Significance of adakites in petrogenesis of early Silurian magmatism at the Yudai copper deposit in the Kalatag district,NW China

Yudai is a newly discovered copper deposit associated with a porphyritic quartz diorite, in the Kalatag district of the eastern Tianshan, China. SHRIMP U-Pb dating of zircons from the diorite yielded an age of 432 ± 3 Ma. The diorite is peraluminous (ASI = 0.98–1.10), calc-alkaline to tholeiitic with high Al₂O₃ of 16.6–17.7 wt% and Mg^# of 57.4–67.4. Trace element characteristics of the diorite show it is enriched in Ba, K and Sr, and depleted in Nb, Ta, Ti, with a positive Eu anomaly and high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios. This diorite has positive ε_Nd(t) values ranging from 6.2 to 8.4 with low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.704336 to 0.704450. These geochemical and isotopic characteristics indicate that the adakite-like diorite, associated with the copper mineralization, was emplaced in an island arc setting and resulted from partial melting of subducted oceanic plate in a mantle wedge.     

Linking tracers,water age and conceptual models to identify dominant runoff processes in a sparsely monitored humid tropical catchment

Assessing catchment runoff response remains a key research frontier because of limitations in current observational techniques to fully characterize water source areas and transit times in diverse geographical environments. Here, we report a study that combines empirical data with modelling to identify dominant runoff processes in a sparsely monitored humid tropical catchment. The analysis integrated isotope tracers into conceptual rainfall–runoff models of varying complexity (from 5 to 11 calibrated parameters) that are able to simulate discharge and tracer concentrations and track the evolving age of stream water exiting the catchment. The model structures can be seen as competing hypotheses of catchment functioning and were simultaneously calibrated against uncertain streamflow gaugings and a 2‐year daily isotope rainfall–runoff record. Comparison of the models was facilitated using global parameter sensitivity analysis and the resulting effect on calibration. We show that a variety of tested model structures reproduced water and tracer dynamics in stream, but the simpler models failed to adequately reproduce both. The resulting water age distributions of the tested models varied significantly with little similarity between the stream water age and stored water age distributions. The sensitivity analysis revealed that only some of the more complex models (from eight parameters) could be better constrained to infer more plausible water age distributions and catchment storage estimates. These models indicated that the age of water stored in the catchment is generally older compared with the age of water fluxes, with evapotranspiration age being younger compared with streamflow. However, the water age distributions followed a similar temporal behaviour dominated by climatic seasonality. Stream water ages increased during the dry season (greater than 1 year) and decreased with increased streamflow (a few weeks old) during the wet season. We further show that the ratios of the streamwater age to stored water age distribution and the water age distribution of actual evapotranspiration to the stored water age distribution from constrained models could potentially serve as useful hydrological indicators of catchment functioning. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water mining from the deep critical zone by apple trees growing on loess

There have been significant recent advances in understanding the ecohydrology of deep soil. However, the links between root development and water usage in the deep critical zone remains poorly understood. To clarify the interaction between water use and root development in deep soil, we investigated soil water and root profiles beyond maximum rooting depth in five apple orchards planted on farmland with stand ages of 8, 11, 15, 18, and 22 years in a subhumid region on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Apple trees rooted progressively deeper for water with increasing stand age and reached 23.2 ± 0.8 m for the 22‐year‐old trees. Soil water deficit in deep soil increased with tree age and was 1,530 ± 43 mm for a stand age of 22 years. Measured root deepening rate was far great than the reported pore water velocity, which demonstrated that trees are mining resident old water. The deficits are not replenished during the life‐span of the orchard, showing a one‐way mining of the critical zone water. The one‐way root water mining may have changed the fine root profile from an exponential pattern in the 8‐year‐old orchard to a relative uniform distribution in older orchards. Our findings enhance our understanding of water‐root interaction in deep soil and reveal the unintended consequences of critical zone dewatering during the lifespan of apple trees.     

