Direct dating of folding events by 40Ar/39Ar analysis of synkinematic muscovite from flexural-slip planes

Timing of folding is usually dated indirectly, with limited isotopic dating studies reported in the literature. The present study investigated the timing of intracontinental, multi-stage folding in Upper Proterozoic sandstone, limestone, and marble near Beijing, North China, and adjacent regions. Detailed field investigations with microstructural, backscattered electron (BSE) images and electron microprobe analyses indicate that authigenic muscovite and sericite crystallized parallel to stretching lineations/striations or along thin flexural-slip surfaces, both developed during the complex deformation history of the study area, involving repeated compressional, extensional and strike-slip episodes. Muscovite/sericite separates from interlayer-slip surfaces along the limbs and from dilatant sites in the hinges of folded sandstones yield muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of ∼158–159 Ma, whereas those from folded marble and limestone samples yield ages of 156 ± 1 Ma. Muscovite from thin flexural-slip planes on fold limbs and hinges yields ages within analytical error of ∼155–165 Ma. Further muscovite samples collected from extensionally folded limestone and strike-slip drag folds yield younger ages of 128–125 Ma with well-defined plateaus. To assess the potential influence of the detrital mica component of the host rock on the age data, two additional muscovite samples were investigated, one from a folded upper Proterozoic–Cambrian sandstone outside the Western Hills of Beijing and one from a folded sandstone sampled 20 cm from folding-related slip planes. Muscovite separates from these samples yield significantly older ages of 575 ± 2 Ma and 587 ± 2 Ma, suggesting that the timing of folding can be directly determined using the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method. This approach enables the identification and dating of distinct deformation events that occur during multi-stage regional folding. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating can be used to constrain the timing of muscovite and sericite growth at moderate to low temperatures (<400 °C) during folding, yielding well-defined plateau ages and thereby the age of deformation in the upper crust.     

Early Albian marine environments in Madagascar: An integrated approach based on oxygen,carbon and strontium isotopic data

New palaeotemperature reconstructions have been obtained on the basis of oxygen isotopic analysis of 178 aragonitic shell samples taken from specimens of three ammonoid orders (and some corresponding families): Phylloceratida (Phylloceratidae), Lytoceratida (Tetragonitidae) and Ammonitida (Oppeliidae, Desmoceratidae, Silesitidae, Cleoniceratidae and Douvilleiceratidae). Those obtained from aragonite shells, secreted in the lower epipelagic and in the middle mesopelagic zones during coolest season (winter), range from 15.4 to 16.8 °C, and from 11.8 to 12.0 °C, respectively. Presumed spring/autumn palaeotemperatures obtained from aragonite shells, secreted apparently in the upper and lower epipelagic, upper and middle mesopelagic zones, are somewhat higher. Presumed summer palaeotemperatures, calculated apparently for the upper and lower epipelagic, and upper mesopelagic zones range from 19.4 to 21.7 °C, from 17.7 to 19.4 °C, and from 14.4 to 16.1 °C, respectively. The predominant part of investigated ammonoids from Madagascar inhabited the epipelagic zone, but some phylloceratid, tetragonitid and silesitid ammonoids preferred deeper, cooler conditions (upper-middle mesopelagic zone). The study supports the hypothesis that Madagascar was located in middle latitudes within the tropical-subtropical climatic zone during the early Albian. Available carbon and strontium isotope data allow us to assume a more or less expressed carbon and strontium isotope stratification of the water column in this region in the early Albian. On the basis of the stable isotope data, following partly Lukeneder (2015), two large ethological groups can be recognised mainly in mid-aged and adult ammonoids. Some ammonoids (group 1) preferred apparently mesopelagic conditions, and to a lesser degree the epipelagic zone, being mainly cool-requiring animals. However, a significant part of the isotopically investigated ammonoids (group 2) preferred, on the contrary, only epipelagic conditions, being mainly thermophilic dwellers.     

