Magmatic Research Articles

Evolution of Devonian and Carboniferous pre-Andean arc magmatism in the Frontal Cordillera (27°-35°S), Argentina: Insights from U–Pb zircon and isotopic studies

We propose a conceptual model for the magmatic system that gave rise to the Devonian and Carboniferous subduction-related magmatism in the Frontal Cordillera of Argentina, (representing the pre-Andean margin of SW Gondwana), integrating previous geochronological studies with new geochronological data from granitoids and subvolcanic dikes, which include reported petrological, geochemical, and isotopic data. This conceptual magmatic system postulates an extended magmatic activity, similar to that reported in a previous study for the Devonian foreland magmatism located in the present-day Sierras Pampeanas of Argentina. The geochronological data play a central role in the model, and lead us to postulate the presence of a deep mush reservoir, where a prolonged magmatic activity, permitted the extended crystallization of Devonian (ca. 400 ± 3 and 414 ± 3 Ma) and Carboniferous antecrysts (334 ± 2 Ma, 341 ± 2, and 348 ± 2, where the age of 348 Ma maybe considered as derived from the source, i.e. xenocrysts). Migration of the parental magma from the mush reservoir zone occurred near the time of emplacement and culminated in the formation of an ephemeral magma chamber located in shallow levels, where Devonian and Carboniferous zircon autocrysts crystallized (382 ± 5 Ma and 325 ± 2 Ma, respectively). Age spectra reported within individual sample, favors the idea of a massive migration of magma when conditions were favorable (e.g., thermally matured crust). Notably, the Carboniferous geochronological data is strongly consistent with previous geochronological data recently reported for the granitic rocks of the Tabaquito batholith. Although this model supports a protracted magmatic system for the Devonian and Carboniferous subduction-related magmatism, previous and new isotopic data reveal a significant difference in the petrogenetic processes. While the Carboniferous arc magmatism shows significant juvenile material contribution, this is not the case for the Devonian magmatic arc, where isotopic data suggest an older continental lithosphere as the dominant source. These different sources are attributed to two contrasting geodynamic settings, with advancing and retreating oceanic slabs, respectively.

New discovery of the Early Paleozoic carbonatite in Bayan Obo (China): Insights into the giant REE accumulation

The Bayan Obo deposit in China hosts the world’s largest rare earth element (REE) resource. Age dating results for Bayan Obo range across approximately one billion years (from ∼1.4 to 0.3 Ga), with three age groups (∼1.3 Ga, ∼0.45–0.40 Ga, and 0.28–0.26 Ga). Carbonatite dated to around 1.3 Ga and granitoids to approximately 270 Ma have been identified. The Early Paleozoic vein-type mineralization is widespread in the deposit. However, magmatic activity related to the highest age peak at ∼0.4 Ga has not well been identified in the deposit, complicating the interpretation of the ore genesis. In this study, we report a zircon 232Th-208Pb age of 435.2 ± 4.6 Ma (MSWD = 1.9, N = 26) from carbonatite in Bayan Obo. The zircon morphology, characterized by bipyramidal crystal forms, low U concentrations (mostly < 1 ppm), high Th/U ratio, and carbonatite-like oxygen isotopes (5.92 ± 0.31 ‰), demonstrates that the zircon crystallized from carbonatitic magmas, thus their ages represent the timing of magmatic activity. Although remelting of the Mesoproterozoic carbonatite during Paleozoic carbonatite has been previously documented, the newly identified Early Paleozoic carbonatite derives from a different mantle source, as indicated by their more radiogenic Hf isotope compositions. This suggests that the Bayan Obo deposit experienced multiple carbonatitic activities. The Early Paleozoic carbonatitic activity may have facilitated element mobilization and mineral recrystallization, improving the exploitable levels of the world’s largest REE deposit.

Volatile Mass Partitioned among the Atmosphere, Mantle, and Core in Proto-Mars

We analyze the distribution of volatiles such as water, hydrogen, and carbon within the atmosphere, mantle, and core of Mars during its accretion stages. The partitioning of these volatiles is crucial as it influences the generation of intrinsic magnetic fields, mantle convection, and magmatic activity. The study suggests that the accretion process is responsible for the presence of water and light elements within the Martian mantle and core. We employ a hybrid-type proto-atmosphere model, which considers an upper layer composed of nebula components and a lower layer made up of degassed components from the impact degassing of the simplified building blocks based on the two-component model. Our numerical analysis implies that the formation of a magma ocean at this high temperature and pressure after around the half-size of the present Mars triggers the migration of water vapor, carbon, and hydrogen from the primordial atmosphere into the planetary interior. Ultimately, several 1021 kg of water could have been distributed to the mantle and, if degassed again by the formation of flood basalts on the Tharsis Plateau, could have supplied Mars’ ancient oceans. Meanwhile, several 1020 kg of carbon and 1019 kg of hydrogen (equivalent to 1020 kg H2O) were found to be distributed in the core. Although the distribution of sulfur was simplified so that all of the sulfur is in the core, a result of sulfur accounting for 14 wt% to 19 wt.% of the core mass would be consistent with the core density suggested by InSight.

