Geochemical characteristics of Sr isotopes in the LS33 drill core from the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea, and their response to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau

Making full use of modern analytical and testing techniques to explore and establish new indexes or methods for extracting paleoseawater geochemical information from sediments will help to reconstruct the sedimentary paleoenvironment in different research areas.The connection between the subsidence of the South China Sea basin and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau has been a scientific concern in recent decades.To explore the information on the sedimentary paleoenvironment,provenance changes and uplift of Tibetan Plateau contained in core sediments(debris),we selected core samples from Well LS33 in the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea,and analyzed the contents of typical elements(Al,Th,and rare earth elements)that can indicate changes in provenance and the Sr isotopic compositions,which can reveal the geochemical characteristics of the paleoseawater depending on the type of material(authigenic carbonate and terrigenous detritus).The results show the following:(1)during the late Miocene,the Red River transported a large amount of detrital sediments from the ancient continental block(South China)to the Qiongdongnan Basin.(2)The authigenic carbonates accurately record changes in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the South China Sea since the Oligocene.These ratios reflect the semi-closed marginal sea environment of the South China Sea(relative to the ocean)and the sedimentary paleoenvironment evolution process of the deep-water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin from continental to transitional and then to bathyal.(3)Since the Neogene,the variations in the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in the authigenic carbonates have been consistent with the variations in the uplift rate of the Tibetan Plateau and the sediment accumulation rate in the Qiongdongnan Basin.These consistent changes indicate the complex geological process of the change in the rock weathering intensity and terrigenous Sr flux caused by changes in the uplift rate of the Tibetan Plateau,which influence the Sr isotope composition of seawater.

Molar-tooth Carbonate Sequences and Sr Isotopes in the Neoproterozoic for Stratigraphic Correlation: Research in the Jilin-Liaoning-Xuzhou-Huaiyang Area of the Sino-Korean Plate and Its Correlation with the Yangtze Plate

Based on a study of Neoproterozoic carbonates in the Jilin-Liaoning-Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, especially its cyclic sequence stratigraphy and Sr isotopes, two maximum sea flooding events (at 820 Ma and 835 Ma) have been identified. The resulting isochronous stratigraphic correlation proves that these Precambrian strata were connected between the Qingbaikou and the Nanhuan systems with a time range from 750 Ma to 850 Ma. The disappearance of microsparite carbonate and coming of a glacial stage offer important evidence for worldwide stratigraphic correlation and open a window for further correlation of the stratigraphic successions across the Sino-Korean and Yangtze Plates. A new correlation scheme is therefore provided based on our work.

Using Sr isotopes to trace the geographic origins of Chinese mitten crabs

Identifying the geographic origins of Chinese mitten crabs is important for food safety and fair market competition.In this study,we used strontium(Sr) isotopes as a tool to trace the geographic origins of Chinese mitten crabs.Chinese mitten crabs,water,and different types of crab feed were collected from four different lakes for Sr isotope analyses.The results showed that the Sr isotope compositions of the different parts from one single crab were consistent within error,indicating that any piece of a crab could be used to represent the Sr isotope characteristics of the whole crab.The Sr isotope compositions of Chinese mitten crabs from the same lake were consistent within the analytical error,and the values were similar to the Sr isotope composition of the water from the same lake.However,the Sr isotope compositions of water and crabs from different lakes are significantly different.Therefore,the Sr isotope compositions of Chinese mitten crabs are mainly controlled by lake water composition,while the impact of feed is limited.This study provides an effective method for tracing the geographic origins of Chinese mitten crabs.

New Sr Isotope Evidence to Support the Material Source of the Mengyejing Potash Deposit in the Simao Basin from Ancient Marine Halite or Residual Sea

Objective The Mengyejing potash deposit in the Simao Basin is the only producing area of solid potash at present in China. There is still controversy about the material source and distribution of the potash in this deposit （Shen Lijian et al., 2017）, which has influenced not only the prospecting direction and efficiency but also the understanding of the control of Tethys tectonic evolution on the formation and distribution of the mineral resources. This work analyzed the Sr isotope geochemical characteristics of evaporites from core samples in the well MZK-3 in order to further clarify the material source and to explore the potash distribution in the Simao Basin.

