Mineralogy and geochemistry of trachytic rocks from the Lichi Volcanics, Eastern Himalaya: insights into the Kerguelen mantle plume activity in the Eastern Himalayan Region

The Lichi volcanics are a suite of mafic-intermediate-felsic rocks and are considered coeval with the Abor volcanics(~132 Ma) of the Siang window in the Eastern Himalaya. Here, we present the first report of trachytic rocks from the Lichi volcanics, which are exposed in the Ranga valley, along the Kimin-Yazali road section in the Eastern Himalayan Region, Northeast India. The trachytes occur in close association with sandstones of the Gondwana Group of rocks and are characterised based on field, petrographical, and geochemical investigations.These fine-grained trachytes are composed of alkali feldspar, biotite, plagioclase, sodic-amphibole, apatite, illmenite, and titanite. The REE profiles of the evolved trachytic rocks(higher SiO_(2)content) display fractionated trends. The fractionation of accessory mineral phases, like apatite and titanite, was possibly responsible for the strongly fractionated REE patterns of the evolved samples.The trachytic rocks demonstrate high apatite saturation temperatures of 988 ± 14 ℃(1σ, n = 8). The Aluminium Saturation Index(< 1.1) and binary discrimination diagrams of these peralkaline trachytes define their affinity with A-type granitoids. Elemental ratios like Y/Nb, Nb/U,and Ce/Pb signify that the Lichi trachytes are differentiated products of mantle-derived ocean island basalts. Trace elemental discrimination diagrams Th/Yb versus Nb/Yb, Y versus Nb, and Y + Nb versus Rb reflect a within-plate tectonic regime for the trachytes. From the results presented in this work, we infer that the development of rifting events during the breakup of eastern Gondwana due to the onset of Kerguelen plume activity further led to underplating of basic magma in lower crustal levels. These parental basaltic magmas underwent fractionation processes forming differentiated trachyandesites and trachytes.Taking into consideration the similarities recorded between the Lichi volcanics and Abor volcanics, this study supports the idea that Kerguelen plume activities resulted in the emplacement of these volcanics in the Eastern Himalayas.

Early Triassic Silicic Volcanics of South China:Petrogenesis and Constraints on the Geodynamic Evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean Region

The only occurrence of Lower Triassic silicic volcanic rocks within the South China Block is in the Qinzhou Bay area of Guangxi Province.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating reveals that volcanic rocks of the Beisi and Banba formations formed between 248.8±1.6 and 246.5±1.3 Ma,coeval with peraluminous granites of the Qinzhou Bay Granitic Complex.The studied rhyolites and dacites are characterized by high SiO_(2),K_(2)O,and Al_(2)O_(3),and low MgO,CaO,and P_(2)O_(5) contents and are classified as high-K calc-alkaline S-type rocks,with A/CNK=0.98-1.19.The volcanic rocks are depleted in high field strength elements,e.g.,Nb,Ta,Ti,and P,and enriched in large ion lithophile elements,e.g.,Rb,K,Sr,and Ba.Although the analyzed volcanic rocks have extremely enriched zircon Hf isotopic compositions(ε_(Hf)(t)=-29.1 to-6.9),source discrimination indicators and high calculated Ti-in-zircon temperatures(798-835℃)reveal that magma derived from enriched lithospheric mantle not only provided a heat source for anatectic melting of the metasedimentary protoliths but was also an endmember component of the S-type silicic magma.The studied early Triassic volcanics are inferred to have formed immediately before closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in this region,as the associated subduction would have generated an extensional setting in which the mantle-derived upwelling and volcanic activity occurred.

