Textural development in sulfide-matrix ore breccias in the Voisey's Bay Ni-Cu-Co deposit,Labrador, Canada

Magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide ores at Voisey’s Bay contain complex assemblages of extremely heterogeneous rocks. These range from polymict breccias, with rock fragments in sulfide-rich and/or sulfide-poor matrices, to heterogeneous “vari-textured” gabbros with rapid short range variations in grain size and content of hydrous phases. Rock fragment populations in the breccias include endogenous olivine gabbros (cumulate and non-cumulate) and cumulate peridotites along with extensively depleted plagioclase-hercynite gneisses interpreted as restites from extensive partial melting of country rock quartzo-feldspathic paragneisses. Using a combination of desk-top microbeam XRF mapping at cm scale and 3D X-ray tomography, we show that both sulfide-poor and sulfide-rich breccias comprise heterolithic assemblages of clasts within a matrix of olivine gabbro. This matrix is characterised by an interconnected 3D framework of plagioclase crystals, highly variable in grain size at mm to cm scale, with interstitial olivine and poikilitic clinopyroxene, and is texturally indistinguishable from clast-free olivine gabbro. Sulfide forms interconnected networks at cm to dm scale and possibly larger. Much of the plagioclase developed by outgrowth from the margins of paragneiss xenoliths when the porosity was occupied by silicate melt. The observed range of textures is explained by a model of percolation of molten sulfide through variably crystalline inter-clast matrix, displacing the silicate melt to leave the refractory plagioclase-olivine or in some cases plagioclase-only component, now entirely within a sulfide matrix. The process is analogous to that believed to have formed interspinifex ore in komatiite-hosted deposits. Biotite rims on plagioclase enclosed in sulfide are interpreted as the result of reaction between plagioclase, olivine and a hydrous component derived from the sulfide melt itself, with a possible component of migrating residual silicate melt wicking along sulfide-silicate contacts. This sulfide infiltration model offers an alternative to the current model for upward emplacement of a slurry of silicate melt, sulfide melt and breccia fragments as a late stage injection into the dyke-sill complex. The preserved range of textures is interpreted as being due to gravity-driven percolation of sulfide liquid through a pre-existing partially molten intrusion breccia. In this model, the breccia serves as a physical trap site, accumulating downward migrating sulfide liquid. However, the invariable close mutual association of sulfide and rock fragments at Voisey’s Bay implies a common derivation.     

Geochronology,petrology and geochemistry of the Beiligaimiao magmatic sulfide deposit in a Paleozoic active continental margin,North China

The Beiligaimiao magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposit is located in the northern rim of the North China Block, which was an active continental margin related to the southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic plate to the north in the Paleozoic. This deposit has never been studied before but is an excellent example of sulfide mineralization in arc settings that have been commonly overlooked by exploration geologists worldwide. Sulfide mineralization in the deposit is hosted in a mafic-ultramafic complex that consists of a small ultramafic body surrounded by an older and much larger gabbroic intrusion. Disseminated sulfide zones are present in both intrusive bodies but only those close to the surface within the ultramafic body have been mined in the past. The sulfide-mineralized ultramafic body is composed of olivine websterite and orthopyroxenite with a gradational contact between them. SIMS U-Pb dating of zircon crystals from a large olivine websterite sample yields a crystallization age of 269.4 ± 2.1 Ma, which is ∼25 Ma younger than the Erbutu subduction-related magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposit that occurs ∼50 km to the north. Orthopyroxene crystals in the Beiligaimiao ultramafic rocks have Mg^# [100 Mg/(Mg + Fe), molar] of 77–78, significantly lower than those in the ultramafic rocks of the Erbutu deposit. Olivine crystals in the Beiligaimiao ultramafic rocks have forsterite (Fo) contents from 72 to 75 mol%, which are also significantly lower than those in the ultramafic rocks of the Erbutu deposit (Fo, 86–88 mol%). The mineral chemical data indicate a more fractionated parental magma for the former. Ca-depletion in olivine (i.e., <1000 ppm Ca), which is common for ultramafic cumulates in arc settings worldwide, is present in both deposits. Like Erbutu, the host rocks of the Beiligaimiao deposit are characterized by enrichments in light rare earth elements (REE) relative to heavy REE and pronounced negative Nb-Ta anomalies, consistent with ultramafic rocks in arc settings. The δ³⁴S values of sulfide separates from the Beiligaimiao deposit are 1.7 to 2.5‰, significantly lower than those for the Erbutu deposit but still slightly higher than the MORB value (−1.5 to 0.5‰). Olivine websterites in the Beiligaimiao deposit have ε_Nd from −8.9 to −9.5 and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i close to 0.7075, which are similar to those of an enriched lithospheric mantle. An orthopyroxenite sample from the deposit has much lower ε_Nd (−12.6) coupled with much higher (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratio (0.7132), indicating ∼25% crustal contamination. The Sr-Nd-S isotope data support the premise that both crustal contamination and addition of crustal sulfur played a role in triggering sulfur saturation in the parental magma of the Beiligaimiao deposit. Since the immediate country rocks are exclusively gabbros, these processes likely took place at depth. The close temporal and spatial association of the Beiligaimiao and Erbutu deposits points to the possibility that more Permian arc-type magmatic sulfide deposits are yet to be discovered in the region.     

