Mid-holocene climate change in Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana

Lake Bosumtwi is one of the most widely studied palaeoclimate archives in West Africa. Results from numerous AMS ¹⁴C dates of samples from four piston cores from Lake Bosumtwi show that an abrupt sedimentary transition from a mid-Holocene sapropel to calcareous laminated muds occurred at about 3200 cal yr B.P. High-resolution analyses of the nitrogen isotopic composition of organic matter across this transition confirm its abrupt nature, and suggest that the change may signal a step toward increased aridity and intensified surface winds that affected western equatorial Africa from Ghana to the Congo basin. Northern and Eastern Africa experienced a similar abrupt shift toward aridity during the late Holocene, but at about 5000 cal yr B.P., a difference in timing that illustrates the regional nature of climate changes during the Holocene and the importance of feedback mechanisms in regulating Holocene climate variability. Furthermore, an abrupt change at about 3000 cal yr B.P. occurs at several sites adjacent to the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, which may hint at major changes in the surface temperatures of the tropical Atlantic and/or Pacific at this time.     

西藏洞嘎金矿床地质特征、原位硫同位素组成及成因探讨

洞嘎金矿位于西藏雄村矿集区, 是冈底斯成矿带较早发现且投入开采的金矿, 但研究程度低, 矿床成因存在较大争议。本文通过系统的矿床地质特征研究, 开展了硫化物原位硫同位素测试, 分析成矿物质来源, 进而探讨洞嘎金矿的成因。洞嘎金矿体受控于雄村组凝灰岩中的裂隙系统, 矿体呈脉状产出, 已探获金金属资源量9.55 t, 达到中型规模。矿石构造主要为脉状-细脉状构造, 金主要以包裹金和粒间金的形式赋存于黄铁矿和黄铜矿中。根据脉体穿插关系及矿物共生组合特征, 将洞嘎金矿的成矿过程划分为热液成矿期与表生氧化期, 其中热液成矿期为主成矿期, 可进一步划分为3个成矿阶段: 成矿早阶段、成矿主阶段及成矿晚阶段。洞嘎金矿床硫化物的硫同位素δ34S= –1.57‰~+5.26‰, 平均值+1.69‰, 具明显的塔式分布, 表明硫源具岩浆硫的特点。结合前人已发表的数据, 我们认为洞嘎金矿属于斑岩铜金成矿系统外围的热液脉型金矿床, 深部可能存在斑岩型铜金矿床, 找矿潜力极大。洞嘎金矿的成矿物质来源主要为地幔, 有少量的地壳物质(俯冲沉积物)加入。洞嘎金矿床的金与绿泥石密切相关, 该绿泥石主要为溶蚀-迁移-结晶机制形成, 绿泥石形成过程导致含金热液流体成分及物理化学性质发生改变, 使得成矿流体中的金发生卸载, 最终在凝灰岩的裂隙系统中形成洞嘎金矿床。     

Jurassic magmatism related Pb-Zn-W-Mo polymetallic mineralization in the central Nanling Range,South China: Geochronologic,geochemical, and isotopic evidence from the Huangshaping deposit

The Nanling Range in South China is characterized by extensive Mesozoic magmatism and coeval nonferrous and rare metal mineralization. Huangshaping is a world-class Pb-Zn-W-Mo polymetallic skarn deposit in the central Nanling Range. Magmatic rocks occurring in this ore district include quartz porphyry, granite porphyry, granophyre, dacite porphyry, and aplite, with only the first three granitoids genetically associated with polymetallic mineralization. Most of the orebodies are constrained within the contact zones as skarn and veins between these granitic stocks and the carbonate wall rocks.Since the age of the quartz porphyry is still controversial, and studies of the dacite porphyry and aplite are absent, we focus on these magmatic rocks first. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating suggests that the crystallization ages of the quartz porphyry, dacite porphyry, and aplite are 154.3 ± 1.9 Ma, 158.1 ± 0.8 Ma, and 148.4 ± 3.4 Ma, respectively. Combined with previously published age data, we infer the evolutionary sequence of magmatic rocks should be dacite porphyry → quartz porphyry → granite porphyry (granophyre) → aplite. The quartz porphyry, dacite porphyry, and aplite yield high contents of high field strength elements (Zr + Nb + Ce + Y = 255–440 ppm), high ratios of 10,000 × Ga/Al (2.6–3.2), and prominent depletions in Ba, Sr, Eu, P, and Ti, indicating their crustal affinities to A-type granites. They have negative ε_Nd(t) values (−9.4 to −7.0) and high initial Pb isotopic ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i = 18.307–18.644, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i = 15.689–15.742, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i = 38.589–38.986), suggesting that they were probably derived by partial melting of ancient granulitic crustal materials.The sulfide minerals exhibit a wide range of δ³⁴S_V-CDT values from −22.6 to 24.2‰, with ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 17.669–19.708, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 15.492–15.714, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 37.880–39.789, indicating that sulfur, lead, and other associated metals were derived from a mixture of magmatic components and the Carboniferous wall rocks. Fluid inclusions in pyrrhotite, sphalerite, and marmatite samples have ³He/⁴He ratios of 0.12 to 1.53 Ra, with calculated mantle helium proportions of 1.3 to 18.9%, indicating a predominantly crustal origin for the ore fluids, with minor inputs from the mantle. The Huangshaping deposit is a typical example of the genetic relationship both spatially and temporally between Jurassic magmatism and polymetallic metallogeny in the Nanling Range.     

