Degree Of Hydrothermal Alteration Research Articles

Effects of Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization on the Paleomagnetic Properties of Rocks from IODP Expedition 376 at Brothers Volcano

AbstractThe 3-D subseafloor architecture of submarine hydrothermal systems is largely unknown, particularly at arc volcanoes. The alteration of volcanic rocks in these systems produces dramatic changes in their magnetic properties. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of paleomagnetic measurements from oriented samples of hydrothermally altered dacites from Brothers volcano (Kermadec arc), drilled during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 376. These data have enabled insight into the progressive evolution of magnetic minerals in subseafloor volcanic rocks affected by variable types and degrees of hydrothermal alteration in response to varying fluid temperatures, chemistry, and associated mineralization; from initial chloritization typical of relatively low-temperature interaction with seawater to extremely altered rocks affected by higher-temperature, very acidic magmatic fluids.Hydrothermally altered samples show a significant reduction in natural remanent magnetization intensity (10–4 to 10–2 A/m) compared with unaltered samples (1–10 A/m), suggesting that primary titanomagnetite grains are destroyed during the hydrothermal alteration process. Except for a small region in proximity to the mineralized stockwork zone, no chemical remanent magnetization is observed in association with hydrothermal alteration, consistent with the widespread formation of diamagnetic and/or paramagnetic minerals such as pyrite, rutile, and leucoxene, which do not carry any natural remanent magnetization.Demagnetization experiments show that most of the oriented samples possess a stable characteristic remanent magnetization induced by the residual primary magnetic minerals formed at the time the rocks cooled on the sea floor. Partially chloritized dacites, however, are characterized by large magnetic susceptibilities, low Koenigsberger ratios, and very low magnetic coercivities, consistent with initial dissolution of smaller, singledomain magnetic grains, indicating that intensely hydrothermally altered rocks are better paleomagnetic indicators than initially chloritized samples at the periphery of the hydrothermal systems.The significant magnetic contrast between fresh and hydrothermally altered rocks, in addition to a thick layer (>300 m) of demagnetized rocks observed at Brothers volcano, confirms the empirical results that magnetic anomalies are important geophysical tools to determine the geometry of hydrothermal systems at submarine arc volcanoes.

Hydrothermally altered deposits of 2014 Askja landslide, Iceland, identified by remote sensing imaging

Volcanic flanks subject to hydrothermal alteration become mechanically weak and gravitationally unstable, which may collapse and develop far-reaching landslides. The dynamics and trajectories of volcanic landslides are hardly preserved and challenging to determine, which is due to the steep slopes and the inherent instability. Here we analyze the proximal deposits of the 21 July 2014, landslide at Askja (Iceland), by combining high-resolution imagery from satellites and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems. We performed a Principal Component Analysis in combination with supervised classification to identify different material classes and altered rocks. We trained a maximum-likelihood classifier and were able to distinguish 7 different material classes and compare these to ground-based hyperspectral measurements that we conducted on different rock types found in the field. Results underline that the Northern part of the landslide source region is a hydrothermally altered material class, which bifurcates halfway downslope and then extends to the lake. We find that a large portion of this material is originating from a lava body at the landslide headwall, which is the persistent site of intense hydrothermal activity. By comparing the classification result to in-situ hyperspectral measurements, we were able to further identify the involved types of rocks and the degree of hydrothermal alteration. We further discuss associated effects of mechanical weakening and the relevance of the heterogeneous materials for the dynamics and processes of the landslide. As the study demonstrates the success of our approach for identification of altered and less altered materials, important implications for hazard assessment in the Askja caldera and elsewhere can be drawn.

Local Structure and Protons in Non-Stoichiometric Pseudo-Cubic Pollucite Mineral by Multinuclear NMR