内蒙古黄花滩铜镍矿区辉长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及地球化学特征

在乌拉特后旗—达茂旗—四子王旗一带的内蒙古中部地区分布着超基性-酸性连续岩浆系列,开展其岩体年代学、地球化学研究可为内蒙古中部地区与超基性-基性岩有关的铜镍矿成矿规律研究提供基础地质资料,还可以推断岩浆侵位时期的区域大地构造背景。本文以达茂旗黄花滩铜镍矿区出露的辉长岩为研究对象,采用LA-ICP-MS仪器对无裂隙、高透明度、阴极发光均匀、环带清晰的锆石进行U-Pb定年,获得岩体加权平均年龄为262.4±1.1 Ma,并利用XRF和ICP-MS进行岩石地球化学分析显示黄花滩辉长岩具有后碰撞拉伸环境下的岩浆特征。综合前人相关研究认为,内蒙古中部地区于中二叠世晚期(255~275 Ma)已经进入后碰撞构造阶段,而古亚洲洋在该区域的闭合应发生在晚二叠世前(~285 Ma),此结论丰富了古亚洲洋闭合时间上限及中晚二叠世期间内蒙古中部地区构造背景方面的证据。     

湖南宝山矿床花岗岩类硫-铅同位素和流体包裹体研究及其成因意义

宝山铜铅锌多金属矿床是湖南重要的铅锌生产基地。矿床内矽卡岩型铜(钼)矿化受侏罗纪花岗闪长斑岩的控制,而主要的铅锌矿体则产于远离岩体的碳酸盐地层中,且缺乏可靠的矿化年龄限制。为了查明宝山铅锌矿体与花岗闪长斑岩之间的成因关系,文章对宝山花岗岩类中浸染状黄铁矿的硫同位素和钾长石的铅同位素,以及铅锌矿石萤石脉石的流体包裹体进行了测试和研究,并与前人报道的铅锌硫化物矿石的硫、铅同位素进行了对比,尝试为宝山铅锌矿化的物质来源及成因提供依据。研究表明,花岗闪长斑岩中浸染状黄铁矿的δ34S值为+1.5‰~+3.5‰,与铅锌矿石硫化物(方铅矿、闪锌矿及黄铁矿)相一致;同时,花岗岩类中钾长石的铅同位素组成206Pb/204Pb、207Pb/204Pb和208Pb/204Pb分别为18.4789~18.7668、15.6835~15.7220和38.7903~39.1035,具有壳源的特征,且与铅锌矿石硫化物的铅同位素分布范围相吻合。宝山矿床的硫、铅同位素特征表明,花岗闪长斑岩应是铅锌矿化的主要硫源及金属来源。宝山矿床铅锌矿石萤石中的流体包裹体具有低温(130~150℃)、低盐度(8%)的特征,可能是岩浆热液演化到晚期的产物。结合已有的有关资料加以对比和分析,研究认为,宝山铅锌矿床的成矿物质应来源于花岗闪长岩的岩浆期后热液,在热液演化晚期迁移到远端地层中沉淀,形成了宝山的主要铅锌矿体。     

广西油麻坡钨钼矿床成岩成矿年代学研究及其地质意义

广西博白_岑溪断裂带位于钦杭成矿带南段,既是一条长期活动的地体边界断裂带,也是一条岩浆活动频繁的W_Mo_Sn_Pb_Zn_Sb_Au_Ag多金属成矿带。文章以该带中的广西博白县油麻坡矽卡岩型钨钼矿床为研究对象,在详细的岩性鉴别和划分的基础上,对矿区内花岗岩类进行了单颗粒锆石LA_ICP_MS锆石U_Pb测年,获得深灰色花岗斑岩的等时线年龄为(479.7±3.9)Ma,灰色黑云母花岗闪长岩为(109.7±1.1)Ma,浅灰色细粒白云母花岗岩为(103.3±1.2)Ma。辉钼矿Re_Os测年获得加权平均年龄为(97.4±1.9)Ma。由此可见,油麻坡岩体为一个复式岩体,由早奥陶世(加里东期)的花岗斑岩和早白垩世(燕山晚期)的黑云母花岗闪长岩和细粒白云母花岗岩组成,其中,黑云母花岗闪长岩构成油麻坡岩体的主体。钨钼矿形成于早白垩世晚期(即燕山晚期),与黑云母花岗闪长岩和白云母花岗岩密切相关。这些高精度测年数据的获得,进一步表明博白断裂带是一条长期活动的断裂,其在加里东期已经活动,并伴有岩浆岩的侵位。燕山晚期,该断裂重新复活,并导致大量的岩浆活动和一定强度的W_Mo_Sn_Pb_Zn_Sb_Au_Ag成矿作用,形成由多个大_中型矿床组成的多金属成矿带。博白_岑溪成矿带属于华南100~80 Ma大规模成矿的一部分,成矿背景与华南地区白垩纪的地壳伸展、钦杭成矿带的再次裂陷有关。     

