Stratigraphy,distribution and geochemistry of widespread felsic volcanic units in the Mesoproterozoic Gawler Range Volcanics,South Australia

Three widespread felsic volcanic units, the Eucarro Rhyolite, Pondanna Dacite Member and Moonaree Dacite Member, have been distinguished in the Mesoproterozoic Gawler Range Volcanics. These three units are the largest in the Gawler Range Volcanics, each in excess of 500 km³. Each unit is ～300 m thick and includes a black, formerly glassy base, a granophyric columnar‐jointed interior, and an amygdaloidal outer margin. The units are very gently dipping and locally separated by thin (<20 m) lenses of either ignimbrite (Mt Double Ignimbrite), tuffaceous sandstone or faults. The youngest unit, the Moonaree Dacite Member, covers a central area with a diameter greater than 80 km. The southern two units have east‐west extents in the order of 180 km, but are much less extensive from south to north (5–60 km). All three units are dominated by euhedral phenocrysts and are relatively crystal rich. Both the Eucarro Rhyolite and Moonaree Dacite Member contain clasts of basement granitoid and other lithologies and are locally heterogeneous in texture and composition. Some granitoid clasts have disintegrated, liberating feldspar and quartz crystals into the surrounding host. These liberated crystals cause textural variations, but can be identified on the basis of shape (amoeboid or skeletal) and/or size (megacrysts). Textural and lithofacies characteristics are consistent with the interpretation that these units are lavas; the strongly elongate distribution and wide extent of the Eucarro Rhyolite and Pondanna Dacite Member could indicate that vents were aligned along an extensive east‐west‐trending fissure system. Stratigraphic nomenclature has been revised to better reflect the presence of the three emplacement units. The oldest unit, the Eucarro Rhyolite, is dominated by plagioclase‐phyric rhyolite that locally includes granitoid clasts and megacrysts. Along the northern margin, the rhyolite is amygdaloidal and has mingled with a quartz‐rich rhyolite (Paney Rhyolite Member). The Eucarro Rhyolite and Paney Rhyolite Member replace the formerly defined ‘Eucarro Dacite’, ‘Nonning Rhyodacite’, ‘Yannabie Rhyodacite’ and ‘Paney Rhyolite’. The two younger units, Pondanna Dacite Member and Moonaree Dacite Member, are compositionally and spatially distinct, newly defined members of the Yardea Dacite.     

Geochemical features of felsic magmatism on the northwestern flank of the Khingan-Okhotsk volcanoplutonic belt: Ezop and Yam-Alin zones

The Ezop-Yam-Alin zone was studied with emphasis on the geology, composition, and age of its felsic volcanic and intrusive rocks. All these rocks are moderately enriched in Rb (84–268 ppm), Ba (240–881 ppm), Th (10.5–17.9 ppm), and REE and depleted in Nb (5–12 ppm), Ta (0.5–1.2 ppm), and Zr (92–175 ppm). The age dates obtained by U-Pb (94.8 ± 2.2 Ma) and Rb-Sr (95.2 ± 0.69 Ma) methods for the granites of the Ezop Complex correspond to the Cenomanian.     

Remobilization of Highly Crystalline Felsic Magma by Injection of Mafic Magma: Constraints from the Middle Sixth Century Eruption at Haruna Volcano, Honshu, Japan

The latest eruption of Haruna volcano at Futatsudake took placein the middle of the sixth century, starting with a Plinianfall, followed by pyroclastic flows, and ending with lava domeformation. Gray pumices found in the first Plinian phase (lowerfall) and the dome lavas are the products of mixing betweenfelsic (andesitic) magma having 50 vol. % phenocrysts and maficmagma. The mafic magma was aphyric in the initial phase, whereasit was relatively phyric during the final phase. The aphyricmagma is chemically equivalent to the melt part of the phyricmafic magma and probably resulted from the separation of phenocrystsat their storage depth of 15 km. The major part of the felsicmagma erupted as white pumice, without mixing and heating priorto the eruption, after the mixed magma (gray pumice) and heatedfelsic magma (white pumice) of the lower fall deposit. Althoughthe mafic magma was injected into the felsic magma reservoir(at 7 km depth), part of the product (lower fall ejecta) precedederuption of the felsic reservoir magma, as a consequence ofupward dragging by the convecting reservoir of felsic magma.The mafic magma injection made the nearly rigid felsic magmaerupt, letting low-viscosity mixed and heated magmas open theconduit and vent. Indeed the lower fall white pumices preservea record of syneruptive slow ascent of magma to 2 km depth,probably associated with conduit formation. KEY WORDS: high-crystallinity felsic magma; magma plumbing system; multistage magma mixing; upward dragging of injected magma; vent opening by low-viscosity magma     

