Detection of concealed Cu–Zn massive sulfide mineralization below eolian sand and a calcrete cover in the eastern part of the Namaqua Metamorphic Province, South Africa

The regolith studied here is located at the defunct Areachap mine and the newly discovered Kantienpan Cu–Zn volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposit, located in the Areachap Group of the eastern part of Mesoproterozoic Namaqua Metamorphic Province. This area is highly prospective for further VHMS discoveries. Paleo and recent weathering of the upper most parts of massive sulfide deposits led to the formation of a gossan zone. Due to semi-arid climatic conditions during the late Cretaceous, affecting the African Land surface, the lowermost units of the Kalahari Group and the underlying floor rocks were calcretized. An approximately 6 m thick calcrete layer formed above the gossan zone and this was later covered by eolian Kalahari sand. Samples were collected from the eolian sand cover in the study areas to determine the best analytical method that would enable recognition of the concealed ore deposits and detect the widest secondary dispersion halo.Mobile metal ions from the finest fraction of the eolian sand samples (< 75 μm) were extracted with a NH₄EDTA (EDTA) solution. The solution was analysed for Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The same grainsize fraction of the original samples was also analysed for comparison purposes by means of X-ray fluorescence (XRF).Results indicate that the ore zone in both areas may be recognized by both partial and total analyses of the eolian sand samples collected, although the calcrete layer, below the sand cover, acts as a partial geochemical barrier. The recognition of the ore zone depends on the regolith forming processes and the thickness of the eolian sand cover. In the Areachap area, with a relatively thick sand cover (in excess of 1 m) above the calcrete layer, the detectable geochemical halo is related to the distribution of the mobile metal ions, and partial extraction (EDTA solution) results define a larger dispersion halo than that, that could be detected by total analysis (XRF). Whereas, in the Kantienpan area with a very thin sand cover (< 50 cm) dispersion appears to be related more to the secondary redistribution of gossaniferous clasts released by recent weathering out of the calcrete, than to dispersion of mobile metal ions on the surface of sand particles. In this area, the XRF results reveal a wider dispersion of the elements of interest.     

The geology and structure of the Rustenburg Layered Suite in the Potgietersrus/Mokopane area of the Bushveld Complex,South Africa

A new geological map of the Rustenburg Layered Suite south of the Ysterberg–Planknek fault of the northern/Potgietersrus limb of the Bushveld Complex is presented, displaying features that were not available for publication in the past and are considered contributing to the complexity of this region. The northern limb is known for the Platreef, atypical mafic lithologies in sections of the layered sequence and the unusual development of the ultramafic Lower Zone as satellite bodies or offshoots at the base of the intrusion. The outcrop and suboutcrop pattern of Lower Zone Grasvally body and its relation to the surrounding geology of Main Zone, Critical Zone, and floor rocks is described. The extent of the base metal sulfide (BMS) and platinum-group element (PGE)-mineralized cyclic unit 11 of the Drummonlea harzburgite–chromitite sub zone is shown. Only that which is considered to be the equivalents of the mafic Upper Critical Zone has thus far been traced south of Potgietersrus/Mokopane. The Platreef is traced from the farm Townlands and further northwards. The presence of Platreef proper south of Potgietersrus/Mokopane appears to be speculative. However, Merensky Reef, UG 2, and equivalent layers outcrop or were intersected to the south of the town. The Kleinmeid Syncline comprising Main Zone/Critical Zone layers and its structure is discussed. The lateral lithological transfomation of the Merensky Reef/UG 2 and equivalent layers south of the Ysterberg–Planknek fault to Platreef north of this fault is recorded. Attenuation of both the Main Zone and Upper Zone is observed from the northwest towards the town and resulted in only the lower units being developed. The lateral change of Main Zone and Upper Zone lithologies from the northwest towards the town is described. The PGE and BMS economic potential south of the town are briefly tabulated.     

东昆仑石头坑德镁铁-超镁铁质岩体矿物学特征及成矿潜力分析

位于东昆仑造山带之昆中带内部的石头坑德镁铁-超镁铁质岩体,分别由辉长岩相、辉石岩相和橄榄岩相的多种岩石类型组成。野外地质资料表明各岩相间的先后侵位顺序为辉长岩相→辉石岩相→橄榄岩相。本次研究表明石头坑德岩体尖晶石Ni的平均含量为258×10~(-6);橄榄石Fo=81~86,为贵橄榄石,Ni含量471×10~(-6)~2 279×10~(-6),平均为1 153×10~(-6);斜方辉石的En=80.35~83.89,平均82.51。根据Mg-Fe在结晶相橄榄石和熔体之间的分配系数,利用Fo值最高的橄榄石,得到其原生岩浆MgO=10.5%,属高镁玄武质岩浆。该岩体由上地幔橄榄岩11.2%~14.0%的部分熔融作用形成的。通过对石头坑德岩体的部分熔融程度、原生岩浆、构造标志、岩石组合、直接矿化标志及矿物组合、橄榄石Ni含量及Fo的研究表明,石头坑德镁铁-超镁铁质岩体具有形成铜镍硫化物矿床的有利条件,东昆仑造山带是重要的成镍远景区。     

