Geological and SHRIMP II U-Pb constraints on the age and origin of the Breves Cu-Au-(W-Bi-Sn) deposit,Carajás,Brazil

The Breves deposit in the Carajás Copper-Gold Belt, Brazil, a member of the Cu-Au-(W-Bi-Sn) group of deposits, contains about 50 Mt of 1.22% Cu, 0.75 g/t Au, 2.4 g/t Ag, 1,200 g/t W, 70 g/t Sn, 175 g/t Mo and 75 g/t Bi. It is hosted by sandstones and siltstones of the Águas Claras Formation (minimum age of 2,681±5 Ma) in the roof zone of a complex, highly altered granite intrusion. The mineralisation is disseminated in a greisenized zone, resulting from alteration of probable monzogranites and syenogranites. The ore-bearing greisen contains abundant xenomorphic quartz in association with Fe-chlorite and muscovite. The gangue assemblage also includes fluorite, tourmaline, and minor amounts of monazite, xenotime, chlorapatite, thorite, zircon, calcite, siderite and bastnäesite. Copper mineralisation is dominated by chalcopyrite associated with pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and molybdenite. Gold particles, in equilibrium with native bismuth, are common as inclusions in chalcopyrite. The greisen contains sub-economic concentrations of tungsten and niobium that are related to the presence of ferberite, qitianlingite and Nb-rutile. SHRIMP II zircon dating of the host granites gives ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 1,878±8 and 1,880±9 Ma for two phases, and a combined age of 1,879±6 Ma. SHRIMP II dating of monazite and xenotime grains in late- to post-mineralisation veins gives a combined ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 1,872±7 Ma, indistinguishable from the ages of the granites. This provides a genetic connection between the Breves deposit and the ca. 1.88 Ga A-type granite magmatism that typifies the Carajás Belt as part of a much larger, intracratonic magmatic province that extends over much of the Amazonian Craton. The recognition of this association has exploration implications, not only for the geophysical signature of the granite roof zones, but also for likely geochemical dispersion around the deposits of this type.Editorial handling: G. Beaudoin     

The aeolian sedimentation record of the Thar desert

A review of the aeolian sedimentary record of the Thar desert is presented. This includes a regional survey of the major dune forms, their genesis and their relationship to climate and other regional landforms. A key aspect of this work is the chronometry of the dunes using luminescence methods. Luminescence dating of sand has enabled quantification of the duration of the phases of sand aggradation and quiescence, time scales of dune migration and the dating of pedogenic carbonates. We demonstrate that the conventional wisdom of synchronicity of dune aggradation with glacial epoch is not true in the context of Thar sands and here only a short durationwindow of opportunity existed for dune aggradation. Luminescence ages further suggest that this window occurred during a transitional climatic regime from glacial to interglacial about 4–10 ka after the glacial epoch. Other inferences included are that:

U-Pb SHRIMP and Nd isotopic data from the western Bohemian Massif (Bayerischer Wald,Germany): Implications for Upper Vendian and Lower Ordovician magmatism

