Global Correlations of Ocean Ridge Basalt Chemistry with Axial Depth: a New Perspective

The petrological parameters Na₈ and Fe₈, which are Na₂O andFeO contents in mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) melts correctedfor fractionation effects to MgO = 8 wt%, have been widely usedas indicators of the extent and pressure of mantle melting beneathocean ridges. We find that these parameters are unreliable.Fe₈ is used to compute the mantle solidus depth (P_o) and temperature(T_o), and it is the values and range of Fe₈ that have led tothe notion that mantle potential temperature variation of T_P= 250 K is required to explain the global ocean ridge systematics.This interpreted T_P = 250 K range applies to ocean ridges awayfrom ‘hotspots’. We find no convincing evidencethat calculated values for P_o, T_o, and T_P using Fe₈ have anysignificance. We correct for fractionation effect to Mg^# = 0·72,which reveals mostly signals of mantle processes because meltswith Mg^# = 0·72 are in equilibrium with mantle olivineof Fo_89·6 (vs evolved olivine of Fo_{88·1–79·6}in equilibrium with melts of Fe₈). To reveal first-order MORBchemical systematics as a function of ridge axial depth, weaverage out possible effects of spreading rate variation, local-scalemantle source heterogeneity, melting region geometry variation,and dynamic topography on regional and segment scales by usingactual sample depths, regardless of geographical location, withineach of 22 ridge depth intervals of 250 m on a global scale.These depth-interval averages give Fe₇₂ = 7·5–8·5,which would give T_P = 41 K (vs 250 K based on Fe₈) beneathglobal ocean ridges. The lack of Fe₇₂–Si₇₂ and Si₇₂–ridgedepth correlations provides no evidence that MORB melts preservepressure signatures as a function of ridge axial depth. We thusfind no convincing evidence for T_P > 50 K beneath globalocean ridges. The averages have also revealed significantcorrelations of MORB chemistry (e.g. Ti₇₂, Al₇₂, Fe₇₂,Mg₇₂, Ca₇₂, Na₇₂ and Ca₇₂/Al₇₂) with ridge axial depth. Thechemistry–depth correlation points to an intrinsic linkbetween the two. That is, the 5 km global ridge axial reliefand MORB chemistry both result from a common cause: subsolidusmantle compositional variation (vs T_P), which determines themineralogy, lithology and density variations that (1) isostaticallycompensate the 5 km ocean ridge relief and (2) determine thefirst-order MORB compositional variation on a global scale.A progressively more enriched (or less depleted) fertileperidotite source (i.e. high Al₂O₃ and Na₂O, and low CaO/Al₂O₃)beneath deep ridges ensures a greater amount of modal garnet(high Al₂O₃) and higher jadeite/diopside ratios in clinopyroxene(high Na₂O and Al₂O₃, and lower CaO), making a denser mantle,and thus deeper ridges. The dense fertile mantle beneath deepridges retards the rate and restricts the amplitude of the upwelling,reduces the rate and extent of decompression melting, givesway to conductive cooling to a deep level, forces melting tostop at such a deep level, leads to a short melting column,and thus produces less melt and probably a thin magmatic crustrelative to the less dense (more refractory) fertile mantlebeneath shallow ridges. Compositions of primitive MORB meltsresult from the combination of two different, but geneticallyrelated processes: (1) mantle source inheritance and (2) meltingprocess enhancement. The subsolidus mantle compositional variationneeded to explain MORB chemistry and ridge axial depth variationrequires a deep isostatic compensation depth, probably in thetransition zone. Therefore, although ocean ridges are of shalloworigin, their working is largely controlled by deep processesas well as the effect of plate spreading rate variation at shallowlevels. KEY WORDS: mid-ocean ridges; mantle melting; magma differentiation; petrogenesis; MORB chemistry variation; ridge depth variation; global correlations; mantle compositional variation; mantle source density variation; mantle potential temperature variation; isostatic compensation     

Phase Relations and Melting of Anhydrous K-bearing Eclogite from 1200 to 1600{degrees}C and 3 to 5 GPa

