Crystal structure of meteoritic schreibersites: determination of absolute structure

Minerals of the schreibersite–nickelphosphide series (Fe,Ni)₃P crystallize in the non-centrosymmetric space group . As a consequence, they can possess two different spatial arrangements of the constituting atoms within the unit cell, related by the inversion symmetry operation. Here, we present the crystal structure refinements from single crystal X-ray diffraction data for schreibersite grains from iron meteorites Acuña, Carlton, Hex River Mts. (three different crystals), Odessa (two different crystals), Sikhote Alin, and Toluca aiming for the determination of the absolute structure of the examined crystals. The crystals studied cover the composition range from ~58 mol% to ~80 mol% Fe₃P end-member. Unit-cell parameter a and volume of the unit cell V, as well as certain topological structural parameters tightly correlate with Fe₃P content. Unit-cell parameter c, on the other hand, does not show such strong correlation. Eight of the nine crystal structure refinements allowed unambiguous absolute structure assignment. The single crystal extracted from Toluca is, however, of poor quality and consequently the structure refinement did not provide as good results as the rest of the materials. Also, this crystal has only weak inversion distinguishing power to provide unequivocal absolute structure determination. Six of the eight unambiguous absolute structure determinations indicated inverted atomic arrangement compared to that reported in earlier structure refinements (here called standard). Only two grains, one taken from Odessa iron and the other from the Hex River Mts. meteorite, reveal the dominance of standard crystal structure setting.     

Late Archean Cu-Au-Mo mineralization at Gameleira and Serra Verde, Carajàs Mineral Province, Brazil: constraints from Re-Os molybdenite ages

New Re-Os molybdenite ages provide constraints on the timing of Late Archean Cu-Au-Mo mineralization in the northern Carajás Mineral Province. Molybdenite from the Gameleira iron oxide Cu-Au-Mo deposit yielded an age of 2,614±14 Ma. This age overlaps within its analytical error with Re-Os ages of molybdenite from the Serra Verde Cu-Au-Mo vein deposit (2,609±13 Ma) and from the nearby small Garimpo Fernando gold mining operation (2,592±13 and 2,602±13 Ma), which is probably related to the latter. The geochronological data imply that the hydrothermal Cu-Au-Mo mineralization in these three deposits was epigenetic and coincides with a regional tectonic regime changing from dextral transtension and clastic sedimentation at 2.7–2.6 Ga to sinistral transpression and inversion at 2.6 Ga. Previously reported stable isotope and microthermometric data are compatible with a magmatic affiliation of the Cu-Au-Mo ores at Gameleira and Serra Verde. A genetic relationship of mineralization may therefore exist with 2.56–2.76 Ga Archean alkaline granitoids or with 2.6–2.7 calc-alkaline to tholeiitic volcanic-arc type magmatism.Editorial handling: F. Tornos     

Iron isotope fractionation during skarn-type metallogeny: A case study of Xinqiao Cu–S–Fe–Au deposit in the Middle–Lower Yangtze valley

Fe isotope compositions of mineral separates and bulk samples from Xinqiao Cu–S–Fe–Au skarn type deposit were investigated. An overall variation in δ⁵⁷Fe values from − 1.22‰ to + 0.73‰ has been observed, which shows some regularity. The δ⁵⁷Fe values of endoskarn and the earliest formed Fe-mineral phase magnetite are ca.1.2‰ and ca. 0.3‰ lower, respectively, relative to the quartz–monzodiorite stock, indicating that fluid exsolved from the stock is enriched in light Fe isotopes. Moreover, spatial and temporal variations in δ⁵⁷Fe values are observed, which suggest iron isotope fractionation during fluid evolution. Precipitation of Fe-bearing minerals results in the Fe isotope composition of residual fluids evolving with time. Precipitation of Fe (III) minerals incorporating heavy iron isotopes preferentially leaves the remaining fluid enriched in light isotopes, while precipitation of Fe (II) minerals preferentially taking-up light iron isotopes, and makes the Fe isotopic composition of the fluid progressively heavier. The regularity of Fe isotope variations occurred during fluid exsolution and evolution indicates that the dominant Fe source of Xinqiao deposit is magmatic. Overall, this study demonstrates that Fe isotope composition has great potential in unraveling ore-forming processes, as well as constraining the metal sources of ore deposits.     

