Characteristics of silicon and oxygen isotopic compositions of basalts near East Pacific Rise 13°N

In this study, 13 groups of silicon and oxygen isotopes and major elements of the basalts near the East Pacific Rise 13°N are used to study the fractionation of silicon and oxygen isotopes. Among these data, δ30Si values of basalts vary from -0.4%o to 0.2%o with a mean value of δ30Si of （-0.18±0.22）%o. The δ180 values range from 4.1%o to 6.4%o with a mean δ180 value of （＋5.35±0.73） %0. Since the δ30Si values increase in the series of basalt-basaltic andesite- andesite, and δ180 values display a positive correlation with the SiO2 content, we propose that the fractionation of silicon and oxygen isotopes is influenced by the SiO2 content in igneous rocks. Compared with the igneous rocks from Manus Basin with clinopyroxene as their dominant mineral phase, MORBs in this study containing olivine and plagioclase as primary minerals have lower δ180 and δ30Si values, indicating that the fractionation of silicon and oxygen isotopes is also affected by different Si-O bridges in silicate minerals. Furthermore, our samples from the EPR are defined as E-MORB based on K/Ti ratios. Probably, the difference in δ30Si and δ30O between our samples and a normal MORB are cause by the enriched components in E-MORBs.

Hydrothermal Origin of Early Permian Chert Nodules in the Central North China Craton Linked to Northern Margin Cratonic Activation

Sedimentary chert phases from the Archean to the present are widely used to trace sedimentary environments and tectonic settings.Recently,chert nodules occurring within carbonates have been the subject of possible hydrothermal or biogenic origin,in lieu of a diagenetic origin.However,chert nodules from a vast cratonic basin represent extremely rich silica accumulations but less noted is how they respond to submarine hydrothermal activity(and/or surface siliceous organism productivity).The links between the cratonic-type chert depositions and environmental changes regarding cratonic evolution need to be revisited at a large temporal-spatial scale.The chert nodules are widespread throughout the Lower Permian Taiyuan Formation in the North China Craton(NCC).Several Taiyuan chert-rich successions across the NCC have been selected to study possible links between chert deposition and cratonic evolution in scenario of partial cratonic activation of the northern NCC margin during the Late Paleozoic.Based on stratigraphic correlation,the chert nodules are ubiquitously,evenly distributed throughout the Taiyuan Formation at a large craton-basin scale from the northern to southern interior NCC.Petrological results,elemental abundances,together with silicon and oxygen isotopic compositions of chert samples infer significant hydrothermal contributions for the silica accumulations.Therefore,the cratonic-scale chert depositions of hydrothermal origin infer a giant and remote silica reservoir,linking to the large igneous province and magmatism in the NCC northern margins.The Taiyuan chert nodules could be unique marine sedimentary archives recording the Late Paleozoic NCC partial activation,which also generated continental records of igneous rocks,bauxites and tuffs.The strong tectonics of the northern margin,south-dipping topography and northward transgression of the Early Permian NCC facilitated the chert deposition on the shallow marine platform in the cratonic interior.