Geochemistry Of Rocks Research Articles

Alteration Mineral Mapping of the Shadan Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit (Iran) Using Airborne Imaging Spectroscopic Data: Implications for Exploration Drilling

Abstract Porphyry copper deposits are associated with large alteration footprints, and alteration mapping plays a key role in the exploration of these deposits. Imaging spectroscopy is commonly deployed for exploration targeting, yet it has rarely been used to map deposit-scale alteration patterns before initiating drilling. To close this gap, the Shadan porphyry Cu-Au deposit was thoroughly studied using the HyMap hyperspectral data (visible near-infrared–short-wave infrared) at 5-m resolution corroborated by rock geochemistry, magnetometry, and laboratory spectroscopy. Shadan is a well-exposed deposit with near-perfect zonation located in the volcanic belts of eastern Iran containing >135 Mt of ore at 0.3% Cu and 0.4 g/t Au. Thirteen minerals, including white mica, Al smectite, kaolinite, ferric/ferrous minerals, biotite, actinolite, epidote, chlorite, tourmaline, and jarosite, were mapped by applying the multifeature extraction methodology. The propylitic zone was partitioned into actinolite, epidote, and chlorite subfacies. The compositions of biotite and white mica were observed to become Fe and Al rich, respectively, toward the mineralized zones. The chemistry of actinolite was observed to change from Fe to Mg rich inward, providing a new vectoring tool for porphyry copper exploration. The study provided significant information about fluid-rock interactions and the chemistry of the circulating fluids including the oxidation-reduction states and acidity. By integrating the mineral maps with other data sets using the fuzzy logic method, the promising (ore) zones were identified and used to plan the next-stage drilling. This work demonstrated that imaging spectroscopy can be effectively used to better understand porphyry systems and provide deposit-scale vectors toward the mineralized centers, facilitating drilling.

Lead isotopes and rare earth elements geochemistry of global phosphate rocks: Insights into depositional conditions and environmental tracing

Phosphate rock bears both geologically and environmentally significant information. Rare earth elements and yttrium (i.e., REY) characteristics have been commonly used for reconstructing the redox conditions of depositional environments and the effects of post-depositional diagenetic alteration on phosphate rock. In addition, phosphate rock is typically enriched in a range of trace elements such as uranium (U) and cadium (Cd) that can be dispersed as contaminants into the environment with phosphate mining and phosphate fertilizer application. Here we report the lead (Pb) isotope compositions combined with Pb and REY concentrations of both global sedimentary and igneous phosphate rocks, aiming to evalute the geological origin of phosphate rocks over time and the potential of using them for environmental tracing. Phopshate rock samples analyzed in this study were sourced from major economic phosphate deposits in the world, including China, Southern Tethys (e.g., Morocco, Tunisia, Israel), the U.S., India, South Africa and Russia. Our results show a wide range of 208Pb/204Pb (35.70 to 60.58), 207Pb/204Pb (15.20 to 18.25), and 206Pb/204Pb (16.369 to 71.806) ratios in the phosphate rocks, with sedimentary phosphate rocks being significantly more radiogenic than igneous rocks. The majority of sedimentray phosphate rocks show a notable isotopic overprinting by non-radiogenic terrestrial Pb, except for those from Israel and Morocco that have the most radiogenic Pb isotope compositions. Correspondingly, phosphate rocks with more radiogenic Pb isotope ratios show relatively pristine seawater REY features, likely suggesting their preservation of the original oxic seawater conditions and/or minimal diagenetic alteration. In contrast, phosphate rocks with less radiogenic Pb isotope compositions show REY indications for more anoxic seawater redox conditions and/or greater diagenetic alteration. We further evaluate the potential utility of Pb isotopes for tracing the associated contamination with phosphate rock mining and fertilizer application in the environment. In most cases, the radiogenic Pb isotope composition of phosphate rocks and corresponding P-fertilizers is distinctive from both natural crustal Pb and major anthropogenic Pb sources (e.g., Pb ore deposits and pesticides), which provides a great advantage for applying Pb isotopes as an environmental tracer for metal(loid) contamination from phosphate sources. The combination of Pb isotope ratios and REY proxies could further constrain the Pb source discrimination. Overall, this study provides new Pb isotopic and REY geochemical data on global phosphate rocks and fertilizers, which lays the groundwork for future regional and local studies on both their geological and environmental implications.

