Authigenic Gold in Stale Tailings of Cyanide Leaching of Gold—Sulfide—Quartz Ores (Komsomol’skii Gold-Extracting Factory,Kemerovo Region)

Doklady Earth Sciences - Based on complex mineralogical and geochemical analysis, high concentrations of dissolved and metallic native forms of Au were registered in the tailing store near-surface...     

Paleomagnetism of trap basalts in the northwestern Siberian craton,from core data

We present new paleomagnetic data for continental flood basalts (Siberian traps) obtained from cores of two boreholes in the northwestern Noril'sk area, within the Kharaelakh and Vologochan basins. Paleomagnetic measurements of lava and tuff samples from KhS-59 and SSV-19 boreholes allowed reconstructing and correlating the polarity patterns. Thus multiple paleomagnetic anomalies (PMA) have been discovered as brief polarity changes in narrow intervals of the magnetostratigraphic section above the principle reversal at the boundary between the Ivakin and Syverma Formations.The most prominent anomalies are observed at the bases of the Morongo and Mokulai Formations. The samples from the anomalous intervals differ from those of other intervals neither in rock magnetic properties, nor in mineralogy and magnetic grain sizes. Therefore, the revealed PMA record excursions of the geomagnetic field. Comparison of the results with the Meishan Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Permian–Triassic boundary implies a revision to the P–T position in the trap basalt succession of the Noril'sk area. Judging by the EMF behavior, basalts in this part of the trap province erupted for at least 500 kyr during an interval of stable normal polarity.     

The First Find of Oxyborates in Rocks of the Norilsk-1 Intrusion (Northwestern Siberian Platform)

Doklady Earth Sciences - In the taxitic gabbro-dolerites of the upper contact zone of the Norilsk-1 intrusion, five boron minerals were found: kotoite Mg3(BO3)2, suanite Mg2B2O5, warwickite...     

Magmatogene fluids of metal-bearing reefs in the Bushveld Complex,South Africa: Based on research data on fluid inclusions in quartz

Fluid inclusions in the Merensky Reef quartz and later pegmatite veins crosscutting the Platreef rocks of the Bushveld Complex are studied by a suite of advanced high-precision methods. Based on the conducted studies, we identify a few types of fluids, some having been separated during the crystallization of volatile matter-rich residual melt of original basic magma, while others are derivatives of later felsic (granite) melts that formed crosscutting veins in fully devitrified ultrabasic and basic rocks. The earliest fluid is captured by quartz in symplectitic intergrowths with intercumulus plagioclase from the Merensky Reef pyroxenite occurs as a homogenous dense dry reduced gas (CH₄–N₂ ± CO₂) mixture separated from the aluminosilicate melt at 800–900°C and 3050 bar. The following heterophase highly concentrated fluids (60–80 wt % NaCl eq.) separated at over 550°C and below 3050 bar transport a large number of metals. Major saline components of such fluids included Na, K, Fe, Ca, and Mn chlorides, Ca and Na sulphates and carbonates. According to LA ICP-MS analysis data, inclusions of these fluids contain high concentrations of Fe, Cr, K, and Na at the level of a few wt % and also significant contents of Cu, Sn, Sb, Mo, Au, Ag, Bi, and Ni in a concentration range from a few to thousands of ppm. Relatively lower-temperature (much higher than 450°C) fluids accompanying the crystallization of crosscutting quartz–feldspar pegmatite veins at the Platreef are also highly concentrated (from 70–80% to 40–14 wt % NaCl eq.), oxidized and metal-bearing. High concentrations of metals such as Na, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, and Pb at the level of wt % and also Ni, Co, Cu, As, Mo, Sn, Sb, and Bi (1–500 ppm) in inclusions in quartz of later pegmatite veins suggest the possible participation of magmatogene fluids related to later felsic intrusions in the redistribution of primary magmatic concentrations of metals. The oxidation of reduced heterophase fluids may be the most important geochemical barrier invoking the crystallization of solid mineral phases from heterophase fluids.     

Geochemical and geo-electrical study of mud pools at the Mutnovsky volcano (South Kamchatka,Russia): Behavior of elements,structures of feeding channels and a model of origin

This study presents data on the geochemical composition of boiling mud pools at the Mutnovsky volcano. The physicochemical characteristics of the pools and the concentrations of major, minor and trace elements in pool solutions vary widely. A comparison of the geochemical compositions of host rocks and solutions indicates that leaching from rocks is not the only source of chemicals in thermal solutions. Geophysical studies reveal the inner structure of thermal fields, which reflect the shapes of the underground reservoirs and feed channels. Using geophysical methods (electrical resistivity tomography and frequency domain investigations), it was shown that the vertical structure and complex geochemical zonation of the feed channels leads to a high contrast in the compositions of the mud solutions. These findings answer questions about the origin and composition of surface manifestations. To elucidate the mechanisms of solution formation, an attempt was made to describe the magmatic fluid evolution and the resulting mixing of waters by physical and mathematical models. The model illustrates fluid migration from a magma chamber to the surface. It is shown that the formation of brines corresponding to the mud pool composition is possible during secondary boiling.