Spectral characteristics of the Gawler Range Volcanics in drill core Myall Creek RC1

Traditional core-logging methods in conjunction with spectral scanning techniques have been used to log volcanic successions of the lower Gawler Range Volcanics. The open-file drill core Myall Creek RC 1 was re-logged and scanned using HyLogger? core scanning technologies as a part of the Geological Survey of South Australia's Southern Gawler Rangers mapping program and the Mineral System Drilling Program. Myall Creek RC 1 is one of the key stratigraphic drill cores for the region, owing to the intersection of a large section of the Gawler Range Volcanics. Spectral characterisation of the Eucarro Rhyolite revealed differential weathering of plagioclase phenocrysts, while high-resolution imagery and spectral results were used to log new basaltic flows and small flow features in the Roopena Basalt. The composition and distribution of feldspars in the unnamed lower Gawler Range Volcanic units were used to aid traditional logging of visually similar lithologies. A spectral scalar, the felsic–mafic index, was used to identify unusual features in the unnamed sequence and was found to identify iron oxides as either fracture coatings or finely disseminated in the matrix of the sample. Iron oxides were also used to identify features within lithological units, which were difficult to discern visually, especially the layers in the deepest layered ignimbrite at the end of the drill core.     

1.60 Ga felsic volcanic blocks in the moraines of the Terre Adélie Craton,Antarctica: Comparisons with the Gawler Range Volcanics,South Australia

Rhyodacite and rhyolite blocks found in numerous moraines on the Terre Adélie Craton in Antarctica are samples of a high‐temperature high‐K calc‐alkaline to alkali‐calcic igneous suite emplaced at ca 1.60 Ga. They comprise lavas and pyroclastic rocks, including ignimbritic varieties, chemically representative of anorogenic and post‐orogenic igneous suites. The eruptive centres are probably close to the coast according to radar satellite images that show the trace of the ice streams. The volcanic suite is similar in age, petrography and chemical composition (major and trace elements as well as Nd isotopes) to the Gawler Range Volcanics from the Gawler Craton of South Australia. These similarities strengthen correlations previously established between the Gawler Craton and the Terre Adélie Craton (Mawson Continent). Moreover, the present petrological, geochemical and geochronological data give a new insight into the last major thermal event affecting the Mawson Continent. The results also highlight the useful contribution of moraines to our knowledge of Antarctic geology.     

Links between Mesozoic intermediate–felsic igneous rocks and lower crustal granulite xenoliths,North China Craton: O and Pb isotopic evidence

We present and compare whole-rock and zircon O and Pb isotopic compositions for the Hannuoba granulite xenoliths and Mesozoic intermediate-to-felsic igneous rocks from the Zhangjiakou region, northern margin of the North China Craton, northeast China. The xenoliths have an overall Pb isotopic range similar to rocks from the regionally exposed Neoarchaean granulite terrain. Mesozoic zircons from different types of granulite xenoliths have a narrow range of δ¹⁸O values (6.0–7.7‰) higher than normal mantle δ¹⁸O values (～5.7‰). Mesozoic intermediate–felsic igneous rocks have O and Pb isotopic compositions indistinguishable from the Hannuoba intermediate–mafic granulite xenoliths. Our new data suggest that the Mesozoic igneous rocks and granulite xenoliths are genetically linked and that both were derived from the late Neoarchaean lower crust. This argues against previous proposals that the granulite xenoliths are either products of Mesozoic basaltic underplating or formed by mixing between mantle-derived and pre-existing crustal magmas.     

阿尔泰南缘冲乎尔盆地康布铁堡组变质酸性火山岩年龄及岩石成因

冲乎尔盆地是阿尔泰南缘等间斜列的火山沉积盆地之一,盆地内出露有重要的康布铁堡组赋矿地层.本文对该组一个凝灰岩和两个变质流纹岩样品进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄测定,获得了385.3±1.2Ma、398.1±1.8Ma和405.6±2.2Ma的结果.变质流纹岩的岩石地球化学分析结果表明,与克朗和麦兹盆地内的酸性火山岩的特征相同,即变质流纹岩属钙碱性低Ti流纹岩;在原始地幔标准化图上显示出Ti、P、Sr、Ba明显负异常,Th、U、Pb的正异常,LREE相对HREE略富集的特征,并显示强的Eu负异常(δEu=0.25 ～0.54).结合其区域地质特征,认为本区变质酸性火山岩形成于活动大陆边缘环境,是下地壳发生了部分熔融后演化的产物.阿尔泰南缘的火山沉积盆地是早—中泥盆世时期在挤压环境中形成的断陷盆地.     

