The Proterozoic,albitite-hosted,Valhalla uranium deposit,Queensland, Australia: a description of the alteration assemblage associated with uranium mineralisation in diamond drill hole V39

The Valhalla uranium deposit, located 40 km north of Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia, is an albitite-hosted, Mesoproterozoic U deposit similar to albitite-hosted uranium deposits in the Ukraine, Sweden, Brazil and Guyana. Uranium mineralisation is hosted by a thick package of interbedded fine-grained sandstones, arkoses and gritty siltstones that are bound by metabasalts belonging to the ca. 1,780 Ma Eastern Creek Volcanics in the Western Succession of the Mount Isa basin. Alteration associated with U mineralisation can be divided into an early, main and late stage. The early stage is dominated by laminated and intensely altered rock comprising albite, reibeckite, calcite, (titano)magnetite ± brannerite. The main stage of mineralisation is dominated by brecciated and intensely altered rocks that comprise laminated and intensely altered rock cemented by brannerite, apatite, (uranoan)-zircon, uraninite, anatase, albite, reibeckite, calcite and hematite. The late stage of mineralisation comprises uraninite, red hematite, dolomite, calcite, chlorite, quartz and Pb-, Fe-, Cu-sulfides. Brannerite has U–Pb and Pb–Pb ages that indicate formation between 1,555 and 1,510 Ma, with significant Pb loss evident at ca. 1,200 Ma, coincident with the assemblage of Rodinia. The oldest ages of the brannerite overlap with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 1,533 ± 9 Ma and 1,551 ± 7 Ma from early and main-stage reibeckite and are interpreted to represent the timing of formation of the deposit. These ages coincide with the timing of peak metamorphism in the Mount Isa area during the Isan Orogeny. Lithogeochemical assessment of whole rock data that includes mineralised and unmineralised samples from the greater Mount Isa district reveals that mineralisation involved the removal of K, Ba and Si and the addition of Na, Ca, U, V, Zr, P, Sr, F and Y. U/Th ratios indicate that the ore-forming fluid was oxidised, whereas the crystal chemistry of apatite and reibeckite within the ore zone suggests that F⁻ and were important ore-transporting complexes. δ¹⁸O values of co-existing calcite and reibeckite indicate that mineralisation occurred between 340 and 380°C and involved a fluid having δ¹⁸O_fluid values between 6.5 and 8.6‰. Reibeckite δD values reveal that the ore fluid had a δD_fluid value between −98 and −54‰. The mineral assemblages associated with early and main stages of alteration, plus δ¹⁸O_fluid and δD_fluid values, and timing of the U mineralisation are all very similar to those associated with Na–Ca alteration in the Eastern Succession of the Mount Isa basin, where a magmatic fluid is favoured for this style of alteration. However, isotopic data from Valhalla is also consistent with that from the nearby Mount Isa Cu deposit where a basinal brine is proposed for the transport of metals to the deposit. Based on the evidence to hand, the source fluids could have been derived from either or both the metasediments that underlie the Eastern Creek Volcanics or magmatism that is manifest in the Mount Isa area as small pegmatite dykes that intruded during the Isan Orogeny.     

Physical properties and petrologic description of rock samples from an IOCG mineralized area in the northern Fennoscandian Shield, Sweden

The Tjårrojåkka Fe–Cu-prospect in northern Sweden is considered an example of a Fe-oxide Cu–Au (IOCG) deposit and is hosted in metamorphosed Paleoproterozoic volcanic and intrusive rocks. Rock samples from 24 outcrops were collected for petrophysical analysis (magnetic susceptibility, remanent magnetization, variation of magnetic susceptibility with temperature, Curie temperature and density). The major Cu-prospect in the area has been studied by magnetic and electron microprobe analyses of four selected rock samples. The samples are from an exploration well that intersects the main Cu-mineralized body.The magnetic analyses show that magnetite is the dominant magnetic mineral, while hematite and other Fe-minerals are present in minor amounts. The electron microprobe observations confirm the presence of magnetite and further indicate that hematite is an alteration product of magnetite. Moreover, microprobe observations indicate that Fe-sulfides are present in negligible amounts in the samples from the Tjårrojåkka area. The strong spatial relationship of Cu-minerals (e.g., chalcopyrite) and the oxidation of magnetite to hematite suggest that the presence of rocks with low magnetic susceptibility in areas dominated by high susceptibility rocks may be a signal of related Cu-prospects.     