U-Pb SHRIMP dating of zircons of metamagmatites from the Bayerischer Wald (Germany) reveals a complex evolution of this section of the Moldanubian Zone exposed in the western Bohemian Massif of the central European Variscan belt. In the south-western part of the Bayerischer Wald Upper Vendian magmatism is constrained by pooled ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U mean ages of 555±12, 549±7 and 549±6 Ma from metarhyolites and a metabasite. Inherited zircon cores were not observed. Zircon overgrowths, yielding pooled ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 316±10 and 319±5 Ma, provide evidence for Variscan metamorphic zircon growth; cathodoluminescence imaging reveals a two-stage metamorphic overprint.In contrast, Lower Ordovician magmatism and anatexis are documented in the north-eastern parts of the Bayerischer Wald by metagranitoids (480±6, 486±7 Ma), an eclogitic metabasite (481±8 Ma) and a leucosome (491 to 457 Ma). Inherited zircon cores are found in Lower Ordovician metagranitoids and the leucosome, indicating a Palaeoproterozoic-Archaean (ca. 2.7, 2.0 Ga) source region, presumably of Gondwana affinity (West African craton), and documenting Cadomian magmatism (ca. 640 Ma). Post-Cadomian metamorphism is inferred from concordant ages of 433±4 and 431±7 Ma.Upper Vendian magmatism is assumed at an active continental margin with ensialic back-arc development (ε_Nd(t) –3.01 to +1.22); the lack of inherited zircon is due to either derivation from juvenile (?volcanic arc) material or complete isotopic resetting of pre-existing zircon. An active continental margin setting, possibly with some lateral variation (accretion/collision) is envisaged for the Lower Ordovician, producing granitoids, rhyolites and leucosomes (ε_Nd(t) -0.5 to -6.27); MORB-type metabasites may be related to ZEV or Mariánské Lázně Complex metabasites. A tentative palaeogeographic reconstruction puts the “Bayerischer Wald” in close relationship with the Habach terrane (proto-Alps), as the “eastern” extension of terranes of the northern Gondwana margin.     

Do extrusion ages reflect magma generation processes at depth? An example from the Neogene Volcanic Province of SE Spain

The high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks along the Neogene Volcanic Province of SE Spain represent crustal anatectic melts mixed with mantle components during the opening of the Alborán Sea. Partially melted metapelitic enclaves, along with the geochemical signature, provide evidence of their crustal source. U–Pb SHRIMP geochronology on monazite and zircon from enclaves and their hosting lavas in the localities of El Hoyazo, Mazarrón and Mar Menor reveals variable delays between the melting at depth and the eruption of the volcanics. These data indicate that: (1) the most important event of anatexis in the Neogene spanned at least the 3 m.y. interval between 12 and 9 Ma; (2) there is no trend in age of crustal melting; and (3) the delay between magma generation and extrusion varies from more than 3 m.y. at El Hoyazo to ~0.5 m.y. and possibly 2.5 m.y. at Mar Menor, with no significant delay measurable at Mazarrón. The variable time delay between anatexis and lava extrusion indicates that radiometric ages of volcanics may provide misleading information on the timing of magma genesis occurring at depth. This highlights the pitfall of basing detailed geodynamic models on volcanic extrusion ages alone. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

内蒙古苏莫查干敖包萤石矿区流纹岩锆石SHRIMP定年及地质意义

内蒙古苏查（苏莫查干敖包）萤石矿区晚古生代火山沉积岩分布广泛,主要岩石类型有碳泥质板岩、结晶灰岩、凝灰岩、千枚岩、英安岩和流纹岩,其中碳泥质板岩和流纹岩为苏查特大型萤石矿床的顶和底板围岩。采用锆石SHRIMP UPb铅法分别对底板围岩中蚀变流纹岩和顶板围岩中未蚀变流纹岩样品进行了同位素年代测定,所获数据分别为276±10 Ma和271±8 Ma。蚀变和未蚀变流纹岩的形成时间均为海西晚期（早二叠世）。苏查萤石矿区早二叠世流纹岩是华北陆台与西伯利亚板块从碰撞挤压到松弛张裂转折期,酸性岩浆喷发活动的产物,其成岩物质来自壳、幔混合源。早二叠世流纹岩的出现不仅标志着苏查到西里庙地区海西期构造岩浆活动的终结,同时也为苏查特大型萤石矿床的成矿作用提供了动力、热力和物质来源。早二叠世流纹岩成岩时代的厘定不仅为阐明华北陆台北缘西段构造演化历史提供了科学依据,而且对于查明流纹岩的原岩性质和圈定新的萤石矿床找矿靶区也具有重要意义。     

