Compositional zoning of fluid inclusions in the Archaean Junction gold deposit,Western Australia: A process of fluid ‐ wall‐rock interaction?

The Junction gold deposit, in Western Australia, is an orogenic gold deposit hosted by a differentiated, iron‐rich, tholeiitic dolerite sill. Petrographic, microthermometric and laser Raman microprobe analyses of fluid inclusions from the Junction deposit indicate that three different vein systems formed at three distinct periods of geological time, and host four fluid‐inclusion populations with a wide range of compositions in the H₂O–CO₂–CH₄–NaCl ± CaCl₂ system. Pre‐shearing, pre‐gold, molybdenite‐bearing quartz veins host fluid inclusions that are characterised by relatively consistent phase ratios comprising H₂O–CO₂–CH₄ ± halite. Microthermometry suggests that these veins precipitated when a highly saline, >340°C fluid mixed with a less saline ≥150°C fluid. The syn‐gold mineralisation event is hosted within the Junction shear zone and is associated with extensive quartz‐calcite ± albite ± chlorite ± pyrrhotite veining. Fluid‐inclusion analyses indicate that gold deposition occurred during the unmixing of a 400°C, moderately saline, H₂O–CO₂ ± CH₄ fluid at pressures between 70 MPa and 440 MPa. Post‐gold quartz‐calcite‐biotite‐pyrrhotite veins occupy normal fault sets that slightly offset the Junction shear zone. Fluid inclusions in these veins are predominantly vapour rich, with CO₂?CH₄. Homogenisation temperatures indicate that the post‐gold quartz veins precipitated from a 310 ± 30°C fluid. Finally, late secondary fluid inclusions show that a <200°C, highly saline, H₂O–CaCl₂–NaCl–bearing fluid percolated along microfractures late in the deposit's history, but did not form any notable vein type. Raman spectroscopy supports the microthermometric data and reveals that CH₄–bearing fluid inclusions occur in syn‐gold quartz grains found almost exclusively at the vein margin, whereas CO₂–bearing fluid inclusions occur in quartz grains that are found toward the centre of the veins. The zonation of CO₂:CH₄ ratios, with respect to the location of fluid inclusions within the syn‐gold quartz veins, suggest that the CH₄ did not travel as part of the auriferous fluid. Fluid unmixing and post‐entrapment alteration of the syn‐gold fluid inclusions are known to have occurred, but cannot adequately account for the relatively ordered zonation of CO₂:CH₄ ratios. Instead, the late introduction of a CH₄–rich fluid into the Junction shear zone appears more likely. Alternatively, the process of CO₂ reduction to CH₄ is a viable and plausible explanation that fits the available data. The CH₄–bearing fluid inclusions occur almost exclusively at the margin of the syn‐gold quartz veins within the zone of high‐grade gold mineralisation because this is where all the criteria needed to reduce CO₂ to CH₄ were satisfied in the Junction deposit.     

Primary carbonate/CO2 inclusions in sapphirine-bearing granulites from central Sri Lanka

High-density CO₂-rich fluid inclusions from a sapphirine-bearing granulite (Hakurutale, Sri Lanka) have been studied by microthermometry, Raman spectrometry and SEM analysis. Based on textural evidence, two groups of inclusions can be identified: primary, negative crystal shaped inclusions (group I) and pseudo-secondary inclusions, which experienced a local, limited post-trapping modification (group II). Both groups contain magnesite as a daughter mineral, occurring in a relatively constant fluid/solid inclusion volume ratio (vol_solid =0.15 total volume). CO₂ densities for group I and II differ only slightly. Both groups contain a fluid, which was initially trapped at peak metamorphic conditions as a homogeneous (CO₂+MgCO₃) mixture. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that such a fluid (CO₂+15 vol% MgCO₃) is stable under granulite facies conditions. After trapping, magnesite separated upon cooling, while the remaining CO₂ density suffered minor re-adjustments. A model isochore based on the integration of the magnesite molar volume in the CO₂ fluid passes about 1.5–2 kbar below peak metamorphic conditions. This remaining discrepancy can be explained by the possible role of a small quantity of additional water.     

