40Ar-39Ar age of carbonatite-alkaline magmatism in Sung valley, Meghalaya, India

⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar analyses of one alkali pyroxenite whole rock and two phlogopite separates of calcite carbonatites from the Sung Valley carbonatite-alkaline complex, which is believed to be a part of the Rajmahal-Bengal-Sylhet (RBS) flood basalt province, yielded indistinguishable plateau ages of 108.8 ± 2.0Ma, 106.4 ± 1.3Ma and 107.5 ± 1.4Ma, respectively. The weighted mean of these ages, 107.2 ± 0.8 Ma, is the time of emplacement of this complex. This implies that Sung Valley complex and probably other such complexes in the Assam-Meghalaya Plateau postdate the main flood basalt event (i.e., the eruption of tholeiites) in the RBS province by ∼10Ma.     

Microbial–silica interactions in Icelandic hot spring sinter: possible analogues for some Precambrian siliceous stromatolites

Silicified deposits, such as sinters, occur in several modern geothermal environments, but the mechanisms of silicification (and crucially the role of microorganisms in their construction) are still largely unresolved. Detailed examination of siliceous sinter, in particular sections of microstromatolites growing at the Krisuvik hot spring, Iceland, reveals that biomineralization contributes a major component to the overall structure, with approximately half the sinter thickness attributed to silicified microorganisms. Almost all microorganisms observed under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) are mineralized, with epicellular silica ranging in thickness from < 5 μm coatings on individual cells, to regions where entire colonies are cemented together in an amorphous silica matrix tens of micrometres thick. Within the overall profile, there appears to be two very distinct types of laminae that alternate repeatedly throughout the microstromatolite: ‘microbial’ layers are predominantly consisting of filamentous, intact, vertically aligned, biomineralized cyanobacteria, identified as Calothrix and Fischerella sp.; and weakly laminated silica layers which appear to be devoid of any microbial component. The microbial layers commonly have a sharply defined base, overlying the weakly laminated silica, and a gradational upper surface merging into the weakly laminated silica. These cyclic laminations are probably explained by variations in microbial activity. Active growth during spring/summer allows the microorganisms to keep pace with silicification, with the cell surfaces facilitating silicification, while during their natural slow growth phase in the dark autumn/winter months silicification exceeds the bacteria’s ability to compensate (i.e. grow upwards). At this stage, the microbial colony is probably not essential to microstromatolite formation, with silicification presumably occurring abiogenically. When conditions once again become favourable for growth, recolonization of the solid silica surface by free‐living bacteria occurs: cell motility is not responsible for the laminations. We have also observed that microbial populations within the microstromatolite, some several mm in depth, appear viable, i.e. they still have their pigmentation, the trichomes are not collapsed, cell walls are unbroken, cytoplasm is still present and they proved culturable. This suggests that the bulk of silicification occurred rapidly, probably while the cells were still alive. Surprisingly, however, measurements of light transmittance through sections of the microstromatolite revealed that photosynthetically active light (PAL) only transmitted through the uppermost 2 mm. Therefore the ‘deeper’ microbial populations must have either: (i) altered their metabolic pathways; (ii) become metabolically inactive; or (iii) the deeper populations may be dominated by different microbial assemblages from that of the surface. From these collective observations, it now seems unequivocal that microstromatolite formation is intimately linked to microbial activity and that the sinter fabric results from a combination of biomineralization, cell growth and recolonization. Furthermore, the similarities in morphology and microbial component to some Precambrian stromatolites, preserved in primary chert, suggests that we may be witnessing contemporaneous biomineralization processes and growth patterns analogous to those of the early Earth.     

吉黑东部斑岩型-浅成热液型铜金矿床多重成矿模型

通过四个典型矿床（小西南岔、闹枝、五凤和刺猬沟）的对比，发现它们在形成时间-空间一成因上既相互联系，又相互区别。小西南岔和闹枝矿床存在三个成矿流体系统：加热天水系统(A)、排放流体系统(B)、蒸气缕(steam plume)反应系统(C)；五凤和刺猬沟矿床只有一个成矿流体系统，即排放流体系统(B)。前者的成矿流体由浅成岩浆房的补给；后者的成矿流体主要为循环天水，浅成岩浆房的补给不明显。小西南岔金铜矿床产于中生代火山岩盆地边缘的隆起带，属于斑岩型矿床；闹枝金（铜）矿床产于中生代火山岩盆地内的断隆块，属于斑岩-浅成热液过渡型矿床；五凤和刺猬沟金（银）矿床产于中生代火山岩盆地内断裂带，属于浅成热液型矿床。在区域成矿上，由浅入深，浅成热液型斑岩-浅成热液过渡型和斑岩型构成多重成矿模型。     

