Petrogenesis of andalusite–kyanite–sillimanite veins and host rocks, Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic belt, Hamadan, Iran

Quartz‐rich veins in metapelitic schists of the Sanandaj‐Sirjan belt, Hamadan region, Iran, commonly contain two Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs, and, more rarely, three coexisting Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs. In most andalusite and sillimanite schists, the types of polymorphs in veins correlate with Al₂SiO₅ polymorph(s) in the host rocks, although vein polymorphs are texturally and compositionally distinct from those in adjacent host rocks; e.g. vein andalusite is enriched in Fe₂O₃ relative to host rock andalusite. Low‐grade rocks contain andalusite + quartz veins, medium‐grade rocks contain andalusite + sillimanite + quartz ± plagioclase veins, and high‐grade rocks contain sillimanite + quartz + plagioclase veins/leucosomes. Although most andalusite and sillimanite‐bearing veins occur in host rocks that also contain Al₂SiO₅, kyanite‐quartz veins crosscut rocks that lack Al₂SiO₅ (e.g. staurolite schist, granite). A quartz vein containing andalusite + kyanite + sillimanite + staurolite + muscovite occurs in andalusite–sillimanite host rocks. Textural relationships in this vein indicate the crystallization sequence andalusite to kyanite to sillimanite. This crystallization sequence conflicts with the observation that kyanite‐quartz veins post‐date andalusite–sillimanite veins and at least one intrusive phase of a granite that produced a low‐pressure–high‐temperature contact aureole; these relationships imply a sequence of andalusite to sillimanite to kyanite. Varying crystallization sequences for rocks in a largely coherent metamorphic belt can be explained by P–T paths of different rocks passing near (slightly above, slightly below) the Al₂SiO₅ triple point, and by overprinting of multiple metamorphic events in a terrane that evolved from a continental arc to a collisional orogen.     

Fluid inclusion studies of the Abawso gold prospect,near the Ashanti Belt,Ghana

The major Ghanaian lode gold deposits are preferentially aligned along the western and eastern contacts of the Kumasi Basin with the Ashanti and Sefwi Belts, respectively. The investigated area of the Abawso small-scale concession, covering the workings of the old Ettadom mine, is situated 3 km west of the lithological contact of the Birimian metavolcanic rocks of the Akropong Belt in the east with the Birimian metasedimentary rocks of the Kumasi Basin in the west. The rocks of the Abawso concession represent a steeply NW-dipping limb of a SE-verging anticline with an axis plunging to the SW. Quartz veining occurs predominantly in the form of en échelon dilatational veins along NNE–SSW-striking shear zones of a few metres width and shows evidence of brittle and ductile deformation. Also stockwork-style quartz veining occurs in the vicinity of the main shaft of the old Ettadom mine. Hydrothermal alteration includes sericitisation, sulphidation and locally carbonatisation. The auriferous quartz veins mainly follow the trend of brittle to ductile deformed quartz veins; however, some occur in stockwork. Fluid inclusion studies reveal a large number of H₂O inclusions along intragranular trails in auriferous quartz vein samples, as well as an overall dominance of H₂O and H₂O-CO₂ inclusions over CO₂ inclusions. Textural observations and physico-chemical fluid inclusion properties indicate post-entrapment modifications for all quartz vein samples due to grain boundary migration recrystallisation. This process is interpreted to be responsible for the generation of the CO₂ inclusions from a H₂O-CO₂ parent fluid. In comparison with mineralisation at the Ashanti and Prestea deposits, which are characterised by CO₂±N₂ inclusions, the observed inclusion assemblage may be due to a shallower crustal level of mineralisation, or different degrees and styles of recrystallisation, or a less pronounced development of laminated quartz veins due to comparably restricted pressure fluctuations. Furthermore, the microthermometric observations allow the reconstruction of a possible retrograde P-T path, depicting near-isothermal decompression in the P-T range of the brittle/ductile transition.Editorial handling: E. Frimmel     

Albite vein formation during exhumation of high-pressure terranes: a case study from alpine Corsica

