Granite Domes Research Articles

Gravity Investigations Applied to the Geological Framework Study of the Mambasa Territory in Democratic Republic of Congo

This study concerns the gravity survey carried out in the territory of Mambasa in the province of Ituri in DR Congo, with the aim of studying its subsurface framework. We applied Free-Air and Bouguer corrections to the gravity measurements in order to eliminate gravity variations of non-geological origin. As for the graphical representation of the results, the spatial interpolation tools were useful to us in the elaboration of Bouguer anomaly maps. Then, we classified the study zone into Bouguer anomaly zones based on intensity. Gravity highs could indicate basement uplifts due to compressional movements. These uplifts would have led to the formation of granite domes which could be associated with mineralization. The enormous gravity depression would, for its part, be synonymous with a ditch or the presence of very low-density geological formations. The gravity profiles drawn support the analyzes of the maps: the anomaly curves are very fluctuating and uneven, highlighting several gravity highs and depressions. These fluctuations are probably induced by the presence of faults which separate the different anomaly zones.

Subsurface distribution of granites and greenstones in the Paleoarchean East Pilbara Terrane from 3-D gravity inversion

The Paleoarchean East Pilbara Terrane contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth, and has a distinctive surface architecture of granite domes surrounded by arcuate greenstone belts. Explanations for creation of the domes include fold interference, core complex formation and the subsidence of a dense, mafic crust between relatively buoyant granitic complexes. In the latter “sagduction” process, greenstones are often viewed as descending to the base of the crust. Here we present a 3-D inversion of Bouguer gravity data for density contrast constrained by shear wave velocities and a seismic reflection profile. We show that the East Pilbara Terrane is predominantly characterized by a two-layer crust with high-density greenstone rocks largely confined to the upper crust, which is inconsistent with vertical tectonic models requiring large-scale greenstone preservation in the lower crust. The eastern margin of the terrane is marked by a west-to-east transition from low-density ovoid bodies to linear northwest-trending sources associated with the Proterozoic Paterson Orogen. We identify the previously unknown 10–15 km wide Tumbinna Pool Dome, between the Mount Edgar and Yilgalong domes. Higher density sources related to the surface distribution of greenstone rocks largely occur above 10–15 km depth, though they may locally reach >15 km depth on the north side of the Mount Edgar Dome. Some granitic domes have higher density cores related to distinct granite suites, while the Split Rock Supersuite appears to exhibit systematically lower density at depths of 5–10 km. Low-density sources due to small intrusions such as the North Pole Dome only extend to depths up to 10 km, while the large Mount Edgar Dome can be identified at depths as great as 15–20 km. Some low-density bodies in the lower crust, one of which underlies the Yilgalong Dome, correlate with regions of reduced seismic reflectivity, which we interpret to be possible relict migmatisation zones or melt pathways. A weakly constrained ESE-trending high-density region immediately below the Moho correlates with isolated sub-Moho reflectors, and may be a relict zone of rifting and delamination.

Geochemistry, tectonic setting, and petrogenesis of the Coldbrook Group and associated plutons, southern New Brunswick, Canada: a unique Late Ediacaran magmatic episode in Avalonia

The Coldbrook Group is a unique suite of late Ediacaran volcanic and epiclastic rocks deposited in an extensional setting in the Avalonian Caledonia terrane of southern New Brunswick. It is informally divided into a lower part composed of mainly andesitic to dacitic tuffs and epiclastic sedimentary rocks intruded by bimodal plutons, and an upper part composed mainly of mafic flows and tuffs interlayered with but mainly overlain by rhyolitic flows and tuffs and minor epiclastic sedimentary rocks. Recent U–Pb (zircon) dating of four formations in the Coldbrook Group and a subvolcanic granitic dome led to the proposal that the lower and most of the upper Coldbrook Group and associated plutons were formed within <760 kyr at about 551.5 Ma whereas the uppermost rhyolite (Fundy Trail Parkway rhyolite) and underlying basalt of the Hosford Brook Formation formed in a younger event at about 549.5 Ma. Overlapping dates and chemical data also suggest that the subvolcanic granitic domes are the plutonic counterparts of the ca. 551.5 Ma felsic volcanic rocks whereas the other granitic plutons represent extracted melts that evolved separately. Whole-rock geochemical and isotopic data combined with previous field work and map information and integrated with the geochronological data provide new insights into the genesis of these magmas and their change from intermediate to bimodal magmatism. The data indicate that the volcanic and plutonic rocks are mainly tholeiitic and were derived from varying proportions of juvenile melts and recycled older arc lithosphere. The mafic rocks have chemical similarities to flood basalts which inherited some calc-alkalic signatures from older arc-like rocks. Intermediate magmas that formed much of the lower Coldbrook Group had larger lithospheric inputs and thus have mainly calc-alkalic signatures. The Vernon Mountain, Blackall Lake and Silver Hill area rhyolites represent evolved melts derived from the lower Coldbrook Group magmas, and their chemical differences are interpreted to result from melt extraction and solid-liquid dripping magmatic processes. Enhanced extension and thinning led to formation of less lithosphere-contaminated melts that formed the ca. 549.5 Ma bimodal units of the upper Coldbrook Group.

