Stratigraphic and structural synthesis of the New England Orogen

The Spring Well volcanic complex in the Eastern Goldfields Province of Western Australia, is a relatively fresh and well exposed Archaean felsic volcanic centre that is preserved in a synclinal structure at the top of the local greenstone succession. Subaerial acid pyroclastic deposits and subordinate lava flows, intruded by anastomosing intermediate‐acid dykes and sills, comprise the near‐vent facies. In the distal regions of the centre, subaqueous crystal tuff and other tuff units are intercalated with epiclastic sediments.

Geochemical modelling indicates that the acid rocks are unlikely to have been derived by batch partial melting of probable crustal sources. However, differentiation from intermediate parents is compatible with the available geochemical data. The intermediate rocks, in turn, have critical geochemical characteristics comparable with all other studied intermediate calc‐alkaline rocks in the Yilgarn Block. Since it can be demonstrated that many of these rocks have an ultimate mantle source (through differentiation of LIL element enriched mafic primary magmas) it follows that such an origin is applicable in the Spring Well rocks. Therefore, it is concluded that the Spring Well volcanic complex represents a mantle‐derived, calc‐alkaline differentiation series, in which the more silicic members of the suite predominate. Apart from the diagnostic geochemical characteristics of these acid volcanic rocks, their spatial association with intermediate rocks distinguishes them from anatectic acid volcanic rocks that also occur in the greenstone sequences of the Yilgarn Block.     

Geochemisty and tectonic setting of igneous rocks in the Glenrock Station area,N.S.W.

In the Upper Murray Valley, Victoria, Late Silurian, high‐Si igneous rocks, which are closely associated with alkalic, basaltic dykes, were emplaced at high crustal levels following the peak of the Benambran Orogeny, which deformed and metamorphosed the Wagga Zone in Late Ordovician‐Early Silurian times. These rocks, which are informally termed ‘the Upper Murray high‐Si magmatic suite’, include leucogranites, rhyolite dykes and flows, and ash‐flow tuffs characterised by the following features. They are transitional from mildly peraluminous to mildly metaluminous; they represent relatively anhydrous magmas, in which halides were important volatile constituents; they have high Si, total alkalies, Rb, Th, U, Nb, Sn and heavy rare earth elements; and they are relatively repleted in Mg, Ca, Sr, Eu, V, Cr and Ni. In these respects and in their post‐orogenic setting and close association with alkalic basalts, they resemble many post‐orogenic granitoids from elsewhere. Such granitoids appear to have formed as partial melts during crustal extension following major episodes of deformation and high‐Si magmatism. A residual granulitic crust, from which an earlier generation of granitoid magmas had been extracted, is argued to be the source rock‐type for these post‐orogenic magmas. Tectonic extension, affecting such a crust, was accompanied by deep fracturing and basaltic vol‐canism. Mantle‐derived, CO₂‐ and halide‐rich fluids moved into the residual crust, causing widespread metasomatism, and emplacement of basaltic magma caused temperatures to rise until melting took place and a second group of magmas was produced. This model explains most aspects of the trace and major element chemistry of post‐orogenic, high‐Si igneous rocks and, for the Upper Murray high‐Si suite it also provides an explanation for variations in trace elements and isotopic characteristics. Other processes, such as crystal fractionation, magma mixing, thermogravi‐tational diffusion, and separation and loss of a volatile phase, provide explanations for variations within individual units of the suite, but they do not explain overall variations or the highly fractionated nature of the suite.     

Ordovician Granitoids and Silurian Mafic Dikes in the Western Kunlun Orogen, Northwest China: Implications for Evolution of the Proto-Tethys

The western Kunlun orogen in the northwest Tibet Plateau is related to subduction and collision of Proto-and Paleo-Tethys from early Paleozoic to early Mesozoic. This paper presents new LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopes, whole-rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopes of two Ordovician granitoid plutons(466–455 Ma) and their Silurian mafic dikes(～436 Ma) in the western Kunlun orogen. These granitoids show peraluminous high-K calcalkaline characteristics, with(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i value of 0.7129–0.7224, ε_Nd(t) values of -9.3 to -7.0 and zircon ε_Hf(t) values of -17.3 to -0.2, indicating that they were formed by partial melting of ancient lower-crust(metaigneous rocks mixed with metasedimentary rocks) with some mantle materials in response to subduction of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean and following collision. The Silurian mafic dikes were considered to have been derived from a low degree of partial melting of primary mafic magma. These mafic dikes show initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7101–0.7152 and ε_Nd(t) values of -3.8 to -3.4 and zircon ε_Hf(t) values of -8.8 to -4.9, indicating that they were derived from enriched mantle in response to post-collisional slab break-off. Combined with regional geology, our new data provide valuable insight into late evolution of the Proto-Tethys.     