Geochronology,Eruption Sequence and Geochemistry of Mid-Late Jurassic Volcanics South of Manzhouli:Petrogenesis and Implications for Mesozoic Tectonic Regime Transformation

To the south of Manzhouli,Hulunbuir,Inner Mongolia,experienced a tectonic regime transformation from compression to extension in the mid-Mesozoic.Based on systematic research of the volcanics,petrology,volcanic facies,chronology and geochemistry of rocks in the Buridun area,two stages of volcanics are identified.The first stage named the trachyte series was formed in the late Middle Jurassic(167-163 Ma),its eruption rhythm is pyroxene trachyandesite-trachyandesite-trachyte,and its origin rock is basic volcanics from thickened lower crust,with a tectonic setting in the collision orogeny after the closure of the Mongolia Okhotsk Ocean(MOO).The second stage is a bimodal volcanic rock,formed in the early Late Jurassic(163-160 Ma).The eruption rhythm of basic volcanics in this stage is basaltic andesite-basalt-olivine basalt,which comes from the metasomatized lithospheric mantle,the acidic volcanics of which being characterized by the eruption rhythm of sedimentary-explosive-overflow facies,which came from the partial melting of newly formed lower crust,and this shows the characteristics of A-type granite;the tectonic setting is extension of the lithosphere after collision and closure of the MOO.The changes in the formation age and tectonic setting of the two stages of volcanics demonstrate that the transition time from the compressive system to the extensional system south of Manzhouli is about 163 Ma.

The Southward Extension of Cathaysia Block: Evidence from Zircon UPb Dates of Borehole Volcanics in the Northern South China Sea

Five Paleogene volcanics sampled from the northern South China Sea were analyzed via LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating, including basalt and andesite from Borehole SCSVI and volcanic agglomerate from Borehole SCSV2, respectively. A total of 162 zircon U-Pb dates for them cover an age range from Neoarchean to Eocene, in which the pre-Paleocene data dominate. The Paleogene dates of 62.5±2.2 Ma and 42.1±2.9 Ma are associated with two igneous episodes prior to opening of South China Sea basin. Those pre-Paleocene zircons are inherited zircons mostly with magmatogenic oscillatory zones, and have REE features of crustal zircon. Zircon U-Pb dates of 2518-2481 Ma, 1933- 1724 Ma, and 1094-1040 Ma from the SCSV1 volcanics, and 2810-2718 Ma, 2458-2421 Ma, and 1850-993.4 Ma from the SCSV2 volcanics reveal part of Precambrian evolution of the northern South China Sea, well comparable with age records dated from the Cathaysia block. The data of 927.0±6.9 Ma and 781±38 Ma dated from the SCSV2 coincide with amalgamation between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks and breakup of the Rodinia, respectively. The age records of Caledonian orogeny from the Cathaysia block are widely found from our volcanic samples with concordant mean ages of 432.0±5.8 Ma from the SCSV1 and of 437±15 Ma from the SCSV2. The part of the northern South China Sea resembling the Cathaysia underwent Indosinian and Yanshannian tectonothermal events. Their age signatures from the SCSV1 cover 266.5±3.5 Ma, 241.1±6.0 Ma, 184.0±4.2 Ma, 160.9±4.2 Ma and 102.8±2.6 Ma, and from the SCSV2 are 244±15 Ma, 158.1±3.5 Ma, 141±13 Ma and 96.3±2.1 Ma. Our pre-Paleogene U-Pb age spectra of zircons from the borehole volcanics indicate that the northern South China Sea underwent an evolution from formation of Precambrian basement, Caledonian orogeny, and Indosinian orogeny to Yanshannian magmatism. This process can be well comparable with the tectonic evolution of South China, largely supporting the areas of the northern South China Sea as part of southward extension of the Cathaysia.

Age of the Marwar Supergroup,NW India:A note on the U–Pb geochronology of Jodhpur Group felsic volcanics

The Marwar Supergroup(NW Peninsular India)is thought to be of Ediacaran-Cambrian age,based on previous paleontological and geochronological studies.However,direct constraints on the onset of sedimentation within the Marwar basin are still scarce.In this study,we report U–Pb zircon,LA-ICP-MS,and SIMS ages from the Chhoti Khatu felsic volcanic rocks,interlayered with the Jodhpur Group sandstones(Lower Marwar Supergroup).The cathodoluminescence images of the zircons indicate complex morphologies,and core-rim textures coupled with the wide range of ages indicate that they are likely inherited or in the case of thin poorly indurated ash-beds,detrital in origin.The age spectra of 68 zircon analyses from our sampling display a dominant 800–900 Ma age peak corresponding to the age of basement"Erinpura granite"rocks in the region.The youngest inherited zircon from a felsic ash layer yielded a U–Pb age of651 Ma±18 Ma that,together with previous studies and paleontological evidence,indicates a postCryogenian age for the initiation of Marwar sedimentation following a~125 Ma hiatus between the end of Malani magmatism and Marwar deposition.