龙王(石童)A型花岗岩地球化学特征及其地球动力学意义

龙王花岗岩岩体产于华北克拉通南缘,岩石类型主要为黑云母钾长花岗岩,局部见有霓辉石花岗岩。岩体高硅(SiO2=72.17%～76.82%)、富碱(K2O+Na2O=8.28%～10.22%,K2O/Na2O>1),碱性指数AI(agpaitic index)=0.84～0.95,分异指数DI=95～97,铝指数ASI(aluminium saturation index)=0.96～1.13。含铁指数高(FeO/(FeO+Mg)=0.90～0.99),岩石为准铝质至弱过铝质、碱性—碱钙性、铁质A型花岗岩。岩石富集大离子亲石元素,稀土元素含量很高(854～1572μg/g);高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf)的富集程度明显低于大离子亲石元素,因此在微量元素蛛网图上呈相对亏损特征;岩石显著亏损Ba、Sr、Ti、Pb;εNd(t)=-4.5～-7.2,Nd模式年龄为2.3～2.5Ga。εHf(t)=-1.11～-5.26,模式年龄tHf1=2.1～2.3Ga,tHf2=2.4～2.6Ga。黑云母钾长花岗岩中的锆石主要为无色透明柱状晶体,CL图像多数显示清晰的岩浆成因的韵律环带结构,锆石LA-ICPMSU-Pb年龄为...     

扬子地台西南缘朱家坝辉绿岩地球化学特征及其地质意义

近年来在扬子西缘大量的早—中元古代岩浆岩证据显示扬子地台内形成的断陷盆地及早中元古代岩浆岩与全球性的Columbia超大陆裂解事件有着密不可分的联系。这种联系主要表现在区内早中元古代的岩浆岩地球化学特征上。为了探讨武定裂陷槽朱家坝辉绿岩的地球化学特征及其意义,以12块朱家坝辉绿岩的地球化学分析数据为基础,在分析了其主微量和稀土元素的特征之后发现朱家坝辉绿岩w(SiO_2)为44.16%～48.08%,w(K_2O+Na_2O)为3.54%～4.26%,在化学成分上属于钙碱性岩石;其稀土元素的总量为183.1×10^-6～206.91×10^-6,LREE/HREE=1.44～1.96,表明在其形成过程中发生了明显的地壳混然或者是岩浆分异作用,其化学成分基本可以反映出岩浆源区的化学组成特征。基于此,对朱家坝辉绿岩进行了源区性质、构造环境和可能的成因机制探讨,认为朱家坝辉绿岩形成于拉张环境之中,很有可能是在昆阳裂谷形成初期形成,其岩浆来源于较富集的地幔源区,形成过程中几乎没有地壳物质参与。     

Palaeomagnetic study of Palaeoproterozoic granitoids from the Voronezh Massif, Russia

A palaeomagnetic investigation has been carried out of rocks from the eastern part of the Voronezh Massif, which constitutes, together with the Ukrainian Shield, the Sarmatian segment in the southern part of the East European Craton. The samples were collected in a quarry close to the town of Pavlovsk (50.4°N, 40.1°E), where a syenitic-granitic body intrudes Archaean units. U–Pb (zircon) dating has yielded an age of 2080  Ma for the intrusion.
  Two characteristic magnetic components, A and B, were isolated by thermal and alternating-field demagnetization. Component A was obtained from granites and quartz syenites (11 samples) and has a mean direction of D = 229°, I = 28°, and a pole position at 12°N, 172°E. This pole is close to a contemporary mean pole (9°N, 187°E) for the Ukrainian Shield, which implies that the Voronezh Massif and the Shield constituted a single entity at 2.06  Ga. These poles differ from contemporaneous poles of the Fennoscandian Shield, indicating that the relative positions of the two shields were different from their present configuration about 2100  Myr ago.
  A component B, isolated only in quartz monzonites (five samples), has a mean direction D = 144°, I = 49°, and a pole position at 4°N, 251°E, which is close to late Sveconorwegian (approximately 900  Ma) poles for Baltica. This suggests that the East European Craton was consolidated some time between 2080 and 900  Ma. Comparison with other palaeomagnetic data permit us to narrow this time span to 1770–1340  Ma.     

武夷山西麓宁都地区基底褶皱构造式样初步探讨

武夷山西麓宁都地区广泛分布一套成层有序的晚元古代浅变质岩系,长期以来被视为单斜构造。本文阐述了研究区基底褶皱的窨配置及褶皱式样,阐明了研究区的各紧密线状复式褶皱隶属区域大型复背斜的北翼,同时地基底褶皱的形成机制与后期改造作了地一步分析和探讨。     

内蒙古中、上元古界地层的找金远景

内蒙古自治区境内,中、上元古界地层发育,其中所赋存的金属、非金属、贵金属矿产甚多。最近在中元古界朱拉扎嘎毛道组变质粉砂岩中所发现的微细浸染型金矿,是我局在元古界地层中寻找新类型金矿的一个突破,具有十分重要的意义。     