Rapid hydration and weakening of anhydrite under stress: implications for natural hydration in the Earth's crust and mantle

Abstract. Mineral hydration is an important geological process that influences the rheology and geochemistry of rocks and the fluid budget of the Earth's crust and mantle. Constant-stress differential compaction (CSDC) tests, dry and “wet” tests under confining pressure, and axial-stress tests were conducted for the first time to investigate the influence of triaxial stress on hydration in anhydrite–gypsum aggregates. Characterization of the samples before and after triaxial experiments was performed with optical and scanning electron microscopy, including energy-dispersive spectroscopy and electron backscatter diffraction mapping. Stress–strain data reveal that samples that underwent constant-stress differential compaction in the presence of fluids are ∼ 14 % to ∼ 41 % weaker than samples deformed under wet conditions. The microstructural analysis shows that there is a strong temporal and spatial connection between the geometry, distribution, and evolution of fractures and hydration products. The increasing reaction surface area in combination with pre-existing gypsum in a gypsum-bearing anhydrite rock led to rapid gypsification. The crystallographic orientations of newly formed vein gypsum have a systematic preferred orientation for long distances along veins, beyond the grain boundaries of wall-rock anhydrite. Gypsum crystallographic orientations in {100} and {010} are systematically and preferentially aligned parallel to the direction of maximum shear stress (45∘ to σ1). Gypsum is also not always topotactically linked to the wall-rock anhydrite in the immediate vicinity. This study proposes that the selective inheritance of crystal orientations from favourably oriented wall-rock anhydrite grains for the minimization of free energy for nucleation under stress leads to the systematic preferred orientation of large, new gypsum grains. A sequence is suggested for hydration under stress that requires the development of fractures accompanied by localized hydration. Hydration along fractures with a range of apertures up to 120 µm occurred in under 6 h. Once formed, gypsum-filled veins represent weak surfaces and are the locations of further shear fracturing, brecciation, and eventual brittle failure. These findings imply that non-hydrostatic stress has a significant influence on hydration rates and subsequent mechanical strength of rocks. This phenomenon is applicable across a wide range of geological environments in the Earth's crust and upper mantle.

Mantle-crust-interaction and subduction dynamics in Central Cameroon: Evidence from the Pan-African Linté microgranular magmatic enclaves (MMEs) and host syenite

The Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) in Cameroon is characterized by voluminous intrusive rocks hosting microgranular magmatic enclaves (MMEs) whose petrogenesis and tectonic implications remain unclear. Here, we present detailed geochronological and geochemical data of the host rocks and their MMEs from the Linté pluton in central Cameroon. The MMEs are finer-grained than their host syenite and both rocks are composed of alkali feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, amphibole and pyroxenes as main mineral phases. The enclaves show lower Mg#, total alkalis and transition elements contents, and are more HFSEs depleted than the host syenite. Both rocks are characterized by high-K, metaluminous I-type, alkaline to sub-alkaline and magnesian affinities. The Ti-in-zircon thermometer suggests crystallization temperatures of 615–1080 °C and 613–1008 °C for syenites and MMEs, respectively. Their zircon trace element distribution and patterns coupled with whole-rock geochemical features indicate that the Linté intrusive rocks were most likely originated from interaction of mantle-derived magma with crustal material. LA-ICP-MS UPb zircon analyses yield emplacement age of 599 ± 3 Ma and 597 ± 4 Ma for the host syenite and MMEs, respectively, indicating coeval crystallization date. Integrated whole rock geochemistry, UPb dating and Ti-in-zircon thermometry data indicate that the Linté syenite were probably formed from a mantle-derived ultrapotassic alkaline melt with significant crustal contribution, while MMEs are likely derived from a similar but separate melt with more fractionation and crustal contamination. The genesis of the host syenite and MMEs magmas started with break-off of the Congo plate after subduction and collision. This initiated an upwelling thermal pulse and underplating of mafic magma which led to partial melting of the Paleoproterozoic crust of the Central Cameroon.

