青海玉树断裂带地震落石的地震地质意义

2010年青海玉树Ms 7.1级大地震引发了一系列次生地质灾害,其中地震落石是除地震滑坡外沿断裂带及其邻侧最常见的现象。对玉树震区落石的调查发现,该区多处存在非常典型的多期地震落石分布现象,指示该区地震落石的发育与其他古地震现象类似,具有多期性和一定的原地复发性。实地调查表明,该区地震落石分布的主要特征为:多集中发育在活动断裂带附近的陡峭基岩斜坡下方,分布零散,且滚动较远,并常与古地震滑坡相伴生。初步获得的8个地震落石钙膜U系测年结果分布在距今6030±300a BP、4720±210a BP、3530±490~3560±280a BP、2010±160a BP、1090±70a BP、760±20a BP和230±20a BP年龄段,与该区古地震探槽和滑坡反映的地震事件比较吻合,进一步揭示玉树断裂带附近在全新世中晚期发生过多期可导致地表产生地震落石的事件。同时也说明,地震落石及其钙膜测年是特别值得进一步探索的潜在古地震研究方法或途径。     

Distribution of 238U, 232Th and 40K in plutonic rocks of Greece

One hundred and twenty one samples from every major plutonic body (mainly granitic) of Greece have been analyzed by γ-ray spectrometry to determine the specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K (Bq/kg). The range of the activity concentrations of these radionuclides was 2.3–266.4, 1.8–375.5 and 55.0–1632.0 Bq/kg and their average values were 79.2, 85.3 and 881.4 Bq/kg respectively. Any possible connection between the specific activities of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K and some characteristics of the studied samples (age, rock-type, colour, grain-size, occurrence and chemical composition) is investigated. Samples of particular colour, rock-type, occurrence and chemical composition have been identified for their distinctive levels of natural radioactivity, while age and grain-size do not affect the concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K. The range of the Th/U ratio was 0.7–12.69. This great variation in the Th/U ratios, especially when it is found among the samples of the same pluton, is also discussed and explained by alteration and tectonic–metamorphic processes.     

Relationships between radium and radon occurrence and hydrochemistry in fresh groundwater from fractured crystalline rocks, North Carolina (USA)

Naturally-occurring radionuclides (uranium, radium, and radon), major dissolved constituents, and trace elements were investigated in fresh groundwater in 117 wells in fractured crystalline rocks from the Piedmont region (North Carolina, USA). Chemical variations show a general transition between two water types: (1) slightly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0), oxic, low-total dissolved solids (TDS) waters, and (2) near neutral, oxic to anoxic, higher-TDS waters. The uranium, radium, and radon levels in groundwater associated with granite (Rolesville Granite) are systematically higher than other rock types (gneiss, metasedimentary, and metavolcanic rocks). Water chemistry plays a secondary role on radium and radon distributions as the ²²²Rn/²²⁶Ra activity ratio is correlated with redox-sensitive solutes such as dissolved oxygen and Mn concentrations, as well as overall dissolved solids content including major divalent cations and Ba. Since ²²⁴Ra/²²⁸Ra activity ratios in groundwater are close to 1, we suggest that mobilization of Ra and Rn is controlled by alpha recoil processes from parent nuclides on fracture surfaces, ruling out Ra sources from mineral dissolution or significant long-distance Ra transport. Alpha recoil is balanced by Ra adsorption that is influenced by redox conditions and/or ion concentrations, resulting in an approximately one order of magnitude decrease (~ 20,000 to ~ 2000) in the apparent Ra distribution coefficient between oxygen-saturated and anoxic conditions and also across the range of dissolved ion concentrations (up to ~ 7 mM). Thus, the U and Th content of rocks is the primary control on observed Ra and Rn activities in groundwater in fractured crystalline rocks, and in addition, linked dissolved solids concentrations and redox conditions impart a secondary control.     

