Sulfur Isotopic Variation of Yanshanian Magmatic-hydrothermal Deposits in Southern China

Abstract: Sulfur isotope data (δ³⁴S) of sulfides of more than 6700 samples from 157 ore deposits associated with Early and Late Yanshanian granitic and volcanic activities in South China are reviewed and summarized. Averaged δ³⁴S values of individual deposits vary from ‐9. 3 to +20. 6%, and show a normal distribution pattern with the average of +2%. About 88 % of the ore deposits have values within the range, ?2.5 ? +13.6‰, of associated Yanshanian granitoids. There is a temporal‐spatial variation of δ³⁴S values of the ore deposits. However, no clear zonal distribution parallel to geotectonic NNE lineaments was observed. Spatial distribution of ore sulfide δ³⁴S values in most of the NE part of the whole studied area coincides with that of Yanshanian granitoids and volcanic rocks. A downward tendency of the average values in time is: +3. 0% (n=7, J₁) → +1. 6% (n=29, J₂) → +1. 7% (n=68, J₃) → +1. 8% (n=37, K₁) → ?1. 5% (n=16, K₂). There is an “island” of high and variable δ³⁴S values (0? +16.5‰) occurring within a generally low trough zone (?8 ? 0%) of N‐S about 800 km and E‐W 100 to 300 km, bounded by 110°E ? 116°E longitudes and 22°N ? 31°N latitudes. The island occurs at the junction of three tectonic units and a NE‐trending crustal matching line implying a variety of magmatism occurred at the junction. The low trough zone coincides with a low ferric/ferrous ratio zone of Early Yanshanian granitoids, indicating their genetic relationship. Different genetic types of ore deposits show different histogram patterns suggesting different relationships to magmatic rocks and host strata. Granite/greisen/pegmatite type deposits are most closely associated with granitoids, with average ore sul‐fide δ³⁴S values for individual ore deposits ranging between ‐2. 0 and +4. 1%, and an average of +0. 5% (n = 15) close to type meteoric value of 0%. Porphyry‐type deposits have also narrow range of ?2.2 ? + 4.9‰, with an average value of +1. 1% (n = 18). Skarn‐type dominated ore deposits have a nearly normal distribution pattern with an average of +1. 6% (n = 62), ranging from ‐5. 3 to +11. 5%. Volcano‐subvolcanic ore deposits range between ‐3. 1 and +5. 9% with an average of +2. 3% (n = 19). Other types of hydrothermal ore deposits have averaged δ³⁴S values of individual ones from ‐9. 3 to +20. 6%, with average value of +1. 3% (n=43). Vertical and horizontal zonations of δ³⁴S values of ore deposits around their associated granitoid plutons are observed in several localities. Such zonations may be caused by interaction between magma and/or magmatic fluids and host sedimentary rocks, as well as the evolution of physico‐chemical conditions of ore‐forming fluids. Spatial distribution of ore sulfur isotope compositions is also clearly controlled by tectonics and deep faults. Ore sulfur isotope composition is sometimes strongly affected by host sedimentary rocks, especially by evaporite sulfur with much higher δ³⁴S value and partly by biogenic sulfur with low δ³⁴S value. The δ³⁴S values of Yanshanian granitoids are from ‐2. 5 to +13. 6% for both rock samples and pyrite/pyrrhotite separates from granitic rocks, with similar spatial distribution pattern to those of associated ore deposits. The ore deposits associated with ilmenite‐series granitoids have δ³⁴S values ranging between ‐7. 5 and +10. 4% with an average of +1. 0%, while the ore deposits associated with magnetite‐series granitoids ranging between ?8.0 ? +11.5‰ with an average of +1. 1%. δ³⁴S values of ore deposits tend to converge to +3% as the Fe₂O₃/FeO ratio of associated granitoids increases from 0. 45 to 8. 7.     

