Rb–Sr dating of sulfides and S–Pb isotopic study of the Bayanbaolege Ag polymetallic deposit,Inner Mongolia,NE China

The large-scale Bayanbaolege Ag polymetallic deposit is situated in the Tuquan–Linxi Fe-Sn-Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag metallogenic sub-belt in eastern slopes of the southern Great Xing’an Range, NE China. The sulfide-quartz vein-type orebodies in the deposit are hosted primarily in the Early Cretaceous granodiorite porphyry and Late Permian strata. Three primary paragenetic stages of veining have been identified: (I) arsenopyrite- pyrite-quartz stage, (II) pyrite-sphalerite-quartz stage, and (III) galena-silver minerals (pyrargyrite, argentite, and pearceite)-calcite stage. The Rb–Sr dating of sulfides yielded an isochron age of 129.9 ± 2.9 Ma (MSWD = 2.1) for the sphalerite, which constrains the mineralization age to the Early Cretaceous. Rb and Sr concentrations in the sulfides ranged from 0.0940 to 1.0294 ppm and 0.0950–3.3818 ppm, respectively. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr value of the sphalerite was 0.70852 ± 0.00018, indicating that the mineralized materials were derived from the mixed crust-mantle source area. S isotope analysis showed that the δ³⁴S values of the sulfide samples varied in a narrow range, from −1.5‰ to +1.3‰ (mean −0.65‰), indicating a magmatic S source. Pb isotopic ratios of the sulfides (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.306–18.416, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.524–15.605, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.095–38.479) and the granodiorite porphyry (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.341–18.933, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.539–15.600, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.134–38.944) reflect that the ore-forming materials originated from contemporaneous magma with Early Cretaceous granodiorite porphyry. This study of the Bayanbaolege deposit and other hydrothermal deposits in the area provides compelling evidence that the widespread Mesozoic magmatism and mineralization in the southern Great Xing’an Range occurred in an intracontinental extensional tectonic setting, which was associated with the westward subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate.     

Composition and origin of the volatile components released from the Pesyanoe aubrite by stepwise crushing and heating

Aubrites are achondritic meteorites (enstatite pyroxenites) that were formed in highly reduced magmatic environments on a differentiated parent body sharing a common oxygen isotope reservoir with enstatite chondrites (EC), Earth and Moon, and could be considered as a geochemical model of the early proto-Earth. Some pyroxenes of the Pesyanoe aubrite have high abundance of gaseous inclusions, captured during the crystallization of the rocks. Investigation of the inclusions by IR spectroscopy reveals presence of OH⁻ groups and C–H bonds. The former are assigned to protonated point defects in enstatite lattice and the latter to compounds occupying void walls. Molecular water and CO₂ were not observed. Volatile components released from the samples of the Pesyanoe enstatite by stepwise crushing and heating are composed of CO₂, H₂O and a non-condensable phase. Hydrogen isotopic composition of volatiles extracted in form of molecular water in Px-separates varies in the range δD = −61 – −84‰ with mean value of δD = −73 ± 16‰ VSMOW and is within the ranges of ECs and Earth’s mantle. The total abundance of H₂ in the pyroxene of Pesyanoe were estimated as at least 0.047 ppm that is too low in comparison with that of enstatite chondrites (≥30 ppm H₂) and could indicate nearly complete degassing of the Pesyanoe primitive precursor material during the Pesyanoe parent body accretion or a mantle degassing in igneous differentiation process. In a last case a primitive precursor could have D/H ratio different from that of enstatite chondrites.     

Evidence for centennial-scale Lateglacial and early Holocene climatic complexity from Quoyloo Meadow,Orkney, Scotland

The influence of the North Atlantic on the margins of Europe means the region is particularly sensitive to changes in the ocean–atmospheric system. During the Last Glacial–Interglacial Transition (16–8 cal ka bp ) this system was repeatedly disrupted, leading to a series of abrupt and short-lived shifts in climate. Despite much research, the number and magnitude of these ‘centennial-scale’ events is not well understood. To address this, we expand upon investigations at Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney, Scotland, one of the best chronologically constrained palaeoclimate records in northern Britain. By coupling stable isotope and chironomid fossil analyses with existing data, this study identifies multiple phases of centennial-scale disturbance at: c. 14.0, 11.1, 10.8, 10.5, 10.45 and 10.3 cal ka bp , with the events at 14.0 and 10.3 exhibiting a particularly pronounced cold-climate signature. During the Holocene, the strongest response to climate forcing was at c. 10.3–10.0 cal ka bp , expressed as a two-stage drop in mean July temperatures, a shift in pollen spectra indicative of ‘less-stable’ climatic regimes, and a depletion in δ¹⁸O values. We interpret this as the first reliably dated incidence of the ‘10.3-ka event’ in the British Isles and consider the wider impact of this climatic reversal in other Holocene records.     