西藏甲玛铜多金属矿床暗色包体岩石成因:对岩浆混合和成矿的启示

岩浆混合作用的研究对揭示壳幔相互作用,探讨成岩成矿过程具有重要意义。甲玛矿区位于冈底斯成矿带东段,为超大型斑岩-矽卡岩型铜多金属矿床,矿区内的中酸性岩浆岩中普遍发育暗色包体,对其中的暗色包体中的闪长质包体开展详细的岩相学、岩石地球化学、Hf同位素地球化学及U-Pb同位素地质年代学等方面研究以期查明岩石成因,为岩浆混合作用和成矿作出启示,完善甲玛成岩成矿模型。岩相学观察表明,闪长质包体及寄主岩浆岩中存在多种反映岩浆混合作用的典型组构,如长石-石英熔蚀结构、石英镶边结构、长石交代筛状结构、长石反环带结构、磷灰石针柱状结构等,锆石LA-ICP-MS UPb同位素定年结果显示,包体形成时代(15. 3±0. 3Ma)与中酸性寄主岩石在误差范围内一致,也符合了岩浆混合作用的存在。闪长质包体化学成分上类似高Mg埃达克岩(MgO=3. 53%～6. 62%,Sr/Y=20～57,(La/Yb)N=51～64),具有低SiO_2(52. 44%～59. 45%),高K_2O(3. 19%～5. 62%),高相容元素(Ni=86×10~(-6)～146×10~(-6); Cr=102×10~(-6)～228×10~(-6))的特征,∑REE高于中酸性寄主岩浆岩,且轻重稀土分异明显((LREE/HREE)N=21～23),富集LILE(Rb=189×10~(-6)～284×10~(-6),Sr=498×10~(-6)～658×10~(-6),Ba=1247×10~(-6)～1378×10~(-6)),相对亏损HFSE(Nb、Ta、Ti),在稀土元素配分图及微量元素蛛网图中闪长质包体介于冈底斯带碰撞后时期的超钾镁铁质岩(来源于富集的岩石圈地幔)与甲玛中酸性寄主岩浆岩(主要来源于加厚新生下地壳)之间,Hf同位素(ε_(Hf)(t)=-0. 9～4. 6)同样也介于超钾镁铁质岩与花岗闪长斑岩(代表中酸性寄主岩浆)之间。这些特征说明闪长质包体是富集的岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成的镁铁质岩浆与加厚新生下地壳部分熔融形成的中酸性岩浆发生混合的产物,同时指示了东冈底斯带中新世时期也存在岩石圈地幔伸展对流减薄事件,以及证实了南拉萨地体广泛分布的高钾埃达克质岩在形成过程中,伴随着与富集岩石圈地幔来源的超钾镁铁质岩浆发生不同程度混合。此外,富集的岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成的镁铁质岩浆的混入,将会为中酸性岩浆系统加入大量的水和金属物质,这也是控制甲玛超大型斑岩-矽卡岩型矿床形成的关键因素。     