The pollucite structure is considered as a candidate ceramic crystalline matrix for the ceramic immobilization and long-term storage of 135Cs and 137Cs fission products, and thus, their structural characteristics have particular importance. However, its local structure has not been fully resolved from reciprocal-space techniques and infrared spectroscopy, and important discrepancies exist in the available literature. Two birefringent and non-stoichiometric pollucite specimens from Tanco pegmatite (Cs0.83Na0.20Al1.13Si2.56O6) and from Mt. Mica pegmatite (Cs0.94Na018Al1.23Si2.78O6), with powder X-ray diffraction patterns fully consistent with the cubic Ia-3d space-group symmetry, and with a very different degree of hydrothermal alteration, were used in this work. High-resolution magic-angle spinning multinuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy, including 29Si, 27Al, 23Na, 133Cs, and 1H spectra at 9.4 T, as well as 1H, 27Al, 27Al{1H} dipolar evolutions and 27Al{29Si} Heteronuclear Multiple Quantum Coherence (HMCQ) spectra at 17.6 T, has been used to investigate the local structure of pollucite and the role of protons. The 29Si spectra suggest a local structure with a disordered Si/Al distribution in only one tetrahedral T site, but with a preference of Si atoms for Q41 (3Si,1Al) and Q42 (2Si,2Al) environments, in comparison with random and Loewenstein distributions, due to charge dispersion effects. However, the 27Al{1H} dipolar evolutions suggest two spectroscopically distinct T sites for Al atoms. The 23Na and 133Cs spectra indicate broad site distributions for these cavity cations. The anisotropic character of the long-range disordered pollucite structure, with a pseudo-cubic symmetry and lack of strict periodicity, can be explained from an incipient displacive transition to lower symmetry. These pollucite specimens are essentially anhydrous minerals despite the 1H and the cross-polarization experiments suggesting that some protons exist in the structure as -OH groups, whereas water molecules were only found in relation to the phyllosilicate impurities from alteration in specimen Tanco and perhaps also as liquid water in fluid inclusions.

Mineralized Zones of the Shizhuyuan Ore Field and Their Genetic Relationship with the Qianlishan Granite Complex, NE China: Evidence from Pyrite In Situ Geochemistry

The Shizhuyuan ore field has three mineralized zones around the Qianlishan granite complex with a radius of ~6 km: W-Sn-Mo-Bi (inner zone), Pb-Zn (middle zone), and Hg-Sb (outer zone). However, whether Pb-Zn and Hg-Sb mineralization is genetically related to the Qianlishan granites is still debated. Here, we conducted in situ pyrite trace element analysis to study the combinations and distributions. The Bi concentration gradually decreases from the inner zone to the outer zone, while the Mn and Sb contents show the opposite trend. Pyrites from each zone are distributed in distinct zones in the binary plot of Co/Ni-Bi, which is an effective discrimination diagram indicating the degree of hydrothermal alteration. Collectively, the gradual changes in pyrite trace element characteristics among the three ore-forming zones provide evidence to indicate that these zones probably compose a whole magmatic-hydrothermal system associated with the Qianlishan granite complex.

Influence of in-situ temperatures and pressures on the permeability of hydrothermally altered basalts in the oceanic crust

Hydrothermal circulation through oceanic crust, and all the transfers of mass and heat caused by this circulation, are controlled by the evolving permeability of the altered basaltic rocks at in-situ pressures (P) and temperatures (T). Numerical models designed to elucidate these processes therefore rely on knowledge of the rock-matrix permeabilities as a function of P and T and degree of hydrothermal alteration. We provide the first measurements of changes in permeability of two major types of high-temperature alteration of basalts, i.e., spilites and epidosites, over the P–T range relevant to hydrothermally active oceanic crust. Experiments were performed on microfracture-poor samples of pervasively altered pillow lavas and sheeted dikes from the Semail (Oman) and Troodos (Cyprus) ophiolites. Gas permeameter measurements at room temperature show that compression to ~55 MPa effective pressure reduces the permeabilities of spilites and epidosites by approximately ~80%. Measurements at 50 MPa effective pressure using an oscillating flow apparatus show that heating spilites and epidosites from 25 to 450 °C reduces their permeabilities by ~40% and 50%, respectively. SEM observations before and after the experiments rule out formation of new microfractures. The small reduction in permeability upon heating is attributed to closure of the sparse pre-existing microfractures (> 200 μm) due to thermoelastic expansion of the crystalline matrix combined with local restriction of throats between interstitial pores due to anisotropic mineral expansion. Temperature cycling demonstrates that these changes in permeability are reversible. Duplicate measurements on cores drilled from the same rock samples reveal that all these effects are small compared to the natural heterogeneity of permeability in spilites and epidosites at the centimeter scale. Nevertheless, our quantitative temperature–permeability correlations at subseafloor pressures allow the changes in permeability for these alteration types to be incorporated into numerical simulations of water–rock interaction in the oceanic crust.

