Sources of basaltoid magmas in rift settings of an active continental margin: Example from the bimodal association of the Noen and Tost ranges of the Late Paleozoic Gobi-Tien Shan rift zone, southern Mongolia

The bimodal volcanoplutonic (basalt-peralkaline rhyolite with peralkaline granites) association of the Noen and Tost ranges was formed 318 Ma ago in the Gobi-Tien Shan rift zone of the Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic central Asian rift system, the development of which was related to the movement of the continental lithosphere over a mantle hot spot. A specific feature of the Late Paleozoic rifting was that it occurred within the Middle-Late Paleozoic active continental margin of the northern Asian paleocontinent. Continental margin magmatism was followed after a short time delay by the magmatism of the Gobi-Tien Shan rift zone, which was located directly in the margin of the paleocontinent. Such a geodynamic setting of the rift zone was reflected in the geochemical characteristics of rift-related rocks. The distribution of major elements and compatible trace elements in the rift-related basic and intermediate rocks corresponds to a crystallization differentiation series. The distribution of incompatible trace elements suggests contributions from several sources. This is also supported by the heterogeneity of Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of the rift-related basaltoids: ε_Nd(T) ranges from 4.4 to 6.7, and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₀, from 0.70360 to 0.70427. The geochemical characteristics of the rift-related basaltoids of the Noen and Tost ranges are not typical of rift settings (negative anomalies in Nb and Ta and positive anomalies in K and Pb) and suggest a significant role of the rocks of a metasomatized mantle wedge in their source. In addition, there are high-titanium rocks among the rift-related basaltoids, whose geochemical characteristics approach those of the basalts of mid-ocean ridges and ocean islands. This allowed us to conclude that the compositional variations of the rift-related basaltoids of the Noen and Tost ranges were controlled by three magma sources: the enriched mantle, depleted mantle (high-titanium basaltoids), and metasomatized mantle wedge (medium-Ti basaltoids). The medium-titanium basaltoids were formed in equilibrium with spinel peridotites, whereas the high-titanium magmas were formed at deeper levels both in the spinel and garnet zones. It terms of geodynamics, the occurrence of three sources of the rift-related basaltoids of the Noen and Tost ranges was related to the ascent of a mantle plume with enriched geochemical characteristics beneath a continental margin, where its influence caused melting in the overlying depleted mantle and the metasomatized mantle wedge. The formation of rift-related andesites in the Noen and Tost ranges was explained by the contamination of mantle-derived basaltoid melts with sialic (mainly sedimentary) continental crustal materials or the assimilation of anatectic granitoid melts.     

Early Proterozoic syn-and postcollision granites in the northern part of the Baikal fold area

Early Proterozoic granitoids are of a limited occurrence in the Baikal fold area being confined here exclusively to an arcuate belt delineating the outer contour of Baikalides, where rocks of the Early Precambrian basement are exposed. Geochronological and geochemical study of the Kevakta granite massif and Nichatka complex showed that their origin was related with different stages of geological evolution of the Baikal fold area that progressed in diverse geodynamic environments. The Nichatka complex of syncollision granites was emplaced 1908 ± 5 Ma ago, when the Aldan-Olekma microplate collided with the Nechera terrane. Granites of the Kevakta massif (1846 ± 8 Ma) belong to the South Siberian postcollision magmatic belt that developed since ～1.9 Ga during successive accretion of microplates, continental blocks and island arcs to the Siberian craton. In age and other characteristics, these granites sharply differ from granitoids of the Chuya complex they have been formerly attributed to. Accordingly, it is suggested to divide the former association of granitoids into the Chuya complex proper of diorite-granodiorite association ～2.02 Ga old (Neymark et al., 1998) with geochemical characteristics of island-arc granitoids and the Chuya-Kodar complex of postcollision S-type granitoids 1.85 Ga old. The Early Proterozoic evolution of the Baikal fold area and junction zone with Aldan shield lasted about 170 m.y. that is comparable with development periods of analogous structures in other regions of the world.     