蒸发岩建造与层控铜、缜、锌矿床

层控矿床是沉积作用、岩浆活动和构造运动等相互作用下的产物。因而,在某一特定的大地构造环境和地质发展阶段,将会产生某一特定的含矿建造和层控矿床。蒸发岩建造,包括其下的磨拉石建造构成了一个完整的层控铜、铅、锌矿床所必需的成矿系统.不同的蒸发岩建造及其有关的层控多金属矿床,在时间上(地质时代)和空间上(大地构造环境)有其特定的演变规律,可用来指导找矿。     

四川盆地海相三叠系硬石膏和盐卤水的硫同位素组成及意义

四川盆地下、中三叠统硬石膏和盐卤水广布，通过对采集于不同地段不同层位各具代表性的硬石膏、石膏和盐卤水的２４４件样品的分析，可见其同层位硫同位素组成稳定，δ３４Ｓ自下而上具阶梯状递减轻化的趋势，与已知全球海相三叠系硫同位素组成有明显差异。这种硫同位素分布规律对地层划分和对比、蒸发岩形成环境的判断、研究卤水产层和成因、掌握蒸发岩咸化发展方向及预测找钾工作等的意义不容忽视。     

宁夏清水河上游浅层地下水咸化作用研究

认识干旱区地下咸水的形成机制对水资源管理和规划具有重要意义。在宁夏清水河平原上游采集52组浅层地下水化学样品和8组易溶盐样品,分析了地下水咸化的水文地球化学作用,利用元素质量平衡法计算了各作用对地下水盐分的贡献比率。结果表明：沿径流方向,地下水咸化程度呈增加趋势。咸化作用主要为岩石风化,并具空间分异,在补给区以碳酸盐风化为主,在强径流区硫酸盐风化占优,在弱径流区硫酸盐和岩盐风化共同提供了68%～93%的盐量。随着地下水TDS增加,蒸发岩贡献比率上升,碳酸盐和硅酸盐贡献比率下降。蒸发岩风化是导致浅层地下水咸化的首要因素。     

大陆裂谷盆地钾盐矿床特征与成矿作用

全球板块运动对表生成钾控制明显,即从古生代到中新生代,从巨型稳定克拉通陆表海盆成钾,到中生代特提斯海域海盆成钾,再到新生代的大陆裂谷盆地成钾,地球表生成钾模式发生了重大转变;成钾物质来源从海水补给为主,转变为非海相(以火山活动带来深部物质和陆表水)与海相混合型,甚至以非海相深部物质补给为主.全球裂谷成钾时期正好处于Pangea超大陆解体及新特提斯洋闭合时期,成钾的裂谷型蒸发岩盆地也主要位于这两个构造域内,这些进一步表明裂谷成钾是地球板块构造运动演化历史的必然结果.典型的裂谷盆地钾盐矿床有:大西洋裂谷形成初期沉积的刚果(布)白垩纪钾盐矿、欧洲大陆莱茵地堑第三纪钾盐矿、非洲大陆埃塞俄比亚达纳基尔钾盐矿等;同时,还有众多裂谷盆地蕴藏有富钾卤水矿,如死海裂谷富钾卤水、东非大裂谷一些富钾盐湖、美国加州索尔顿海高温富钾热卤以及中国江陵凹陷富钾热卤等.这些钾盐矿的共同特点是:盆地内发育火山岩和温热泉,具有深源补给的明显特征;尽管裂谷盆地规模一般很小,但形成的钾盐规模最大可达数十亿吨.总结世界大陆裂谷盆地钾盐矿床特征、物质来源与成矿作用,提出了大陆裂谷型小盆地成钾模式.其裂谷成钾过程可分解为“二个阶段”,第一阶段,地表盐湖-太阳能作用,第二阶段,埋藏-岩浆热能作用;成钾作用有三个,即蒸发沉积作用、沉积后淋滤改造作用和埋藏变质改造作用.中国中新生代裂谷型盆地比较发育,进一步研究大陆裂谷盆地成钾作用,可以为此类盆地找钾提供理论依据和指导.     

