Spectroscopic evidence for pressure-induced phase transitions in diopside

 Raman spectra of diopside were collected from atmospheric pressure to 71 GPa. The pressure dependences of 22 modes were determined. Changes occurred in the spectra at three different pressures. First, at approximately 10 GPa, the two Raman modes at 356 and 875 cm⁻¹ disappeared, while the mode at 324 cm⁻¹ split into two modes, diverging at this pressure with significantly different pressure shifts; second, at approximately 15 GPa, a small (1 to 2 cm⁻¹) drop in several of the frequencies was observed accompanied by changes in the pressure dependency of some of the modes; and third, above 55 GPa, the modes characteristic of chains of tetrahedrally coordinated silicon disappeared, while those for octahedrally coordinated silicon appeared. The first change at 10 GPa appears to be a C2/c to C2/c transition involving a change in the Ca coordination. The third change above 55 GPa appears to be a change in the silicon coordination. At 15 GPa, it is suggested that a change in compressional mechanism takes place. Received: 14 November 2000 / Accepted: 9 January 2002     

Plastic flow strength of jadeite and diopside investigated by microindentation hardness tests

Microindentation hardness tests were performed on jadeite and diopside, being end members of the omphacite solid solution series. At temperatures between 300 and 750 °C, the hardness of jadeite ranges from 7.4 to 8.5 GPa, that of diopside from 4.9 to 6.1 GPa. Jadeite is significantly stronger than diopside in the low-temperature plasticity regime. Normalization of the hardness-derived yield stress with respect to the shear modulus considerably reduces the strength contrast. The normalized Peierls stress is identical for jadeite and diopside. This indicates that jadeite and diopside belong to the same isomechanical group. The hardness-derived yield stress for jadeite as well as for diopside is used to estimate flow law parameters for the low-temperature plasticity regime.     

Ar–Ar age determinations of eclogitic clinopyroxene and garnet inclusions in diamonds from the Venetia and Orapa kimberlites

Ar–Ar age measurements are reported for selected eclogitic clinopyroxene and garnet inclusions in Orapa diamonds and clinopyroxene inclusions in Venetia diamonds. Laser drilling of encapsulated clinopyroxene inclusions within Venetia diamonds released a maximum of 3% of the total ⁴⁰Ar, indicating little diffusive transfer and storage of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar at the diamond–inclusion boundary. Apparent ages obtained during stepped heating of three diamonds are consistent with diamond crystallisation occurring just prior to the kimberlite eruption 520 Ma ago. Stepped heating of three clinopyroxene-bearing Orapa diamonds gave ages of 906–1032 Ma, significantly above the eruption age, but consistent with previously determined isotopic ages. A few higher apparent ages hint at the presence an older generation of Orapa diamonds that formed >2500 Ma ago. Orapa garnets also contain measurable K contents, and record a range of ages between 1000 and 2500 Ma. The old apparent ages and lack of significant interface ⁴⁰Ar released by the laser probe, suggests that pre-eruption radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar and mantle-derived ⁴⁰Ar components are trapped in microinclusions within the pyroxene and garnet inclusions.     

Compositional variations (major and trace elements) of clinopyroxene and Ti-andradite from pyroxenite, ijolite and nepheline syenite, Alnö Island, Sweden

