processes nor the correction are “well understood”. We do not deny the existence of submarine hydrothermal systems, but we disagree strongly with the scales over which they are alleged to operate, and with the large Rayleigh and Nusselt numbers Von Herzen et al. assign to them.     

西澳大利亚Forrestania绿岩带构造特征及Ni—Cu—Au成矿规律与找矿发现

Forrestania绿岩带（FGB）位于西澳大利亚Yilgarn克拉通东南部,是澳大利亚重要的Ni-Cu-Au成矿带,属于澳大利亚一级Ni、Cu成矿远景区和三级Au成矿远景区。FGB地区的Ni—cu矿床主要与带内的超镁铁质岩墙有关,属于富硫化物接触交代型成矿,主要以巨厚层状产出在基底长英质碎屑沉积岩和上覆的科马提岩之间。FGB地区金矿的形成主要与北北西向和北北东向构造内的石英脉有关,属于石英脉型金矿,是含镍硫化物富集（Ni）、多期后成矿构造运动、岩浆活动、变质作用和热液交代（Au）等多种地质活动长期复杂混合的产物。其形成过程主要分为以下几个阶段：早期Ni的沉积阶段、早期区域构造运动阶段、持续构造活动阶段、Ni矿体解体和Au元素富集阶段、Au矿脉的形成阶段。根据上述理论指导,笔者分析成矿特征后,选出Au成矿远景区,进行物化探综合勘查,圈定出异常区域,并在异常区内发现了较好的矿化线索。通过实践证明了理论推断的可信度。     

安徽铜陵狮子山硫化物矿山酸矿水中微生物功能群的研究

从安徽铜陵狮子山硫化物矿山酸矿水溪流获得样品,采用YE、Feo、FeSo、FeTo 4种选择性培养基,利用overlay分离技术,获得7株细菌菌株.利用16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析,与目前已分离得到的酸矿水微生物进行了比较.利用分离菌株16S rRNA基因序列构建系统进化树,结果表明获得的菌株可分为3个功能群:嗜酸性异养菌、嗜酸性自养菌、中度嗜酸性铁氧化细菌.嗜酸性异养菌主要与酸矿水中三价铁的异化还原和寡营养状态的维持有关;嗜酸性自养菌与酸矿水中铁、硫元素的氧化有关,是酸水中的生产者;中度嗜酸性铁氧化细菌能将二价铁氧化成三价铁,并产生难溶性的矿物,可实现酸矿水与酸矿水底泥之间铁元素的动态平衡.