Four Decades of Landscape Change on a Granite Dome (Enchanted Rock, Texas): A Photographic Field Work Analysis

This study focuses on photographic analysis of Enchanted Rock, a granite dome in central Texas; fourteen photo pairs compare contrasting views after—thirty-six to forty-six years, and assess changes in geomorphology, sediments, and vegetation on miniature landforms, especially erosional depressions—gnammas and vernal pools. Several distinct landscape changes occurred during the study period, but these affected sites unevenly. Vegetation displayed noticeable differences in plant density and species, particularly a pronounced increase of Opuntia cacti and woody shrubs on several depressions; these changes, however, are not considered permanent, and are interpreted as representing periodic fluctuations due to climatic oscillations such as recurrent drought. Among geomorphic features, a rock pedestal and a tafoni panel—displaying friable, crumbling, material—are seemingly being rapidly obliterated by weathering; their low compressive strength (Schmidt hammer) R values support this idea. In contrast, a large, isolated, boulder near the dome base did not—as anticipated—display any obvious changes. Large stones and gravelly sediments, accumulated on vernal pools, or deposited along rill channels between depressions, showed the most conspicuous alterations. The observed changes are arranged along a presumed developmental sequence portraying subsequent geomorphic stages during pool development, which occur as detached stones gradually weather and eventually disintegrate; both coarse and fine sediments are transported downslope during intense, infrequent rainfall events. Pools, gnammas, rills, sediments, and vegetation function on Enchanted Rock as interconnected geographical units and components of an elaborate drainage network, steadily affecting each other over space and time.

Geoecology of a granite dome: Spatial interactions between gnammas, rills, soils, and plant cover, Enchanted Rock (Texas, USA)

This research examines geoecological connections between geomorphic, pedological,hydrological, and vegetation components in gnammas—shallow pans and deeper basin pans—and in various microforms on Enchanted Rock (Texas), a large granite dome where an intricate rill drainage network connects microforms. Gnamma morphometric analysis (GMA) showed the association between mean basin length (418.8 cm) and width (258.2 cm) was more significant than in pans (150.9 × 84.0 cm); mean basin depth (44.0 cm) was correlated with length, but pan depth (7.8 cm) was independent. Debris depth was assessed by auger probing along transects on 8 basins and 20 pans; basin soils (11–98.5 cm) were deeper than those in pans (1–5 cm). Lens-shaped basins show Typic-Lithic Haplustolls or Typic-Lithic Dystrudepts with complex profiles; pans are shallow and flat-bottomed, and display simple Lithic Ustorthents with thin surficial gravel layers shielding finer subsoil horizons. Deeper basin profiles, along with greater SOM, nutrients, and fine-particle content, provided high water retention, facilitating dense plant growth. Rills showed discrete areas of debris deposition sequentially along channels; sediment patch size decreased downslope, while gravel content increased, and fine grains decreased, downhill.Plants on gnammas and microforms included 48 vascular species, mostly annual or perennial herbs and nanoshrubs, followed by ferns and cacti. Vegetation on gnammas showed distinctive patterns of sequential, concentric, plant rings, with outer bands of Sedum nuttallianum and Allium drummondii on shallow (0–10-cm) soils, followed by narrow strips of annual plants growing on 8–40-cm-deep soils, and a sizable central area of tall perennial grasses, mainly Andropogon glomeratus, on ≤ 98.5-cm-deep profiles. A conceptual developmental model of geoecological interactions between gnammas, rills, and other microforms, suggests these are interconnected via channeled runoff and/or sheetwash, which transports debris and SOM downhill; in this view, gnammas on Enchanted Rock and their sediments, are not static and permanent, but remain in a perpetual state of flux and development.

