U–Pb zircon geochronology of silicic tuffs from the Timber Mountain/Oasis Valley caldera complex, Nevada: rapid generation of large volume magmas by shallow-level remelting

Large volumes of silicic magma were produced on a very short timescale in the nested caldera complex of the SW Nevada volcanic field (SWNVF). Voluminous ash flows erupted in two paired events: Topopah Spring (TS, >1,200 km³, 12.8 Ma)–Tiva Canyon (TC, 1,000 km³, 12.7 Ma) and Rainier Mesa (RM, 1,200 km³, 11.6 Ma)–Ammonia Tanks (AT, 900 km³, 11.45 Ma; all cited ages are previously published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar sanidine ages). Within each pair, eruptions are separated by only 0.1–0.15 My and produced tuffs with contrasting isotopic values. These events represent nearly complete evacuation of sheet-like magma chambers formed in the extensional Basin and Range environment. We present ion microprobe ages from zircons in the zoned ash-flow sheets of TS, TC, RM, and AT in conjunction with δ¹⁸O values of zircons and other phenocrysts, which differ dramatically among subsequently erupted units. Bulk zircons in the low-δ¹⁸O AT cycle were earlier determined to exhibit ∼1.5‰ core-to-rim oxygen isotope zoning; and high-spatial resolution zircon analyses by ion microprobe reveal the presence of older grains that are zoned by 0.5–2.5‰. The following U–Pb isochron ages were calculated after correcting for the initial U–Pb disequilibria: AT (zircon rims: 11.7 ± 0.2 Ma; cores: 12.0 ± 0.1 Ma); pre-AT rhyolite lava: (12.0 ± 0.3 Ma); RM: 12.4 ± 0.3); TC: (13.2 ± 0.15 Ma); TS: (13.5 ± 0.2). Average zircon crystallization ages calculated from weighted regression or cumulative averaging are older than the Ar–Ar stratigraphy, but preserve the comparably short time gaps within each of two major eruption cycles (TS/TC, RM/AT). Notably, every sample yields average zircon ages that are 0.70–0.35 Ma older than the respective Ar–Ar eruption ages. The Th/U ratio of SWNVF zircons are 0.4–4.7, higher than typically found in igneous zircons, which correlates with elevated Th/U of the whole rocks (5–16). High Th/U could be explained if uranium was preferentially removed by hydrothermal solutions or is retained in the protolith during partial melting. For low-δ¹⁸O AT-cycle magmas, rim ages from unpolished zircons overlap within analytical uncertainties with the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar eruption age compared to core ages that are on average ∼0.2–0.3 My older than even the age of the preceding caldera forming eruption of RM tuff. This age difference, the core-to-rim oxygen isotope zoning in AT zircons, and disequilibrium quartz–zircon and melt-zircon isotopic fractionations suggest that AT magma recycled older zircons derived from the RM and older eruptive cycles. These results suggest that the low-δ¹⁸O AT magmas were generated by melting a hydrothermally-altered protolith from the same nested complex that erupted high-δ¹⁸O magmas of the RM cycle only 0.15 My prior to the eruption of the AT, the largest volume low-δ¹⁸O magma presently known.Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

西沙群岛新近纪白云岩形成条件的探讨：C、O同位素和流体包裹体证据

西沙群岛在下中新统上部、中—上中新统和上新统产三层白云岩、C、O 同位素测试结果表明,3层白云岩中,除第一层 X606号样品δ~(13)C 和δ~(18)O 为负值,分别为-1.71‰和-3.17‰外,其它样品δ~(13)C 和δ~(18)O 组成相似,均为正值,δ~(13)C 在0.80‰～3.16‰之间,平均为2.24‰;δ~(18)O 在0.56‰～5.23‰之间,平均为2.56‰。表明白云岩为准同生成因,与冰川事件引起的超浓缩海水有关。根据δ~(18)O 计算的海水盐度为34.52%～39.98%,平均为36.88%,温度为-8.80℃～14.89℃,平均为1.07℃。白云岩结构、矿物组成、包裹体类型和特征研究表明,白云石在后生成岩演化过程中,遭受埋藏成岩流体和热液流体的改造。根据包裹体测定,埋藏成岩流体盐度为2.07%～6.30%,平均为4.55%,温度为58.4℃～89.4℃,平均为72.8℃,密度为1.00～1.02g/cm~3,平均为1.01g/cm~3;热液流体盐度为0.53%～6.45%,平均为3.84%,温度为103.3℃～296℃,平均为155.6℃,密度为0.95～0.98g/cm~3,平均为0.96g/cm~3。测试结果表明,热液成分与地层水成分基本相同,大致与正常海水盐度相当或微咸。这说明岩浆作用主要为热液流体提供热量,并使地层水加热循环,而没有明显的物质成分供给。     

Magmatic changes during the stabilisation of a cordilleran fold belt: the Late Carboniferous–Triassic igneous history of eastern New South Wales, Australia

