Cr - spinel and clinopyroxene compositions from metagabbro of Nui Ngoc complex in Tam Ky area: evidence of island - arc magma

The hornblende and biotite - bearing metagabbro of the Nui Ngoc complex were exposed into a few small blocks in the southwest Tam Ky city and were viewed as parts of the Tam Ky - Phuoc Son ophiolitic complex (TPO). These rocks were undergone mylonitic deformation and metamorphism. The rocks consist mainly of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, olivine, hornblende, biotite and very few microscopic Cr - spinel. The clinopyroxene and Cr - spinel minerals were analyzed for their composition by EPMA, the results showed that: (1) The clinopyroxenes have low Al2O3 (3,2÷3,5 wt %), TiO2 (0,70÷0,82 wt %) contents and (2) the Cr - spinels have low TiO2 (0,23÷0,58 wt %) content and Mg#100* (Mg/ (Mg+Fe2+)) (32÷42) but has medium Cr# (Cr/ (Cr+Al)) (45÷52).These features are similar to those of rocks formed in anoceanic - oceanicsubduction zone that was reported for the plagiogranite of Dieng Bong complex nearby. This study results combined with previous research results in the Tam Ky - Phuoc Son suture zone show the existence of island arc, continental arc, and MOR - magmatic types.

U - Pb geochronology and composition of zircon mineral from granodiorite in the G18 Gold mine, Quang Nam and its significance in regional tectonics

The Tam Ky - Phuoc Son suture zone (TPSZ) is located in central Indochina and is referred to as a amalgamation site between the Truong Son and Kon Tum terranes during the early Paleozoic. The amphibolite and ultramafic rocks within the region were considered as a part of the Tam Ky - Phuoc Son ophiolitic complex. In this study, the authors present results of the U - Pb dating and trace element composition of the zircon grains derived from a granodioritic sample collected in the G18 gold mine in Quang Nam province in order to clarify the timing of magma emplacement and tectonic setting. The U - Pb dating data indicates that the granodioritic rocks formed at 447,4±2,9 Ma while the U/Yb ratio is ̴1 (average: 1.32) and the Sc/Yb ratio is ̴ 1.04, high Hf content (Average Hf: 10937 ppm) and low Yb content (Average Yb: 308 ppm). These geochemical values are comparable with the zircon, which is formed in the continental magmatic arc. Combination with the pre - existing data allowed us to confirm the existence of two contrast magma members in the North Kontum massif: The Middle Cambrian island arc complex and the Middle Ordovician continental complex.

Trace element composition of clinopyroxene in gabbros and dolerites of the Tortuga Ophiolitic Complex, southernmost Patagonia.

<p>During the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous times the western margin of Gondwana in southern Patagonia experienced extreme lithospheric extension and generation of rift and marginal back-arc basins. The ophiolitic complexes of the Rocas Verdes basin comprises incomplete ophiolite pseudostratigraphy lacking ultramafic rocks. The Tortuga Ophiolitic Complex, the southernmost seafloor remnant of the Rocas Verdes basin, record the most advanced evolutionary stage of the back-arc basin evolution in a mid-ocean ridge-type setting. The base of the Tortuga Complex consists of massive and layered gabbros, most of which are two pyroxene and olivine gabbros, leucogabbros, and clinopyroxene troctolites intruded by dikes of basalt and diabase with chilled margins. We present new major and trace element composition of clinopyroxene from the gabbros and sheeted dikes complexes to assess the geochemical affinity of parental basaltic magmas. Clinopyroxene in gabbros is mostly augite and have Al contents of 0.06-0.14 a.p.f.u. and Mg# of 80-92. Clinopyroxene in dolerites in the sheeted dike unit (augite and diopside) have Al content of 0.11-0.12 a.p.f.u. and Mg# of 85-92. Some immobile trace elements (e.g. Zr, Ti, Y) are sensitive to the degree of partial melting and mantle source composition, and can be used as a proxy for distinguishing tectonic environments. The Ti+Cr vs. Ca diagram, coupled with moderate-high TiO<sub>2</sub> content of clinopyroxene (0.4-1.4 wt.%) suggests their generation in mid-oceanic ridge-type environment (cf. Beccaluva et al., 1989).  The high Ti/Zr ratios (of ~4-11) coupled with low Zr contents (~0.2-1.1) are expected for higher degrees of partial melting or for melting of more depleted mantle sources. Conversely, low Zr/Y ratios (0.05-0.13) plot between the range of arc basalts. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns in clinopyroxene display a strong depletion of LREE compared to HREE and have an almost flat pattern in the MREE to HREE with a positive Eu (Eu*= 0.9-1.1) anomaly, indicating that clinopyroxene crystallized from a strongly depleted mid-ocean-ridge-type basalt, formed by extensive fractional melting of the mantle source and/or fractional crystallization and accumulation of anhydrous phases. The general trend of the incompatible trace elements patterns exhibit depletion in LILEs, minor HFSEs depletion, positive anomaly of Rb and negative anomalies in Ba, Zr, Ti and Nb, consistent with their generation from a refractory mantle source barely influenced by subduction components derived from the oceanic slab. This agrees with basalt generation in a back-arc basin located far away from the convergent margin. This study was supported by the Fondecyt grant 1161818 and the Anillo Project ACT-105.</p>

