双辽火山活动与松辽盆地南部无机CO_2气藏的成因联系——来自火山岩中流体-熔融包裹体的证据

针对松辽盆地南部的双辽火山群中碱性玄武岩及包含其中的地幔捕掳体的普通薄片鉴定、岩石地球化学分析、流体包裹体显微岩相学和激光拉曼光谱分析,研究表明:双辽火山岩以碱性橄榄玄武岩为主,玄武岩中的地幔捕掳体比较发育;对玄武岩斑晶以及地幔捕掳体中的流体-熔融包裹体测试显示玄武岩中的橄榄石斑晶和地幔捕掳体中的流体-熔融包裹体十分发育,其成分主要是CO2,此外还含有少量的CO,CH4,N2和H2O,与上地幔中的自由流体相组分一致。松辽盆地南部的CO2气藏主要是幔源-岩浆成因,成藏时间较晚,主要在新生代,与双辽火山活动的时间接近。尽管双辽火山活动规模较小,但是具有很强的释出CO2的能力,这些富含CO2和H2O的碱性玄武质岩浆很可能并未喷出地表,而是沿着深大断裂进入盆地内部,从而成为松南无机CO2气藏气源体之一。     

交代岩石圈地幔与金成矿作用

交代岩石圈地幔与大型金矿床之间的成因联系受到越来越多的关注.研究成矿金属在地幔源区的富集程度和幔源岩浆中的金含量,以及金从地幔源区释放、迁移并大规模富集成矿的机制和过程可以帮助我们更好地认识交代岩石圈地幔对金富集成矿的重要作用.金是高度亲铜元素,同时还具有流体活动性,在地幔岩浆作用、岩浆热液演化和富集成矿等诸多过程中的行为较为复杂.主要从金的地球化学行为出发,通过梳理金在各类地幔岩石和幔源岩浆中的分布,以及岩浆热液中金的主要行为及其受控因素,探讨交代岩石圈地幔对巨量金成矿的关键控制机制.主要认识包括:（1）交代岩石圈地幔可能是形成大规模热液型金矿床的重要源区,但金在源区的异常富集可能并不是成矿的必要条件;（2）地幔交代组分（特别是挥发分）有助于金从地幔源区中有效释放、并通过跨岩石圈尺度的深大断裂迁移富集;（3）富挥发分的岩浆热液中金的富集沉淀过程远比一个富金的地幔源区对大规模金成矿作用的贡献更大.因此,深刻理解岩石圈地幔长期演化过程中金在地幔交代和岩浆-热液演化过程中的行为与富集机制是解析大型金矿床成因的关键.      

中国东部陆下岩石圈地幔中的再循环地壳流体组分

地幔捕虏体中的流体组分记录了地幔演化的信息,可用来认识地幔中再循环地壳组分的性质和来源。采用分步加热质谱法测定中国东部二辉橄榄岩捕虏体组成矿物中流体挥发份的碳、氢和氧同位素组成,结合化学组成(Zhang et al., 2004)综合分析表明,早期流体包裹体、矿物晶格缺陷和空隙中的流体挥发分主要在高温段(800-1200°C)释出,CO2和CO显示较轻的δ13C值,与世界其它地区地幔捕虏体明显不同;晚期流体包裹体中的流体挥发分主要在低温段(300-600°C)释出。根据中国东部地幔演化事件、地幔矿物性质认为陆下岩石圈地幔中三种类型的流体挥发份中均存在来源不同的再循环地壳组分：（1）地幔初始流体：主要为耐熔矿物橄榄石在800-1200°C释出的流体组分,华北克拉通地幔初始流体的化学组成（主要为CO）与华南克拉通（主要为CO2）明显不同,反映二者拼合前各自演化时期捕获的流体组分。地幔特征的δD、δ13CCH4和δ18OCO2反映初始流体组分可能为元古代克拉通大陆型岩石圈地幔成分,较轻的CO2 和 CO的δ13C值揭示初始流体中存在部分再循环地壳流体,可能在1.9Ga的大陆碰撞过程中混入。（2）地幔交代流体：指斜方辉石和单斜辉石800-1200°C释气峰的流体组分,以H2为主。华北克拉通交代流体主要组分H2含量(80.73 mm3.STP/g) 明显低于华南克拉通(138.91 mm3.STP/g),地幔特征的δDH2和δ13CCH4表明交代流体主体为地幔来源,较轻的δ13CCO2,CO和较重δ18OCO2揭示其中存在再循环陆壳流体,其可能的来源为华北与华南中生代拼合过程中的壳幔相互作用。（3）岩石圈减薄流体：指二辉橄榄岩捕虏体组成矿物在400-600°C释放出的流体,华北与华南克拉通在流体组成方面相似,壳源特征的CO2、CO和CH4的δ13C值,以及较轻的δ18OCO2和δDH2O值指示该流体可能为岩石圈地幔减薄过程中引起的再循环洋壳流体,可能与中国东部转换带中水平俯冲的太平洋岩石圈(或其前身)脱气有关。     