Sr Isotope Geochemistry and Depositional Setting of Carbonate in Ordovician,Ordos Basin,China

China is in severe shortage of potash reserves,and the best way for breakthrough is to make potash exploration in marine salt basins.Erdos basin is so far the only Ordovician potash basin in the world.The Erdos basin is located west

High-Precision Direct Determination of the ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr Isotope Ratio of Bottled Sr-Rich Natural Mineral Drinking Water Using MC-ICP-MS

Strontium has four naturally occurring stable isotopes,84Sr,86Sr,87Sr,and 88Sr,with abundances of 0.56,9.87,approximately 7.04,and 82.53 atomic %,respectively.The 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio is variable due to the addition of radiogenic 87Sr produced by the beta decay of 87Rb with a half-life of 4.88 ± 0.05 Ga.Thus,

Genesis of the Nuri Cu-W-Mo Deposit,Tibet,China:Constraints from in situ Trace Elements and Sr Isotopic Analysis of Scheelite

The Nuri deposit is the only Cu-W-Mo polymetallic deposit with large-scale WO3 resources in the eastern section of the Gangdese metallogenic belt,Tibet,China.However,the genetic type of this deposit has been controversial since its discovery.Based on a study of the geological characteristics of the deposit,this study presents mineralization stages,focusing on the oxide stage and the quartz-sulfide stage where scheelite is mainly formed,referred to as Sch-A and Sch-B,respectively.Through LA-ICP-MS trace element and Sr isotope analyses,the origin,evolutionary process of the oreforming fluid and genesis of the ore deposit are investigated.Scanning Electron Microscope-Cathodoluminescence(SEMCL)observations reveal that Sch-A consists of three generations,with dark gray homogenous Sch-A1 being replaced by relatively lighter and homogeneous Sch-A2 and Sch-A3,with Sch-A2 displaying a gray CL image color with vague and uneven growth bands and Sch-A3 has a light gray CL image color with hardly any growth band.In contrast,Sch-B exhibits a‘core-rim’structure,with the core part(Sch-B1)being dark gray and displaying a uniform growth band,while the rim part(Sch-B2)is light gray and homogeneous.The normalized distribution pattern of rare earth elements in scheelite and Sr isotope data suggest that the early ore-forming fluid in the Nuri deposit originated from granodiorite porphyry and,later on,some country rock material was mixed in,due to strong water-rock interaction.Combining the O-H isotope data further indicates that the ore-forming fluid in the Nuri deposit originated from magmatic-hydrothermal sources,with contributions from metamorphic water caused by water-rock interaction during the mineralization process,as well as later meteoric water.The intense water-rock interaction likely played a crucial role in the precipitation of scheelite,leading to varying Eu anomalies in different generations of scheelite from the oxide stage to the quartz-sulfide stage,while also causing a gradual decrease in oxygen fugacity(fO2)and a slow rise in pH value.Additionally,the high Mo and low Sr contents in the scheelite are consistent with typical characteristics of magmatic-hydrothermal scheelite.Therefore,considering the geological features of the deposit,the geochemical characteristics of scheelite and the O-H isotope data published previously,it can be concluded that the genesis of the Nuri deposit belongs to porphyry-skarn deposit.