The Proterozoic,albitite-hosted,Valhalla uranium deposit,Queensland, Australia: a description of the alteration assemblage associated with uranium mineralisation in diamond drill hole V39

The Valhalla uranium deposit, located 40 km north of Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia, is an albitite-hosted, Mesoproterozoic U deposit similar to albitite-hosted uranium deposits in the Ukraine, Sweden, Brazil and Guyana. Uranium mineralisation is hosted by a thick package of interbedded fine-grained sandstones, arkoses and gritty siltstones that are bound by metabasalts belonging to the ca. 1,780 Ma Eastern Creek Volcanics in the Western Succession of the Mount Isa basin. Alteration associated with U mineralisation can be divided into an early, main and late stage. The early stage is dominated by laminated and intensely altered rock comprising albite, reibeckite, calcite, (titano)magnetite ± brannerite. The main stage of mineralisation is dominated by brecciated and intensely altered rocks that comprise laminated and intensely altered rock cemented by brannerite, apatite, (uranoan)-zircon, uraninite, anatase, albite, reibeckite, calcite and hematite. The late stage of mineralisation comprises uraninite, red hematite, dolomite, calcite, chlorite, quartz and Pb-, Fe-, Cu-sulfides. Brannerite has U–Pb and Pb–Pb ages that indicate formation between 1,555 and 1,510 Ma, with significant Pb loss evident at ca. 1,200 Ma, coincident with the assemblage of Rodinia. The oldest ages of the brannerite overlap with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of 1,533 ± 9 Ma and 1,551 ± 7 Ma from early and main-stage reibeckite and are interpreted to represent the timing of formation of the deposit. These ages coincide with the timing of peak metamorphism in the Mount Isa area during the Isan Orogeny. Lithogeochemical assessment of whole rock data that includes mineralised and unmineralised samples from the greater Mount Isa district reveals that mineralisation involved the removal of K, Ba and Si and the addition of Na, Ca, U, V, Zr, P, Sr, F and Y. U/Th ratios indicate that the ore-forming fluid was oxidised, whereas the crystal chemistry of apatite and reibeckite within the ore zone suggests that F⁻ and were important ore-transporting complexes. δ¹⁸O values of co-existing calcite and reibeckite indicate that mineralisation occurred between 340 and 380°C and involved a fluid having δ¹⁸O_fluid values between 6.5 and 8.6‰. Reibeckite δD values reveal that the ore fluid had a δD_fluid value between −98 and −54‰. The mineral assemblages associated with early and main stages of alteration, plus δ¹⁸O_fluid and δD_fluid values, and timing of the U mineralisation are all very similar to those associated with Na–Ca alteration in the Eastern Succession of the Mount Isa basin, where a magmatic fluid is favoured for this style of alteration. However, isotopic data from Valhalla is also consistent with that from the nearby Mount Isa Cu deposit where a basinal brine is proposed for the transport of metals to the deposit. Based on the evidence to hand, the source fluids could have been derived from either or both the metasediments that underlie the Eastern Creek Volcanics or magmatism that is manifest in the Mount Isa area as small pegmatite dykes that intruded during the Isan Orogeny.     

鄂尔多斯盆地煤田区铀矿成矿地质条件

正21世纪初,随着铀矿勘查工作的不断深入,在北方主要含煤盆地取得铀矿找矿重要进展,鄂尔多斯盆地是我国中生代典型大型内陆沉积盆地之一,其铀源条件、构造条件、含铀建造、水动力条件等显示了较好的铀矿找矿前景(焦养泉等,2015)。尤其是近10年来,"煤铀兼探"和利用煤田资料"二次"开发技术在鄂尔多斯盆地煤田勘查区开展砂岩型铀矿地质调查工作,取得了一系列选区和找矿的重要进展,圈定一批重要铀矿成矿远景区和找矿靶     

高分异花岗岩浆可能是华南花岗岩型铀矿床主要铀源——来自诸广山南体花岗岩锆石铀含量的证据

锆石的U-Pb测年、Hf和O同位素及稀土、微量元素的研究与应用已获得诸多进展,但锆石中铀含量所蕴藏的地质意义却较少被关注。华南花岗岩型铀矿床的铀源一直存在争议,不同观点认为其分别来自早期已固结地质体、分异岩浆、地幔柱或热点以及U、Th、K富集圈。为尝试利用锆石中的铀含量来追索铀源,本文通过搜集诸广山南体花岗岩锆石U-Pb同位素测年文献,掌握了该花岗岩中14个岩体、37件样品、3种岩性,共467个锆石定年数据。通过数据分析发现印支期(253Ma、244Ma)和燕山期(139Ma、124Ma)具高分异特征的4件酸性岩脉(小岩体)样品中锆石的铀含量明显高于同期岩体。依据铀矿床中高分异酸性岩脉(小岩体)侵位期、基性岩脉侵位期、铀成矿早期(140~90Ma)三者的良好对应关系,结合这一锆石铀含量指示,初步认为华南花岗岩型铀矿床中铀可能主要来自高分异花岗岩浆;推测花岗岩型铀成矿可能属壳幔混合作用结果,即铀源来自地壳分异岩浆,成矿流体和矿化剂主要来自地幔,而成矿空间受断裂系统控制。岩体锆石铀含量或可在铀源丰度、矿床品位判别等方面发挥积极作用。     