Evaluating the Changes from Endogranitic Magmatic to Magmatic-Hydrothermal Mineralization: The Zaaiplaats Tin Granites, Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa

The stanniferous granites of the Zaaiplaats Tin Field are part of the A-Type Lebowa Granite Suite, within the greater Bushveld Igneous Complex of northeast South Africa. The tin field comprises three granites: (1) the Nebo, a leucocratic, equigranular biotite granite; (2) The brick-red hypidiomorphic Bobbejaankop granite, which is extensively microclinized with chloritized biotite and characteristic synneusis-textured quartz; and (3) The variably altered roof facies of the Bobbejaankop granite known as the Lease microgranite. The Bobbejaankop and Lease granites were both extensively mined for cassiterite until 1989. The cassiterite is hosted in disseminations, miarolitic cavities, and within large hydrothermal, tourmalinized, and greisenized pipes and lenticular ore-bodies. An extensive petrological and whole-rock XRF and ICP-MS geochemical study, has provided new insight into the magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization processes in these granites. Trace elements and Rayleigh Fractionation modelling suggest the sequential fractionation of the Nebo granite magma to be the origin of the Bobbejaankop granite. Incompatible elemental ratios, such as Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta, record the influence of internally derived, F-rich, hydrothermal fluid accumulation within the roof of the Bobbejaankop granite. Thus, the Lease granite resulted from alteration of the partially crystallized Bobbejaankop granite, subsequent to fluid saturation, and the accumulation of a magmatic-hydrothermal, volatile-rich fluid in the granite cupola. The ratio of Nb/Ta, proved effective in distinguishing the magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal transition within the Bobbejaankop granite. Elemental ratios reveal the differences between pre- and post-fluid saturation in the mineralizing regimes within the same pluton. Thus highlighting the effect that the location and degree of hydrothermal alteration have had on the distribution of endogranitic tin mineralization.

U–Pb geochronology and Raman spectroscopy of zircons from the granites in the Xihuashan and Tieshanlong Deposit: Implications for W‐Sn mineralization in Southern Jiangxi Province, South China

AbstractThe Xihuashan and Tieshanlong tungsten deposit is an important large quartz vein‐type W‐polymetallic deposit in the southern Jiangxi Province, eastern Nanling Range. Zircon U–Pb analyses of representative ore‐forming granites from the Xihuashan and Tieshanlong tungsten deposit yield ages of 146.3 ± 2.9 Ma and 146.0 ± 3.8 Ma, respectively. According to the zircon Raman spectroscopy, these granitic rocks are disturbed by different degrees of hydrothermal alteration, whereas most zircons exhibit primary oscillatory zoning and Th/U ratios in the range of magmatic zircon, which means the analysis results represent the crystallization age of metallogenetic granitic assemblages. In combination with regional geological data, it is suggested that the Late Jurassic is probably another important episode of granitic magmatism and W‐Sn mineralization in southern Jiangxi Provinces, even South China.

Paris vs. Murchison: Impact of hydrothermal alteration on organic matter in CM chondrites

Unravelling the origin of organic compounds that were accreted into asteroids requires better constraining the impact of asteroidal hydrothermal alteration on their isotopic signatures, molecular structures, and spatial distribution. Here, we conducted a multi-scale/multi-technique comparative study of the organic matter (OM) from two CM chondrites (that originate from the same parent body or from identical parent bodies that accreted the same mixture of precursors) and underwent a different degree of hydrothermal alteration: Paris (a weakly altered CM chondrite – CM 2.8) and Murchison (a more altered one – CM 2.5). The Paris insoluble organic matter (IOM) shows a higher aliphatic/aromatic carbon ratio, a higher radical abundance and a lower oxygen content than the Murchison IOM. Analysis of the OM in situ shows that two texturally distinct populations of organic compounds are present within the Paris matrix: sub-micrometric individual OM particles and diffuse OM finely distributed within phyllosilicates and amorphous silicates. These results indicate that hydrothermal alteration on the CM parent body induced aromatization and oxidation of the IOM, as well as a decrease in radical and nitrogen contents. Some of these observations were also reported by studies of variably altered fragment of Tagish Lake (C2), although the hydrothermal alteration of the OM in Tagish Lake was apparently much more severe. Finally, comparison with data available in the literature suggests that the parent bodies of other chondrite petrologic groups could have accreted a mixture of organic precursors different from that accreted by the parent body of CMs.