The formation of late‐stage veins can yield valuable information about the movement and composition of fluids during uplift and exhumation of high‐pressure terranes. Albite veins are especially suited to this purpose because they are ubiquitously associated with the greenschist facies overprint in high‐pressure rocks. Albite veins in retrogressed metabasic rocks from high‐pressure ophiolitic units of Alpine Corsica (France) are nearly monomineralic, and have distinct alteration haloes composed of actinolite + epidote + chlorite + albite. Estimated P–T conditions of albite vein formation are 478 ± 31 °C and 0.37 ± 0.14 GPa. The P–T estimates and petrographic constraints indicate that the albite veins formed after the regional greenschist facies retrogression, in response to continued decompression and exhumation of the terrane. Stable isotope geochemistry of the albite veins, their associated alteration haloes and unaltered hostrocks indicates that the vein‐forming fluid was derived from the ophiolite units and probably from the metabasalts within each ophiolite slice. That the vein‐forming fluid was locally derived means that a viable source of fluid to form the veins was retained in the rocks during high‐pressure metamorphism, indicating that the rocks did not completely dehydrate. This conclusion is supported by the observation of abundant lawsonite at the highest metamorphic grades. Fluids were liberated during retrogression via decompression dehydration reactions such as those that break down hydrous high‐pressure minerals like lawsonite. Albite precipitation into veins is sensitive to the solubility and speciation of Al, which is more pressure sensitive than other factors which might influence albite vein formation such as silica saturation or Na:K fluid ratios. Hydraulic fracturing in response to fluid generation during decompression was probably the main mechanism of vein formation. The associated pressure decrease with fracturing and fluid decompression may also have been sufficient to change the solubility of Al and drive albite precipitation in fracture systems.     

新疆阿尔泰可可托海伟晶岩型稀有金属矿床中磷灰石地球化学特征及意义

磷灰石可以记录和保存岩浆和热液活动的信息。可可托海伟晶岩型稀有金属矿床磷灰石发育,为研究该矿床伟晶岩成岩成矿过程提供了优良的条件。已有对可可托海伟晶岩型稀有金属矿床磷灰石的研究集中在其稀土元素特征,较少讨论其对伟晶岩成岩成矿过程的制约。本文选取可可托海伟晶岩型稀有金属矿床富矿伟晶岩脉（3号脉）和相对贫矿伟晶岩脉（1号、2b号和3a号脉）中的磷灰石作为研究对象,进行磷灰石岩相学和地球化学研究。岩相学分析表明,磷灰石主要与钠长石、石英、白云母、锰铝榴石等伴生。EPMA分析显示,磷灰石F含量为3.67%~4.41%,Cl含量小于0.67%,较低的Cl含量表明伟晶岩熔体出溶的流体Cl含量较低;大部分磷灰石MnO含量为4.67%~8.71%,但2b号脉磷灰石MnO含量变化较大（1.23%~14.28%）,这是由于2b号脉磷灰石具有分带结构,暗示其遭受后期热液作用,促使磷灰石溶解-再沉淀,导致MnO含量发生较大变化。LA-ICP-MS分析显示,贫矿伟晶岩脉磷灰石的稀土元素含量较低（< 180×10^-6）;相反,富矿伟晶岩脉磷灰石的稀土元素含量较高（>700×10^-6）,并具有明显的四分组效应（TE_1-3平均值为1.7）。1号脉和3a号脉磷灰石均显示轻稀土元素富集,反映其形成过程中有含Cl热液的参与。3号脉磷灰石显示强烈Eu负异常和Ce正异常,而2b号脉磷灰石显示强烈Ce负异常和中等Eu负异常,这种Eu、Ce异常的差异可能与岩浆-热液阶段大量流体出溶密切相关。磷灰石的沉淀将导致热液中HF含量的降低,促使磷灰石周围铌钽矿结晶和Nb、Ta进入磷灰石中。可见,在伟晶岩形成过程中,磷灰石并非保持稳定,其分带结构和主微量成分变化记录了后期热液活动,暗示后期热液活动对伟晶岩的成矿具有重要作用。

     

The geology of the Taparko gold deposit, Birimian greenstone belt, Burkina Faso, West Africa