U–Th–Pb monazite dating and the timing of arc–continent collision in East Timor

The Timor Orogen represents one of the youngest arc–continent collisions exposed on the Earth. It has the potential to provide some of the key parameters about how this style of orogeny evolves. However, the metamorphic age of the highest-grade rocks formed in the collision remains controversial. Using U–Th–Pb dating of monazite from amphibolite-grade sillimanite and garnet-bearing schists we show the peak metamorphism occurred at 5.5–4.7 Ma. The young age of the monazite and the presence of significant amounts of common Pb required the development of a new protocol to simultaneously account for the ²³⁰Th disequilibrium and the ²⁰⁷Pb common Pb correction. The new estimate of metamorphic age is consistent with the estimates based on plate reconstructions for the initiation of arc–continent collision in East Timor. The metamorphic event is a result of this collision.     

河南嵩县店房金矿区花岗斑岩锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素及岩石地球化学

华北陆块南缘外方山店房金矿区内出露后沟、水漉塘和店房钾长花岗斑岩体(脉),其与隐爆角砾岩筒及金矿化有密切的空间关系。为查明钾长花岗斑岩体的侵位时代、岩石成因和源区性质,本次开展了锆石U-Pb定年、锆石Hf同位素及岩石地球化学分析等研究。结果表明岩体具有高硅、高钾、富铝、低镁的特征,属钾玄岩系列Ⅰ型花岗岩,轻重稀土元素分馏明显,具有弱的Eu负异常,岩石富集Rb、K、Ba等,亏损Nb、Ta、Sr、P、Ti等元素。锆石具有核—边结构,其中锆石边SHRIMP U-Pb年龄142.6±2.1Ma(MSWD=1.4),_(εHf)(t)=-23.0~-13.8,两阶段模式年龄主要集中于2075~2652 Ma;锆石核LA-ICPMS U-Pb年龄可分为两组,即2169~2336Ma和1732~1881Ma,Hf同位素组成可分为两组,_(εHf)(t)分别集中于-13.1~-4.8和-4.5~3.7,模式年龄主要集中于2376~2805Ma。表明钾长花岗斑岩体形成于142.6±2.1Ma的早白垩世早期,岩浆可能由2169~2336Ma的古老下地壳新太古代太华群部分熔融而成,并有地幔组分参与,岩浆在上升或定位过程中捕获了1732~1881Ma熊耳群火山岩的锆石。结合区域构造背景认为,该岩体是早白垩世古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆俯冲致使华北陆块岩石圈减薄伸展而引起的岩浆活动的产物。     

Petrogenesis and geodynamic evolution of the Kajan Neogene subvolcanic rocks,Nain, Central Iran

Kajan subvolcanic rocks in the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA), Central Iran, form a Late Miocene-Pliocene shallow-level intrusion. These subvolcanics correspond to a variety of intermediate and felsic rocks, comprising quartz diorite, quartz monzodiorite, tonalite and granite. These lithologies are medium-K calc-alkaline, with SiO₂ (wt.%) varying from 52% (wt.%) to 75 (wt.%). The major element chemical data also show that MgO, CaO, TiO₂, P₂O₅, MnO, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ define linear trends with negative slopes against SiO₂, whilst Na₂O and K₂O are positively correlated with silica. Contents of incompatible trace elements (e.g. Ba, Rb, Nb, La and Zr) become higher with increasing SiO₂, whereas Sr shows an opposite behaviour. Chondrite-normalized multi-element patterns show enrichment in LILE relative to HFSE and troughs in Nb, P and Ti. These observations are typical of subduction related magmas that formed in an active continental margin. The Kajan rocks show a strong affinity with calc-alkaline arc magmas, confirmed by REE fractionation (La_N/Yb_N = 4.5–6.4) with moderate HREE fractionation (Sm_N/Yb_N = 1.08–1.57). The negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* <1), the low to moderate Sr content (< 400 ppm) and the Dy/Yb values reflect plagioclase and hornblende (+- clinopyroxene) fractionation from a calc-alkaline melt Whole–rock Sr and Nd isotope analyses show that the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratios vary from 0.704432 to 0.705989, and the ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd initial ratios go from 0.512722 to 0.512813. All the studied samples have similar Sr-Nd isotopes, indicating an origin from a similar source, with granite samples that has more radiogenic Sr and low radiogenic Nd isotopes, suggesting a minor interaction with upper crust during magma ascent. The Kajan subvolcanic rocks plot within the depleted mantle quadrant of the conventional Sr-Nd isotope diagram, a compositional region corresponding to mantle-derived igneous rocks.     