地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的指示意义

橄榄石是地幔橄榄岩和辉石岩的主要组成矿物,但也经常以斑晶和捕虏晶的形式出现在玄武质岩石中。结合近年来在地幔橄榄岩的主要元素（如Mg和Fe）组成特征以及Li、Mg和Fe稳定同位素地球化学方面的研究成果,重点对橄榄石的地球化学特征与华北克拉通岩石圈地幔演化过程之间的联系进行了讨论,旨在加深对华北克拉通岩石圈地幔演化过程的理解。现有研究表明：地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的矿物学特征、元素和同位素地球化学组成能够很好地指示岩石圈地幔的特征及其演化过程,因而具有重要的意义。对于克拉通地区的地幔橄榄岩来说,橄榄石的Mg#通常可以指示岩石圈地幔的属性,古老、难熔的地幔橄榄岩中的橄榄石一般具有较高的Mg#（〉92）,而新生的岩石圈地幔橄榄岩中的橄榄石则具有较低的Mg#（〈91）。因此,地幔橄榄岩中橄榄石的Mg#在一定程度上具有年龄意义。橄榄岩中橄榄石的Li、Mg和Fe同位素组成也可以明确指示岩石圈地幔的属性及其所经历的演化过程,正常地幔的δ7Li、δ26Mg和δ57Fe组成相对均一,如果上述同位素组成偏离正常地幔值,则说明岩石圈地幔经历了熔体/流体的交代作用。华北克拉通地区地幔橄榄岩捕虏体中橄榄石的Li、Mg和Fe同位素组成研究表明：该区的岩石圈地幔经历了多个阶段、不同来源的熔体/流体的改造过程。     

辽东中—新生代玄武岩的橄榄石斑晶和捕虏晶氧同位素组成及其岩石圈地幔演化启示

华北克拉通东部岩石圈地幔性质在中—新生代时期发生了重大转变，但细节还不清楚。本文对辽东半岛早白垩世(克拉通破坏峰期)小岭组玄武岩和第四纪(克拉通破坏后)宽甸玄武岩中橄榄石斑晶/捕虏晶进行了主量元素和氧同位素组成研究。早白垩世小岭组玄武岩斑晶橄榄石Fo为 79~88，CaO＞0. 1%，具有高Ni/Mg(0. 4~1. 2)、低Mn/Fe(1. 3~1. 6)和低Ca/Fe比值(0. 2~1. 5)的特征，指示岩浆源区是辉石岩和橄榄岩混合的岩石圈地幔；高于正常地幔橄榄石的δ18O(4. 77‰~5. 96‰，平均值5. 4‰)显示低温热液蚀变洋壳熔体/流体组分对地幔源区的影响。第四纪宽甸玄武岩捕虏晶橄榄石Fo值为88~92(平均值90)，具有高NiO(0. 3%~0. 4%)和低CaO(<0. 1%)、MnO(0. 1%~0. 2%)含量，显示主体饱满、与少量过渡型和难熔型并存的地幔组成特征；其δ18O(4. 58‰~5. 38‰，平均值5. 3‰)与正常地幔值接近。结合华北其他地区地幔橄榄石氧同位素数据，发现早白垩世破坏峰期有较多俯冲洋壳来源的熔/流体交代岩石圈地幔，而新生代岩石圈地幔则为破坏后的残余和新增生产物，我们认为古太平洋板块俯冲和后撤—撕裂引起的熔体/流体交代作用对华北克拉通岩石圈地幔的弱化、侵蚀和最终置换起了重要作用。     