Predicting soil carbon in granitic soils using Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy: the value of database disaggregation

Soil carbon (C) is an important component in quality assessments and efficient models are required to estimate C rapidly. Accurate C assessments are valuable in monitoring land-use changes. Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy has proved to be a powerful tool for assessing C. The potential of FT-MIR spectroscopy to estimate C was evaluated using the following techniques: (1) three algorithms [partial least squares (PLS)], principal component regression (PCR), and classical least squares (CLS); and (2) disaggregating the dataset into subgroups based on soil depth and texture. The C contents of samples collected in the Johannesburg Granite Dome were determined by dry combustion for comparison. The soils ranged considerably in C (0.123–2.650%), clay (2.80–41.20%), and silt content (8.56–23.75%). Using standard normal variant (SNV), Savitzky-Golay smoothing and PLS, the best-performing model was the horizons subgroup which provided values of root mean square error for prediction (RMSEP) between 0.079 and 0.095%, root mean square error for calibration (RMSEC) = 0.041 − 0.092, r 2 pre = 0.6174–0.8459, r 2 cal = 0.6599–0.9778, residual prediction variation (RPD) = 2.404–2.753, and ratio of performance to interquartile range (RPIQ) = 2.667–3.454. The pronounced accuracy of FT-MIR spectroscopy coupled with PLS, pre-processing techniques, and textural subgroups confirms the potential of infrared spectroscopy as an efficient tool for estimating C content. Future studies should investigate the combined effects of FT-MIR spectroscopy and subgroups grouped according to soil types and land-uses when predicting C.

Deglaciation history and subsequent lake dynamics in the Siljan region, south‐central Sweden, based on new LiDAR evidence and sediment records

AbstractThe Siljan region hosts Europe's largest impact structure. The high‐relief landscape, with a central granite dome bordered by lake basins, contains an array of glacial and shore‐level landforms. We investigated its deglaciation history by mapping and analysing landforms on high resolution LiDAR (light detection and ranging)‐based digital surface models coupled with well‐dated sediment successions from peat and lake sediment cores. The granite dome and bordering areas are characterized by streamlined terrain and ribbed moraine with a streamlined overprint. These suggest an ice‐flow direction from north‐northwest (NNW) with wet‐based thermal conditions prior to deglaciation. During its retreat, the ice sheet was split into thinner plateau ice and thicker basin ice. Sets of low‐gradient glaciofluvial erosion channels suggest intense ice‐lateral meltwater drainage across gradually ice‐freed slopes, while ‘down‐the‐slope’ erosion channels and eskers show meltwater drainage from stagnated plateau ice. Thick basin ice receded with a subaqueous margin across the deep Siljan–Orsasjön Basin c. 10,700–10,500 cal. bp. During ice recession the ingression of the Baltic Ancylus Lake led to diachronous formation of highest shoreline marks, from ~207 m in the south to ~220 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the north. Differential uplift resulted in shallowing of the water body, which led to the isolation of the Siljan–Orsasjön Basin from the Baltic Basin at c. 9800 cal. bp. The post‐isolation water body – the ‘Ancient Lake Siljan’ – was drained through the ancient Åkerö Channel with a water level at 168–169 m a.s.l. during c. 1000 years. A later rerouting of the outlet to the present course was initiated at c. 8800 cal. bp, which led to a lake‐level lowering of 6–7 m to today's level of Lake Siljan (~162 m a.s.l.). This study shows the strength of an integrated methodological approach for deciphering the evolution of a complex landscape, combining highly resolved geomorphological analysis with well‐dated sediment successions.

Geology, geochemistry and mineralogy of indium resources at Pitkäranta Mining District, Ladoga Karelia, Russia