The Taparko gold deposit, located in the eastern branch of the Proterozoic Birimian Bouroum-Yalogo greenstone belt (Burkina Faso) consists of a network of quartz veins developed in a N 170° trending shear zone (250 m wide, 4 km long) superimposed on the regional Birimian structural pattern. The quartz vein network is composed of: (a) a dominant array of quartz veins (type 1), parallel to the shear zone and comprising strongly deformed dark quartz exhibiting foliation, layering, ribbon, tension gashes, etc.; (b) oblique and subparallel related veins (type 2) of gray to white weakly deformed quartz crosscutting the dominant quartz veins resulting in breccia structures; and (c) shallow dipping veins (type 3), cross-cutting veins types 1 and 2 and filled by undeformed white buck structure quartz. Cross-cutting relationships and different quartz types in different veins and within individual veins imply a concomitant filling of the veins during the progressive deformation. Initial sinistral transcurrent shearing evolved with time to sinistral reverse shearing. Metallic minerals occur only in type 1 and 2 veins and were deposited in two stages, with native gold being related to second stage sulfides. Gold (and chalcopyrite) precipitated preferentially upon the surfaces of fractured pyrite grains in low-pressure sites (pressure shadow zones) around and/or within the sulfide grains (along subsequently annealed fractures). The formation of the South Taparko deposit can be divided into a succession of events: (a) during the first event, N 170°-directed sinistral transcurrent shearing resulted in a N 20° mylonitic foliation and fractured rock which allowed H₂O-, CO₂- and SiO₂-rich fluids to circulate and deposit quartz with buck texture; (b) during the second event, type 1 quartz was strongly deformed and type 2 veins formed with sigmoidal shapes as viewed on a horizontal plane; and (c) during the third event, the sinistral transcurrent shearing evolved to sinistral reverse shearing and the deformation style evolved correspondingly from ductile to brittle-ductile. During the last phase of deformation gold nucleated and deposited in low-pressure zones. Received: 9 July 1997 / Accepted: 23 March 1998     

A biogeochemical orientation survey in the Moisan gold-mineralized area, Haenam district in Korea

A biogeochemical orientation survey was carried out in the vicinity of an epithermal Au deposit in the Moisan Au–Ag mineralized area, Haenam district in Korea. The Au–Ag bearing quartz veins of the mine occur as narrow open-space fillings within Cretaceous silicic pyroclastics. The vein minerals consist mainly of quartz, sericite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena, with some electrum and argentite. The main objectives of this study were to study the geochemical characteristics of rocks, soils and plants in this area, to investigate the spatial relationship between Au and associated elements in rock–soil–plant system, and to evaluate the applicability of biogeochemical prospecting for Au vein occurrences in Korea. Samples of rocks and soils, and leaves of three plant species (Japanese red pine — P. densiflora, oriental white oak — Q. aliena, Japanese mallotus — M. japonicus) were collected from the target mineralized area and control barren locations, and analyzed for trace elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Sampling lines were composed of one slope line which is almost parallel to the mineralized quartz-veins, and four transect lines spaced 100 m apart across the veins at 20 m sampling intervals. From the multi-element data of rock samples (n = 9), high values of Au (maximum 2030 ppb) are spatially related to Au–quartz veins. Soil samples (n = 61) collected from five sampling lines show higher values of Au (24–825 ppb) whereas soil samples from the control locations have lower values of Au (below 25 ppb). Many plant species collected from the vicinity of the veins have high Au contents compared with those at the control locations, but the ranges of Au values are variable among plant species. In a total of 128 samples of plant leaves, Q. aliena yielded Au values of 0.4 to 6.9 ppb, and M. japonicus 0.9 to 4.1 ppb. Gold contents in P. densiflora ranged from 0.1 to 5.6 ppb. Plant leaves from control areas show less than 1.6 ppb Au. The biological absorption coefficient (BAC) of Au in plants decreases in the order of Q. aliena > M. japonicus > P. densiflora. Based on the results of the study, Q. aliena appeared to be the best sampling media for biogeochemical prospecting of Au in the study area.     

Structural and vibrational behaviour of fluorapatite with pressure. Part I: in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction investigation

Using single-crystal X-ray diffraction from a diamond anvil cell, the compressibility of a synthetic fluorapatite was determined up to about 7?GPa. The compression pattern was anisotropic, with greater change along a than c. Unit cell parameters varied linearly with β _a =3.32(8)?10^?3 and β _c =2.40(5)?10^?3 GPa^?1, giving a ratio β _a :β _c =1.38:1. Data fitted with a third-order Birch-Murnaghan EOS yielded a bulk modulus of K ₀=93(4)?GPa with K′=5.8(1.8). The evolution of the crystal structure of fluorapatite was analysed using data collected at room pressure, at 3.04 and 4.72?GPa. The bulk modulus of phosphate tetrahedron is about three times greater than the bulk modulus of calcium polyhedra. The values were 270(10), 100(4) and 86(3) GPa for P, Ca1 (nine-coordinated) and Ca2 (seven-coordinated) respectively. While the calcium polyhedra became more regular with pressure, the distortion of the phosphate tetrahedron remained unchanged. The size of the channel extending along the [001] direction represented the most compressible direction. The Ca2–Ca2 distance decreased from 3.982 to 3.897?Å on compression from 0.0001 to 4.72?GPa. The anisotropic compressional pattern may be understood in terms of the greater compressibility of the channel size over the polyhedral units. The reduction of the channel volume was measured by the evolution of the trigonal prism, having the Ca2–Ca2–Ca2 triangle as its base and the c lattice parameter as its height. This prism volume changed from 47.3?ų at room pressure to 44.78?ų at 4.72?GPa. Its relatively high bulk moduli, 86(3) GPa, indicated that the channel did not collapse with pressure and the apatite structure could remain stable at very high pressure.     