Mudrocks from the Siberian Hypostratotype of the Riphean and Vendian: Chemistry,Sm–Nd Isotope Systematics of Sources,and Formation Stages

Lithology and Mineral Resources - The chemical composition and Nd isotope systematics were obtained for mudrocks (mudstones) from sections of the Siberian hypostratotype of the Riphean and Vendian...     

Rare gas isotopes and parent trace elements in ultrabasic-alkaline-carbonatite complexes, Kola Peninsula: identification of lower mantle plume component

During the Devonian magmatism (370 Ma ago) ∼20 ultrabasic-alkaline-carbonatite complexes (UACC) were formed in the Kola Peninsula (north-east of the Baltic Shield). In order to understand mantle and crust sources and processes having set these complexes, rare gases were studied in ∼300 rocks and mineral separates from 9 UACC, and concentrations of parent Li, K, U, and Th were measured in ∼70 samples. ⁴He/³He ratios in He released by fusion vary from pure radiogenic values ∼10⁸ down to 6 × 10⁴. The cosmogenic and extraterrestrial sources as well as the radiogenic production are unable to account for the extremely high abundances of ³He, up to 4 × 10⁻⁹ cc/g, indicating a mantle-derived fluid in the Kola rocks. In some samples helium extracted by crushing shows quite low ⁴He/³He = 3 × 10⁴, well below the mean ratio in mid ocean ridge basalts (MORB), (8.9 ± 1.0) × 10⁴, indicating the contribution of ³He-rich plume component. Magnetites are principal carriers of this component. Trapped ³He is extracted from these minerals at high temperatures 1100°C to 1600°C which may correspond to decrepitation or annealing primary fluid inclusions, whereas radiogenic ⁴He is manly released at a temperature range of 500°C to 1200°C, probably corresponding to activation of ⁴He sites degraded by U, Th decay.Similar ⁴He/³He ratios were observed in Oligocene flood basalts from the Ethiopian plume. According to a paleo-plate-tectonic reconstruction, 450 Ma ago the Baltica (including the Kola Peninsula) continent drifted not far from the present-day site of that plume. It appears that both magmatic provinces could relate to one and the same deep-seated mantle source.The neon isotopic compositions confirm the occurrence of a plume component since, within a conventional ²⁰Ne/²²Ne versus ²¹Ne/²²Ne diagram, the regression line for Kola samples is indistinguishable from those typical of plumes, such as Loihi (Hawaii). ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratios (up to 12.1) correlate well with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ones, allowing to infer a source ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of about 4000 for the mantle end-member, which is 10 times lower than that of the MORB source end-member. In (³He/²²Ne)_PRIM versus (⁴He/²¹Ne)_RAD plot the Kola samples are within array established for plume and MORB samples; almost constant production ratio of (⁴He/²¹Ne)_RAD ≅ 2 × 10⁷ is translated via this array into (³He/²²Ne)_PRIM ∼ 10. The latter value approaches the solar ratio implying the non-fractionated solar-like rare gas pattern in a plume source.The Kola UACC show systematic variations in the respective contributions of in situ-produced radiogenic isotopes and mantle-derived isotopes. Since these complexes were essentially plutonic, we propose that the depth of emplacement exerted a primary control on the retention of both trapped and radiogenic species, which is consistent with geological observations. The available data allow to infer the following sequence of processes for the emplacement and evolution of Kola Devonian UACC: 1) Ascent of the plume from the lower mantle to the subcontinental lithosphere; the plume triggered mantle metasomatism not later than ∼700 to 400 Ma ago. 2) Metasomatism of the lithosphere (beneath the central part of the Kola Peninsula), including enrichment in volatile (e.g., He, Ne) and in incompatible (e.g., U, Th) elements. 3) Multistage intrusions of parental melts, their degassing, and crystallisation differentiation ∼370 Ma ago. 4) Postcrystallisation migration of fluids, including loss of radiogenic and of trapped helium. Based on model compositions of the principle terrestrial reservoirs we estimate the contributions (by mass) of the plume material, the upper mantle material, and the atmosphere (air-saturated groundwater), into the source of parent melt at ∼2%, 97.95%, and ∼0.05%, respectively.     

