323 research outputs found

    origin of diamond-bearing rocks

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    Hf isotope compositions of northern Luzon arc lavas suggest involvement of pelagic sediments in their source

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    International audienceNew Hf isotopic compositions for island arc basalts from the Luzon arc (Philippines) define a remarkable sub-horizontal trend in Hf-Nd isotopic space with a small range of εHf (+5 to +17) associated with a large variation in εNd (-7 to +8). The data plot above and barely overlap the terrestrial array defined by oceanic basalts and continental crust. Mixing hyperbola passing through the data intersect fields for depleted mantle and pelagic sediments suggesting that these two components formed the source of the Luzon arc lavas. An exception is the Batan Island where the low εNd ratios are associated with low εHf values. A mixing hyperbola fitting the Batan samples suggests that their mantle source was modified by subducted material prior to contamination by terrigenous clays. The relationship between Nd and Hf isotopic compositions in the Luzon volcanics show that the type of sediment subducted under an island arc is a determining factor in the control of the two isotopic systems in island arc environments

    Dynamical Geochemistry: Mantle dynamics and its role in the formation of geochemical heterogeneity

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    Chemical geodynamics is a term coined nearly forty years ago to highlight the important link between Earth's geochemical evolution and plate tectonics & mantle convection. Significant progress in our understanding of this connection has taken place since then through advances in the analytical precision of geochemical measurements, dramatically improved geophysical imaging techniques, application of novel isotope systems, and great advances in computational power. Thee latter especially has improved geodynamical models and data interpretation techniques. We provide a review of these advances and their impact on chemical geodynamics, or perhaps, dynamical geochemistry. To focus this review we will address primarily the role of whole mantle convection and oceanic crust formation and recycling together with an update on our understanding of noble gas systematics

    Accurate Measurement of Rare Earth Elements by ICP-MS after Ion-Exchange Separation: Application to Ultra-Depleted Samples

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    International audienceThis study reports precise and accurate data for rare earth elements (REE) measured on eight geological reference materials, five enriched in REE (BE-N, BHVO-2, BR, BR-24 and RGM-1) and three very depleted in REE (BIR-1, UB-N and DTS-2). Data were acquired by quadrupole ICP-MS after isolation of the REE using an ion-exchange chromatography procedure. All the measured REE abundances were similar within 5% (10% for the most REE-depleted sample DTS-2) to the high-quality measurements previously published in the literature. We also show that by using an internal Tm spike, the reproducibility of the data was improved to 1%. Applying this technique to the analysis of ultra-depleted rock samples (sub ng g-1), we show that significant improvements were obtained relative to the routine trace element measurement method. The chondrite-normalised patterns were smooth instead of displaying irregularities. Although the classical method gives excellent results on REE-rich samples, we believe that our technique improves the precision and accuracy of measurements for highly REE-depleted rocks

    Variabilité chimique et isotopique créée par les processus sédimentaires dans les sédiments de rivière Himalayennes