Silurian to Early Devonian tectonic evolution of the southeastern Qilian Orogen inferred from zircon U–Pb dating and geochemistry of intrusive rocks

Early to mid-Paleozoic tectonothermal events in the Qilian Orogen developed during the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean and the convergence of microcontinents in the periphery of East Gondwana. In this paper, we present geochronological, geochemical and Sr–Nd-Hf isotopic data for the granitoid rocks and mafic dykes in southeastern Qilian Orogen. The Liwan (440 Ma), Shixia (434 Ma) and Huchuan (429 Ma) granitoid rocks have metaluminous to weakly peraluminous features, with whole-rock ε Nd ( t ) values of 1.1 to 1.6, −4.2 to −4.4 and −2.6 to 1.1, and zircon ε Hf ( t ) values of 0 to 8.9, −6.6 to 1.6 and −4.6 to 2.2, respectively. Geochemical data suggest that the Liwan, Shixia and Huchuan granitoids are derived from partial melting of the Proterozoic basement with addition of juvenile material, felsic crustal basement and mafic crustal material, respectively. The Zhangjiayuan mafic dykes (403 Ma) are high-K to shoshonitic with whole-rock ε Nd ( t ) (−1.1 to −0.9) and zircon ε Hf ( t ) values (−0.9 to 13.3), derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle. We suggest that these Silurian–Early Devonian intrusive rocks were formed via complex events involving arc-related subduction followed by slab-tearing to post-collisional processes during the Silurian and subsequent lithospheric extension in the Early Devonian. Supplementary material: Tables giving zircon U–Pb isotopic data, whole-rock major and trace element results, whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopic data and zircon in situ Lu–Hf isotopic data are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6693575

Monazite record of assimilation and differentiation processes in the petrogenesis of Himalayan leucogranites

The Himalayan leucogranites have received particular attention as they record the continental crust-building processes of a collisional orogenic system. Deciphering the magmatic evolution processes and potential sources is essential for understanding the origin of the Himalayan leucogranites. In-situ monazite Th-Pb ages, trace element geochemistry, and Nd isotope ratios have been determined with whole-rock geochemical data for the leucogranites and their country rocks in the Yadong area, southern Tibet. Monazites in most of the studied leucogranites are marked by multiple age populations with variable REE ratios and wide ranges of Nd isotope ratios, reflecting a complex history of magmatic processes. Abundant inherited monazites are identified in the Yadong leucogranites, and most of them are excluded from the source regions due to their distinguished Nd isotope compositions from the magmatic monazites. The inherited monazites share close affinities in geochronological dates and geochemical compositions with those in the country rocks, strongly suggesting a major origin of the country-rock contamination. This highlights the contamination-assimilation processes in the genesis of the Yadong leucogranites. It is worth noting that xenocrystal monazites from the metasedimentary country rock are less preserved in the leucogranites than those from the granitoid country rock, which probably reflects the different assimilation reactions for different types of country rock. Assimilation of the metapelitic rocks released low content of xenocrystic monazite and high volume of partial melt into the leucogranites, whereas assimilation of the granitoid rocks released high content of xenocrystic monazite. In addition to the contamination-assimilation processes, the uniform Nd isotope data with large variations in REE ratios for magmatic monazites in some leucogranite samples suggest a subsequent closed-system fractional crystallization process during the magma evolution. Besides, some magmatic monazites in the muscovite granites show a significant tetrad effect in the Chondrite-normalized REE patterns, indicating that the magma system has evolved into an aqueous fluid-available environment. This supports an important role of the magmatic differentiation process in the formation of the Yadong leucogranites. Taken together, a petrogenic model involving AFC (assimilation and fractional crystallization) processes is proposed, and the geochemical variations of the Yadong leucogranites are mainly attributed to the post-source processes. It is suggested that the rock geochemistry of the Himalayan leucogranites often dose not directly reflect the nature and the petrogenetic processes in the source regions.