Discovery of rare hydrothermal alterations of oligocene Dolomite reservoirs in the Yingxi area, Qaidam, West China

Comprehensive research into core and micro-structure characteristics, petrology, trace elements, and carbon and oxygen isotope geochemical characteristics led to the initial discovery of a rare dolomite reservoirs reformed by hydrothermal fluid in the Yingxi area of Qaidam Basin; however, the degree of hydrothermal alteration is weak. The evidence mainly includes the following aspects: (1) the main rock reservoirs are dense, mainly developed ankerite and calcite with a micritic structure. Albite, pyrite, barite, celestite, and other hydrothermal minerals are occasionally found in fractures. (2) Trace amounts of FeO and MnO enriched with carbonate minerals with an average amount of 4.112 and 0.186%, respectively, are present. They were significantly higher than penecontemporary metasomatism dolomites. The amount of Ca2+ and Mg2+ also saw increases, indicating the hydrothermal fluid is an alkaline brine rich in Ca2+, Fe2+, Sr2+, Mn2+, and some Mg2+. (3) REE has a large range of changes and some of them have higher ΣREE values, which suffered from hydrothermal alteration. Clear Eu negative anomalies appeared on REE distribution model curves. It reflected the REE composition characteristics of the lake environment’s specific hydrothermal fluid. It formed in a deep lake with an alkaline brine environment. (4)The change to the range of δ18OPDB values is −6.8 to −3.6‰, with an average of −5.2‰. The values are between hydrothermal dolomite and penecontemporaneous metasomatism dolomite. This shows that the different types of dolomite have characteristics consistent with a penecontemporaneous metasomatic origin before hydrothermal fluid in a medium–low temperature condition reformed them. The degree of hydrothermal alteration is dependent upon the degree fractures developed as well as the distance between the sample and the hydrothermal channel. In short, the initial discovery of dolomite reservoirs reformed by hydrothermal fluid opens up new horizons for deep tight oil and gas exploration in Qaidam Basin’s Yingxi area in China. These results are substantial in the search for quality “desert” reservoirs present in deep stratum in the Yingxi area.

Sulphide mineral evolution and metal mobility during alteration of the oceanic crust: Insights from ODP Hole 1256D

Fluxes of metals during the hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust have far reaching effects including buffering of the compositions of the ocean and lithosphere, supporting microbial life and the formation of sulphide ore deposits. The mechanisms responsible for metal mobilisation during the evolution of the oceanic crust are complex and are neither fully constrained nor quantified. Investigations into the mineral reactions that release metals, such as sulphide leaching, would generate better understanding of the controls on metal mobility in the oceanic crust. We investigate the sulphide and oxide mineral paragenesis and the extent to which these minerals control the metal budget in samples from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 1256D. The ODP Hole 1256D drill core provides a unique sample suite representative of a complete section of a fast-spreading oceanic crust from the volcanic section down to the plutonic complex. The sulphide population at Hole 1256D is divided into five groups based on mineralogical assemblage, lithological location and texture: the magmatic, metasomatised, high temperature hydrothermal, low temperature and patchy sulphides. The initiation of hydrothermal alteration by downward flow of moderate temperature (250–350°C) hydrothermal fluids under oxidising conditions leads to metasomatism of the magmatic sulphides in the sheeted dyke and plutonic complexes. Subsequent increase in the degree of hydrothermal alteration at temperatures >350°C under reducing conditions then leads to the leaching of the metasomatised sulphides by rising hydrothermal fluids. Mass balance calculations show that the mobility of Cu, Se and Au occurs through sulphide leaching during high temperature hydrothermal alteration and that the mobility of Zn, As, Sb and Pb is controlled by silicate rather than sulphide alteration. Sulphide leaching is not complete at Hole 1256D and more advanced alteration would mobilise greater masses of metals. Alteration of oxide minerals does not release significant quantities of metal into the hydrothermal fluid at Hole 1256D. Mixing of rising high temperature fluids with low temperature fluids, either in the upper sheeted dyke section or in the transitional zone, triggers local high temperature hydrothermal sulphide precipitation and trapping of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Sb, Se, Te, Au, Hg and Pb. In the volcanic section, low temperature fluid circulation (<150°C) leads to low temperature sulphide precipitation in the form of pyrite fronts that have high As concentrations due to uptake from the circulating fluids. Deep late low temperature circulation in the sheeted dyke and the plutonic complexes results in local precipitation of patchy sulphides and local metal remobilisation. Control of sulphides over Au, Se and Cu throughout fast-spreading mid-oceanic crust history implies that the generation of hydrothermal fluids enriched in these metals, which can eventually form VMS deposits, is strongly controlled by sulphide leaching.