To investigate eclogite melting under mantle conditions, wehave performed a series of piston-cylinder experiments usinga homogeneous synthetic starting material (GA2) that is representativeof altered mid-ocean ridge basalt. Experiments were conductedat pressures of 3·0, 4·0 and 5·0 GPa andover a temperature range of 1200–1600°C. The subsolidusmineralogy of GA2 consists of garnet and clinopyroxene withminor quartz–coesite, rutile and feldspar. Solidus temperaturesare located at 1230°C at 3·0 GPa and 1300°C at5·0 GPa, giving a steep solidus slope of 30–40°C/GPa.Melting intervals are in excess of 200°C and increase withpressure up to 5·0 GPa. At 3·0 GPa feldspar, rutileand quartz are residual phases up to 40°C above the solidus,whereas at higher pressures feldspar and rutile are rapidlymelted out above the solidus. Garnet and clinopyroxene are theonly residual phases once melt fractions exceed 20% and garnetis the sole liquidus phase over the investigated pressure range.With increasing melt fraction garnet and clinopyroxene becomeprogressively more Mg-rich, whereas coexisting melts vary fromK-rich dacites at low degrees of melting to basaltic andesitesat high melt fractions. Increasing pressure tends to increasethe jadeite and Ca-eskolaite components in clinopyroxene andenhance the modal proportion of garnet at low melt fractions,which effects a marked reduction in the Al₂O₃ and Na₂O contentof the melt with pressure. In contrast, the TiO₂ and K₂O contentsof the low-degree melts increase with increasing pressure; thusNa₂O and K₂O behave in a contrasted manner as a function ofpressure. Altered oceanic basalt is an important component ofcrust returned to the mantle via plate subduction, so GA2 maybe representative of one of many different mafic lithologiespresent in the upper mantle. During upwelling of heterogeneousmantle domains, these mafic rock-types may undergo extensivemelting at great depths, because of their low solidus temperaturescompared with mantle peridotite. Melt batches may be highlyvariable in composition depending on the composition and degreeof melting of the source, the depth of melting, and the degreeof magma mixing. Some of the eclogite-derived melts may alsoreact with and refertilize surrounding peridotite, which itselfmay partially melt with further upwelling. Such complex magma-genesisconditions may partly explain the wide spectrum of primitivemagma compositions found within oceanic basalt suites. KEY WORDS: eclogite; experimental petrology; mafic magmatism; mantle melting; oceanic basalts     

苏北盘石山、练山地幔捕虏体的PGE地球化学

通过锍镍火试金预富集法,分析了位于郯庐断裂带东侧的盘石山、练山地幔橄榄岩包体中铂族元素(PGE)和Au含量.不同于部分熔融残留成因地幔橄榄岩中通常所观察到的负斜率型或平坦型的分布模式,这两地的地幔橄榄岩以Pt、Pd、Ru相对富集,Ir、Rh相对亏损的"燕子型"分布模式为特征.Pt、Pd等不相容元素富集说明上地幔除经历过早期的部分熔融外,还经历了后期富Pt、Pd的高熔/岩比的熔(流)体的层析分离交代作用影响.盘石山地幔橄榄岩的PGE总量比练山高,Os的含量也比原始地幔值高;而练山地幔橄榄岩的Os含量比原始地幔值低,说明交代作用带走了练山地幔橄榄岩中的Os,却没有很大改变盘石山地幔橄榄岩中的Os含量,这可能与交代熔(流)体含硫量饱和程度有关.Rh的负异常可能与部分熔融过程中熔体较低的fo2有关.     

Optical spectrum based measurement of flotation slurry contents

Monitoring and control of a flotation circuit is mainly based on the information gained by assaying the process slurry lines. In flotation plants, usually an X-ray fluorescence analyzer is used to obtain the on-line assays. This article introduces the visual and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopic analysis of the process slurries as a supplementary method which complements the on-line assay information available from an X-ray fluorescence analyzer. It is shown that the spectral information can be used to accurately predict the element contents in the slurry in between successive XRF analyses. Since the spectral measurements can be taken with high frequency as opposed to the sparse X-ray fluorescence analysis, a practically continuous on-line estimate of the slurry contents is reached. These estimates can be used in the plant control to improve the overall performance of the circuits and to yield also economical savings. Additionally, the frequent monitoring of the grades can provide means to eliminate rapid disturbances in the circuits, thus improving the stability of the process.     