This study is aimed at substantiating the prospects of the Pitkäranta Mining District for indium, assessing its resources and elucidating the mineralogical and geochemical features of the distribution of indium in ores. The skarn deposits genetically related to the Salmi anorthosite-rapakivi granite batholith of Early Riphean age were studied. The deposits were divided into two groups, depending on the degree of the greisen alteration of skarns: 1) Sn-Zn-Cu-Fe deposits (the Old Ore Field, Kitelä, Hopunlampi, Heposelkä and Kulismajoki) with little or no greisenization and 2) Be-Sn-Zn deposits with fluorite and magnetite (the New Ore Field, Lupikko, Uksa and Ristiniemi) with well-defined greisenization. Deposits of group 1 are located in the external zone of the Salmi Batholith with a steeply plunging roof (Kitelä), and deposits of group 2 commonly lie above LiF granite domes unexposed by erosion, and are spatially associated with the dykes of these granites and stockscheiders. The distribution of In and associated elements in skarn ores and major ore minerals (sphalerite, chalcopyrite, magnetite and cassiterite) were studied by ICP MS, LA ICP MS and electron probe microanalysis. A total of over 200 samples were analyzed. The results obtained show that In is closely associated geochemically with Zn and Cd, less closely with Cu, Bi and Te is not associated practically with Mo, W, As, Sn and Ag. The content of In in ores from various mines varies from <1 ppm to 0.33 %, and the average In content is 66 ppm. These variations are mainly due to different sphalerite contents in ores and the degree of manifestation of propylitic and greisen alteration of ore-bearing skarns. The main indium-bearing mineral is sphalerite (average In content is 1927 ppm). Other high-In minerals (stannoidite and mawsonite) are uncommon (<0.01 %) and, therefore, do not markedly affect the In balance in ore. The same applies with rare exception to roquesite, the only indium's mineral known here. In-richest (up to 1.5 %) sphalerites with 3–6 % Fe, up to 300–400 ppm Mn and 0.1–0.2 % Co were identified in ore mineral associations of propylitized skarns, which contain no or small amounts of chalcopyrite. Sphalerite-chalcopyrite association is characteristic of roquesite. It occurs mainly in low-tin aposkarn greisens with abundant arsenopyrite-löllingite-sphalerite mineralization. The formation of roquesite seems to have been supported by indium, which was released upon the decomposition of its solid solutions in chalcopyrite and sphalerite and upon the hydrothermal-temperature effect of the late intrusion phases of the Salmi Batholith, LiF granites, on ores. The indium distribution pattern in sphalerite, which is also rich Cd, Ag and Au, shows that roquesite-free propylitized skarns with Sn-Zn-Fe mineralization have the greatest potential for indium and these metals in the zones where the roof of the Salmi Batholith plunges steeply (40–50°) and LiF granites do not occur (Kitelä, Kulismajoki and Hopunlampi deposits). Predicted indium resources in the sphalerite ores of the Pitkäranta Mining District are estimated at 1585–2536 t (as shown by various calculations), cadmium resources at 18424 t, silver resources at 226 t and gold resources at 2 t.

Internal structure of the Paleoarchean Mt Edgar dome, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia

The Paleoarchean East Pilbara Terrane of Western Australia is a dome-and-keel terrane that is often highlighted as recording a vertically convective tectonic regime in the early Earth. In this model, termed 'partial convective overturn', granitic domes diapirically rose through a dense, foundering mafic supracrustal sequence. The applicability of partial convective overturn to the East Pilbara Terrane and to other Archean dome-and-keel terranes is widely debated and has significant implications for early Earth geodynamics. A critical data gap in the East Pilbara Terrane is the internal structure of the granitic domes. We present field-based, microstructural, and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data collected within the Mt Edgar dome to understand its internal structure and assess its compatibility with existing dome formation models. Field and microstructural observations suggest that most fabric development occurred under submagmatic and high-temperature solid-state conditions. The AMS results reveal a coherent, dome-wide structural pattern: 1) Sub-vertical lineations plunge radially inward towards the center of the dome and foliations across much of the dome consistently strike northwest; 2) Shallowly plunging lineations define an arch that extends from the center of the dome to the southwest margin; and 3) Migmatitic gneisses, which represent the oldest granitic component of the dome, are folded and flattened against the margin of the dome in two distinct lobes. The structural relationships between rocks of different ages indicate that units of different crystallization ages deformed synchronously during the last major pulse of granitic magmatism. These data are broadly consistent with a vertical tectonics model, and we synthesize our structural results to propose a three-stage diapiric evolution of the Mt Edgar dome. The critical stage of dome development was between 3.3 and 3.2 Ga, when widespread, melt-assisted flow of the deep crust led to the formation of a steep-walled, composite dome. These data suggest that diapiric processes were important for the formation of dome-and-keel terranes in the Paleoarchean.

Palaeoarchaean TTGs of the Pilbara and Kaapvaal cratons compared; an early Vaalbara supercraton evaluated