Magmatic History of Somma-Vesuvius on the Basis of New Geochemical and Isotopic Data from a Deep Borehole (Camaldoli della Torre)

A continuous-coring borehole recently drilled at Camaldoli dellaTorre on the southern slopes of Somma–Vesuvius providesconstraints on the volcanic and magmatic history of the Vesuvianvolcanic area since c. 126 ka BP. The cored sequence includesvolcanic units, defined on stratigraphical, sedimentological,petrological and geochemical grounds, emitted from both localand distal vents. Some of these units are of known age, suchas one Phlegraean pre-Campanian Ignimbrite, Campanian Ignimbrite(39 ka), Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (14· 9 ka) and VesuvianPlinian deposits, which helps to constrain the relative ageof the other units. The main rock types encountered are shoshonite,phonotephrite, latite, trachyte and phonolite. The sequenceincludes, from the base upwards: a thick succession of pyroclasticunits emplaced between 126 and 39 ka, most of them attributedto eruptions that occurred in the Phlegraean area; the CampanianIgnimbrite; the products of a local tuff cone formed between39 ka and the deposition of the products of the earliest activityof the Mt. Somma volcano; the products of the Somma–Vesuviusvolcano, which include from the base upwards a thick sequenceof lavas, pyroclastic rocks and the products of a local spattercone dated between 3· 7 ka and AD 79. The data obtainedfrom the study of the borehole show that, before the CampanianIgnimbrite eruption, low-energy explosive volcanism took placein the Vesuvian area, whereas mostly high-energy explosive eruptionscharacterized the Campi Flegrei activity. In the Vesuvian area,Campanian Ignimbrite deposition was followed by the eruptionof a local tuff cone and a long repose time, which predatedthe formation of the Mt. Somma edifice. Since 18· 3 ka(Pomici di Base eruption) the activity of Somma–Vesuviusbecame mostly explosive with rare lava effusions. The shallowestcored deposits belong to the Camaldoli della Torre cone, formedbetween the Pomici di Avellino and Pomici di Pompei eruptions(3· 7 ka–AD 79). New geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–B-isotopicdata on samples from the drilled core, together with those availablefrom the literature, allow us to further distinguish the volcanicrocks as a function of both their provenance (i.e. Phlegraeanor Vesuvian areas) and age, and to identify different magmaticprocesses acting through time in the Vesuvian mantle source(s)and during magma ascent towards the surface. Isotopically distinctmagmas, rising from a mantle source variably contaminated byslab-derived components, stagnated at mid-crustal depths (8–10km below sea level) where magmas differentiated and were probablycontaminated. Contamination occurred either with Hercynian continentalcrust, mostly during the oldest stages of Vesuvian activity(from 39 to 16 ka), or with Mesozoic limestone, mostly duringrecent Vesuvian activity. Energy constrained assimilation andfractional crystallization (EC-AFC) modelling results show thatcontamination with Hercynian crust probably occurred duringdifferentiation from shoshonite to latite. Contamination withlimestone, which is not well constrained with the availabledata, might have occurred only during the transition from shoshoniteto tephrite. From the ‘deep’ reservoir, magmas rosetowards a series of shallow reservoirs, in which they differentiatedfurther, mixed, and fed volcanic activity. KEY WORDS: Somma–Vesuvius; crustal contamination; source heterogeneity; radiogenic and stable isotopes; magmatic system     

Geology and Metallogenesis of the Sawayaerdun Gold Deposit in the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China