吉黑东部斑岩型－浅成热液型铜金矿床多重成矿模型

通过四个典型矿床（小西南岔、闹枝、五凤和刺猬沟）的对比，发现它们在形成时间－空间－成因上既相互联系，又相互区别。小西南岔和闹枝矿床存在三个成矿流体系统：加热天水系统（Ａ）、排放流体系统（Ｂ）、蒸气缕（ｓｔｅａｍｐｌｕｍｅ）反应系统（Ｃ）；五凤和刺猬沟矿床只有一个成矿流体系统，即排放流体系统（Ｂ）。前者的成矿流体由浅成岩浆房的补给；后者的成矿流体主要为循环天水，浅成岩浆房的补给不明显。小西南岔金铜矿床产于中生代火山岩盆地边缘的隆起带，属于斑岩型矿床；闹枝金（铜）矿床产于中生代火山岩盆地内的断隆块，属于斑岩－浅成热液过渡型矿床；五凤和刺猬沟金（银）矿床产于中生代火山岩盆地内断裂带，属于浅成熟液型矿床。在区域成矿上，由浅入深，浅成热液型斑岩－浅成热液过渡型和斑岩型构成多重成矿模型。     

Englacial vs lacustrine origin of volcanic table mountains: evidence from iceland

Detailed facies analysis of hyaloclastites and associated lavas from eight table mountains and similar "hyaloclastite volcanoes" in the Icelandic rift zone contradict a rapid and continuous, "monogenetic", entirely subglacial evolution of most volcanoes studied. The majority of the exposed hyaloclastite deposits formed in large, stable lakes as indicated by widespread, up to 300-m-thick, continuous sections of deep water, shallow water and emergent facies. Salient features include extensively layered or bedded successions comprising mainly debris flow deposits, turbidites, base surge and fallout deposits consisting of texturally and compositionally variable, slightly altered hyaloclastites, as well as sheet and pillow lavas. In contrast, chaotic assemblages of coarser-grained, more poorly sorted and more strongly palagonitized hyaloclastite tuffs and breccias, as well as scoria and lava are interpreted to have formed under sub- or englacial conditions in small, chimney-like ice cavities or ice-bound lakes. Irregularly shaped and erratically arranged hyaloclastite bodies produced at variable water levels appear to have resulted mainly from rapid changes of the eruptive environment due to repeated build-up and drainage of ice-bound lakes as well as the restricted space between the ice walls. We distinguish a "deep water" facies formed during high water levels of the lake, a hydroclastic shallow water and emergent facies (leakage of the lake or growth of the volcano above the water surface). Our model implies the temporary existence of large, stable lakes in Iceland probably formed by climatically induced ice melting. The highly complex edifices of many table mountains and similar volcanoes were constructed during several eruptive periods in changing environments characterized by contrasting volcanic and sedimentary processes. Received: 10 June 1997 / Accepted: 28 July 1998     

Efstadalsvatn – a multi-proxy study of a Holocene lacustrine sequence from NW Iceland

Multi-proxy data, both lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic, are presented from Efstadalsvatn, a lake in NW Iceland. The sequence covers the period 10,000 to 3500 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The biostratgraphic data include the first Icelandic chironomid-based reconstruction of Holocene mean July air temperatures, using a Norwegian training set in the absence of modern Icelandic data. The results show that deglaciation and ecosystem development probably began before 10,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P. and that July temperatures were around 4°C at ca. 9500 ¹⁴C yr B.P. Temperatures then rose to ca. 8°C at the time of the deposition of the Saksunarvatn tephra (9100 ¹⁴C yr B.P.), reaching ca. 10°C by 8500 ¹⁴C yr B.P., high enough for the growth of tree birch, although successful birch colonisation did not take place until 6750 ¹⁴C yr B.P. There is some evidence for cooling immediately preceding 9100 ¹⁴C yr B.P. There is little firm biostratigraphic evidence for the 8200 cal. B.P. event, although this may be due to a relatively low resolution pollen sampling interval, but there are changes at this time in the total carbon (TC) and mass susceptibility (MS) data. Optimal temperatures and relative vegetation stability may have occurred between 8000–6100 ¹⁴C yr B.P. but the chironomid assemblages indicate higher temperatures after 5000 ¹⁴C yr B.P. This latter interpretation may, however, reflect delayed colonisation of thermophilous taxa and requires further investigation. There is evidence in the lithostratigraphy for greater local terrestrial instability after 6100 ¹⁴C yr B.P. but it seems unlikely that this led to the redevelopment of ice in the catchment. The biostratigraphic records appear to show a degree of resistence to climate forcing throughout the early and middle Holocene. The new chironomid-based temperature reconstruction needs to be refined by further studies in Iceland, particularly the development of an Icelandic training set, but has already demonstrated the problems of paleoclimatic interpretations based on pollen and/or macrofossil evidence alone.     