扬子陆块西缘江浪穹窿超基性岩的成因:锆石U-Pb定年、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd同位素

江浪穹窿位于扬子陆块西缘,本文作者在穹窿南部新发现一套侵入于二叠系及志留系的超基性岩,岩石主要由蛇纹石(约60%)、橄榄石(约30%)和少量磁铁矿(约5%)、角闪石(约5%)组成。为探讨超基性岩的成因,本文进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年、岩石地球化学及Sr-Nd同位素研究。定年结果表明,超基性岩中发育大量2427~430 Ma的捕获锆石,最年轻一组岩浆锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄为222.3±4.4 Ma(MSWD=1.9,n=6)。主微量元素分析显示岩石：(1)具有低的SiO₂含量(46.76%~39.07%)、高的Mg#值(82.3~74.0)与Cr、Co、Ni丰度;(2)稀土元素含量(ΣREE平均31.8 μg/g)与(La/Yb)_N值(5.26~1.38)偏低,稀土配分型式较为平坦,具有较弱的Ce负异常(Ce/Ce^*=0.80~0.67);(3)富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba和U,亏损高场强元素Zr和Hf;(4)(Th/Yb)_PM值(29.8~1.56)、(Th/Ta)_PM值(0.22~0.03)、(La/Nb)_PM值(1.91~0.39)及La/Sm值(5.88~1.11)较低。Sr-Nd同位素分析显示,超基性岩具有较低的(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i值(0.706872~0.702598)和高的ε_Nd(t)值(8.02~5.64),成分接近于亏损地幔和岛弧玄武岩,计算表明地壳物质的混染程度低于5%。结合前人研究成果,本文认为超基性岩结晶年龄为222.3 Ma,可能形成于古特提斯洋闭合阶段的岛弧背景;原始岩浆来自高度部分熔融的地幔源区,上升侵位过程中可能经历了铬铁矿与橄榄石的分离结晶作用。此外,捕获锆石的年龄谱反映江浪穹窿很可能存在太古宙—古元古代变质基底,并且具有Rodinia超大陆会聚—裂解以及泛非事件的地质年龄记录。     

羌塘盆地热觉茶卡-藏夏河地区泉水水化学特征及其地质意义

泉水的水化学特征可以反映氧化-还原环境和水动力条件,近年来被广泛地用于石油、天然气以及天然气水合物的找矿工作中。本文对羌塘盆地热觉茶卡—藏夏河地区37处泉水和13件地表水进行了水化学特征、水溶性烃类气体特征和水中氢氧同位素特征分析,结果表明,羌塘盆地热觉茶卡—藏夏河地区的水型主要为Na₂SO₄型和MgCl₂型,其次为NaHCO₃型和CaCl₂型。矿化度普遍较高,说明该区具有较好的保存条件。铵根离子的平均含量为0.895 g/g,在藏夏河地区高达7.381 g/g,表明在藏夏河东部地区有机质相对较为丰富,这与区域上发育的富有机质页岩结果一致。氢氧同位素结果显示,该区水体的氢氧同位素落在了大气降水线附近,表明水体的来源主要受大气降水的补给。另外,采集的9个泉水样品中均检测出一定含量的水溶甲烷,在白云湖地区的甲烷含量相对较高,显示出较好的油气潜力。综合研究表明,藏夏河东和白云湖地区具有良好的油气烃源岩条件,保存条件较好,显示出良好的油气和天然气水合物资源前景。     

Effect of the Dry Ashing Method on Cadmium Isotope Measurements in Soil and Plant Samples

A dry ashing method is commonly used to remove organic material from samples prior to geochemical analysis. In the course of this study, the Cd isotope ratios of a series of soil and plant reference materials and samples were studied to evaluate the effect of the dry ashing method on measurement results of Cd isotope ratios. The samples were pre‐treated using the dry ashing method and high‐pressure bomb for comparison. The results show that the digestion using high‐pressure bombs did not lead to Cd loss, but using the dry ashing method would cause different proportions of Cd loss. The whole range of Cd isotope difference between two methods was from ?0.07‰ to 3.01‰. There was also an obvious difference in measured Cd isotope ratios from the same leaf sample pre‐treated independently by the dry ashing method, indicating that the amount of Cd loss and the effect on Cd isotope measurement during dry ashing is related to the properties of the samples. Therefore, dry ashing may not be appropriate for the removal of organic material in Cd isotope ratio measurement, especially for samples with high organic contents. The δ^114/110Cd values of reference materials NIST SRM 1573a and GSD‐30 are reported for the first time in this study.     

