A North-South Transect across the Central Mexican Volcanic Belt at ~100{degrees}W: Spatial Distribution, Petrological, Geochemical, and Isotopic Characteristics of Quaternary Volcanism

Within the Zitácuaro–Valle de Bravo (ZVB) regionof the central Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB), three lava serieshave erupted during the Quaternary: (1) high-K₂O basaltic andesitesand andesites; (2) medium-K₂O basaltic andesites, andesitesand dacites; (3) high-TiO₂ basalts and basaltic andesites. Thedominant feature of the first two groups is the lack of plagioclaseaccompanying the various ferromagnesian phenocrysts (olivine,orthopyroxene, augite, and hornblende) in all but the dacites.This absence of plagioclase in the phenocryst assemblages ofthe high-K₂O and medium-K₂O intermediate lavas is significantbecause it indicates high water contents during the stage ofphenocryst equilibration. In contrast, the high-TiO₂ group ischaracterized by phenocrysts of plagioclase and olivine. Thespatial distribution of these three lava series is systematic.The southern section of the ZVB transect, 280–330 km fromthe Middle America Trench (MAT), is characterized by high-K₂Omelts that are relatively enriched in fluid-mobile elementsand have the highest ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Medium-K₂O basaltic andesiteand andesite lavas are present throughout the transect, butthose closest to the MAT are MgO-rich (3·5–9·4wt %) and have phenocryst assemblages indicative of high magmaticwater contents (3·5–6·5 wt % water) andrelatively low temperatures (950–1000°C). In markedcontrast, the northern section of the ZVB transect (380–480km from the MAT) has high-TiO₂, high field strength element(HFSE)-enriched magmas that have comparatively dry (< 1·5wt % magmatic water) and hot (1100–1200°C) phenocrystequilibration conditions. The central section of the ZVB transect(330–380 km from the MAT) is a transition zone and producesmoderately light rare earth element (LREE) and large ion lithophileelement (LILE)-enriched, medium-K₂O lavas with phenocryst assemblagesindicative of intermediate (1·5–3·5 wt %)water contents and temperatures. The high-K₂O series compositionsare the most enriched in LILE and LREE, with a narrow rangeof radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 0·704245 to 0·704507,¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values ranging from 0·512857 to 0·512927(_Nd = 4·27–5·63), and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb valuesfrom 38·248 to 38·442, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values from15·563 to 15·585, and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values from18·598 to 18·688. The medium-K₂O series compositionsare only moderately enriched in the LILE and LREE, with a broaderrange of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, but similar ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pbvalues to those of the high-K₂O series. In contrast, the high-TiO₂series compositions have little enrichment in LILE or LREE andinstead are enriched in the HFSE and heavy rare earth elements(HREE). The high-TiO₂ lavas are isotopically distinct in theirlower and narrower range of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd. The isotopic variationsare believed to reflect the upper mantle magma source regionsas the low content of phenocrysts in most lavas precludes significantupper crustal assimilation or magma mixing, other than thatrepresented by the presence of quartz xenocrysts (< 2 vol.%) with rhyolitic glass inclusions, which are found in manyof these lavas. The systematic spatial variation in compositionof the three lava series is a reflection of the underlying subduction-modifiedmantle and its evolution. KEY WORDS: central Mexico; geochemistry; isotopes; Quaternary volcanism; hydrous lavas     

滇中地区铝土矿床地质特征及成矿规律

通过对滇中地区典型铝土矿(老煤山铝土矿)成矿地质特征研究, 认为该区铝土矿为古风化壳沉积型铝土矿, 主要受地层层位、岩性古地理条件、褶皱构造及后期抬升改造影响。研究认为该区具有一定勘探潜力。     

CHARACTERIZATION AND FORMATION MECHANISM OF THE CENTRAL UPLIFT OF THE QIANGTANG BASIN

The Qiangtang basin is located between Kekexili-Jingshajiang suture belt and Bangong-Lujiang suture belt, and is divided into the north part and south part by the central uplift that has no crop out of Mesozoic strata. When the Jinshajiang Ocean was closed, the subducting plate was subducted southward. In the central part of the Qiangtang basin, the cushioning effect of the asthenosphere resulted in the thermal doming of the mantle and subsequent large-scale anatexis. Mantle source materials and antectic materials were upwelled and extruded into the middle crust, leading to the thickening of the middle crust and the heating and weakening of the middle to upper crust, and resulting in the rapid deformation (detachment) and tectonic erosion, and in the isostatic uplifting and the formation of metamorphic core complex. The upwelling of anatectic materials would further enhance the buoyant repercussion, which would combine with the side stress due from extrusion in resulting in the formation of an extension     

