Identifying calcium-containing mineral species in the JEB Tailings Management Facility at McClean Lake,Saskatchewan

The JEB Tailings Management Facility (TMF) is central to reducing the environmental impact of the McClean Lake uranium mill facility that is operated by AREVA Resources Canada. This facility has been designed around the idea that elements of concern (e.g., U, As, Ni, Se, Mo) will be controlled through equilibrium with precipitants. Confirming the presence of calcium-containing carbonates in the JEB TMF is the first step in determining if gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) controls the concentration of HCO₃⁻ (aq), limiting the formation of soluble uranyl bicarbonate complexes. A combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), and microprobe X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping was used to analyze a series of tailings samples from the JEB TMF. Calcium carbonate in the form of calcite (CaCO₃), aragonite (CaCO₃), and dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂) were identified by analysing Ca K-edge μ-XANES spectra coupled with microprobe XRF mapping. This is the first observation of these phases in the JEB TMF. The combination of μ-XANES and XRF mapping provided a greater sensitivity to low concentration calcium species compared to the other techniques used, which were only sensitive to the major species present (e.g., gypsum).     

库车盆地白垩系碎屑白云母物源区示踪与构造意义

沉积盆地碎屑岩记录了相邻造山带构造演化及隆升剥蚀的重要信息。本文对库车盆地白垩系砂岩中的白云母进行了电子探针及~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar定年分析,并与天山造山带的数据对比研究表明:库车盆地白垩系砂岩中白云母为多硅白云母,硅原子数小于西南天山蓝片岩及榴辉岩中的多硅白云母,形成时的压力低于目前保留在西南天山蓝片岩中多硅白云母;白垩系砂岩多硅白云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄为396.6 Ma,与在低温高压变质带中获得的多硅白云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄419~310Ma一致,表明了在白垩纪西南天山低温高压变质岩带已抬升至地表遭受剥蚀,为库车盆地提供大量的物质,也表明了在白垩纪西南天山低温高压变质岩带高度(海拔)高于其南部的哈尔克山,而现今天山地貌形态显示低温高压变质岩海拔低于哈尔克山,这可能是由于新生代天山地区差异隆升剥蚀引起的。     

西藏列廷冈铁多金属矿床磁铁矿元素地球化学特征及地质意义

西藏列廷冈矿床是林周盆地Fe-Mo-Cu-Pb-Zn矿集区内近年来新发现不久、规模较大的矽卡岩型铁多金属矿床。矿区磁铁矿发育,主要包括块状、浸染状和脉状3种类型。基于详细的野外地质调查和室内矿相学研究,将矿床成矿期划分为矽卡岩期和热液期2期,进而划分为5个成矿阶段:早期矽卡岩阶段、退化蚀变阶段、早期热液阶段、石英-硫化物阶段和碳酸盐阶段,其中,块状磁铁矿主要形成于退化蚀变阶段,浸染状和脉状磁铁矿主要形成于早期热液阶段。以磁铁矿为主要研究对象,采用电子探针(EPMA)和单矿物微量稀土元素ICP-MS分析实验,重点对磁铁矿元素地球化学特征、成因矿物学进行系统研究。研究结果表明,3种不同类型磁铁矿内均含Ti、Si、Ca等次要元素以及Na、K、Cr、Ni、Co、Pb、Ba、Sn、Sr、Sb、Cu等多种可检测到的微量元素,且矿物内主要发生了Al、Mg、Mn等元素的类质同像置换,综合TiO_2-Al_2O_3-MgO、TiO_2-Al_2O_3-(MgO+Mn O)和(Ca+Al+Mn)-(Ti+V)、Ni/(Cr+Mn)-(Ti+V)等多种磁铁矿成因判别图解投图结果及矿体野外宏观地质特征,表明矿区磁铁矿均为热液成因。块状磁铁矿具明显的Eu正异常,浸染状和脉状磁铁矿具Eu负异常,均无明显Ce异常特征,表明富Eu成矿流体在矽卡岩期的高温氧化环境下形成了矽卡岩型块状磁铁矿体,在热液期则逐渐转变为低温还原环境,形成浸染状和脉状磁铁矿及多种金属硫化物,且铁的物质来源主要与矿区花岗闪长岩和花岗斑岩紧密相关。     

High‐resolution geochemical record of fluid–rock interaction in a mid‐crustal shear zone: a comparative study of major element and oxygen isotope transport in garnet