Geochronology and geochemistry of early Paleozoic granitic and coeval mafic rocks from the Tannuola terrane (Tuva, Russia): Implications for transition from a subduction to post-collisional setting in the northern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Early Paleozoic magmatism of the Tannuola terrane located in the northern Central Asian Orogenic Belt is important to understanding the transition from subduction to post-collision settings. In this study, we report in situ zircon U-Pb ages, whole rock geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopic data from the mafic and granitic rocks of the eastern Tannuola terrane to better characterize their petrogenesis and to investigate changing of the tectonic setting and geodynamic evolution. Zircon U-Pb ages reveal three magmatic episodes for about 60 Ma from ∼510 to ∼450 Ma, that can be divided into the late Cambrian (∼510–490 Ma), the Early Ordovician (∼480–470 Ma) and the Middle-Late Ordovician (∼460–450 Ma) stages. The late Cambrian episode emplaced the mafic, intermediate and granitic rocks with volcanic arc affinity. The late Cambrian mafic rocks of the Tannuola terrane may originate from melting of mantle source that contain asthenosphere and subarc enriched mantle metasomatized by melts derived from sinking oceanic slab. Geochemical and isotopic compositions indicate the late Cambrian intermediate-granitic rocks are most consistent with an origin from a mixed source including fractionation of mantle-derived magmas and crustal-derived components. The Early Ordovician episode reveal bimodal intrusions containing mafic rocks and adakite-like granitic rocks implying the transition from a thinner to a thicker lower crust. The Early Ordovician mafic rocks are formed as a result of high degree melting of mantle source including dominantly depleted mantle and subordinate mantle metasomatized by fluid components while coeval granitic rocks were derived from partial melting of the high Sr/Y mafic rocks. The latest Middle-Late Ordovician magmatic episode emplaced high-K calc-alkaline ferroan granitic rocks that were formed through the partial melting the juvenile Neoproterozoic sources.These three episodes of magmatism identified in the eastern Tannuola terrane are interpreted as reflecting the transition from subduction to post-collision settings during the early Paleozoic. The emplacement of voluminous magmatic rocks was induced by several stages of asthenospheric upwelling in various geodynamic settings. The late Cambrian episode of magmatism was triggered by the slab break-off while subsequent Early Ordovician episode followed the switch to a collisional setting with thickening of the lower crust and the intrusion of mantle-induced bimodal magmatism. During the post-collisional stage, the large-scale lithospheric delamination provides the magma generation for the Middle-Late Ordovician granitic rocks.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal alteration of the Mianhuakeng uranium deposit in South China: Implications for mineralization and exploration

The Mianhuakeng deposit is the largest granite-related hydrothermal-vein-type uranium deposit in South China and Jurassic biotite granite serves as its primary host rock. However, the hydrothermal alteration and its constraints on uranium mineralization in this deposit are still poorly understood. To address these issues, we present a detailed study on the petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and mineral chemistry of altered rocks and ores. Based on the field geological characteristics, these hydrothermal alteration halos can be classified into three alteration zones (zones 1 to 3) and one mineralization zone. Alteration zone 1 is the furthest away from the ore body and consists of extensive illitization and minor chloritization, whereas alteration zone 2 has partial albitization and dequartzification. The pervasive illitization, chloritization, and hematitization are considerable in the alteration zone 3 closest to the ore body. The mineralized zone exhibits widespread silicification, hematitization, and local chloritization. The mineralogical properties of chlorite indicate that at least two stages of hydrothermal alterations occurred within the alteration halos. The first one is the pre-ore hydrothermal alteration, which can be found in alteration zone 1. A weakly alkaline, Fe-rich, and Mg-poor fluid gave rise to this stage of hydrothermal alteration. The second one, known as the syn-ore hydrothermal alteration, appears in the mineralized zone that was created by an acidic, Mg-rich, Fe-poor fluid that overprints on alteration zones 2 and 3. The formation temperatures of chlorite from these two stages of hydrothermal alterations are 350–250 °C and 250–150 °C, respectively. Alterations and uranium mineralization are inextricably linked in the Mianhuakeng deposit. Pre-ore hydrothermal alterations improve the efficiency of fluid circulation and the proportion of uranium leaching from uraninite in granite. Uraninite in granites releases removable uranium through hydrothermal alterations to serve as a major source for mineralization. Syn-ore hydrothermal alterations are responsible for the redox reaction between U6+ in ore-forming fluids and Fe2+ released from reequilibration of Fe/Mg-rich chlorite, which results in uraninite (UO2) precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. Here, we suggest that alteration zone 1 with widespread illitization and uranium loss should be considered as the first-line vector for further uranium exploration in the Mianhuakeng deposit, and alteration zone 3 with significant chloritization and hematitization should be the crucial vector.

