Gold solubility in silicate melts and fluids:Advances from high-pressure and high-temperature experiments

The solubility of Au in silicate melts and fluids governs the enrichment and migration of Au during the formation of magmatic-hydrothermal Au deposits.Large Au deposits require vast amounts of Au to migrate from the upper mantle-lower crust to the shallow crust,and high Au solubility in magma and hydrothermal fluid facilitates the formation of Au-rich magma and fluid in the crust and mantle source and efficient transport.This paper reviews recent high-pressure and high-temperature experimental studies on Au species in magmas and hydrothermal fluids,the partitioning behavior of Au between silicate melts and fluids,and the effects of temperature,pressure,oxygen fugacity,sulfur fugacity,silicate melt composition,and volatiles(H2O,CO2,chlorine,and sulfur)on the solubility of Au in magma.We show that the solubility of Au in magma is largely controlled by the volatiles in the magma:the higher the content of reduced sulfur(S2-and HS-)in the magma,the higher the solubility of Au.Under high-temperature,high-pressure,H2O-rich,and intermediate oxygen fugacity conditions,magma can dissolve more reduced sulfur species,thus enhancing the ability of the magma to transport Au.If the ore-forming elements of the Au deposits in the North China Craton originate from mantle-derived magmas and fluids,we can conclude,in terms of massive Au migration,that these deep Au-rich magmas might have been generated under H2 O-rich and moderately oxidized conditions(S2-coexists with S6+).The big mantle wedge beneath East Asia was metasomatized by melts and fluids from the dehydration of the Early Cretaceous paleo-Pacific stagnant slab,which not only caused thinning of the North China Craton,but also created physicochemical conditions favorable for massive Au migration.

A Study of High-Temperature and High-Pressure Experiment of Correlativity between Deformational System of Au-Bearing Rocks and Element Adjustment

Modelling of migration and accumulation of elements Au and Ag in rocks under temperatures of 350–450°C and a confining pressure of 300 MPa and axial pressure of 100–150 MPa is conducted. It is found that the contents of gold and silver get higher in metallic sulphides such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite as well as in quartz and muscovite, and get lower in chlorite, biotite, seriate, albite and calcite, showing that tectono-dynamics is one of the important factors for petrogenesis and metallogenesis.

Trace element composition in tuite decomposed from natural apatite in high-pressure and high-temperature experiments

Tuite has been suggested as a potential reservoir for trace elements in the deep mantle,but no evidence confirms this supposition.By using a natural apatite as starting material,the trace-element-bearing tuite large crystals were obtained under highpressure and high-temperature conditions(15 GPa and 1800 K).X-ray diffraction pattern and Micro-Raman spectrum of the run product confirm that tuite was synthesized.The concentrations of trace elements in tuite crystals were analyzed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS).The rare earth element patterns of tuite show enrichment of light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements.Tuite shows high concentrations of Th and Sr,and negative anomalies of Rb,Nb,and Hf.The results show that tuite can accommodate a large amount of trace elements.Tuite might be an important host to accommodate trace elements if there is much apatite subducted into the deep mantle.

Experimental study on reactions between alkaline basaltic melt and orthopyroxenes: constraints on the evolution of lithospheric mantle in the North China Craton

The experimental results of the reactions between an alkaline basaltic melt and mantle orthopyroxenes under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions of 1300–1400℃ and 2.0–3.0 GPa using a six-anvil apparatus are reported in this paper.The reactions are proposed to simulate the interactions between melts from the asthenospheric mantle and the lithospheric mantle.The starting melt in the experiments was made from the alkaline basalt occurring in Fuxin,Liaoning Province,and the orthopyroxenes were separated from the mantle xenoliths in Damaping,Hebei Province.The results show that clinopyroxenes were formed in all the reactions between the alkaline basaltic melt and orthopyroxenes under the studied P–T conditions.The formation of clinopyroxene in the reaction zone is mainly controlled by dissolution–crystallization,and the chemical compositions of the reacted melt are primarily infl uenced by the diff usion eff ect.Temperature is the most important parameter controlling the reactions between the melt and orthopyroxenes,which has a direct impact on the melting of orthopyroxenes and the diff usion of chemical components in the melt.Temperature also directly controls the chemical compositions of the newly formed clinopyroxenes in the reaction zone and the reacted melt.The formation of clinopyroxenes from the reactions between the alkaline basaltic melt and orthopyroxenes can result in an increase of CaO and Al_(2)O_(3) contents in the rocks containing this mineral.Therefore,the reactions between the alkaline basaltic melt from the asthenospheric mantle and orthopyroxenes from the lithospheric mantle can lead to the evolution of lithospheric mantle in the North China Craton from refractory to fertile with relatively high CaO and Al 2 O 3 contents.In addition,the reacted melts in some runs were transformed from the starting alkaline basaltic into tholeiitic after reactions,indicating that tholeiitic magma could be generated from alkaline basaltic one via reactions between the latter and orthopyroxene.