Sr isotope evolution during chemical weathering of granites——impact of relative weathering rates of minerals

The Sr isotopic systematics in the weathering profiles of biotite granite and granite porphyry in southern Jiangxi Province were investigated. The results showed that during the chemical weathering of granites, remarked fractionation occurred between Rb and Sr. During the early stages of chemical weathering of granites, the released Sr/Si and Sr/Ca ratios are larger than those of the parent rocks, and the leaching rate of Sr is higher than those of Si, Ca, K, Rb, etc. Dynamic variations in relative weathering rates of the main Sr-contributing minerals led to fluctuation with time in 87Sr/86Sr ratios of inherent and released Sr in the weathering crust of granite. Successive weathering of biotite, plagioclase and K-feldspar made 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the weathering residues show such a fluctuation trend as to decrease first, increase, and then decrease again till they maintain stable. This work further indicates that when Sr isotopes are used to trace biogeochemical processes on both the catchment and global scales, one must seriously take account of the prefer-ential release of Sr from dissolving solid phase and the fluctuation of 87Sr/86Sr ratios caused by the variations of relative weathering rates of Sr-contributing minerals.

Review of High-Precision Sr Isotope Analyses of Low-Sr Geological Samples

Isotope plays an important role in both tracing and dating in earth science, especially 87Rb-86 Sr system. With the development of earth science, whole-rock analysis can＇t sufficiently meet the requirements for scientific research and the micro-analysis becomes more and more significant. Laser ablation multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry（LA-MC-ICP-MS） has been extensively applied in micro-zone analysis due to its low sample-consumption, high accuracy, in situ and low requirements on matrix, but it is still difficult to accurately measure Sr isotope compositions especially for the samples with high Rb/Sr ratios and low Sr contents as it is restricted by severe quality discrimination and various types of mass spectrum interferences. Consequently, thermal ionization mass-spectrometry（TIMS）, as the most accurate and precise method to analyze isotopic ratios, is still the most popular method of analyzing Sr ratios, especially for the samples with low Sr contents. This paper makes a systematic review on the high-precision Sr isotope analyses of low-Sr geological samples, including the micro-sampling technique, ultra-low procedural blank chemical method and TIMS measurement technique. The combination of ultra-low procedural blank and TIMS can be used to perform high-precision micro-analysis of the samples with ng magnitude, which will be undoubtedly an important direction for Rb-Sr geochronology, geochemistry and environmental studies.

Sr Isotopes and REEs Geochemistry of Anhydrites from L Vent Black Smoker Chimney, East Pacific Rise 9oN–10oN

High resolution sampling, for Sr isotope and REE analyses, was carried out along a transaction of L vent chimney collected from East Pacific Rise 9oN–10oN. Sr isotopes show these anhydrites are precipitated from a mixture between hydrothermal fluid and seawater. The calculated relative proportion of seawater and hydrothermal fluid shows that the mixing is heterogeneous on the transection of the L vent chimney. Anhydrites from the chimney show uniform chondrite-normalized REE pattern with enrichment of LREE and positive Eu anomaly. While normalized to the REE of end-member hydrothermal fluid, anhydrites also show uniform REE pattern but with negative Eu anomaly and enrichment of HREE. Combining previous studies on REEs of hydrothermal fluids from different hydrothermal systems and the hydrothermal fluid data from this region, we suggested that REE-anion complexing, rather than crystallography controlling, is the main factor that controls the REE partition behavior in the anhydrite during its precipitation from the mixture of hydrothermal fluid and seawater.

REE and Sr-Nd isotope characteristics of hydrothermal chimney at Jade area in the Okinawa Trough

Hydrothermal chimney is a product of hydrothermal activity on the seabed. Chimney samples dredged from Jade hydrothermal area in Izena depression of the Okinawa Trough, are characterized by relatively enriched light rare earth elements (LREE) and strongly positive Eu anomalies. 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd of these samples are exactly between those of seawater and of acidic pumice, averaged at 0.708928 and 0.512292, respectively. These characteristics imply that the main source of hydrothermal sulfide at Jade area is possibly the undersurface acidic rocks. The mineralizing mechanism can be summarized as follows: Large amount of mineralized material would be leached out and LREE-enriched hydrothermal solution would be subsequently produced as a result of thermo-chemical exchange reaction between acidic volcanic rocks and heated seawater that penetrated in advance from upper water mass. The spurting out from the seabed and quickly crystallizing in the seawater of hydrothermal solution are responsible for the formation of Cu-Zn sulfide and barite-amorphous SiO2 minerals that are characterized by enriched LREE and positively strong Eu anomalies.