河北矾山燕山期侵入岩地球化学特征及成因

河北矾山地区燕山期侵入岩可分为早、晚两期。早期（中侏罗世-晚侏罗世）侵入岩主要由二长闪长岩、石英二长闪长岩、石英二长岩、正长岩构成，以高钾钙碱性岩系列岩石为主；SiO2=53.58%-60.57%,Al2O3=16.16%-17.23%,Na2O K2O=5.76%-8.96%,K2O=2.25%-4.55%,Na2O/K2O=1.14-1.56;ACNK=0.72-0.86,NKA=0.47-0.77;Eu^*/Eu=0.80-0.95,轻稀土富集，重稀土和Nb、Ta、Hf、Ti亏损，相对低Zr、Rb和Rb/Sr，但高Sr和Sr/Y，具有埃达史质岩石质岩石的部分特征。晚期（白垩纪）侵入岩由碱长石英正长岩、石英正长岩、石英二长岩、碱工花岗岩、钾长花岗岩构成，以钾玄岩系列岩石为主；比早期岩石富SiO2，低Al2O3、富Na2O K2O和K2O，但低Na2O/K2O;ACNK=0.82-1.07,NKA=0.77-0.92;Eu^*/Eu=0.65-1.00，轻稀土富集，重稀土和Nb、Ta、Hf、Ti亏损，相对高Zr、Rb和Rb/Sr，但低Sr和Sr/Y。矾山地区早期侵入岩的形成可能与伊泽奈崎（Izanaqi)板块向欧亚大陆板块的俯冲所导致的挤压增厚有关；晚期侵入岩可能形成于拉张环境中。     

钙碱性火山岩构造背景的研究进展

通过对钙碱性火山岩的岩石学、地球化学、同位素及其构造背景的研究表明,钙碱性火山岩的形成不一定仅限于板块俯冲过程,在不具备板块俯冲的其它构造环境下也能够形成。     

大别造山带北部的中生代火山岩

大别造山带北部的北淮阳中生代火山喷发岩带形成于后造山阶段的晚侏罗世—早白垩世。火山岩可以划分为２个独立的火山旋回,分别对应于高钾钙碱性系列（ＨＫＣＡ）和钾玄岩系列（ＳＨＯ）,从岩石构造组合和岩石地球化学数据提供的约束条件分析,前者形成于晚侏罗世的陆内挤压环境,造山带是有“山根”的增厚陆壳,而早白垩世钾玄岩系列岩石的出现表征着造山带已发生“去根”作用,北淮阳处于陆壳减薄的拉张环境     

The high‐K calc‐alkaline Alagoinhas pluton: anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility,geochemistry, emplacement setting,and implications for the evolution of Borborema Province,NE Brazil

The Alagoinhas pluton is a member of the widespread high‐K calc‐alkaline association of northeastern Brazil. Some authors suggest that this region represents an amalgamation of distinct tectonic terranes assembled during the Brasiliano (Pan‐African) orogeny. Our work compares geochemical data (major, trace and REE) of the Alagoinhas with other plutons of same petrotectonic association (Caruaru‐Arcoverde batholith). These plutons apparently intrude several distinct tectonic terranes, separated by a major E‐W dextral transcurrent system, the East Pernambuco shear zone (EPSZ). Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and structural data for the Alagoinhas pluton are used to compare tectonic regimes across the EPSZ. The results indicate that the Caruaru‐Arcoverde batholith and the Alagoinhas pluton evolved from similar sources and were subjected to the same tectonic regime during emplacement, placing severe restrictions on use of the EPSZ as a suture zone between distinct tectonic terranes.     