Clinopyroxenes from pyroxenite, ijolite and nepheline syenite from the main intrusion of the Alnö complex define two sub-parallel compositional trends with respect to Na, Ca and Fe_TOT plotted against alkali-pyroxene fractionation index (Na–Mg). Both trends define a smooth fractionation of increasing Na and Fe_TOT and decreasing Ca with increasing Na–Mg, but one set of samples contain clinopyroxenes that constantly plot at higher Na and lower Fe_TOT and Ca (at similar Na–Mg) than the rest of the samples. Clinopyroxenes with higher Ca and Fe_TOT and lower Na (trend 1) co-exist with substantial amounts of Ti-andradite (up to 70 vol.%), while the sample set defining the more Na-rich trend (trend 2) lack co-existing Ti-andradite. Clinopyroxenes from both trends show fractionated REE patterns with a distinct difference in HREE content, reflecting the content of co-existing Ti-andradite. The rocks of the first Ti-andradite-bearing trend crystallized slightly prior to the rocks of the second trend, probably from a primitive, Ca- and Ti-rich nephelinitic magma. Crystallisation of pyroxenite and melteigite occurred under low aSiO₂ and high aCaO and aTiO₂ as evidenced by the presence of perovskite and sometimes substantial amounts of magnetite. Subsequent increase in aSiO₂ is evidenced in the overgrowth of perovskite by titanite, which in turn is overgrown by Ti-andradite. Nepheline syenitic residuals crystallized under higher aSiO₂ and aNa₂O and lower aCaO and aTiO₂, which reduced Ti-andradite into an accessory phase and produced more Si- and Na-rich clinopyroxenes. Some of these residuals probably also mixed with new primitive magma producing a hybrid magma that crystallised the more Na-rich and Ca- and Fe_TOT-poor clinopyroxenes of trend 2. The complete lack of Ti-andradite in these rocks indicates different crystallisation conditions and also a different magma composition.     

Petrological and mineralogical studies of Pan-African serpentinites at Bir Al-Edeid area, central Eastern Desert, Egypt

The studied serpentinites occur as isolated masses, imbricate slices of variable thicknesses and as small blocks or lenses incorporated in the sedimentary matrix of the mélange. They are thrusted over the associated island arc calc-alkaline metavolcanics and replaced by talc-carbonates along shear zones. Lack of thermal effect of the serpentinites upon the enveloping country rocks, as well as their association with thrust faults indicates their tectonic emplacement as solid bodies. Petrographically, they are composed essentially of antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite with subordinate amounts of carbonates, chromite, magnetite, magnesite, talc, tremolite and chlorite. Chrysotile occurs as cross-fiber veinlets traversing the antigorite matrix, which indicate a late crystallization under static conditions. The predominance of antigorite over other serpentine minerals indicates that the serpentinites have undergone prograde metamorphism or the parent ultramafic rocks were serpentinized under higher pressure. The parent rocks of the studied serpentinites are mainly harzburgite and less commonly dunite and wehrlite due to the prevalence of mesh and bastite textures. The serpentinites have suffered regional metamorphism up to the greenschist facies, which occurred during the collisional stage or back-arc basin closure, followed by thrusting over a continental margin. The microprobe analyses of the serpentine minerals show wide variation in SiO₂, MgO, Al₂O₃, FeO and Cr₂O₃ due to different generations of serpentinization. The clinopyroxene relicts, from the partly serpentinized peridotite, are augite and similar to clinopyroxene in mantle-derived peridotites. The chromitite lenses associated with the serpentinites show common textures and structures typical of magmatic crystallization and podiform chromitites. The present data suggest that the serpentinites and associated chromitite lenses represent an ophiolitic mantle sequence from a supra-subduction zone, which were thrust over the continental margins during the collisional stage of back-arc basin.     

河北汉诺坝玄武岩中深源包体和巨晶分布的动力学机理

汉诺坝碱性玄武岩是深源包体和巨晶的主要寄主岩,同时,也有不含包体的碱性玄武岩和含包体的拉斑玄武岩。本文基于理论计算,探讨了包体和巨晶分布的动力学机理。     

中国东部新生代玄武岩中单斜辉石巨晶的主要特征及成因信息

作者通过对我国东部新生代玄武岩中巨晶Cpx的109个样品的化学成分的统计、计算及投影,研究了Cpx巨晶的产状、物性及矿物化学的主要特征,并对其成因信息提出了自己的看法。Cpx巨晶的成分以A1_2O_3、A1~(v1)较高而Ti、Mg'中等为特征。但在“反应边”中,A1_2O_3、Na_2O、A1、A1~(v1)则明显降低。我国巨晶以普通辉石为主,而透辉石、次透辉石及顽透辉石少见。国内不同地区的Cpx巨晶成分也略有不同:华南区巨晶的Wo较高而A1_2O_3较低;华北区Fs、A1_2O_3较高;而东北区En较高而A1_2O_3中等。有关Cpx巨晶的成因信息,作者的观点是:(1)巨晶Cpx是寄主玄武岩浆在上地幔中结晶的产物,而不是地幔解体的捕虏晶。(2)我国巨晶Cpx的结晶温度是1021—1209℃,压力为1.4—3.2GPa,所以,Cpx巨晶的结晶深度为48—104Km。(3)我国东部新生代玄武岩均产于大陆板块内部,以碱性玄武岩成分为主,而拉斑玄武岩较少。     