小秦岭金矿区花岗岩磷灰石-锆石对岩浆氧逸度的约束

小秦岭金矿区华山和文峪花岗岩体形成年龄与金成矿年龄相近,已知金矿多集中在文峪岩体周围,比较两岩体岩浆氧逸度的异同有利于判断其对金成矿影响的异同。本文利用两岩体磷灰石中锰离子价态和锆石钛含量,对岩浆的氧逸度进行了约束。计算表明,华山岩体成岩氧逸度lgf(O2)在-9.3^-5.1之间,而文峪岩体成岩氧逸度在-8.5^-6.1之间,均属大于HM缓冲线的高氧逸度环境。Au在还原状态易呈自然金而沉淀,氧化状态时易以Au+或Au3+迁移。故华山和文峪岩体的岩浆都不能对金形成地球化学障而使之分散。     

Re—Os同位素体系及其在岩浆Cu—Ni—PGE矿床研究中的应用

Ｒｅ－Ｏｓ同位素由于其较高的半衰期特点，近年来国外广泛就于前寒武纪含Ｃｕ－Ｎｉ－ＰＧＥ镁铁－超镁铁岩成岩年，结合其他地球化学数据，对壳幔岩浆源及作用进行解释研究。特别是由于Ｏｓ 是６个ＰＧＥ的其中之一，而多用于岩浆Ｃｕ－Ｎｉ－ＰＧＥ矿床贵金属来源的判别。     

On the relationship between auriferous talc deposits hosted in volcanic rocks and massive sulphide deposits in Egypt

The volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposits in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (e.g., Um Saki deposit) are associated with Precambrian coarse acid pyroclastic rocks. The upper contacts of the massive sulphide body are sharp and well-defined; while the keel zone to the mineralization is always associated with pervasive alteration, characterized by the presence of septechlorite and talc, associated with variable amounts of carbonate and tremolite. On the other hand, the economic talc deposits in Egypt are hosted intensively altered volcanic rocks. Besides talc, chlorite, carbonates and tremolite that occur in variable amounts in these deposits, anomalously high concentrations of gold are also present.The present study showed that alterations in the talc deposits of Darhib, El Atshan, Abu Gurdi, Egat, Um Selimat and Nikhira are similar to those occurring in the keel zone underlying the VHMS of Um Samuki and that the chemical modifications due to alteration processes (additions of Mg, Fe, Mn and Ca coupled with depletions in silica, alkalies, alumina and titanium) are comparable, even the host rocks are different, thus reflecting a genetic relationship. It is suggested that, the examined localities of talc deposits are hosted in the intensively altered volcanics in the keel zones of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. Recently, detailed geophysical prospecting program, including electric (resistivity, self-potential and induced polarization), electromagnetic and magnetic methods, was carried out at Darhib, Abu Gurdi and Um Selimat talc deposits. The quantitative interpretation of these geophysical measurements revealed the presence of subsurface bodies of sulphides. The present distribution of talc and allied minerals in Darhib, El Atshan, Abu Gurdi, Egat, Um Selimat and Nikhira could be explained by a tectonic process in which the coarse acid pyroclastic rocks with massive sulphides have tilted in such way that the footwall rock alterations (talc and allied minerals) are exposed on the present-day surface at these localities. Structural studies are currently under way in an attempt to explain the deformation regime that led to the present situation of talc deposits.Two distinct spatial and mineralogical associations of gold mineralization could be identified in the volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits and their footwall alterations (the keel zone) in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. These are (1) gold–silver–zinc association, and (2) gold–copper association. In the former, gold grades are very low and silver is anomalous. This association occurs typically in the upper levels of the VHMS deposit where low-temperature sulphides are abundant. Gold was deposited because of the mixing between the ascending hot solutions and the sulphate-rich seawater. The upper levels of Um Samuki sulphide body represent this association. Gold–copper association, on the other hand, typically occurs in the footwall altered rocks (the keel zone) and the lowest parts of the massive sulphide body. Gold grades reach up to 5.54 ppm, but the average is 1 ppm. Silver is very low, usually in the range of 4–10 ppm. Lead usually, but not always, accompanies gold in this association. Deposition of gold probably took place due to decreasing of temperature and/or increasing pH of the ascending hot brines. The keel zones at Darhib, Abu Gurdi, El Atshan, Um Selimat, Nikhira and Egat talc mines better represent this association.     

