Sedimentary petrology and geochemistry of siliciclastic rocks from the upper Jurassic Tordillo Formation (Neuquén Basin, western Argentina): Implications for provenance and tectonic setting

The Upper Jurassic Tordillo Formation is exposed along the western edge of the Neuquén Basin (west central Argentina) and consists of fluvial strata deposited under arid/semiarid conditions. The pebble composition of conglomerates, mineralogical composition of sandstones and pelitic rocks, and major- and trace-element geochemistry of sandstones, mudstones, and primary pyroclastic deposits are evaluated to determine the provenance and tectonic setting of the sedimentary basin. Conglomerates and sandstones derived almost exclusively from volcanic sources. The stratigraphic sections to the south show a clast population of conglomerates dominated by silicic volcanic fragments and a predominance of feldspathic litharenites. This framework composition records erosion of Triassic–Jurassic synrift volcaniclastic rocks and basement rocks from the Huincul arch, which was exhumed as a result of Late Jurassic inversion. In the northwestern part of the study area, conglomerates show a large proportion of mafic and acidic volcanic rock fragments, and sandstones are characterised by a high content of mafic volcanic rock fragments and plagioclase. These data suggest that the source of the sandstones and conglomerates was primarily the Andean magmatic arc, located west of the Neuquén Basin. The clay mineral assemblage is interpreted as the result of a complex set of factors, including source rock, climate, transport, and diagenesis. Postdepositional processes produced significant variations in the original compositions, especially the fine-grained deposits. The Tordillo sediments are characterised by moderate SiO₂ contents, variable abundances of K₂O and Na₂O, and a relatively high proportion of ferromagnesian elements. The degree of chemical weathering in the source area, expressed as the chemical index of alteration, is low to moderate. The major element geochemistry and Th/Sc, K/Rb, Co/Th, La/Sc, and Cr/Th values point to a significant input of detrital volcanic material of calcalkaline felsic and intermediate composition. However, major element geochemistry is not useful for interpreting the tectonic setting. Discrimination plots based on immobile trace elements, such as Ti, Zr, La, Sc, and Th, show that most data lie in the active continental margin field. Geochemical information is not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate the two different source areas recognized by petrographic and modal analyses of conglomerates and sandstones.     

Lithium and lithium isotope profiles through the upper oceanic crust: a study of seawater-basalt exchange at ODP Sites 504B and 896A

Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 504B near the Costa Rica Rift is the deepest hole drilled in the ocean crust, penetrating a volcanic section, a transition zone and a sheeted dike complex. The distribution of Li and its isotopes through this 1.8-km section of oceanic crust reflects the varying conditions of seawater alteration with depth. The upper volcanic rocks, altered at low temperatures, are enriched in Li (5.6-27.3 ppm) and have heavier isotopic compositions (δ⁷Li=6.6-20.8‰) relative to fresh mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) due to uptake of seawater Li into alteration clays. The Li content and isotopic compositions of the deeper volcanic rocks are similar to MORB, reflecting restricted seawater circulation in this section. The transition zone is a region of mixing of seawater with upwelling hydrothermal fluids and sulfide mineralization. Li enrichment in this zone is accompanied by relatively light isotopic compositions (−0.8-2.1‰) which signify influence of basalt-derived Li during mineralization and alteration. Li decreases with depth to 0.6 ppm in the sheeted dike complex as a result of increasing hydrothermal extraction in the high-temperature reaction zone. Rocks in the dike complex have variable isotopic values that range from −1.7 to 7.9‰, depending on the extent of hydrothermal recrystallization and off-axis low-temperature alteration. Hydrothermally altered rocks are isotopically light because ⁶Li is preferentially retained in greenschist and amphibolite facies minerals. The δ⁷Li values of the highly altered rocks of the dike complex are complementary to those of high-temperature mid-ocean ridge vent fluids and compatible to equilibrium control by the alteration mineral assemblage. The inventory of Li in basement rocks permits a reevaluation of the role of oceanic crust in the budget of Li in the ocean. On balance, the upper 1.8 km of oceanic crusts remains a sink for oceanic Li. The observations at 504B and an estimated flux from the underlying 0.5 km of gabbro suggest that the global hydrothermal flux is at most 8×10⁹ mol/yr, compatible with geophysical thermal models. This work defines the distribution of Li and its isotopes in the upper ocean crust and provides a basis to interpret the contribution of subducted lithosphere to arc magmas and cycling of crustal material in the deep mantle.     

