A long‐lived metamorphic history in the contact aureole of the Mooselookmeguntic pluton revealed by in situ dating of monazite grains preserved as inclusions in staurolite porphyroblasts

Emplacement of the Mooselookmeguntic pluton, located in the western Maine region of the northern Appalachians, was thought to have occurred towards the end of the Acadian deformation at around 370 Ma. Crystallization ages from different parts of the pluton suggest a more sequential emplacement history over a period of c. 20 Myr. Foliation inflection/intersection axes (FIAs) within porphyroblasts from its aureole reveal at least five periods of garnet and staurolite growth. The orientation of FIAs in both garnet and staurolite porphyroblasts trend successively from ESE–WNW, NNW–SSE, E–W, ENE–WSW to NE–SW. Electron probe microanalysis dating of monazite grains included in staurolite porphyroblasts containing one of these five periods of FIA development reveals a succession of apparent ages from 410 Ma to 345 Ma. A similar spread of crystallization ages can be observed for plutons from Maine and adjacent regions. This succession indicates that deformation and metamorphism began well before and continued long after what is classically regarded as the Acadian orogeny. The thermal structure of the orogen progressively evolved to enable pluton emplacement, and it continued to develop afterwards with magmatic fluids still forming at depth.     

Significance of shallow core transects for reef models and sea‐level curves,Heron Reef,Great Barrier Reef

A sequence of shallow reef cores from Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, provides new insights into Holocene reef growth models. Isochron analysis of a leeward core transect suggests that the north‐western end of Heron Reef reached current sea‐level by ca 6·5 kyr bp and then prograded leeward at a rate of ca 19·6 m/kyr between 5·1 kyr and 4·1 kyr bp (pre‐1950) to the present reef margin. A single short core on the opposing margin of the reef is consistent with greater and more recent progradation there. Further to the east, one windward core reached modern sea‐level by ca 6·3 kyr bp , suggesting near ‘keep‐up’ behaviour at that location, but the opposing leeward margin behind the lagoon reached sea‐level much more recently. Hence, Heron Reef exhibited significantly different reef growth behaviour on different parts of the same margin. Mean reef accretion rates calculated from within 20 m of one another in the leeward core transect varied between ca 2·9 m and 4·7 m/kyr depending on relative position in the prograding wedge. These cores serve as a warning regarding the use of isolated cores to inform reef growth rates because apparent aggradation at any given location on a reef varies depending on its location relative to a prograding margin. Only transects of closely spaced cores can document reef behaviour adequately so as to inform reef growth models and sea‐level curves. The cores also emphasize potential problems in U‐series dates for corals within a shallow (ca 1·5 m) zone beneath the reef flat. Apparent age inversions restricted to that active diagenetic zone may reflect remobilization and concentration of Th in irregularly distributed microbialites or biofilms that were missed during sample vetting. Importantly, the Th‐containing contaminant causes ages to appear too old, rather than too young, as would be expected from younger cement.     

Direct dating of folding events by 40Ar/39Ar analysis of synkinematic muscovite from flexural-slip planes

Timing of folding is usually dated indirectly, with limited isotopic dating studies reported in the literature. The present study investigated the timing of intracontinental, multi-stage folding in Upper Proterozoic sandstone, limestone, and marble near Beijing, North China, and adjacent regions. Detailed field investigations with microstructural, backscattered electron (BSE) images and electron microprobe analyses indicate that authigenic muscovite and sericite crystallized parallel to stretching lineations/striations or along thin flexural-slip surfaces, both developed during the complex deformation history of the study area, involving repeated compressional, extensional and strike-slip episodes. Muscovite/sericite separates from interlayer-slip surfaces along the limbs and from dilatant sites in the hinges of folded sandstones yield muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of ∼158–159 Ma, whereas those from folded marble and limestone samples yield ages of 156 ± 1 Ma. Muscovite from thin flexural-slip planes on fold limbs and hinges yields ages within analytical error of ∼155–165 Ma. Further muscovite samples collected from extensionally folded limestone and strike-slip drag folds yield younger ages of 128–125 Ma with well-defined plateaus. To assess the potential influence of the detrital mica component of the host rock on the age data, two additional muscovite samples were investigated, one from a folded upper Proterozoic–Cambrian sandstone outside the Western Hills of Beijing and one from a folded sandstone sampled 20 cm from folding-related slip planes. Muscovite separates from these samples yield significantly older ages of 575 ± 2 Ma and 587 ± 2 Ma, suggesting that the timing of folding can be directly determined using the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method. This approach enables the identification and dating of distinct deformation events that occur during multi-stage regional folding. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating can be used to constrain the timing of muscovite and sericite growth at moderate to low temperatures (<400 °C) during folding, yielding well-defined plateau ages and thereby the age of deformation in the upper crust.     