Inter‐laboratory Characterisation of Apatite Reference Materials for Chlorine Isotope Analysis

Here we report on a set of six apatite reference materials (chlorapatites MGMH#133648, TUBAF#38 and fluorapatites MGMH#128441A, TUBAF#37, 40, 50) which we have characterised for their chlorine isotope ratios; these RMs span a range of Cl mass fractions within the apatite Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(F,Cl,OH)₂ solid solution series. Numerous apatite specimens, obtained from mineralogical collections, were initially screened for ³⁷Cl/³⁵Cl homogeneity using SIMS followed by δ³⁷Cl characterisation by gas source mass spectrometry using both dual‐inlet and continuous‐flow modes. We also report major and key trace element compositions as determined by EPMA. The repeatability of our SIMS results was better than ± 0.10‰ (1s) for the five samples with > 0.5 % m/m Cl and ± 0.19‰ (1s) for the low Cl abundance material (0.27% m/m). We also observed a small, but significant crystal orientation effect of 0.38‰ between the mean ³⁷Cl/³⁵Cl ratios measured on three oriented apatite fragments. Furthermore, the results of GS‐IRMS analyses show small but systematic offset of δ³⁷Cl_SMOC values between the three laboratories. Nonetheless, all studied samples have comparable chlorine isotope compositions, with mean 10³δ³⁷Cl_SMOC values between +0.09 and +0.42 and in all cases with 1s ≤ ± 0.25.     

ESTIMATING RATES OF DENUDATION USING COSMOGENIC ISOTOPE ABUNDANCES IN SEDIMENT

We propose, as a testable hypothesis, a basin-scale approach for interpreting the abundance of in situ produced cosmogenic isotopes, an approach which considers explicitly both the isotope and sediment flux through a drainage basin. Unlike most existing models, which are appropriate for evaluating in situproduced cosmogenic isotope abundance at discrete points on Earth's surface, our model is designed for interpreting isotope abundance in sediment. Because sediment is a mixture of materials, in favourable cases derived from throughout a drainage basin, we suggest that measured isotope abundances may reflect spatially averaged rates of erosion. We investigate the assumptions and behaviour of our model and conclude that it could provide geomorphologists with a relatively simple means by which to constrain the rate of landscape evolution if a basin is in isotopic steady state and if sampled sediments are well mixed.     

Origin of ore-forming fluids in Qinggouzi stibnite deposit,NE China:Constraints from fluid inclusions and H-O-S isotopes

The Qinggouzi stibnite deposit is located in Huashan Town, Jilin Province, in the northeastern margin of North China Craton(NCC). It is controlled by fault structures, hosted within structurally controlled felsic dykes, predominantly surrounded by phyllite, schist and quartzite. This study presents the results of fluid inclusions studies, intending to determine the source of the fluid responsible for ore-formation, hence exploring its metallogenesis. The aqueous biphase inclusions are identified in the stibnite-bearing quartz veins of the deposit. Moreover, aqueous biphase inclusions are further classified into(1) biphase liquid-rich inclusions(1 a) and(2) biphase gas-rich inclusions(1 b) depending upon liquid to gas ratio trapped within the fluid inclusions. Homogenization temperatures for(1 a) and(1 b) range between 114.8℃ to 422℃ and 128.3℃ to 267.5℃, respectively. 1 a and 1 b have salinities of 0.18% to 16.14% NaCl_(eqv) and 1.22% to 12.88% NaCl_(eqv), and density range from 0.43 to 1.02 g/cm~3 and 0.81 to 0.98 g/cm~3, respectively. Sulfur isotopic analysis indicates δ~(34)S_(V-CDT) from 4.4×10~(-3) to 6.5×10~(-3), with an average of 5.2×10~(-3), whereas H isotopes values on δD_(V-SMOW) standard are-100.8×10~(-3) and-107.5×10~(-3), while O isotopes data on δ~(18)O_(V-SMOW) standard range between 20.1×10~(-3) and 20.4×10~(-3). Fluid inclusions study, combining with sulfur and H-O isotopic data reveal that the ore-forming fluids originated from deep source and were subsequently contaminated by meteoric water. Hydrostatic pressure calculation shows that the minimum and maximum pressures are 11.65 and 42.33 MPa, and relevant depths of deposit are estimated to be 1.16 and 4.23 km. Finally, we inferred that Qinggouzi stibnite deposit is a medium-low temperature, low salinity hydrothermal deposit, which is formed by deep source and later contaminated by meteoric water, and is classified as epizonal deposit in terms of orogenic series.