Variations in the sensitivity of the optically stimulated luminescence from quartz in the Xifeng section: A spatiotemporal comparison across the Chinese Loess Plateau since the last interglaciation

The sensitivity of the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) from quartz is thought to be mainly influenced by source rock (crystallization temperature and quartz defect types) and depositional history (irradiation/bleaching cycles). In this study, the OSL sensitivity of quartz of different grain sizes from loess (L1) and paleosol (S1) layers at the Xifeng section of the Chinese Loess Plateau was analyzed. The OSL sensitivity of the samples from the Xifeng section shows a distinct difference between glacial and interglacial cycles, which is consistent with the patterns observed from magnetic susceptibility (MS) and grain sizes. The highest OSL sensitivity is observed in S1, which is twelve times the lowest sensitivity observed in L1. Moreover, the contribution of the fast component of quartz OSL from the paleosol accounts for more than 90% of the total OSL signal. In contrast, the middle and slow components contribute more in loess, and a significant variation among different aliquots was observed.Comparison of the data obtained from loess sections from different regions, including Xifeng, Luochuan, Jingyuan and Shimao, show significant differences in the magnitudes of OSL sensitivity but a similar pattern between glacial and interglacial periods. The results of this study suggest that, except for the wildfire model proposed to interpret the high OSL sensitivity in paleosol (Zhang, 2018), the shift of wind pattern of westerly wind (i.e., transporting “dim” source from North Tibetan Plateau and northwesterly wind (i.e., transporting “bright” source from Alxa Arid Lands and the subsequent mixture from the different sources may partially contribute to the different OSL sensitivities observed for Xifeng and Luochuan. In contrast, the OSL sensitivity of Shimao samples from L1 was affected by the input from the Mu Us Desert, and those of Jingyuan may affected by the contribution from the Yellow River.     

Fluid generation and evolution during exhumation of deeply subducted UHP continental crust: Petrogenesis of composite granite–quartz veins in the Sulu belt,China

Composite granite–quartz veins occur in retrogressed ultrahigh pressure (UHP) eclogite enclosed in gneiss at General's Hill in the central Sulu belt, eastern China. The granite in the veins has a high‐pressure (HP) mineral assemblage of dominantly quartz+phengite+allanite/epidote+garnet that yields pressures of 2.5–2.1 GPa (Si‐in‐phengite barometry) and temperatures of 850–780°C (Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry) at 2.5 GPa (~20°C lower at 2.1 GPa). Zircon overgrowths on inherited cores and new grains of zircon from both components of the composite veins crystallized at c. 221 Ma. This age overlaps the timing of HP retrograde recrystallization dated at 225–215 Ma from multiple localities in the Sulu belt, consistent with the HP conditions retrieved from the granite. The ε_Hf(t) values of new zircon from both components of the composite veins and the Sr–Nd isotope compositions of the granite consistently lie between values for gneiss and eclogite, whereas δ¹⁸O values of new zircon are similar in the veins and the crustal rocks. These data are consistent with zircon growth from a blended fluid generated internally within the gneiss and the eclogite, without any ingress of fluid from an external source. However, at the peak metamorphic pressure, which could have reached 7 GPa, the rocks were likely fluid absent. During initial exhumation under UHP conditions, exsolution of H₂O from nominally anhydrous minerals generated a grain boundary supercritical fluid in both gneiss and eclogite. As exhumation progressed, the volume of fluid increased allowing it to migrate by diffusing porous flow from grain boundaries into channels and drain from the dominant gneiss through the subordinate eclogite. This produced a blended fluid intermediate in its isotope composition between the two end‐members, as recorded by the composite veins. During exhumation from UHP (coesite) eclogite to HP (quartz) eclogite facies conditions, the supercritical fluid evolved by dissolution of the silicate mineral matrix, becoming increasingly solute‐rich, more ‘granitic’ and more viscous until it became trapped. As crystallization began by diffusive loss of H₂O to the host eclogite concomitant with ongoing exhumation of the crust, the trapped supercritical fluid intersected the solvus for the granite–H₂O system, allowing phase separation and formation of the composite granite–quartz veins. Subsequently, during the transition from HP eclogite to amphibolite facies conditions, minor phengite breakdown melting is recorded in both the granite and the gneiss by K‐feldspar+plagioclase+biotite aggregates located around phengite and by K‐feldspar veinlets along grain boundaries. Phase equilibria modelling of the granite indicates that this late‐stage melting records P–T conditions towards the end of the exhumation, with the subsolidus assemblage yielding 0.7–1.1 GPa at <670°C. Thus, the composite granite–quartz veins represent a rare example of a natural system recording how the fluid phase evolved during exhumation of continental crust. The successive availability of different fluid phases attending retrograde metamorphism from UHP eclogite to amphibolite facies conditions will affect the transport of trace elements through the continental crust and the role of these fluids as metasomatic agents interacting with the mantle wedge in the subduction channel.     