Petrogenesis of plio-quaternary intra-plate continental alkaline lavas from the İskenderun Gulf (Southern Turkey): Evidence for metasomatized lithospheric mantle

The Quaternary alkaline volcanic field of Southern Turkey is characterized by intra-continental plate-type magmatic products, exposed to the north of the ?skenderun Gulf along a NE-SW trending East Anatolian Fault, to the west of its intersection with the N–S trending Dead Sea Fault zone. The ?skenderun Gulf alkaline rocks are mostly silica-undersaturated with normative nepheline and olivine and are mostly classified as basanites and alkaline basalts with their low-silica contents ranging between 43 and 48?wt.% SiO₂. They display Ocean Island Basalt (OIB)–type trace element patterns characterized by enrichments in large-ion-lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth element (LREE), and have (La/Yb)_N?=?8.8–17.7 and (Hf/Sm)_N?=?0.9–1.6 similar to those of basaltic rocks found in intraplate suites. The basanitic rocks have limited variations Sr-Nd isotopic ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr?=?0.70307–0.70324, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd?=?0.512918–0.521947), whereas the alkali basalts display more evolved Sr-Nd isotopic ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr?=?0.70346-0.70365, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd?=?0.512887–0.521896). The ?skenderun Gulf alkaline rocks also display limited Pb isotopic variations with ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb?=?18.75–19.09 ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb?=?15.61–15.66 and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb?=?38.65–39.02, indicating that they originated from an enriched lithospheric mantle source. Calculated fractionation vectors indicate that clinopyroxene and olivine are the main fractionating mineral phases. Similarly, based on Sr-Nd isotopic ratios, the assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) modeling shows that the alkali basalts were affected by AFC processes (r?=?0.2) and were slightly contaminated by the upper crustal material.The high TiO₂ contents, enrichments in Ba and Nb, and depletions in Rb can likely be explained by the existence of amphibole in the mantle source, which might, in turn, indicate that the source mantle has been affected by metasomatic processes. The modeling based on relative abundances of trace elements suggests involvement of amphibole-bearing peridotite as the source material. ?skenderun Gulf alkaline rocks can thus be interpreted as the products of variable extent of mixing between melts from both amphibole-bearing peridotite and dry peridotite.     

Study on Yanshanian metallogenic granitoids magmatism in Baoshan deposit,southern Hunan ProvinceSCIEI北大核心CSCD

本文对湘南宝山花岗闪长斑岩进行了系统的锆石和磷灰石U-Pb定年、岩石地球化学以及锆石Hf同位素研究,并探讨了宝山花岗闪长斑岩的岩石成因和构造意义。锆石和磷灰石的LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年显示,宝山花岗闪长斑岩的成岩年龄为160Ma。综合元素和同位素地球化学证据,宝山花岗闪长斑岩的成因可能为新生地壳与古老地壳的混合熔融,同时宝山花岗闪长斑岩中发现的890±20Ma的继承锆石,验证了新元古代新生地壳的参与。磷灰石的主微量元素研究显示花岗闪长斑岩具有较高的氧逸度和Cl含量,Sr/Th比值具有较大变化,而La/Sm比值变化不大等特征,表明形成花岗闪长斑岩岩浆的母岩受到俯冲板片脱水形成的流体交代作用影响。在上述过程中,富含Cl和H2O的流体从板片中释放出来,引发地幔楔熔融,并对矿床中成矿金属元素进行提取。由于古太平洋板块俯冲引发的伸展-减薄运动,在地幔上涌过程中,新元古代新生地壳发生部分熔融,这些高温岩浆底侵老地壳源区,诱发老地壳部分熔融,进而发生了强烈的壳-壳混合作用,产生花岗闪长质岩浆。     

辽宁凤城荒甸子金矿床地质特征及成因探讨

荒甸子金矿床位于辽东金矿化集中区青城子矿田北东部,矿体严格受地层和构造双重控制,并与印支—燕山期岩浆侵入体相关密切。文章通过对荒甸子金矿床成矿地质背景和主矿体60号金脉带地质特征的阐述,说明金矿体与地层、构造、岩浆岩三位一体的关系,为下一步的找矿工作指明方向。