汉诺坝地幔捕虏体中富硅熔体的成因及其意义

近年来地幔捕虏体中富硅熔体的研究受到广泛关注,富硅熔体不仅具有多种产出状态,其成因来源也具有多样性。本文选取汉诺坝地区地幔捕虏体矿物中的熔体包裹体和斜方辉石反应边中的熔体玻璃为研究对象,探索富硅熔体在岩石圈地幔演化中的作用。通过详细的岩相学观察并结合电子探针分析发现,二者成因不同。熔体包裹体玻璃成分富硅(SiO₂ 61%~65%),相对贫Na₂O(1%~3%)、K₂O(<1%),富含挥发份(约3%~6%),为地幔交代成因;斜方辉石反应边玻璃富硅(SiO₂ 64%~67%)、碱(Na₂O 5%~7%,K₂O 6%~9%),几乎不含挥发份,是地幔捕虏体被寄主玄武岩浆快速携带上升至地表的过程中两者反应的产物。地幔交代作用产生的富硅熔体包裹体深刻影响了岩石圈地幔的地球化学性质;而玄武岩浆在上升过程中与岩石圈地幔捕虏体中斜方辉石的反应,导致了岩石圈地幔由富硅向贫硅转变,为华北克拉通的破坏提供了证据。     

辽西中生代晚期岩石圈地幔的性质:来自玄武岩和地幔捕虏体的证据

辽西中生代玄武岩中幔源气榄岩捕虏体的岩石学、矿物学和地球化学研究表明，中生代岩石圈地幔是由古老富集型的岩石圈地幔和新增生的岩石圈地幔所组成。前者以角闪尖晶二辉橄榄岩为代表，它经历了富钠质的地幔交代作用。橄榄岩类捕虏体富含轻稀土元素，并具有较高的ω(^87Sr)/ω(^86Sr)比值；后者以二辉石岩为代表，具典型堆积结构，与本区尖晶石二辉橄榄岩相比，具有较高的稀土元素丰度。在矿物成分和稀土元素丰度上，本区辉石岩捕虏体类似于中国东部新生代玄武岩中幔源辉石岩捕虏体，这意味着辉石岩捕虏体可能是上地幔中更早期的岩浆堆积体。     

东南沿海地区古近纪大陆岩石圈地幔特征及成因

东南沿海地区新生代玄武岩中的橄榄岩包体来自岩石圈地幔 ,上地幔橄榄岩包体的岩石学及地球化学特征都记录了地幔演化的历史。普宁橄榄岩包体斜方辉石含量与太古宙克拉通地幔类似 ,但在矿物学、REE、痕量元素和Sr Nd同位素上又与太古宙岩石圈地幔不同。橄榄岩包体的岩相学、矿物学、REE、痕量元素特征都提供了含H2 O富Si流体交代橄榄岩的证据 ,这种流体可能主要是洋壳物质局部熔融而成。流体交代使橄榄岩富Si,同时富Sr、Pb和强不相容元素等大洋岩石圈物质。这表明普宁大陆岩石圈地幔既保留太古宙岩石圈地幔的特征 ,又具有大洋俯冲地幔的特征 ,它是古老岩石圈地幔向大洋岩石圈地幔转换的一部分 ,这种转换可能是大洋岩石圈与大陆岩石圈地幔相互作用的结果。     

