Mineralogical Characteristics of the Separated Magnetic Rutile of the Egyptian Black Sands

The Egyptian black sands contain several economic minerals, such as ilmenite, magnetite, garnet, zircon, rutile and monazite. During the concentration and separation of a high-grade rutile concentrate a bulk magnetic fraction is obtained. This fraction is composed mainly of opaques, titanhematite, ilmenite–titanhematite exsolved intergrown grains, magnetic leucoxene in addition to chromite, and magnetic rutile. The magnetic rutile occupies 6 wt.% of the bulk magnetic fraction or approx. 4 wt.% of the original rutile content in the raw sands. Most of magnetic rutile crystals are contaminated with opaque inclusions, staining-coating and/or composite locked grains. This magnetic rutile has a magnetic range from strongly paramagnetic to very weak paramagnetic. Electron microprobe analysis for twenty-three magnetic rutile grains identified mineral components of rutile, titanhematite, pseudorutile, leached pseudorutile and ilmenite in decreasing order of abundance. Some other inclusions are also detected in the different magnetic rutile grains. They are most probably garnet, silica, amphibole, ilmenite, feldspar, mica and zircon. The presence of these inclusions reflect the derivation of magnetic rutile of various crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks. The magnetic susceptibility of magnetic rutile depends on the associated mineral components and their relative volumes in comparison to the rutile mineral component. Magnetic susceptibility of magnetic rutile is also related to both type and size of the associated mineral inclusions. The average chemical composition of the magnetic rutile is 66.34 wt.% TiO₂, 21.71 wt.% Fe₂O₃, 6.39 wt.% SiO₂, 1.80 wt.% Al₂O₃, 1.19 wt.% CaO and 0.10 wt.% Cr₂O₃. Thus, the contamination of magnetic rutile in the non-magnetic rutile concentrate would decrease the market value of the rutile concentrate. Alternatively these magnetic rutile grains are recommended to be blended with magnetic leucoxene or some types of ilmenite concentrate to improve the overall marketable specifications especially for both of Ti, Fe and Cr contents.     

Characteristics and sources of ore-forming fluids of South Narimalahei copper polymetallic deposit in East Kunlun,Qinghai

The South Narimalahei area is located on the north side of the Middle Kunlun fault in the eastern section of the East Kunlun composite orogenic belt. The ore body is veined and controlled by structures and se-condary fissures, which occurs in the structural alteration fracture zone in the Late Triassic granodiorite. In this deposit, copper mineralization is closely related to silicification and sericification. The formation process of the deposit includes hydrothermal mineralization and supergene oxidation. In this paper, the fluid inclusion minera-logy, microscopic temperature measurement and stable isotope studies have been carried out for ore of the main mineralization stage. The results show that the primary gas-liquid two-phase inclusions and a small amount of single-liquid inclusions are mainly developed in the quartz in the main mineralization stage. The results of microscopic temperature measurement show that the ore-forming fluid which has low temperature(151.7℃--205.8℃), low salinity(2.06 wt%--4.94 wt%NaCl), low density(0.86--0.92 g/cm~3) and shallow formation(1.5--3.0 km) is a hydrothermal solution of NaCl-H_2O system. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope results show that the ore-forming fluids mainly come from atmospheric precipitation, with a small amount of magmatic fluids participating. It is preliminarily determined that the South Narimalahei copper polymetallic deposit is a low-temperature hydrothermal vein deposit.     

Testing the preservation potential of early diagenetic dolomites as geochemical archives