Geochemistry and Geochronology of the Neoproterozoic Backarc Basin Khzama Ophiolite (Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco): Tectonomagmatic Implications

The Khzama ophiolite is a highly dismembered complex located in the Siroua inlier of the Moroccan Anti-Atlas Belt. It consists of ultramafic rocks, cumulate gabbros, sheeted dikes, pillow lavas, and an overlying volcano-sedimentary sequence. Three main tectonic slices of sheeted dike complexes are studied in detail along three rivers, exposing well preserved outcrops where individual dikes are clearly distinguishable from the intruded host rock (Assif n’Tinzla, Assif n’Tasriwine, and Assif n’Iriri). Sheeted dikes of the Khzama ophiolitic complex are basaltic to andesitic in composition, displaying a clear sub-alkaline nature. We identify two sets of dikes that originate from lower High-Ti series (HTS) lavas and overlying upper Low-Ti series (LTS) lava. The immobile trace-element signatures of these rocks point to a genesis on a backarc environment with magmas sourced in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) at the spinel peridotite zone. The obtained SHRIMP U-Pb data of the gabbro represent the first radiometric age of zircon extracted from the mafic rocks that were intruded by the sheeted dike complex of the Khzama ophiolite. These grains yield a concordia age of 763 ± 5 Ma, which is consistent with the 761.1 + 1.9/−1.6 and 762 + 1/−2 Ma U-Pb zircon ages of plagiogranites of Siroua. Based on their mineralogy, modal proportions, and major element chemistry, the felsic dikes are classified as high silica–low alumina trondhjemites or plagiogranites. These plagiogranites were likely formed by the partial melting of mafic rocks rather than by extreme fractional crystallization. A plagiogranite dated at 777 ± 4.7 Ma (U-Pb on zircon) is significantly older than the ca. 762 Ma plagiogranites previously recorded for the Khzama locality, suggesting a long-lived supra-subduction zone (SSZ) with conditions for the hydrous melting of mafic rocks.

Mineralogical characterization and evaluation of chromite ore in Grevena and Kozani Vourinos massif, Western Macedonia, Greece