Geological Mapping of Kaso, Tambaksari, Ciamis, West Java Province Using Lidar Images Interpretation

Abstract Remote sensing nowadays is used to quickly and effectively obtain information about an object, area or phenomenon and can be applied to large areas that are sometimes difficult to reach. Satellites with multispectral imagery are commonly used in geological mapping, but have drawbacks when used in tropical areas such as Indonesia, with dense vegetation, fast sedimentation rates and highly weathered that will cover fresh rocks making it difficult to interpret geological condition through aerial photo. Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) images using laser beams to produce elevation data (x,y,z) with high spatial resolution and can penetrate the surface of vegetation are expected to be a solution in areas with dense vegetation that are sometimes difficult to reach. The study was conducted by interpreting the morphometric aspects using Digital Terrain Model (DTM) data processed from LiDAR imagery with a spatial resolution of 1 m/pixel to display the topographical surface in detail. The morphometric aspects used include slope, surface roughness, aspect, hillshade, and stream pattern. Field data validation through surface mapping is carried out to correct the lithology interpretation by comparing the results of LiDAR image interpretation. Field data validation results show that interpretation using LiDAR imagery has good results (79%) through overall accuracy percentage, with the lithology units being sandstones, siltstone, breccias, and andesitic igneous rocks. The lineament interpretation of the DTM data indicates the existence of a geological structure in the form of a normal and strike-slip fault in the study area.

Lateral redox variability in ca. 1.9 Ga marine environments indicated by organic carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions.

The stepwise oxygenation of Earth's surficial environment is thought to have shaped the evolutionary history of life. Microfossil records and molecular clocks suggest eukaryotes appeared during the Paleoproterozoic, perhaps shortly after the Great Oxidation Episode at ca. 2.43 Ga. The mildly oxygenated atmosphere and surface oceans likely contributed to the early evolution of eukaryotes. However, the principal trigger for the eukaryote appearance and a potential factor for their delayed expansion (i.e., intermediate ocean redox conditions until the Neoproterozoic) remain poorly understood, largely owing to a lack of constraints on marine and terrestrial nutrient cycling. Here, we analyzed redox-sensitive element contents and organic carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of relatively low metamorphic-grade (greenschist facies) black shales preserved in the Flin Flon Belt of central Canada to examine open-marine redox conditions and biological activity around the ca. 1.9 Ga Flin Flon oceanic island arc. The black shale samples were collected from the Reed Lake area in the eastern part of the Flin Flon Belt, and the depositional site was likely distal from the Archean cratons. The black shales have low Al/Ti ratios and are slightly depleted in light rare-earth elements relative to the post-Archean average shale, which is consistent with a limited contribution from felsic igneous rocks in Archean upper continental crust. Redox conditions have likely varied between suboxic and euxinic at the depositional site of the studied section, as suggested by variable U/Al and Mo/Al ratios. Organic carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of the black shales are approximately -23‰ and +13.7‰, respectively, and these values are systematically higher than those of broadly coeval continental margin deposits (approximately -30‰ for δ13Corg and +5‰ for δ15Nbulk). These elevated values are indicative of high productivity that led to enhanced denitrification (i.e., a high denitrification rate relative to nitrogen influx at the depositional site). Similar geochemical patterns have also been observed in the modern Peruvian oxygen minimum zone where dissolved nitrogen compounds are actively lost from the reservoir via denitrification and anammox, but the large nitrate reservoir of the deep ocean prevents exhaustion of the surface nitrate pool. Nitrogen must have been widely bioavailable in the ca. 1.9 Ga oceans, and its supply to upwelling zones must have supported habitable environments for eukaryotes, even in the middle of oceans around island arcs.