Garnet grains from an intensely metasomatized mid‐crustal shear zone in the Reynolds Range, central Australia, exhibit a diverse assortment of textural and compositional characteristics that provide important insights into the geochemical effects of fluid–rock interaction. Electron microprobe X‐ray maps and major element profiles, in situ secondary ion mass spectrometry oxygen isotope analyses, and U–Pb and Sm–Nd geochronology are used to reconstruct their thermal, temporal and fluid evolution. These techniques reveal a detailed sequence of garnet growth, re‐equilibration and dissolution during intracontinental reworking associated with the Ordovician–Carboniferous (450–300 Ma) Alice Springs Orogeny. A euhedral garnet porphyroblast displays bell‐shaped major element profiles diagnostic of prograde growth zoning during shear zone burial. Coexisting granulitic garnet porphyroclasts inherited from precursor wall rocks show extensive cation re‐equilibration assisted by fracturing and fragmentation. Oxygen isotope variations in the former are inversely correlated with the molar proportion of grossular, suggesting that isotopic fractionation is linked to Ca substitution. The latter generally show close correspondence to the isotopic composition of their precursor, indicating slow intergranular diffusion of O relative to Fe²⁺, Mg and Mn. Peak metamorphism associated with shearing (～550 °C; 5.0–6.5 kbar) occurred at c. 360 Ma, followed by rapid exhumation and cooling. Progressive Mn enrichment in rim domains indicates that the retrograde evolution caused partial garnet dissolution. Accompanying intra‐mineral porosity production then stimulated limited oxygen isotope exchange between relict granulitic garnet grains and adjacent metasomatic biotite, resulting in increased garnet δ¹⁸O values over length scales <200 μm. Spatially restricted oxygen interdiffusion was thus facilitated by increased fluid access to reaction interfaces. The concentration of Ca in channelled fracture networks suggests that its mobility was enhanced by a similar mechanism. In contrast, the intergranular diffusion of Fe²⁺, Mg and Mn was rock‐wide under the same P–T regime, as demonstrated by a lack of local spatial variations in the re‐equilibration of these components. The extraction of detailed reaction histories from garnet must therefore take into account the variable length‐ and time‐scales of elemental and isotopic exchange, particularly where the involvement of a fluid phase enhances the possibility of measureable resetting profiles being generated for slowly diffusing components such as Ca and O, even at low ambient temperatures and relatively fast cooling rates.     

Geological Characteristics and Occurrence of Gold in the Xiling Gold Deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula北大核心CSCD

西岭金矿床是胶东金矿集区内近来新发现的超大型破碎蚀变岩型金矿床(475吨@4.56 g/t),位于著名的三山岛金矿床的东侧。本文在详实的野外地质观察的基础上,系统介绍了西岭金矿床的基础地质特征,并运用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察,结合电子探针分析,系统研究了西岭金矿床金的赋存状态。西岭金矿床大量金矿物(银金矿和自然金)主要赋存在Ⅱ阶段石英-黄铁矿和Ⅲ阶段灰石英-多金属硫化物脉中。西岭金矿床金矿物主要有晶隙金、裂隙金和包体金三种赋存状态,以晶隙金为主。金的主要载体矿物为黄铁矿,次为石英、黄铜矿和方铅矿等。金矿物粒度大小包括粗粒金、中粒金、细粒金和微粒金,以细粒-微粒为主。金矿物形态有粒状、叶片状、线状、钩状、枝杈状和哑铃状等,以粒状为主。金矿物成分以Au和Ag为主,含微量的Cu、Cr、Fe、Ni、Te、S等元素。金成色为685~831,以银金矿为主,含少量自然金。综合地质和地球化学特征,西岭金矿床为蚀变岩型金矿床,是由早白垩世中温岩浆热液充填-交代形成。     

Geochronological constraints on uranium mineralization within the Hüttenberg siderite deposit (Eastern Alps,Austria)

A small-scale hydrothermal uranium mineralization hosted within the siderite deposit at Hüttenberg (Eastern Alps, Austria) was re-investigated using modern scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microprobe (EMPA) methods. The uranium mineralization comprises brannerite, coffinite and uraninite, and is spatially associated with Fe-, Ni- and Co-arsenides (loellingite, rammelsbergite, safflorite), bismuth and bismuthinite, as well as rare accessory silver-bearing minerals and gold locally. The U-bearing fluids also carried P, Y and REEs, which precipitated as xenotime and P–Y coffinite. The uranium mineralization paragenetically postdates the metasomatic formation of the host siderite ore.Uraninite allows for precise single spot EMPA ages to be calculated (±2 Ma) due to its high radiogenic lead content. There is an excellent internal consistency in the uraninite data with calculated dates ranging between 77 and 84 Ma. We interpret that these record the crystallization age of the uraninite, and that any influences of lead loss or common Pb are minimal. Brannerite was also analyzed but U-total Pb microprobe data scatter (c.30–80 Ma) with evidence of lead loss, particularly in altered domains. It does, however, provide a minimum constraint on the timing of mineralization that is consistent with the crystallization age of the uraninite. Coffinite proved completely unsuitable for U-total Pb geochronology due to extreme lead loss. However, hydrothermal xenotime yields a U-total Pb age of 78 ± 5 Ma, consistent with the uraninite age. Therefore, the U-total Pb geochronological data support a late Cretaceous age for the U-mineralization of c. 80 Ma. Considering this timing constraint together with other geological and indirect thermochronological aspects, we conclude that the siderite deposit of Hüttenberg is older and formed at c. 90−80 Ma.     