Shallow and deep reservoirs involved in magma supply of the 1944 eruption of Vesuvius

 During the 1944 eruption of Vesuvius a sudden change occurred in the dynamics of the eruptive events, linked to variations in magma composition. K-phonotephritic magmas were erupted during the effusive phase and the first lava fountain, whereas the emission of strongly porphyritic K-tephrites took place during the more intense fountain. Melt inclusion compositions (major and volatile elements) highlight that the magmas feeding the eruption underwent differentiation at different pressures. The K-tephritic volatile-rich melts (up to 3 wt.% H₂O, 3000 ppm CO₂, and 0.55 wt.% Cl) evolved to reach K-phonotephritic compositions by crystallization of diopside and forsteritic olivine at total fluid pressure higher than 300 MPa. These magmas fed a very shallow reservoir. The low-pressure differentiation of the volatile-poor K-phonotephritic magmas (H₂O<1 wt.%) involved mixing, open-system degassing, and crystallization of leucite, salite, and plagioclase. The eruption was triggered by intrusion of a volatile-rich magma batch that rose from a depth of 11–22 km into the shallow magma chamber. The first phase of the eruption represents the partial emptying of the shallow reservoir, the top of which is within the volcanic edifice. The newly arrived magma mixed with that resident in the shallow reservoir and forced the transition from the effusive to the lava fountain phase of the eruption. Received: 14 September 1998 / Accepted: 10 January 1999     

Petrology and geothermobarometry of granulite facies metapelites from the Hisøy-Torungen area, south Norway: new data on the Sveconorvegian P–T–t path of the Bamble sector

ABSTRACT The high-grade rocks (metapelite, quartzite, metagabbro) of the Hisøy-Torungen area represent the south-westernmost exposures of granulites in the Proterozoic Bamble sector, south Norway. The area is isoclinally folded and a metamorphic P–T–t path through four successive stages (M1-M4) is recognized. Petrological evidence for a prograde metamorphic event (M1) is obtained from relict staurolite + chlorite + albite, staurolite + hercynite + ilmenite, cordierite + sillimanite, fine-grained felsic material + quartz and hercynite + biotite ± sillimanite within metapelitic garnet. The phase relations are consistent with a pressure of 3.6 ± 0.5 kbar and temperatures up to 750–850°C. M1 is connected to the thermal effect of the gabbroic intrusions prior to the main (M2) Sveconorwegian granulite facies metamorphism. The main M2 granulite facies mineral assemblages (quartz+ plagioclase + K-feldspar + garnet + biotite ± sillimanite) are best preserved in the several-metre-wide Al-rich metapelites, which represent conditions of 5.9–9.1 kbar and 790–884°C. These P–T conditions are consistent with a temperature increase of 80–100°C relative to the adjacent amphibolite facies terranes. No accompanying pressure variations are recorded. Up to 1-mm-wide fine-grained felsic veinlets appear in several units and represent remnants of a former melt formed by the reaction: Bt + Sil + Qtz→Grt + lq. This dehydration reaction, together with the absence of large-scale migmatites in the area, suggests a very reduced water activity in the rocks and XH₂O = 0.25 in the C–O–H fluid system was calculated for a metapelitic unit. A low but variable water activity can best explain the presence or absence of fine-grained felsic material representing a former melt in the different granulitic metapelites. The strongly peraluminous composition of the felsic veinlets is due to the reaction: Grt +former melt ± Sil→Crd + Bt ± Qtz + H₂O, which has given poorly crystalline cordierite aggregates intergrown with well-crystalline biotite. The cordierite- and biotite-producing reaction constrains a steep first-stage retrograde (relative to M2) uplift path. Decimetre- to metre-wide, strongly banded metapelites (quartz + plagioclase + biotite + garnet ± sillimanite) inter-layered with quartzites are retrograded to (M3) amphibolite facies assemblages. A P–T estimate of 1.7–5.6 kbar, 516–581°C is obtained from geothermobarometry based on rim-rim analyses of garnet–biotite–plagioclase–sillimanite–quartz assemblages, and can be related to the isoclinal folding of the rocks. M4 greenschist facies conditions are most extensively developed in millimetre-wide chlorite-rich, calcite-bearing veins cutting the foliation.     

