CHIME monazite ages of metasediments from the Altai orogen in northwestern China: Devonian and Permian ages of metamorphism and their significance

Abstract   The chemical Th-U-total Pb isochron method (CHIME) has been applied to determine the ages of monazite grains from metasediments of greenscshist-amphibolite facies in the Altai orogen, northwest China. The area of distribution of these metamorphic rocks is divided into the Permian (261–268 Ma) central-western and Devonian (377–382 Ma) eastern units on the basis of their metamorphic ages. The Devonian CHIME ages are consistent with the Pb–Pb ages of granitoid in the eastern unit, and support the idea that emplacement of the granitoids was synchronous with regional metamorphism at deep levels. The Permian metamorphic ages (the present study) and igneous ages previously reported from the central-western unit can be interpreted in terms of subduction of crustal material and oceanic plate, and rapid exhumation.     

东昆仑造山带纳赤台岩群基质地层发现中新世孢粉组合

东昆仑造山带纳赤台岩群是一套混杂堆积地层，有外来岩块和基质地层之分别，以往根据岩块中的化石将该套地层划为下古生代的奥陶系—志留系。根据笔者等的研究和野外调查，2006年首次报道了在菜园子沟剖面该岩群基质地层中发现古近纪中—晚渐新世的孢粉44属31种。本文报道的是在水泥厂剖面该岩群基质地层中发现的新近纪中—晚中新世的孢粉化石44属33种。新近纪孢粉化石的发现对进一步厘定该岩群的地质时代、分析其古环境及东昆仑造山带的形成演化等方面具有重要的地质意义。     

Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb and in-situ Lu–Hf isotope analyses of a tuff from Western Beijing: Evidence for missing Late Paleozoic arc volcano eruptions at the northern margin of the North China block

Zircon SHRIMP U–Pb and in-situ Lu–Hf isotopic analyses via laser ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LAM-ICPMS) of a tuff within the Upper Paleozoic from Western Beijing were carried out to give new constraints on volcano eruption ages and source area of the tuffs within the North China block (NCB). SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of the tuff yielded a ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U weighted mean age of 296 ± 4 Ma (95% confidence, MSWD = 3.3), which is very similar to the emplacement age of the newly discovered Carboniferous calc-alkaline, I-type continental arc granitoid plutons in the Inner Mongolia Paleo-uplift (IMPU) on the northern margin of the NCB. In-situ Lu–Hf analysis results of most zircons from the tuff yielded initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios from 0.282142 to 0.282284 and ε_Hf(t) values from − 15.9 to − 10.7. These Lu–Hf isotopic compositions are very similar to those of the Late Carboniferous granitoids in the IMPU, but are very different to those of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Together with the sedimentary and tectonic analyses results, we inferred that the source area of the tuffs within the NCB is the IMPU instead of the CAOB. Therefore, some arc volcanoes once existed in the IMPU on northern margin of the NCB during the Late Carboniferous, but they were entirely eroded due to strong exhumation and erosion of the IMPU during the Late Carboniferous to Early Jurassic.     

Metallogenic mechanism of cobalt in the Zhuchong cobalt -rich skarn iron deposit in the Middle -Lower Yangtze River Valley Metallogenic Belt: Constrained by in -situ sulfur isotopes and zircon U-Pb datingSCIEI北大核心CSCD