Evaporites: Relative humidity control of primary mineral facies revisited

It is widely accepted that the deposition of mineral facies of evaporite basins is controlled by the average annual relative humidity of the contiguous atmosphere, which dictates the equilibrium activity of the evaporating brine. This concept has far reaching implications in salt works and for the investigation of paleoenvironmental settings affecting depositional sequences within evaporite basins. The above concept, which dominated the scientific thought of evaporite basin investigations, suffers from two serious flaws: (a) the assumption of a static decoupled atmosphere and (b) the total neglect of energy input and thermodynamic feedbacks resulting from evaporation suppression. The present investigation will resolve the underlying mechanisms controlling the equilibrium activity of hypersaline solutions using a theoretical framework that combines energy and mass transport across the surface–atmosphere boundary. Calculations of the equilibrium activity of hypersaline solutions under isothermal conditions, as implied in the original concept, are not in line with the basic physical principles defining heat and mass exchange across the brine–atmosphere boundary and lead to substantial overestimation of actual evaporation and the activity itself. It is demonstrated that in addition to atmospheric relative humidity, the activity of hypersaline solutions is determined by numerous meteorological forcings along with hydrological, geochemical, and thermodynamic feedback mechanisms. Evaporation suppression resulting from a drop in brine activity causes substantial increase in brine temperature, which enhances vapour pressure differential across the interface, leading to more evaporation. This negative feedback shifts the brine activity downward for equilibrium to be attained. It is also demonstrated that evaporation from a brine surface usually proceeds when the relative humidity of the contiguous atmosphere is similar or even higher than that of the brine due to energy input and the strong negative feedback caused by evaporation suppression. The present investigation re‐establishes a new paradigm concerning the processes controlling evaporite basin sedimentation and palaeoclimate reconstruction as deduced from evaporite/hypersaline basin deposits. Findings have operational ramifications in the industrial applications of dissolved salt mineral extraction.     

库车前陆盆地古近纪—新近纪盐湖环境变迁及其成钾效应探讨

库车前陆盆地古近纪—新近纪发育巨厚的蒸发岩沉积。古新世, 盐湖沉积主要集中在库车盆地西部拜城凹陷的中东部; 始新世, 盐湖沉积扩展至整个拜城凹陷, 沉积中心和蒸发浓缩中心位于其北部; 渐新世, 盐湖沉积仍然分布于拜城凹陷, 但沉积和浓缩中心已从北部迁移到南部, 改变了此前“南浅北深”的箕状盆地构造格局; 中新世, 盆地沉积中心已从西部的拜城凹陷转移到东部的阳霞凹陷, 盐湖沉积区也随之迁移到东部, 浓缩中心呈串珠状分布。库车前陆盆地古近纪—新近纪环境变迁显示, 盆地次级凹陷的发育、迁移明显受控于盆地构造演化; 而盆地构造活动在制约盐湖岩相古地理面貌(沉积中心、物质来源与浓缩中心等)变迁的同时, 亦对盐湖晚期富钾卤水的再汇集过程具有明显的控制作用, 进而对随后可能的钾盐沉积起到决定性作用。进一步分析表明, 库车前陆盆地古近系—新近系蒸发岩序列中钾离子在横向上的富集势亦明显受控于这一时期盆地岩相古地理的变迁, 即在盐岩沉积面积、厚度大的凹地出现钾离子相对富集。而西部拜城凹陷, 钻孔(始新统)盐岩岩屑的钾离子含量从下向上逐渐增高的趋势, 峰值分别为1.07%、1.43%、3.05%; 东部凹陷钻孔(中新统)盐岩岩屑钾离子含量由下向上亦呈增高趋势, 最低值0.008%, 最高值为0.152%等证据表明, 地层中钾离子纵向上的富集趋势, 则正是始于对岩相古地理面貌变迁的地球化学响应。综上所述, 认为库车前陆盆地具有钾盐成矿远景: 始新世时期, 库车盆地西部凹陷的蒸发浓缩中心区成钾远景相对较好; 中新世时期, 有利的成钾区可能转移到东部凹陷的浓缩中心区。     