Early marine diagenetic dolomite is a rather thermodynamically-stable carbonate phase and has potential to act as an archive of marine porewater properties. However, the variety of early to late diagenetic dolomite phases that can coexist within a single sample can result in extensive complexity. Here, the archive potential of early marine dolomites exposed to extreme post-depositional processes is tested using various types of analyses, including: petrography, fluid inclusion data, stable δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O isotopes, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, and U-Pb age dating of various dolomite phases. In this example, a Triassic carbonate platform was dissected and overprinted (diagenetic temperatures of 50 to 430°C) in a strike-slip zone in Southern Spain. Eight episodes of dolomitization, a dolostone cataclasite and late stage meteoric/vadose cementation were recognized. The following processes were found to be diagenetically relevant: (i) protolith deposition and fabric-preservation, and marine dolomitization of precursor aragonite and calcite during the Middle–Late Triassic; (ii) intermediate burial and formation of zebra saddle dolomite and precipitation of various dolomite cements in a Proto-Atlantic opening stress regime (T ca 250°C) during the Early–Middle Jurassic; (iii) dolomite cement precipitation during early Alpine tectonism, rapid burial to ca 15 km, and high-grade anchizone overprint during Alpine tectonic evolution in the Early Eocene to Early Miocene; (iv) brecciation of dolostones to cataclasite during the onset of the Carboneras Fault Zone activity during the Middle Miocene; and (v) late-stage regression and subsequent meteoric overprint. Data shown here document that, under favourable conditions, early diagenetic marine dolomites and their archive data may resist petrographic and geochemical resetting over time intervals of 10⁸ or more years. Evidence for this preservation includes preserved Late Triassic seawater δ¹³C_DIC values and primary fluid inclusion data. Data also indicate that oversimplified statements based on bulk data from other petrographically-complex dolomite archives must be considered with caution.     

大厂锡矿床黑色包裹体成因分析及容矿围岩的古地温研究

在大厂长坡-铜坑矿床,锡石中普遍存在具有代表性的2类包裹体:黑色包裹体和气-液两相的流体包裹体。文章通过对包裹体结构形态和理论分析,证明黑色包裹体是原生流体包裹体在内压超高(overpressured)条件下形成的。通过牙形石色温指数(CAI)及表面残余结构的研究,获得了容矿岩石的古地温为300～650℃,与前人通过气-液两相包裹体获得的矿化温度(240～540℃)高度吻合,说明容矿围岩的受热事件与同期矿化事件,其热源具有同源性,可能来自矿床下伏的燕山期花岗岩。层状主矿体锡石中原生的流体包裹体正是在这期事件的影响下,变成了黑色包裹体。这些研究证明,大厂锡矿至少有早、晚2期成矿作用。黑色包裹体的发现和古地温的恢复,为层状主矿体是在海底热液喷流沉积成因的认识提供了关键证据。     

Cryptic metasomatic agent measured in situ in Variscan mantle rocks: Melt inclusions in garnet of eclogite,Granulitgebirge, Germany

Garnet of eclogite (formerly termed garnet clinopyroxenite) hosted in lenses of orogenic garnet peridotite from the Granulitgebirge, NW Bohemian Massif, contains unique inclusions of granitic melt, now either glassy or crystallized. Analysed glasses and re-homogenized inclusions are hydrous, peraluminous, and enriched in highly incompatible elements characteristic of the continental crust such as Cs, Li, B, Pb, Rb, Th, and U. The original melt thus represents a pristine, chemically evolved metasomatic agent, which infiltrated the mantle via deep continental subduction during the Variscan orogeny. The bulk chemical composition of the studied eclogites is similar to that of Fe-rich basalt and the enrichment in LILE and U suggest a subduction-related component. All these geochemical features confirm metasomatism. In comparison with many other garnet+clinopyroxene-bearing lenses in peridotites of the Bohemian Massif, the studied samples from Rubinberg and Klatschmühle are more akin to eclogite than pyroxenites, as reflected in high jadeite content in clinopyroxene, relatively low Mg, Cr, and Ni but relatively high Ti. However, trace elements of both bulk rock and individual mineral phases show also important differences making these samples rather unique. Metasomatism involving a melt requiring a trace element pattern very similar to the composition reported here has been suggested for the source region of rocks of the so-called durbachite suite, that is, ultrapotassic melanosyenites, which are found throughout the high-grade Variscan basement. Moreover, the Th, U, Pb, Nb, Ta, and Ti patterns of these newly studied melt inclusions (MI) strongly resemble those observed for peridotite and its enclosed pyroxenite from the T-7 borehole (Staré, České Středhoři Mountains) in N Bohemia. This suggests that a similar kind of crustal-derived melt also occurred here. This study of granitic MI in eclogites from peridotites has provided the first direct characterization of a preserved metasomatic melt, possibly responsible for the metasomatism of several parts of the mantle in the Variscides.     

