Interaction in the water-rock system as a new basis for the development of hydrogeology

This paper addresses the main mechanisms controlling the continuous and geologically long evolution of the water-rock system, which produced diverse hydrogenous mineral complexes. The concept of such complexes was introduced by the author. It was shown that the water-rock system is a steady-state and equilibrium-disequilibrium one. Its development occurs in a far from equilibrium region and results in the formation of fundamentally new mineral associations and geochemical types of water. Taking into account that water is the main factor controlling the evolutionary trend of this system, it is argued that this system must be among the most important targets of hydrogeology.     

Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements in hydrothermally altered rocks of the Kuroko mining area,Japan

In this study we analyzed the chemical composition of hydrothermally altered dacite and basalt from the Kuroko mining area, northeastern Honshu, Japan, by REE (rare earth element). Features of rare earth element analyses include: (1) altered footwall dacite exhibits a negative Eu anomaly compared with fresh dacite, suggesting preferential removal of Eu²⁺ from the altered dacite via hydrothermal solutions, (2) altered hangingwall dacite and basalt and dacite and basalt adjacent to ore deposits exhibit positive Eu anomalies compared with fresh dacite and basalt, suggesting addition of Eu²⁺ from hydrothermal solutions, (3) LREE ratio (∑LREE/∑REE) from altered dacite of chlorite–sericite zone and K-feldspar zone show a negative relationship with δ¹⁸O, and La/Sm ratios show a positive correlation with the K₂O index. These trends indicate the addition of light rare earth elements such as La to the altered dacite from hydrothermal solution and/or leaching of heavy rare earth elements such as Sm and Yb, (4) Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that light rare earth elements enrichment is related to the formation of sericite zone near the Kuroko deposits but not to the formations of chlorite and K-feldspar zones, and (5) The correlations among REE features (LREE ratio, MREE ratio, HREE ratio, Eu/Eu?), δ¹⁸O and K₂O index are not found for montmorillonite zone, mixed layer clay mineral zone and mordenite zone. Therefore, it is inferred that sericite, chlorite and K-feldspar alterations are related to the Kuroko and vein-type mineralization, but montmorillonite and mordenite alterations are not related to the mineralizations, and probably they formed at the post-mineralization stage.     

Mafic and Felsic Magma Interaction in Granites: the Hercynian Karkonosze Pluton (Sudetes, Bohemian Massif)

The Hercynian, post-collisional Karkonosze pluton contains severallithologies: equigranular and porphyritic granites, hybrid quartzdiorites and granodiorites, microgranular magmatic enclaves,and composite and lamprophyre dykes. Field relationships, mineralogyand major- and trace-element geochemistry show that: (1) theequigranular granite is differentiated and evolved by smalldegrees of fractional crystallization and that it is free ofcontamination by mafic magma; (2) all other components are affectedby mixing. The end-members of the mixing process were a porphyriticgranite and a mafic lamprophyre. The degree of mixing variedwidely depending on both place and time. All of the processesinvolved are assessed quantitatively with the following conclusions.Most of the pluton was affected by mixing, implying that hugevolumes (>75 km³) of mafic magma were available. This maficmagma probably supplied the additional heat necessary to initiatecrustal melting; part of this heat could have also been releasedas latent heat of crystallization. Only a very small part ofthe Karkonosze granite escaped interaction with mafic magma,specifically the equigranular granite and a subordinate partof the porphyritic granite. Minerals from these facies are compositionallyhomogeneous and/or normally zoned, which, together with geochemicalmodelling, indicates that they evolved by small degrees of fractionalcrystallization (<20%). Accessory minerals played an importantrole during magmatic differentiation and, thus, the fractionalcrystallization history is better recorded by trace rather thanby major elements. The interactions between mafic and felsicmagmas reflect their viscosity contrast. With increasing viscositycontrast, the magmatic relationships change from homogeneous,hybrid quartz diorites–granodiorites, to rounded magmaticenclaves, to composite dykes and finally to dykes with chilledmargins. These relationships indicate that injection of maficmagma into the granite took place over the whole crystallizationhistory. Consequently, a long-lived mafic source coexisted togetherwith the granite magma. Mafic magmas were derived either directlyfrom the mantle or via one or more crustal storage reservoirs.Compatible element abundances (e.g. Ni) show that the maficmagmas that interacted with the granite were progressively poorerin Ni in the order hybrid quartz diorites—granodiorites—enclaves—compositedykes. This indicates that the felsic and mafic magmas evolvedindependently, which, in the case of the Karkonosze granite,favours a deep-seated magma chamber rather than a continuousflux from mantle. Two magma sources (mantle and crust) coexisted,and melted almost contemporaneously; the two reservoirs evolvedindependently by fractional crystallization. However, maficmagma was continuously being intruded into the crystallizinggranite, with more or less complete mixing. Several lines ofevidence (e.g. magmatic flux structures, incorporation of granitefeldspars into mafic magma, feldspar zoning with fluctuatingtrace element patterns reflecting rapid changes in magma composition)indicate that, during its emplacement and crystallization, thegranite body was affected by strong internal movements. Thesewould favour more complete and efficient mixing. The systematicspatial–temporal association of lamprophyres with crustalmagmas is interpreted as indicating that their mantle sourceis a fertile peridotite, possibly enriched (metasomatized) byearlier subduction processes. KEY WORDS: Bohemian Massif; fractional crystallization; geochemical modelling; hybridization; Karkonosze     