Sources of Cretaceous Bimodal Volcanic Rocks in the Coastal Region of Southeastern China -- Constrains of the Sr content and its isotopes

Cretaceous volcanism in the coastal region of southeastern China was characteristized by occurrenceof bimodal volcanics consisting of basalts and rhyolites, the geneses of which are still controversial. Based on the factthat their isotopic compositions are similar but the Sr content of the former is much higher than that of the latter, thispaper discusses the respective sources of the two end-member rocks, and concludes that basalts were derived fromthe subduction-related enriched upper mantle wedge and their isotopic compositions had not been affected by crustalassimilation, whereas rhyolites were formed by remelting of the old metamorphic basement, but they were mixed upwith the underplating basaltic magmas to various degrees so that their Sr isotopic compositions varied significantlyfrom the sources and tended to be homogeneous to the latter.

Trace Elements and Sr, Nd Isotope Geochemistry of the Lajimiao Norite-Gabbro from the North Qinling Belt

The Lajimiao norite-gabbro complex, as a part of the ophiolites on the southern side of the North Qinling belt, consists of gabbro and norite-gabbro. They were derived from different magma series: the gabbro was derived from tholeiitic magma series with higher TiO2, REE abundance and Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio ; norite-gabbro was derived from calc-alkali magma series with lower TiO2, Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio and REE abundance and much lower HREE abundance, which suggests that the source of the norite-gabbro magma was deeper and controlled by eclogite facies. Geochemical characteristics of both plutonic rocks are similar to those of island-arc basalts, such as relatively high contents of Ba, Pb and Sr and relatively low contents of Nb, Zr and N j.The Sr, Nd isotopic characteristics of the Lajimiao norite-gabbro complex are similar to those of ophiolites. Its εNd values are constant, about+2; whereas εst values have wide variation from - 6.4 to +31.2 and positively correlate with Na2O, H2O+ and CO2 contents and the Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio. The εNd- Nd/Th, εNd- La/Nb and εNd-Ba/Nb diagrams clearly show that there were significant components of terrigenous sediments in the mantle source of the Lajimiao norite-gabbro complex. It suggests that large amount of sediments had been carried into the mantle by the subducted ancient Qinling sea plate during the Palaeozoic.

Geology and Geochemistry of K-feldspar Veins in Lamprophyre at the Zhenyuan Gold Deposit,Yunnan,Southwest China:Implications for Gold Mineralization

Lamprophyres typically appear in hydrothermal gold deposits.The relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits is investigated widely.Some researchers suggest that the emplacement of lamprophyres triggers gold mineralization,whereas others hypothesize that the formation of lamprophyres increases the fertility of mantle sources and ore-forming fluids.K-feldspar veins,with ages between those of lamprophyres and gold deposits,appear in lamprophyres in Zhenyuan.Therefore,K-feldspar veins are ideal for investigating the relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits.Phlogopite in K-feldspar veins has lower Mg#,Ni,and Cr contents and higher TiO2,Li,Ba,Sr,Sc,Zr,Nb,and Cs contents than phlogopite in lamprophyres.The in-situ Sr isotopic values of apatites(0.7063–0.7066)in K-feldspar veins are within the range for apatites(0.7064–0.7078)from lamprophyres.High large-ion lithophile element concentrations and low Nb and Ta concentrations in phlogopite from lamprophyres,in addition to high(87Sr/86Sr)i values of apatite(0.7064–0.7078),indicate that the magma parental to these phlogopite and apatite crystals is derived from an enriched mantle.Kfeldspar veins are genetically correlated with lamprophyres,whereas sulfide mineral assemblage and trace element compositions of pyrite in K-feldspar veins suggest that K-feldspar veins in lamprophyres are not directly related to gold mineralization of the Zhenyuan deposit.