Influences of subduction derived fluids and melt in the genesis of Nidar ophiolite peridotites, Ladakh Himalaya, India: Evidence from mineralogy, PGE and Nd isotopic compositions

The Nidar ophiolite is one of the well-preserved and almost complete ophiolite sections of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere, obducted along the continental margin between the Indian and the Eurasian plate. This ophiolite sequence is mostly dominated by ultramafic rocks, consisting of forearc-related refractory, mainly harzburgite, dunite, and serpentinite, with minor intrusions of lherzolite, chromitites, and pyroxenites. In this present study, detailed mineralogical, whole rock geochemistry (major oxides, trace elements, PGE), and Nd isotopic composition of mantle-derived peridotites have been carried out to constrain the petrogenesis and melt evolution. These peridotites are depleted in nature due to the low modal composition of clinopyroxene, high forsterite content in olivine, and wide variation in Cr# and bulk rock chemistry, indicating variable degree of partial melting. The spoon-shaped rare earth element (REE) patterns indicate metasomatism by fluids derived from a subducting slab enriched in light REEs. Geochemical composition of the studied peridotites rocks is marked by high ratio of Al2O3/TiO2, LILE-LREE enrichment, HFSE depletion, and spoon-shaped chondrite-normalized REE patterns and (La/Sm)N > 1 and (Gd/Yb)N < 1, indicates some involvement of boninitic mantle melts and validate a subduction initiation process. The total PGE of the peridotites (ΣPGE = 33–337 ppb) is much more enriched than that of the primitive mantle and other ophiolite peridotites. The PGE distribution displays a concave upward pattern with higher PPGE/IPGE ratios (i.e., 0.11–1.45), suggesting that partial melting is not the only process for the evolution of the Nidar ophiolite peridotites. Enrichment of PPGE and incompatible elements (like LREE) and higher Pd/Ir ratio (0.69–8.26) indicates that these peridotites have undergone fluid/melt interaction in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) tectonic setting. PGE concentrations of these depleted harzburgites and dunites, formed by partial melting of cpx–harzburgites in an SSZ that produced the boninitic-like melt. The enrichment of incompatible elements like the PPGE is mainly due to the circulation of fluids in the subduction zone, which leads to the PGE fractionation in mantle peridotites. Also, these peridotites have 143Nd/144Nd ratios (0.51148–0.51262) and εNd(t) (t = 140 Ma) values (i.e., +0.97 to −21.3), indicating derivation from depleted mantle sources within an intra-oceanic arc setting. The geochemical behavior exhibited by the Nidar ophiolite peridotites suggests the evolution of a highly depleted fore-arc mantle wedge significantly modified by various fluids and melts during subduction. The mineralogical, geochemical, and Nd isotopic composition of these peridotites and dunites mutually depict the diverse mantle compositions, suggesting insights into the interactions between the oceanic crust and mantle as well as associated geochemical cycling in an SSZ environment.

Geochemistry of Neogene Nansatsu volcanic rocks in South Kyushu, Japan

ABSTRACT We report the whole-rock major and trace element and Sr – Nd – Pb isotopic compositions of volcanic rocks from the Nansatsu area in South Kyushu. We analysed samples from the Oldest stage (middle Miocene), Older stage (late Miocene), and Middle stage (early Pliocene) Nansatsu volcanic rocks, which are andesite to dacite in composition, with an island-arc trace element signature. The compositional variabilities within the Older and the Middle stage rocks are relatively small compared to those in the Oldest stage and Quaternary volcanic rocks. Isotopic characteristics suggested that the Oldest stage volcanic rocks had magma sources similar to regional ilmenite-series granitoids of later ages (Outer Zone granitoids), which incorporated a substantial amount of graphite-bearing accretionary sediments (Shimanto Supergroup). The sources for the Older and Middle stage magmas were similar to those of primary Quaternary basalts in South Kyushu, indicating that Pliocene and Quaternary volcanic rocks in South Kyushu share a common mantle source, despite the change in the nature of volcanic activity from andesite-dominated to more variable volcanism of basalt to rhyolite.