Platinum-group minerals from the Jinbaoshan Pd–Pt deposit,SW China: evidence for magmatic origin and hydrothermal alteration

The Jinbaoshan Pt–Pd deposit in Yunnan, SW China, is hosted in a wehrlite body, which is a member of the Permian (∼260 Ma) Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP). The deposit is reported to contain one million tonnes of Pt–Pd ore grading 0.21% Ni and 0.16% Cu with 3.0 g/t (Pd + Pt). Platinum-group minerals (PGM) mostly are ∼10 μm in diameter, and are commonly Te-, Sn- and As-bearing, including moncheite (PtTe₂), atokite (Pd₃Sn), kotulskite (PdTe), sperrylite (PtAs₂), irarsite (IrAsS), cooperite (PtS), sudburyite (PdSb), and Pt–Fe alloy. Primary rock-forming minerals are olivine and clinopyroxene, with clinopyroxene forming anhedral poikilitic crystals surrounding olivine. Primary chromite occurs either as euhedral grains enclosed within olivine or as an interstitial phase to the olivine. However, the intrusion has undergone extensive hydrothermal alteration. Most olivine grains have been altered to serpentine, and interstitial clinopyroxene is often altered to actinolite/tremolite and locally biotite. Interstitial chromite grains are either partially or totally replaced by secondary magnetite. Base-metal sulfides (BMS), such as pentlandite and chalcopyrite, are usually interstitial to the altered olivine. PGM are located with the BMS and are therefore also interstitial to the serpentinized olivine grains, occurring within altered interstitial clinopyroxene and chromite, or along the edges of these minerals, which predominantly altered to actinolite/tremolite, serpentine and magnetite. Hydrothermal fluids were responsible for the release of the platinum-group elements (PGE) from the BMS to precipitate the PGM at low temperature during pervasive alteration. A sequence of alteration of the PGM has been recognized. Initially moncheite and atokite have been corroded and recrystallized during the formation of actinolite/tremolite, and then, cooperite and moncheite were altered to Pt–Fe alloy where they are in contact with serpentine. Sudburyite occurs in veins indicating late Pd mobility. However, textural evidence shows that the PGM are still in close proximity to the BMS. They occur in PGE-rich layers located at specific igneous horizons in the intrusion, suggesting that PGE were originally magmatic concentrations that, within a PGE-rich horizon, crystallized with BMS late in the olivine/clinopyroxene crystallization sequence and have not been significantly transported during serpentinization and alteration.     