Large-Scale Segregation of Immiscible Liquids in the 1780 Ma Taihang Dykes to Produce the Bimodal Xiong'er Volcanics(North China)

It is yet unclear whether large-scale segregation of immiscibile liquids and eruption of high-Si lavas exist in nature(Charlier et al.,2013).We present a possible case of segregation of immscible liquids in the 1780 Ma Taihang

Genetic Relationship of the 1780-1760 Ma Dykes and the Coeval Volcanics in the Lvliang Area, North China

The 1780-1760 Ma Taihang dyke swarm and the coeval Xiong’er volcanic province are the most widespread magmatic events occurring post the amalgamation of the two North China cratons.It has been debated whether

GEOLOGY AND MINERAL CHEMISTRY OF THE DEOSAI VOLCANICS, BALTISTAN, N. PAKISTAN

The westerly extension of the Dras volcanics in the Deosai plateau of Baltistan, northern Pakistan, lying east of the Nanga Parbat—Haramosh Massif, is comprised of agglomerates and tuffs together with flows consisting of basalt, andesite and some rhyolite. In the filed these volcanics are overlying the Ladakh batholith and both these basic and acidic suites of rocks carry the signatures of the Nanga Parbat—related orogeny. The flows appear to have evolved from a basaltic magma, with opaque oxide, clinopyroxene, hornblende and plagioclase, respectively appearing on the liquidus. These have been metamorphosed under greenschist facies conditions and may contain abundant epidote, chlorite and secondary amphibole. Metamorphic impact seems to be stronger in the west, i.e., in the vicinity of Nanga Parbat—Haramosh Massif, than in the East. An 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age of (125 4±6)Ma on hornblende phenocrysts in an andesite is in agreement with the Late Jurassic to Cretaceous age of the Dras volcanics, in India, and indicates that Nanga Parbat related tectonics may have played a part in the growth of lower green schist facies assemblage of the volcanic rocks.

Using Portable Gamma-Ray Spectrometry for Testing Uranium Migration: A Case Study from the Wadi El Kareim Alkaline Volcanics,Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

The 300±20 Ma anomalously radioactive trachytes of Wadi El Kareim, central Eastern Desert, are a significant example of U-mineralization related to the alkaline volcanics in Egypt. Extensive portable gamma-ray spectrometric data has been utilized to identify geological factors controlling uranium mobility in the geological units along the three detailed study locations of Kab Al-Abyad, South Wadi(W) Al-Tarafawy and W. Al-Farkhah; their eT h/eU ratios averaging around 4.1, 3.7 and 5.6 respectively. Quantitative analysis with the integration of mobility maps and geological studies suggest two systems controlling U-migration within the geological units(confined system and unconfined system). In the confined system, the syngenetically formed U have experienced mobility after leaching and are redistributed in the presence of an incorporation carrier during transportation(probably as carbonate complexes). Then the retardant for uranium is achieved by sorption or by coprecipitation with the aid of Fe oxy-hydroxide, and finally the formation of immobile secondary U-bearing minerals takes place along a lithogeochemical trap. In contrast to the confined system, the unconfined one is basically lacking the lithogeochemical trap which influences the final accumulation of U-bearing minerals. The radioactivity of the trachyte rocks arises from the radioactive minerals uranophane and betauranophane with U-and/or Th-bearing minerals samarskite, Th-rich REE silicates, monazite and allanite.

Paleomagnetism of Early Tertiary volcanics in the South Shetland Islands and its tectonic implications

A total of 334 oriented volcanic samples of Early Tertiary were collected for a paleomagnetic study from 43 sampling sites in the South Shetland Islands,Antarctica.Paleomagnetic study indicates that the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula were situated in or close to their present position in Early Tertiary. Furthermore, it is also suggested that a counterclockwise rotation about 15 degrees related to the relative movement between South America and Antarctica took place in north of Antarctic Peninsula since Paleocene.