吉林东部塔东铁矿区雁脖岭岩体和朱敦店岩体的形成时代与构造背景分析

通过LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年和岩石化学分析,研究了吉林省塔东铁矿区雁脖岭岩体和朱敦店岩体的形成年代、地球化学特征和形成环境。岩石地球化学特征显示雁脖岭岩体为花岗闪长岩岩体,朱敦店岩体为花岗岩岩体。两个岩体的加权平均年龄分别为262.3±3.1 Ma和244.5±1.9 Ma,是二叠纪末和三叠纪初的侵入体。雁脖岭岩体的含铝指数A/CNK=0.88~0.94,里特曼指数σ=2.09~2.45,Na_2O/K_2O=1.45~1.69;朱敦店岩体的含铝指数A/CNK=0.902~1.001,σ=2.15~2.55,Na_2O/K_2O=0.99~1.12。地球化学特征表明两者均属于准铝质的I型花岗岩,源区具有壳源性质,是古亚洲洋板块俯冲产物。朱敦店岩体的侵入年龄表明古亚洲洋在224 Ma±仍未闭合。     

Iron mineralisation in Mio-Pliocene sediments of the Tamra iron mine (Nefza mining district, Tunisia): Mixed influence of pedogenesis and hydrothermal alteration

The Tamra iron mine (Nefza mining district, N. Tunisia) has been exploited for about one century. There are, however, very few publications modelling the mineralisation within this 50 m-thick Messinian–Zanclean sedimentary series. We present the result of a detailed sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical study on the siliciclastic sediments heavily mineralised in iron. In their present state of preservation, these are rather unusual sediments, wherein most of sedimentological information is obliterated by iron impregnation. The whole series consists of a succession of fining-upward sequences (a few meters in thickness) that are capped by clay-bearing variegated and mottled horizons, each sequence being interpreted as a shallowing-upward sequence topped by an emersive horizon corresponding to a paleosoil. We propose that alteration and/or pedogenesis by the downward percolation of meteoric fluids accounts for most of the initial iron concentration, while a hydrothermal overprint, linked to the neighbouring Miocene magmatic rocks and associated mineral deposits (Sidi Driss Fe–Pb–Zn mine), accounts for the existing extreme iron enrichment. The proposed model is likely to apply to several other iron mines linked to the Miocene magmatic activity in the whole Maghreb area, and especially along the Apenninic thrust front (locally known as Tell-Rif front).     

Transmission electron microscopy on iron monosulfide varieties from the Suizhou meteorite

Transmission electron microscopy on the iron monosulfide (FeS) varieties from the Suizhou meteorite (Hubei, China) reveals the intergrowth of primary hexagonal 2C troilite and minor monoclinic 4C pyrrhotite (SG: F2/d) phases as nanometer-scale domain microstructure. In addition, anti-phase domain boundaries are found to present in the 2C troilite superstructure with the displacement vector 1/4[001]_2C, which is expected to form during the translational symmetry breaking during cooling from higher symmetry, high-temperature modification of the NiAs-type (SG: P6₃/mmc) structure. Furthermore, 60° rotation twinning about the pseudo-hexagonal c-axis is observed in the 4C pyrrhotite superstructure, which may result from rotation symmetry reduction induced by the ordered arrangements of metal vacancies through solid-state transformation during further cooling. All the above microstructural characteristics are discussed with consideration to the thermal metamorphism history experienced by the Suizhou meteorite.     