Water-rock-tailings interactions and sources of sulfur and metals in the subtropical mining region of Taxco,Guerrero (southern Mexico): A multi-isotopic approach

Multi-isotope (H, O, S, Sr, Pb) systems coupled with conventional (major and trace element) hydrogeochemical analysis were applied to determine the origin of water, to model water-rock-tailings interactions and for source apportionment of sulfur and associated toxic metals in the mining region of Taxco, Guerrero in southern Mexico. Oxygen and H isotopes indicate that meteoric water in the zone is rainwater undergoing varying degrees of isotopic fractionation by atmospheric evaporation whereas Sr isotopes trace the interaction of pristine water from volcanics of the regional recharge zone and subsequently flowing through sandstone and shale to spring points. Leachates form from two distinctive sources (spring water and surface water) having differential interactions with bedrocks prior to entering the tailings. Compared to pristine water, leachates are enriched in sulfate, metals (e.g. Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and metalloids (e.g. As). The sulfur isotopic composition of ore-sulfides, leachates, secondary precipitates, regional surface water and hypogenic sulfates is described in terms of a two-component mixing model with shale of Mexcala and limestone of Morelos formations representing the light and heavy end-members, respectively, whereas Sr isotopic composition is bracketed combining three lithogenic (Mexcala/Morelos, Tilzapotla and Taxco Schist) sources. Finally, leachates have a mixture of lead from ore-sulfides and Taxco Schist Formation (Family I) or from ore-sulfides alone (Family II). The application of multiple environmental isotopic techniques is an outstanding tool for elucidating complex interactions of water with bedrocks and tailings and for determining the source of sulfur and toxic metal from mining and other metal polluted environments.     

Iodine budget in surface waters from Atacama: Natural and anthropogenic iodine sources revealed by halogen geochemistry and iodine-129 isotopes

Iodine enrichment in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile is widespread and varies significantly between reservoirs, including nitrate-rich “caliche” soils, supergene Cu deposits and marine sedimentary rocks. Recent studies have suggested that groundwater has played a key role in the remobilization, transport and deposition of iodine in Atacama over scales of millions-of-years. However, and considering that natural waters are also anomalously enriched in iodine in the region, the relative source contributions of iodine in the waters and its extent of mixing remain unconstrained. In this study we provide new halogen data and isotopic ratios of iodine (¹²⁹I/I) in shallow seawater, rivers, salt lakes, cold and thermal spring water, rainwater and groundwater that help to constrain the relative influence of meteoric, marine and crustal sources in the Atacama waters. Iodine concentrations in surface and ground waters range between 0.35 μM and 26 μM in the Tarapacá region and between 0.25 μM and 48 μM in the Antofagasta region, and show strong enrichment when compared with seawater concentrations (I = ∼0.4 μM). In contrast, no bromine enrichment is detected (1.3–45.7 μM for Tarapacá and 1.7–87.4 μM for Antofagasta) relative to seawater (Br = ∼600 μM). These data, coupled to the high I/Cl and low Br/Cl ratios are indicative of an organic-rich sedimentary source (related with an “initial” fluid) that interacted with meteoric water to produce a mixed fluid, and preclude an exclusively seawater origin for iodine in Atacama natural waters. Iodine isotopic ratios (¹²⁹I/I) are consistent with halogen chemistry and confirm that most of the iodine present in natural waters derives from a deep initial fluid source (i.e., groundwater which has interacted with Jurassic marine basement), with variable influence of at least one atmospheric or meteoric source. Samples with the lowest isotopic ratios (¹²⁹I/I from ∼215 to ∼1000 × 10⁻¹⁵) strongly suggest mixing between the groundwater and iodine storage in organic-rich rocks (with variable influence of volcanic fluids) and pre-anthropogenic meteoric water, while samples with higher values (∼2000–93,700 × 10⁻¹⁵) indicate the input of anthropogenic meteoric fluid. Taking into account the geological, hydrologic and climatic features of the Atacama region, we propose that the mean contribution of anthropogenic ¹²⁹I is associated with ¹²⁹I releases during nuclear weapon tests carried out in the central Pacific Ocean until the mid 1990's (¹²⁹I/I = ∼12,000 × 10⁻¹⁵). This source reflects rapid redistribution of this radioisotope on a global scale. Our results support the notion of a long-lived continental iodine cycle in the hyperarid margin of western South America, which is driven by local hydrological and climate conditions, and confirm that groundwater was a key agent for iodine remobilization and formation of the extensive iodine-rich soils of Atacama.