辉石巨晶中的硫化物及其成因

我国一些地区玄武岩辉石巨晶中的硫化物球泡(0.02-0.05mm)呈点阵式、散布式、定向带状或微裂隙羽状分布。硫化矿物组合是磁黄铁矿-镍黄铁矿-黄铜矿,其中以磁黄铁矿为主(～90％)。根据硫化物的规则排布以及高温矿物组合推测点阵式、散布式硫化物形成于地幔。是由溶解了～1％S的硅酸盐熔体在减压上升过程中析出过饱和的硫所致。     

湖北铜绿山铜铁矿床中煌斑岩的矿物学特征及岩石成因初探

湖北铜绿山矽卡岩型铜铁矿床处于长江中下游铁铜成矿带西部的鄂东南矿集区。最近我们在该矿区工作中采集到两条侵入于含矿石英二长闪长玢岩中的煌斑岩脉。本文对这些煌斑岩脉进行了详细的镜下岩相学观察,并对其中造岩矿物黑云母、辉石和长石进行了电子探针成分分析。根据这些数据本文论述了煌斑岩的物源、形成环境以及岩浆体系的物理化学条件。研究表明,煌斑岩中云母为富镁黑云母,其形成的岩浆体系处于中低氧逸度(近Ni-Ni O);黑云母与全岩都具有高钛特征,表明煌斑岩的物源深度可能来自较深部地幔(如软流圈)。煌斑岩中辉石为单斜辉石,环带较为发育,有韵律环带和正环带,其韵律环带的形成可能是由于岩浆温压环境存在振荡性变化而形成的。铜绿山矿床中煌斑岩属于云煌岩;其岩浆来源具幔源性,受到地壳的混染作用不强。     

东疆二叠纪镁铁-超镁铁岩体中辉石的成分特征及其对成岩和Ni-Cu成矿的指示

新疆东部早二叠世镁铁-超镁铁岩体主要分布在天山东段觉罗塔格构造带、中天山地块和北山地区,与这类岩体相关的Ni-Cu矿床主要产出在觉罗塔格带和中天山地区,北山目前并未发现典型Ni-Cu矿床。这些岩体中的斜方辉石主要为古铜辉石,少量为紫苏辉石;单斜辉石属透辉石、次透辉石或普通辉石。矿物成分系统变化显示橄榄石Fo值北山最高、觉罗塔格带到中天山逐次降低的特点,橄榄石Fo值在78~86和Ni含量低于1800×10-6范围内更有利于Cu-Ni成矿;斜方辉石En端元和单斜辉石Wo端元极差值也显示北山最高、觉罗塔格带和中天山较低的规律,且相对小的极差值更有利于成矿。单斜辉石AlⅣ/AlⅥ比值结果显示北山岩体在矿物结晶过程中压力较低,硫溶解度较大,可能是其矿化程度弱于觉罗塔格带和中天山的一个重要因素。觉罗塔格带、中天山和北山镁铁-超镁铁质岩体的母岩浆为非碱性系列、大陆拉斑玄武质岩浆。根据北山和觉罗塔格带岩体单斜辉石微量元素成分估算的母岩浆具有LREE富集以及Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf负异常的特征,指示出两者源区为受俯冲板片交代的地幔,且坡北源区俯冲交代程度更低。觉罗塔格带和中天山单斜辉石Alz vs.Ti显示裂谷堆晶趋势向弧堆晶趋势演化,而北山单斜辉石Alz vs.Ti则显示明显的裂谷堆晶趋势,这说明俯冲交代作用在觉罗塔格带和中天山地区表现的更为强烈。北山镁铁-超镁铁岩体中发现单斜辉石Ti的高异常及矿物温压计算结果显示,表明北山地区具有比觉罗塔格带和中天山更高的岩浆温度,这可能与塔里木二叠纪地幔柱的活动有关。