Alkali Trace Elements Observed by MarSCoDe LIBS at Zhurong Landing Site on Mars: Quantitative Analysis and Its Geological Implications

AbstractMars Surface Composition Detector (MarSCoDe) is one of the important payloads carried by the Zhurong rover, China's first Mars exploration mission Tianwen‐1. The laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument of MarSCoDe is mainly used to detect major and trace elements on the surface of Mars. The quantitative analysis of alkali trace elements, namely lithium (Li), strontium (Sr), and rubidium (Rb), holds significance in unraveling the geological evolution of the Zhurong landing site. This study focuses on establishing univariate calibration models using MarSCoDe LIBS spectra from 84 samples tested in the ground laboratory. The accuracy of these models, within a few parts per million (ppm), was subsequently validated through the analysis of 12 onboard MarSCoDe Calibration Targets (MCCTs). With these models, Li, Sr, and Rb concentrations in the surface targets during the initial 300 sols (Martian days) traverse were determined. These concentrations ranged from 6 to 18, 106–628, and 22–87 ppm, respectively. Our results suggest that Li, Sr, and Rb are mainly related to the igneous rock components in the rocks and soils at the Zhurong landing site. The major secondary minerals in MarSCoDe scientific targets are likely small amounts of sulfates, which appear to have formed from the acidic weathering of recent surface brine. Clay minerals are likely either absent or very sparse in the scientific targets. The surface igneous materials at the landing site likely have originated from the most recent lava flow during the Amazonian epoch.

Extreme geochemical fractionation during mantle melting: Insights from Hf-Nd isotopically ultra-depleted eclogite

Extreme fractionation of elements and isotopes in mafic igneous rocks is abnormal in deciphering the source nature and melting conditions of mafic magmatism. Especially, identification of geochemically ultra-depleted mafic melts and their mantle sources has great bearing on the property of crust-mantle differentiation at plate margins. This is illustrated by extreme Hf-Nd isotope fractionation in ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from the Sulu orogen in east-central China. In addition to the previous finding of ultrahigh εNd(0) values, we report here new data of whole-rock trace elements and Lu-Hf isotopes in eclogites and related rocks from the same region. The present results show extremely high Lu/Hf ratios and abnormally high εHf(0) values of up to 576 for the eclogites, significantly different from the garnet amphibolites and other eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks in the same orogen. This feature is coupled with the ultrahigh εNd(0) values as well as the severe depletion of light rare earth elements (LREE) and high field strength elements (HFSE). Because HFSE and LREE are immobile in aqueous solutions and the effect of melt extraction is insignificant during the continental deep subduction, the extreme fractionation of Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd indicate their origination from a geochemically ultra-depleted mantle source. These eclogites have the depleted mantle Hf model ages of 1.27 Ga to 1.61 Ga, similar to the depleted mantle Nd model ages of 1.39 Ga to 1.67 Ga as previously reported. This suggests that the protolith of the extremely high εHf-εNd eclogites was a kind of mafic igneous rocks derived from fractional crystallization of geochemically ultra-depleted mafic melts, which were produced by partial melting of the highly refractory lithospheric mantle during a series of seafloor spreading initiation-failure cycles at a divergent plate margin after the breakup of supercontinent Columbia in the Early Mesoproterozoic. The mafic igneous rocks were located in a passive continental margin in the Late Paleozoic and experienced deep subduction and exhumation in the Triassic, giving rise to the presently studied eclogites. The ancient geochemical signatures were retained without considerable influence by mantle convection, providing insights into the nature of crust-mantle differentiation during the tectonic transition from supercontinental breakup to seafloor spreading beneath the sub-ridge lithospheric mantle.

Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of igneous rocks in Gharyan area (northwestern Libya) for potential industrial valorization

Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of igneous rocks in Gharyan area (northwestern Libya) for potential industrial valorization

On the Age-Old Problem of Dating a Granite: Combined Zircon, Apatite, and Titanite Petrochronology in an I-Type Granite from Mt Stirling, Australia