AbstractThe continental crust that dominates Earth’s oldest cratons comprises Eoarchaean to Palaeoarchaean (4.0 to 3.2 Ga) felsic intrusive rocks of the tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) series. These are found either within high-grade gneiss terranes, which represent Archaean mid-continental crust, or low-grade granite-greenstone belts, which represent relic Archaean upper continental crust. The Palaeoarchaean East Pilbara Terrane (EPT), Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, and the Barberton Granite-Greenstone Belt (BGGB), Kaapvaal Craton, southern Africa, are two of the best exposed granite-greenstone belts. Their striking geological similarities has led to the postulated existence of Vaalbara, a Neoarchaean-Palaeoproterozoic supercraton. Although their respective TTG domes have been compared in terms of a common petrogenetic origin reflecting a volcanic plateau setting, there are important differences in their age, geochemistry, and isotopic profiles. We present new zircon Hf isotope data from five granite domes of the EPT and compare the geochemical and isotopic record of the Palaeoarchaean TTGs from both cratons. Rare &amp;gt;3.5 Ga EPT evolved rocks have juvenile εHf(t) requiring a chondritic source. In contrast, younger TTG domes developed via 3.5 to 3.4 and 3.3 to 3.2 Ga magmatic supersuites with a greater range of εHf(t) towards more depleted and enriched values, trace element signatures requiring an enriched source, and xenocrystic zircons that reflects a mixed source to the TTGs, which variously assimilates packages of older felsic crust and a more juvenile mafic source. EPT TTG domes are composite and record multiple pulses of magmatism. In comparison, BGGB TTGs are less geochemically enriched than those of the EPT and have different age profiles, hosting coeval magmatic units. Hafnium isotopes suggest a predominantly juvenile source to 3.2 Ga northern Barberton TTGs, limited assimilation of older evolved crust in 3.4 Ga southern Barberton TTGs, but significant assimilation of older (Hadean-Eoarchaean) crust in the ca. 3.6 Ga TTGs of the Ancient Gneiss Complex. The foundation of the EPT is younger than that for the oldest components of the Eastern Kaapvaal. Although the broader prevailing Palaeoarchaean geologic framework in which these two cratons formed may reflect similar a geodynamic regime, the superficial similarities in dome structures and stratigraphy of both cratonic terranes is not reflected in their geochemical and age profiles. Both the similarities and the differences between the crustal histories of the two cratons highlights that they are formed from distinct terranes with different ages and individual evolutionary histories. Vaalbara sensu lato represents typical Palaeoarchaean cratonic crust, not in the sense of a single homogeneous craton, but one as diverse as the continents are today.

Characterization of Soil Carbon Stocks in the City of Johannesburg

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a crucial indicator of soil health and soil productivity. The long-term implications of rapid urbanization on sustainability have, in recent years, raised concern. This study aimed to characterize the SOC stocks in the Johannesburg Granite Dome, a highly urbanized and contaminated area. Six soil hydropedological groups; (recharge (deep), recharge (shallow), responsive (shallow), responsive (saturated), interflow (A/B), and interflow (soil/bedrock)) were identified to determine the vertical distribution of the SOC stocks and assess the variation among the soil groups. The carbon (C) content, bulk density, and soil depth were determined for all soil groups, and thereafter the SOC stocks were calculated. Organic C stocks in the A horizon ranged, on average, from 33.55 ± 21.73 t C ha−1 for recharge (deep) soils to 17.11 ± 7.62 t C ha−1 for responsive (shallow) soils. Higher C contents in some soils did not necessarily indicate higher SOC stocks due to the combined influence of soil depth and bulk density. Additionally, the total SOC stocks ranged from 92.82 ± 39.2 t C ha−1 for recharge (deep) soils to 22.81 ± 16.84 t C ha−1 for responsive (shallow) soils. Future studies should determine the SOC stocks in urban areas, taking diverse land-uses and the presence of iron (Fe) oxides into consideration. This is crucial for understanding urban ecosystem functions.

The genesis of giant lithium pegmatite veins in Jiajika, Sichuan, China: Insights from geophysical, geochemical as well as structural geology approach

Many studies focus on mineralogy and geochemistry of pegmatites and their parental source rocks to decipher the genesis of pegmatites as well as classify them. Recently, structures were regarded as an additional dimension on the classification of pegmatites. However, categorizing pegmatites by structure has not received much attention.The recent discovery of the Jiajika granite-pegmatite deposit in Sichuan, China, makes it the largest Li ore body in Asia. This study combines gravity survey, audio magnetotelluric sounding survey, structural geology, soil geochemistry as well as major element analysis together, and aims to decipher the genetic connection between the major pegmatite veins and their parental granites. The three-dimensional structure of the Jiajika granite body is exhibited by the density model obtained through inverting the Bouguer anomaly data. The diverse structures of pegmatites are analyzed through their geological occurrences. The hot spots are recognized through soil geochemistry exploration. Major elements from many samples in the X03 and the No. 134 lithium-rich pegmatites are used to investigate geochemical variations in pegmatites. The shallower structures of the granite top and the structures of pegmatites have been refined by the resistivity cross-sections as well as a geological profile with deep drilling. The geochronology data are integrated to present the cooling history of granites and pegmatites.The pegmatites in the Jiajika lithium ore field can be categorized into two types, one with small dips that close to the granite outcrops and another with large dips that far away from the granite outcrops. The majorities of the pegmatites exhibit similar geological occurrences under the regional stress field. Moreover, the delicate structures of the top of the granite dome impose a local stress field that controls the developments of pegmatites, which cause the pegmatites close to and far away from the granite outcrops have distinct geological occurrences as well as geochemical differentiation. The uplifts on the top of the granite dome correspond to the high concentration areas of boron, cesium, and lithium in soils. They also influence the regional zonation of pegmatites in Jiajika. Furthermore, the structures of the top of the granite dome affect the local heat field that regulates the metamorphism in Jiajika. The 3-D gravity model, the resistivity cross-sections, and the deep borehole have proven that most of the pegmatites in the Jiajika ore field are typically close to granites, sometimes even imbedded with granite layers. The gradient of the cooling curve for the Majingzi granite is large. This rapid cooling rate can explain why most pegmatites are distributed in the vicinity of the granites. The rapid cooling rate also provides crucial evidence that why fine-grained spodumene and microcrystalline spodumene account for the majority of all spodumene in Jiajika.Structures of pegmatites were treated as one criterion on the classification of pegmatites, and it also provides new perspectives on the relationships between pegmatites and their parental granites. Many explorations for pegmatite as a source of economic commodities rely on near-surface surveys. However, this study suggests that a deep earth probe may provide more useful information.