上地幔流体的性质和作用——从女山幔源二辉橄榄岩捕虏体获得的证据

玄武岩浆从地幔深处挟带上来的超镁铁质捕虏体含有地幔流体的直接证据,它们对于阐明地幔深部地质作用(部分熔融作用、地幔交代作用)的机制十分重要。女山幔源二辉橄榄岩的研究结果表明,初始的地幔流体除富含CO_2外,尚含有H_2O和少量CO、CH_4、SO_2、C1、F。地幔中的初始流体(挥发组分)在源部是溶解于地幔橄揽岩的高压固体矿物相中,它们在地幔上隆减压时出溶,形成细小的最早期流体包裹体。这些自由流体相在一定部应聚集,使得地幔固相线(和液相线)下降,引起上地幔发生减压部分熔融。初始的部分熔融主要发生于矿物边界,以单斜辉石最易遭受,形成矿物边缘的海绵状部分熔融带。当地幔剪切流动时,初始的部分熔融体珠滴联合成大的珠滴,并开始渗透,在变形橄榄岩中相连成脉状网络,晚期含C0_2岩浆包裹体及填隙玻璃即为其代表。由于剪裂作用,熔体(和流体)压裂开上覆橄榄岩,产生岩墙状通道,并在上地幔的某些低压区聚集成岩浆库。流体和熔体均为地幔交代作用的介质。在流体参与下,上地幔低度部分熔融产生的熔体将高度富集不相容元素。这些熔体和流体与亏损地幔间的相互作用,可以带来不相容元素重大的局部富集。当流体(和熔体)中H_2O浓度低时,仅发生隐交代作用;当H_2O浓度较高时,部分熔融程度也较高,相应有含水相(如角闪石等)成核,出现矿物交代作用。     

内蒙古阿巴嘎旗地区新生代玄武岩基本特征及成因

内蒙古阿巴嘎旗及其以北地区新生代玄武岩是更新世中心式火山活动产生的大陆溢流玄武岩,该区玄武岩以高碱、富钛、贫铝为特征,属于钠质碱性玄武岩系列.源区是软流圈上地幔,玄武岩是部分熔融和分离结晶两种作用的结果.地幔橄榄岩部分熔融产生玄武质岩浆,部分原始地幔岩浆未经变异沿构造通道直接喷出地表形成碧玄岩、碱性橄榄玄武岩;部分原始地幔岩浆在上升过程中因停顿,原始地幔岩浆发生橄榄石分离结晶作用,部分橄榄石从岩浆中析出,最终岩浆喷出地表形成橄榄拉斑玄武岩.研究该区新生代玄武岩基本特征,探讨岩浆起源和岩石产生的构造环境对认识该区岩石圈地幔和软流圈性质具有重要意义.     

火山气体成分的测量方法及其应用

火山气体是火山喷发物的重要组成部分,它主要来源于火山喷发的岩浆,其组成和含量的变化限定了火山活动对气候影响的时空范围和强度,因而近年来成为火山活动的气候效应研究领域一个重要组成部分。以往火山气体的研究主要集中在洋底(洋中脊、洋岛)火山,近年来逐渐转移到陆地(陆内和大陆边缘)上的火山喷发,并建立了两种有效的测量方法:卫星观测法和岩石学方法。前者仅适用于现代活动的活火山;后者适用于历史和地史时期的火山喷发,因此其应用较广。本文主要讨论岩石学方法。岩石学方法采用的测试手段主要是电子探针和红外光谱分析,前者主要分析Ｓ,Ｆ,Ｃｌ,Ｎ和Ｈ2Ｏ的含量;后者可以测定ＣＯ2的     