华南热点铀成矿作用

文章阐述了地幔柱和热点活动的基本概念，并划分热点活动为大陆型和大洋型；扼要阐述了热点活动与成矿作用的关系，提出了热点铀成矿作用理论。华南中新生代（220～50Ma）的地质构造作用、岩浆活动、沉积和变质作用、成矿作用与深部地幔柱构造作用有着密切关系。从地质、地球物理和地球化学等方面论证了贵东东部为中生代大陆型热点活动地区及其与铀成矿作用的关系，指出了华南热液型铀矿找矿远景。     

山东蒙阴科马提岩地球化学特征及其意义

山东蒙阴科马提岩具有典型的鬣刺结构，高镁低钛，铝不亏损，具有正的Rb、Ba、Sr、U异常，轻稀土元素亏损，重稀土元素平坦，稀土元素总量很低，高场强元素与稀土元素发生分异，Nb/Nb^＊〉1，与加拿大蒙罗镇科马提岩地球化学特征和同位素特征相似。研究表明，蒙阴科马提岩可能起源于长期亏损的地幔源区，岩浆不可能来源于以橄榄石、辉石和石榴石（或者majorite）为主要矿物相的地幔源区。最新Sm-Nd同位素研究显示，蒙阴科马提岩样品的εNd值为-0．4～＋3．6，新鲜样品一般为＋3．3，也证实了科马提岩来自长期亏损的地幔源区，并且地幔柱在上升过程中受到地壳混染程度很小，推测研究区科马提岩的喷出可能是新太古代大陆增生事件的重要组成部分。     

华北地区两个世代深部构造的识别及其意义——燕山运动与深部过程

通过对华北地区地震层析成像成果的研究，将其深部构造划分为三带：①大型软流圈上涌柱带，主要出现两个大型软流圈上涌柱；②过渡带，呈现4个小型软流圈上涌柱（软块）与岩石圈较厚区（硬块）相间的构造格局；③巨厚岩石圈带，为巨厚岩石圈（鄂尔多斯硬块）稳定区。依据岩石圈热力学衰减原理，一定体积的深部构造可存留200～300Ma之久，而传导人浅表的热量则扩散较快。故以大地热流值为主，结合浅层岩浆活动可将本区中生代与新生代的软流圈上涌柱区分开来：渤海湾柱、大同柱和南阳柱属新生代，邯郸柱、中条柱和吕梁柱则属于中生代燕山期。在此基础上，建立了燕山期深部构造与浅表岩浆构造活动关系的模式：在强大的分散热力作用下，软流圈上涌柱柱头中大量热浮物质向上熔蚀薄的岩石圈及下地壳，混染而主要形成中酸性岩及有关矿产；而在软流圈上涌柱与岩石圈的陡接触处，由于该处热力集中，致使幔源物质底侵下地壳，并再熔融上侵形成偏碱性-碱性杂岩及相应矿产。     

Helium and neon isotopic compositions in the ophiolites from the Yarlung Zangbo River,Southwestern China:The information from deep mantle

The ophiolites from the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibet),Southwestern China,were analysed for the con-tents of helium and neon and their isotopic compositions by stepwise heating. The serpentinites from Bainang showed a high 3He/4He value of 32.66Ra (Ra is referred to the 3He/4He ratio in the present air) in 700 ℃ fraction. At lower temperature,all of the dolerites displayed as very high 3He/4He ratios as ones investigated for hotspots. It was clear that the high 3He/4He ratio was one of immanent characterics in the magma source formed the dolerites,suggesting that there was a large amount of deep mantle fluids in these rocks. In the three-isotope diagram of neon,the data points from the ophiolites of the Yarlung Zangbo River were arranged along the Loihi Line. This is in agreement with the characteristics of he-lium isotopes,revealing that the high-3He plume from deep mantle had played an important role in the formation of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean. The helium isotopic compositions in the basalts were far higher than atomospheric value but lower than the average value of MORB,although there were various de-grees of alteration. The possible reasons were that basaltic magmas