The First Find of Cr2O3 Eskolaite Associated with Marble-Hosted Ruby in the Southern Urals and the Problem of Al and Cr Sources

The results of the study of eskolaite associated with marble-hosted ruby found for the first time in the Kuchinskoe occurrence (Southern Urals) are presented. Here, eskolaite was located on the surface and near-surface regions of ruby crystals. Eskolaite diagnostics was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (URS-55). The morphology and chemical composition of eskolaite and associated ruby was studied using a JSM-6390LV scanning electron microscope and a Cameca SX 100 electron probe microanalyzer. The eskolaite crystals were hexagonal and tabular, up to 0.2 mm in size. Ruby mineralization was formed during prograde and retrograde dynamothermal metamorphism. The eskolaite associated with the prograde stage ruby contained Al2O3 (9.1–23.62 wt %), TiO2 (0.52–9.66 wt %), V2O3 (0.53–1.54 wt %), FeO (0.03–0.1 wt %), MgO (0.05–0.24 wt %), and SiO2 (0.1–0.21 wt %). The eskolaite associated with the retrograde stage ruby was distinguished by a sharp depletion in Ti and contained Al2O3 (12.25–21.2 wt %), TiO2 (0.01–0.07 wt %), V2O3 (0.32–1.62 wt %), FeO (0.01–0.08 wt %), MgO (0.0–0.48 wt %), and SiO2 (0.01–0.1 wt %). The associated rubies contained almost equal amounts of Cr2O3 (2.36–2.69 wt %) and were almost free from admixtures. The identification of the eskolaite associated with the marble-hosted rubies from the Kuchinskoe occurrence is a new argument in favor of introduction of Al and Cr into the mineral formation zone. The mineralization was localized in the metamorphic frame of the granite gneiss domes and was formed synchronously with them.

P-bearing olivines of lunar rocks: sources and localization in the lunar crust

Fragments of P-bearing olivine have been studied in lunar highland, mare and mingled meteorites and in «Apollo-14», «Luna-16, -20, -24» lunar samples. Olivine contains up to 0.5 wt.% P2O5 and has variable MG# number. It is associated with anorthite, pyroxene and accessory spinel group minerals, Ti and Zr oxides, phosphates, troilite and Fe-Ni metal. Three possible sources of P-bearing olivine were found in lunar material: 1) highland anorthositic-noritic-troctolitic rocks enriched in incompatible elements and thought to be related to high-Mg suite rocks: 2) late-stage products of mare basalts crystallization; 3) unusual olivine-orthopyroxene intergrowths either of meteoritic or lunar origin. Enrichment in incompatible elements may be resulted from both crystallization processes (source 2) and KREEP assimilation (sources 1 and 3). However following metasomatic processes can lead to some addition of phosphorus and other elements.&#x0D; The rarity of P-bearing olivines points either to the low abundance or local distribution of their sources in the lunar crust. Association with mare basalts specifies the highland-mare boundary. The presence of the evolved rocks in the studied breccias suggests possible connection of some sources with recently discovered granitic domes in Procellarum Ocean. That means the P-bearing sources are mainly localized on the visible side of the Moon.