Indoor radon risk associated to post-tectonic biotite granites from Vila Pouca de Aguiar pluton, northern Portugal

At Vila Pouca de Aguiar area, northern Portugal, crops out a post-tectonic Variscan granite pluton, related with the Régua-Vila Real-Verín fault zone, comprising three types of biotite granites. Among these granites, PSG granite yield the highest average contents of U, probably due to its enrichment in accessory U-bearing minerals such as zircon. In the proximity of faults and joints, these granites are often affected by different degrees of hydrothermal alteration, forming reddish altered rocks, commonly known as “episyenites”. These altered rocks are probably associated to the occurrence of hydrothermal processes, which led to uranium enrichment in the most advanced stages of episyenitization. In these granites, both average gamma absorbed dose rates in outdoor and indoor air are higher than those of the world average. Furthermore, even in the worst usage scenario, all these granites can be used as a building material, since their annual effective doses are similar to the limit defined by the European Commission. The geometric mean of radon activity of 91 dwellings located at the Vila Pouca de Aguiar pluton is 568Bqm−3, exceeding that of other northern Portuguese granites. Measurements carried out during a winter season, indicate that 62.6% of the analysed dwellings yield higher indoor radon average values than the Portuguese legislation limit (400Bqm−3), and annual effective doses due higher than the world’s average value (1.2mSvy−1).The interaction of geogenic, architectural and anthropogenic features is crucial to explain the variance in the geometric mean of radon activity of dwellings from Vila Pouca de Aguiar pluton, but the role of geologic faults is probably the most important decisive factor to increase the indoor radon concentration in dwellings. Hence, the development of awareness campaigns in order to inform population about the incurred radiological risks to radon exposure are highly recommended for this specific area.

Typomorphic feature of chromium sericite in granite hosted gold deposits in Jiaodong Peninsula, China

Sericite, fine-grained muscovite, is one of the most common altered minerals from hydrothermal ore-forming processes. Due to the similar geochemical property of Au and Cr, chromium sericite usually occurred in gold mineralization. The typomorphic feature of crystal chemistry of chromium sericite from gold deposits are K content in the interlayer indicating degree of hydrothermal alteration, Si content in the tetrahedral sites indicating degree of silicification and Mg, Fe especially Cr contents in the octahedral sites indicating gold mineralization. There are systematic changes in chemical compositions and polymorphism of chromium sericite from the gold deposits hosted in granite in Jiaodong Peninsula. The SiO2 contents of the chromium sericite are relatively high from 44.92 to 52.22wt.%; and the K2O contents are relatively low from 9.44 to 11.55wt.%, with K cation in formula unit less than 1. These features reflect strong silicification and hydrothermal alteration. The Cr2O3 contents of the chromium sericite in gold deposits hosted in granite is below 1.92wt.%, much lower than those hosted in basic to ultrabasic volcanics like Helmo deposit in Canada. Different Cr background abundance and alteration degree are the reasons to explain these phenomenon. Chromium sericite occurring under low Cr background abundance means high alteration degree. Chromium sericite polymorphism includes 1M, 2M1 and 2M2. Different polytypes reflect multiple hydrothermal episodes, which are favorable for large-scale and strong alteration. The chromium sericite is a typomorphic mineral for mineralizing and prospecting of gold deposits in granite similar to Jiaodong Peninsula.

Influence of phosphate on mobility and adsorption of REEs during weathering of granites in Thailand

The Permo-Jurassic North Thai (NT) Granites and the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Western Province (WP) Granites in Thailand are contrasting in terms of tectonic settings and chemical compositions. The NT Granites, which are dominated by S-type features, are characterized by lower SiO2 contents and higher P2O5 contents than the WP Granites in this study. In order to compare the mobility and adsorption of rare earth elements (REEs) during weathering of the two granite suites, geochemical analyses were conducted on the granite and weathered granites. The weathered WP Granites show wider ranges of REEs+Y (REY) contents, percentages of ion-exchangeable REY and Ce anomalies than the weathered NT Granites. These results indicate that REEs were less mobile during weathering of the NT Granites than those of the WP Granites. The low mobility of REEs can be explained by the occurrences of residual monazite and secondary REE phosphates which immobilize REEs during weathering. Therefore, in the weathered NT Granites, REEs are mostly contained in the phosphate minerals. In contrast, the weathered WP Granites are dominated by ion-exchangeable REEs (adsorbed REEs) which are likely to exist on the surface of clays. Previous studies and our study results suggest that the ion-exchangeable REEs in the weathered granites were probably sourced from weatherable allanite, titanite, apatite and/or REE fluorocarbonate, and rarely from monazite and zircon, which are resistant to weathering. The weathered granites of low phosphate contents potentially show high percentages of ion-exchangeable REY, although they can be influenced by the degree of hydrothermal alteration or weathering of granites.