Conditions for the Formation of Oil and Gas Pools in Tertiary Volcanics in the Western Part of the Huimin Sag, Shandong and Their Distribution

Conditions for the Formation of oil and gas pools in Tertiary volcanics in the western part of the Huimin sag, Shandong and then (?)stribution have been studied based on the geological, seismic and well-logging information. In this paper, the types and lithofacies of the volcanic rocks in the western part of the Huimin sag are described; the relationship between rocks and electrical properties, the seismic reflection structures, the development and distribution of the volcanic rocks are expounded; and the fourfold role of the volcanic activities in the formation of the oil and gas pools is also dealt with. It is considered by the authors that the volcanic activities were not destructive to the formation of oil and gas pools but a factor favourable to the accumulation of organic matters and their conversion to hydrocarbon. The volcanic rocks might have served as reservoir rocks and cap rocks, or as a synsedimentary anticline. The prerequisites and important factors for the formation of oil and gas pools and their distribution are pointed out in the paper.

The Records of the Tectonic Evolution From the Volcanics in Qiangtang Basin,Tibet

The volcanism in Qiangtang Basin is very frequent due to the divergence and subduction of the various plates.The study indicates that these volcanics are formed in different tectonic settings:1)Hercynian volcanics are mainly basalts and are formed in the intraplate and intercontinental rift.2)Indosinian volcanics markedly vary in the distribution and composition and reflect transitional MORB and island arc environments respectively.3)Yanshanian volcanics consist predominantly of basalts,andesites,dacites and rhyolites and are characterized by calc-alkaline volcanic suite, indicating island arc setting.4)Himalayan volcanics are complicated and associated with intraplate orogency.The volcanism provides important tectonic information for recognizing the evolution of Qiangtang Basin.

SHRIMP Geochronology of Volcanics of the Zhangjiakou and Yixian Formations, Northern Hebei Province, with a Discussion on the Age of the Xing'anling Group of the Great Hinggan Mountains and Volcanic Strata of the Southeastern Coastal Area of China

A zircon U-Pb geochronological study on the volcanic rocks reveals that both of the Zhangjiakou and Yixian Formations, northern Hebei Province, are of the Early Cretaceous, with ages of 135-130 Ma and 129-120 Ma, respectively. It is pointed out that the ages of sedimentary basins and volcanism in the northern Hebei -western Liaoning area become younger from west to east, i. e. the volcanism of the Luanping Basin commenced at c. 135 Ma, the Luotuo Mount area of the Chengde Basin c. 130 Ma, and western Liaoning c. 128 Ma. With a correlation of geochronological stratigraphy and biostratigraphy, we deduce that the Xing'anling Group, which comprises the Great Hinggan Mountains volcanic rock belt in eastern China, is predominantly of the early-middle Early Cretaceous, while the Jiande and Shimaoshan Groups and their equivalents, which form the volcanic rock belt in the southeastern coast area of China, are of the mid-late Early Cretaceous, and both the Jehol and Jiande Biotas are of the Early Cretaceous, not Late Jurassic or Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous. Combining the characteristics of the volcanic rocks and, in a large area, hiatus in the strata of the Late Jurassic or Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous between the formations mentioned above and the underlying sequences, we can make the conclusion that, in the Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous, the eastern China region was of high relief or plateau, where widespread post-orogenic volcanic series of the Early Cretaceous obviously became younger from inland in the west to continental margin in the east. This is not the result of an oceanward accretion of the subduction belt between the Paleo-Pacific ocean plate and the Asian continent, but rather reflects the extension feature, i.e. after the closure of the Paleo-Pacific ocean, the Paleo-Pacific ancient continent collided with the Asian continent and reached the peak of orogenesis, and then the compression waned and resulted in the retreating of the post-orogenic extension from outer orogenic zone to inner part (or collision zone). The determination of the eruption age of the volcanics of the Zhangjiakou Formation definitely constrains the switch period, which began in the Indosinian and finished in the Yanshanian, that is, 140-135 Ma. The switch is concretely the change from the approximate E-W Paleo-Asian tectonic system to the NE to NNE Pacific system, and the period is also the apex of a continent-continent collision and orogenesis of subduction, being consumed and eventually disappearing of the Paleo-Pacific ancient continent, and all the processes commenced in the Indosinian. While the following post-orogenic large-scale eruption in the Early Cretaceous marks the final completeness of the Paleo-Pacific structure dynamics system.