Phosphorus-bearing Olivines of Lunar Rocks: Sources and Localization in the Lunar Crust

Abstract—Fragments of P-bearing olivine have been studied in lunar highland, mare, and mingled meteorites and in “Apollo-14”, “Luna-16, -20, -24” lunar samples. The olivines contain up to 0.5 wt % P2O5 and have variable MG# numbers. They are associated with anorthite, pyroxene, and accessory spinel-group minerals, Ti and Zr oxides, phosphates, troilite, and Fe–Ni metal. Three possible sources of P-bearing olivine were found in the lunar material: 1) highland anorthositic–noritic–troctolitic rocks enriched in incompatible elements and interpreted to be related to high-Mg suite rocks: 2) late-stage products of mare basalts crystallization; and 3) unusual olivine–orthopyroxene intergrowths of meteoritic or lunar origin. Enrichment in incompatible elements may result from both crystallization processes (source 2) and KREEP assimilation (sources 1 and 3). However, superimposed metasomatic processes can lead to some addition of phosphorus and other elements. The rarity of P-bearing olivines points either to the low abundance or local distribution of their sources in the lunar crust. Association with mare basalts specifies the highland–mare boundary. The presence of evolved rocks in the studied breccias suggests a possible connection of some sources with recently discovered granitic domes in Procellarum Ocean. This means the P-bearing sources are mainly localized on the nearside of the Moon.

Evidence of Major Structural Features over the Pan-African Domain in the Bertoua-Mbangue Area (East Cameroon) from a Multiscale Approach of Modeling and Interpretation of Aeromagnetic Data

The aim of this study is to investigate crustal structures from East Cameroon, using aeromagnetic data. The modeling of aeromagnetic data is conducted using the Oasis Montaj 8.0 software. The total magnetic intensity map reduced to the equator (RTE-TMI) shows important anomalies features, namely, the Northern East magnetic anomalies of high amplitude, the Southwest where very low values of the magnetic intensity were observed, and a corridor with negative values relatively high, separating the anomalies. The horizontal gradient map shows on the one hand brittle and folded structures carried out in the area of study and on the other hand various rectilinear, narrow, and short-wave anomalies that can be classified as a family of little faults. The maxima observed on the RTE-TMI maps are correlated to intrabasement contacts; and the map derived from Euler’s solutions permitted to evaluate the depth of the geological accidents observed from the other filters. This map also reveals new faults with a depth greater than 5000 m. The lineaments identified in the Southwestern part could be linked to the Pan-African orogeny and seem to correspond to deep-seated basement structures, which are referred to the tectonic boundary between Congo Craton and the Pan-African orogeny belt. A 23/4-D modeling confirmed the observations derived from the RTE-TMI and HGM maps analyses. It shows intrusive bodies composed of gneiss and porphyroid granite and some domes with their roof situated at various depths not exceeding 1800 m from the surface. The structural map of the study area shows the trending of the structural features observed, namely, NE-SW, NW-SE, ENE-WSW, and WNW-ESE, respectively, while the E-W and N-S are secondary orientation of the observed tectonic evidence. Moreover, circular anomalies observed over the area are assimilated to intrusions of high magnetic materials or to granitic domes.

Zircon U–Pb, Lu–Hf and O isotopes from the 3414 Ma Strelley Pool Formation, East Pilbara Terrane, and the Palaeoarchaean emergence of a cryptic cratonic core

The detrital zircon record yields important information on crustal evolution that may be missing from extant magmatic rocks. The Palaeoarchaean to Neoarchaean East Pilbara Terrane (EPT), Western Australia, is the ancient core of the Pilbara Craton, and the archetypal granite-greenstone terrane. Magmatic zircon U–Pb crystallization ages from the EPT record crustal magmatism spanning 3.53–3.22 Ga. However, detrital zircons with ages as old as 3.65 Ga have been identified in EPT supracrustal sequences, which may provide key insights into the EPT’s early Archaean history. The Strelley Pool Formation (SPF), one of the earliest EPT siliciclastic sedimentary successions, is a critical unit in the field of Precambrian palaeobiology, containing multiple lines of evidence for some of Earth’s earliest life forms. The SPF was deposited on a continental shelf in a shallow water environment, upon perhaps the oldest preserved terrestrial erosion surface on Earth; it thus provides a record of a newly-emergent Palaeoarchaean continent. We report U–Pb, Lu–Hf and O isotope data from a suite of detrital zircon crystals sourced from the type locality of the SPF. Two hundred and five U–Pb detrital zircon analyses were undertaken via SIMS and LA–ICPMS. Four analyses define a young age peak of 3414 ± 34 Ma (2σ), which we interpret as a maximum depositional age. Zircon Hf isotope analyses yield εHfi of −3.5 to +5.2, clustering around chondritic values, with two-stage Hf crustal model ages of 3.9–3.5 Ga. Zircon O isotopes give a range in δ18O values from mantle-like (5.3‰) to more elevated (∼6.4‰). Taken together, the Hf and O isotope record, from new and published detrital and magmatic zircon crystals, implies a juvenile (mafic) source for evolved rocks of the EPT until ca. 3.3 Ga, after which time it experienced a period dominated by reworking of existing crust, possibly reflective of a change in geodynamics. The relationship between the cryptic core of the EPT, which is perhaps as old as 3.8–3.7 Ga, and the extant magmatic rocks that comprise the exposed Palaeoarchaean granite domes, remains uncertain.

