Large phreatomagmatic vent complex at Coombs Hills, Antarctica: Wet, explosive initiation of flood basalt volcanism in the Ferrar-Karoo LIP

The Mawson Formation and correlatives in the Transantarctic Mountains and South Africa record an early eruption episode related to the onset of Ferrar-Karoo flood basalt volcanism. Mawson Formation rocks at Coombs Hills comprise mainly (≥80% vol) structureless tuff breccia and coarse lapilli tuff cut by irregular dikes and sills, within a large vent complex (>30 km²). Quenched juvenile fragments of generally low but variable vesicularity, accretionary lapilli and country rock clasts within vent-fill, and pyroclastic density current deposits point to explosive interaction of basalt with groundwater in porous country rock and wet vent filling debris. Metre-scale dikes and pods of coherent basalt in places merge imperceptibly into peperite and then into surrounding breccia. Steeply dipping to sub-vertical depositional contacts juxtapose volcaniclastic rocks of contrasting componentry and grainsize. These sub-vertical tuff breccia zones are inferred to have formed when jets of debris + steam + water passed through unconsolidated vent-filling deposits. These jets of debris may have sometimes breached the surface to form subaerial tephra jets which fed subaerial pyroclastic density currents and fall deposits. Others, however, probably died out within vent fill before reaching the surface, allowing mixing and recycling of clasts which never reached the atmosphere. Most of the ejecta that did escape the debris-filled vents was rapidly recycled as vents broadened via lateral quarrying of country rock and bedded pyroclastic vent-rim deposits, which collapsed along the margins into individual vents. The unstratified, poorly sorted deposits comprising most of the complex are capped by tuff, lapilli tuff and tuff breccia beds inferred to have been deposited on the floor of the vent complex by pyroclastic density currents. Development of the extensive Coombs Hills vent-complex involved interaction of large volumes of magma and water. We infer that recycling of water, as well as recycling of pyroclasts, was important in maintaining water supply for phreatomagmatic interactions even when aquifer rock in the vent walls lay far from eruption sites as a consequence of vent-complex widening. The proportion of recycled water increased with vent-complex size in the same way that the proportion of recycled tephra did. Though water recycling leaves no direct rock record, the volcaniclastic deposits within the vent complex show through their lithofacies/structural architecture, lithofacies characteristics, and particle properties clear evidence for extensive and varied recycling of material as the complex evolved. Editorial responsibility: J. Donnelly-Nolan     

塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪大火成岩省的两类地幔源区

对塔里木和中亚造山带西段二叠纪玄武质岩石地质、年龄、元素地球化学、同位素组成的系统总结表明,二叠纪火成岩在分布面积、岩石类型(以玄武岩占绝对优势)、活动时间(以275Ma左右为峰期)等方面均与世界典型的大火成岩省一致,将其命名为巴楚大火成岩省(Bachu LIP)。元素和同位素地球化学特征表明,塔里木玄武岩来自长期富集的岩石圈地幔,来源深度为60~80km。塔里木基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩的原始岩浆可能来自软流圈地幔(OIB)部分熔融。中亚造山带西段的玄武岩、基性岩墙和超镁铁-镁铁杂岩主要来自被俯冲带熔体交代的强烈亏损的岩石圈地幔,其中部分地区可能有软流圈物质的加入,如东天山和阿勒泰南缘高Ti系列的玄武质岩石。根据元素和同位素地球化学资料,将巴楚大火成岩省分为2个地幔省(mantle domain),即塔里木省和中亚省。这2个不同地幔省的成矿系列也有显著的差异,塔里木省为钒-钛磁铁矿矿床,而中亚则以铜-镍-(铂族金属)硫化物矿床为主,成矿作用的差异和岩浆地幔源区的差异是完全对应的。综合地质、地球化学和成矿作用,认为巴楚大火成岩省的形成和二叠纪地幔柱密切相关。     

The evolution of rifting on the volcanic margin of the Pelotas Basin and the contextualization of the Paraná–Etendeka LIP in the separation of Gondwana in the South Atlantic