内蒙古黄花滩铜镍矿区辉长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及地球化学特征

在乌拉特后旗—达茂旗—四子王旗一带的内蒙古中部地区分布着超基性-酸性连续岩浆系列,开展其岩体年代学、地球化学研究可为内蒙古中部地区与超基性-基性岩有关的铜镍矿成矿规律研究提供基础地质资料,还可以推断岩浆侵位时期的区域大地构造背景。本文以达茂旗黄花滩铜镍矿区出露的辉长岩为研究对象,采用LA-ICP-MS仪器对无裂隙、高透明度、阴极发光均匀、环带清晰的锆石进行U-Pb定年,获得岩体加权平均年龄为262.4±1.1 Ma,并利用XRF和ICP-MS进行岩石地球化学分析显示黄花滩辉长岩具有后碰撞拉伸环境下的岩浆特征。综合前人相关研究认为,内蒙古中部地区于中二叠世晚期(255~275 Ma)已经进入后碰撞构造阶段,而古亚洲洋在该区域的闭合应发生在晚二叠世前(~285 Ma),此结论丰富了古亚洲洋闭合时间上限及中晚二叠世期间内蒙古中部地区构造背景方面的证据。     

新疆西天山松湖铁矿床火山岩年代学和岩石地球化学

新疆西天山阿吾拉勒铁成矿带内众多铁矿床的围岩火山岩时代、岩石成因和构造背景迄今尚未得到很好地约束。文章对该铁成矿带内的松湖铁矿床围岩粗面英安岩和流纹岩进行了锆石LA_ICP_MS U_Pb测年和地球化学研究。粗面英安岩和流纹岩的锆石206Pb/238U加权平均年龄分别为(326.8±2.7)Ma和(327.3±1.7)Ma。粗面英安岩和流纹岩准铝质,均富集轻稀土元素、Rb、K、Zr、Hf,显示中等Eu负异常,亏损Ba、Sr、P、Ta、Nb和Ti。锆石饱和温度计算结果显示,粗面英安岩的母岩浆温度较高(774~812℃,平均792℃),流纹岩母岩浆的温度较低(713~790℃,平均750℃)。粗面英安岩具有非常低Sr高Yb的特征,Nb/Ta比值为10.8~11.4,具有较高的w(Th)(≥8.1×10-6)和高的Th/Ce比值(≥0.31);流纹岩具有低Sr低Yb特征,Nb/Ta比值为8.5~9.7,w(Th)(≥5.3×10-6)较高,Th/Ce比值为0.14~0.75,据此推测粗面英安岩母岩浆可能是上地壳部分熔融的产物,流纹岩母岩浆可能源于比粗面英安岩母岩浆更深的地壳的部分熔融。松湖铁矿区粗面英安岩和流纹岩具有弧火山岩的地球化学特征,结合构造环境判别图解和区域地质情况,推断其形成于大陆弧环境。     

广西油麻坡钨钼矿床成岩成矿年代学研究及其地质意义

广西博白_岑溪断裂带位于钦杭成矿带南段,既是一条长期活动的地体边界断裂带,也是一条岩浆活动频繁的W_Mo_Sn_Pb_Zn_Sb_Au_Ag多金属成矿带。文章以该带中的广西博白县油麻坡矽卡岩型钨钼矿床为研究对象,在详细的岩性鉴别和划分的基础上,对矿区内花岗岩类进行了单颗粒锆石LA_ICP_MS锆石U_Pb测年,获得深灰色花岗斑岩的等时线年龄为(479.7±3.9)Ma,灰色黑云母花岗闪长岩为(109.7±1.1)Ma,浅灰色细粒白云母花岗岩为(103.3±1.2)Ma。辉钼矿Re_Os测年获得加权平均年龄为(97.4±1.9)Ma。由此可见,油麻坡岩体为一个复式岩体,由早奥陶世(加里东期)的花岗斑岩和早白垩世(燕山晚期)的黑云母花岗闪长岩和细粒白云母花岗岩组成,其中,黑云母花岗闪长岩构成油麻坡岩体的主体。钨钼矿形成于早白垩世晚期(即燕山晚期),与黑云母花岗闪长岩和白云母花岗岩密切相关。这些高精度测年数据的获得,进一步表明博白断裂带是一条长期活动的断裂,其在加里东期已经活动,并伴有岩浆岩的侵位。燕山晚期,该断裂重新复活,并导致大量的岩浆活动和一定强度的W_Mo_Sn_Pb_Zn_Sb_Au_Ag成矿作用,形成由多个大_中型矿床组成的多金属成矿带。博白_岑溪成矿带属于华南100~80 Ma大规模成矿的一部分,成矿背景与华南地区白垩纪的地壳伸展、钦杭成矿带的再次裂陷有关。     