Cobalt, being a vital strategic rare and precious metal, is primarily produced within diverse deposit types through co association. The cobalt -rich skarn iron deposit is a key deposit type with considerable development potential. However, the source and enrichment mechanism of cobalt in skarn iron deposit remain unclear. The Zhuchong cobalt -rich skarn iron deposit is located in the Anqing-Guichi district of the Middle -Lower Yangtze River Valley Metallogenic Belt ( MLYB). It is the first large-scale skarn iron -rich deposit discovered in the metallogenic belt in recent years. Its associated cobalt resources have reached a medium scale. Meanwhile, the cobalt grade in the Zhuchong cobalt -rich skarn iron deposit is the highest among similar deposits in the MLYB, reaching 190g/t. In this study, the zircon U-Pb dating of the ore -forming intrusions and the spatial variation of pyrite in -situ sulfur isotopes in the vertical direction ( drilling section) of the Zhuchong cobalt -rich skarn iron deposit were carried out. The results indicate that the U-Pb ages of the two deep concealed magmatic rock samples are 139. 6 +/- 1. 0Ma and 138. 9 +/- 0. 6Ma, respectively, which occurred during the Early Cretaceous. Vertically, the overall range of pyrite sulfur isotope is +5. 3%similar to + 13. 9%o, and delta S-34 varies greatly from top to bottom, and shows strong heterogeneity, which is obviously different from the sulfur isotope compositions of Anqing skarn Cu -Fe deposit. The pyrite delta S-34 in the cobalt -rich magnetite ore body in the bottom -up mineralization -alteration zone of the Zhuchong deposit ranges from 5. 3%o to 10. 0%o. In the diopside skarn belt near the ore, the delta S-34 range of the vein pyrite spans from 12. 1%o to 13. 9%o. Within the altered diorite, the delta S-34 values of vein pyrite vary from 7. 1%o to 10. 8%o. In the outer skarn, the delta S-34 range of vein pyrite ranges fall between 6. 8%o and 7. 6%o. Within the siltstone of the Yueshan Formation, located in the gypsum -bearing salt layer, the delta S-34 values of pyrite range from 12. 0%o to 12. 7%o. Similarly, the uppermost siltstone vein pyrite of the Tongtoujian Formation exhibits a delta S-34 range of 6. 1%o to 7. 8%o. The sulfur isotope composition of pyrite within the Zhuchong cobalt -rich magnetite ore exhibits an intermediate range between that of the Yueshan pluton and the gypsum -salt layer of the Yueshan Formation. This suggests that the sulfur isotope signature within the ore reflects a mixture of two distinct end members. Statistical analysis of scale and grade within the MLYB cobalt -rich skarn deposits ( Fe -Cu -Co) indicates no apparent correlation between cobalt mineralization and the type of Fe -Cu skarn deposits. Furthermore, the involvement of sulfur through the gypsum -salt layer in the ore -forming hydrothermal fluid does not exhibit a discernible     

Tracking multi-stage uplift history of the Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt during the Late Carboniferous and Early Cretaceous: Evidence from apatite U-Pb and fission track dataSCIEI北大核心CSCD

本文利用LA-ICP-MS磷灰石裂变径迹(FT)和U-Pb双定年技术,结合锆石原位U-Pb测年结果,对出露于东天山南部雅满苏-彩霞山地区的侵入岩样品进行了系统分析。结果显示,这些样品形成于357-309Ma和-252Ma,裂变径迹年龄变化于304-118Ma。根据裂变径迹年龄和径迹长度分布对其进行热史反演,得到晚石炭世-早二叠世(320-280Ma)、中-晚三叠世(240-210Ma)和早白垩世(120-100Ma)三个主要冷却时期。综合分析认为,研究区的石炭纪和三叠纪侵入体在晚石炭世-早二叠世、中-晚三叠世和早白垩世期间经历过构造隆升。其中,晚石炭世-早二叠世的抬升是由康古尔洋闭合后区域进入碰撞造山阶段导致,中-晚三叠世的抬升主要与古特提斯洋闭合后松潘-甘孜地体、羌塘地体先后与亚欧板块南缘的碰撞增生有关,早白垩世的抬升事件主要受到班公湖-怒江洋俯冲闭合以及拉萨地体与羌塘地体的碰撞增生影响。此外,东天山不同部位经历了显著的差异性隆升,这一现象与区内各构造单元的非均匀性、分块性及其地质演化历史的差异性密切相关,同时还受到外部驱动力以及早期先存断裂构造活化的制约。     

