Clay mineral,geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic fingerprinting of sediments in the Murray–Darling fluvial system,southeast Australia

The Willyama Supergroup of the Broken Hill region in southern Australia consists of supracrustal sedimentary and magmatic rocks, formed between 1810 and 1600 Ma. A statistical analysis of nearly 2000 SHRIMP U–Pb zircon spot ages, compiled from published and unpublished sources, provides evidence for three distinct tectonostratigraphic successions and four magmatic events during this interval. Succession 1 includes Redan Geophysical Zone gneisses and the lower part of the Thackaringa Group (Cues Formation). These rocks were deposited after 1810 Ma and host granite sills of the first magmatic event (1710–1700 Ma). Succession 2 includes the upper Thackaringa Group (Himalaya Formation), the Broken Hill Group and the Sundown Group and was deposited between 1710 and 1660 Ma. These rocks all contain detrital zircons from the first magmatic event (1710–1700 Ma) and in some cases from the second magmatic event (1690–1680 Ma). The second magmatic event (1690–1680 Ma) was bimodal, resulted from crustal extension, and was coeval with deposition of the Broken Hill Group and deepening of the basin. With this event a mafic sill swarm focused in the Broken Hill Domain. Mafic sills lack any trace of inheritance, unlike the granitoids that commonly contain inherited zircons typical of the supracrustal sediments. Succession 3, the Paragon Group and equivalents were deposited after 1660 Ma, but before a regional metamorphic event at 1600 Ma. Metamorphism was closely followed by inversion of the succession into a fold‐and‐thrust belt, accompanied by a fourth late to post‐orogenic magmatic event (ca 1580 Ma) characterised by granite intrusion and regional acid volcanism (the local equivalents of the Gawler Range Volcanics in South Australia).     

Comparison of the ‘strike‐slip’ versus the ‘episodic rift‐sag’ models for the origin of the Isa Superbasin

In this paper we assess two competing tectonic models for the development of the Isa Superbasin (ca 1725–1590 Ma) in the Western Fold Belt of the Mt Isa terrane. In the ‘episodic rift‐sag’ tectonic model the basin architecture is envisaged as similar to that of a Basin and Range province characterised by widespread half‐graben development. According to this model, the Isa Superbasin evolved during three stages of the Mt Isa Rift Event. Stage I involved intracontinental extension, half‐graben development, the emergence of fault scarps and tilt‐blocks, and bimodal volcanism. Stage II involved episodic rifting and sag during intervening periods of tectonic quiescence. Stage III was dominated by thermal relaxation of the lithosphere with transient episodes of extension. Sedimentation was controlled by the development of arrays of half‐grabens bounded by intrabasinal transverse or transfer faults. The competing ‘strike‐slip’ model was developed for the Gun Supersequence stratigraphic interval of the Isa Superbasin (during stage II and the beginning of stage III). According to this model, sinistral movements along north‐northeast‐orientated strike‐slip faults took place, with oblique movements along northwest‐orientated faults. This resulted in the deposition of southeast‐thickening ramp sequences with local sub‐basin depocentres forming to the west and north of north‐northeast‐ and northwest‐trending faults, respectively. It is proposed that dilation zones focused magmatism (e.g. Sybella Granite) and transfer of strike‐slip movement resulted in transient uplift along the western margin of the Mt Gordon Arch. Our analysis supports the ‘episodic rift‐sag’ model. We find that the inferred architecture for the strike‐slip model correlates poorly with the observed structural elements. Interpretation is made difficult because there has been significant modification and reorientation of fault geometry during the Isan Orogeny and these effects need to be removed before any assertion as to the basin structure is made. Strike‐slip faulting does not explain the regional‐scale pattern of basin subsidence. The ‘episodic rift‐sag’ model explains the macroscopic geometry of the Isa Superbasin and is consistent with the detailed sedimentological analysis of basin facies architecture, and the structural history and geometry.     

Petrology and Geochronology of Granulites from the McKaskle Hills, Eastern Amery Ice Shelf, Antarctica, and Implications for the Evolution of the Prydz Belt