Alteration mineralogy, lithochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry of the Murgul (Artvin, NE Turkey) volcanic hosted massive sulfide deposit: Implications for the alteration age and ore forming fluids

The Murgul (Artvin, NE Turkey) massive sulfide deposit is hosted dominantly by Late Cretaceous calc-alkaline to transitional felsic volcanics. The footwall rocks are represented by dacitic flows and pyroclastics, whereas the hanging wall rocks consist of epiclastic rocks, chemical exhalative rocks, gypsum-bearing vitric tuff, purple vitric tuff and dacitic flows. Multi-element variation diagrams of the hanging wall and footwall rocks exhibit similar patterns with considerable enrichment in K, Rb and Ba and depletion in Nb, Sr, Ti and P. The chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REEs) patterns of all the rocks are characterized by pronounced positive/negative Eu anomalies as a result of different degrees of hydrothermal alteration and the semi-protected effects of plagioclase fractionation.Mineralogical results suggest illite, illite/smectite+chlorite±kaolinite and chlorite in the footwall rocks and illite±smectite±kaolinite and chlorite±illite in the hanging wall rocks. Overall, the alteration pattern is represented by silica, sericite, chlorite and chlorite–carbonate–epidote–sericite and quartz/albite zones. Increments of Ishikawa alteration indexes, resulting from gains in K2O and losses in Na2O and the chlorite–carbonate–pyrite index towards to the center of the stringer zone, indicate the inner parts of the alteration zones. Calculations of the changes in the chemical mass imply a general volume increase in the footwall rocks. Abnormal volume increases are explained by silica and iron enrichments and a total depletion of alkalis in silica zone. Relative K increments are linked to the sericitization of plagioclase and glass shards and the formation of illite/smectite in the sericite zone. In addition, Fe enrichment is always met by pyrite formation accompanied by quartz and chlorite. Illite is favored over chlorite, smectite and kaolinite in the central part of the ore body due to the increase in the (Al+K)/(Na+Ca) ratio. Although the REEs were enriched in the silicification zone, light REEs show depletion in the silicification zone and enrichment in the other zones in contrast to the heavy REEs' behavior. Hydrothermal alteration within the hanging wall rocks, apart from the gypsum-bearing vitric tuffs, is primarily controlled by chloritization with proportional Fe and Mg enrichments and sericitization.The δ18O and δD values of clay minerals systematically change with increasing formation temperature from 6.6 to 8.7‰ and −42 to −50‰ for illites, and 8.6 and −52‰ for chlorite, respectively. The O- and H-stable isotopic data imply that hydrothermal-alteration processes occurred at 253–332°C for illites and 136°C for chlorite with a temperature decrease outward from the center of the deposit. The positive δ34S values (20.3 to 20.4‰) for gypsum suggest contributions from seawater sulfate reduced by Fe-oxide/-hydroxide phases within altered volcanic units. Thus, the hydrothermal alteration possibly formed via a dissolution–precipitation mechanism that operated under acidic conditions. The K–Ar dating (73–62Ma) of the illites indicates an illitization process from the Maastrichtian to Early Danian period.

Tsumoite (BiTe) and associated Ni-PGE mineralization from Gondpipri mafic-ultramafic complex, Bastar Craton, Central India: mineralogy and genetic significance