The Pelotas Basin is the classical example of a volcanic passive margin displaying large wedges of seaward-dipping reflectors (SDR). The SDR fill entirely its rifts throughout the basin, characterizing the abundant syn-rift magmatism (133–113 Ma). The Paraná–Etendeka Large Igneous Province (LIP), adjacent to west, constituted the pre-rift magmatism (134–132 Ma). The interpretation of ultra-deep seismic lines showed a very different geology from the adjacent Santos, Campos and Espírito Santo Basins, which constitute examples of magma-poor passive margins. Besides displaying rifts totally filled by volcanic rocks, diverse continental crustal domains were defined in the Pelotas Basin, such as an outer domain, probably constituted by highly stretched and permeated continental igneous crust, and a highly reflective lower crust probably reflecting underplating.The analysis of rifting in this portion of the South Atlantic is based on seismic interpretation and on the distribution of regional linear magnetic anomalies. The lateral accretion of SDR to the east towards the future site of the breakup and the temporal relationship between their rift and sag geometries allows the reconstitution of the evolution of rifting in the basin. Breakup propagated from south to north in three stages (130–127.5; 127.5–125; 125–113 Ma) physically separated by oceanic fracture zones (FZ). The width of the stretched, thinned and heavily intruded continental crust also showed a three-stage increase in the same direction and at the same FZ. Consequently, the Continental-Oceanic Boundary (COB) shows three marked shifts, from west to east, from south to north, resulting into rift to margin segmentation. Rifting also propagated from west to east, in the direction of the final breakup, in each of the three segments defined. The importance of the Paraná–Etendeka LIP upon the overall history of rupturing and breakup of Western Gondwanaland seems to have been restricted in time and in space only to the Pelotas Basin.     

Upstairs-downstairs: supercontinents and large igneous provinces,are they related?

There is a correlation of global large igneous province (LIP) events with zircon age peaks at 2700, 2500, 2100, 1900, 1750, 1100, and 600 and also probably at 3450, 3000, 2000, and 300 Ma. Power spectral analyses of LIP event distributions suggest important periodicities at 250, 150, 100, 50, and 25 million years with weaker periodicities at 70–80, 45, and 18–20 Ma. The 25 million year periodicity is important only in the last 300 million years. Some LIP events are associated with granite-forming (zircon-producing) events and others are not, and LIP events at 1900 and 600 Ma correlate with peaks in craton collision frequency. LIP age peaks are associated with supercontinent rifting or breakup, but not dispersal, at 2450–2400, 2200, 1380, 1280, 800–750, and ≤200 Ma, and with supercontinent assembly at 1750 and 600 Ma. LIP peaks at 2700 and 2500 Ma and the valley between these peaks span the time of Neoarchaean supercraton assemblies. These observations are consistent with plume generation in the deep mantle operating independently of the supercontinent cycle and being controlled by lower-mantle and core-mantle boundary thermochemical dynamics. Two processes whereby plumes can impact continental assembly and breakup are (1) plumes may rise beneath supercontinents and initiate supercontinent breakup, and (2) plume ascent may increase the frequency of craton collisions and the rate of crustal growth by accelerating subduction.     

Petroleum prospectivity of the Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean

Reconnaissance seismic reflection data indicate that Canada Basin is a >700,000 sq. km. remnant of the Amerasia Basin of the Arctic Ocean that lies south of the Alpha-Mendeleev Large Igneous Province, which was constructed across the northern part of the Amerasia Basin between about 127 and 89-83.5 Ma. Canada Basin was filled by Early Jurassic to Holocene detritus from the Beaufort-Mackenzie Deltaic System, which drains the northern third of interior North America, with sizable contributions from Alaska and Northwest Canada. The basin contains roughly 5 or 6 million cubic km of sediment. Three fourths or more of this volume generates low amplitude seismic reflections, interpreted to represent hemipelagic deposits, which contain lenses to extensive interbeds of moderate amplitude reflections interpreted to represent unconfined turbidite and amalgamated channel deposits.Extrapolation from Arctic Alaska and Northwest Canada suggests that three fourths of the section in Canada Basin is correlative with stratigraphic sequences in these areas that contain intervals of hydrocarbon source rocks. In addition, worldwide heat flow averages suggest that about two thirds of Canada Basin lies in the oil or gas windows. Structural, stratigraphic and combined structural and stratigraphic features of local to regional occurrence offer exploration targets in Canada Basin, and at least one of these contains bright spots. However, deep water (to almost 4000 m), remoteness from harbors and markets, and thick accumulations of seasonal to permanent sea ice (until its possible removal by global warming later this century) will require the discovery of very large deposits for commercial success in most parts of Canada Basin.     