Relationships between Basic and Silicic Magmatism in Continental Rift Settings:A Petrogeochemical Study of Carboniferous Post-collisional Rift Silicic Volcanics in Tianshan,NW China

Petrogeochemical data are reported for silicic volcanic rocks from the Tianshan Carboniferous rift, with the aim of discussing the petrogenesis of silicic magmas. Incompatible element vs. incompatible element diagrams display smooth positive trends for the Tianshan Carboniferous rift-related volcanic rocks; the isotope ratios of the silicic lavas [^87Sr/^86S（t）=0.699880.70532; eNd（t）=4.76-8.00; ^206pb/^204pb（t）=17.435-18.017; ^207Pb/^204Pb（t）=15.438-15.509; ^208Pb/^204Pb（t） = 37.075-37.723] encompass those of the basic lavas. These data suggest a genetic link between rhyolites and basalts, but are not definitive in establishing whether silicic rocks are related to basalts through fractional crystallization or partial melting. Geochemical modeling of incompatible vs. compatible elements excludes the possibility that silicic melts are generated by the melting of basaltic rocks, and indicates a derivation by fractional crystallization plus moderate assimilation of wall rocks （AFC） starting from intermediate rocks to silicic rocks. Continuous AFC from basalt to rhyolite, with small rates of crustal assimilation, best explains the geochemical data. The presence or absence of bimodal volcanism （the ＂Daly Gap＂） might be related to cooling rates of magma chambers. In central and eastern Tianshan, the crust was thinner and the cooling rates of the magma chamber within the crust were greater. These conditions resulted in a rapid fall in temperature within the magma reservoir and caused a narrow temperature interval over which intermediate melts formed, effectively reducing the volume of the intermediate melts.

High-Field-Strength Elements in Mafic Volcanics from North China Craton: Implications for Archean-Proterozoic Boundary and Source Composition

Archean to Cenozoic mafic volcanic rocks from the North China craton are studied. They show Archean Proterozoic (Ar Pt) boundary and geochemical anomalies in Cenozoic basalts. Proterozoic mafic volcanics are enriched in most of the high field strength elements (HFSE) compared with Archean ones. Nb, Ta and Th show a distinct sequence of incompatibility in Archean and Proterozoic. The Cenozoic basalts are enriched in HFSE and Ni and their REEs are strongly differentiated with positive Eu anomalies ( δ (Eu)=1.14). The Ar Pt boundary could be related to change in oxygen fugacity and requires an increasing importance of enriched mantle source. The geochemistry of Cenozoic basalts implies a mantle source similar to OIB. Residuum from subducting partial melting of old basaltic oceanic crust and continental crust is likely to contribute to the formation of the enriched mantle.

A geochemical perspective on the genesis of Cenozoic basic volcanism in northeastern Turkey:an overview of metasomatism and heterogeneity of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle in a post-collisional setting

The post-collisional Cenozoic basic volcanic rocks in NE Turkey show temporal variations in whole-rock lithophile element and highly siderophile element(HSE)systematics that are mainly associated with the nature of sub-continental lithospheric mantle(SCLM)sources and parental melt generation.So far,the traditional whole-rock lithophile geochemical data of these basic volcanic rocks have provided important constraints on the nature of SCLM sources.Integrated lithophile element and HSE geochemical data of these basic volcanic rocks also reveal the heterogeneity of the SCLM source,which is principally related to variable metasomatism resulting from previous subduction(s)and post-collisional mantle-crust interactions in an extensional setting.Lithophile element geochemical features suggest that the parental magmas have derived from metasomatized spinel-to garnet-bearing SCLM sources for Eocene and Miocene basic volcanic rocks with subduction signatures whereas originated from spinel-to garnet-bearing SCLM sources for Mio-Pliocene and Plio-Quaternary basaltic volcanic rocks without the subduction signature.Lithophile element and HSE geo-chemistry also reveal that Eocene and Miocene basic vol-canic rocks were affected by more pronounced crustal contamination than the basaltic volcanic rocks of Mio-Pliocene and Quaternary.Furthermore,the integrated lithophile element and HSE compositions of these basic volcanic rocks,together with the regional asymmetric lithospheric delamination model,reveal that the compositional variation(especially due to metasomatism)was significant temporally in the heterogeneity of the SCLM sources from which parental magmas formed during the Cenozoic era.