Abstract To address the limitations of current dating methods, it is crucial to not only enhance existing techniques like U–Pb zircon dating but also explore alternative tools. This study focuses on three common mineral phases—zircon, apatite, and titanite—in an I-type granite. The goal is to assess their reliability as dating tools and propose improved methods for dating granitic rocks. In the case study of the Mt Stirling pluton within the Mt Buller igneous suite in Southeastern Australia, significant variability in laser ablation U–Pb zircon ages (around 100 million years) was observed. To improve the reliability of zircon age data and reduce non-magmatic-related variabilities, a data filtering protocol is applied. This protocol involves several steps such as trimming zircons with excessive K and Ca, excluding zircons with unusual core–rim age relationships, removing zircons with excessive non-formula elements (Al, Fe, and Mn), identifying hydrothermally altered zircons, and applying a 10% discordance threshold. The filtered Concordia Age (406 ± 1 Ma; mean square weighted deviation (MSWD) = 0.7, n = 80) of the host rock exhibits improved precision and reduced error compared to the unfiltered data (399 ± 2 Ma; MSWD = 9.3, n = 240). The filtered individual dates show less scatter and a mean that is different (i.e. outside statistical uncertainty), noting that their total still spans a considerable time range of ~50 million years, exceeding the individual zircon analytical reproducibility of 2 standard errors (~15 million years of 2 SE). Caution is advised when using the proposed error for the pooled analyses as a definitive precision. Similarly, trace element filtering approaches were applied to apatite and titanite samples from Mt Stirling, two phases that arguably cannot be inherited. For apatite, monitoring Ca and P as well as Zr/Y and Th/U ratios, along with identifying age groupings based on Sr concentrations, was effective in eliminating outliers and enhancing dating precision. In the case of titanite, monitoring Ca and Ti, Sr/Zr and Sr/Th ratios, and Sr/Ca and Zr/Ti ratios successfully enhanced dating precision. Notably, apatite and titanite grains were grouped in distinct Sr concentrations (high-, mid-, and low-Sr), with these groups corresponding to different date groups: high-Sr apatite and high- and low-Sr titanite returned c. 403 Ma, while low-Sr apatite and mid-Sr titanite returned c. 420 and 393 Ma, respectively. The spuriously younger or older dates may indicate an open system and influences from various common-Pb sources. The 403 Ma date coincides with the filtered zircon data, placing further confidence in the coupled approach, and is interpreted here as the igneous intrusion age. Notable is that this age is 25 Myr older than previously reported K–Ar age data, thus far considered to be the age of the intrusion. This study underscores the potential for erroneous zircon dates due to cryptic chemical influences. To enhance the reliability of age interpretation using laser ablation analyses, employing a petrochronological approach using split-stream combined age and trace element data is recommended in addition to the combination of multiple geochronometers. In the case of Mt Buller, it has proven crucial to carefully verify chemical closure of all applied geochronometers by monitoring concomitant trace element concentrations. Applied to other intrusions, petrochronology can play a critical role in obtaining reliable age information, even for igneous rocks that appear pristine. With this, we emphasise the importance of a careful approach towards individual age data interpretation, which can be produced fast and in abundance with modern analytical approaches.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO MINERALÓGICA DOS SEDIMENTOS DO IGARAPÉ DIABINHO (FORMAÇÃO SOLIMÕES) NO ESTADO DO ACRE – PROVENIÊNICA E IMPLICAÇÕS AMBIENTAIS

Igarapé Diabinho, situated in the central region of the state of Acre, is a tributary on the right bank of the Envira river, belonging to the Juruá river basin. Its U-shaped grooved channel is carved in sediments known as the Solimões Formation, of Late Miocene–Pleistocene age. The rocky exposures along Diabinho stream demonstrate a succession of massive silt-clay sediments, covered by other compact sandy silts cemented by carbonates. These sediments are partly overlain by alluvial (fluvial-lacustrine) sediments from the Quaternary, in the region where this stream dominates. For the study, samples collected in three profiles along a ravine on the right bank of Igarapé Diabinho were investigated, in an area used for picnics during the dry season, that is, with slight human disturbance. To assist in identifying the probable source areas of these sediments, and determine their weathering and transport conditions, granulometric analyzes were carried out, investigating the mineralogical composition of the sediments, their heavy minerals, and the mineralogy of the sediments’ clay fraction. The sediments are predominantly silts with little clay, being composed of quartz, feldspars (albite and microcline), clay minerals (smectite, illite, and kaolinite), muscovite, and chlorite. As a result, the sediments were deposited in mild paleoclimatic conditions under weak chemical weathering, indicated by the predominance of unstable minerals, such as amphiboles, feldspars, biotite, epidote, garnet, apatite, and titanite. The dominant presence of aluminosilicates (kyanite, andalusite, sillimanite, garnet, and micas) and epidote indicates that these sediments had as their primary source metamorphosed pelitic rocks. A second assemblage composed of tourmaline, zircon, apatite, titanite, and even ilmenite points to possible contributions from basic and intermediate igneous rocks that are currently observed in Serra do Divisor on the borders of Brazil and Peru. In conclusion, these findings contribute to implications in the paleoenvironmental context by providing insights into the probable source areas of the sediments, determining the weathering and transport conditions, and identifying the mineralogy of the sediments.