Syn-depositional halokinesis in the Zechstein Supergroup (Lopingian) controls Triassic minibasin genesis and location

Salt tectonics is typically caused by the flow of mobile evaporites in response to post-depositional gravity gliding and/or differential loading by overburden sediments. This situation is considerably more complex near the margins of salt basins, where carbonate and clastic rocks may be deposited at the same time as and be interbedded with more mobile, evaporitic strata. In these cases, syn-depositional salt flow may occur due to density differences in the deposited lithologies, although our understanding of this and related processes is relatively poor. We here use 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the Devil's Hole Horst, West Central Shelf, offshore UK to understand the genesis, geometry, and kinematic evolution of intra-Zechstein Supergroup (Lopingian) minibasins and their effect on post-depositional salt deformation. We show that immobile, pinnacle-to-barrier-like, carbonate build-ups and anhydrite are largely restricted to intra-basin highs, whereas mobile halite, which flowed to form large diapirs, dominates in the deep basin. At the transition between the intra-basin highs and the deep basin, a belt of intra-Zechstein minibasins occurs, forming due to the subsidence of relatively dense anhydrite into underlying halite. Depending on primary halite thickness, these intra-Zechstein minibasins created topographic lows, dictating where Triassic minibasins subsequently nucleated and down-built. Our study refines the original depositional model for the Zechstein Supergroup in the Central North Sea, with the results also helping us better understand the style and distribution of syn-depositional salt flow within other layered evaporitic sequences and the role intra-salt heterogeneity and related deformation may have in the associated petroleum plays.     

特提斯域的密西西比河谷型(MVT)铅锌矿床

特提斯域是全球最重要的密西西比河谷型(MVT)铅锌矿床富集区,矿床广泛地分布在陆-陆碰撞造山带两侧的陆块上,就位于碰撞形成的褶皱-逆冲带和前陆带内,成矿通常发生在碰撞挤压作用晚期或之后、区域处于走滑或伸展的阶段。矿床、矿体的就位与张性断裂密切相关,主要控矿因素有蒸发盐底辟构造、碳酸盐岩溶蚀垮塌构造、蒸发盐溶蚀垮塌构造、高孔隙度白云岩、含重晶石地层等。油气流体在许多矿床和矿集区出现,其主要通过与硫酸盐发生反应为铅锌成矿提供还原硫。陆-陆碰撞的大地构造环境、大量的蒸发盐、丰富的油气流体是特提斯域富集MVT矿床的重要原因,域内寻找MVT矿床的潜力巨大。     

Interaction between source rock and evaporite： A case study of natural gas generation in the northern Dongying Depression

It is well known that oil generated from source rocks of saline-lake facies is characteristic of low Pr/Ph ratio and high contents of gammacerane. The authors found that gas generated from the same source rocks was high in benzene and cyclohexane contents and had light carbon isotope compositions. In this study, a series of thermal simulations of gas generations on source rock with/without evaporites (such as carbonate, gypsum, and sodium chlorite, respectively), were conducted. It was found that the gypsum played an important role on the catalyzsis of gas generation in the thermal simulations. Compositions of the gaseous hydrocarbons generated from source rocks with evaporites are very similar to those of natural gases discovered from northern Dongying Depression. Meanwhile, in the thermal simulations, it was found that the carbon isotopic compositions of gaseous hydrocarbons generated from source rocks with evaporites are lighter than those of the gases from source rocks without evaporites. Therefore, it is concluded that natural gases discovered from northern Dongying Depression are the product of interaction between source rocks and evaporites (especially gypsum) of the saline facies.