Multi-Scale Approach for Gold Targeting in Côte d’Ivoire Paleoproterozoic Rocks

The aim of this study is to contribute to better targeting of gold prospecting areas using geospatial information. To this end, 3 mining sites were selected for the study. They are: the Sénoufo belt (Barrick Gold mine), the Yaouré complex (Perseus Mining mine) and the South Fetêkro belt (Bonikro, Hiré and Agbaou mines). For this study, a multi-scale approach was carried out at regional, mine and microscopic levels. At the regional scale, a comparative analysis of 1:200,000 scale geological maps revealed that 3 main lithologies are regularly repeated on and around the various mining sites. These are: undifferentiated volcanics, metagranodiorites and metasiltites dominated by meta-arenites. Most of these lithologies are affected by undifferentiated faults generally oriented NE-SW, N-S, ENE-WSW and WNW-ESE. In addition, gold and manganese occurrences are present on all the sites studied. At the mine scale, radarsat-1 images processing indicate that the main mining sites are generally located near or at the intersection of lineaments-oriented NE-SW or N-S on the one hand and E-W or ENE-WSW or WNW-ESE or again NW-SE on the other. These mines are also located at the interface between zones of high and low lineament density. At the microscopic scale, petrographic studies of undifferentiated volcanic samples from the various sites indicate that they consist of andesites, meta-andesites and tuffs.

A possible relict mantle wedge: Geochemical evidence from Paleogene volcanics in North China

The major and trace element and isotopic composition were analyzed for the Paleogene volcanics in North China dated by the K-Ar method. The geochemical data show that most volcanics are in calc-alkaline series and the minor is in alkaline series. They differ obviously from Neogene and Quaternary volcanics in geochemistry. In particular, the Paleogene volcanics from the southern part of North China were derived from enriched lithospheric mantle (EMU), which were likely to be a relict mantle wedge formed during the subduction of the Yangtze plate into the North China plate in late Triassic (Indo- Sinian).

Nb/Ta variations of mafic volcanics on the Archean- Proterozoic boundary: Implications for the Nb/Ta imbalance

The HFSE and REE of the Precambrian mafic volcanics from the North China craton demonstrate obvious A(Archean)-P(Proterozoic) boundary. The Neoarchean mafic vol- canics show weak correlation between HFSE and TiO2. Their superchondritic Nb/Ta ratio (18.8±1.2) could be attributed to partial melting of mantle peridotite in the presence of garnet. Compared with Neoarchean mafic volcanics, the Paleoproterozoic ones have higher HFSE contents and lower Nb/Ta ratio (15.6±2.9). The significantly elevated HFSE and REE contents of Paleoproterozoic mafic volcanics imply metasomatic enrichment of mantle source, in which Ti-rich silicates could be present as suggested by significant positive correlations between TiO2 and HFSE. The global database of Precambrian mafic volcanics shows a similar A-P boundary. 23 Archean mafic volcanic suites yield an average Nb/Ta ratio of 17.8±1.9 higher than or close to the PM value; Proterozoic mafic volcanics from 28 suites yield an average Nb/Ta ratio of 14.7±4.1 close to the bulk continental crust (BCC) value (11―17.5). Thus, we suggest that the Nb/Ta deficit could be mainly formed in post-Archean time. Archean mafic volcanics could be one of the geochemical reservoirs complementing the low Nb/Ta of the post-Archean continental crust and DM.

Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes of Tertiary volcanics of King George Island, Antarctica

1 Geological settingThe King George Island is the largest one in South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica,with an area of 1200 km^2. Most of it is covered by ice and snow all the year round. It consistsmainly of Tertiary volcanics, associated with plutonic rocks and some late Mesozoic and Qua-