The Sawayaerdun gold deposit, located in Wuqia County, Southwest Tianshan, China, occurs in Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian low‐grade metamorphic carbonaceous turbidites. The orebodies are controlled by a series of NE‐NNE‐trending, brittle–ductile shear zones. Twenty‐four gold mineralized zones have been recognized in the Sawayaerdun ore deposit. Among these, the up to 4‐km‐long and 200‐m wide No. IV mineralized zone is economically the most important. The average gold grade is 1–6 g/t. Gold reserves of the Sawayaerdun deposit have been identified at approximately 37 tonnes and an inferred resource of 123 tonnes. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by silicification, pyritization, arsenopyritization, sericitization, carbonatization and chloritization. On the basis of field evidence and petrographic analysis, five stages of vein emplacement and hydrothermal mineralization can be distinguished: stage 1, early quartz stage, characterized by the occurrence of quartz veins; stage 2, arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of auriferous quartz veinlets and stockworks; stage 3, polymetallic sulfide quartz stage, characterized by the presence of auriferous polymetallic sulfide quartz veinlets and stockworks; stage 4, antimony–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of stibnite–jamesonite quartz veins; and stage 5, quartz–carbonate vein stage. Stages 2 and 3 represent the main gold mineralization, with stage 4 representing a major antimony mineralization episode in the Sawayaerdun deposit. Two types of fluid inclusion, namely H₂O–NaCl and H₂O–CO₂–NaCl types, have been recognized in quartz and calcite. Aqueous inclusions show a wide range of homogenization temperatures from 125 to 340°C, and can be correlated with the mineralization stage during which the inclusions formed. Similarly, salinities and densities of these fluids range for each stage of mineralization from 2.57 to 22 equivalent wt% NaCl and 0.76 to 1.05 g/cm³, respectively. The ore‐forming fluids thus are representative of a medium‐ to low‐temperature, low‐ to medium‐salinity H₂O–NaCl–CO₂–CH₄–N₂ system. The δ³⁴S_CDT values of sulfides associated with mineralization fall into a narrow range of ?3.0 to +2.6‰ with a mean of +0.1‰. The δ¹³C_PDB values of dolomite and siderite from the Sawayaerdun gold deposit range from ?5.4 to ?0.6‰, possibly reflecting derivation of the carbonate carbon from a mixed magmatic/sedimentary source. Changes in physico‐chemical conditions and composition of the hydrothermal fluids, water–rock exchange and immiscibility of hydrothermal fluids are inferred to have played important roles in the ore‐forming process of the Sawayaerdun gold–antimony deposit.     

Pyrite formation driven by MSW landfill leachate in the Madrid Basin, Spain

The role of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate on the genesis of minor amounts of pyrite associated with gypsum in an otherwise predominantly evaporitic sequence was studied in geological and geochemical terms. The potential association between landfill leachate and the conditions required for bacterial reduction of sulfate and fixation of H₂S as pyrite were examined. The lithological column was generally found to contain little or no Fe. The δ³⁴S values for sulfates were consistent with previously reported data; however, the measured δ¹⁸O values were slightly higher. Sulfides disseminated in the marl/lutite exhibited higher δ³⁴S values (≈−8‰) than gypsum-coating pyrite crystals (δ³⁴S < −30‰). Dissolution of gypsum to sulfate and the supply of metabolizable organic matter and Fe required for H₂S fixation as sulfides may have originated from landfill leachate. Intermittent availability of leachate, a result of the precipitation regime, can facilitate sulfur disproportionation and lead to fractionations as high as      

Holocene climate reconstructions of Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang,China) inferred from ostracod species assemblages and stable isotopes

In this paper, the data on the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes during the Holocene are presented and a discussion is made on a 225-cm-long sediment core from Ulungur Lake, located in Northwest China. The chronology is constructed from six AMS radiocarbon dates on the bulk organic matter. On the basis of the analysis of ostracod assemblages and the shell stable isotopes, the core is divided into three paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental evolution stages: 9 985–5 250 cal.aB.P. stage is the wettest phase of the core section. The climate changed from moderate-dry to cool-wet, and then to warm-wet in turn, and the lake level rose accordingly, showing the characteristic of a high lake level. 5 250–1 255 cal.aB.P. stage was the driest phase of the core sediment. The climate turned from the early warm-dry to the late warm-wet and the lake level fell and rose again. Finally, the 1 255 cal.aB.P. stage was the medium stage of the section. The temperature was low and then increased after the 1920s and the climate was dry. The whole climatic and environmental evolution records of Lake Ulungur were not only in agreement with the sporopollen record of the same core but also in agreement with the record of environmental changes of adjacent areas. It responded to regional environmental changes and global abrupt climate events, following the westerly climate change mode on 100-year-scale, primarily with cold-wet and warmdry characteristics. __________ Translated from Quaternary Sciences, 2007, 27(3):382–391 [译自:第四纪研究]     