Pre-Drilling Prediction Techniques on the High-Temperature High-Pressure Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Offshore Hainan Island,China

Decreasing the risks and geohazards associated with drilling engineering in high-temperature high-pressure(HTHP) geologic settings begins with the implementation of pre-drilling prediction techniques(PPTs). To improve the accuracy of geopressure prediction in HTHP hydrocarbon reservoirs offshore Hainan Island, we made a comprehensive summary of current PPTs to identify existing problems and challenges by analyzing the global distribution of HTHP hydrocarbon reservoirs, the research status of PPTs, and the geologic setting and its HTHP formation mechanism. Our research results indicate that the HTHP formation mechanism in the study area is caused by multiple factors, including rapid loading, diapir intrusions, hydrocarbon generation, and the thermal expansion of pore fluids. Due to this multi-factor interaction, a cloud of HTHP hydrocarbon reservoirs has developed in the Ying-Qiong Basin, but only traditional PPTs have been implemented, based on the assumption of conditions that do not conform to the actual geologic environment, e.g., Bellotti's law and Eaton's law. In this paper, we focus on these issues, identify some challenges and solutions, and call for further PPT research to address the drawbacks of previous works and meet the challenges associated with the deepwater technology gap. In this way, we hope to contribute to the improved accuracy of geopressure prediction prior to drilling and provide support for future HTHP drilling offshore Hainan Island.

Reaction mechanism of metal and pyrite under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions and improvement of the properties

Pyrite tailings are the main cause of acid mine wastewater.We propose an idea to more effectively use pyrite,and it is modified by exploiting the reducibility of metal represented by Al under high-pressure and high-temperature(HPHT)conditions.Upon increasing the Al addition,the conductivity of pyrite is effectively improved,which is nearly 734 times higher than that of unmodified pyrite at room temperature.First-principles calculations are used to determine the influence of a high pressure on the pyrite lattice.The high pressure increases the thermal stability of pyrite,reduces pyrite to highconductivity Fe7S8(pyrrhotite)by Al.Through hardness and density tests the influence of Al addition on the hardness and toughness of samples is explored.Finally we discuss the possibility of using other metal-reducing agents to improve the properties of pyrite.

An experimental study of interaction between pure water and alkaline feldspar at high temperatures and pressures

Due to the important scientific significance of the interaction between alkaline feldspar and high-temperature and high-pressure fluids. We have conducted a series of autoclave experiments of feldspar dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation in conditions of 250–500℃, 8-50 MPa, and pH = 3.0 and 5.5. Based on the interaction experiments between alkaline feldspar and fluid of high-temperatures and high-pressures, we get the main results as follows:(1) The law that people have grasped below the critical point about the influence of temperature, pressure, and pH value on the alkaline feldspar dissolution behavior is still held above the critical point.(2) Due to the experimental techniques of autoclave flip 180°—sharp quenching and based on electron microprobe analysis of mineral new formed, theoretical analysis has determined that the new altered minerals distributed on the island dissolution surface of feldspar are products of precipitation on a feldspar surface after saturation of the relative ion concentration in water fluid.

High-pressure Raman study of MgV_2O_6synthesized at highpressure and high temperature

A new structural phase of MgV2O6 was obtained by a high-pressure, high-temperature （HPHT） synthesis method. The new phase was investigated by the Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data, showing space group Pbcn （No. 60） symmetry and a = 13.6113（6）A （1A =0.1 nm）, b = 5.5809（1）A, c = 4.8566（3）A, V = 368.93（2）A3 （Z = 4）. High pressure behavior was studied by Raman spectroscopy at room temperature. Under 22.5 GPa, there was no sign of a structural phase transition in the spectra, demonstrating stability of the HPHT phase up to the highest pressure.