Formation Conditions of Ignimbrites of the Khangar Volcano (Kamchatka)

Abstract —The study of minerals, melt inclusions, as well as natural glasses showed that two different melts contributed to the formation of ignimbrites of the Khangar Volcano. The first, providing the information on melt inclusions in plagioclase and quartz phenocrysts, represents the state of magma in a deep source. The other type of melt is responsible for the formation of glasses and microcrystals of feldspars in fiamme. Experimental and analytical studies of melt inclusions showed that crystallization of most plagioclase and quartz phenocrysts from ignimbrites of the Khangar Volcano occurred at temperatures of 840–960 °C and pressures up to 1.1 kbar, from the melt with water contents up to 3.23 wt.%, under the conditions of magma chamber. The presence of syngenetic primary melt and fluid inclusions in plagioclase and quartz phenocrysts from ignimbrites of the Khangar Volcano indicates phase separation (“boiling”) of the melt with mass formation of СО2 microbubbles in magma. The other type of melt is secondary relative to magmatic systems of the Khangar Volcano and is formed by sintering and melting of tuffogenic volcanoclastic material. This melt contributed to the formation of fiamme in the examined ignimbrites. Based on the study of glasses and microcrystals of feldspars in fiamme, it was found that crystallization of oligoclase occurred at temperatures of 770–840 °C in the melt between the spherules (with water content up to 2.91 wt.%). Sanidine crystals grew over spherules at lower temperatures, 680–760 °C.

Migration and focusing of porphyry deposit-forming fluids through aplitic mush of the Saginaw Hill cupola, Arizona, United States

Porphyry-type Cu ± Au ± Mo deposits form in the upper (ca. 2–5 km deep) parts of large, long-lived magmatic-hydrothermal systems in which mineralising fluids are thought to be derived from mid-to shallow-crustal magma chambers. Increasingly, however, magmatic systems are viewed as consisting of mush with minor and transient lenses of magma, with mush being a variably packed framework of crystals with interstitial melt and magmatic volatile phase (MVP). In this context, questions remain as to the source (mainly depth) and mechanisms of transport and focussing of the vast volumes of fluids required for shallow level porphyry-type mineralisation. Even more problematic is a paucity of first-order textural evidence for the presence of mush in magmatic-hydrothermal systems, including those which host porphyry-type deposits. To address this, we have studied the aplitic porphyry cupola of the Saginaw Hill magmatic system, Tuscon, Arizona, United States, where magmatic-hydrothermal features are exceptionally well exposed, including a massive silica cap, quartz unidirectional solidification textures (USTs), stockworks of multiple generations of variably mineralised quartz veins and mineralised miarolitic cavities. From field-to micro-scale textural and geochemical studies, particularly observations of vermiform quartz between earlier generations of magmatic quartz and feldspar, we evidence the development of fluid pathways through mush at the magmatic-hydrothermal transition. These are shown to connect and provide fluids and ore constituents to the mineralised miarolitic cavities and early quartz vein stockworks. We suggest that this process should be considered in all new genetic, exploration and numerical models for porphyry and similar types of magmatic-hydrothermal ore-deposits.

Magma Differentiation, Contamination/Mixing and Eruption Modulated by Glacial Load—The Volcanic Complex of The Pleiades, Antarctica

AbstractThe Pleiades Volcanic Field is made up of some 20 monogenetic, partly overlapping scoria and spatter cones, erupted in the last 900 ka, cropping out from the ice close to the head of the Mariner Glacier in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Erupted products vary from hawaiite to trachyte, defining a complete mild Na‐alkaline differentiation trend. Mafic samples are characterized by multi‐elemental patterns typical of OIB magmas, moderately low 87Sr/86Sr (0.7037) and high 143Nd/144Nd (0.51284), with a clear within‐plate affinity, indicating a subcontinental lithospheric source. With increasing SiO2, 87Sr/86Sr ratios increase up to 0.7052 and 143Nd/144Nd decrease to 0.51277, supporting the hypothesis of open‐system evolution, with significant crustal assimilation during fractional crystallization. The erupted volume of most evolved products (∼7 km3), according to fractionation models, suggests that primitive magmas should have been more than 10 times larger, indicating the occurrence of a large magma plumbing system, unexpected for a volcanic field of monogenetic scoria cones. The occurrence of a complete fractionation trend with large magma chambers and large assimilation rate is unusual, if not unique, among the alkali basaltic volcanic fields and it is matched by a climax of activity during the last glacial maximum (30 ka), as indicated by new 40Ar‐39Ar ages (30 ± 3 ka and 25 ± 2 ka) for samples from the two most prominent edifices. Therefore, we hypothesize a role of a thick ice cap in suppressing eruptions and ultimately leading to prolonged magma residence time in the subsurface, favoring significant fractionation coupled with unusual high rates of crustal assimilation.