Oxygen Isotope Study of Paleoproterozoic Banded Iron Formation, Hamersley Basin, Western Australia

A submillimeter‐scale variation of δ¹⁸O in quartz was identified in chert and Fe‐oxide mesobands of the Brockman Iron Formation, Western Australia, using an in situ CO₂‐laser fluorination technique. The total range of variation is 11.2–23.0‰, with >5‰ variations within a single mesoband of approximately 2 cm thickness. These data contradict most previous works, which have suggested that banded iron formations are isotopically homogeneous. The present sample was obtained outside of the iron mining area, and as such is considered to have been less altered by the hydrothermal event recently shown to be responsible for the formation of the iron ore. The data suggest that the largest Paleoproterozoic banded iron formations may have formed not in a stable, quiescent sea, but instead as a result of increased influx of iron‐ and silica‐rich solutions during periods of increased magmatism and submarine hydrothermal activity in a rift basin environment.     

地面磁测垂向二次导数在莱芜市石家泉矿区铁矿深部找矿中的应用

通过收集和研究莱芜富铁矿区早期的地面磁测资料,结合近几年在铁矿深部找矿中的理论及找矿实践,经过数据处理获得地面磁测ΔZ垂向二次导数异常,用以分解磁异常和圈定深部磁铁矿体的大致分布范围,在莱芜市石家泉地区找到了厚度较大的隐伏富铁矿体,初步估算铁矿石资源量在千万吨以上,取得了良好的找矿效果,同时对该地区深部铁矿找矿起到一定的借鉴。     

电爆冲击波对储层致裂效果影响因素的数值模拟研究

电爆冲击波在油气储层增渗解堵中具有巨大应用潜力,为了解各因素对电爆冲击波致裂效果的影响程度,本文采用ANSYS/LS[CD*2]DYNA软件,通过改变地应力、弹性模量、抗拉强度参数进行数值模拟。结果显示,地应力对致裂效果具有强烈的抑制作用,在双向等压地应力作用下,裂纹区形状为圆形,并且随着地应力的增大,岩体破裂度、破裂半径均逐渐减小。在双向不等压地应力作用下,随水平主应力差值增大,裂纹扩展方向由圆形逐渐转变为椭圆形,具有沿最大水平主应力方向扩展的特点;弹性模量对致裂效果具有重要影响,随着弹性模量的增大,岩体破裂度、破裂半径均呈增大趋势;随抗拉强度增大,岩体破裂度、破裂半径均减小。     

条带状铁建造:特征、成因及其对地球环境的制约

条带状铁建造(BIF)是由硅质和铁质组成的化学沉积岩,通常具有典型的薄层或薄板状构造。BIF不仅记录了丰富的岩石圈、大气圈、水圈和生物圈状态及演化的信息,而且与其相关的铁矿也是世界上最重要的铁矿资源类型。虽然对BIF的研究已取得了丰富的成果,近年来若干新颖的观点和重要的发现对进一步深入研究BIF成因提供了重要思考途径和研究线索。文章总结了BIF类型、矿物学和地球化学特征,分析了BIF形成条件及大规模缺失机理,阐述了BIF的形成和大气圈两次重大氧化事件(古元古代大氧化事件,2.4～2.1 Ga,新元古代氧化事件,0.8～0.55 Ga?)之间的关系,认为BIF与海底岩浆-热液活动具有密切的成因联系。最后,提出BIF的沉积和消亡与重大地质事件密切相关,这些重大地质事件也相互作用,共同制约着大气海洋环境演化、地球生物学和地球动力学过程。关于BIF精细成矿时代、条带/条纹形成的机制、重大地质事件对BIF形成的制约和BIF微生物成因等方面仍存在较多问题。随着大数据、精细成矿年代学、模拟实验、非传统稳定同位素(Fe、Cr、U、Mo和Cu同位素等)新技术方法的进步,及对现代洋底热液系统的深入认识,将有助于揭开BIF成因的神秘面纱。