Experimental investigation of the effect of metasomatism by carbonatic melt on the composition and structure of the deep mantle

The compositions of various transition-zone and lower-mantle phases and coexisting carbonatic melts were determined by exploratory melting experiments in chemically complex CO₂-bearing systems at 20–24.5 GPa and 1600–2000 °C. The melts are highly ultramafic, enriched in K, Na, Ca, Fe, and Mg, and depleted in Al and Si. Melting experiments were also carried out with the compositions on the join Mg₂SiO₄–Na₂CO₃ at 3.7 GPa and 1200–1600 °C. The solidus assemblage of MgCO₃ and Na₂MgSiO₄ melts incongruently to produce forsterite and Na-rich melt. The new results and other recent studies in CO₂-bearing systems suggest that carbonatic melt could be present, either transiently or permanently, in the whole Earth's upper mantle and at least the uppermost lower mantle. Carbonate-melt metasomatism is recognized as a process that could have a major effect on the composition and structure of the deep mantle, and thus play an important role in its evolution. Due to the unique properties of the carbonatic melt, its circulation in an otherwise static mantle could be a more efficient process than the solid-state convection for maintaining equilibrium in most of the mantle not involved directly in plate tectonics.     

Hydrocarbon charging and accumulation history in the Niudong Buried Hill Field in the Baxian Depression,eastern China

The Niudong Buried Hill Field, which lies in the Baxian Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin, is the deepest oil/gas accumulation in eastern China. Its Precambrian dolomite reservoir occurs at burial depths of 5860 m–6027 m. This paper attempts to document the hydrocarbon charging and accumulation history in this field, which could greatly enhance the understanding of the mechanisms for the formation of deep hydrocarbon accumulations. Our previous study of oil trapped in fluid inclusions has demonstrated that the ratio parameters of the fluorescence spectral intensities at 425 nm and 433 nm (Q_425/433 ratio), and at 419 nm and 429 nm (Q_419/429 ratio) can be more effective for revealing hydrocarbon charging history than the previously-used fluorescence parameters such as Lambda max and red/green quotient as well as fluorescence colors. The hydrocarbon charging and accumulation history in the Niudong Buried Hill Field was studied with an integrated approach involving the application of these two spectral parameters of petroleum inclusion fluorescence as well as utilization of other data including homogenization temperatures of aqueous inclusions coeval with petroleum inclusions, and cross-cutting relationships of cements and “oil veins” in pores and fractures. The results indicate that the dolomite reservoir in the Niudong Buried Hill Field experienced three episodes of hydrocarbon charging. In the first two episodes (between 38.5Ma and 25Ma), the low mature and mature oils, which were derived from source rocks in the Sha-4 Member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation, migrated into the reservoir, but part of them leaked out due to normal faulting at the updip margin of the buried hill. These early-charged oils were preserved mainly in small pores in micritic dolomites by oil-wettability and capillary pressure. In the Neogene, the basin subsided as a whole and local faults at the updip margin became inactive and played a sealing role. By approximately 13Ma, the source rocks became highly mature and the generated hydrocarbons then migrated into the reservoir and accumulated. Therefore, the last charging is the most important for hydrocarbon accumulation in the Niudong Buried Hill Field.     

The Vale de Abrutiga uranium phosphates mine, central Portugal

A brief summary about the composition and origins of the U deposit is present. The mineralization is composed by secondary uranium phosphates (saleeite and meta-saleeite). The precipitation was probably the main responsible factor for U retention within the quartz veins leading to the uranium phosphate mineralization of Vale de Abrutiga.     