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    Les compositions isotopiques en Nd, Hf, Pb et Sr des sédiments de rivière sont souvent considérées comme étant représentatives de celles de leurs roches sources. Elles sont donc largement utilisées pour tracer la provenance des sédiments ou pour moyenner les compositions isotopiques des lithologies drainées. L'influence des processus sédimentaires sur les compositions isotopiques de ces sédiments est cependant mal connue. L'objectif de l'étude présentée ici est de caractériser l'ampleur de la variabilité isotopique pouvant être générée par les processus de tri minéralogique au cours du transport des sédiments dans le milieu fluviatile. Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé les concentrations en éléments traces et les compositions isotopiques en Nd, Hf, Pb et Sr dans différents types de sédiments de rivière (bedload, suspended load, bank) échantillonnés à plusieurs endroits dans le système fluviatile du Ganges qui draine une partie de l'orogène Himalayenne. Nous avons également mesuré les compositions chimiques et isotopiques de nombreuses fractions minérales et granulométriques séparées de ces sédiments afin de mieux comprendre l'influence de chaque espèce minérale dans le budget isotopique total d'un sédiment de rivière. Dans le cas où les lithologies drainées sont essentiellement cristallines et sédimentaires, nous montrons que les isotopes du Nd dans les sédiments de rivière sont très peu affectés par les processus de tri minéralogique puisqu'ils sont toujours contrôlés par les mêmes minéraux, à savoir la monazite et l'allanite. Au contraire, les systèmes isotopiques de l'Hf, du Pb et du Sr s'avèrent particulièrement touchés par les processus de tri minéralogique. Les isotopes de l'Hf et du Pb sont tous deux affectés par un effet zircon qui génère de larges variations isotopiques entre les sédiments de fond de rivières et ceux transportés en suspension. Pour le Sr, les variations observées entre les différents types de sédiments résultent des proportions variables de micas et feldspath-K qu'ils contiennent. Dans le cas où les principales lithologies drainées présentent de forts contrastes d'érodabilité i.e. basaltes versus roches cristallines, nous montrons que les effets combinés de l'érosion différentielle dans le bassin de drainage et du tri sédimentaire dans la colonne d'eau sont responsables d'importantes variations isotopiques en Nd, Hf et Pb entre les sédiments de fond de rivière et ceux transportés en suspension. Nos calculs suggèrent que les produits d'érosion basaltique, relativement fins, sont préférentiellement transportés en suspension, proche de la surface de l'eau, alors que les produits d'érosion des roches plus cristallines sont préférentiellement concentrés dans les sédiments de fond de rivière. Enfin, nous suggérons que les variations isotopiques observées entre les différents types de sédiments transportés par les rivières sur les continents pourraient avoir d'importantes implications pour les systématiques isotopiques des sédiments océaniques terrigènes et sur l'évolution à long terme du réservoir mantellique si ces derniers sont recyclés au niveau des zones de subduction.Nd, Hf, Pb and Sr isotopic compositions of river sediments are often considered to be representative of those of their source rocks. Thus, they are widely used to trace sediment provenance or to average the isotopic compositions of the drained lithologies. The influence of sedimentary processes on the isotopic composition of these sediments is however poorly known. The aim of the present study is to characterize the extent of the isotopic variability that can be generated by mineral sorting process during sediment transport in fluvial system. To do this, we analyzed trace element concentrations and Nd, Hf, Pb and Sr isotopic compositions in river bank, bedload and suspended load sampled at several locations in the Ganga fluvial system draining part of the Himalayan orogen. We also measured the chemical and isotopic compositions of numerous mineral and granulometric fractions separated from these sediments to better understand the contribution of each mineral species to the bulk isotopic budget of river sediments. When the drained lithologies are mainly crystalline and sedimentary, we show that Nd isotopes are very little affected by mineral sorting processes because, whatever the sediment type, those isotopes are always controlled by the same minerals i.e. monazite and allanite. In contrast, Hf, Pb and Sr isotopic systems are significantly affected by mineral sorting processes. Both Hf and Pb isotopes are affected by a zircon effect that generates large isotopic variations between bedload and suspended load. For Sr, variations between the different sediment types more likely result from variable proportions of K-feldspar and mica. When the main drained lithologies are characterized by strong differences in erodibility i.e. basalts versus crystalline rocks, we show that the combined effects of differential erosion in the drainage basin and sediment sorting in the water column are responsible for significant Nd, Pb and Hf isotopic variations between bedload and suspended load. Our calculations suggest that basaltic erosion products are preferentially transported in suspension, near the water surface, whereas the erosion products of more crystalline rocks are preferentially concentrated in bottom sediments. Finally, we suggest that the isotopic variations observed between bedload and suspended load on continents may have important implications for the isotopic systematics of oceanic terrigenous sediments and the long-term evolution of the mantle if these latters are recycled in subduction zones.SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF

    Interaction of magma with sedimentary wall rock and magnetite ore genesis in the Panzhihua mafic intrusion, SW China

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    International audienceIn SW China, several large magmatic Fe-Ti-V oxide ore deposits are hosted by gabbroic intrusions associated with the Emeishan flood basalts. The Panzhihua gabbroic intrusion, a little deformed sill that contains a large titanomagnetite deposit at its base, concordantly intrudes late- Proterozoic dolostones. Mineralogical and chemical studies of the contact aureole in the footwall dolostones demonstrates that the metamorphism was largely isochemical, but for the release of large quantities of CO2 as the rocks were converted to marble and skarns during intrusion of the gabbroic magma. Petrological modelling of the crystallization of the intrusion, using H2O-poor Emeishan basalt as parent magma, shows that under normal conditions Fe-Ti-oxides crystallize at a late stage, after the crystallization of abundant olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase. In order for titanomagnetite to separate efficiently to form the ore deposit, this mineral must have crystallized earlier and close to the liquidus. We propose that CO2-rich fluids released during decarbonatization of sedimentary floor rocks passed up through the magma. Redox equilibria calculations show that when magma with the composition of Emeishan basalt is fluxed by a CO2-rich gas phase, its equilibrium oxygen fugacity (fO2) increases from FMQ to FMQ+1.5. From experimental constraints on magnetite saturation in basaltic magma under controlled fO2, such an oxidizing event would allow magnetite to crystallize near to the liquidus, leading to the formation of the deposit

