The Nigerian manganese-rich iron-formations and their host rocks—from sedimentation to metamorphism

This investigation deals with the Nigerian iron-formations and their host rocks and is based on about 560 mineral analyses (electron-microprobe) and 93 whole-rock analyses (64 iron-formations and 29 host rocks). The manganese-rich and Al-bearing iron-formations occurring in various schist belts of the northern and southern part of West-Nigeria consist of the magnetite-free silicate, the magnetite–silicate and the quartz-rich hematite facies.Iron-formations and host rocks originated from submarine-volcanogenic exhalations enriched in Fe, Mn and CO₂ and from Al₂O₃, SiO₂ and alkali (K₂O and Na₂O)-rich continental-derived pelitic to psammitic material. From these sources and their interaction and controlled by the volcanogenic activity, differently composed protoliths were deposited in the marine basin during the Birimian time. Subsequent metamorphism of greenschist to low amphibolite facies conditions during the Eburnian time led to the formation of the metaprotoliths of the magnetite–silicate (consisting of predominantly magnetite and quartz and subordinate of garnet and amphibole), the silicate facies (consisting of garnet, amphibole and rarely Mn-bearing ilmenite and quartz) and the metasediment phyllite. Garnets are predominantly almandine–spessartine solid solutions, whereas amphiboles are Mn and Ca-bearing grunerite–cummingtonite solid solutions. In the course of a second tectono-metamorphic event of Pan-African age, the magnetite–silicate facies iron-formation/phyllite association was transformed into the hematite facies and muscovite/biotite schists, whereas the silicate facies is characterized by extensive silicification features. The hematite facies and the silicified silicate facies are restricted to southern Nigeria where the second and heterogeneous tectono-metamorphic event is more pronounced (amphibolite facies conditions) than in northern Nigeria.The genesis, summarized as the metamorphic model, shows that the carbonate-rich (siderite, rhodochrosite and subordinate magnesite and calcite) protoliths were metamorphically transformed into the silicate and magnetite–silicate facies. The separation of Mn and Fe, leading to manganese-bearing iron-formations and iron-bearing manganese-formations was explained by varying pH-conditions, under which siderite (pH: 6.8–9.4) and rhodochrosite (pH: 9–11) precipitated.Similar to the Gunfit and Biwabik iron-formations of Minnesota, USA, the iron-formation of Bingi (Maru schist belt), now present in the form of the fayalite bearing silicate facies, was overprinted by contact metamorphism caused by a gabbro intrusion.     

Megacrysts from the Grib kimberlite pipe (Arkhangelsk Province, Russia)

The megacryst suite of the Grib kimberlite pipe (Arkhangelsk province, Russia) comprises garnet, clinopyroxene, magnesian ilmenite, phlogopite and garnet-clinopyroxene intergrowths. Crystalline inclusions, mainly of clinopyroxene and picroilmenite, occur in garnet megacrysts. Ilmenite is characterized by a wide range in the contents of MgO (10.6–15.5 wt.%) and Cr₂O₃ (0.7–8.3 wt.%). Megacryst garnets show wide variations in Cr₂O₃ (1.3–9.6 wt.%) and CaO (3.6–11.0 wt.%) but relatively constant MgO (15.4–22.3 wt.%) and FeO (5.2–9.9 wt.%). The pyroxenes also show wide variations in such oxides as Cr₂O₃, Al₂O₃ and Na₂O (0.56–2.95; 0.86–3.25; 1.3–3.0 wt.%, respectively). The high magnesium and chromium content of all these minerals puts them together in one paragenetic group. This conclusion was confirmed by studies of the crystalline inclusions in megacrysts, which demonstrate similar variations in composition. Low concentration of hematite in ilmenite suggests reducing conditions during crystallization. P–T estimates based on the clinopyroxene geothermobarometer (Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 139 (2000) 541) show wide variations (624–1208 °C and 28.8–68.0 kbars), corresponding to a 40–45 mW/m² conductive geotherm. The majority of Gar-Cpx intergrowths differ from the corresponding monomineralic megacrysts in having higher Mg contents and relatively low TiO₂. The minerals from the megacryst association, as a rule, differ from the minerals of mantle xenoliths, but garnets in ilmenite-bearing peridotite xenoliths are compositionally similar to garnet megacrysts. The common features of trace element composition of megacryst minerals and kimberlite (they are poor in Zr group elements) suggest a genetic relationship. The origin of the megacrysts is proposed to be genetically connected with kimberlite magma-chamber evolution on the one hand and with associated mantle metasomatism on the other. We suggest that, depending on the primary melt composition, different paragenetic associations of macro/megacrysts can be crystallized in kimberlites. They include: (1) Fe–Ti (Mir, Udachnaya pipes); (2) high-Mg, Cr (Zagadochna, Kusova pipes); (3) high-Mg, Cr, Ti (Grib pipe).     