Fluid Inclusion Feature of Gold-Bearing Quartz Veins from the Jinniushan Gold Deposit, Shandong, China

The auriferous veins at Jinniushan occurs within the Jinniushan faulted zone in the Kunyushan Granite. Optical observation reveals that gold ore body formed during the main stage of hydrothermal activity. Detailed geothermometric studies of fluid inclusions from the veins show that the forming temperature ranges between 130℃ and 370℃ and the salinity is from 4.01 to 15.21 wvt percent NaCl. The ore-forming fluid is featured by low to moderate salinity, and low to moderate temperature. According to investigations of the values of vapor/liquid and temperatures of the ore-forming fluids, we propose that the boiling fluid inclusions exist in the main mineralization stages. Fluid boiling is suggested as a mechanism for the precipitation of gold from the hydrothermal fluid in the Jinniushan gold deposit.     

Potential evidence of fossilised Neoproterozoic deep life: SEM observations on calcite veins from Oppaminda Creek,Arkaroola, South Australia

Scanning electron microscopy revealed micron-sized globular and coccoid objects, associated with filaments and mucus-like patches in antitaxial fibrous calcite veins from Oppaminda Creek, Northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Chemically the objects only differ from their calcite (CaCO₃) matrix by a higher sulphur content. The ∼585 Ma veins formed at about 3–6 km below the surface. Fluid inclusions indicate a temperature of formation of about 60–80°C, and not exceeding 100°C. A non-biogenic origin of the objects is discussed, but considered unlikely. Instead, morphology, chemistry and size distribution all indicate that the objects are fossilised microbes that lived in the veins at the time and depth of vein formation.     

Metamorphic veining and mass transfer in a chemically closed system: a case study in Alpine metabauxites (western Vanoise)

In western Vanoise (French Alps), karstic pockets of Triassic‐to‐Jurassic metabauxites embedded in carbonate rocks and containing several generations of metamorphic veins were studied. During blueschist facies metamorphism, a cumulative amount of ～13 vol% of water is inferred to have been produced locally by successive dehydration reactions, and part of this fluid remained in the bauxitic lenses during most of the metamorphic cycle. Field and geochemical evidence show that these rocks have been isolated from large‐scale fluid flow (closed‐system behaviour). It is proposed that the internally derived fluid has promoted the opening of fluid‐filled open spaces (as attested by the euhedral habits of vein minerals) and served as medium for mass transfer from rock to vein. Indeed, the vein infill is obviously the result of chemical interactions, at the millimetre‐to‐centimetre scale, between the rock minerals and the locally produced aqueous fluid. Two vein types can be distinguished based on mineralogical and textural features: (i) some veins are filled with newly formed products of either prograde (chloritoid) or retrograde (chlorite) metamorphic reactions; in this case, fluid‐filled open spaces seem to offer energetically favourable nucleation/growth sites; (ii) the second vein type is infilled with cookeite or pyrophyllite, that were present in the host rock prior to the vein formation. In this closed chemical system, the components for the vein infill minerals have been transferred from rock to vein through the fluid, in a dissolution–transport–precipitation process, possibly stress‐assisted. These different vein generations all contain Al‐rich mineral infills, suggesting that Al was a mobile element (cm scale) during metamorphism. In these HP rocks, fluid flow may have been restricted, and if so mass transfer occurred by diffusion in an almost stagnant fluid. Metamorphic veins can be seen as witnesses of fluid and mass redistribution that partly accommodate the rock deformation (lateral segregation).     