Laser Ablation ICP-MS Analysis of Geological Materials Prepared as Lithium Borate Glasses

A simple, rapid and precise method is described for determining trace elements by laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MS analysis in bulk geological materials that have been prepared as lithium borate glasses following standard procedures for XRF analysis. This approach reliably achieves complete sample digestion and provides for complementary XRF and LA-ICP-MS analysis of a full suite of major and trace elements from a single sample preparation. Highly precise analysis is enabled by rastering an ArF excimer laser (λ= 193nm) across fused samples to deliver a constant sample yield to the mass spectrometer without inter-element fractionation effects during each analysis. Capabilities of the method are demonstrated by determination of twenty five trace elements (Sc, Ti, V, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, REE, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th and U) in a diverse range of geological reference materials that includes peridotites, basalts, granites, metamorphic rocks and sediments. More than 90% of determinations are indistinguishable from published reference values at the 95% confidence level. Systematic bias greater than 5% is observed for only a handful of elements (Zr, Nb and U) and may be attributed in part to inaccurate calibration values used for the NIST SRM 612 glass in the case of Zr and Nb. Detection limits for several elements, most notably La, are compromised at ultra-trace levels by impurities in the lithium borate flux but can be corrected for by subtracting appropriate procedural blanks. Reliable Pb analysis has proved problematic due to variable degrees of contamination introduced during sample polishing prior to analysis and from Pt-crucibles previously used to fuse Pb-rich samples. Scope exists for extending the method to include internal standard element/isotope spiking, particularly where integrated XRF analysis is not available to characterise major and trace elements in the fused lithium borate glasses prior to LA-ICP-MS analysis.     

The Relationship between Tectono-metamorphic Evolution and Argon Isotope Records in White Mica: Constraints from in situ 40Ar-39Ar Laser Analysis of the Variscan Basement of Sardinia

The basement of Sardinia represents a nearly complete sectionof a segment of the Variscan belt that experienced a polyphasetectono-metamorphic evolution and Barrovian metamorphism. Thisbasement is well suited to investigate the relationship betweentectono-metamorphic evolution and argon isotope records in whitemica. Micaschists from the garnet zone (maximum T of up to 520–560°C)contain two texturally and chemically resolvable generationsof white mica: (1) deformed celadonite-rich flakes, defininga relict S₁ foliation preserved within the main S₂ foliationor enclosed in rotated albite porphyroblasts; (2) celadonite-poorwhite micas aligned along the main S₂ foliation. The S₁ foliationdeveloped earlier and at a deeper crustal level with respectto that at which the thermal peak was reached. From the staurolitezone (T of up to 590–625°C) to the sillimanite + K-feldsparzone, white mica is nearly uniform in composition (muscovite)and is predominantly aligned along the S₂ foliation or is oflater crystallization. In situ ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar laser analysesof white mica yielded ages of     

A Reflection on Mg, Cd, Ca, Li and Si Isotopic Measurements and Related Reference Materials

This contribution aims to report the reflections we had with the scientific community during two international workshops on reference materials for stable isotopes in Davos (2002) and Nice (2003). After evaluating the isotopic homogeneity of some existing reference materials, based on either certificates, literature data or specific inter-laboratory rounds, we confirm these as primary reference materials or propose new ones relative to which stable isotope compositions should be reported. We propose DSM-3 for Mg, NIST SRM 915a for Ca, L-SVEC for Li and NBS28 for Si. Cadmium does not yet have a well identified delta zero material, although three commercial mono-elemental Cd solutions have yielded the same isotopic composition relative to one another. In order to scale the linearity of any mass spectrometer, some secondary reference materials are also proposed: Cambridge-1 solution for Mg, the "Münster-Cd" and JEPPIM Cd solutions for Cd and the "Big Batch" silicate for Si. The team from Nancy propose to prepare a mixed spike solution for Li isotopes. Well-characterised natural samples such as ocean or continental waters, diatoms, sponges, rocks and minerals are needed to validate the entire analytical procedure, particularly to take into account the effect of sample mineralisation and of chemical manipulations for elemental separation prior to analysis.     