内蒙古火龙沟铅锌矿床成矿岩体年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

内蒙古火龙沟铅锌矿床是近期勘查发现、预期可达中型规模以上的铅锌矿床之一,笔者对该矿区的侵入岩——正长花岗岩进行了LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U_Pb定年和主量、微量元素分析,锆石U_Pb定年结果为(224.0±2.5)Ma,表明,该岩体侵位于晚三叠世。岩石地球化学研究结果显示火龙沟正长花岗岩体具有明显富Si O2和ALK、贫Mg O和TFe的特点,A/NK-A/CNK图解显示正长花岗岩属于准铝质花岗岩。微量元素蛛网图显示富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、U、K,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti。稀土元素配分模式表现出富集LREE,亏损HREE的右倾型,LREE/HREE=8.04~10.40,具有明显Eu的负异常。花岗岩锆饱和温度计算结果表明该花岗岩岩浆形成温度为820℃,属于高温花岗岩,以上地球化学特征和高温的特点表明该花岗岩为A型花岗岩。结合区域构造演化历史,笔者认为该花岗岩体形成于古亚洲洋闭合后的造山后垮塌岩石圈伸展构造环境。     

阿尔泰小土尔根铜矿区岩体LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及地质意义

小土尔根是近年来阿尔泰诺尔特盆地发现的首例斑岩铜矿床,其成岩成矿年代学的研究可以对矿床模型构建、区域成矿规律的总结提供制约。矿区侵入岩发育,矿化受花岗闪长斑岩控制,少部分赋存在地层中。文章利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年法对矿区岩体进行了成岩年代学研究。含矿花岗闪长斑岩、黑云二长花岗岩和花岗斑岩中锆石的206Pb/238U年龄的加权平均值分别为(401.0±2.9)Ma、(398.1±2.2)Ma和(400.5±2.0)Ma,为早泥盆世同一岩浆侵入活动形成的不同侵入岩。侵入岩年龄结合凝灰岩年龄,将矿区地层划归早泥盆世诺尔特组。含矿花岗闪长斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄限定小土尔根斑岩铜矿床成矿时代略晚于401 Ma,即矿床形成于早泥盆世。     

上扬子会泽地区早三叠世飞仙关组砂岩物源特征:来自重矿物铬尖晶石和碎屑锆石的限定

上扬子会泽地区早三叠世飞仙关组主要为河流相的紫红色砂岩,物源主要来自于西部和西北部。碎屑重矿物组合表明物源主要来自于岩浆岩,且重矿物中发现大量碎屑铬尖晶石和锆石。本文运用电子探针微区成分分析和碎屑锆石U-Pb测年方法,对上扬子早三叠世飞仙关组砂岩中铬尖晶石和碎屑锆石进行分析。铬尖晶石电子探针化学成分分析显示,其具有高铬、低Fe~(3+)和高TiO_2含量的特征,源岩分析指示这些铬尖晶石来源于与洋岛/板内、岛弧以及大火成岩省相关的火成岩。同时,碎屑锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄测定表明,飞仙关组的物源主要来自于248~272Ma和715~997Ma的岩浆岩。铬尖晶石和碎屑锆石综合分析表明,248~272Ma的物源岩石具有大火成岩省玄武岩特征,主要为峨眉山玄武岩及同期基性侵入岩;715~997M的物源为洋岛/板内玄武岩类,主要为研究区周缘与新元古代苏雄组及其同期的岩浆岩;铬尖晶石指示的岛弧性质物源则可能源自1000~1100Ma的岩浆岩。同时,碎屑锆石还指示古元古代和早寒武世发育岩浆作用,且存在古老的新太古代结晶基底。这些资料为上扬子地区构造演化提供了沉积学的证据。     

断代成矿单元研究划分 ----以陕西省成矿单元划分为例

随着地质找矿难度的日益加大,如何科学地圈定找矿靶区,已成为新时期矿产勘查部署及实现找矿突破的关键。成矿单元划分是区域成矿规律研究的基础性工作,在圈定找矿靶区、部署矿产勘查工作中起着重要作用。目前国内成矿单元划分的主要方法是以区域内成矿作用最强、矿床最多的构造旋回所形成的地质构造单元为基础,同时考虑其它构造旋回形成的矿床分布状况而进行成矿单元划分,即采用综合方法划分成矿单元（陈毓川等,2007.徐志刚等,2008.）。对于仅发育单一构造演化阶段或多数矿床形成于某一主要构造阶段的区域而言,上述划分思路和方案基本反映了成矿地质背景及矿产分布规律。但对于发育多个构造演化阶段或多旋回造山带的区域（如陕西省）而言,其矿产众多且形成于多个构造演化阶段,综合方法所划分的成矿区带则较难客观、清晰地反映其成矿背景及矿产分布规律。陕西省多年来的矿产勘查实践表明,成矿单元的划分应从本省多旋回构造演化、多阶段成矿作用的实际出发开展断代成矿单元划分,从而清晰地反映各构造演化阶段的成矿特征及矿床分布规律,以满足新时期地质找矿工作的需求。