Provenance of Holocene beach sand in the Western Iberian margin: the use of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for the deciphering of sediment recycling in a modern coastal system

Detrital zircons from Holocene beach sand and igneous zircons from the Cretaceous syenite forming Cape Sines (Western Iberian margin) were dated using laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry. The U–Pb ages obtained were used for comparison with previous radiometric data from Carboniferous greywacke, Pliocene–Pleistocene sand and Cretaceous syenite forming the sea cliff at Cape Sines and the contiguous coast. New U–Pb dating of igneous morphologically simple and complex zircons from the syenite of the Sines pluton suggests that the history of zircon crystallization was more extensive (ca 87 to 74 Ma), in contrast to the findings of previous geochronology studies (ca 76 to 74 Ma). The U–Pb ages obtained in Holocene sand revealed a wide interval, ranging from the Cretaceous to the Archean, with predominance of Cretaceous (37%), Palaeozoic (35%) and Neoproterozoic (19%) detrital‐zircon ages. The paucity of round to sub‐rounded grains seems to indicate a short transportation history for most of the Cretaceous zircons (ca 95 to 73 Ma) which are more abundant in the beach sand that was sampled south of Cape Sines. Comparative analysis using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistical method, analysing sub‐populations separately, suggests that the zircon populations of the Carboniferous and Cretaceous rocks forming the sea cliff were reproduced faithfully in Quaternary sand, indicating sediment recycling. The similarity of the pre‐Cretaceous ages (>ca 280 Ma) of detrital zircons found in Holocene sand, as compared with Carboniferous greywacke and Pliocene–Pleistocene sand, provides support for the hypothesis that detritus was reworked into the beach from older sedimentary rocks exposed along the sea cliff. The largest percentage of Cretaceous zircons (<ca 95 Ma) found in Holocene sand, as compared with Pliocene–Pleistocene sand (secondary recycled source), suggests that the Sines pluton was the one of the primary sources that became progressively more exposed to erosion during Quaternary uplift. This work highlights the application of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov method in comparison of zircon age populations used to identify provenance and sediment recycling in modern and ancient detrital sedimentary sequences.     

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。     

新疆西天山松湖铁矿床火山岩年代学和岩石地球化学

新疆西天山阿吾拉勒铁成矿带内众多铁矿床的围岩火山岩时代、岩石成因和构造背景迄今尚未得到很好地约束。文章对该铁成矿带内的松湖铁矿床围岩粗面英安岩和流纹岩进行了锆石LA_ICP_MS U_Pb测年和地球化学研究。粗面英安岩和流纹岩的锆石206Pb/238U加权平均年龄分别为(326.8±2.7)Ma和(327.3±1.7)Ma。粗面英安岩和流纹岩准铝质,均富集轻稀土元素、Rb、K、Zr、Hf,显示中等Eu负异常,亏损Ba、Sr、P、Ta、Nb和Ti。锆石饱和温度计算结果显示,粗面英安岩的母岩浆温度较高(774~812℃,平均792℃),流纹岩母岩浆的温度较低(713~790℃,平均750℃)。粗面英安岩具有非常低Sr高Yb的特征,Nb/Ta比值为10.8~11.4,具有较高的w(Th)(≥8.1×10-6)和高的Th/Ce比值(≥0.31);流纹岩具有低Sr低Yb特征,Nb/Ta比值为8.5~9.7,w(Th)(≥5.3×10-6)较高,Th/Ce比值为0.14~0.75,据此推测粗面英安岩母岩浆可能是上地壳部分熔融的产物,流纹岩母岩浆可能源于比粗面英安岩母岩浆更深的地壳的部分熔融。松湖铁矿区粗面英安岩和流纹岩具有弧火山岩的地球化学特征,结合构造环境判别图解和区域地质情况,推断其形成于大陆弧环境。     