Nanorocks,volatiles and plate tectonics

The global geological volatile cycle(H, C, N) plays an important role in the long term self-regulation of the Earth system. However, the complex interaction between its deep, solid Earth components(i.e. crust and mantle), Earth's fluid envelopes(i.e. atmosphere and hydrosphere) and plate tectonic processes is a subject of ongoing debate. In this study we want to draw attention to how the presence of primary melt(MI)and fluid(FI) inclusions in high-grade metamorphic minerals could help constrain the crustal component of the volatile cycle. To that end, we review the distribution of MI and FI throughout Earth's history, from ca. 3.0 Ga ago up to the present day. We argue that the lower crust might constitute an important, longterm, volatile storage unit, capable to influence the composition of the surface envelopes through the mean of weathering, crustal thickening, partial melting and crustal assimilation during volcanic activity.Combined with thermodynamic modelling, our compilation indicates that periods of well-established plate tectonic regimes at 0.85 Ga and 1.7–2.1 Ga, might be more prone to the reworking of supracrustal lithologies and the storage of volatiles in the lower crust. Such hypothesis has implication beyond the scope of metamorphic petrology as it potentially links geodynamic mechanisms to habitable surface conditions. MI and FI in metamorphic crustal rocks then represent an invaluable archive to assess and quantify the co-joint evolution of plate tectonics and Earth's external processes.     

Spectroscopic and bond-topological investigation of interstitial volatiles in beryl from Slovakia

Nine beryl samples from Western Carpathians, Slovakia, were investigated by infrared and Raman spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis. Two types of water H₂O I and H₂O II were detected. Infrared spectroscopy proved the presence of water type I and II in the presence of alkali cations with several bands: (1) symmetric stretching vibration—ν₁; (2) antisymmetric stretching mode—ν₃; (3) bending vibration—ν₂. The presence of singly and doubly coordinated type II water (IIs and IId) was confirmed by single-crystal IR spectroscopy. From Raman spectra a band at 3606 cm^?1 was assigned to ν₁ of water type I and the range of 3597–3600 cm^?1 to water type II. The presence of doubly coordinating water indicates a relatively highly hydrated environment with the presence of alkali ions including Na as the dominant cation coordinated by H₂O II. CO₂ bands were detected only by single-crystal IR spectroscopy. Thermal analysis proved total water loss in the range of 1.4–2.0 wt% and three main dehydration events. Based on the study of bond-topological arrangements two molecules of H₂O IId are each bound with two H···O1 bonds and one Na–O_W bond with an angular distortion, and by releasing one H₂O molecule more stable H₂O IIs is produced. The H₂O I molecule is bound only by two equivalent hydrogen bonds. The H₂O IIs molecule with a Na–O_W bond strength of 0.28 vu and two H···O1 bonds of 0.14 vu without any forced angular distortion is the most stable of all.     

腾冲新生代火山作用流体组成及其来源——火山岩流体化学组成和碳同位素制约

腾冲新生代火山区是青藏高原唯一幔源挥发份大量排放的火山-地热区,大规模火山作用的流体组成的系统研究具有多方面的科学意义。对腾冲马鞍山、老龟坡和打鹰山等地新生代火山岩进行流体化学组成和碳同位素分析,结果表明腾冲新生代火山岩的流体组成中H2O占有极高的比例,CO2、N2和O2的含量较高,而且不同火山区的流体组成有所差异。CO2的δ13C值为-27.1‰~-7.5‰,位于地壳和地幔范围之间;CH4、C2H6、C3H8和C4H10等甲烷同系物的碳同位素组成随碳数增高具有整体正序、C2H6与C3H8局部反序的分布特征,显示海洋环境I型有机质热裂解成因烃类气体的特征。腾冲火山作用中存在地幔来源的CO2,岩浆存在轻微的CO2去气作用。含碳流体挥发份主要表现为俯冲大洋板片脱出流体挥发份的加入,特别是俯冲洋壳沉积有机质热裂解产物,大量的H2O可能来源于岩浆上升过程中围岩流体或再循环流体的加入,不同火山区岩浆上升演化的差异造成了流体组成的不同。     

Diffusive fractionation of volatiles and their isotopes during bubble growth in magmas