岩浆底侵的热-流变学效应及对峨眉山大火成岩省的启示

岩浆底侵在大陆地壳的形成和演化过程中起着非常重要的作用。本文基于二维热传导方程模拟不同规模的地壳底侵产生的热-流变学效应,以及幔源岩浆温度和含水量对底侵厚度的影响;并以现有的岩石地球化学分析、深部地球物理探测结果为约束,模拟了峨眉山大火成岩省内带幔源岩浆底侵对应的地表热流随时间演化,探讨了形成幔源岩浆底侵的潜温和初始熔融的深度制约。结果显示:1)幔源岩浆底侵引起的热扰动的耗散时间取决于岩浆底侵的初始厚度。以幔源岩浆侵入温度为1300℃,20km厚的地壳底侵为例,热扰动完全耗散需经历约150Myr;而5km厚的地壳底侵,只需经历50Myr热扰动已基本耗散殆尽。2)在初始阶段,岩浆底侵会造成岩石圈强度的显著降低;随着热耗散的进行,岩石圈强度会逐渐恢复;在热扰动耗散殆尽之后,岩石圈强度反倒比底侵前的岩石圈强度更大。这表明岩浆底侵不但可以导致地壳增厚,还会最终导致岩石圈的强化。3)温度对地壳底侵厚度的影响比含水量的影响要大得多。将我们的模型应用于峨眉山大火成岩省,结果表明内带地壳底侵的热耗散需持续上百个百万年,岩浆潜温超过1500℃,初始熔融深度超过200km。     

中国东部燕山期大火成岩省:岩浆-构造-资源-环境效应

中国东部燕山期的大规模岩浆活动,即侏罗纪—白垩纪(150—100 Ma)的碱性流纹岩-碱性玄武岩-金伯利岩-钾镁煌斑岩-碳酸岩及其管道系统,分布于江南造山带内侧和郯庐断裂带南段以西的华北地台内,累积面积超过30万km2.该期短时限内大规模活动的岩浆事件代表了中国东部地质历史演化中的一次大火成岩省(LIP)事件,实质控制着中生代以来中国华北—扬子地台的构造格局变化、资源能源形成与地质环境变迁.晚侏罗世—早白垩世(150—100 Ma)的大火成岩省,是中生代中期古太平洋大火成岩省沿中国克拉通东部边缘活动的一部分,是包括昂通爪哇(Ongtong-Java)(Mahoney et al.,1993;Ingle and Coffin,2004)—中国东部在内的超级地幔柱上涌,在岩石圈板片对流,挤压地幔物质快速上升,引起陆域内长英质地壳物质大规模重熔的结果,形成:(1)髫髻山组—张家口组碱性流纹质-玄武质双峰式火山岩及其管道系统,与华北大规模金-多金属矿成矿作用密切相关;(2)辽宁瓦房店—山东蒙阴—安徽栏杆,湖南宁乡—贵州镇远一带的金伯利岩—钾镁煌斑岩±碳酸岩±基性超基性杂岩及其管道系统,与金刚石、金-铂族元素等成矿关系密切;(3)辽东—胶东半岛、南岭—滇黔桂交界地区的连片花岗岩,是硅质大火成岩省(SLIP)的管道系统(plumbing systems),与金刚石矿、金-铂族元素矿、钨锡铌钽矿、锂-钾-铷-铯-铀矿等,以及油气等战略性关键金属成矿关系密切.同时,巨型岩浆作用引发的富含钾、磷及稀土等微量元素的基岩形成优质土壤层对生态多样性的助益等有利和/或有害的环境效应,直接关系到地球家园的生态环境.因此,中国东部燕山期大火成岩省产生深刻的岩浆-构造-资源-环境效应.     

A 1.78 Ga large igneous province in the North China craton: The Xiong'er Volcanic Province and the North China dyke swarm

The 1.78 Ga Xiong'er Volcanic Province (XVP) and coeval North China giant mafic Dyke Swarm (NCDS) are the most important magmatic events occurring after the amalgamation of the North China craton (NCC). The XVP consists of 3–7 km of extrusive volcanics and some feeder dykes/sills located along the southern margin of the NCC and extending over an area > 0.06 M km². Compositions vary from basalt to rhyolite, but are predominantly intermediate in terms of silica content. There are also minor sedimentary intercalations and pyroclastic units. The sedimentary interlayers indicate an environment changing from continental-facies to oceanic-facies up-section. The XVP is characterized by fractional crystallization from an EM I type mantle source, and both continental arc (Andean-type) and rift environments have been proposed. The NCDS is widespread in the central NCC with an outcrop area > 0.1 M km², and are exposed at variable depths up to 20 km (deepest in the north). Dyke compositions vary from basalt to andesite and dacite, but are dominantly mafic, and comprise two series of magmatism. Previous studies revealed that the NCDS recorded assimilation and fractional crystallization of an EM I type magma source, with a minor DM contribution in the younger magmas. Both syn-collisional and intra-continental anorogenic environments have been proposed. Spatial and petrogenic correlations suggest a cogenetic relationship between the NCDS and XVP, and considered together, they define a Large Igneous Province (LIP) of > 0.1 M km² in area and > 0.1 M km³ in volume, which is also notable for its continuous compositional range from mafic to felsic (with no gap at intermediate compositions). The petrology is explained by a common magma source that undergoes a silica-poor and iron-enriched fractionation trend at depth followed by a silica-rich and iron-poor fractionation trend in shallow-level magma conduits (dykes) and surface lavas. A mantle plume is favored as the cause of this  1.78 Ga North China LIP.     