喜马拉雅东段库曲岩体锂、铍和铌钽稀有金属矿物研究及指示意义

稀有金属矿物记录了花岗伟晶岩成岩成矿的重要信息。喜马拉雅是全球著名的淡色花岗岩带,库曲岩体位于喜马拉雅东段的特提斯喜马拉雅岩系中。本文调查了库曲岩体的二云母花岗岩、白云母花岗岩、电气石花岗岩和花岗伟晶岩,其中,花岗伟晶岩涉及花岗岩的伟晶岩相和独立伟晶岩脉。库曲岩体产出的稀有金属矿物包括锂辉石、锂绿泥石、绿柱石、铌铁矿-钽铁矿、钇铀钽烧绿石和细晶石,它们主要赋存于似文象伟晶岩、石英-钠长石-白云母伟晶岩、块体长石-钠质细晶岩、块体长石-电气石钠质细晶岩、锂辉石-块体长石-细晶岩、白云母花岗岩的伟晶岩相以及电气石花岗岩内。显微镜观察、电子探针和LA-ICP-MS测试结果显示锂辉石具有四种产状,包括粗粒锂辉石自形-半自形晶、细粒锂辉石-石英镶嵌晶、中细粒锂辉石-钾长石-钠长石-云母镶嵌晶以及发育锂绿泥石的粗粒锂辉石,揭示了其形成时复杂的熔流体动荡结晶环境。绿柱石背散射电子图像（BSE）下呈均一结构和不均一结构（蚀变边、不规则分带和补丁分带）,元素替代机制包括通道-八面体替代、通道-四面体替代以及通道中碱金属阳离子间的置换。铌铁矿族矿物包括原生、蚀变边和不规则分带结构,部分被钇铀钽烧绿石和细晶石交代。与原生铌铁矿相比,蚀变边和不规则分带铌铁矿族矿物总体上富钽贫锰,显示了结晶分异、过冷却引起的过饱和以及流体作用。根据稀有金属矿物揭示的成因信息,独立伟晶岩脉（似文象伟晶岩）、白云母花岗岩的伟晶岩相和电气石花岗岩在岩浆分异程度、经历的演化过程、以及流体活动方面存在差异,很可能是不同期次岩浆活动的产物。库曲岩体绿柱石的Rb和Zn含量、以及铌铁矿族矿物的Sc₂O₃、SiO₂和PbO含量,与已有指示标志存在相关性,作为潜在指示标志仍需开展更多的研究工作。综合含锂辉石伟晶岩的产出、岩浆分异演化程度、多期花岗质岩浆活动、复杂的流体作用以及所属锂丰度高值区等因素,库曲岩体是喜马拉雅东段找锂的有利地段。     

含部分晶须的钛酸锂的制备及其性能表征

L i4T i5O12是一种循环性能好、有很好的充放电平台、理论比容量较大、不与电解液反应的新型负极材料,研究探索以偏钛酸和碳酸锂为主要原料制备含部分晶须的尖晶石型晶型L i4T i5O12的一种方法。通过此工艺在1 000℃煅烧8 h后在样品中约20%的晶须出现,晶须的直径≤0.5μm,晶须的长度约为7μm。     

氯化钡法在盐湖高锂卤水中高效分离硫酸根的研究

在生产碳酸锂的工艺中,尤其除硫过程中,锂会伴随其它盐类析出,造成锂的大量夹带损失.因此盐湖高锂卤水中硫酸根的脱除对锂的高效富集,提高锂的收率有重大意义.研究以盐湖高锂卤水为原料,通过加入氯化钡,采用化学沉淀法除去卤水中的SO2-4.详细考察了原料配比(SO2-4与Ba2+的摩尔比)、加料方式、加料时间、反应时间、搅拌速...     

以PAC为原料合成锂吸附剂的工艺研究

研究了聚合氯化铝（PAC）为原料合成锂吸附剂的基本工艺路线,并探究了加料方式、反应物配比、反应温度、反应时间和加料速度等对所合成吸附剂吸附量的影响,研究结果表明配比是影响吸附剂吸附量的最主要因素,得到了最佳合成条件,在此条件下所合成吸附剂对锂离子的吸附容量为6.1mg/g。推断吸附剂的主要成分为晶态或非晶态的LiCl·2Al(OH)3·nH2O,同时含有Al(OH)3、(CaO)3Al2O3·6H2O及 LiCl·H2O等成分。从吸附结果来看,结晶度较差的片状LiCl·2Al(OH)3·nH2O和非晶态的Al(OH)3为主成分的吸附剂吸附性能最好。     

西昆仑-喀喇昆仑造山带锂矿成矿特征与成矿规律初探

西昆仑- 喀喇昆仑造山带中生代花岗伟晶岩相当发育,主要分布于麻扎- 康西瓦缝合带以南的喀喇昆仑造山带,构成了西自木吉—塔什库尔干,东到大红柳滩长达600 km的喀喇昆仑稀有金属成矿带。通过多年的研究,本文对西昆仑- 喀喇昆仑造山带37处稀有金属矿床(点)进行了全面系统的梳理,认为喀喇昆仑- 喀喇昆仑造山带表现为“西铍东锂”的格局,稀有金属成矿年龄集中213~206 Ma。将喀喇昆仑造山带稀有金属成矿带划分为木吉- 塔什库尔干稀有金属成矿亚带、赛图拉- 大红柳滩稀有金属成矿亚带,从西向东可划定4个矿化集中区：木吉- 布伦口稀有金属集中区、塔什库尔干- 塔吐鲁沟稀有金属矿化集中区、康西瓦稀有金属矿化集中区、大红柳滩- 白龙山稀有金属矿化集中区。同时,认为西昆仑- 喀喇昆仑造山带西段下一阶段的找矿可放在西合休南锂铍找矿远景区、阿然保泰铍找矿远景区、木吉西锂铍找矿远景区。