    Intra-Cranial Recordings of Brain Activity During Language Production

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    Recent findings in the neurophysiology of language production have provided a detailed description of the brain network underlying this behavior, as well as some indications about the timing of operations. Despite their invaluable utility, these data generally suffer from limitations either in terms of temporal resolution, or in terms of spatial localization. In addition, studying the neural basis of speech is complicated by the presence of articulation artifacts such as electro-myographic activity that interferes with the neural signal. These difficulties are virtually absent in a powerful albeit much less frequent methodology, namely the recording of intra-cranial brain activity (intra-cranial electroencephalography). Such recordings are only possible under very specific clinical circumstances requiring functional mapping before brain surgery, most notably in patients that suffer from pharmaco-resistant epilepsy. Here we review the research conducted with this methodology in the field of language production, with explicit consideration of its advantages and drawbacks. The available evidence is shown to be diverse, both in terms of the tasks and the cognitive processes tested and in terms of the brain localizations being studied. Still, the review provides valuable information for characterizing the dynamics of the neural events occurring in the language production network. Following modality specific activities (in auditory or visual cortices), there is a convergence of activity in superior temporal sulcus, which is a plausible neural correlate of phonological encoding processes. Later, between 500 and 800 ms, inferior frontal gyrus (around Broca’s area) is involved. Peri-rolandic areas are recruited in the two modalities relatively early (200–500 ms window), suggesting a very early involvement of (pre-) motor processes. We discuss how some of these findings may be at odds with conclusions drawn from available meta-analysis of language production studies

    The size of plume heterogeneities constrained by Marquesas isotopic stripes

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    International audienceThe scale and geometry of chemical and isotopic heterogeneities in the source of plumes have important scientific implications on the nature, composition and origin of plumes and on the dynamics of mantle mixing over time. Here, we address these issues through the study of Marquesas Islands, one of the Archipelagoes in Polynesia. We present new Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf isotopes as well as trace element data on lavas from several Marquesas Islands and demonstrate that this archipelago consists of two adjacent and distinct rows of islands with significantly different isotopic compositions. For the entire 5.5 Ma construction period, the northern islands, hereafter called the Ua Huka group, has had systematically higher 87Sr/86Sr and lower 206Pb/204Pb ratios than the southern Fatu Hiva group at any given 143Nd/144Nd value. The shape and curvature of mixing arrays preclude the ambient depleted MORB mantle as one of the mixing end-members. We believe therefore that the entire isotopic heterogeneity originates in the plume itself. We suggest that the two Marquesas isotopic stripes originate from partial melting of two adjacent filaments contained in small plumes or "plumelets" that came from a large dome structure located deep in the mantle under Polynesia. Low-degree partial melting under Marquesas and other "weak" Polynesian hot spot chains (Pitcairn-Gambier, Austral-Cook, Society) sample small areas of the dome and preserve source heterogeneities. In contrast, more productive hot spots build up large islands such as Big Island in Hawaii or Réunion Island, and the higher degrees of melting blur the isotopic variability of the plume source

    Weathering regime in the Eastern Himalaya since the mid-Miocene:Indications from detrital geochemistry and clay mineralogy of the Kameng River Section, Arunachal Pradesh, India

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    It is crucial to understand lateral differences in paleo-climate and weathering in order to fully understand the evolution of the Himalayan mountain belt. While many studies have focused on the western and central Himalaya, the eastern Himalaya remains poorly studied with regard to paleoclimate and past weathering history. Here we present a multi-proxy study on the Mio-Pliocene sedimentary foreland-basin section along the Kameng River in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India, in order to obtain better insight in the weathering history of the eastern Himalaya. We analyzed a continuous sedimentary record over the last 13 Ma. Heavy-mineral and petrography data give insight into diagenesis and provenance, showing that the older part of the section is influenced by diagenesis and that sediments were not only deposited by a large Trans-Himalayan river and the palaeo-Kameng river, but also by smaller local tributaries. By taking into account changes in diagenesis and provenance, results of clay mineralogy and major element analysis show an overall increase in weathering intensity over time, with a remarkable change between ~10 and ~8 Ma
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