Zinc Contents of Mafic Micerals in Granitic Rocks, with Special Reference to Ore Chemistry

In order to know the reason why the Cu/Zn-Pb ratios of skarn-type deposits related with the ilmenite-series granitic rocks are markedly higher than those related with the magnetite-series, comparative mineralogical studies were carried out for the two types of granitic rocks in the Chugoku district. An attention was focused on the be-havior of Zn during the crystallization of granitic magma, because Zn contents of mafic minerals can be obtained by non-destructive electron microprobe analyses. Microscopic observation indicats that no sphalerite occurs in the magnetite-series granitic rocks, which im-plies that the magmas corresponding to the granitic rocks were undersaturated in respect to ZnS. Electron micro-probe analyses revealed that the Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios of mafic minerals such as biotite and hornblende in the ilmen-ite-series granitic rocks are remarkably higher than those in the magnetite-series, and the Zn contents are posi-tively correlated with the Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios in the ilmenite-series granitic rocks. Also the Zn/Fe rations seem to be slightly higher in the ilmenite-series granitic rocks. In contrast, the correlation between Zn contents and Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios is ambiguous in magnetite-series granitic rocks. With a progress of crystallization differentiation, therefore, Zn may be removed more effectively in the il-menite-series granitic magma, and the contents may be growing scarce in the fractionated ilmenite-series granitic magma. On the other hand, magnetite-series granitic magma probably increases the Zn-contents in the advanced stage of the crystallization. The hydrothermal fluids genetically related to the fractionated magnetite-series grani-tic magma are likely to be enriched in Zn, being favorable for the formation of Zn-rich deposits

Electric properties of granitic rocks

The objective of this work is to clarify the role of water content on the charge trans- port mechanisms of different granitic rocks. The mineralogical content of the rocks will also be taken into account. From the electrical point of view these materials are rather insulating porous media where charge injection creates different phenomena like build-up charges, space charge limited currents, surface effects and other behav- iors that resemble much a variety of oxides, like AlO

Isotopic geochronology of granitic rocks from the Central Iberian Zone: comparison of methodologies

Five granitic rocks, concentrically disposed from core to rim, were distinguished in the Castelo Branco pluton. U-Pb-Th electron microprobe monazite ages from granitic rocks are similar and ranging between 297-303 Ma. The granitic rocks from Castelo Branco pluton are 310 ± 1 Ma old, obtained by U-Pb (ID-TIMS) in separated zircon and monazite crystals, indicating a similar emplacement age for all granitic rocks of the pluton. Initial 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios and εNd310 and δ18O values suggest three distinct pulses of granitic magma and that they are derived from partial melting of heterogeneous metasedimentary materials. The other granitic rocks are related by magmatic differentiation and show small variations in (87Sr/86Sr)310, εNd310 and δ18O. The granitic pluton of Castelo Branco shows a rare reverse zoning

The late Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the South China Sea: A petrologic perspective

This paper presents a review of available petrological, geochonological and geochemical data for late Mesozoic to Recent igneous rocks in the South China Sea (SCS) and adjacent regions and a discussion of their petrogeneses and tectonic implications. The integration of these data with available geophysical and other geologic information led to the following tectono-magmatic model for the evolution of the SCS region. The geochemical characteristics of late Mesozoic granitic rocks in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), micro-blocks in the SCS, the offshore continental shelf and Dalat zone in southern Vietnam, and the Schwaner Mountains in West Kalimantan, Borneo indicate that these are mainly I-type granites plus a small amount of S-type granites in the PRMB. These granitoids were formed in a continental arc tectonic setting, consistent with the ideas proposed by Holloway (1982) and Taylor and Hayes (1980, 1983), that there existed an Andean-type volcanic arc during later Mesozoic era in the SCS region. The geochonological and geochemical characteristics of the volcanics indicate an early period of bimodal volcanism (60-43. Ma or 32. Ma) at the northern margin of the SCS, followed by a period of relatively passive style volcanism during Cenozoic seafloor spreading (37 or 30-16. Ma) within the SCS, and post-spreading volcanism (tholeiitic series at 17-8. Ma, followed by alkali series from 8. Ma to present) in the entire SCS region. The geodynamic setting of the earlier volcanics was an extensional regime, which resulted from the collision between India and Eurasian plates since the earliest Cenozoic, and that of the post-spreading volcanics may be related to mantle plume magmatism in Hainan Island. In addition, the nascent Hainan plume may have played a significant role in the extension along the northern margin and seafloor spreading in the SCS. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

U–Pb dating and Sm–Nd isotopic analysis of granitic rocks from the Tiris Complex : new constaints on key events in the evolution of the Reguibat Shield, Mauritania

The Reguibat Shield of N Mauritania and W Algeria represents the northern exposure of the West African Craton. As with its counterpart in equatorial West Africa, the Leo Shield, it comprises a western Archaean Domain and an eastern Palaeoproterozoic Domain. Much of the southern part of the Archaean Domain is underlain by the Tasiast-Tijirit Terrane and Amsaga Complex which, along with the Ghallaman Complex in the northeast, preserve a history of Mesoarchaean crustal growth, reworking and terrane assembly. This study presents new U–Pb and Sm–Nd data from the Tiris Complex, a granite–migmatite–supracrustal belt, that intervenes between these units and the Palaeoproterozoic Domain to the northeast. New U–Pb geochronology indicates that the main intrusive events, broadly associated with formation of dome-shaped structures, occurred at around 2.95–2.87 Ga and 2.69–2.65 Ga. This study also recognises younger regional metamorphism and intrusion of syn-tectonic granites located within major shear zones at around 2.56–2.48 Ga. Sm–Nd depleted mantle model ages indicate that magmatism involved recycling of crustal source components older than at least 3.25 Ga in age. Comparison with other Archaean units in the Reguibat Shield and in the Leo Shield illustrate the importance of deformation and tectonism of a regional greenstone-sedimentary province prior to around 3.00 Ga as well as subsequent magmatic episodes broadly equivalent in age to those in the Tiris Complex