A combined petrological and geochronological study was carriedout on mafic granulites and associated felsic gneisses fromthe McKaskle Hills, eastern Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica.Garnet-bearing mafic granulites exhibit reaction textures andexsolution textures that indicate two-stage metamorphic evolution.Thermobarometric estimates from matrix and symplectite assemblagesyield peak and retrograde P–T conditions of 9·0–9·5kbar and 880–950°C and 6·6–7·2kbar and 700–750°C, respectively. Similar but slightlyscattered peak P–T estimates of 7·9–10·1kbar and 820–980°C are obtained from the core compositionsof minerals from felsic para- and orthogneisses. Evidence forthe prograde history is provided by muscovite inclusions ingarnet from a paragneiss. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobeU–Pb zircon dating reveals an evolutionary history forthe granulites, including a mafic and felsic igneous intrusionat 1174–1019 Ma, sedimentation after 932–916 Ma,and a high-grade metamorphism at 533–529 Ma. In contrast,Sm–Nd mineral–whole-rock dating mainly yields asingle age population at 500 Ma. This suggests that the McKaskleHills form part of the Prydz Belt, and that the relatively highpeak P–T conditions and a decompression-dominated P–Tpath for the rocks resulted from a single Cambrian metamorphiccycle, rather than two distinct metamorphic events as formerlyinferred for the granulites from Prydz Bay. The age data alsoindicate that the Precambrian history of the McKaskle Hillsis not only distinct from that of the early Neoproterozoic terranein the northern Prince Charles Mountains, but also differentfrom that of other parts of the Prydz Belt. The existence ofmultiple basement terranes, together with considerable crustalthickening followed by tectonic uplift and unroofing indicatedby the clockwise P–T–t evolution, suggests thatthe Prydz Belt may represent a collisional orogen that resultedin the assembly of Gondwana during the Cambrian period. KEY WORDS: Mesoproterozoic basement; Cambrian metamorphism; P–T path; Prydz Belt; East Antarctica     

Mineralization of the Liwu large-scale stratiform copper deposits in Sichuan Province,China: Constraints from fluid inclusions

The Liwu stratiform copper deposit is located in the northwestern Jianglang dome, western China. Current studies mainly focus on the genetic type and mineralization of this deposit. Detailed fluid inclusion characteristics of metallogenic period quartz veins were studied to reveal the ore-forming fluid features. Laser Raman analysis indicates that the ore-forming fluids is a H₂O-NaCl-CH₄ (-CO₂) system. Fluid inclusions microthermometry shows a homogenization temperature of 181–375°C and a salinity of 5.26%–16.99% for the disseminated-banded Cu-Zn mineralization; but a homogenization temperature of 142–343°C and a salinity of 5.41%–21.19% for the massive-veined Cu-Zn mineralization. These features suggest a medium-high temperature and a medium salinity for the ore-forming fluids. H-O isotopic data indicates that the ore-forming fluids were mainly from the metamorphic and magmatic water, plus minor formation water. And sulfur isotopic data indicates that sulfur was mainly derived from the formation and magmatic rocks. Metallogenesis of the disseminated-banded mineralization was mainly correlated with fluid mixing and water-rock reaction; whereas that of the massive-veined mineralization was mainly correlated with fluid boiling. The genetic type of the deposit is a medium-high temperature hydrothermal deposit related to magmatism and controlled by shear zones. This study is beneficial to understand the stratiform copper deposit.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.     

琼东南盆地中生界潜山天然气成藏模式

琼东南盆地基底潜山勘探面临地质年代不清、储层非均质性强及成藏条件复杂等难题。通过开展区域大地构造演化、基底锆石测年、潜山储层描述及成藏动力分析,明确潜山储层发育区及有利成藏区。研究表明,在印支运动、燕山运动及喜山运动叠加控制下,松南低凸起、陵南低凸起大面积发育印支期的花岗岩潜山储层,平面上北西、北东及近东西向三组断裂、裂缝交错切割成网,纵向上形成的风化带-裂缝带总厚度超300 m的双层结构,明确裂缝储层发育的关键因素为脆性矿物和双向流体改造。基于早渐新世古地貌及烃源岩沉积模拟实验研究,提高了崖城组陆源海相烃源岩TOC分布预测精度,明确了中央坳陷优质烃源灶分布规律。综合分析潜山-古近系储层、构造脊展布和崖城组烃源灶的时空配置关系,建立了“松南低凸起源外高潜山天然气长距离侧向有限运聚模式”及“陵南低凸起源边低潜山近距离高效运聚模式”,提出源边低潜山的L26-B是下步勘探的有利目标。     

基于重磁场特征的松辽盆地基底岩性研究

盆地的基底埋藏深度、岩性和断裂分布与地热资源的形成、分布和开发利用密切相关。本文基于重磁方法的特点和松辽盆地的重磁场异常,利用最佳向上延拓的方法进行场源分离,提取了基底重磁异常信息;依据不同岩石物理属性(密度和磁性)和重磁异常对应分析的结果,对松辽盆地的基底岩性分布进行了划分,其结果对盆地地热资源远景评价和开发利用有重要参考价值。     