Research on thermal insulation materials properties under HTHP conditions for deep oil and gas reservoir rock ITP-Coring

Deep oil and gas reservoirs are under high-temperature conditions,but traditional coring methods do not consider temperature-preserved measures and ignore the influence of temperature on rock porosity and permeability,resulting in distorted resource assessments.The development of in situ temperaturepreserved coring(ITP-Coring)technology for deep reservoir rock is urgent,and thermal insulation materials are key.Therefore,hollow glass microsphere/epoxy resin thermal insulation materials(HGM/EP materials)were proposed as thermal insulation materials.The materials properties under coupled hightemperature and high-pressure(HTHP)conditions were tested.The results indicated that high pressures led to HGM destruction and that the materials water absorption significantly increased;additionally,increasing temperature accelerated the process.High temperatures directly caused the thermal conductivity of the materials to increase;additionally,the thermal conduction and convection of water caused by high pressures led to an exponential increase in the thermal conductivity.High temperatures weakened the matrix,and high pressures destroyed the HGM,which resulted in a decrease in the tensile mechanical properties of the materials.The materials entered the high elastic state at 150℃,and the mechanical properties were weakened more obviously,while the pressure led to a significant effect when the water absorption was above 10%.Meanwhile,the tensile strength/strain were 13.62 MPa/1.3%and 6.09 MPa/0.86%at 100℃ and 100 MPa,respectively,which meet the application requirements of the self-designed coring device.Finally,K46-f40 and K46-f50 HGM/EP materials were proven to be suitable for ITP-Coring under coupled conditions below 100℃ and 100 MPa.To further improve the materials properties,the interface layer and EP matrix should be optimized.The results can provide references for the optimization and engineering application of materials and thus technical support for deep oil and gas resource development.

Structural Stability of Natural Magnesiochromite at High-Temperature-Pressure Conditions

The podiform chromitites in the Luobusha ophiolite have been thought to experience a very deep formation,but the maximum depth is still an open issue.Here,we have investigated the structural stability of natural magnesiochromite using the synchrotron-based powder X-ray diffraction and diamond anvil cells up to 48.6 GPa and 2450 K.The results have shown that spinel-type magnesiochromite first decomposes into corundum-type‘Cr_(2)O_(3)’+B1-type‘MgO’at 11–14 GPa and 1250–1450 K,then modified ludwigite(mLd)-type‘Mg_(2)Cr_(2)O_(5)’+corundum-type‘Cr_(2)O_(3)’at 14.3–20.5 GPa and 1300–2000 K,and finally CaTi_(2)O_(4)-type phase at 24.5 GPa.During the quenching procession from high-temperature-pressure conditions,the mLd-type phase appeared again and was kept at ambient conditions.We also obtained the isothermal equation states of spinel-type and CaTi_(2)O_(4)-type phases,revealing the composition effect on their elasticities.Based on the updated results,we propose chromitites could not experience pressure exceeding∼14.3 GPa(approximate maximum depth∼400 km)in the subduction-recycling genesis model.

Recent advance in hollow-core fiber high-temperature and high-pressure sensing technology [Invited]

The pure-silica hollow-core fiber(HCF) has excellent thermostabilities that can benefit a lot of high-temperature sensing applications.The air-core microstructure of the HCF provides an inherent gas container, which can be a good candidate for gas or gas pressure sensing.This paper reviews our continuous efforts to design, fabricate, and characterize the hightemperature and high-pressure sensors with HCFs, aiming at improving the sensing performances such as dynamic range,sensitivity, and linearity.With the breakthrough advances in novel anti-resonant HCFs, sensing of high temperature and high pressure with HCFs will continuously progress and find increasing applications.

