The P–T–deformation path for a mid-Proterozoic, low-pressure terrane: the Reynolds Range, central Australia

Abstract The Proterozoic low-pressure, high-temperature (LPHT) terrane of the Reynolds Range occurs in a 130-km-long, NW-trending belt in the central part of the Arunta Block, central Australia. The Reynolds Range has been affected by two mid-Proterozoic tectonic cycles, DI and DII, associated with two metamorphic events, MI and MII. DI–MI effects are restricted to the older of two sedimentary successions, the Lander Rock beds, which are separated from the younger Reynolds Range Group by an angular unconformity. The dominant structural–metamorphic features formed during DII–MII affected both sedimentary successions and the various granites that intruded them, and reworked most DI–MI effects. The DII deformation history can be subdivided into one prograde, two peak, and one retrograde stage. Average P–T calculations in the southeastern half of the range indicate a peak-metamorphic pressure of 4.1 ± 0.3 kbar. Because the calculated values are derived from the same stratigraphic level corresponding to the base of the Reynolds Range Group, which is exposed throughout the area, it is likely that pressures were similar in the entire range. In fact, however, the peak-metamorphic temperature shows a dramatic increase from greenschist facies (c. 400° C) in the northwest to granulite facies (740 ± 60° C) in the southeast, indicating that MII was associated with anomalously high heat flows. The P–T path is anticlockwise, with isobaric cooling from the metamorphic peak indicated by corona textures. However, the evidence of a prograde increase in pressure is indirect and based on the compressional nature of the structures. Peak-metamorphic mineral assemblages and retrograde mineral assemblages in amphibolite facies shear zones show the same metamorphic zonation, suggesting they formed in response to the same thermal event. If this is true, the implication is that a thermal perturbation external to the crust was maintained for a considerable period of time (110 Ma, based on zircon dating). As it is not clear whether Proterozoic, asthenosphere-active, thermal perturbations operated for this long, the alternative interpretation must be considered, namely that the peak-metamorphic events are separate from the shear zone event associated with reheating of the area.     

Carlin-type Gold Prospects in Surigao del Norte, Mindanao Island, Philippines: Their Geology and Mineralization Potential

Abstract. Three calcareous sedimentary rock-hosted Carlin type-like gold prospects were mapped in a mineral production sharing agreement area of Philex Gold Philippines Inc. in Taganaan municipality, Surigao del Norte province in Mindanao island in the Philippines. They occur along a 20–25 km long trend of known epigenetic gold and porphyry copper deposits that lie close to several splays of the Philippine Fault Zone. The gold district forms part of the Late Cretaceous Eastern Mindanao Range that hosts early Paleogene and late Pliocene to Quaternary intrusive rocks.
Gold is invisible in the jasperoid outcrops in Lascogon, Napo, and Danao prospects. The jasperoids occur in lenses of marls belonging to the Taganaan Marl Member that is associated to a turbiditic member of the Middle Miocene Mabuhay Formation. The marl lenses include gently dipping interbedded silty limestones and calcareous shales. The "invisible gold" mineralization in silicified calcareous rocks resembles Carlin-type deposits. Based on the mapped igneous and sedimentary rocks, a possible heat source for the gold mineralization is either or both of the two main phases of intrusion, Mabuhay An-desite or Alipao Andesite Porphyry. Forty-eight rock samples, fifteen stream sediment samples, and one soil sample were critical in delineating the general features of the potential Carlin-type prospects. The gold grades of jasperoids in the three prospects range from trace amounts to 20 g/t Au. Regional studies of gold and porphyry copper mineralization in the Surigao del Norte mineral district are important in delineating ore targets for drilling in the three prospects.     

Folding by cataclastic flow: evolution of controlling factors during deformation

Folding at upper crustal levels occurs by bending of beds and flexural slip between beds. As a fold's interlimb angle decreases, changes in bed thickness and limb rotation are accommodated by various mechanisms, depending on deformation conditions. In the elastico-frictional (EF) regime, cataclastic flow may be the dominant mechanism for fold tightening. The Canyon Range (CR) syncline, located in the Sevier belt of central Utah, shows this type of deformation. The fold involves three thick quartzite units, with slight lithological variations between them. Fold tightening took place in the EF regime (<2 km overburden) by cataclastic flow, involving collective movement on a distributed network of fractures and deformation zones (DZs) from the micro- to the outcrop-scale. In detail, the degree of cataclastic deformation varies significantly across the fold due to minor variations in initial bedding thickness, grain size, matrix composition, etc. A cooperative relationship exists across different scales, and the fracture networks result in a fracture shape fabric that is relatively homogeneous at the outcrop-scale.The initial outcrop scale fracture/DZ network geometry is a product of the growth and linking of micro-scale cataclasite zones, which in turn is controlled by primary lithological variations. Once a fracture network forms, the material behavior of the fractured rock is unlike that of the original rock, with sliding of fracture-bound blocks accomplishing ‘block-controlled’ cataclastic flow. Thus, initial lithological variations at the micro-scale largely control the final deformation behavior at the largest scale. During progressive fold tightening, additional factors regulate cataclastic flow, such as fracture/DZ reactivation or healing, during folding. Although initial lithological variations in different units may produce unique network geometries, each unit's behavior may also depend upon the behavior of adjacent units. In the CR syncline, during the initial stages of cataclastic flow, the inherent nature of each quartzite unit results in unit-specific fracture network geometries. As deformation progresses, unit-specific networks begin to interact with those in surrounding units, resulting in feedback mechanisms regulating the later stages of network development. Thus, the nature of cataclastic flow changes dramatically from the initial to the final stages of folding.     