高镍铜镍矿床的特征、形成机制与勘查展望

岩浆铜镍矿床100%硫化物中的Ni含量与赋矿岩石和成矿过程紧密相关,记录岩浆成分、分异程度与硫化物演化过程。硫化物异常高镍(高镍硫化物)往往被认为与科马提质岩浆或者后期热液作用密切相关。近年研究结合勘查证实,赋含高镍硫化物的矿床(高镍铜镍矿床)不仅限于科马提岩,还与苦橄质、玄武质岩浆有关,另外,热液富集作用并不是必要因素。本文总结了世界上高镍铜镍矿床的基本特征和形成机制,分析提出了不同机制的判别标志,并展望了其勘查前景。详细对比高镍铜镍矿床的产出环境、赋矿岩相、矿石特征、矿物组合等特征,该类矿床往往产于大陆裂谷和造山带环境,与基性程度较高的岩浆有关,以橄榄岩赋矿为主,含镍硫化物组合主要为镍黄铁矿-磁黄铁矿-黄铜矿组合,少数为针镍矿-镍黄铁矿-黄铁矿组合。科马提岩相关矿床可将Ni含量大于16%的硫化物定义为高镍硫化物,苦橄质-玄武质岩浆相关矿床的硫化物可分为高镍硫化物(Ni10%)、中镍硫化物(5%～10%)和富铜硫化物(Ni5%,CuNi)。原生高镍硫化物可由富镍岩浆熔离、硫化物从橄榄石中吸取Ni、硫化物结晶分异、硫化物与硫不饱和岩浆反应等机制形成。苦橄质-玄武质岩浆相关的矿床,硫化物与橄榄石的Fe-Ni交换反应是高镍硫化物形成的重要机制。辉石岩源区地幔部分熔融形成富镍岩浆是否为高镍硫化物形成的必要条件尚存争议。不同机制形成的高镍硫化物具有迥异的岩石-矿物组合和地化特征。硫化物矿物组合、橄榄石成分(Fo值、Ni含量、Fo值-Ni含量的相关性)、伴生元素(铜、铂族元素)丰度-配分模式等特征可作为区分不同高镍硫化物形成机制的有效指标。我国新疆黄山南、坡一和青海夏日哈木矿床(部分浸染状矿化橄榄岩)以赋含高镍硫化物为特征,新疆喀拉通克矿床的硫化物则以富铜为特征,中国其余矿床的硫化物均属中镍硫化物。目前研究指示中国的高镍铜镍矿床与母岩浆相对富镍、硫化物与橄榄石Fe-Ni交换作用密切相关,后者可使硫化物Ni含量提升3%～5%。在铜镍矿床勘查方面,稀疏-中等浸染状高镍硫化物矿石即可达到工业品位,稠密浸染状-块状高镍硫化物矿石可达到很高的Ni品位(10%),是高品位镍矿勘查的一个重要方向。造山带环境富水、相对高氧逸度(可高达QFM+1)的岩浆可能是形成高镍硫化物的有利条件,该环境橄榄石Fo值较高(87mol%)的岩体有利于形成高镍硫化物。     

造山带汇聚板块边缘沉积盆地的鉴别与恢复

大洋俯冲和大陆碰撞是板块汇聚过程中的有机连续过程,也是造山带形成的两种基本造山作用方式。不同的造山作用过程形成不同类型的沉积盆地和填充序列,沉积盆地性质的改变和沉积物源区变化是造山作用方式和时限的最直接体现。沉积盆地是造山带重要大地构造相单元之一,完整记录了板块边缘动力学过程和构造演化以及造山作用方式和时限。沉积盆地构造原型鉴别与恢复是造山带结构-属性解剖的重要内容之一。视沉积盆地与相邻大地构造相的演化为统一整体,以填充物和沉积物源区作为链接沉积盆地和造山带的纽带,系统地精细解剖填充物组成和沉积相以及沉积物源区时空变化系列,准确鉴别并恢复造山带沉积盆地构造原型,是获取大陆碰撞方式和时限的沉积-地层判别标志的有效方法之一。     

Paleoarchean bedrock lithologies across the Makhonjwa Mountains of South Africa and Swaziland linked to geochemical,magnetic and tectonic data reveal early plate tectonic genes flanking subduction margins