Permian basaltic rocks in the Tarim basin, NW China: Implications for plume–lithosphere interaction

There are large areas of Permian basaltic rocks in the Tarim basin (PBRT) in northwestern China. Precise Ar–Ar dating of these rocks revealed an eruption age span of 262 to 285 Ma. Most of the PBRT is composed of alkaline basaltic rocks with high TiO₂ (2.43%–4.59%, weight percent), high Fe₂O₃ + FeO (12.63%–17.83%) and P₂O₅ (0.32%–1.38%) contents. Trace elements of these rocks have affinities with oceanic island basalts (OIB), as shown in chondrite normalized rare earth elements (REE) diagrams and primitive mantle normalized incompatible elements diagrams. The rocks show complex Sr–Nd isotopic character based on which they can be subdivided into two distinct groups: group 1 has relatively small initial (t = 280 Ma)⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio ( 0.7048) and positive εNd(t) (3.42–4.66) values. Group 2 has relatively large initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio (0.7060–0.7083) and negative εNd(t) (from − 2.79 to − 2.16) values. Lead isotopes are even more complex with variations of (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)t, (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)t and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)t ranging from 17.9265 to 18.5778, 15.4789 to 15.6067 and 37.2922 to 38.1437, respectively. Moreover, these two groups have different trace elements ratios such as Nb/La, Ba/Nb, Zr/Nb, Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf, implying different magmatic processes. Based on the geochemistry of basaltic rocks and an evaluation of the tectonics, deformation, and the compositions of crust and lithospheric mantle in Tarim, we conclude that these basaltic rocks resulted from plume–lithosphere interaction. Permian mantle plume caused an upwelling of the Tarim lithosphere leading to melting of the asthenospheric mantle by decompression. The magma ascended rapidly to the base of lower crust, where different degrees of assimilation of OIB-like materials and fractionation occurred. Group 1 rocks formed where the upwelling is most pronounced and the assimilation was negligible. In other places, different degrees of assimilation and fractionation account for the geochemical traits of group 2.     

The Somuncura Large Igneous Province in Patagonia: Interaction of a Transient Mantle Thermal Anomaly with a Subducting Slab

The Oligo-Miocene Somuncura province is the largest (55 000km²) back-arc mafic volcanic field in Patagonia, and one ofEarth's largest with no clear link to a hotspot or major extension.Major and trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic datasuggest involvement of a plume-like component in the mantlemagma source mixed with hydrous, but not high field strengthelement (HFSE)-depleted components, from a disintegrating subductingplate. Magmatism is attributed to mantle upwelling related todisturbances during plate reorganization, possibly at a timewhen the South America plate was nearly stationary over theunderlying mantle. Melting was enhanced by hydration of themantle during Paleogene subduction. Crustal contamination wasminimal in a refractory crust that had been extensively meltedin the Jurassic. Eruption began with low-volume intraplate alkalinemafic flows with depleted Nd–Sr isotopic signatures. Thesewere followed by voluminous 29–25 Ma tholeiitic maficflows with flat light and steep heavy rare earth element (REE)patterns, intraplate-like La/Ta ratios, arc-like Ba/La ratiosand enriched Sr–Nd isotopic signatures. Their source canbe explained by mixing EM1–Tristan da Cunha-like and depletedmantle components with subduction-related components. Post-plateau24–17 Ma alkaline flows with steep REE patterns, highincompatible element abundances, and depleted Sr–Nd isotopicsignatures mark the ebbing of the mantle upwelling. KEY WORDS: Somuncura plateau; slab interaction; Patagonia; large igneous province (LIP); plume-like upwelling