安徽铜陵中生代侵入岩及其岩石包体中的硫化物-氧化物包裹体研究

安徽铜陵地区中生代岩浆活动频繁,形成了一系列与铜、金多金属成矿作用关系密切的中酸性侵入岩。在这些侵入岩中分布有大量的镁铁质团块、堆积晶和微粒闪长质包体。在这些侵入岩及其岩石包体中观察到了一定数量的硫化物-氧化物包裹体。文章对老庙基、小铜官山和小陶家岩体及其岩石包体中的硫化物-氧化物包裹体进行了详细的岩相学观察和电子探针分析。观察和分析结果显示,镁铁质团块中硫化物包裹体内的矿物主要有磁黄铁矿、黄铜矿、单硫化物固溶体和镍黄铁矿,这些硫化物相(黄铜矿除外)中的Ni、Cu平均含量(wB,下同)分别为6.91%和0.44%;微粒闪长质包体和寄主岩中硫化物包裹体内的矿物主要为磁黄铁矿和黄铜矿,这些硫化物相(黄铜矿除外)中的Ni、Cu平均含量分别为0.44%、0.07%(微粒闪长质包体)和0.09%、0.42%(寄主岩)。镁铁质团块、微粒闪长质包体和寄主岩中氧化物包裹体内的矿物分别为铬磁铁矿(Cr2O3平均含量为4.44%)、磁铁矿(Cr2O3平均含量为0.44%)和磁铁矿(Cr2O3平均含量为0.07%);散布的氧化物颗粒分别为铬磁铁矿(Cr2O3平均含量为6.58%)、磁铁矿+铬磁铁矿(Cr2O3平均含量为0.86%)...     

Polymetamorphic evolution of pelitic schists and evidence for Permian low-pressure metamorphism in the Vepor Unit, West Carpathians

Phase equilibrium modelling and monazite microprobe dating were used to characterize the polymetamorphic evolution of metapelites from the northern part of the Vepor Unit, West Carpathians. Three generations of garnet and associated metamorphic assemblages found in these rocks correspond to three distinct metamorphic events related to the Variscan orogeny, a Permian phase of crustal extension and the Alpine orogeny. Variscan staurolite‐bearing and Alpine chloritoid‐bearing assemblages record medium‐temperature and medium‐pressure regional metamorphisms reaching 540–570 °C/5–7.5 kbar and 530–550 °C/5–6.5 kbar respectively. The Permian metamorphic assemblage involves garnet, andalusite, sillimanite, biotite, muscovite, plagioclase and corundum and locally forms silica‐undersaturated andalusite‐biotite‐spinel coronas around older staurolite. The transition from andalusite to sillimanite indicates a prograde low‐pressure and medium‐temperature metamorphism characterized by temperature increase from 500 to 650 °C at ～3 kbar. As accessory monazite is abundant in the rocks, an attempt was made to derive its age of formation by means of electron microprobe‐based Th‐U‐Pb chemical dating. Despite the polymetamorphic nature of the metapelites, the monazite yielded uniform Permian ages. Microstructures confirm that monazite was formed in relation to the low‐pressure and medium‐temperature paragenesis, and the weighted average ages obtained for two different samples are 278 ± 5 and 275 ± 12 Ma respectively. The virtual lack of Variscan and Alpine monazite populations points to interesting aspects concerning the growth systematics of monazite in metamorphic rocks.     

天然矿物Wadsleyite在我国首次发现

对于在毫县陨石中发现的Ｘ矿物，本文用电子探针获得了其化学成分：ＳｉＯ４，用Ｘ射线微区衍射得到了其结构参数。该矿物属斜方晶系，晶胞参数ａ＝０．８２６４，ｂ＝１．１４４８，ｃ＝０．５７０４ｎｍ。这些结果证明了它是Ｗａｄｓｌｅｙｉｔｅ，是橄榄石的高压相－β－（Ｍｇ，Ｆｅ）２ＳｉＯ４由冲击变质作用形成的。该矿物呈包裹体产出，在我国属首次发现。     

金矿床中环带状黄铁矿及其生长演化过程的研究

利用电子探针对黔南卡林型金矿床中环带状黄铁矿进行研究，把它划分成三种类型，并分别测定内外带中Ａｓ、Ｓｂ、Ａｕ、Ｈｇ和Ｔｌ等微量元素的含量，绘制了以步间距１μｍ，横穿环带的这五种元素的Ｘ射线强度变化曲线图，图中清楚显示出环带起因于微量元素含量的变化，这五种元素在微观尺度上呈正相关的振荡式变化，具有同源性。讨论黄铁矿经由胶体粒子的聚集、固结与结晶的生长演化过程，提供了低温热液可能是一种富含成矿质的多相