The Makhonjwa Mountains, traditionally referred to as the Barberton Greenstone Belt, retain an iconic Paleoarchean archive against which numerical models of early earth geodynamics can be tested. We present new geologic and structural maps, geochemical plots, geo- and thermo-chronology, and geophysical data from seven silicic, mafic to ultramafic complexes separated by major shear systems across the southern Makhonjwa Mountains. All reveal signs of modern oceanic back-arc crust and subductionrelated processes. We compare the rates of processes determined from this data and balance these against plate tectonic and plume related models. Robust rates of both horizontal and vertical tectonic processes derived from the Makhonjwa Mountain complexes are similar, well within an order of magnitude, to those encountered across modern oceanic and orogenic terrains flanking Western Pacific-like subduction zones. We conclude that plate tectonics and linked plate-boundary processes were well established by 3.2-3.6 Ga. Our work provides new constraints for modellers with rates of a 'basket' of processes against which to test Paleoarchean geodynamic models over a time period close to the length of the Phanerozoic.     

西大别桥店花岗斑岩脉的形成时代、岩石成因及其大地构造意义

白垩纪碰撞后花岗岩是研究大别造山带碰撞后伸展垮塌的重要载体,西大别南缘的桥店花岗斑岩脉为约束大别山碰撞后构造机制转化提供了新的约束信息。SIMS和LA-ICP-MS锆石定年结果表明,桥店花岗斑岩脉侵位年龄约为129 Ma,并具有富集的锆石Hf同位素组成(ε_Hf(t)=-24.5-14.7)和古元古代二阶段模式年龄(2.41.9 Ga)。矿物组成上,花岗斑岩脉以富含粗粒的长石斑晶为主要特征。它们具有变化的SiO₂含量(63.07%73.22%)和A/CNK值(0.871.73),同时具有高的K₂O(4.51%5.47%)、低的MgO (0.42%1.82%)含量,属于高钾钙碱性花岗岩类。岩石的轻稀土元素相对重稀土元素富集,具有Eu的负异常(Eu/Eu^*=0.770.92);同时富集Rb、Ba和Pb,而亏损Nb、Ta和Ti。相较于典型埃达克质岩石,桥店花岗斑岩的Sr含量(78×10^-6724 ×10 ^-6)变化较大,Y(11.8×10^-614.8×10^-6)和Yb(1.09×10^-61.37×10^-6)含量相对较高,对应的Sr/Y(6.755.5)和(La/Yb)_N(29.634.2)比值较低。以上地球化学特征,结合古元古代的残留锆石和二阶段铪模式年龄,共同反映出桥店花岗斑岩是区内古元古代下地壳物质在中-低压力条件下部分熔融的产物。与区域上碰撞后岩浆岩的对比研究表明,桥店花岗斑岩的侵位指示了西大别地壳在约129 Ma已经开始减薄,西大别白垩纪加厚下地壳的拆沉及构造机制转换的时间可能在约130 Ma前后。     

北祁连西段肃南地区下志留统肮脏沟组河流相的发现及其大地构造意义

北祁连地区位于中国中央造山带中段,具有典型造山带的特征。区内志留系肮脏沟组沉积环境存在较大争议,以致对其沉积期古地理格局的认识就存在很大差异。本研究选取志留系肮脏沟组发育齐全的肃南地区老虎沟剖面为研究对象,通过野外剖面实测、室内薄片鉴定和碎屑岩粒度分析等方法对老虎沟剖面肮脏沟组沉积充填序列、沉积构造和沉积相类型进行了细致分析。北祁连肃南地区老虎沟剖面志留系肮脏沟组发育大套的砾岩、砂砾岩和含砾砂岩,沉积构造以大型槽状交错层理、板状交错层理、平行层理和底冲刷构造为主,其中砂岩碎屑的成分和结构成熟度都较低;砂岩段的滚动组分含量较高,纵向剖面上显示为向上远离物源区,粒度变细的演化序列。沉积特征指示北祁连肃南地区老虎沟剖面志留系肮脏沟组的沉积相为辫状河流相,并非前人认为的造山俯冲阶段或者弧陆碰撞阶段的深水海相沉积,而是已经发生陆—陆碰撞形成的陆相沉积。此时北祁连东部地区还未发生陆—陆碰撞,由此可知北祁连在早志留世碰撞为“西早东晚”的不规则点式碰撞。本研究有助于深化对北祁连造山带志留纪的古地理格局和其大地构造背景的认识。