钛同位素地球化学综述

随着分析技术的进步,非传统稳定同位素体系在地球化学、天体化学和生物地球化学等研究领域的应用日益广泛。钛(Ti)是一个非常重要的过渡族金属元素,在地球和其他类地球行星中广泛存在。但是由于Ti是一种难熔的、流体不活动性元素,高温地质过程中Ti同位素分馏很小。人们对Ti同位素体系的地球化学应用的关注相对其他非传统稳定同位非常有限。而近年来,随着化学纯化方案的优化以及双稀释剂方法的改进和仪器质谱性能的提高,Ti同位素组成的高精度测试已经能够实现。天然样品中Ti同位素组成的变化随之得以发现,使得学者们能够利用这一新的稳定同位素体系来解决与高温和低温地球化学相关的问题。很快Ti同位素体系地球化学研究成为当前国际地质学界的前沿研究课题和新的发展方向之一。本文首先在简要介绍Ti元素和Ti同位素体地球化学性质的基础上,介绍了Ti元素化学分离和Ti同位素分析方法。随后笔者总结了已有的不同类型球粒陨石和地球样品的质量相关Ti同位素组成研究结果,对硅酸盐地球的Ti同位素组成做了初步评估。前人对高温地质样品的Ti同位素组成研究初步探明Ti同位素在岩浆演化过程,例如部分熔融和结晶分异等重要地质过程中的分馏行为。笔者在此基础上探讨了结晶分异过程中引起Ti同位素分馏的主要控制因素,指出Ti同位素是潜在的研究岩浆演化过程的新工具。最后笔者探讨了Ti同位素地球化学未来的发展方向,以加速我国在Ti同位素地球化学方面的应用研究。     

内陆水体溶解无机碳同位素研究进展及展望

碳是陆地生态系统中最重要的生命元素,能够在各个圈层之间相互转换和运移。碳循环作为地球各圈层相互连接的纽带,被认为是地表系统最重要的元素地球化学循环。碳在水体中主要以溶解性有机碳（dissolved organic carbon,简称DOC）和溶解性无机碳（dissolved inorganic carbon,简称DIC）形式存在。内陆水体（包括河水、地下水、湖水和水库等）尽管只占陆地表面1%,但它们在碳循环过程中发挥了重要作用。其DIC浓度(CDIC)和DIC同位素组成(δ13CDIC)可以为碳循环研究提供线索,因此成为近年来国际研究的热点之一。本文系统总结了全球内陆水体DIC同位素的研究进展。DIC同位素具有广泛的地质应用,不同碳源具有独特的同位素特征。因此,DIC同位素被用于定性和定量地示踪碳源,指示碳循环过程以及确定河水补给端元。     

High‐Precision,High‐Accuracy Oxygen Isotope Measurements of Zircon Reference Materials with the SHRIMP‐SI

Analytical protocols for SHRIMP‐SI oxygen isotope analysis (δ¹⁸O) of a suite of zircon reference materials (RMs) are presented. Data reduction involved a robust estimate of uncertainties associated with the individual spot as well as for groups where the spot data are combined. The repeatability of δ¹⁸O measurements is dependent on both the analytical conditions and the choice of the primary reference material. Under optimised conditions, repeatability was often better than 0.4‰ (2s) allowing sample uncertainties to be obtained to better than 0.2‰ (at 95% confidence limit). Single spot uncertainty combined the within‐spot precision with the scatter associated with repeated measurements of the primary zircon reference material during a measurement session. The uncertainty for individual spots measured under optimised conditions was between 0.3 and 0.4‰ (at 95% confidence). The analytical protocols described were used to assess a variety of zircon RMs that have been used for geochronology and for which laser fluorination oxygen isotope data are available (Temora 2, FC1, R33, QGNG and Ple?ovice), as well as zircons that have been used as RMs for trace element or other types of determination (Mud Tank, Monastery, 91500, AS57, AS3, KIM‐5, OG1, SL13, CZ3 and several other Sri Lankan zircons). Repeated analyses over nine sessions and seven different mounts show agreement within analytical uncertainty for Temora 2, FC1, R33, QGNG, Ple?ovice and 91500, when normalised to Mud Tank. For existing ion microprobe mounts with these materials, an appropriate δ¹⁸O can be determined. However, care should be taken when using zircons from the Duluth Complex (i.e., FC1, AS57 and AS3) as reference materials as our data indicated an excess scatter on δ¹⁸O values associated with low‐U zircon grains.