The Geochemical and Mineralogical Signature of Glaciovolcanism Near Þórisjökull, Iceland, and Its Implications for Glaciovolcanism on Mars

AbstractCandidate glaciovolcanic landforms have been identified across Mars, suggesting that volcano‐ice interactions may have been relatively widespread in areas that once contained extensive surface and near‐surface ice deposits. To better constrain the detection of glaciovolcanism in Mars' geological record, this study has investigated and characterized the petrology, geochemistry, and mineralogy of three intraglacial volcanoes and an interglacial volcano in the Þórisjökull area of southwest Iceland. Our results show that glaciovolcanism creates abundant, variably altered hyaloclastite and hyalotuff that is sufficiently geochemically and mineralogically distinctive from subaerially erupted lava for identification using instruments available on Mars rovers and landers. Due to the lower gravity and atmospheric pressure at the surface of Mars, hyaloclastite and hyalotuff are also more likely to form in greater abundance in Martian glaciovolcanoes. Our results support that magmatism following deglaciation likely triggers decompression melting of the shallow mantle beneath Iceland, creating systematic changes in geochemistry and mineralogy. Glaciation can also suppress magmatism at its peak, encouraging the formation of shallow fractionated magma chambers. As such, it is possible for the crustal loading of an ice cap to enhance igneous diversity on a planet without plate tectonism, creating glass‐rich, altered, and mineralogically diverse deposits such as those discovered in Gale crater by the Curiosity rover. However, as the eroded products of glaciovolcanism are similar to those formed through hydrovolcanism, the presence of a glaciovolcanic landform at the source is required to confirm whether volcano‐ice interactions occurred at the sediment source.

A gradual Proterozoic transition from an unstable stagnant lid to the modern plate tectonic system

When did plate tectonics begin on Earth, and what preceded it? Published thermo-mechanical mantle evolution models imply that the early history of planets with a composition and size similar to Earth and Venus should be characterized by periodic mantle overturns of 30–100 Myr duration, separated by stable lid phases of 100–300 Myr. This is best described as an unstable stagnant lid because this term captures the Jekyll and Hyde duality of such worlds, which alternate between a stagnant lid sensu stricto phase between mantle overturns, and a mobile lid phase during overturns. Mantle overturn upwelling zones would rework and resurface large tracts of pre-existing Hadean crust and basalt-dominated Archean-style oceanic lithosphere (ASOL). Basal anatexis of ASOL c. 40–50 km thick (or melting within down-drips) could generate tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) melts and create proto-continental nuclei, while garnet pyroxenite restites delaminate into the mantle. With further reworking, low-K tonalitic rocks would remelt to produce granodiorite and granite, completing the transfer of radioactive elements out of the lower crust. Mantle overturns would generate large-scale lateral currents in the upper mantle that would push against Archean-aged sub-continental lithospheric mantle keels, causing continental drift and orogenesis despite the absence of plate boundary forces such as slab-pull. This is corroborated by the observed displacement of Lakshmi Planum (&gt;1000 km) on Venus, a planet with no arcs nor ridges. Recent models suggest that the Abitibi Greenstone Belt formed as an oceanic tract behind a detached ribbon continent during the partial break-up of the Southern Superior Craton and may be a sample of Archean oceanic lithosphere. The Abitibi Greenstone Belt has c. 50 km of apparent stratigraphy composed of 2–10 Myr mafic–felsic bimodal volcanic cycles that follow assimilation–fractionation trends indicating the contamination of mantle-derived basalts with TTG-like anatectites derived from older basalts. ASOL of this type would be difficult to subduct due to its weakness and buoyancy, but would be fertile and could generate large amounts of second-stage melts. There are no sheeted dykes, precluding a seafloor spreading model, while the absence of basal cumulates or attached mantle means that this type of ASOL should not be called an ophiolite. Archean–Proterozoic unconformities are followed by the deposition of iron formations, clastic and volcanic rocks, which are only rarely affected by sagduction. The increase in siliciclastic input and decreasing sagduction reflect near-global Late Archean emergence of stiffening granitic continents from the oceans due to secular cooling and intra-continental differentiation. Albeit associated with continent-derived siliciclastic debris, many Paleoproterozoic volcanic (and plutonic) rocks resemble Archean rocks geochemically. The similarity of magmatic rocks and hot orogenic styles in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic could imply that the overall geodynamic regime was similar in both. The Siderian–Rhyacian quiet period could therefore represent a stagnant lid phase that followed the 2.5 Ga Archean overturn. When the next mantle overturn ruptured the lid at c. 2.2–2.0 Ga (and again at c. 1.9–1.8 Ga), continents would have been set into motion, forming arcs and ridges. Once initiated, arc and ridge segments needed to multiply and propagate to create a world-girdling system. Mesoproterozoic rocks preserve clear evidence of plate mobility, subduction and orogenesis, but, ophiolites, the geological record of seafloor spreading, are extremely rare prior to 1 Ga. The Earth at 2.0 Ga was probably still largely covered by ASOL, possibly similar to the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, but how and where it was all destroyed and replaced by modern oceanic lithosphere are mysteries. Given the volume of ASOL involved, recognizable by-products of this global-scale reworking process should exist. Voluminous anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite/gabbro suite rocks are mostly of Proterozoic age, requiring either an ephemeral source or a unique process. Trace element inversion models applied to massif anorthosites imply they crystallized from high-La/Yb melts that do not resemble tholeiitic basalts, invalidating the notion that they are flotation cumulates from basaltic underplates. Model anorthosite-forming melts can, however, be explained by high-pressure melting of an ASOL-like basalt source with garnet-bearing residues. I posit that massif anorthosites record the destruction of an ephemeral source (ASOL) at Proterozoic convergent margins. When the last ASOL was crushed between converging continents or consumed by an overprinting arc ( c. 0.8–1 Ga), anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite/gabbro suite rocks ceased to form and the Earth became a modern plate tectonic planet.

Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau driven by mantle delamination from the overriding plate

The geodynamic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau remains highly debated. Any model of its evolution must explain the plateau’s growth as constrained by palaeo-altitude studies, the spatio-temporal distribution of magmatic activity, and the lithospheric mantle removal inferred from seismic velocity anomalies in the underlying mantle. Several conflicting models have been proposed, but none of these explains the first-order topographic, magmatic and seismic features self-consistently. Here we propose and test numerically an evolutionary model of the plateau that involves gradual peeling of the lithospheric mantle from the overriding plate and consequent mantle and crustal melting and uplift. We show that this model successfully reproduces the successive surface uplift of the plateau to more than 4 km above sea level and is consistent with the observed migration of magmatism and geometry of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary resulting from subduction of the Indian plate and delamination of the mantle lithosphere of the Eurasian plate. These comparisons indicate that mantle delamination from the overriding plate is the driving force behind the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and, potentially, orogenic plateaus more generally.

Provenance of sediments and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the “Mis Amores” beach, Veracruz, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico

In this study, grain-size, mineralogy, and geochemistry of Mis Amores (MA) beach sediments, Tuxpan, Veracruz State, Gulf of Mexico are analyzed. The textural parameters reveal that the sediments are fine-grained and vary from well-sorted to very well-sorted nature. The SEM-EDS analysis reveal that the sediments are abundant in minerals such as quartz, alkali feldspars, zircon, ilmenite, and pyroxene. Geochemically, the sediments are classified as sub-arkose type. The Chondrite normalized rare earth elements (REE) pattern suggest that the source area is dominated by felsic and intermediate igneous rocks (Eu/Eu* = 0.90 - 1.19, number of samples n = 16). The provenance discrimination diagrams indicated that the MA sediments were derived by the weathering of felsic igneous rocks, probably from the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt. The results of this study reveal that the Tuxpan River played an important role in delivering sediments to the MA beach area. The environmental indices suggest that the sediments are moderately contaminated by Zn and moderate to extremely contaminated by Cu and As. The Cu (&gt; 84%) and Zn (&gt; 82%) concentrations are predominantly associated with the exchangeable fraction, which are readily bioavailable. Cu, As, and Zn in the MA sediments were derived from the agricultural activities and waste water discharges from the sanitary network of the Tuxpan town and port.

Geology and characteristics of petrographic rocks in the region of Trepça, Kosovo

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to accomplish a thorough identification of rock types occurring within the Mitrovica region by describing in detail all encountered varieties. The authors aim to determine the discontinuity or continuity of all inter-formational boundaries, crucial for accurate delineation on the ground and complete reflection on a 1:25000 scale map. Additionally, the objective is to identify the nature of contact between rock types and provide a detailed their description. Methods. Field exploration in the Mitrovica region was conducted for several months. Rock identification involved detailed sampling and petrographic analysis, including thin section preparation of magmatic rocks. The method included sample preparation, polarized light source interactions with minerals and observation of optical properties. Key properties observed are birefringence, interference colors, extinction angles, identification and analysis. Findings. Based on the study of stratigraphic units and geological descriptions of mineral outcrop areas, various types of rocks through petrographic microscope preparation, as well as chemical and geochemical analyses, have been differentiated. The Mitrovica area encompasses the following lithostratigraphic units: harzburgite, gabbro, diabase, metasandstone, sandstone, quartzite and grainstone with calcium (Aeolisaccus sp.; Bioclastic grainstone with dacycladal algae and small milliolides; Salpin-goporella sp.). Originality. The originality of the research lies in employing an optical microscope for the precise identification of rocks. Through the re-search carried out in the study area, we obtained a comprehensive petrographic description of mineral composition, texture, and mineralization, facilitating the assessment of the area exploitation potential. Practical implications. The petrographic exploration yielded the conclusion that the Pb-Zn mineralization is present in the study area, which is a sig-nificant finding for the advancement of the mining sector and the local community, provided that environmental preservation measures are upheld and responsible methods of area exploitation are implemented.