In a 60 Ma interval between the Late Carboniferous and the Late Permian, the magmatic arc associated with the cordilleran-type New England Fold Belt in northeast New South Wales shifted eastward and changed in trend from north–northwest to north. The eastern margin of the earlier (Devonian–Late Carboniferous) arc is marked by a sequence of calcalkaline lava flows, tuffs and coarse volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks preserved in the west of the Fold Belt. The younger arc (Late Permian–Triassic) is marked by I-type calcalkaline granitoids and comagmatic volcanic rocks emplaced mostly in the earlier forearc, but extending into the southern Sydney Basin, in the former backarc region. The growth of the younger arc was accompanied by widespread compressional deformation that stabilised the New England Fold Belt. During the transitional interval, two suites of S-type granitoids were emplaced, the Hillgrove Suite at about 305 Ma during an episode of compressive deformation and regional metamorphism, and the Bundarra Suite at about 280 Ma, during the later stages of an extensional episode. Isotopic and REE data indicate that both suites resulted from the partial melting of young silicic sedimentary rocks, probably part of the Carboniferous accretionary subduction complex, with heat supplied by the rise of asthenospheric material. Both mafic and silicic volcanic activity were widespread within and behind the Fold Belt from the onset of rifting (ca. 295 Ma) until the reestablishment of the arc. These volcanic rocks range in composition from MORB-like to calcalkaline and alkaline. The termination of the earlier arc, and the subsequent widespread and diverse igneous activity are considered to have resulted from the shallow breakoff of the downgoing plate, which allowed the rise of asthenosphere through a widening lithospheric gap. In this setting, division of the igneous rocks into pre-, syn-, and post-collisional groups is of limited value.     

吉林省大荒沟—板石沟早前寒武纪基底的岩石单元划分及其地质演化

根据１５万区域地质调查，将区内的早前寒武纪基底划分为变质上壳岩、中粗粒黑云长英片麻岩、变黑云母钾长花岗岩和变质基性岩四个岩石单元。通过对上述岩石单元岩石类型、地球化学特征、变质变形作用及同位素年代学研究，对其形成时序进行了讨论，由此确定了本区早前寒武纪基底的地质演化轮廓，即在中晚太古时期，本区经历了由玄武安山岩和英安岩双峰式火山建造为主体的上壳岩系的形成阶段，并于２．６Ｇａ遭受角闪岩相变质；随即伴有大规模的ＴＴＧ深成岩浆活动，晚太古末经历绿帘角闪岩相的区域变质作用；至早元古初期，深熔成因的钾质花岗岩侵位，区内已存的早期变质岩石受到该期钾质岩浆的交代改造，并在其成岩之后遭受绿片岩相的区域变质。     

冀西北水泉沟正长岩杂岩体的成因

水泉沟碱性正长岩杂岩体侵入于太古宇桑干群变质岩中，岩体主要由碱性长石正长岩、角闪碱长正长岩、正长岩、石英碱长正长岩等组成，属碱性岩系列，在岩石的石英颗粒中见有熔融包体的存在。岩石的稀土元素分布模式呈平滑的右倾模式，无明显的铕异常。岩石的Ｐｂ同位素组成为２０６Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ＝１６．４５７～１８．２８６、２０７Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ＝１５．２７０～１５．４７２、２０８Ｐｂ／２０４Ｐｂ＝３６．５３９～３７．３９３，石英的δ１８Ｏ值为８．０‰～８．５‰，（８７Ｓｒ／８６Ｓｒ）ｉ≈０．７０５，岩石的ｔＤＭ为１．６～１．９Ｇａ，εＮｄ（ｔ）为－７．４５～－１３．１，明显大于区域基底的εＮｄ（ｔ）值（－２０±）。以上结果表明，岩体为上地幔和下地壳物质部分熔融的产物。岩体角闪石３９Ａｒ－４０Ａｒ年龄３２７Ｍａ，为海西期岩浆作用的产物     

460铀矿床主要矿化期的同位素年龄

460矿床是我国北方中生代火山岩区近年来新发现的铀矿床。系统的同位素年龄测定结果表明,本矿床的铀矿化作用主要发生于两个时期:早期矿化(浸染状矿石)发生于88Ma前,而晚期矿化(脉状矿石)的年龄仅24Ma。由此确定本矿床系后成中低温热液铀矿床,成矿物质主要来源于基底岩石,经重熔的火山岩浆富集后提供成矿。     

产子坪铀矿床成因机制的同位素地质学研究

根据铀-铅同位素体系演化特征以及氧、硫同位素组成资料,提出本铀矿床的铀源是多源的,而主要铀源来自地层本身。成矿溶液是变质水和大气降水的混合体系。本矿床的成矿过程经历了成岩阶段的预富集,加里东褶皱变质时的初富集以及发生在75±4、43±7和22±2百万年时的多次铀矿化迭加再富集作用。这些作用过程与区域地质构造发展史有密切联系。因此,我们认为该矿床为多源、晚期多次迭加作用形成的层控铀矿床。     

一种新的 K-Ar定年方法：峰值比较法

K-Ar法定年技术经历了体积法和稀释法等不断趋于成熟，但对于年轻火山岩进行定年时，由于同位素质量分馏的影响，上述方法都具有不可克服的缺陷。随着质谱仪稳定度和精度的提高，直接建立氩同位素含量与峰强度之间的定量关系，从而不再使用稀释剂（ 38 Ar）成为可能，这就是 K-Ar定年的新方法：峰值比较法（或无稀释剂法）。该方法可以消除质量分馏作用带来的误差，对年轻火山岩定年具有重要意义。近代火山物质都含有初始氩，且有不同程度的质量分馏，其同位素比值落在质量分馏线上，这表明质量分馏作用影响 K-Ar定年的准确性，尤其是非常年轻的样品。通过精确测定样品的 38 Ar／ 36 Ar比值，可以准确扣除样品中的初始 40 Ar，从而得到放射成因 40 Ar含量。这种测量方法可以用于较老岩石、矿物样品的年龄测定，其结果与 K-Ar稀释法以及 40 Ar－ 39 Ar法相一致；更重要的是可以用于年轻样品的年龄测定，可以测 2～5ka的岩矿样品，对富钾矿物的测量误差小于 1ka；对老于 0．1Ma的样品，相对误差不大于 1．5％。介绍了峰值比较法的基本原理和测试过程，同时还讨论它的使用条件和定年范围。