Geochronology, Eruption Sequence and Geochemistry of Mid–Late Jurassic Volcanics South of Manzhouli: Petrogenesis and Implications for Mesozoic Tectonic Regime Transformation

AbstractTo the south of Manzhouli, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, experienced a tectonic regime transformation from compression to extension in the mid‐Mesozoic. Based on systematic research of the volcanics, petrology, volcanic facies, chronology and geochemistry of rocks in the Buridun area, two stages of volcanics are identified. The first stage named the trachyte series was formed in the late Middle Jurassic (167–163 Ma), its eruption rhythm is pyroxene trachyandesite–trachyandesite–trachyte, and its origin rock is basic volcanics from thickened lower crust, with a tectonic setting in the collision orogeny after the closure of the Mongolia Okhotsk Ocean (MOO). The second stage is a bimodal volcanic rock, formed in the early Late Jurassic (163–160 Ma). The eruption rhythm of basic volcanics in this stage is basaltic andesite–basalt–olivine basalt, which comes from the metasomatized lithospheric mantle, the acidic volcanics of which being characterized by the eruption rhythm of sedimentary‐explosive‐overflow facies, which came from the partial melting of newly formed lower crust, and this shows the characteristics of A‐type granite; the tectonic setting is extension of the lithosphere after collision and closure of the MOO. The changes in the formation age and tectonic setting of the two stages of volcanics demonstrate that the transition time from the compressive system to the extensional system south of Manzhouli is about 163 Ma.

Advances in metallogeny and tectonics of the Eastern Tethyan Realm: Introduction

The Tethys domain preserves one of the largest continent‐continent collisional orogenic belts on Earth. This belt can be divided into the Proterozoic to Palaeozoic Proto‐Tethyan orogenic belt, Late Palaeozoic to Triassic Palaeo‐Tethyan orogenic belt and Triassic to Cenozoic Meso‐ and Neo‐Tethyan orogenic belts. The Tethyan metallogenic domain, representing one of the three major metallogenic domains in the world, extends more than 10,000 km from east to west and has developed world‐class ore belts, such as the South‐east Asia tin ore belt, Sanjiang metallogenic belt in South‐west China, Gangdese–Pakistan–Iran porphyry copper belt and South‐east Europe epithermal gold belt. The geology of the Tethys domain has been studied for more than 100 years and many important advances have been made recently, although scientific issues remain controversial. This thematic section of Geological Journal contains 10 articles focusing on the formation of rocks and ore deposits, including petrology and geochemistry of magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and the formation mechanism of mineral deposits in the Eastern Tethyan Realm. These articles reflect new progress in related studies and provide important reference for future studies.

Formation of authigenic grey monazite: A palaeo-thermal anomaly marker in very-low grade metamorphic rocks?

Reassessment of France’s rare earth element (REE) potential led us to investigate REE behaviour in the black shales of the Middle Ordovician Angers-Traveusot Formation in central Brittany (France). This study focuses on the distribution of nodular grey monazite (up to 200 g/t) within the shales, which formed in response to the diagenetic and low-grade metamorphic evolution of the studied area. Whole rock geochemistry, rock–eval pyrolysis and evolution of clay mineral crystallinity were firstly used to determine temperature and mass transfer conditions in the black shales. Then, monazite texture, composition and U–Pb in-situ dates were determined, and correlated with the diagenetic/anchimetamorphic conditions. Nodular monazite appears in the Ordovician black shales at the transition between high-grade diagenesis and the anchizone metamorphic facies, in response to processes controlled by competing influences such as organic matter maturation, Fe oxide/hydroxide reduction and clay transformation with accompanying fluid release. Monazite occurs mainly as elongated nodules, up to 2 mm in diameter that are characterised by their grey colour caused by an abundance of host-rock mineral inclusions. Monazite nodule compositions are zoned with Nd and middle REE-rich cores surrounded by Ce-rich rims, with no evidence of inherited domains. Ce-monazite also occurs as a replacement of nodular monazite or in late-stage fractures. Zoned nodular grey monazites were dated at ca. 403.6 ± 2.9 Ma, which is proposed to record the high heat flux that led to the anchimetamorphic conditions found at the base of the Angers-Traveusot formation, prior to the Variscan deformation. Crystallisation of the metamorphic Ce-monazite occurred at two periods, dated at 382.6 ± 2.9 Ma and 349.6 ± 6 Ma, which correspond to pre-collisional and collisional tectono-metamorphic stages respectively. Nodular grey monazite constitutes an interesting alternative economic solution because of its very low content in both Th (X¯=2160 ppm) and U (X¯=145 ppm) and negligible radiological impact if mined. However, placers currently display a limited economical interest.