Olivine-hosted melt inclusions in Pliocene–Quaternary lavas from the Qorveh–Bijar volcanic belt,western Iran: implications for source lithology and cooling history

ABSTRACT

Silicate melt inclusions (SMIs) are small droplets of magma that become trapped in minerals during crystal growth. SMIs in olivine crystals can provide critical information on the range of melt compositions and processes that occur during melt generation, evolution, transport, and eruption. The Pliocene–Quaternary volcanic rocks in the Qorveh–Bijar volcanic belt of western Iran show porphyritic and microlithic textures, with olivine and clinopyroxene being the dominant minerals. Magnesian olivines in these volcanic rocks contain primary SMIs. The composition and characteristic of olivine-hosted SMI of these rocks are investigated to constrain the source lithology for mafic volcanism. Bulk compositions of the SMIs overlap those of their host rocks and extend to higher CaO/Al₂O₃ values. The estimated entrapment pressures and temperatures of the studied SMIs are 9.1–10.3 kbar and 1220–1355°C. The calculated mafic parental melt contains 42.36 wt.% SiO₂, low total alkalis (3.22 wt.%), and high MgO (16.1 wt.%). Exploratory calculations using pMELTS show that this parental composition underwent variable degrees of fractional crystallization, as reflected by the variable compositions of the SMIs. Several lines of evidence including pyroxene xenocrysts and high FeO/MnO, FC3MS (FeO/CaO – 3*MgO/SiO2), and Zn/Fe ratios (14–21), suggest that a metasomatized pyroxenitic source contributed to the genesis of the parental melt. Amphibole in the SMIs indicates a high volatile content in the parental melt, which we conclude was generated from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle source. The pyroxenite source also contained garnet. Our geochemical results lead us to propose a new petrogenetic model. Specifically, we infer that a dense and unstable portion of the lithosphere underwent localized laminar detachment and downward flow, i.e. lithospheric drip. This drip underwent volatile-enhanced partial melting during descent through the underlying hot asthenosphere and generated the studied volcanic rocks.     

Restoring Halite Fluid Inclusions as an Accurate Palaeothermometer: Brillouin Thermometry Versus Microthermometry

Halite traps inclusions of the mother fluid when precipitating. When unchanged, the density of these fluid inclusions (FIs) records the water temperature T_f at the time of crystal formation. As halite is ubiquitous on Earth and geological time, its FIs possess a high potential as temperature archives. However, the use of FIs in halite as an accurate palaeothermometer has been hampered due to limitations of microthermometry, the most commonly used analytical method. Here, we show how Brillouin spectroscopy in halite FIs bypasses these limitations and allows recovering T_f to within 1 °C or less. To demonstrate this, we measured samples synthesised at 24.6 ± 0.5 °C and 33 ± 1 °C, and obtained 24.8 ± 0.4 °C and 31.9 ± 0.4 °C, respectively. This novel approach thus provides an accurate palaeothermometer for lacustrine and marine environments. Moreover, Brillouin spectroscopy solves the long‐standing debate on damage of halite fluid inclusions through quantifying the acceptable temperature excursion for preserving elastic behaviour: [l/(1 µm)]^?0.64 × (90 °C), where l is the FI size. This threshold is lower for FIs close to the surface of the host crystal or to another FI. We also list ‘best practices’ for applying both microthermometry and Brillouin thermometry.     

南大西洋中脊26°S热液区成矿物质来源探讨

南大西洋中脊的26°S热液区广泛发育多金属硫化物、底泥、枕状熔岩、非活动性烟囱体和活动性烟囱体。为了有效探索硫、铜等成矿物质的来源以及成矿作用过程,分别以玄武岩、烟囱体残片及块状多金属硫化物为研究对象,开展了熔融包裹体、硫同位素和铜同位素研究。结果显示：区内玄武岩新鲜未蚀变且斑晶中产出大量熔融包裹体;熔融包裹体气泡壁附着黄铜矿、黄铁矿及磁铁矿等子矿物,说明在岩浆作用过程中可从熔浆中分离出成矿所需的金属元素和硫,这些成矿元素随着岩浆去气作用进入挥发分中,并随着脱气作用迁移出来。通过对烟囱体残片及块状多金属硫化物中黄铁矿的硫同位素组成进行比对分析,发现26°S热液区内硫化物的硫同位素与大西洋各热液区硫化物的硫同位素变化范围相一致,但δ³⁴S_V-CDT值略低（3.0‰~3.9‰）。低的δ³⁴S_V-CDT值指示硫以岩浆硫源为主,海水硫酸盐还原硫占比低。黄铜矿呈现略微富铜重同位素特征且分馏程度较低,其δ⁶⁵Cu值（0.171‰~0.477‰）趋近于大洋中脊玄武岩的铜同位素值（0）。综合硫同位素及铜同位素特征,表明热液流体经历了岩浆和海水的混合过程,成矿物质主要来自于岩浆热液,成矿作用过程中可能有少量海水混入。     