Intermediate Alkali-Alumino-silicate Aqueous Solutions Released by Deeply Subducted Continental Crust: Fluid Evolution in UHP OH-rich Topaz-Kyanite Quartzites from Donghai (Sulu, China)

Minerals, fluid inclusions and stable isotopes have been studiedin ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) OH-rich topaz–kyanite quartzitesfrom Hushan (west of Dongai), in southern Sulu (China). Thequartzites underwent a metamorphic evolution characterized bya peak stage (3·5 GPa and 730–820°C) with theanhydrous assemblage coesite + kyanite I, followed by an earlynear-isothermal decompression stage (2·9 GPa and 705–780°C)with growth of kyanite II, muscovite, and OH-rich topaz, andby decompression-cooling stages, represented by paragonite (1·9GPa and 700–780°C) and pyrophyllite (0·3 GPaand 400°C) on kyanite (I and II) and OH-rich topaz, respectively.These rocks may exhibit unusually low ¹⁸O and D values acquiredbefore undergoing UHP metamorphism. Five distinct fluid generationsare recognized. Type I: concentrated peak solutions rich inSi, Al, and alkalis, present within multiphase inclusions inkyanite I. Type II: CaCl₂-rich brines present during the growthof early retrograde OH-rich topaz. Type III, IV, and V: lateaqueous fluids of variable salinity, and rare CO₂ present duringamphibolite- and late greenschist-facies conditions. A numberof conclusions may be drawn from these relationships that havean effect on fluid evolution in deeply subducted continentalrocks. (1) At a pressure of about 3·5 GPa alkali–alumino-silicateaqueous solutions, with compositions intermediate between H₂Ofluid and melt (H₂O > 25 and 50 wt %) evolved from quartzites,probably generated by dehydration reactions. (2) During earlydecompression stages, at the transition from UHP to high-pressure(2·9 GPa) conditions, brines of external origin withhigher water contents (82 wt % H₂O) initiated the growth ofOH-rich topaz and muscovite. (3) The subsequent decompression,at P <2 GPa, was defined by a limited circulation of NaClaqueous fluids, and CO₂ infiltration. Overall, fluid inclusionsand stable isotopes highlight a metamorphic fluid–rockinteraction characterized by internally derived intermediateaqueous solutions at UHP, followed by infiltration of Cl-richbrines with higher water activities. KEY WORDS: ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism; OH-rich topaz; fluid inclusions; stable isotopes; supercritical liquids     

Abiotic Methane Reservoirs in the Western Tianshan HP–UHP Metamorphic Belt,China

Natural gas, consisting primarily of methane(CH₄), has become a major source of clean energy in modern society in many parts of the globe. Recent experimental observations and discoveries of deep-sourced abiotic CH₄ in cold subduction zones indicate the important ability of cold subducted slabs to generate natural gas reservoirs. However, most CH₄ flux and reservoirs remain unknown and their potential is overlooked in global carbon flux estimations. Massive abiot...     

造山型金矿中富CO_(2)高内压流体包裹体完全均一温度的有效测定实验研究——以东天山玉峰金矿床为例SCIEI北大核心CSCD

形成于中-深成条件下的造山型金矿的成矿流体属于H_(2)O-NaCl-CO_(2)体系,金矿化阶段的石英中发育大量的富CO_(2)流体包裹体。长期以来,用常规冷热台对其进行显微测温热力学研究时,较高的内压力会造成绝大多数CO_(2)充填度>0.4的包裹体在尚未达到完全均一状态前就发生爆裂或泄露,导致所测的完全均一温度值明显偏离真实值,甚至无法测得完全均一温度,这制约了对造山型金矿床成矿条件的认知。针对该问题,本文以东天山玉峰金矿床富金矿石中的H_(2)O-NaCl包裹体(A型)和H_(2)O-NaCl-CO_(2)包裹体(AC型)为研究对象,介绍了利用最新型热液金刚石压腔(HDAC-VT型号)测试富CO_(2)高内压的AC型包裹体完全均一温度的实验流程与结果,并将实验数据与Linkam THMSG600冷热台测得的A型、AC型包裹体的完全均一温度进行了对比分析。实验结果表明,热液金刚石压腔能够有效阻止富CO_(2)流体包裹体在升温过程中发生爆裂、泄露等非弹性体积改变现象的发生,从而获得有效的完全均一温度。同时,本文还提出了一个新的压力-温度拟合线两线相交法,对热液金刚石压腔所测富CO_(2)流体包裹体的完全均一温度数据进行校正,以最大程度上减少外压力造成的影响,获得更为接近真实成矿流体的完全均一温度。基于此,获得玉峰金矿床的成矿温度和成矿压力分别为312~343℃和181~268 MPa。本文的实验研究工作显示了热液金刚石压腔在中-深成造山型金矿富CO_(2)成矿流体的研究领域具有重要应用前景。     