A geologic atlas of TIMS data

In the three years since the first data were taken, it was well demonstrated that the Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS), properly used, can be a most valuable tool for the geologist. Compilation of the TIMS data into a geological atlas was felt to be useful. Several data sets were extensively studied to establish TIMS as a geologic tool and to explore the optimum enhancement techniques. It was found that a decorrelation stretch of bands 1, 3, and 5 enhance the data to a form that is very useful and this enhancement will be used in the geologic atlas along with an accompanying geologic map and description. Many data sets are well published and familiar to TIMS users, but there are some sets that, for lack of time and funds, were not thoroughly studied or published. A short description of these least studied sets of data is presented. The images presented along with the many previously studied and published TIMS images constitute an enormously useful set of information for the geologist in the 8 to 10 micron range

Early Cambrian U-Pb zircon age and Hf-isotope data from the Guasayán pluton, Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina: implications for the northwestern boundary of the Pampean arc

An Early Cambrian pluton, known as the Guasayán pluton, has been identified in the central area of Sierra de Guasayán, northwestern Argentina. A U?Pb zircon Concordia age of 533 ± 4 Ma was obtained by LA-MC-ICP-MS and represents the first report of robustly dated Early Cambrian magmatism for the northwestern Sierras Pampeanas. The pluton was emplaced in low-grade metasedimentary rocks and its magmatic assemblage consists of K-feldspar (phenocrysts) + plagioclase + quartz + biotite, with zircon, apatite, ilmenite, magnetite and monazite as accessory minerals. Geochemically, the granitic rock is a metaluminous subalkaline felsic granodiorite with SiO2 = 69.24%, Na2O+ K2O = 7.08%, CaO = 2.45%, Na2O/ K2O = 0.71 and FeO/MgO = 3.58%. Rare earth element patterns show moderate slope (LaN/YbN = 8.05) with a slightly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.76). We report the first in situ Hf isotopes data (εHft = -0.12 to -4.76) from crystallized zircons in the Early Cambrian granites of the Sierras Pampeanas, helping to constrain the magma source and enabling comparison with other Pampean granites. The Guasayán pluton might provide a link between Early Cambrian magmatism of the central Sierras Pampeanas and that of the Eastern Cordillera, contributing to define the western boundary of the Pampean paleo-arc.Fil: Dahlquist, Juan Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Verdecchia, Sebastián Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Baldo, Edgardo Gaspar Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Basei, Miguel A. S.. Universidade Do Brasilia. Instituto de Geociencias; BrasilFil: Alasino, Pablo Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Uran, Gimena Mariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Rapela, Carlos Washington. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: da Costa Campos Neto, Mario. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Zandomeni, Priscila Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentin

Water solubility in aluminosilicate melts of haplogranite composition at 2 kbar

The compositional dependence of H2O solubility was investigated at 2 kbar and 800°C in haplogranite melts (system SiO2---1bNaAlSi3O8---1bKAlSi3O8 or Qz---1bAb---1bOr). The sixteen investigated compositions contained 25, 35 or 45 wt.% normative Qz and various Ab/(Ab+Or) ratios (0.15–0.92). Starting solid materials were anhydrous bubble-free glasses to which 10 wt.% H2O was added. The H2O contents of the isobarically quenched melts (glasses) were measured by Karl-Fischer titration. The results show that H2O solubility in aluminosilicate melts depends significantly upon anhydrous composition. The highest solubility values are obtained for the most Ab-rich melts. At a constant normative quartz content, the solubility of water decreases from 6.49 ± 0.20 wt.% H2O for a composition Qz35Ab60Or05 (normative composition expressed in wt.%) to 5.50 ± 0.15 wt.% H2O for a composition Qz35Ab10Or55. Along this join, the most significant changes are observed for Ab-rich melts whereas H2O solubility in Or-rich melts remains almost constant. The H2O solubility data imply that H2O is preferentially associated with the Ab component in aluminosilicate melts. Application of the results to natural granitic melts suggests that Na-rich, H2O-saturated melts may be significantly less viscous than H2O-saturated, K-rich melts. The temperature dependence of H2O solubility, investigated for composition Qz28Ab38Or34 at 2 kbar, is low. Increasing temperature from 750° to 1150°C only causes a decrease in H2O solubility from 6.00 to 5.41 wt.% H2O. These data are in agreement with previous data obtained for albite melts

Recycling of tailings from the Barruecopardo tungsten deposit for the production of glass

Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Geology of the Tehachapi Mountains, California

The San Joaquin-Sacramento Valley, also known as the Great Valley of California, separates the Coast Ranges on the west from the Sierra Nevada on the east. The southern part of this major physiographic and structural province is about 50 miles in average width, and is terminated abruptly at its southeastern end by the Tehachapi Mountains, a range that trends roughly northeast. Uplifted principally by faulting, this mountain mass rises boldly (fig. 2) from the floor of the San Joaquin Valley-a floor so smooth and so extensive that in early days it was referred to as the San Joaquin Plains. The range also presents a rather straight and imposing, though somewhat less formidable, front toward the Mojave Desert to the southeast