金川Cu-Ni-PGE硫化物矿床成矿过程稀有气体同位素组成示踪

稀有气体同位素在示踪成矿作用流体来源方面具有独特优势。本文应用熔融质谱法测定了金川Cu-Ni-PGE硫化物矿床23个硅酸盐矿物和金属硫化物单矿物的He、Ne和Ar丰度和同位素组成。结果表明,硅酸盐矿物的3He/4He比值(0.239Ra)略低于硫化物(平均0.456Ra),且从橄榄石(平均0.291Ra)、斜方辉石(0.215Ra)到单斜辉石(0.174Ra)逐渐降低,20Ne/22Ne-21Ne/22Ne分布于MORB与大陆地壳演化线之间,扣除放射性成因4He*和40Ar*后橄榄石和辉石中3He/4He和40Ar/36Ar接近岩石圈地幔组成。He、Ne和Ar同位素组成示踪表明成矿岩浆中存在岩石圈地幔(SCLM)、地壳(CC)和大气饱和流体(ASW)三种端元成分,硫化物熔体的分离发生在岩浆结晶分异的早期。岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成的成矿初始岩浆经历了两阶段的演化。在深部岩浆房高温成矿岩浆同化围岩引入地壳混染组分,促使硫饱和及硫化物熔体的熔离,同时形成具有壳幔混合特征的混合岩浆组分(MC),上升至上部岩浆房后混入较高比例的大气饱和流体,进一步促使硫饱和及浸染状硫化物就地熔离堆积。     

峨眉火成岩省内带岩浆硫化物含矿岩体橄榄石的成因意义

峨眉火成岩省内带出露数十个含Ni-Cu-铂族元素(PGE)硫化物矿床(或矿化)的镁铁质-超镁铁质侵入岩体.根据铂族元素(PGE)含量的不同,这些岩浆硫化物矿床可分为Ni-Cu型(如力马河和清水河)、Ni-Cu-PGE型(如清矿山和黄草坪)和PGE型(如金宝山和杨合武).不同类型含矿岩体的橄榄石电子探针分析表明,除了清矿山岩体少数几个橄榄石晶体属于镁橄榄石外(Fo90.1～Fo93.1),其余均为贵橄榄石(Fo76.8～Fo89.6).不同矿化类型的岩体的橄榄石成分差异明显.Ni-Cu型硫化物含矿岩体的橄榄石Fo为77～87,Ni含量变化范围为(976～2176)×10-6.Ni-Cu-PGE型硫化物含矿岩体的橄榄石Fo为80～86,Ni含量范围为(1024～2543)×10-6.PGE型硫化物含矿岩体的橄榄石Fo为78～84,Ni含量在(776～1755)×10-6之间变化.清矿山Ni-Cu-PGE型硫化物含矿岩体橄榄石具有高Fo(最高达93.1)和CaO含量(0.245%～1.14%)、以及非常低的Ni(266×10-6)的特征,可能是同化混染作用的结果.利用力马河岩体最高Fo含量的橄榄石成分计算表明,母岩...     

太阳能热气流发电技术研究进展及其在新疆戈壁沙漠地区的应用潜力

阐述了近年来国内外太阳能烟囱发电技术的研究进展,介绍了太阳能热气流发电技术的基本原理和特点。基于对新疆气候资源分布状况的分析,认为在戈壁沙漠地区太阳能热气流发电技术具有巨大地应用潜力,初步分析了有利和不利的气候条件,并建议对太阳能热气流发电的气象条件进行精细化的分析普查,选择合适地点,先建立小型太阳能热气流示范电站;对太阳能热气流电站所带来的环境效应进行评估,为必要的科学试验和技术论证提供实验平台。     

金川铜镍矿床隐伏富铜矿体成因研究及其深部找矿意义

金川矿床赋存于富橄榄石超镁铁质岩中,是目前世界第三大在采铜镍硫化物矿床.经过多年开采,如何在深、边部找到新的替代资源问题显得越来越重要.通过对金川矿床富铜隐伏矿体的矿体特征、矿石特征和矿石特殊地球化学特性等方面进行分析研究,特别是从空间立体对其矿化规律进行总结,并与其附近Ⅱ1#主矿体进行对比,指出该类型矿体既有岩浆熔离作用的特点,又有后期改造作用的特征,其形成经历了三个阶段:富含Cu、PGE岩浆深部熔离-脉动贯入、构造活化富集和后期热液叠加.同时探讨了来源于地幔深部的高镁玄武质岩浆,在深部岩浆房和阶段岩浆房熔离分异过程中,富镍岩浆和矿浆之间存在富铜岩浆.此外,Pb同位素表明,该隐伏富铜矿体形成时间为8亿年左右,早于块状特富矿;Pb、S同位素表明,该矿体主要来源于地幔,但曾被少量地壳物质混入.最后指出铜镍硫化矿床的成因是复杂多样的,在金川矿床深边部寻找新型矿体,尤其是富铜矿体的前景很大,而F_6断层可能是富铜隐伏矿体岩浆通道和Ⅱ1#主矿体岩浆的深部侵位通道之一.     