安徽铜陵胡村南铜钼矿床流体成矿过程

胡村南铜钼矿床是在安徽铜陵铜(金)矿集区中发现的第一个矽卡岩-斑岩复合型铜钼矿床,在长江中下游成矿带具有特殊性和典型性。文章对该矿床进行了矿床地质和流体包裹体研究,旨在查明该矿床的流体成矿过程。胡村南铜钼矿床流体成矿过程可以划分为高温气成热液期、中高温热液期和低温热液期3个成矿期。高温气成热液期发育钾长石化和矽卡岩化,中高温热液期发育绿泥石化、绿帘石化和绢云母化,而低温热液期主要发育碳酸盐化。其中,中高温热液期为主要矿化期,形成辉钼矿和黄铜矿等多种硫化物网脉。高温气成热液期矿物中发育富液相和含子晶多相包裹体,中高温热液期矿物中也主要发育富液相包裹体和含子晶多相包裹体,但可见少量的富气相包裹体,低温热液期矿物中只发育富液相包裹体。从高温气成热液期经中高温热液期到低温热液期,成矿流体均一温度从435℃以上,经203~458℃,降低到156~276℃;盐度w(NaCleq)从14.0%~64.9%,经4.6%~47.5%,降低到1.0%~15.5%。成矿流体在其演化过程中发生过不混溶作用和沸腾作用。不混溶作用发生在气成热液期,使成矿流体中的成矿元素大量富集。沸腾作用发生在中高温热液期,导致成矿流体中的成矿元素卸载而沉淀出大量金属硫化物。     

激光拉曼光谱法在单个流体包裹体研究中的应用进展

激光拉曼光谱法以其非破坏性、高灵敏度和高分辨率等特性,一直以来都是研究流体包裹体的重要方法之一。近年来,围绕激光拉曼光谱在流体包裹体中的应用而展开的研究主要集中在半定量-定量测试方面,即在准确定性的基础上,采用高斯-洛仑兹去卷积分峰、低温原位等定量方法获取流体包裹体的成分和含量,从而克服了激光拉曼光谱法应用于溶液中阳离子的定量分析的灵敏度、准确度较低的问题,不仅能获得流体包裹体中一些常温下不具拉曼活性的盐类物质拉曼特征峰信息,还能根据特征峰与浓度、内压之间的线性关系,进一步对盐度和压力等性质进行测定,从而拓展了激光拉曼光谱法在流体包裹体中的应用范围。本文对激光拉曼光谱法应用于分析流体包裹体成分、盐度、同位素和压力所取得的最新进展进行了评述,并认为随着分析测试技术的不断进步,激光拉曼光谱法未来的分析方向也将继续围绕多元复杂体系及其定量方面的研究展开。     

四川盆地东部三叠系嘉陵江组成盐期浓缩海水古温度及其意义

四川盆地东部嘉陵江组四段石盐岩中发育大量原生的单一液相包裹体,为揭示石盐结晶时古海水的温度,恢复早三叠世古气候提供了有利条件。本文在蒸发岩岩相学研究的基础上,对流体包裹体均一温度进行了测试。测温结果表明,石盐结晶时卤水的温度在17.7~63.5℃之间,与该地区碳酸盐岩氧同位素数据所反映的温度特征基本一致,说明早三叠世时海水具有较高的温度。这有利于古海水的强烈蒸发浓缩,为成钾奠定了良好的气候条件。