Origin of Paleofluids in Dabashan Foreland Thrust Belt:Geochemicai Evidence of ^(13)C,^(18)O and ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr in Veins and Host Rocks

In the last ten years, with important discoveries from oil and gas exploration in the Dabashan foreland depression belt in the borderland between Shanxi and Sichuan provinces, the relationship between the formation and evolution of, and hydrocarbon accumulation in, this foreland thrust belt from the viewpoint of basin and oil and gas exploration has been studied. At the same time, there has been little research on the origin of fluids within the belt. Based on geochemical system analysis including Z values denoting salinity and research on δ13C, δ18O and S7Sr/S6Sr isotopes in the host rocks and veins, the origin of paleofluids in the foreland thrust belt is considered. There are four principal kinds of paleofluid, including deep mantle-derived, sedimentary, mixed and meteoric. For the deep mantle-derived fluid, the δ13C is generally less than -5.0‰PDB, δ18O less than -10.0‰PDB, Z value less than 110 and 87Sr/86Sr less than 0.70600; the sedimentary fluid is mainly marine carbonate- derived, with the δ13C generally more than -2.0‰PDB, 18δO less than -10.0‰PDB, Z value more than 120 and STSr/S6Sr ranging from 0.70800 to 0.71000; the mixed fluid consists mainly of marine carbonate fluid （including possibly a little mantle-derived fluid or meteoric water）, with the j13C generally ranging from -2.0‰ to -8.0‰PDB, δ18O from -10.0‰ to -18.0‰ PDB, Z value from 105 to 120 and 87Sr/86Sr from 0.70800 to 0.71000; the atmospheric fluid consists mainly of meteoric water, with the δ13C generally ranging from 0.0‰ to -10.0‰PDB, δ18O less than -8.0%rPDB, Z value less than 110 and 87Sr/86Sr more than 0.71000. The Chengkou fault belt encompasses the most complex origins, including all four types of paleofluid; the Zhenba and Pingba fault belts and stable areas contain a simple paleofluid mainly of sedimentary type; the Jimingsi fault belt contains mainly sedimentary and mixed fluids, both consisting of sedimentary fluid and meteoric water. Jurassic rocks of the foreland depression belt contain mainly meteoric fluid.

Basement Characteristics and Crustal Evolution of the Copper-Gold Metallogenic Belt in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River:Some Isotope Constraints

Studies of the Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic composition of Mesozoic intrusive rocks indicate that the basement of the copper-gold metallogenic belt of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River has “two-layer structure” and partly has “multi-layered structure”, and is inhomogeneous and shows the distinct feature of E-W provincialism. The calculated model lead ages (t1) are mostly greater than 2600 Ma, and the model neodymium ages (TDM) vary from 953 to 2276 Ma and concentrate in two time intervals: 1800–2000 Ma and 1200–1600 Ma. It is concluded that the basement of the MBYR is composed of the Late Archaeozoic to Middle Proterozoic metamorphic series and that the crust was initiated in the Archaean and continued to grow in the Early and Middle Proterozoic, and the proportion of new crust formed by mantle differentiation during the Late Proterozoic is low.

Sr AND Nd ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION OF THE ULTRAMAFIC XENOLITHS FROM EASTERM CHINA:INFERENCES ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE SUBCONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE MANTLE AND THE ORIGIN OF BASALTIC MAGMAS

Uliramafie xenoliths provide an important constraint on the composition,strueture and evolution of the lithosphere mantle beneath eastern China. Most of the xenoliths entrained by the Cenzoic basalts have de pleted Sr and Nd isotopie composition. Interestingly evidences have been found for old ehriehed lithosphere mantle beneath thick Arehaean and post-Arehaean erust (＞35 km ) and for relatively homogeneous and depleted lithosphere mantle bencath thin erust (＜ 35 km ). Furthermore the chemieal composition of the lithosphere mantle is overall fertile regardless of the age of the overlying erust. The spatial variability in ehemieal and Sr and Nd isotopie eompositions of the ultramafie xenoliths in relation to the lithospherie ages and geometry implies a mixture strueture of the lithosphere mantle beheath easiern China. which consists of recently aecreted asthenospherie diapirs and old modified remnants. Isotopie eomposition of the Cenozoie basalts show obvious similarities with ocein island basalt (OIH ). We argue that enriehed lithosphere mantle delamineted during Mesozoic-Cenozoie tectonie-thermal events was generally involved in the Cenozoie basaltic voleanism.