Paleoproterozoic U Mineralization in Huayangchuan Deposit, Xiaoqinling Area: Evidence from the U–Rich Granitic Pegmatite

The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, located in the west of the Xiaoqinling belt on the southern margin of the North China Craton, is a large U–Nb–Pb deposit accompanied with rare–earth elements. The Huayangchuan uranium deposit, discovered in the 1950s, has long been known as a carbonatite–type uranium deposit. Recently, new geological work has found uranium mineralization in many granitic pegmatite veins in the Huayangchuan deposit and adjacent areas. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the petrography, whole–rock geochemistry, zircon U–Pb ages, and in situ Lu–Hf isotopic characteristics of newly discovered U–rich granitic pegmatite veins in the west of Huayangchuan deposit. The petrological results showed that the lithology of the samples is granite pegmatite. The U–Pb ages of zircon were 1826.3 ± 7.9 and 1829 ± 11 Ma. Microscopically, the paragenetic characteristics of zircon, betafite, and uraninite exist in the intergranular fissures of K–feldspar and quartz, reflecting metallogenic phenomena in the rock formation process. Almost all whole–rock samples were rich in SiO2 (64.37−70.69 wt.%), total alkalis (K2O + Na2O = 8.50–10.30 wt.%), and Al2O3 (12.20–14.41 wt.%) but poor in TiO2 (0.23–0.73 wt.%), MgO (0.38–0.90 wt.%), CaO (1.23–2.22 wt.%), P2O5 (0.14–0.83 wt.%), and MnO (0.04–0.57 wt.%). Additionally, they showed enrichment of LILEs (such as Rb, Ba, Th, U, and K), depletion of HFSEs (such as Ta, P, Ti, and Hf), and no alkaline dark minerals, and the characteristics are intraplate A1–type granite. The A1–type granite displayed low zircon εHf(t) values (−19.42–−15.02) with zircon two–stage Hf model aged 3.10–2.76 Ga, indicating that the U–rich granitic pegmatite was derived predominantly from partial melting of the ancient continental crust (such as the early Taihua group formed in Archean–Neoarchean). Combined with the above results and regional geological data, the U–rich granitic pegmatite discovered in the Huayangchuan deposit was formed in a post–collisional regime after the Luliang movement in the late Paleoproterozoic. This study suggests that future uranium prospecting work in this area should focus on late Paleoproterozoic U–rich granitic pegmatites.

The isotope geochemistry of host rocks of the late Archean Guandi and Banshigou banded iron formations, southern Jilin Province: temporal and tectonic significance

The Guandi and Banshigou iron deposits of southern Jilin Province, China, are Algoma-type banded iron formations (BIFs) located in the Eastern Block of the North China Craton (NCC). LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating shows the magmatic zircons in plagioclase amphibolite from the Guandi BIF (PA–GD) and plagioclase hornblende gneiss from the Banshigou BIF (PHG–BSG) were crystallised at 2556 ± 17 Ma and 2545 ± 27 Ma, respectively, representing the formation age of the BIFs. Metamorphic overgrowth zircons from both samples gave two U–Pb ages of 2452 ± 23 Ma and 2446 ± 70 Ma, indicating the age of metamorphism. The zircon εHf(t) values of PA–GD (–1.3 to +2.8) and PHG–BSG (–1.5 to +2.7) indicate that the magma source was derived from depleted mantle with contamination of crustal material. According to our study, the PA–GD and PHG–BSG were formed in an island arc setting and support previously proposed subduction zone tectonic models for the northeastern NCC during the Neoarchean.