胶北地块变质基底超镁铁岩的矿物岩石地球化学特征

胶北地块变质基底的蛇纹岩、蛇纹岩化尖晶石方辉橄榄岩、尖晶石橄榄斜方辉石岩、角闪石岩自形成以后,经历了早期的高角闪岩相和晚期绿片岩相的变质作用,因而记录了三个阶段的矿物组合:早期的Opx1+Ol1+Spl1;中期的Opx2+Ol2+Spl2+Amp2和晚期的Amp3+Srp3+Mag3+Cal组合。超镁铁岩中普遍存在的角闪石,具有粒状变晶结构特征,形成于角闪岩相和绿片岩相的变质作用过程。蛇纹石没有受到应力作用的迹象,显示其形成于晚期非挤压环境的交代变质作用过程。尖晶石橄榄岩中斜方辉石的矿物化学以及尖晶石橄榄岩的高Mg O含量都表现出克拉通橄榄岩的性质。角闪石岩的稀土元素配分图解的(La/Sm)N的比值1.11~1.41,(La/Yb)N的比值0.91~1.61,超镁铁岩多元素图解显示无高场强元素异常,都表明胶北地块变质基底的超镁铁岩形成的构造背景或是裂谷环境。尖晶石矿物的Mg#0.72~0.79、Cr#0.06~0.12表明交代变质成因。方辉橄榄岩橄榄石的Fo值88.42~90.50、超镁铁质岩石全岩主元素的分散性、较大的∑REE含量变化以及Si/Al-(Mg+Fe)/Al和Mg/Ti-Fe/Ti主元素的比值图解所表现出的超镁铁岩与角闪石岩具有成因联系等,都表明胶北变质基底的超镁铁岩可能是具有堆晶成因的一套幔源岩浆系列。高MgO含量(16%~42%)表现出前寒武纪变质基底的橄榄岩地幔性质;高水含量反映出漫长地质历史时期变质作用过程。     

越南西北部Phan Si Pan地区Ngoi Chi岩组的锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素组成

本文对越南西北部Phan Si Pan地区变质地体中的一个Ngoi Chi片麻岩进行了锆石CL内部结构分析、LA-(MC)-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年和Hf同位素分析。CL图象和Th/U比值特征显示该片麻岩样品中的锆石主要为岩浆锆石,有少量窄的变质边。岩浆锆石的年龄为~2.9 Ga,表明该样品是越南西北部Phan Si Pan地区的基底岩石。它们的εHf(t)值为–4.70±0.92,二阶段Hf模式年龄为~3.5 Ga,表明其为更古老的(3.5 Ga)冥太古代地壳物质部分熔融作用形成。变质边部锆石给出了~1.8 Ga的年龄,表明变质作用发生在古元古代早期,Phan Si Pan地区在这一时期可能经历了一次重要的构造热事件。     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Karaj Dam basement sill: Implications for geodynamic evolution of the Alborz magmatic belt

The northeastward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere beneath the Iranian block produced vast volcanic and plutonic rocks that now outcrop in central (Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic assemblage) and north–northeastern Iran (Alborz Magmatic Belt), with peak magmatism occurring during the Eocene. The Karaj Dam basement sill (KDBS), situated in the Alborz Magmatic Belt, comprises gabbro, monzogabbro, monzodiorite, and monzonite with a shoshonitic affinity. These plutonic rocks are intruded into the Karaj Formation, which comprise pyroclastic rocks dating to the lower–upper Eocene. The geochemical and isotopic signatures of the KDBS rocks indicate that they are cogenetic and evolved through fractional crystallization. They are characterized by an enrichment in LREEs relative to HREEs, with negative Nb–Ta anomalies. Geochemical modeling using Sm/Yb versus La/Yb and La/Sm ratios suggests a low-degree of partial melting of a phlogopite–spinel peridotite source to generate the KDBS rocks. Their low I_Sr = 0.70453–0.70535, ɛNd (37.2 Ma) = 1.54–1.9, and T_DM ages ranging from 0.65 to 0.86 Ga are consistent with the melting of a Cadomian enriched lithospheric mantle source, metasomatized by fluids derived from the subducted slab or sediments during magma generation. These interpretations are consistent with high ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.43–18.67, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.59, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.42–38.71, indicating the involvement of subducted sediments or continental crust. The sill is considered to have been emplaced in an environment of lithospheric extension due to the slab rollback in the lower Eocene. This extension led to localized upwelling of the asthenosphere, providing the heat required for partial melting of the subduction-contaminated subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Alborz magmatic belt. Then, the shoshonitic melt generates the entire spectrum of KDBS rocks through assimilation and fractional crystallization during the ascent of the magma.