岩浆铜-镍-铂族金属硫化矿床“深部熔离-贯入”成矿作用与模式--加拿 大伏伊希湾和中国金川矿床地质特征对比

通过对金川铜镍矿床地质、矿化特征与加拿大伏伊希湾（Voisey′s Bay）铜- 镍-铂族金属硫化物矿床进行系统对比分析,总结出这2个世界级铜镍硫化物矿床 形成演化方面的相似性、可比性及其共同特点,即深部岩浆房含矿岩浆沿通道脉 动式上侵,到上部表现为“小岩体,成大矿”。成矿作用过程和模式表现为：①含矿 岩浆的有序侵位显示岩浆在深部岩浆房停歇过程中曾发生熔离分异,形成岩浆、 含矿岩浆、富矿岩浆和矿浆分层结构;②成矿作用是在富有动力的岩浆环境下岩 浆不连续（脉动式）上侵过程中发生的,岩浆熔融体富含挥发组分,上侵活动剧烈, 围岩角砾化;③含矿岩浆沿相同的通道或越位上侵,在先期侵入岩体下侧或上方 不同空间成矿;④岩浆运移过程中与围岩发生相互作用、组分交换和成矿物质的 富集。深入阐明了含矿岩浆不连续（脉动式）上侵、后续岩浆补给和混合是镁铁 —超镁铁岩体中硫化物被聚集在岩浆流动的通道内形成超大型铜镍硫化物型铂 族元素矿床的重要机制。     

The use of deposit modeling in the assessment of potential resources as exemplified by Caledonian stratabound sulfide deposits

Models for massive Caledonian sulfide deposits, formed in island are and ocean floor environments, are defined in terms of their deposit size and grade distribution, as well as the relation between the total amount of sulfides that could be potentially concentrated and the amount likely to be found in the largest deposit. Given the mineral resource and geological attributes of the island are and ocean floor models, the similarity between the models and unknown areas with a potential for these types of sulfide concentrations can be evaluated. This similarity is expressed as a favorability index whose distribution is probabilistically combined with the metal distribution of the model. This paper was presented at the International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) Project 98: “Standards for Computer Applications in Resource Studies” held at Taita Hills, Kenya, November 8–15, 1977.     

Characteristics of turnover of carbonyl sulfide in four different soils

Release and uptake of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) were measured at 25°C in samples of three forest soils (BL, BW, PBE) and one soil from a rape field (RA). The soil samples were flushed with a constant flow of either air (oxic conditions) or nitrogen (anoxic conditions) containing defined concentrations of OCS. A cryogenic trapping technique with liquid argon (-186 °C) was used to collect gas samples for analysis in a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame-photometric detector. The dependence of net OCS fluxes between soil and atmosphere could be described by a simple model of simultaneous OCS production and OCS uptake. By using this model, production rates (P), uptake rate constants (k) and compensation concentrations (m _c ) of OCS could be determined as function of the soil type and the incubation conditions. Under oxic conditions, OCS production (P) and uptake were observed in all soils tested. However, the compensation concentrations (<166 ng l^-1; 1 ng OCS l^-1=0.41 ppbv) that were calculated from the model were high relative to the ambient OCS concentration (ca. 0.5 ppbv). The production rates (0.16–1.9 ng h^-1 g^-1 dw) that were actually measured when flushing the soil samples with air containing zero OCS were smaller than those (17–114 ng h^-1 g^-1 dw) calculated from the model. This observation was explained by two different concepts: one assuming the existence of a threshold concentration (m _t ) below which OCS was no longer consumed in the soil; the other assuming the existence of two different OCS consumption processes, of which only the process active at elevated OCS concentrations was covered by the experiments. The latter concept allowed the estimation of OCS compensation concentrations that were partially low enough to allow the uptake of atmospheric OCS by soil. Both OCS production and uptake in PBE soil were dependent on soil temperature (optimum 20 °C) indicating a microbial process. However, both production and consumption of OCS were not consistently inhibited by sterilization of the soil, suggesting that they were not exclusively due to microbiological processes. Under anoxic conditions, OCS was also produced, but was not consumed except in one soil (RA). Production of OCS in the soils was stimulated after addition of thiocyanate, but not thiourea, thiosulfate, thioglycolate, tetrathionate, sulfate, elemental sulfur, cysteine and methionine.