中天山前寒武纪基底中新发现铁铜矿床

池西铁铜矿床是近年来新发现的赋存在中天山前寒武纪基底卡瓦布拉克群内的块状硫化物型矿床,具上铁下铜的分带性,在成因上可能与海相火山作用有关。已发现的2个矿体呈层状、透镜状产出,产状与围岩地层一致。该矿床可能是中天山地区卡瓦布拉克群内首次发现的块状硫化物型矿床,对今后在中天山乃至东天山地区寻找与海相火山作用有关的块状硫化物型矿床(尤其是铁铜共生矿床)具有重要的参考意义。     

High-Pressure and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt in Tongbai-Dabie Mountains,Central China

There are four units of high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism extending from south to north across the Tongbai-Dabie Mountains: the epidote-blueschist-facies unit, the low-temperature eclogite facies unit , the ultrahigh-pressure eclngite facies unit and the medium-temperature eclogite facies unit . The later two units were formed during the Caledonian subduction between the Tongbai-Dabie microplate and the North China plate ,the former two units are the products of Indosinian continental-continental subduction and collision between the Yangtze and the North China plates.     

CRUSTAL CONFIGURATION OF NW HIMALAYA: EVIDENCES FROM THE ISOSTATIC AND FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF GRAVITY DATA

CRUSTAL CONFIGURATION OF NW HIMALAYA: EVIDENCES FROM THE ISOSTATIC AND FLEXURAL ANALYSIS OF GRAVITY DATA     

Early‐middle Holocene land snail shell stable isotope record from Grotta di Latronico 3 (southern Italy)

This paper compares stable isotope (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) records of early–middle Holocene land snail shells from the archaeological deposits of Grotta di Latronico 3 (LTR3; southern Italy) with modern shell isotopic data. No substantial interspecific variability was observed in shell δ¹⁸O (δ¹⁸Os) of modern specimens (Pomatias elegans, Cornu aspersum, Eobania vermiculata, Helix ligata and Marmorana fuscolabiata). In contrast, interspecific shell δ¹³C (δ¹³Cs) variability was significant, probably due to different feeding behaviour among species. The δ¹⁸Os values of living land snails suggest that species hibernate for a long period during colder months, so that the signal of ¹⁸O‐depleted winter rainfall in their δ¹⁸Os is lost. This suggests that δ¹⁸Os and δ¹³Cs values of Pomatias elegans from this archaeological succession provide valuable clues for seasonal (spring–autumn) climatic conditions during the early–middle Holocene. The δ¹⁸Os values of fossil specimens are significantly lower than in modern shells and in agreement with other palaeoclimatic records, suggesting a substantial increase of precipitation and/or persistent changes in air mass source trajectories over this region between ca. 8.8 cal ka BP and 6.2–6.7 ka ago. The δ¹³Cs trend suggests a transition from a slightly ¹³C‐enriched to a ¹³C‐depleted diet between early and middle Holocene compared to present conditions. We postulate that this δ¹³Cs trend might reflect changes in the C3 vegetation community, potentially combined with other environmental factors such as regional moisture increase and the progressive decrease of atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Continent-Continent Point-Collision and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphism

Up to now it is known that almost all ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism of non-impact origin occurred in continent-continent collisional orogenic belt, as has been evidenced by many outcrops in the eastern hemisphere. UHP metamorphic rocks are represented by coesite- and diamond-bearing eclogites and eclogite facies metamorphic rocks formed at 650-800℃ and 2.6-3.5 GPa, and most of the protoliths of UHP rocks are volcanic-sedimentary sequences of continental crust. From these it may be deduced that deep subduction of continental crust may have occurred. However, UHP rocks are exposed on the surface or occur near the surface now, which implies that they have been exhumed from great depths. The mechanism of deep subduction of continental crust and subsequent exhumation has been a hot topic of the research on continental dynamics, but there are divergent views. The focus of the dispute is how deep continental crust is subducted so that UHP rocks can be formed and what mechanism causes it to be subducte     

黔中—川南石炭纪铝土矿的地球化学特征

论述了黔中—川南铝土矿成矿带内早石炭世和晚石炭世铝土矿及其下伏地层的主要化学成分、稀散元素、稀土元素的地球化学特征,进而探讨了铝土矿的成矿母岩———下寒武统、下奥陶统和下志留统的泥、页岩及碳酸盐岩的成矿意义。