Pb, Sr AND Nd-ISOTOPIC COMPOSITIONS OF PALEO AND NEO-TETHYAN OCEANIC CRUSTS IN THE EASTERN TETHYAN DOMAIN: IMPLICATION FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN-TYPE ISOTOPIC SIGNATURE

The isotopic signature of mid\|ocean ridge basalts (MORB) from the Indian Ocean is different from that of MORB from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic oceans.. The Indian MORB is characterized by lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, hi gher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, and lower 206 Pb/ 204 Pb for given 143 Nd/ 144 Nd than the latter (Hart, 1984; Castillo, 1988; Mahoney et al., 1998). Why the Indian Ocean mantle domain is different from the Pacific and North\|Atlantic ocean mantle domain is still unclear. Two general classes of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Indian mantle (Mahoney et al., 1998). The first one is that the components of the Indian Ocean mantle domain are a fairly young mantle end\|member created during the processes of breakup of the Gondwana continent to form the Indian Ocean. The second hypothesis posits that the Indian MORB\|type isotopic signature is a long\|lived mantle domain that existed prior to the formation of the present Indian Ocean. Thus it appears that one of the keys to a better understanding of origin of the Indian Ocean\|type isotopic signature depends on its age. Although some studies (Mahoney et al., 1998; Weis and Frey, 1997) showed that the isotopic signature was as old as the Indian ocean crust (140Ma), basalts investigated in the Indian Ocean region do not prove or disprove the existence of the Indian MORB\|type isotopic signature prior to the Indian Ocean because they were taken from the Indian ocean basin itself.

Nd, Sr and O Isotopic Study on Spilite-Keratophyre in Xiqiu,,Zhejiang Province, China

Nd, Sr and O isotopic study on the spilite-keratophyre sequence in Xiqiu shows that its ∈_(Nd) values are inthe range of 4.02-5.26, and its ∈_(Sr) values, +1.4-2.6. According to the points of these data in the ∈_(Nd)-T,∈_(Sr)-T and ∈_(Nd)-∈_(Sr) diagrams, the spilite-keratophyre is interpreted as being slightly contaminated by crustalmaterials. Its δ^(18)O values are 3.9-5.0‰. The depletion of ^(18)O in the rocks resulted from the influence ofseawater hydrothermal alteration during or soon after the rock formation. Based on the isotopic characteristicsand available geochemical data, it is believed that the spilite-keratophyre was formed in the well-developedisland-arc environment during the Late Proterozoic subduction of the palaeo-Pacific plate beneath thesoutheastern margin of the Yangtze massif.

Sr and Nd Isotopic Characteristics and Magma Genesis of Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks Along the Coastal Region of Southeastern China

The Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the coastal region of southeastern China were superimposed on some different basement tectonic elements. The volcanic rocks developed in these different basement tectonic elements have great differences in Sr and Nd isotopic compositions. The rocks in western Zhejiang and northeastern Jiangxi Provinces which belong to the Lower Yangtze subplate have lower initial 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios, but are higher in initial Nd isotopic ratios. The initial 143Nd / 144Nd values of the volcanic rocks developed in the Cathaysian subplate increase clearly from early to late in time, and from the core of the Wuyishan uplift coastwards constantly, but the initial 87Sr/86Sr values tend to decrease. The isotopic characteristics and their spatial variations in Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the study region are, to a great extent, manifestations of the isotopic characteristics in basement metamorphic complexes, and the generation of the Mesozoic acid magma in this region is attributed to the recycling of pre-existing crustal materials.