河南桐柏围山城地区主要侵入岩年代学与地球化学特征

河南省桐柏围山城地区位于华北板块与扬子板块之间的秦岭造山带与大别造山带的衔接部位,本文对产于该区的主要侵入岩体开展了锆石SHRIMP测年和岩石地球化学特征研究。总共对8件样品开展了SHRIMP测年,其中产于破山银矿区的云斜煌岩获得的锆石SHRIMP测年结果为461.8 ± 9.7 Ma,MSWD＝1.10,表明其形成于加里东中期。在桃园岩体及其南部混染带内产出的变辉长岩、石英闪长岩、花岗闪长岩和黑云母花岗岩共获得了6组年龄数据,分别是431.7 ± 8.3 Ma （MSWD＝0.76）、432.3 ± 7.5Ma （MSWD＝0.45）、470.3 ± 8.3Ma（MSWD＝1.3）、431.5 ± 8.2 Ma（MSWD＝1.6）、433 ± 11 Ma（MSWD＝1.8）和426.7 ± 9.1 Ma（MSWD＝1.6）,说明桃园岩体是加里东晚期岩浆侵位产物。梁湾岩体花岗闪长岩和二长花岗岩的锆石SHRIMP测年结果分别为132.5 ± 2.3Ma （MSWD＝1.5）和137.0 ± 3.4Ma （MSWD＝1.9）,为燕山中期。锆石SHRIMP测年结果表明,围山城地区主要侵入岩的岩浆活动集中在三个时期,分别是460-470Ma,430Ma和135Ma。侵入岩体的岩石地球化学研究结果表明,与加里东晚期花岗岩相比,燕山中期花岗岩明显富K、Nb和Rb贫Na和Y。Pb-Sr-Nd同位素示踪研究表明,加里东晚期花岗岩明显富含放射性成因Pb,其206Pb/204Pb值为19.342～19.712,平均值19.512,（87Sr/86Sr）i值较低,变化于0.70211~0.704899,εNd (t)值均为正值,变化范围为+3.55～+7.53,显示成岩物质来源较深,可能来自亏损地幔;而燕山中期花岗岩的放射性成因Pb含量低,206Pb/204Pb值为17.278～17.492,平均值17.370, （87Sr/86Sr）i值相对较高,为0.707004~0.716968,εNd (t)值均为较大负值,变化范围为-16.95～-9.76,显示成岩物质来源较浅,可能来自下地壳。围山城地区加里东晚期花岗岩与燕山中期花岗岩岩石地球化学特征上的差别与它们形成时所处的大地构造环境有关,加里东晚期花岗岩形成于弧后环境,而燕山中期花岗岩则形成于华北与扬子两大板块碰撞后的岩石圈减薄与伸展构造环境。     

Paleozoic tectonism on the East Gondwana margin: Evidence from SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology of a migmatite–granite complex in West Antarctica