辽东铀成矿带连山关地区韧性剪切带与铀成矿作用

连山关地区位于华北克拉通北缘铀成矿省辽东铀成矿带,已知铀矿床（点）均发育在韧性剪切带附近。为了解韧性剪切带运动学、几何学构造变形机制及与铀矿的关系,本文以连山关岩体周缘韧性剪切带为研究对象,通过野外宏观调查和室内微观研究相结合的研究方法,探讨构造变形期次、韧性剪切带形成机理及其对铀成矿的控制作用。研究表明：连山关岩体周缘发育的韧性剪切带与近南北向挤压构造变形有关,其右行韧性剪切带应变类型为压扁应变,属于一般压缩-平面应变范围,Flinn指数K值在0.19~0.69之间,岩石类型属于S/SL型构造岩。研究区内铀矿体均为隐伏盲矿体,主要赋存于沿着连山关岩体和辽河群接触带右行剪切作用形成的背斜褶皱核部,和北东东向断裂关系密切。综合分析认为,连山关岩体南缘北西向韧性剪切带为一级控矿构造,是区内铀矿热液运移的通道,而剪切带边部的晚期北东东向断裂则是铀矿储存空间;铀源可能来自于太古宙古风化壳,并在大型韧性剪切活动（提供热液运移通道）和基性脉岩侵入（提供热源和还原剂）等综合因素作用下运移、富集成矿。     

Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology of Granite from the Xiazhuang Uranium Ore Field, South China: Implications for Exhumation History and Ore Preservation

Xiazhuang uranium ore field, located in the southern part of the Nanling Metallogenic Belt, is considered one of the largest granite-related U regions in South China. In this paper, we contribute new apatite fission track data and thermal history modeling to constrain the exhumation history and evaluate preservation potential of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field. Nine Triassic outcrop granite samples collected from different locations of Xiazhuang Uranium ore field yield AFT ages ranging from 43 to 24 Ma with similar mean confined fission track lengths ranging from 11.8 ± 2.0 to 12.9 ± 1.9 μm and Dpar values between 1.01 and 1.51 μm. The robustness time-temperature reconstructions of samples from the hanging wall of Huangpi fault show that the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field experienced a time of monotonous and slow cooling starting from middle Paleocene to middle Miocene (~60–10 Ma), followed by relatively rapid exhumation in the late Miocene (~10–5 Ma) and nearly thermal stability in the Pliocene–Quaternary (~5–0 Ma). The amount of exhumation after U mineralization since the Middle Paleogene was estimated as ~4.3 ± 1.8 km according to the integrated thermal history model. Previous studies indicate that the ore-forming ages of U deposits in the Xiazhuang ore field are mainly before Middle Paleocene and the mineralization depths are more than 4.4 ± 1.2 km. Therefore, the exhumation history since middle Paleocene plays important roles in the preservation of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field.     

Testing mathematical uranium migration models in combined ESR/U-series dating of fossil teeth from open-air sites

Several mathematical models have been suggested to describe uranium migration kinetics for ESR dating of fossil tooth. In the present study, different U-uptake models were used to calculate ages for fossil teeth from two open-air Paleolithic sites in Nihewan Basin – Donggutuo and Hougou and compared with independent age control of the sites. For Donggutuo site, the results show that the ages of three teeth calculated by EU and AU models were much younger than magnetostratigraphic age. At Hougou site, two teeth from the top of Nihewan lacustrine deposits give the consistent EU and AU ages within errors but younger than sediment OSL age. This study indicates that mathematical modeling could not always give convincing results for the open-air sites, which may experience dramatic hydrological variations and high erosion rates.