High-pressure experimental verification of rutile-ilmenite oxybarometer: Implications for the redox state of the subduction zone

The more oxidized mantle peridotites above subducting slabs than stable continental areas have been attributed to the infiltration of some oxidizing fluids released from the subducting slabs. However, knowledge for the redox states of the slabs itself is very limited. Until now, few oxybarometers can be directly used to constrain the redox states of the subducting slabs.The rutile-ilmenite oxybarometer was proposed and successfully applied to constrain the oxygen fugacity of mantle assemblages.However, its application to rocks equilibrated at crustal P-T conditions has been hampered by some uncertainties in an early solid solution model of ilmenite. With a newly-released solid solution model for the ilmenite, we have conducted high-P experiments(at 3 and 5 GPa, and 900–1300°C) to test the accuracy of this oxybarometer. The experiments were performed with their oxygen fugacities controlled by the CCO buffer(i.e., C+O_2=CO_2). We demonstrated that the oxygen fugacities calculated for our high-P experimental products by using the rutile-ilmenite oxybarometer were in excellent agreement with the fO_2 dictated by the CCO buffer, suggesting a wide applicability of this oxybarometer to crust rocks. As examples, the rutile-ilmenite oxybarometer has been used to constrain the oxygen fugacities of some metamorphic rocks such as eclogite, granulite and amphibolite usually observed from the subduction zones.

High-temperature High-pressure Hydrothermal Synthesis of Dy3＋-doped YNbO4 Single Crystal and Its Luminescence Properties

Single crystal Dy3＋ doped YNbO4phosphors were prepared via a high-temperature high-pressure hydrothermal procedure. Under excitation at 270 nm, the Dy3＋-doped YNbO4 phosphor shows bright white emission, which is composed of two strong bands at 492 and 576 nm corresponding to the characteristic 4F9/2→6H15/2 and aF9/2→6H13/2 transitions of Dy3＋, respectively. The dominant band was observed at 352 nm, which corresponds to the 6H15/2→6p7/2 transition of Dy3＋. Nearly white light was achieved at 2ex 270, 310 and 388 nm and the CIE（International Commission on Illumination） values were （0.3135, 0.3421）, （0.3088, 0.3380） and （0.3146, 0.3296）, respectively.

Genesis of granulite in Himalayan lower crust:Evidence from experimental study at high temperature and high pressure

Here we present an insight into the genesis of Himalayan granulitic lower crust based on the experimental studies on the dehydration melting of natural biotite-plagioclase gneiss performed at the temperatures of 770-980°C and the pressures of 1.0-1.4 GPa. The experiments produce peraluminous granitic melt and residual phase assemblage (Pl+Qz+Gat+Bio+Opx±Cpx+Ilm/Rut±Kfs). The residual mineral assemblage is similar to those of granu-lites observed at the eastern and western Himalayan syntax-ises, and the chemical compositions of characteristic minerals-garnet and pyroxene in the residual phase and the granu-lite are identical. Additionally, the modeled wave velocities of the residual phase assemblage are comparable well with those of the top part of lower crust beneath Himalayas. Hence, we suggest that (1) the top part of lower crust beneath Himalayas is probably made up of garnet-bearing intermediate granulite; (2) the formations of granulite and leucogranites in Himalayas are interrelated as the

Partial Melting and Its Implications for Understanding the Seismic Velocity Structure within the Southern Tibetan Crust

In order to constrain the crustal wave velocity structure in the southernTibetan crust and provide insight into the contribution of crustal composition, geothermal gradientand partial melting to the velocity structure, which is characterized by low average crustalvelocities and widespread presence of low-velocity zone(s), the authors model the crustal velocityand density as functions of depth corresponding to various heat flow values in light of velocitymeasurements at high temperature and high pressure. The modeled velocity and density are regarded ascomparison standards. The comparison of the standards with seismic observations in southern Tibetimplies that the predominantly felsic composition at high heat flow cannot explain the observedvelocity structure there. Hence, the authors are in favor of attributing low average crustalvelocities and low-velocity zone(s) observed in southern Tibet mainly to partial melting. Modelingbased on the experimental results suggests that a melting percentage of 7-12 could account for thelow-velocity zone(s).