一个与同熔型侵入岩体有关的铀矿床成因

8411铀矿床在时间上和空间上,与某典型的同熔型石英正长岩体直接伴生。该矿床赋存于石英正长岩体外接触带侏罗系长石石英砂岩中。岩体出露面积约90Km~2,按侵入先后分为:(1)黑云母石英正长岩;(2)正长斑岩;(3)粗-细粒石英正长岩;(4)似斑状细粒石英正长岩。矿石的矿物组成较复杂,主要铀矿物为沥青铀矿、铀黑、准铜铀云母及钙铀云母。其他矿物有Fe、Cu、Pb、Zn、Ni、Co的硫化物,及磁铁矿、赤铁矿、微晶石英、方解石等。石英正长岩体的锶同位素初始比值中等(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr=0.707),具同熔型花岗岩类的特征。该矿床的矿岩时差小(<22百万年)。矿石的氧同位素研究结果表明,成矿热液中的水由岩浆水和大气降水组成。矿石中40个黄铁矿δ~(34)S=-2.3‰-+20.5‰,其平均值δ~(34)S=+10.44‰,这表明成矿热液中的硫具有深部硫和地壳硫的混合特征。矿石中气-液包裹体测温及地温计计算得出该矿床矿化热液温度约为100—300℃,沥青铀矿形成温度约170—200℃。该矿床成矿物质主要来自石英正长岩岩浆,部分成矿物质则汲自成矿围岩,它属中-低温复成因铀矿床,其成矿机理与华南改造型花岗岩有关的许多铀矿床有明显的差异。 8411铀矿床在空间上和时间上,与某典型的同熔型石英正长岩侵入体有关,是一个以岩浆期后热液作用为主的复合成因铀矿床。剖析该矿床的成因,对于研究华南两类不同花岗岩型铀矿床特征,具有一定意义。     

湖南前震旦系铀矿化成因探讨

湖南前震旦系冷家溪群和板溪群是一套浅变质沉积岩,主要由各种板岩、变质砂岩、凝灰质板岩组成,夹有基性、中-酸性火山熔岩、火山碎屑岩及碳酸盐岩。现已落实铀矿床3个、矿(化)点14个。铀成矿年龄为85—50Ma,最晚者16Ma。稳定同位素研究结果表明,前震旦系铀矿化属岩浆岩源及沉积(变质)岩源中-新生代大气降水热液成因;铀矿化受断裂构造控制;凝灰质板岩、砂质板岩及角岩等是矿化有利的围岩。     

论喀斯特地貌的成因与演化

本文对喀斯特地貌的成因与演化进行较全面而简明的综合分析 ,对喀斯特的经济意义、战略意义、美学价值及其历史沿革作简明介绍。全文共七部分。开篇介绍“喀斯特”一词何时、何地、何因而成为地质学和地理学中专有名词。虽起源于上世纪初欧洲著名地质学家H .Stelle的研究 ,观测对象不过是亚德里亚海东北Dalmatian沿岸KarstVillage ,“喀斯特”在地质学中作为岩溶地貌的代名词 ,也不过百年的历史 ;但中国人对它的研究描述 ,已源远流长 :早在宋代和明代 ,大学问家王守仁 (即王阳明 )和大博物学家宋云星 ,就对石灰岩岩溶地貌做过比较确切的描述 (王守仁《平蛮奏折》 ,宋云星《天工开物》)。特别是宋云星 ,还对岩溶及石灰华的再沉积机理 ,做过开创性的研究和记述(《天工开物》)。本文重点在第二节和第三节。前者从多方面对原生喀斯特地貌景观的成因机制作了研究和比较详细的分析 ,主要是 :岩石地层因素 ,地质构造环境 ,水化学及水动力条件 ,生物化学制导等四方面 ,四者缺一不可形成喀斯特。后者则从低温低压条件下地球化学平衡的角度 ,阐述次生喀斯特的成因和演化机制。喀斯特景观之所以具有美学价值和文化内涵 ,乃在于其表面淀积着厚薄不等的沉积物 ,在微生物作用下所凝析的方解石和雯石微晶 ,常见者有 :石     

对化探异常评价的思考

化探异常评价是地质普查找矿中的一项重要工作,异常评价的主要工作环节为异常筛选阶段,异常源追踪,定位阶段和异常起因研究,高质量地完成三个环节的各项工作,除掌握好地球化学本学科的基础理论之外,尚需地质,地球物理等其它多学科的基础理论的支持,尤其是现代成矿理论和地质找矿技术的支持。     

陕西韩城龙湾—上峪口现今破裂带成因探讨

陕西韩城西山古生代地层中存在一系列现代破裂形变现象。本文对该现象作了较详细的描述,认为它处在一个特殊的构造部位与地貌部位,在人类活动(采煤)的环境条件下,因重力作用而造成。同时认为该现象作为一次古代大地震遗迹的看法,证据尚不充分     

内蒙古白云鄂博REE-Nb-Fe矿床成因问题研究

白云鄂博REE-Nb-Fe矿床是世界上已知的最大的稀土矿床,稀土储量48 Mt（6wt% RE2O3）,该矿床的成因和成矿年龄至今存在较大争议。本文观察白云鄂博矿床岩相学、矿物学特征,通过激光拉曼等技术鉴定重要的稀土矿物,电子探针测出白云鄂博矿床单矿物化学成分,结合前人同位素年代学数据,进一步探讨白云鄂博矿床的成因机制。     

茶尖岭矿区后水矿化点铜银多金属成矿条件分析及远景初探

茶尖岭矿区后水矿化点铜银多金属矿属于浅成热液脉型成因,通过矿床形成的热源、水源、矿源的信息标志分析了后水矿化点铜银多金属成矿条件。认为该矿化点铜银多金属成矿的热源、水源、矿源条件均较充足,指出找矿有利地段。     

从江污牙白钨矿地质特征及成因浅析

从江污牙白钨矿,分布在吉羊穹状背斜北缘,赋存于摩天岭花岗岩外接触带甲路组一段下部的电气石—黑云母化石英千枚岩中。白钨矿的产出总是与特定的构造环境和蚀变特征联系在一起,并严格受其控制,本文试图从分析污牙白钨矿床的基本地质特征入手,探索该矿床的成因及指出下步找矿方向。