Abstract This paper reports the occurrence of Tsumoite (a bismuth telluride) in the Heti Cu-Ni-PGM prospect, Gondpipri mafic-ultramafic complex, Central India. The Gondpipri complex consists of several tectonically dismembered gabbronorite-gabbro-anorthositic gabbro — olivine gabbro -websterite disposed in ∼10 km long tonalite-trondhjemitegranodiorite (TTG) and charnockite-enderbite suite of rocks. The mineralization occurs in the sulphide zone hosted by gabbro variants. The host rocks have been deformed and metamorphosed to granulite grade and subjected to various degrees of hydrothermal alteration. The mineralization comprises chalcopyrite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, cubanite, millerite, and pyrite. In addition to these, occur (1) tsumoite (2) PGM in the form of moncheite, merenskyite, Pd-mellonite, and Pt-Pd-Te-Bi-Fe-S alloy. The present study indicates that the mineralization occurs in two stages related to: (i) magmatic and (ii) hydrothermal remobilization and transport of Cu-rich sulphides, tsumoite and PGM, and their re-deposition in hydrosilicate alteration zones. It is possible that the mineralization at Heti formed at different stages of bismuth activity under variable fS2, T, and fTe2 conditions due to change in total concentration of Te and S and /or cooling. Since the role of S is limited, Te and cooling are important factor influencing mineralogy and composition of tsumoite and associated mineralization. Mineralization occurs in two different modes of occurrences. The early mineralisation occur as blebs, specks and dissemination of sulphides, viz. pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite and minor pyrite ± PGM, whereas later mineralisation occur as stringers, minor veins of sulphides viz. pyrite, millerite, cubanite, sijenite, tsumoite and ± PGM. Mineral assemblages and textural relationships at Heti has indicated precipitation of tsumoite and associated PGM along fractures and secondary silicates, which confirms their hydrothermal origin.

Determination of the interrelations between the engineering parameters of construction aggregates from ophiolite complexes of Greece using factor analysis

The goal of this paper is to investigate the interrelations between the engineering parameters of construction aggregates from Greece using R-mode factor analysis. The studied samples include ophiolitic lithotypes from the Pindos, Vourinos, Koziakas and Othrys ophiolites, as well as two trachytes from the Domokos locality. They show various degrees of hydrothermal alteration and tectonic deformation. Factor analysis indicated a great number of interdependences between their physical, geometrical, mechanical and physicochemical properties. Based on the diagrammatic representation of factor scores, the samples are grouped into: (i) ultramafic rocks, (ii) highly serpentinized and tectonized ultramafic rocks, (iii) troctolites, (iv) dolerites–diorites, and (v) trachytes. The results imply that factor analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the way that the strength properties of aggregates change in-service.

Rare earth elements in metarhyolite dyke constraints on processes in a dynamic hydrothermal system, Um Ghannam, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

The Um Ghannam area lies within the core of Hafafit Complex, South Eastern Desert. This area is occupied mainly by granitic gneiss (orthogneiss). However, the granitic gneiss is extruded by swarm metarhyolite dykes and quartz veins. The studied metarhyolite dyke is classified into two distinctive zones. However, the intense degree of hydrothermal alteration can partition this dyke into weakly and extremely altered zones. According to the extraordinary diversity in color, this dyke is distinguished into gray to dark gray (weakly altered) and greenish (extremely altered) metarhyolite. Petrographical, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the two distinctive zones are detected in a representative sample. Petrographically, the weakly altered zone is mainly represented by chloritization of primary biotite, garnet, and epidote, and argillitization of primary plagioclase. Although the extremely altered zone contains intensely altered remnants of the original rock, the extremely altered zone is distinguished by intense oxidation products (carbonate minerals and quartz, with significant amounts of secondary Cr-muscovite and hematite). The mineralogical studies are imposed on the millimeter and the micrometer scale in this important hydrogeothermal system. Except for Ca and Mg, most of the major elements are depleted at the extremely altered zone. However, the extremely altered zone is enriched in trace elements (Cr, Mn, Co, and Ni). The major elements of the extremely altered zone reflect the significant alterations (desilication, muscovitization, and carbonatization). These alteration processes have taken place in the hydrogeothermal system in the extremely altered zone. The geothermal fluid is responsible for these hydrothermal alterations. High fO2 and high temperature are characteristic features of this fluid. Then, the high-field-strength elements such as Zr, Ti, and P are depleted as a significant hydrothermal alteration. Also, nuclear elements with the anion of (CO3)2− can travel as molecular complexes (carbonates), as long as the chemical and structural conditions are suitable for the movement of these elements from the metarhyolite dyke to redeposit and accumulate in another geologic formation. The rare earth elements La and Ce, as well as Yb and Lu, are partially mobilized during intensity alterations. The rare earth elements (REEs) are depleted in abundance with enrichment of CO2 from the weakly altered zone to the extremely altered zone. The REE budget is decreased from the weakly altered zone to the extremely altered zone as 121.17 to (27.38 − 16.52), respectively. The significant depletion of ∑REEs is controlled by dissolution of monazite. Monazite breakdown and even apatite formation can be caused by alkaline fluid. This fluid is related to event and thermal stage. However, the negative anomaly of Eu can be noticed in all studied samples. Then, Eu anomaly may be formed from plagioclase fractionation. The weakly altered metarhyolite zone and orthogneiss have lower HREE/LREE (0.07–0.11), respectively, relative to the extremely altered metarhyolite zone (0.17 − 0.2). Even all studied samples at two significant zones are characterized by the enrichment of ∑LREEs relative to ∑HREEs.