祁连山元古宙大陆溢流玄武岩

祁连山西段大面积分布的元古宙浅海相火山岩系是大 陆裂 谷火山作用的产 物,属大陆溢流玄武岩系。岩石地球化学研究表明,它们具有高εNd值和低( 87Sr/86Sr)i值 ,系派生于岩石圈之下的地幔柱源,但也显示有岩石圈组分卷入的证据。它们的形成是地幔 柱岩石圈相互作用的结果,是北祁连山早古生代洋盆开启的前兆。     

Lagoon–tidal flat sedimentation in an epeiric sea: Proterozoic Bhander Group,Son Valley,India

The Bhander Group, the uppermost stratigraphic unit of the Proterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup in Son Valley, exhibits in its upper part a 550 m thick, muddy siliciclastic succession characterized by features indicative of deposition in a wave‐affected coastal, lagoon–tidal flat environment suffering repeated submergence and emergence. The basic architecture of the deposit is alternation of centimetre‐ to decimetre‐thick sheet‐like interbeds of coarser clastics (mainly sandstone) and decimetre‐thick mudstones. The coarser interlayers are dominated by a variety of ripple‐formed laminations. The preserved ripple forms on bed‐top surfaces and their internal lamination style suggest both oscillatory and combined flows for their formation. Interference, superimposed, ladder‐back and flat‐topped ripples are also common. Synsedimentary cracks, wrinkle marks, features resembling rain prints and adhesion structures occur in profusion on bed‐top surfaces. Salt pseudomorphs are also present at the bases of beds. The mudstone intervals represent suspension settlement and show partings with interfaces characterized by synsedimentary cracks. It is inferred that the sediments were deposited on a coastal plain characterized by a peritidal (supratidal–intertidal) flat and evaporative lagoon suffering repeated submergence and emergence due to storm‐induced coastal setup and setdown in addition to tidal fluctuations. The 550 m thick coastal flat succession is surprisingly devoid of any barrier bar deposits and also lacks shoreface and shelfal strata. The large areal extent of the coastal flat succession (c. 100,000 km²) and its great thickness indicate an extremely low‐gradient epeiric basin characterized by an extensive coastal flat sheltered from the deeper marine domain. It is inferred that the Bhander coastal flat was protected from the open sea by the Bundelkhand basement arch to the north of the Vindhyan basin, instead of barrier bars. Such a setting favoured accumulation of a high proportion of terrigenous mud in the coastal plain, in contrast to many described examples from the Proterozoic. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deposition and preservation of fluvio-tidal shallow-marine sandstones: A re-evaluation of the Neoproterozoic Jura Quartzite (western Scotland)

The 2 to 5 km thick, sandstone-dominated (>90%) Jura Quartzite is an extreme example of a mature Neoproterozoic sandstone, previously interpreted as a tide-influenced shelf deposit and herein re-interpreted within a fluvio-tidal deltaic depositional model. Three issues are addressed: (i) evidence for the re-interpretation from tidal shelf to tidal delta; (ii) reasons for vertical facies uniformity; and (iii) sand supply mechanisms to form thick tidal-shelf sandstones. The predominant facies (compound cross-bedded, coarse-grained sandstones) represents the lower parts of metres to tens of metres high, transverse fluvio-tidal bedforms with superimposed smaller bedforms. Ubiquitous erosional surfaces, some with granule–pebble lags, record erosion of the upper parts of those bedforms. There was selective preservation of the higher energy, topographically-lower, parts of channel-bar systems. Strongly asymmetrical, bimodal, palaeocurrents are interpreted as due to associated selective preservation of fluvially-enhanced ebb tidal currents. Finer-grained facies are scarce, due largely to suspended sediment bypass. They record deposition in lower-energy environments, including channel mouth bars, between and down depositional-dip of higher energy fluvio-ebb tidal bars. The lack of wave-formed sedimentary structures and low continuity of mudstone and sandstone interbeds, support deposition in a non-shelf setting. Hence, a sand-rich, fluvial–tidal, current-dominated, largely sub-tidal, delta setting is proposed. This new interpretation avoids the problem of transporting large amounts of coarse sand to a shelf. Facies uniformity and vertical stacking are likely due to sediment oversupply and bypass rather than balanced sediment supply and subsidence rates. However, facies evidence of relative sea level changes is difficult to recognise, which is attributed to: (i) the areally extensive and polygenetic nature of the preserved facies, and (ii) a large stored sediment buffer that dampened response to relative sea-level and/or sediment supply changes. Consideration of preservation bias towards high-energy deposits may be more generally relevant, especially to thick Neoproterozoic and Lower Palaeozoic marine sandstones.