西藏普兰地幔橄榄岩中尖晶石内的钙长石包裹体及其成因

西藏普兰超镁铁岩体之东南缘与玄武岩接触界线附近的地幔橄榄岩中除有粒状半自形的钙长石产出外,还在尖晶石中发现有呈蠕虫状、浑圆状的钙长石包裹体存在.研究发现两种产状的钙长石An值都大于95且均无环带构造,说明钙长石从高Ca/Al比值的熔体中结晶时具有结晶时间短、结晶速度快的特点,可能形成于地壳较浅部位.从化学成分来看,包裹体形态的钙长石具有较高的Cr2O3含量,其寄主矿物尖晶石的Cr#值低且TiO2含量比深海橄榄岩中的尖晶石低得多,推断钙长石包裹体与寄主矿物尖晶石是在液相条件下几乎同时结晶的产物.综合研究表明钙长石包裹体的成因可能是玄武岩熔体在地壳较浅部位侵入方辉橄榄岩时,高温的玄武质熔体提供热源,使得方辉橄榄岩中尖晶石内的Cpx+ Opx细粒矿物包裹体在高温环境下发生熔融,发生Opx+ Cpx+ Sp→Ol+ Pl的反应,由于这种情况下尖晶石有剩余,故新生成的橄榄石和钙长石矿物仍然包裹于尖晶石内,从而形成尖晶石内部呈蠕虫状的钙长石包裹体.     

Transformation of PGM in supra subduction zones:Geochemical and mineralogical constraints from the Veria(Greece) podiform chromitites

Extremely abundant PGE-minerals(PGM)hosted in chromitites from the Veria ophiolite complex in Macedonia(N.Greece)may be unique among ophiolite complexes.This study focuses on differences between the low-and high-PGE chromitites.New textural,mineralogical and geochemical constraints from those ores are presented,aiming to define factors controlling the PGE enrichment in a supra subduction environment,in the light of postmagmatic processes.The whole ore analyses for mmajor and trace elements indicated an unusually high-IPGE content(up to 25 ppm)and higher Fe,Ca,Mn,Zn and V contents in high-PGE compared to low-PGE in massive chromitites.The wide compositional variation of chromite,even in the same polished section,the occurrence of very fine PGM(less than 20μm)as inclusions within chromite and extremely large(>1000μm),angular or fine-grained PGM aggregates ones within a matrix of highly fragmented chromite-Cr-garnet matrix,may indicate crystallization/recrystallization of chromite from more than one precursor phases.Laurite(RuS2)is very limited,occurring as remnants surrounding by Ru–Os–Ir oxides/hydroxides,of a wide compositional variation.Irarsite occurs as euhedral crystals up to 200μm,surrounding by chromite,as anhedral exsolutions 1–200μm within laurite,or creating segregates with platarsite and relics of(Ru,Pt,Rh,Os)sulfarsenides.Platinum–Ru–Rh–Pd-minerals occur commonly as relatively fine-grained assemblages,up to 50μm,along with irarsite and other relics of(Ru,Pt,Rh,Os)sulfarsenides.Pt-alloys show a variation ranging from tetraferroplatinum to Pt–Ir–Fe–Ni alloys.The presence of laurite relics in large IPGM,awaruite,heazlewoodite,and carbon-bearing material reflecting a super-reducing environment,and the transformation of primary PGM into Os–Ir–Ru-alloys and oxides/hydroxides in association with Fe-chromite and Fe3t-bearing garnet(andradite-uvarovite solidsolution series)may reflect changes of the redox conditions from reducing to oxidizing.The relatively high Na content in hydrous mineral inclusions within high-PGE chromitites suggest a hydrous mantle source and provide the possibility for estimation of the P(average 3.0 kbar)and T(average 874C),indicating formation at a shallow mantle environment.     

焉耆盆地与柴达木盆地侏罗系成烃及成藏时期的比较

焉耆盆地和柴达木盆地都发育侏罗系烃源岩,形成侏罗系油气系统。由于中 新生代两者构造运动强度的不同,导致两者油气形成时期、油气运移成藏时期以及油气分布层系不同。根据烃源岩热模拟结果和储层包裹体特征的研究,证明焉耆盆地侏罗系油气系统生烃时期主要发生在中 晚侏罗世,油气成藏时期主要发生在中 晚燕山期,为早期一期成藏;柴达木北缘则分别在早侏罗世晚期 晚侏罗世早期和早第三纪末 晚第三纪早期发生了 2次生油过程,因此存在 2期油气成藏,但以晚期为主。两盆地分别是中国西北侏罗系油气系统早期成藏和晚期成藏的典型代表。