Neoproterozoic accretionary and collisional events on the western margin of the Siberian craton: new geological and geochronological evidence from the Yenisey Ridge

The geological, structural and tectonic evolutions of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt are discussed in the context of the western margin of the Siberian craton during the Neoproterozoic. Previous work in the Yenisey Ridge had led to the interpretation that the fold belt is composed of high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks comprising an Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement with an unconformably overlying Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic cover, which was mainly metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions. Based on the existing data and new geological and zircon U–Pb data, we recognize several terranes of different age and composition that were assembled during Neoproterozoic collisional–accretional processes on the western margin of the Siberian craton. We suggest that there were three main Neoproterozoic tectonic events involved in the formation of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt at 880–860 Ma, 760–720 Ma and 700–630 Ma. On the basis of new geochronological and petrological data, we propose that the Yeruda and Teya granites (880–860 Ma) were formed as a result of the first event, which could have occurred in the Central Angara terrane before it collided with Siberia. We also propose that the Cherimba, Ayakhta, Garevka and Glushikha granites (760–720 Ma) were formed as a result of this collision. The third event (700–630 Ma) is fixed by the age of island-arc and ophiolite complexes and their obduction onto the Siberian craton margin. We conclude by discussing correlation of these complexes with those in other belts on the margin of the Siberian craton.     

The Geysers - Cobb Mountain Magma System, California (Part 1): U-Pb zircon ages of volcanic rocks, conditions of zircon crystallization and magma residence times

Combined U-Pb zircon and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar sanidine data from volcanic rocks within or adjacent to the Geysers geothermal reservoir constrain the timing of episodic eruption events and the pre-eruptive magma history. Zircon U-Pb concordia intercept model ages (corrected for initial ²³⁰Th disequilibrium) decrease as predicted from stratigraphic and regional geological relationships (1σ analytical error): 2.47 ± 0.04 Ma (rhyolite of Pine Mountain), 1.38 ± 0.01 Ma (rhyolite of Alder Creek), 1.33 ± 0.04 Ma (rhyodacite of Cobb Mountain), 1.27 ± 0.03 Ma (dacite of Cobb Valley), and 0.94 ± 0.01 Ma (dacite of Tyler Valley). A significant (∼0.2-0.3 Ma) difference between these ages and sanidine ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages measured for the same samples demonstrates that zircon crystallized well before eruption. Zircons U-Pb ages from the underlying main-phase Geysers Plutonic Complex (GPC) are indistinguishable from those of the Cobb Mountain volcanics. While this is in line with compositional evidence that the GPC fed the Cobb Mountain eruptions, the volcanic units conspicuously lack older (∼1.8 Ma) zircons from the shallowest part of the GPC. Discontinuous zircon age populations and compositional relationships in the volcanic and plutonic samples are incompatible with zircon residing in a single long-lived upper crustal magma chamber. Instead we favor a model in which zircons were recycled by remelting of just-solidified rocks during episodic injection of more mafic magmas. This is consistent with thermochronologic evidence that the GPC cooled below 350° C at the time the Cobb Mountain volcanics were erupted.     

Isotope provinces, mechanisms of generation and sources of the continental crust in the Central Asian mobile belt: geological and isotopic evidence

The available geological, geochronological and isotopic data on the felsic magmatic and related rocks from South Siberia, Transbaikalia and Mongolia are summarized to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and processes of the Phanerozoic crustal growth in the Central Asian mobile belt (CAMB). The following isotope provinces have been recognised: ‘Precambrian’ (T_DM=3.3–2.9 and 2.5–0.9 Ga) at the microcontinental blocks, ‘Caledonian’ (T_DM=1.1–0.55 Ga), ‘Hercynian’ (T_DM=0.8–0.5 Ma) and ‘Indosinian’ (T_DM=0.3 Ga) that coincide with coeval tectonic zones and formed at 570–475, 420–320 and 310–220 Ma. Continental crust of the microcontinents is underlain by, or intermixed with, ‘juvenile’ crust as evidenced by its isotopic heterogeneity. The continental crust of the Caledonian, Hercynian and Indosinian provinces is isotopically homogeneous and was produced from respective juvenile sources with addition of old crustal material in the island arcs or active continental margin environments. The crustal growth in the CAMB had episodic character and important crust-forming events took place in the Phanerozoic. Formation of the CAMB was connected with break up of the Rodinia supercontinent in consequence of creation of the South-Pacific hot superplume. Intraplate magmatism preceding and accompanying permanently other magmatic activity in the CAMB was caused by influence of the long-term South-Pacific plume or the Asian plume damping since the Devonian.     