Timing and structural controls on skarn-type and vein-type mineralization at the Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, Hunan Province, SE China

Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, located in the eastern Hunan Province, SE China, hosts quartz vein and skarn in the contact zone between carbonate and two stages granites. Critical geodynamic questions for South China are whether different types of mineralization form in the same time and how the magmatism–tectonic system controls the ore-forming process. Based on the distribution of the orebodies, six cassiterite samples from different types of mineralization are collected for dating. In-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS U–Pb isotopic data yielded concordia low intercept ages between 154 and 157 Ma, indicating that different types of mineralization belong to the same magmatism–mineralization system. Coupled with the study of the kinematic indicators, it suggests that the structural control of the wall rocks constrain the types of mineralization. These results provide further evidence of a close temporal link between the structure and the tin-polymetallic mineralization in Xitian deposit. Considering the structure in the district, granite dome plays an important role in the ore-forming process. The age and structural signatures in Xitian deposit are the response to the subduction of Pacific Plate.

Archaean basin margin geology and crustal evolution: an East Pilbara traverse

A palinspastic reconstruction of a 100 km long traverse through Archaean rocks of the East Pilbara, Western Australia, includes new observations of the deformation preceding the now visible greenstone belt pattern. The restoration is time-calibrated with all available U–Pb datings. Between incompletely preserved basin sequences, two superposed Palaeoarchaean volcano-sedimentary basins (the Coongan and Salgash Basins) are separated by an eastwards time-transgressive interface tentatively interpreted as an onlap surface. For over 140 Ma, the basin margin architecture was structurally controlled by superposed extensional growth fault arrays (D 1 ) with associated dyke swarms in a curved pattern spatially not related to that of the actual distribution of granite domes and greenstone belts. The basins are interpreted to have formed by collapse after arching above hotspots due to phase transitions by mini-subduction of slabs of cooled water-saturated basalt towards the base of an originally c. 45 km mafic crust. At c. 3.31 Ga, the extension was replaced by plate-driven regional NW–SE compression (D 2 ) inferred from NW-over-SE shear and ramp-and-flat thrusts, partly reversing offsets of the D 1 extension. The recognition of widespread D 2 pre-doming compression is important because it triggered the c. 3.18 Ga start of formation of the dome-and-keel pattern (D 3 ) visible today, which culminated at c. 2.9 Ga. Supplementary material: Eight figures, numbered ‘Supplementary material fig. a–h’, and a GPS list of observation sites are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3808243

Processes of crust formation in the early Earth imaged through Hf isotopes from the East Pilbara Terrane

The Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, is one of the best preserved Palaeo- to Mesoarchaean terrains on Earth. The East Pilbara Terrane is the archetypical granite-greenstone belt, the dome-like complexes of which were formed through three major magmatic events. These granite domes are comprised of metamorphosed granitic igneous rocks that exhibit a magmatic evolution from early tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) rocks towards K-rich granites over the period 3.53–2.83Ga. Accordingly, East Pilbara has been a focus for workers seeking to constrain early Archaean geodynamic processes. One way to inform on this debate is to interrogate successive igneous supersuites using tools sensitive to magmatic source. We present new zircon Hf and whole-rock Nd isotope data from four major supersuites of the Mount Edgar Dome, of the East Pilbara Terrane. Early ca. 3.45Ga TTGs exhibit isotopic signatures that imply their partial derivation from existing crust, with addition of some juvenile material. Subsequent Palaeoarchaean magmatic events show a secular trend towards more evolved isotopic signatures, interpreted as a dominance of increasing reworking of existing crust, with only minor addition of new juvenile crust. The implication of this is that these later Palaeoarchaean supersuites were largely derived from the melting of older granitic crust, with mass balance modelling suggesting an input of ca. 20% juvenile (depleted mantle) material. The limited addition of juvenile material and increased reworking of existing crust with time, does not support a model of modern-style subduction, but is consistent with vertical tectonic processes in a volcanic plateau-type setting for the East Pilbara Terrane >3.2Ga. All Palaeoarchaean Mount Edgar samples resolve to two-stage Hf model ages of ca. 3.7Ga and Nd model ages of ca. 3.6Ga. These Eoarchaean model ages support the existence of a cryptic pre-3.5Ga protocrust, albeit of unknown extent. Analysis of late Mesoarchaean granites yields highly evolved Hf isotope signatures of K-rich monzogranites. This is consistent with a trend in the East Pilbara Terrane from sodic TTG type magmatism in the early Palaeoarchaean to K-rich magmas in the late Mesoarchaean.