Sensitivity of simulated short-range high-temperature weather to land surface schemes by WRF

The simulations of a heat wave occurring in southern Yangtze-Huaihe valley and southern China during late July,2003 were conducted to examine the sensitivity of simulated surface air temperature(SAT) to different land surface schemes(LSSs) using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model(WRF) Version 2.2 in the short-range mode for 24-h integrations.Initial and boundary conditions employed a National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP) analysis.The results showed that,overall,simulated high-temperature weather is sensitive to different LSSs.Large differences in simulated SAT intensity,threat score,and simulated error under different schemes are identified clearly.In addition,some systematic differences are also in-duced by the LSSs.In terms of threat score from the three LSSs,SLAB is the best,and RUC is better than NOAH.SLAB gives the lowest absolute error for area-averaged SAT,and tends to depict the western Pacific subtropical high with the east-ernmost position at low levels.The LSSs modify the simulated SAT,primarily via the transfer of sensible heat from the land surface to the atmosphere.The physical mechanism of the positive feedback between atmospheric circulation and the SAT is unimportant,with"negative"feedback over most of the simulated areas.This study emphasizes the importance of improving LSSs in SAT forecasting by numerical models.

Do lamprophyric magma carry gold?——Evidence from high temperature and ultrahigh pressure experiments

By taking lamprophyres in the Laowangzhai gold orefield, Yunnan Province, as starting materials, the melting experiments of lamprophyre + gold have been conducted under 1.5 and 3.0 GPa in a DS-29A cubic-type 3 600 t ultrahigh-pressure apparatus. The experimental results showed that gold powder (less than 0.045 mm) which even contributed in the samples be-

Extraordinary high-temperature mechanical properties in binder-free nanopolycrystalline WC ceramic

From the perspective of high-temperature applications,materials with excellent high-temperature mechanical properties are always desirable.The present work demonstrates that the binder-free nanopolycrystalline WC ceramic with an average grain size of 103 nm obtained by high-pressure and hightemperature sintering exhibits excellent mechanical properties at both room temperature and high temperature up to 1000℃.Specifically,the binder-free nanopolycrystalline WC ceramic still maintains a considerably high Vicker hardness H_(V)of 23.4 GPa at 1000℃,which is only 22%lower than the room temperature H_(V).This outstanding thermo-mechanical stability is superior to that of typical technical ceramics,e.g.SiC,Si_(3)N_(4),Al_(2)O_(3),etc.Nanocrystalline grains with many dislocations,numerous low-energy,highly stableΣ2 grain boundaries,and a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient,are responsible for the observed outstanding high-temperature mechanical properties.

High-pressure sound velocity of perovskite-enstatite and the possible composition of the Earth's lower mantle

The compressional sound velocity VP for enstatite of polycrystalline specimens were measured at pressures from 40 to 140 GPa using the optical analytical techniques under shock loading. The dependence of VP (in km/s) on Hugoniot pressure (P, in GPa) can be described by lnVP= 3.079-0.691 ln(P) + 0.094(lnP)2. VP satisfies Birch’s law: VP= 4.068 + 1.677p, where p is corresponding density, which indicated that enstatite is stable throughout the conditions of the lower mantle. The wave velocity P is 0.5% lower and the wave velocity S is 2% higher than that of PREM respectively. We concluded that the lower mantle is mainly composed of perovskite-(Mg1-x, Fex) SiO3 and only a small amount of (Mg1-x, Fex) O is allowed in it.

Effect of Carbon Source with Different Graphitization Degrees on the Synthesis of Diamond

Using three kinds of graphites with different graphitization degrees as carbon source and Fe-Ni alloy powder as catalyst, the synthesis of diamond crystals is performed in a cubic anvil high-pressure and high-temperature apparatus （SPD-6 × 1200）. Diamond crystals with perfect hexoctahedron shape are successfully synthesized at pressure from 5.0 to 5.5GPa and at temperature from 1570 to 1770K. The synthetic conditions, nucleation, morphology, inclusion and granularity of diamond crystals are studied. The temperature and pressure increase with the increase of the graphitization degree of graphite. The quantity of nucleation and granularity ofdiamonds decreases with the increase of graphitization degree of graphite under the same synthesis conditions. Moreover, according to the results of the M6ssbauer spectrum, the composition of inclusions is mainly Fe3 C and Fe-Ni alloy phases in diamond crystals synthesized with three kinds of graphites.