Seasonal changes in pasture biomass, production and offtake under the transhumance system in northern Pakistan

An understanding of seasonal changes in pasture biomass, production and offtake of different range types is fundamentally important for the efficient management of livestock grazing. However, few studies have quantified these changes for transhumance systems, despite the fact that transhumance is still the main form of livestock management in several regions of the world and is often critical for the livelihoods of the people. One such area is the Northern Areas of Pakistan, where six villages and their pastures were selected for study. Pastures were categorized within foothill, dry temperate and alpine range types, and seasonal biomass, production and offtake of the vegetation was estimated by clipping paired caged and uncaged quadrats. The alpine range type had by far the highest biomass and offtake; the foothill and dry temperate range types were much more sparsely vegetated. Although alpine pastures were heavily used, particularly in spring, there was no evidence for consistent over-utilization of pasture resources. Within the dry temperate range type, production was highest during spring but significantly under-used. This indicates a potential for increased use of dry temperate pastures during spring, an important period both for early recovery of livestock body condition after winter and to reduce the heavy pressure on the alpine pastures at this time.     

Stratigraphy of peat bog in the Gorobets River valley and development of natural environments of Shikotan Island (Lesser Kurile Ridge) in the Holocene

The stratigraphic subdivision of peat in the Gorobets River valley, the largest river on Shikotan Island, is conducted based on the study of palynological and diatom assemblages, tephrostratigraphy, and radiocarbon dating. The study object is one of the oldest peats in the South Kurile region and reflects the development of natural environments beginning from the early Holocene. Nine phases are distinguished in the development of vegetation on Shikotan Island. The changes in vegetable communities were determined by climatic fluctuations during the Holocene. Their ages, the factors responsible for the appearance and extinction of particular coniferous, small-, and broad-leaved taxa, and changes in their landscape-forming role during different periods of the Holocene, as well as specific features in the formation of the present-day vegetation on the Lesser Kurile Ridge representing a separate floral area, are established. In addition to the climatic and sea-level fluctuations, the development of the island landscapes was determined to a significant extent by its topography, size, and isolation.     

Drainage response to Arabia–Eurasia collision: Insights from provenance examination of the Cyprian Kythrea flysch (Eastern Mediterranean Basin)

The Cenozoic geodynamics of the north‐eastern Mediterranean Basin have been dominated by the subduction of the African Plate under Eurasia. A trench‐parallel crustal‐scale thrust system (Misis–Kyrenia Thrust System) dissects the southern margin of the overriding plate and forms the structural grain and surface expression of northern Cyprus. Late Eocene to Miocene flysch of the Kythrea (De?irmenlik) Group is exposed throughout northern Cyprus, both at the hanging‐wall and foot‐wall of the thrust system, permitting access to an extensive Cenozoic sedimentary record of the basin. We report the results of a combined examination of detrital zircon and rutile U–Pb geochronology (572 concordant ages), coupled with Th/U ratios, Hf isotopic data and quantitative assessment of grain morphology of detrital zircon from four formations (5 samples) from the Kythrea flysch. These data provide a line of independent evidence for the existence of two different sediment transportation systems that discharged detritus into the basin between the late Eocene and late Miocene. Unique characteristics of each transport system are defined and a sediment unmixing calculation is demonstrated and explained. The first system transported almost exclusively North Gondwana‐type, Precambrian‐aged detrital zircon sourced from siliciclastic rock units in southern Anatolia. A different drainage system is revealed by the middle to late Miocene flysch sequence that is dominated by Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic‐aged detrital zircon, whose age range is consistent with the magmatic episodicity of southeast Anatolia, along the Arabia–Eurasia suture zone. Deposition of these late Miocene strata took place thereupon closure of the Tethyan Seaway and African–Eurasian faunal exchange, and overlap in time with a pronounced uplift of eastern Anatolia. Our analytical data indicate the onset of prominent suture‐parallel sediment transport from the collision zone of south‐eastern Anatolia into the Kyrenia Range of northern Cyprus, marking the drainage response to the continental collision between Arabia and Eurasia.     