Deformation temperatures and flow vorticities near the base of the Greater Himalayan Series,Sutlej Valley and Shimla Klippe,NW India

We report new deformation temperature and flow vorticity data from the base of the Greater Himalayan Series (GHS) exposed in the Sutlej Valley and Shimla Klippe of NW India. We focus on three groups of transects across the hanging wall of the Main Central Thrust (MCT). In order of relative foreland – hinterland positions, they are the Shimla Klippe, Western and Eastern Sutlej transects. Deformation temperatures indicated by quartz c-axis fabric opening-angles increase both from foreland to hinterland at a given structural distance above the MCT and up structural section from the MCT within individual transects. Deformation temperatures in the immediate hanging wall to the MCT are estimated at ∼510–535, 535–550 and 610 °C on the Shimla, Western Sutlej and Eastern Sutlej transects, respectively. The steepest inferred field gradients in deformation temperatures are recorded adjacent to the MCT and progressively decrease up structural section following a power law relationship. Comparison with temperature estimates based on multi-mineral phase equilibria data suggests that penetrative shearing occurred at close to peak metamorphic conditions. Vorticity analyses indicate that shearing along the base of the GHS occurred under sub-simple shear conditions (Wm values of 0.9–1.0) with a minor component of pure shear.     

Morphology and kinematics of boudinage vein systems,Great Keppel Island,Queensland

Strongly boudinaged sandstone beds in a Palaeozoic accretionary complex are exposed on Great Keppel Island, off the central Queensland coast. Viewed in profile, the boudins are folded around mesoscopic F₂ hinge zones and overprinted by S₂ foliation indicating formation either during Late Carboniferous subduction accretion (D₁) or during a previously unrecognised discrete early phase of the Permian deformation (D₂). Boudin profiles record an average stretch of 1.51, although the contribution of D₂ and later deformation is not determined. Viewed in the plane of bedding, vein traces are variable and oblique to boudin necks by an average of 12° anticlockwise. The overall en echelon arrangement of veins in boudin necks is a primary feature of the structure and cannot be attributed to later deformation. This pattern of veining indicates oblique extension of the boudin necks by low‐vorticity non‐coaxial flow within the plane of bedding. One possible setting with such kinematics is the limb of a non‐cylindrical fold.     

延边开山屯花岗闪长岩-石英闪长岩体年代学、地球化学特征及对古太平洋板块俯冲作用时限的制约

近年来古太平洋构造域的构造演化备受学者关注。本文报道的延边开山屯地区花岗闪长岩-石英闪长岩体LAICP-MS U-Pb年龄表明其形成时间为早侏罗世早期(198±1Ma),所采样品可根据Zr/Hf值分为高Zr/Hf值组花岗闪长岩和低Zr/Hf值组石英闪长岩。高Zr/Hf值组花岗闪长岩起源深度浅,富集Rb、Th、U、K等大离子亲石元素(LILEs),贫Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素(HFSEs),具壳源岩浆的特点。低Zr/Hf值组为壳源岩浆与来自深部的亏损地幔岩浆混合而成,岩石亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Ti等高场强元素,具有典型的弧型岩浆地球化学特征。岩体中存在细粒闪长质包体,镜下可见针柱状磷灰石。开山屯岩体属钙碱性系列岩石,结合前人资料,认为其与该地区同时代火成岩组成北-东向分布的早侏罗世活动大陆边缘型火成岩带,而位于该带西侧的小兴安岭-张广才岭地区存在同时代弧后拉张带,两者构成典型的大陆弧与弧后拉张带模型,共同揭示了早侏罗世早期古太平洋板块对东北地区的俯冲作用。     

四川瀑布沟地区断裂破碎带的物质成分与断裂活动年代

本文主要研究断层泥中新生的粘土矿物特征,并研究断层泥中石英碎砾表面溶蚀的显微形貌结构特征。粘土矿物以X-射线衍射分析为主,石英碎砾则利用扫描电子显微镜对其显微形貌结构进行分析,并根据石英表面溶蚀的形貌特征来探讨断裂活动的相对年代     

云南维西格坡洛斑岩型锑矿矿床成因

锑矿化集中于喜马拉雅期石英斑岩内接触带,存在矿源层形成、充分分异及近地表成矿三个阶段。可作为滇西碱性岩锡矿床典型。