吉林百草沟金矿闪长玢岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

文章对延边地区百草沟金矿床与成矿有关的闪长玢岩脉进行了锆石LA_ICP_MS U_Pb年代学和地球化学研究。闪长玢岩中的锆石U_Pb定年结果显示,闪长玢岩形成时代为早白垩世((128±3)Ma,MSWD=0.29)。岩石元素地球化学研究表明岩石属于高钾钙碱性系列,明显富集大离子亲石元素(如K、Ba、Rb)、LREE和强不相容元素(如Th、U),相对亏损高场强元素(如Ta、Nb、Ti、P),Mg#值为42~54,其地球化学特征与活动大陆边缘背景下形成的火成岩相似。岩石中w(Cr)为20.0×10-6~33.4×10-6,Nb/Ta比值为9.7~16.5,La/Nb比值为2.54~3.67,Th/La比值为0.19~0.43,Rb/Sr值比为0.10~0.33,闪长玢岩岩浆是由地壳物质和地幔物质混合形成的。结合野外地质特征及年代学,认为与矿床近同时形成的闪长玢岩,其形成的构造背景应为古太平洋板块斜向亚洲大陆俯冲的活动大陆边缘。     

广东大降坪硫(铅锌)矿床岩浆热液叠加作用——来自闪锌矿Rb-Sr年龄及硫同位素的证据

广东大降坪硫(铅锌)矿床位于与岩浆作用有关的大绀山多金属矿田的中部,主矿体为赋存在震旦纪变质岩中的层状、透镜状黄铁矿矿体,最近在两个不同产状的黄铁矿矿体下部又新发现了脉状及层状铅锌矿体。文章通过对铅锌矿体的年龄及硫同位素研究,探讨其与主矿体的成因关系,获得了脉状铅锌矿体中闪锌矿的Rb-Sr等时线年龄为(88.5±3.9)Ma,即晚白垩世,与上部黄铁矿矿体的年龄(约630 Ma)相差较大,而与整个大绀山多金属矿田的成矿作用时限一致。三种不同产状的矿体硫同位素组成差异明显:层状黄铁矿矿体富集硫的轻同位素(δ34S=-10.90‰~-25.55‰),且与围岩的硫同位素范围一致,说明硫来自生物的细菌还原硫;透镜状黄铁矿矿体δ34S组成范围较宽(-9.38‰~22.69‰),具多源性硫的特征;铅锌矿体的δ34S在-7.1‰~6.4‰之间变化,硫可能来自深源岩浆,并受围岩成分混染。多方面的证据表明,大降坪黄铁矿矿体下部的铅锌矿体形成于晚白垩世的岩浆热液成矿作用,透镜状黄铁矿矿体受到岩浆热液的叠加。     

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。     

内蒙古火龙沟铅锌矿床成矿岩体年代学、地球化学及其地质意义

内蒙古火龙沟铅锌矿床是近期勘查发现、预期可达中型规模以上的铅锌矿床之一,笔者对该矿区的侵入岩——正长花岗岩进行了LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U_Pb定年和主量、微量元素分析,锆石U_Pb定年结果为(224.0±2.5)Ma,表明,该岩体侵位于晚三叠世。岩石地球化学研究结果显示火龙沟正长花岗岩体具有明显富Si O2和ALK、贫Mg O和TFe的特点,A/NK-A/CNK图解显示正长花岗岩属于准铝质花岗岩。微量元素蛛网图显示富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、U、K,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、Ti。稀土元素配分模式表现出富集LREE,亏损HREE的右倾型,LREE/HREE=8.04~10.40,具有明显Eu的负异常。花岗岩锆饱和温度计算结果表明该花岗岩岩浆形成温度为820℃,属于高温花岗岩,以上地球化学特征和高温的特点表明该花岗岩为A型花岗岩。结合区域构造演化历史,笔者认为该花岗岩体形成于古亚洲洋闭合后的造山后垮塌岩石圈伸展构造环境。