通渭—武都隐伏深大断裂构造的一些基本特征

通渭—武都隐伏深大断裂为一近南北走向、隐伏的深部构造带 ,断面西倾 ,倾角约 6 0°～ 80° ,为高角度压性断裂。该断裂带发生于华力西期前 ,活跃于印支—燕山期 ,现仍处在活动期。断裂带两侧莫霍面深度、重磁场特征明显不同 ,带内岩浆活动强烈 ,是一重要的近南北向成矿带 ,也是一个现代活动带。     

Modelling of the thermal history of metamorphic zoning in the Connemara region (western Ireland)

The Connemara region of the Irish Caledonides is a classic example of regional-scale metamorphism of low pressure and high temperature. This terrane is considered as part of a fold belt comprising metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks that are correlated with the Neoproterozoic–Lower Paleozoic Dalradian Supergroup of Scotland. In mid-Ordovician time, the extensive and high-temperature metamorphism was superimposed on the Dalradian rocks resulting in the Connemara zoning. The key feature of the zoning is elevated horizontal thermal gradient of ca. 14 °C/km. Geological data and geochronological evidence point to a causative link between metamorphism and associated magmatic intrusions, and a brief period of development for the metamorphic zoning. Magmatic intrusion into the middle part of continental crust is treated as a most plausible source of heat for metamorphism, and other conjectures as to the origin of the zoning (flow of hot fluid through the permeable rocks, fracture conduit flushed by flowing magma) are believed to be improbable. To examine in sufficient detail the problem of the nature of heat source, a series of appropriate calculations have been performed to reach the best agreement between the observed and simulated spatial distribution of maximum temperatures at different times. The mathematical modelling shows that the temperature–spatial structure of the Connemara zoning is best explained by the model version based on mid-crustal heating above the upper contact of magmatic intrusive body gently curved and tilted at an angle between 20° and 40°, with an initial temperature of the magma appropriate to a basaltic melt. The model estimate of total lifetime of the temperature anomaly in the crust is of the order of 5–6 Ma. In general, this is in rather good agreement with the currently available evidence of geochronological duration of metamorphism and magmatism in Connemara.     

Discrimination between primary magmatic biotites, reequilibrated biotites and neoformed biotites

The ternary diagram TiO₂–FeO*–MgO (FeO* = FeO + MnO) is proposed as a quantitative objective tool for distinguishing between primary magmatic biotites and those that are more or less reequilibrated, or possibly neoformed, by or within a hydrothermal fluid. The limit of the domains of the primary magmatic biotites, the reequilibrated biotites and the neoformed biotites were determined on the basis of optical, paragenetic and chemical criteria. To cite this article: H. Nachit et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Arsenic contamination in groundwater from parts of Ambagarh-Chowki block, Chhattisgarh, India: source and release mechanism

Arsenic contamination in tube-well water in Ambagarh-Chowki block, central India, is restricted to local areas confined within the N-S trending Dongargarh rift zone. Affected areas are preferentially located in acid volcanics, close to shear zones and also in granites. Dug-wells even in severely contaminated areas generally have As concentration ≤10 μg/l. But in Kaurikasa area, several tube-wells and dug-wells are severely polluted. Weathered rocks and soils are also enriched in As from severely contaminated areas. As preferentially occurs in iron-enriched soil and similarly altered biotite, chlorite in granite. As sorbed in hydrated iron oxide (HFO) that preferably occurs in acid-leachable fraction and possibly as coatings on kaolinite, illite and goethite in soil or as coatings and along cleavage traces on weathered biotite and chlorite. Reductive dissolution of HFO released sorbed As to groundwater and enriched it in Fe. Pyrite in volcanic and shear zone rocks, although locally As-bearing is a minor source of As in groundwater.