东天山黄山-镜儿泉过铝花岗岩矿物学、地球化学及年代学研究

对东天山黄山-镜儿泉一带黄山南、镜儿泉、图拉尔根沟三个过铝花岗岩作了岩相学、矿物学、地球化学、sr-Nd同位素和锆石U-Pb年代学研究.锆石U-Pb LA-ICP-MS原位定年测得黄山南岩体结晶年龄为259.9±1.4Ma(MSWD=0.86),图拉尔根沟岩体结晶年龄为275.4±8.3Ma(MSWD=29),均侵位于二叠纪碰撞后伸展环境.三个过铝花岗岩均具有低锶同位素初始比值(Isr=0.6969～0.70396)、高εNd(t)值( 5.5～ 7.2)以及年轻的亏损地幔单阶段模式年龄(tDM=0.48～0.56Ga),表明其岩浆源区均为来源于亏损地幔的新生地壳岩石.这种新生地壳岩石可能为偏酸性的火山岩.三个岩体的矿物学和地球化学可分为两类:一类以黄山南白云母花岗岩为代表,为强过铝花岗岩(A/CNK>1.1),强烈亏损Ba、sr和Ti而富集Cs、Rb和K,具有高的Rb/sr(2.03～14.5)和Al2O3/TiO2(110～1592),低的Nb/Ta(3.24～6.76)比值,其稀土元素配分曲线呈"V"字形,显示强烈铕亏损(Eu/Eu*=0.04～0.55),表明这类岩体的直接源岩以泥质岩为主.另一类以图拉尔根沟二云母花岗岩为代表,为弱过铝(1   

新疆北部晚古生代以来中基性岩脉的年代学、岩石学、地球化学研究

新疆北部中基性岩脉K-Ar表观年龄为187～271Ma,岩性以辉长、辉绿岩以及闪长、闪长玢岩为主,属于亚碱性系列.主量元素、稀土元素以及微量元素分析表明,中基性岩脉经历了源区地壳物质的混合以及侵位过程中的分离结晶作用,并在区域分布特点上受部分熔融程度的影响,而且由于结晶分异和部分熔融的不同,还出现了中基性岩脉系列的成分变异.排除上述岩浆作用的干扰,有证据显示岩脉起源于亏损地幔,由于Nd同位素模式年龄tDM集中在363～769Ma,反映源区是一个古生代时期的新生岩石圈地幔,该地幔源区属于大洋岩石圈地幔.新疆北部广泛出露的中基性岩脉在时间和空间上具有多样性,但是在产状、岩性组合和同位素特征上具有相似的特点,指示研究区在古生代以来具有一个相对统一和完整的源区,推测这个源区与北疆地区古生代以来长期存在的残余洋盆及其相关岩石圈有关.     

1.0GPa和常温至1100 ℃条件下角闪石斜长片麻岩的V_p变化:实验测量与理论计算

在1．0GPa、常温至1100℃条件下测量了角闪石斜长片麻岩的纵波速度（Vp）,并统计了不同温度实验产物中各种矿物的体积百分含量。结果显示,1．0GPa下,角闪石斜长片麻岩的Vp首先随温度升高（室温至700℃）缓慢降低约6％,然后（700—850℃）快速降低约6％,再（850～950℃）转而急剧升高15％～25％,最后（T〉950℃）又快速下降。实验产物分析表明在高温高压下α-石英-β石英相变和岩石部分熔融是岩石Vp异常变化的主要因素。由取样产物的矿物含量和弹性参数,计算了各温度条件下岩石的Vp得出与实验测量相同的波速-温度变化趋势,即Vp随温度升高先缓慢降低,接着快速降低后又急剧升高,最后又快速减小。实验测量和理论计算对比研究表明,通过高温高压下岩石中的物相变化观测结果进行岩石波速的计算,是检验岩石弹性波速测量结果和研究地球内部地震波结构的一种有效方法。     

石榴石橄榄岩的熔融实验及其地质意义

在20×10~9Pa和25×10~9Pa条件下,对石榴石橄榄岩进行的14次高温高压熔融实验研究表明,在1600℃时石榴石橄榄岩开始熔融(初熔),熔体中的SiO_2>70％,Na_2O+K_2O>8％,类似于A型花岗岩成分。本实验为地幔花岗岩的成因提供了证据。     

夏季东海西部表层海水中的pCO2及海-气界面通量

根据2001年夏季长江口及东海西部海域表层海水pCO     

Melt inclusions in eclogite garnet: experimental study of natural processes

Experiment with poikilitic garnet at 3 GPa and 800 °C showed dehydration melting of its mineral inclusions, which is accompanied by the growth of (sub)euhedral garnet crystals inside the inclusion and/or xenomorphic garnets replacing the host mineral. The newly formed and host garnets differ drastically in composition. The inclusion surface is complicated by specific wedge-like protrusions or thin branches composed of melt or its crystallization products. The above features have been discovered in polymineral inclusions in garnet from low-temperature (650 °C) eclogite from the Yukon-Tanana terrane, Canada. The inclusions are interpreted as the crystallization products of in situ formed melt.