Deformation under a Young Volcanic Covered Area in Southern Garut, Indonesia: Insight from 3D Gravity Modelling

Destructive earthquakes are frequently related to inland active faults. In recent years, a significant number of shallow earthquakes with low magnitude have occurred in southern Garut, West Java, Indonesia. Two earthquakes, with magnitudes of M4.2 and M3.9 in 2016 and 2017, respectively, have caused significant damage and were interpreted as indications of an active fault. We used publicly available gravity data to infer the subsurface structure that may be related to recent seismic activity. We used spectral analysis and filtering techniques for the regional-residual anomaly separation and anomaly enhancement to show the basin structure in the study area. 3D gravity inversion modelling was performed to obtain the subsurface density distribution. The result indicates the sedimentary layers with a density of 2.4 to 2.5 gr/cm3 with an underlying basement with a density of 2.65 gr/cm3. An intra-basin basement high with an NE-SW trend divides the basin into two sub-basins. This local basement high can be associated with a magmatic intrusion body and a series of young volcanic bodies located at the northeastern end of the basin. Our results emphasize a possible strong interaction between the tectonic and magmatic activities in this region.

Data mining for geochemical signatures of volcanic-type uranium mineralization, Duolun-Guyuan prospect, North China

Application of advanced data mining methods to various types of geochemical data is able to fingerprint valid signatures of mineralization, thus unveiling ore genesis and discovering new minerals. But individual studies that apply data mining methods to both local- and regional-scale, both sediment and whole-rock multi-element geochemical data sets are relatively scarce. Here, we applied data mining methods, including multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis), spatial analysis (trend surface analysis), unsupervised machine learning algorithm (K-means clustering), supervised algorithms (random forest and deep neural network) to both regional sediment geochemical and local lithogeochemical data from the Duolun-Guyuan prospect, in order to determine the geochemical signatures of volcanic-type uranium mineralization through characterizing: (1) representative element associations; (2) axial zonation of primary haloes; (3) element distribution patterns; and (4) crustal structures (via deep learning-based predictive hafnium (Hf) isotopic mapping). Results of principal component analysis and random forest show that samples from known ore districts (e.g., Zhangmajing and Daguanchang) exhibit a distinct combination of major ore-forming elements (U and Mo), chalcophile elements (Ag, Hg, Pb, Sb and As), rare and rare earth elements (Be, Li, La, Nb and Y), tungsten (W), bismuth (Bi), and rock-forming elements (SiO2, K2O, Na2O and Al2O3), differing from samples of both the mineralized and barren areas. The axial zonation of primary haloes in Daguanchang is comprised of supra-ore haloes (rare earth elements, Th, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ga and Rb), near-ore haloes (U, Mo, Pb, Zn, Cd and Sb), and sub-ore haloes (Li, Be, Sc, V, Cu, Sr, Cs, Ba, W and Bi). Moreover, trend surface analysis shows that in the study area, the spatial distribution pattern of the supra-, near-, and sub-ore elements forms a northwesterly alignment, with the supra-ore elements concentrated in the southeast, the sub-ore elements in the northwest, and the near-ore elements in between. Finally, deep learning-based predictive hafnium (Hf) isotopic mapping reveals that the Duolun-Guyuan prospect is dominated by negative mean zircon εHf(t) values ranging from −17 to 0, except for some local areas in the west and southwest of Duolun and the north of Weichang. The above results may indicate critical signatures of volcanic-type U mineralization, consisting of meta- or pera-luminous, alkaline rhyolite resulted from crustal reworking, surrounding mantle-derived igneous rocks, proximal heat source, accompanying epithermal deposits (e.g., Ag, Au, etc.), and anomalous concentrations of U, Mo and relevant elements particularly Th, W, Bi, Ag and Sb etc. Our study will effectively provide new exploration geochemical indicators of volcanic-type U deposit.