冈底斯西段罗布真浅成低温热液型金银矿的成矿流体演化:来自流体包裹体、H-O同位素的证据

西藏昂仁县罗布真金银矿位于冈底斯成矿带西段,其大地构造位置属于南拉萨微陆块,矿体受北西西的断裂构造控制,呈脉状、透镜状产于始新世帕那组火山岩中。按照矿石工业类型分类,矿石类型可分为角砾岩型、石英脉型和蚀变岩型等三类,主要金银矿石矿物为自然金和碲银矿等。矿区广泛繁育不同特征的热液脉体,通过系统的野外观测以及全面的岩相学研究,依据矿物共生组合、脉体切穿关系及蚀变特征,将热液脉体从早到晚划分为石英-黄铁矿阶段(S1)的石英-黄铁矿大脉、玉髓华石英-金-多金属硫化物阶段(S2)的石英-金属硫化物网脉、石英-碳酸盐矿物阶段(S3)的石英-方解石细脉。罗布真金银矿床热液脉体主要发育气液两相流体包裹体(富液两相包裹体、富气两相包裹体)和含子矿物(碳酸盐矿物)三相流体包裹体。本文在野外地质调查的基础上,对不同成矿阶段的石英脉进行了流体包裹体的岩相学观测、显微测温、成分分析以及H-O同位素测试。S1阶段流体包裹体的形成温度集中在310~330 ℃,盐度(w(NaCl_eq))集中在5.0%~10.1%,密度介于0.60~0.80 g/cm³;S2阶段流体包裹体的形成温度集中在240~280 ℃,盐度介于3.0%~7.0%,密度介于0.70~0.90 g/cm³;S3阶段流体包裹体的形成温度集中在121~215 ℃,盐度集中在1.0%~5.0%,密度集中在0.85~1.00 g/cm³。拉曼分析表明,罗布真金银矿的流体包裹体成分以H₂O为主,并含有少量的CO₂、N₂、CH₄等气体及方解石子晶。各热液脉体石英中流体包裹体的δ${{\text{D}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{O},\text{V-SMOW}}}$值的变化范围为-106.1‰~-97.5‰,δ¹⁸${{\text{O}}_{{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{O},\text{V-SMOW}}}$值的变化范围为-7.33‰~-7.13‰,展示其成矿流体主要源自火山岩围岩中的循环地下水,在早阶段还有少量岩浆水的加入。成矿流体在岩浆作用驱动下,沿着断裂从深部封闭体系运移到浅部的开放体系,迅速突破临界状态减压沸腾并产生相分离导致金属硫化物沉淀,形成矿化。随着含矿热液成矿物质及金属硫化物的大量析出,流体温度、盐度迅速降低,金属矿物成矿作用随之结束。罗布真金银矿床的成矿流体为中低温、低盐度、中低密度并含有少量CO₂、N₂、CH₄等气体的流体,具有典型的浅成低温热液矿床成矿流体的特征。     

The amphibolite-granulite facies transition in West Uusimaa, S.W. Finland. A fluid inclusion study

This work presents the results of a fluid inclusion study of an amphibolite-granulite facies transition in West Uusimaa, S.W. Finland. Early fluid-inclusions in the granulite facies area are characteristically carbonic (CO₂), in contrast to predominantly aqueous early inclusions in the amphibolite facies area. These early inclusions can be related to peak metamorphic conditions (750-820°C and 3-5 kbar for peak granulite facies metamorphism). Relatively young CO₂ inclusions with low densities (<0.8g/cm³) indicate that the first part of the cooling history of the rocks was characterized by a near isothermal uplift.
N₂-CH₄ inclusions, with compositions ranging between pure CH₄ and pure N₂ (Raman spectral analysis), were found in the whole area. They are probably syn- or even pre-early inclusions. Only nearly critical homogenizing inclusions have been found (low density). Pressure estimates, based on densities of early fluid inclusions, show that the rapid transition of amphibolite towards granulite facies metamorphism is virtually isobaric. Granulite facies metamorphism in West Uusimaa is a thermal event, probably induced by the influx of hot, CO₂-bearing fluids.