Bubbles grow in decompressing magmas by simple expansion and by diffusive supply of volatiles to the bubble/melt interface. The latter phenomenon is of significant geochemical interest because diffusion can fractionate elements and isotopes (or isotopologues) of dissolved components. This raises the possibility that the character of volatile components in bubbles may not reflect that of volatiles dissolved in the host melt over the lifetime of a bubble—even in the absence of equilibrium vapor/melt isotopic fractionation. Recent experiments have confirmed the existence of an isotope mass effect on diffusion of the volatile element Cl in silicate melt [Fortin et al. (Isotopic fractionation of chlorine during chemical diffusion in a dacitic melt and its implications for isotope behavior during bubble growth (abstract), 2016 Fall AGU Meeting, 2016)], so there is a clear need to understand the efficacy of diffusive fractionation during bubble growth. In this study, numerical models of diffusion and mass redistribution during bubble growth were implemented for both “passive” volatiles—those whose concentrations are generally well below saturation levels—and “active” volatiles such as CO₂ and H₂O, whose elevated concentrations and limited solubilities are the cause of bubble nucleation and growth. Both diffusive and convective bubble-growth scenarios were explored. The magnitude of the isotope mass effect on passive volatiles partitioned into bubbles growing at a constant rate R in a static system depends upon R/D _L, K _d and D _H/D _L (K _d = bubble/melt partition coefficient; D _H/D _L = diffusivity ratio of the heavy and light isotopes). During convective bubble growth, the presence of a discrete (physical) melt boundary layer against the growing bubble (of width x _BL) simplifies outcomes because it leads to the quick onset of steady-state fractionation during growth, the magnitude of which depends mainly upon R?x _BL/D _L and D _H/D _L (bubble/melt fractionation is maximized at R?x _BL/D _L ≈0.1). Constant R is unrealistic for most real systems, so other scenarios were explored by including the solubility and EOS of an “active” volatile (e.g., CO₂) in the numerical simulations. For plausible decompression paths, R increases exponentially with time—leading, potentially, to larger isotopic fractionation of species partitioned into the growing bubble. For volatile species whose isotope mass effects on diffusion have been measured (Cl, Li), predicted isotope fractionation in the exsolved vapor can be as large as ?4‰ for Cl and ?25‰ for Li.     

熔体包裹体挥发分应用的研究进展

挥发分(例如H2O、CO2、F、Cl和S)是地幔的重要组成部分,虽然它们在地幔中的含量很低,但是在地幔熔融和熔体演化、地幔不均一、地幔流变学、地幔地震特性和电导率等研究方面具有重要作用。对矿物熔体包裹体和玻璃挥发分的研究已经成为当前的研究热点。其中,熔体包裹体研究凭借其独特的优势成为研究地幔和岩浆挥发分组成的重要手段。熔体包裹体直接捕获了矿物形成时岩浆中的成分,且由于寄主矿物的存在使得熔体包裹体能够保持独立演化而不受外界环境影响,因此能够较为完整地保存岩浆中的挥发分信息。同时,研究熔体包裹体中的挥发分是恢复岩浆喷发前挥发分含量最直接的途径。如果通过现代分析方法(如扫描电镜、电子探针和离子探针等)对熔体包裹体进行详细的岩相学观察以及对后期可能影响熔体包裹体原始挥发组分的作用(地壳混染、岩浆去气、扩散和水化作用)进行评估,并结合实验研究熔体包裹体被捕获后发生的变化而对数据进行矫正,那熔体包裹体对研究岩浆体系中的挥发分将大有可为。基于此,本文系统介绍了熔体包裹体挥发分研究的现状及主要研究内容,主要包括熔体包裹体挥发分的测试方法、挥发分在岩浆中的溶解度、判断挥发分数据可靠性和挥发分研究的经典应用等4个方面。     

Using volatiles in magma to decipher subglacial eruption dynamics

Eruptions beneath ice sheets and glaciers can generate hazardous ash plumes and powerful meltwater floods, as demonstrated by the recent Icelandic eruptions at Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 and at Grímsvötn in 2011. A key scientific objective for volcanologists is to better understand the factors controlling subglacial eruptions, but the eruptions are mostly hidden beneath ice that is often hundreds of metres thick, thereby preventing direct observation. New approaches are therefore needed to reconstruct the factors driving explosive activity and the response of the overlying ice. The dissolved volatile content, preserved in glassy volcanic rock, offers a useful means of reconstructing palaeo‐ice thicknesses. However, for subglacial rhyolite at least, there seems to be little or no correlation between loading pressure and eruptive style. Instead, there is a strong correlation between the pre‐eruptive volatile content, degassing path and eruptive behaviour. It seems that the style of many subglacial eruptions is controlled by the same mechanisms as subaerial eruptions, with explosivity strongly influenced by degassing and magmatic fragmentation.     

