Early Ordovician alkali-ultramafic Zhilandy complex (Central Kazakhstan): structure and age of formation

U–Pb geochronological study of amphibole-bearing quartz monzodiorites of the alkali-ultramafic Zhilandy complex in Central Kazakhstan, whose formation is deduced at the Early Ordovician era (479 ± 3 Ma). The obtained data indicate three stages of intra-plate magmatism in the western part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Late Neoproterozoic stage of alkali syenites of the Karsakpay complex intrusion, Early Cambrian stage of ultramafic-gabbroid plutons of the Ulutau complex formation, and Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician stage of formation of the Zhilandy complex and Krasnomay complex intrusions.

Petrogenesis and Chronology of Intermediate-Acidic Intrusive Rocks in Tongling Area, Anhui Province, China

The intermediate-acidic intrusive rocks in Tongling area of Anhui province can be divided into two magmatic series, namely the shoshonitic series and the high-potassium(K) calc-alkaline series. The shoshonitic series is characterized by an association of pyroxene monzodiorites + monzodiorites + quartz monzonites, and high Rittmann indices. This series has common association with gold deposits. The high-potassium(K) calc-alkaline series is characterized by an association of diorite + quartz monzodiorites + granodiorites. It has lower Rittmann indices and REEs than the shoshonitic series and is associated with copper deposits. Results obtained from the studies show that the former is derived from the differentiation of the alkaline basic magma in mantle and the later is mixture between the differentiated mantle magma and crustal magma. The chronology of intermediate-acidic intrusive rocks is about 140Ma.

EPITHERMAL SYSTEMS AND GOLD MINERALIZATION IN WESTERN THRACE (NORTHERN GREECE)

Extensive epithermal systems occur within the Tertiary volcanosedimentary basins of western Thrace northern Greece. Gold deposits or perspective gold districts, related to the above epithermal systems have been recently found in the area. The gold mineralization is of the high – sulfidation type and is associated to a diversity in composition and style volcanic activity. Sappes epithermal system is the most important (Saint Demetrios and Viper deposits) and has developed in volcanic "ocks of intermediate composition accompanied by subvolcanic intrusives (dacite - andésites) and plutonio rocks (quartz - monzodiorites). Saint Demetrios and Viper gold deposits are flat lying and of high sulfidation type mineralizations hosted in hydrothermal breccia zones. Petrota epithermal system has developed in volcanoclastic and epiclastic rocks (Perama Hill gold deposit), in rhyolites (location Othontoto) and within hyaloclastites and crystal tuffs (location Mavrokoryfi). The mineralized epithermal zones have strong structural control. Perama gold deposit occurs at the intersection of NS and NW trending epithermal zones. These structures represent the higher grade "feeder" system. Pefka epithermal system is hosted in more acid volcanic vocks (dacites, rhyodacites) and at its southern part (Pasa lofos area) the system is associated with a more alkaline suit (shoshonitic rocks). The mineralized silicifid zones at Pefka mine would correspond to concentric fractures (sheeted fracturing) parallel to the margin of the breccia pipe. The gold mineralization occurs in veins. In general gold occurs in the form of native gold, gold tellurides or it is associated with enargite, luzonite, tetrahedhte. Advanced argillic alteration and intense silicification are very important for the epithermal systems in western Thrace. A unique low - sulfidation occurrence was found at the central and southern part of Sappes area. Adularla was found in veinlets overlapping argillic alteration zones of high - sulfidation system.

Cretaceous diapiric plutonism in the southern cordillera, Chile

The Castores and probably the Santa Rosa plutons of north-west Isla Navarino, southern Chile, have been emplaced by in situ diapirism into metasedimentary rocks of the Upper Jurassic (?)–Lower Cretaceous Yaghan Formation. For the former, this model is consistent with the concentric foliation paralleling the margin of the pluton and the foliation and stratification planes in the metamorphic aureole. Only the southern part of the Santa Rosa Pluton is preserved, and it has some structures similar to those of the Castores Pluton, which can also be interpreted as produced by an inflating diapir. The main intrusive rocks of these plutons are quartz-monzodiorites and quartz-diorites with synmagmatic foliation. They were preceded by minor bodies of hornblende gabbros, and followed by dykes and small bodies of non-foliated granodiorites. Non-foliated to weakly foliated granodiorites, forming the centre of the Castores Pluton, probably represent a younger intrusive pulse.Twelve K–Ar mineral dates from 10 specimens of plutonic rocks, interpreted as near crystallization ages, span the period 80–90 Ma. These dates do not show the sequence of intrusion of the different rock-types, which may suggest that all of them were intruded and cooled in a short period of time. The timing of emplacement of these plutons in relation to tectonism is difficult to determine; however, a post-tectonic emplacement for at least the Castores Pluton, is proposed.