塔里木板块东北部坡北岩体内橄榄辉长苏长岩岩石成因

坡北岩体位于塔里木板块东北部,由5个阶段的岩浆作用形成,其中,第二阶段岩浆作用形成的侵入体岩石类型单一,主要为橄榄辉长苏长岩,局部有零星的辉长苏长岩和斜长岩。岩石的SiO₂—FeO/MgO图解显示其化学组成为钙碱性系列,但单斜辉石的Al₂O₃—SiO₂及n（Si）—n（Al^Ⅳ）图解表明母岩浆为拉斑玄武质岩浆。岩浆演化方向与岩石化学系列的转化是同化混染作用的结果,侵入体遭受了长城系古硐井岩群1.38%～3.15%的混染。原生岩浆为MgO含量约7.31%的玄武质岩浆。岩石的TiO₂、Na₂O、K₂O、稀土元素、大离子亲石元素丰度均很低;除一件样品外,其余岩石的ε_Nd（t）值为+2.54～+2.81,这些特征表明岩浆源区属亏损型大陆岩石圈地幔。岩浆在结晶过程中处于物理化学条件相对稳定的近平衡状态,局部不平衡分离结晶形成堆晶结构和纹层状构造,岩浆结晶温度约为1070℃。由于岩浆源区熔融程度低,导致原生岩浆贫硫,且岩浆在演化过程中没有经历充分的分离结晶作用,这些因素使得橄榄辉长苏长岩侵入体不具备硫达到过饱和进而发生铜镍硫化物熔离成矿的潜力。     

A 100 m.y. record of volcanic arc evolution in Nicaragua

The processes that result in arc magmas are critical to understanding element recycling in subduction zones, yet little is known about how these systems evolve with time. Nicaragua provides an opportunity to reconstruct the history of a volcanic arc since the Cretaceous. Here we present the stratigraphy of the Cretaceous–Eocene volcanic units in Nicaragua and their relationship to the different tectonic units where the arc developed. We discovered an evolution from an arc‐dominated by calc‐alkaline compositions in the Cretaceous–Eocene, to transitional compositions in the Oligocene–Miocene, to finally tholeiitic magmas common in the modern volcanic front. Our petrographic studies confirm that in the Cretaceous–Eocene the olivine + clinopyroxene cotectic was followed by clinopyroxene + plagioclase ± amphibole. Given the abundance of amphibole and the lack of this mineral in the modern volcanic front, the Cretaceous–Eocene Arc melts were likely more water‐rich than modern Nicaragua, suppressing the crystallization of plagioclase after olivine. We also found temporal changes in element ratios that are sensitive to variations in sediment input. The Cretaceous–Eocene Arc is characterized by a lower Ba/Th compared to the Oligocene–Miocene and modern volcanic front samples, suggesting that the sediment input was lower in Ba, possibly analogous to old deep siliceous sediment subducting in the western Pacific. Both U/Th and U/La are higher in the modern volcanics, reflecting higher U/Th in the subducting sediments following the 'Carbonate Crash'. Finally, we found that the orientation of the arc axis also changed, from northeast‐southwest in the Cretaceous–Eocene to northwest‐southeast after the Oligocene. This change probably records variations in the location of the subduction zone as this region shaped into its current geographic configuration.     

Trends in the training and employment of geoscientists in Australia from 1967 to 1978

There are now 14 universities and 8 colleges of advanced education in Australia with geology or earth science departments, which comprised 278 professional staff, 2020 undergraduates, and 556 graduate students in 1978. Academic staff, engaged in a wide range of research, represent less than 10 percent of the total number of Australian geoscientists. Almost all non‐academic employers (98 percent of the sample) presently accept a graduate with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree, while 85 percent accept a B.Sc pass degree. About 65 percent of non‐academic geologists work for industry, and the remainder are employed by government surveys and research organisations. Mining and mineral exploration employ 76 percent of the geologists in industry, followed by petroleum exploration with 11 percent. Geologists make up 83 percent of geoscientists in non‐academic employment, the remainder being geophysicists 15 percent and geochemists 2 percent. Information on vacancies available in early 1979 suggests that all the recent graduates would be absorbed by government and industry, and pointed to a resurgence in demand for qualified geoscientists. There has been striking growth in the number of consulting/contracting geological firms, with 65 firms employing 242 geoscientists replying to the 1978 census.