Low-pressure adsorption of Ar, Kr, and Xe on carbonaceous materials (kerogen and carbon blacks), ferrihydrite, and montmorillonite: Implications for the trapping of noble gases onto meteoritic matter

Noble gases trapped in meteorites are tightly bound in a carbonaceous carrier labeled “phase Q.” Mechanisms having led to their retention in this phase or in its precursors are poorly understood. To test physical adsorption as a way of retaining noble gases into precursors of meteoritic materials, we have performed adsorption experiments for Ar, Kr, and Xe at low pressures (10⁻⁴ mbar to 500 mbar) encompassing pressures proposed for the evolving solar nebula. Low-pressure adsorption isotherms were obtained for ferrihydrite and montmorillonite, both phases being present in Orgueil (CI), for terrestrial type III kerogen, the best chemical analog of phase Q studied so far, and for carbon blacks, which are present in phase Q and can be considered as possible precursors.Based on adsorption data obtained at low pressures relevant to the protosolar nebula, we propose that the amount of noble gases that can be adsorbed onto primitive materials is much higher than previously inferred from experiments carried out at higher pressures. The adsorption capacity increases from kerogen, carbon blacks, montmorillonite to ferrihydrite. Because of its low specific surface area, kerogen can hardly account for the noble gas inventory of Q. Carbon blacks in the temperature range 75 K-100 K can adsorb up to two orders of magnitude more noble gases than those found in Q. Irreversible trapping of a few percent of noble gases adsorbed on such materials could represent a viable process for incorporating noble gases in phase Q precursors. This temperature range cannot be ruled out for the zone of accretion of the meteorite precursors according to recent astrophysical models and observations, although it is near the lower end of the temperatures proposed for the evolving solar nebula.     

What is the source of baseflow in agriculturally fragmented catchments? Complex groundwater/surface‐water interactions in three tributary catchments of the Wabash River,Indiana, USA

Some conceptual models suggest that baseflow in agriculturally fragmented watersheds may contain little, if any, groundwater. This has critical implications for stream quality and ecosystem functioning. Here, we (a) identify the sources and flowpaths contributing to baseflow using ²²²Rn and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and (b) quantify mean apparent ages of groundwater and baseflow using multiple isotopic tracers (CFC, SF₆, ³⁶Cl, and ³H) in 4 small (0.08 to 0.64 km²) tributary catchments to the Wabash River in Indiana, USA. ²²²Rn activities and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios indicate that baseflow in 3 catchments is sourced primarily from groundwater; baseflow in the fourth is dominated by a source similar to agricultural run‐off. CFC‐12 data indicate that springs in 1 catchment are discharging significant proportions of water that recharged between 1974 (42 ± 2 years) and 1961 (55 ± 2 years). Those same springs have ³⁶Cl/Cl ratios between 1,381.08 ± 29.37 (×10^?15) and 1,530.64 ± 27.65 (×10^?15) indicating that a substantial proportion of the discharge likely recharged between 1975 (41 years) and 1950 (66 years). Groundwater samples collected from streambed mini‐piezometers in a separate catchment have CFC‐12 concentrations indicating that a large proportion of the recharge occurred between 1948 (68 ± 2 years) and 1950 (66 ± 2 years). Repeat sampling conducted in September 2015 after above‐average summer rainfall did not show significant decreases in mean apparent age. The relatively old ages observed in 3 of the catchments can be explained by geological complexities that are likely present in all 4 catchments, but overwhelmed by flow from the shallow phreatic aquifer in the fourth catchment.