我国花岗岩中自然镍的发现及其意义

本文报道的自然镍产于河北燕山南段一个钠质花岗岩小岩株中。自然镍的化学成分含Ni99.82%;等轴晶系,a=3.528±0.007A,空间群为Fm3m;反射率(%):55.3(480mμ),62.9(546mμ),62.1(589mμ),64.4(640mμ)。这一自然镍的发现可能表明在该花岗岩形成过程中有地幔物质的参加。     

U–Pb LA-ICP-MS geochronology of detrital zircon grains from low-grade metasedimentary rocks (Neoproterozoic – Cambrian) of the Mojotoro Range,northwest Argentina

The first results of U–Pb detrital zircons were obtained in three lithostratigraphic units of the Puncoviscana Complex in NW Argentina: Chachapoyas, Alto de la Sierra and Guachos Formations. The Chachapoyas Formation has a maximum sedimentation age of 569 Ma and a minimum age of 533 Ma, based on the U–Pb age of an intrusive porphyry granitic. The Alto de la Sierra Formation, composed by sandstones and volcaniclastic rocks, has a maximum age of 543 Ma. A maximum age of 517 Ma is here reported for the deposition of the Guachos Formation, the youngest unit. The contact between the Chachapoyas and Guachos formations is by a tectonic relation, and it's probably coincident with a stratigraphic unconformity between them (unconformity Tilcara I). The Lizoite Formation is overlying by an unconformity (Tilcara II unconformity) the Puncoviscana Complex, and represents the basal unit of the Mesón Group. The provenance zircon data for that formation indicate a maximum depositional age of 513 Ma.     

大兴安岭北部诺敏河地幔金云母及钾质地幔熔体研究

在大兴安岭北部诺敏河第四纪钾质火山岩携带的地幔捕虏体中,发现少量金云母矿物和富钾地幔熔体。金云母颗粒大小1~5mm,呈网脉状充填在橄榄石和辉石、石榴子石等地幔矿物间隙。电子探针研究表明地幔橄榄石、单斜辉石、斜方辉石和石榴石等矿物几乎不含钾质成分(K2O0.01%),而金云母矿物成分具有高钾(K2O~10%)、高钛(Ti O25.41%~7.74%)的特点,暗示区域地幔钾的富集与金云母矿物有密切关系。地幔金云母的成因往往与富钾地幔流体/熔体的交代作用有关,在地幔捕虏体矿物反应边的硅酸盐熔体(囊体)中,发现富硅、富钾的熔体,K2O 4%~8%。结合前人地幔熔体研究,认为区域地幔经历了多期、不同成分地幔熔体的富集作用,其中富钾熔体对地幔钾质成分的富集起到重要作用。诺敏钾质火山正是富钾地幔部分熔融的产物,钾质熔体成分的来源可能与俯冲再循环的壳源物质有关。     

岩基后成矿作用:来自小兴安岭鹿鸣超大型钼矿的证据

小兴安岭鹿鸣钼矿是新近发现的斑岩型超大型钼矿.尽管近年有一些新年龄和新资料发表,但是关于矿区的成岩、成矿事件的时代和成因仍有很大争议.本文采用LA ICP-MS锆石U-Pb、辉钼矿Re-Os以及黑云母⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar等测年方法分别对矿区的花岗斑岩、辉钼矿、以及二长花岗岩(下文称鹿鸣花岗岩)中的黑云母开展年代学研究.结果显示矿区花岗斑岩形成于174.0±2Ma(MSWD=3.2);辉钼矿等时线年龄为177.8±2.3Ma(MSWD=0.078),辉钼矿模式年龄加权平均值为177.5±1.2Ma(MSWD=0.058).黑云母⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar 900~1400℃坪年龄为175.9±1.1Ma,表明鹿鸣花岗岩形成于约176Ma(之前).因此结合野外、岩相学、前人结果等,认为鹿鸣花岗岩岩基成岩在前(>176Ma),花岗斑岩成岩在后(约174Ma左右),成矿应当在花岗斑岩成岩近同时或稍后,为早侏罗世末期.花岗斑岩含有浸染状硫化物,表明花岗斑岩体是致矿侵入体,鹿鸣(二长)花岗岩岩基仅仅是钼矿的围岩.岩石地球化学特征,尤其是MgO含量较高,高Sr低Y等特征,以及构造环境判别显示鹿鸣花岗岩岩基和花岗斑岩形成于与俯冲有关的火山弧环境.在早侏罗世早-中期,该区在北部蒙古-鄂霍茨克海和东部的饶河、伊佐那崎洋联合汇聚下形成俯冲带之上的加厚地壳,此时与地幔楔发生过反应的幔源岩浆底侵产生广泛的壳幔相互作用,形成鹿鸣花岗岩的岩基.随后加厚下地壳拆沉导致鹿鸣花岗岩岩基快速隆升,在地壳浅部,与来自于深部的花岗斑岩岩浆(+钼矿和深部流体)相遇,后者侵入到鹿鸣花岗岩岩基中,形成了斑岩及辉钼矿矿床.据此,提出鹿鸣钼矿属于岩基后成矿作用的产物.