The Fosdick Mountains migmatite–granite complex in West Antarctica records episodes of crustal melting and plutonism in Devonian–Carboniferous time that acted to transform transitional crust, dominated by immature oceanic turbidites of the accretionary margin of East Gondwana, into stable continental crust. West Antarctica, New Zealand and Australia originated as contiguous parts of this margin, according to plate reconstructions, however, detailed correlations are uncertain due to a lack of isotopic and geochronological data. Our study of the mid-crustal exposures of the Fosdick range uses U–Pb SHRIMP zircon geochronology to examine the tectonic environment and timing for Paleozoic magmatism in West Antarctica, and to assess a correlation with the better known Lachlan Orogen of eastern Australia and Western Province of New Zealand.NNE–SSW to NE–SW contraction occurred in West Antarctica in early Paleozoic time, and is expressed by km-scale folds developed both in lower crustal metasedimentary migmatite gneisses of the Fosdick Mountains and in low greenschist-grade turbidite successions of the upper crust, present in neighboring ranges. The metasedimentary rocks and structures were intruded by calc-alkaline, I-type plutons attributed to arc magmatism along the convergent East Gondwana margin. Within the Fosdick Mountains, the intrusions form a layered plutonic complex at lower structural levels and discrete plutons at upper levels. Dilational structures that host anatectic granite overprint plutonic layering and migmatitic foliation. They exhibit systematic geometries indicative of NNE–SSW stretching, parallel to a first-generation mineral lineation. New U–Pb SHRIMP zircon ages for granodiorite and porphyritic monzogranite plutons, and for leucogranites that occupy shear bands and other mesoscopic-scale structural sites, define an interval of 370 to 355 Ma for plutonism and migmatization.Paleozoic plutonism in West Antarctica postdates magmatism in the western Lachlan Orogen of Australia, but it coincides with that in the central part of the Lachlan Orogen and with the rapid main phase of emplacement of the Karamea Batholith of the Western Province, New Zealand. Emplaced within a 15 to 20 million year interval, the Paleozoic granitoids of the Fosdick Mountains are a product of subduction-related plutonism associated with high temperature metamorphism and crustal melting. The presence of anatectic granites within extensional structures is a possible indication of alternating strain states (‘tectonic switching’) in a supra-subduction zone setting characterized by thin crust and high heat flow along the Devonian–Carboniferous accretionary margin of East Gondwana.     

山东沂水杂岩中变基性岩的岩石地球化学特征及锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年

山东沂水杂岩由新太古代岩浆杂岩和中太古代的变质杂岩组成,其后者中的变基性岩石,特别是基性麻粒岩,常与紫苏花岗岩紧密伴生,而且多呈大小不等的包体或呈层状体产出。本文主要对变基性岩进行岩石地球化学和锆石SHRIMP UPb定年研究。根据岩石学特征,可将变基性岩分为三类：含紫苏辉石斜长角闪岩、含石榴子石角闪二辉斜长麻粒岩和含尖晶石—石榴子石的角闪二辉麻粒岩。它们原岩分别为安山质玄武岩、高铁镁质玄武岩和玄武质科马提岩（？）。三类岩石稀土元素和微量元素配分有一定差别：第一类含紫苏辉石斜长角闪岩富集轻稀土和大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等高场强元素;后二类麻粒岩相变质岩的稀土配分模式为近平坦型或轻稀土略为富集, K、Rb、Ba等元素也轻微富集,其他元素与MORB的比值接近于1。变基性岩中锆石定年结果显示有四组年龄值,其中2719Ma和2560～2607Ma分别代表早期麻粒岩相变质作用的年龄下限和上限;2509～2522Ma代表另一期角闪岩相—麻粒岩相变质作用的时代,发生在沂水岩浆杂岩侵入之后;2485Ma和2497Ma代表与流体作用有关的变质作用和新生锆石的形成年龄。     

鲁西泰山岩群变质枕状玄武岩岩相学和侵入的奥长花岗岩SHRIMP锆石U Pb年代学

鲁西泰山岩群柳杭岩组中,典型变质枕状玄武岩出露在济南章丘的团员沟村西一带。本文对变质枕状玄武岩的野外地质和岩相学特征,作了详细描述。电子探针分析表明,岩枕内部既有原生斜长石(An>30),又有绿片岩相变质形成的钠长石(An<10)。侵入柳杭岩组的片麻状奥长花岗岩中的岩浆锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为2707±9Ma,它限制了泰山岩群形成时代不晚于2.71Ga。     

祁连山东段剥蚀面与青藏高原隆升

祁连山北麓广泛分布着一级剥蚀面, 它是山地阶段性隆升的产物. 通过对剥蚀面之上砾石层中细砂物质的ESR测年以及黄土地层的古地磁测定, 认为祁连山东段的剥蚀面最终解体于1.4 Ma BP. 这与邻近区域陇西盆地的剥蚀面解体时代(1.8 Ma BP)有所差异, 这或许是第四纪期间青藏高原阶段性隆升在区域间存在着差异特征的重要表现.