重液法分离密度差值很小的单矿物的技术及其应用

介绍了密度差值很小的单矿物的分离技术方法,并利用重液折光率千分位和万分位的细微区别分离单矿物石英和绢云母。该方法由石英与长英质混合物的分离技术,推广到绢云母与绢云母长英质混合物的分离技术,改进后的重液分离技术具有快速、高效、经济的特点。当重液的折光率为1.577~1.580时,石英的分离纯度能达到95﹪~99﹪;当重液的折光率为1.5895~1.5840时,绢云母的分离纯度能达到90﹪~99﹪。     

阿尔金喀腊大湾地区中酸性火山岩SHRIMP年龄及其构造环境

阿尔金山喀腊大湾地区位于北东向阿尔金走滑断裂北侧与东西向阿尔金北缘断裂所夹持的区域,是区域上红柳沟-拉配泉构造带的中段。该区广泛发育火山-沉积岩系,前人将其确定为中元古代。本文运用锆石SHRIMP U-Pb方法对区内火山-沉积岩系中的中酸性火山岩进行测年,获得477~485Ma的年龄,确认喀腊大湾地区早古生代中酸性岩浆喷发活动的存在。同时根据岩石地球化学研究,显示这套火山岩具有活动大陆边缘(岛弧)构造环境,其岩浆源具有I型及I与S过渡类型特点。结合前人对红柳沟-拉配泉一带的蛇绿混杂岩、高压变质泥岩、榴辉岩、中酸性侵入岩等相关年代资料及构造环境示踪,作者认为喀腊大湾地区中酸性火山岩形成于活动大陆边缘(岛弧)大地构造环境,其时限与蛇绿混杂岩的末期非常接近,代表了洋壳俯冲碰撞过程中形成的同碰撞中酸性火山岩。据此可以将区域上红柳沟-拉配泉一带的构造演化划分为洋壳扩张期(晚元古代末-寒武纪,蛇绿混杂岩年龄510~580Ma,但扩张起始会早一些)、洋壳板块俯冲碰撞期(早奥陶世-中奥陶世早期,中酸性岩浆岩(包括侵入岩和火山岩)年龄为477~488 Ma(部分花岗岩年龄延迟到467Ma左右),以及高压变质岩的退变质年龄479~491Ma),碰撞后伸展期(晚奥陶世—志留纪,蛇绿混杂岩变质基质岩系的变质年龄450~455Ma,代表蛇绿混杂岩最后就位,碰撞—碰撞后S型碱性花岗岩年龄417~431Ma,代表碰撞后伸展构造环境)三个演化阶段。     

中国东部中生代大规模岩浆活动与长英质大火成岩省问题

笔者认为,中国东部中生代大规模岩浆活动很难用太平洋板块的俯冲来解释,中国东部中生代大规模岩浆活动可能相当于几个不同时期发育的长英质大火成岩省,与中生代东亚超级地幔柱的活动有关.世界上存在两类大火成岩省,一类以镁铁质岩为主(M-LIP);另一类以长英质岩为主(F-LIP).中国也存在上述两类大火成岩省,二叠纪的峨眉山玄武岩属于前者,中国东部中生代大规模的岩浆活动属于后者.二者可能均与地幔柱的活动有关,不同在于镁铁质大火成岩省的地幔柱上升停滞在岩石圈底部,在那里发生部分熔融形成大规模玄武岩喷发;而与长英质大火成岩省有关的地幔柱可抵达下地壳底部直接烘烤和加热下地壳,形成长英质成分的岩浆岩.学术界通常认为中国东部中生代大规模岩浆活动与太平洋板块向西俯冲导致的软流圈地幔上升有关,本文却认为它可能与来自下地幔的地幔柱有关.大火成岩省矿产丰富,与镁铁质大火成岩省有关的矿产有铜、镍、铬、铂、钯等,与长英质大火成岩省有关的矿产有金、铜、钨、锡、钼、铋、锑、铀等.