EBSD study of Quartz c-axis orientations in the silicified host rocks of the Kasuga gold deposit, Southwest Japan

The Kasuga High Sulfidation gold deposit is hosted in the silicified Late Miocene andesite of Nansatsu Volcanic Rocks in the southern part of the Satsuma Peninsula, Southwest Japan. Optical microscopic observations and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (Horiba XGT-5000) analysis of two silicified andesite samples from the Kasuga ore body revealed that the rocks underwent different degrees of hydrothermal alteration and no tectonic deformation afterward. Crystallographic orientations of quartz composing the silicified andesite samples studied using Electron Backscatter Diffraction, EBSD (EDAX GE-1, TSL-OIM) displayed different trends in the c-axis orientations between the samples. The c-axes of quartz grains are mainly oriented sub-horizontal or plunging at low angles in the less-silicified andesite. The highly silicified sample has larger quartz grains with c-axes plunging at high angles. The difference in c-axis orientations is provably related to the silicification processes in the earlier and later stages of hydrothermal alteration. The results of this study suggest that quartz c-axis orientations of rocks deformed under low strain regimes are potentially inherited from initial undeformed state, for example crystallization from hydrothermal solutions.

Hydrothermal Breccia Textures and Processes: Lisca Bianca Islet, Panarea Volcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy

Panarea is a largely submarine to partly subaerial Quaternary lava dome complex-stratovolcano with a long-lived, active, shallow hydrothermal system, located in the Aeolian Islands volcanic arc of southern Italy. The emergent top of the volcano forms a small archipelago, made up of calc-alkaline basaltic andesite to rhyolite lava domes (ca. 150–20 ka). We document the facies outcropping on Lisca Bianca islet, Panarea archipelago, based on grain size, clast fabric, and degree of hydrothermal alteration, identifying coherent facies, boulder breccia facies, cobble breccia facies, pebble breccia facies, and pervasively altered andesite facies (alunite-marcasite-sulfur). The breccias all have ubiquitous jigsaw-fit clast textures, and are variably hydrothermally altered. The breccias are interpreted as hydrothermal breccias and are distinguished from primary volcanic facies based on their distinguishing characteristics. The breccias formed through a cyclical process, involving the following: stage 1: progressive build-up of fluid pressure toward the level of the tensile strength of the host andesite; stage 2: incipient fracturing of the andesite when fluid pressure approaches and then exceeds the tensile strength of the andesite under critical fracturing conditions; stage 3: pervasive fracturing of the host andesite, leading to an increase in permeability as a network of fractures develops; stage 4: declining pressure, with fluid flow rates that lead to infilling and sealing of fractures by natroalunite, thereby reducing permeability, leading to progressive build-up of fluid pressure again, and the beginning of a new cycle.

Petrology, rank and evidence for petroleum generation, Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic coals, Central Alborz Region, Northern Iran

Abstract Upper Triassic to Middle Jurassic coals from the Alborz region of northern Iran were analyzed by reflected light-fluorescence microscopy and Rock Eval 6® pyrolysis to evaluate their regional rank variation, degree of hydrothermal alteration, and petroleum generative potential. The coal ranks in the region range from a low of 0.69%RoR in the Glanddeh-Rud area to a high of 1.02%RoR in the Gajereh area. Tmax (°C) values (Rock Eval 6 pyrolysis) also increase progressively with increasing vitrinite %Ro values, however Tmax is suppressed lower than would be expected for each rank ranging from 428 °C for the Glandeeh coal to 438 °C for the Gajereh coal. Tmax suppression may be caused by maceral composition and soluble organics within the coal. Moderately high hydrogen indices, persistent and oily exudations from the coals during UV exposure, and traces of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions suggest that liquid petroleum was likely generated within some of the coals.