Geochemistry of Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian Clay Rocks in the Moscow Syneclise: Some Traditional and Modern Approaches

Geochemistry of Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian Clay Rocks in the Moscow Syneclise: Some Traditional and Modern Approaches

Geochemistry of Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian Clay Rocks of the Moscow Syneclise (Some Traditional and Modern Approaches)

The article discusses some geochemical characteristics of Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian clay rocks that form the base of the Moscow syneclise. It is shown that during the several tens of millions of years of geological history we are considering, there was no significant change in the composition of clay rocks. Based on the Zr/Sc and Th/Sc values characteristic of argillites and argillite-like clays, the petrogenic nature of the fine-grained aluminosiliciclastics composing them is substantiated. This conclusion is also confirmed by the values of the CIA/WIP ratio. In general, according to some parameters of their composition, the Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian clay rocks of the Moscow syneclise are closer to granitoids, according to others, to basic igneous rocks. Thus, compared with the average Late Proterozoic basalts, they contain noticeably more K2O and Rb, Th, Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta, while the average Archean granitoids have noticeably lower concentrations of TiO2, FeO, and MgO, Sc, V, Cr, Co, and Ni. The position of the data points for Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian clay rocks on the La/Sc–Th/Co, La/Th–Th/Yb, Sc–Th/Sc and other plots confirms what has been said. Chondrite-normalized lanthanide distribution spectra in clay rocks are close to the PAAS lanthanide spectrum. It has been suggested that the transportation of suspended material to the area of sedimentation was carried out by: 1) large rivers with source areas composed of rock complexes of different composition, and 2) rivers that drained provenances composed mainly of sedimentary rocks. The average CIA values inherent in the Upper Vendian and Lower Cambrian clay rocks of the Moscow syneclise are comparable to those typical for the suspended particulate matter of modern large rivers of a humid subtropical and tropical climate, as well as rivers of dry tropical climate regions. The localization of the data points of argillites and argillite-like clays on the SiO2–(Na2O + K2O + MgO + CaO), Al2O3–(Na2O + K2O + MgO + CaO) and CIA–WIP diagrams suggests that it was the paleoclimate that determined the main characteristics of their composition. The series of α-coefficients characteristic of clay rocks of the Upper Vendian–Lower Cambrian of the Moscow syneclise is quite close to the similar series for fine-grained suspended particulate matter of modern large river systems in southern Africa.

Corrigendum to “Geochronology and geochemistry of the Cryogenian sedimentary rocks and Early Paleozoic mafic dykes of the South Qinling belt: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the northwestern South China craton” [Lithos 444–445, (2023)1–20

Corrigendum to “Geochronology and geochemistry of the Cryogenian sedimentary rocks and Early Paleozoic mafic dykes of the South Qinling belt: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the northwestern South China craton” [Lithos 444–445, (2023)1–20

Lithofacies, geochemistry, and sequences of basalt and carbonate rocks of a Middle Permian composite seamount (central Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet): Implications to the incipient opening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

Lithofacies, geochemistry, and sequences of basalt and carbonate rocks of a Middle Permian composite seamount (central Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet): Implications to the incipient opening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

Global volcanic rock classification of Holocene volcanoes

This data descriptor assigns the major and minor rock names from worldwide Holocene volcanoes of the Global Volcanism Program (GVP) using the Total Alkali-Silica diagram (TAS) for the chemical classification of volcanic rocks using the Geochemistry of Rocks of the Oceans and Continents (GEOROC) database. The precompiled files of the GEOROC database provide the chemical composition of volcanic rock samples, from which we computed major and minor rocks for global Holocene volcanoes reported in GVP. The combined dataset associates each volcano with the relative abundance of each volcanic sample type (whole rock, glass, melt inclusion) and provides the five major (more than 10% abundance) and minor rock names. In total, over 138,000 GEOROC volcanic rock samples were considered, for ~1000 Holocene volcanoes. The resulting major rock compositions are in general consistent with those given in GVP. The dataset provides a global panorama of rock composition for Holocene volcanoes.