Mineralogy,textures, and whole-rock geochemistry of advanced argillic alteration: Hugo Dummett porphyry Cu–Au deposit,Oyu Tolgoi mineral district,Mongolia

Advanced argillic (AA) alteration is developed over a vertical interval of 500 m, above (and enclosing) Late Devonian quartz monzodiorite intrusions that accompany porphyry-style Cu–Au mineralization at the Hugo Dummett deposit. The AA alteration is mainly in basaltic rocks and locally extends into the overlying dacitic ash-flow tuff for about 100 m. The AA zone overprints porphyry-style quartz veins associated with quartz monzodiorite intrusions, but at least partly precedes high-grade porphyry-style bornite mineralization. Mineralogically, it consists of andalusite, corundum, residual quartz, titanium oxides, diaspore, alunite, aluminum phosphate-sulfate (APS) minerals, zunyite, pyrophyllite, topaz, kaolinite, and dickite, as well as anhydrite and gypsum, but is dominated by residual quartz and pyrophyllite. Alteration zonation is not apparent, except for an alunite-bearing zone that occurs approximately at the limit of strong quartz veining. Whole-rock geochemistry shows that the AA alteration removes most major elements except Si, Al, Ti, and P, and removes the trace elements Sc, Cs, and Rb. V, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, and Th are relatively immobile, whilst light REEs (La to Nd), Sr, Ba, and Ga can be enriched. Middle REEs (Sm to Gd) are moderately depleted; Y and heavy REEs (Tb to Lu) are strongly depleted except in two unusual samples where middle to heavy REEs are enriched.     

"Water Consumption" in the Diagenetic Stage and Its Petroleum Geological Significance

Inspired from the anomaly of low pressure in the middle and deep reservoir of the Paleogene in the Jiyang depression, this paper theoritically discusses"waterconsumption"of the principal mineral alteration during the diagenetic stage. The preliminary research result shows that "water consumption" of mineral alteration in the diagenetic stage can make formation water greatly decrease. Relevant formations will be in the stage of low pressure without supply of exterior liquid. Pressure differences between the relevant formations and wall rocks make hydrocarbons enter easily to form the effective reservoir.     

Geochemical Mapping—Evolution of Its Aims, Ideas and Technology

The development of geochemical mapping progressed from local geochemical prospecting through regional geochemical exploration and regional geochemical mapping to national and global geochemical mapping. This paper discusses the evolution of aims, ideas and methodology of geochemical mapping in Western countries, Russia and China. The sophistication of geochemical mapping methodology will make great contributions to solving resources and environmental problems in the 21^st century.     

焦家金矿矿化元素因子分析

在焦家金矿区地球化学测量的基础上,通过对不同矿化区段地球化学异常结构的因子分析,探讨矿致异常的元素组合特征.认为不同矿化区段公因子都为典型的热液矿床元素组合,其中成矿地段公因子变量数较少且相关性较大,公因子具有很强的代表性,而非矿化地段公因子中则变量相对较多,因子载荷较小;Co,Ni为典型的深源代表组分,仅在矿化地段表现为独立因子,且与主因子表现为明显的负相关;金元素在矿化地段各因子上均具有一定载荷,但集中分布在两个主因子上,而且与As,Hg,Ag,Pb元素的相关性较大,因此F1因子基本代表了矿化公因子的元素组合,是成矿预测最有效的指示标志.     

Geochemical Mapping——Evolution of Its Aims, Ideas and Technology

The development of geochemical mapping progressed from local geochemical prospecting through regional geochemical exploration and regional geochemical mapping to national and global geochemical mapping. This paper discusses the evolution of aims, ideas and methodology of geochemical mapping in Western countries, Russia and China. The sophistication of geochemical mapping methodology will make great contributions to solving resources and environmental problems in the 21st century.     

基于矿物光谱指数的蚀变信息提取——以西藏多龙铜金矿集区ASTER数据为例

矿物光谱指数是利用比值的方法增强Fe和含OH矿物在可见光、短波红外区间的吸收特征,进而提取蚀变矿物信息的一种方法。由于斑岩型矿床的蚀变分带特征明显,西藏多龙矿集区中集中了斑岩型、浅成低温热液型等铜、金矿床,通过矿物光谱指数的计算提取相关蚀变信息,对该区域的下一步找矿具有指导意义。本文采用矿物光谱指数(5+7)/6、(6+9)/8等方法提取了镁、铝两类羟基及铝羟基类下的高岭石等蚀变信息,采用5/4、2/1的方法提取了二价铁、三价铁的蚀变信息。经过与OLI影像采用PCA方法及野外实地勘查采样,证实了利用本文方法所提取的蚀变信息有效。