Tracing nitrogen in volcanic and geothermal volatiles from the Nicaraguan volcanic front

We report new chemical and isotopic data from 26 volcanic and geothermal gases, vapor condensates, and thermal water samples, collected along the Nicaraguan volcanic front. The samples were analyzed for chemical abundances and stable isotope compositions, with a focus on nitrogen abundances and isotope ratios. These data are used to evaluate samples for volatile contributions from magma, air, air-saturated water, and the crust. Samples devoid of crustal contamination (based upon He isotope composition) but slightly contaminated by air or air-saturated water are corrected using N₂/Ar ratios in order to obtain primary magmatic values, composed of contributions from upper mantle and subducted hemipelagic sediment on the down-going plate. Using a mantle endmember with δ¹⁵N = −5‰ and N₂/He = 100 and a subducted sediment component with δ¹⁵N = +7‰ and N₂/He = 10,500, the average sediment contribution to Nicaraguan volcanic and geothermal gases was determined to be 71%. Most of the gases were dominated by sediment-derived nitrogen, but gas from Volcán Mombacho, the southernmost sampling location, had a mantle signature (46% from subducted sediment, or 54% from the mantle) and an affinity with mantle-dominated gases discharging from Costa Rica localities to the south. High CO₂/N_{2 exc.} ratios (N_{2 exc.} is the N₂ abundance corrected for contributions from air) in the south are similar to those in Costa Rica, and reflect the predominant mantle wedge input, whereas low ratios in the north indicate contribution by altered oceanic crust and/or preferential release of nitrogen over carbon from the subducting slab. Sediment-derived nitrogen fluxes at the Nicaraguan volcanic front, estimated by three methods, are 7.8 × 10⁸ mol N/a from ³He flux, 6.9 × 10⁸ mol/a from SO₂ flux, and 2.1 × 10⁸ and 1.3 × 10⁹ mol/a from CO₂ fluxes calculated from ³He and SO₂, respectively. These flux results are higher than previous estimates for Central America, reflecting the high sediment-derived volatile contribution and the high nitrogen content of geothermal and volcanic gases in Nicaragua. The fluxes are also similar to but higher than estimated hemipelagic nitrogen inputs at the trench, suggesting addition of N from altered oceanic basement is needed to satisfy these flux estimates. The similarity of the calculated input of N via the trench to our calculated outputs suggests that little or none of the subducted nitrogen is being recycled into the deeper mantle, and that it is, instead, returned to the surface via arc volcanism.     

The analysis of the volatiles from fluid inclusions in hydrothermal fluorite

Volatiles from primary fluid inclusions in hydrothermal fluorite were studied. The gases released were analysed with a mass spectrometer using an internal standard; water-vapour pressure was measured manometrically.To extract the volatiles, both heating and grinding in vacuum were used. In the thermal treatment, volatiles from other sources besides the inclusions were also found: H₂ and hydrocarbons, as well as additional amounts of H₂O and CO₂. The vacuum grinding, on the other hand, leads to volatile deficiency, especially with respect to H₂O and CO₂, due to retention of these components on the ground material.The study of the dependence of amount of volatiles released upon heating, on the grain size of the mineral fractions, was used as additional information for evaluating the amounts of volatiles coming from a source other than inclusions.The thermal studies were supplemented by decrepitophonic measurements.It is concluded that the volatiles from inclusions are represented practically only by CO₂ and H₂O in a 1:100 molar ratio. Conclusions about the conditions of mineral formation are drawn.