Purpose. Chromite samples from Aetoraches mine area in the southern part of the Vourinos complex in Western Macedonia, Greece were examined from mineralogical-geochemical perspective. Methods. Χ-ray Diffraction (XRD) mineral phase analysis, elemental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis and Thermogravimetry/Differential Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) were carried out. Findings. The XRD results showed that all the samples contain mainly magnesium- and aluminum-chromite (“aluminum-picrochromite”) phases, along with forsterite (magnesian olivine), serpentine and chlorite occurrences. Based on the SEM-EDS results, the computed average chemical formula indicative of this specific chromite type is: (Fe0.4 Mg0.6) (Cr1.6 Al0.4/)O4. The TG-DTG weight losses found to be in the range of 4.4-14.36%, at temperatures between 600 and 750°C, indicated the presence of the hydroxyl-rich silicate minerals, serpentinite and chlorite, in agreement to the Loss of Ignition (LOI) results. The mineral phases detected in the present analyses appear in the dunite/diorite/harzburgite/peridotite main rocks of the ophiolitic complex that hosts the chromite ore. Originality.In the current research, an original characterization, via thorough elemental, phase and thermal analysis, is carried out aiming to enlighten the geochemistry aspects of the Vourinos chromite complex, Region of Western Macedonia, Greece, particularly of easily accessible and exploitable chromite deposits of the Aetoraches mine area. Practical implications. The chromite mineral, and especially the metallurgical type, is of substantial importance in metal industry. In that sense, the findings of the present investigation of chromite purity and mineral structure is a prerequisite for future exploitation of the Aetoraches chromite deposits in particular and broadly for the ongoing exploitation of chromite ore in the Vourinos complex, situated in Region of Western Macedonia, Greece, an area with high unemployment and rather slow economic growth. Keywords: chromite ore, Vourinos massif, Aetoraches mine area, mineralogical characterization, geochemistry, XRD, SEM-EDS, TG/DTG

Těžké minerály rozsypových ložisek zlata vázaných na khantaishirský ofiolitový komplex poblíž měst Altaj a Khaliun (jihozápadní Mongolsko)

Detailed morphological and chemical studies of heavy minerals from two localities fluvial sediments in the area of the khantaishir ophiolitic complex near the towns Altai and Khaliun (Southwestern Mongolia) allowed the interpretation possible source region for the gold. The heavy mineral spectrum from the sediments near the Altai town is dominated by magnetite (32 %), chromite (27 %), epidote (11 %), apatite (6 %), and clinopyroxene (5 %). We assume that these minerals come from the ultrabasic and basic igneous rocks in the Neoproterozoic khantaishir ophiolitic complex. The relatively undeformed and three-dimensional shape of gold particles indicating short distance their transport. Rare is native gold enclosed in dolomite or quartz, which indicates that potential gold sources are listvenite. The heavy mineral spectrum from the fluvial sediments in the small creek near the Khaliun town is different. The studied sample includes magnetite (31 %), amphibole (19 %), zircon (18 %), pyrite (13 %), apatite (5 %), epidote (4 %), titanite (4 %), clinopyroxene (2 %), monazite (1 %), ilmenite (1 %), garnet (1 %), and barite (0.1 %). Large variations in the mineral composition heavy mineral spectrum indicate a wide source area which includes basic to intermediate igneous rocks Cambrian-Ordovician Ikh-Mongol Arc System and medium-grade metamorphic rocks (metapelite). The subspherical rounded shape of the gold particles indicates fluvial transport. In the case of small and geologically simple drainage area as creek near the Altai town represents heavy minerals a good tool for determination of the origin of placer gold. There is a contrast between the heavy mineral spectrum from the localities near the Altai and Khaliun towns. The shape of gold particles as well as a simple heavy mineral spectrum from sediments near the Altai indicates short transport from the limited draining area (approximately 6 km2). Gold probably originating from the ultramafic rocks (listvenite), according to associated dolomite and simple spectrum of heavy minerals. Whereas the origin of gold from the placer deposits near Khalinun remains unclear and most probably could originate from the hydrothermal veins in intermediate or basic igneous rocks (presence of barite associated with abundant pyrite).

The geological and structural controls of gold mineralization in Qala en Nahal-Um Sagata region, South Gedarif, Sudan

Relevance and purpose of the work. The study area is located in Gedarif state in Sudan. The ongoing work is aimed at solving fundamental problems of the geological structure of the Qala En Nahal-Um Saqata Ophiolitic Complex and applied tasks of mineral exploration. Detailed studies are being conducted for the first time in this area. The purpose of the investigation is to study the geological and structural features of the region, as well as to obtain information about the localization of gold mineralization. Methods of research. Within the study area, a geological mapping of the ophiolitic complex was carried out. It’s included an analysis of structural elements for investigation of the structural evolution and the phases of deformation. Chemical analysis of the mineralized quartz veins to determine the gold was carried out by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) technique at the ALS Laboratory in Saudi Arabia. Results of the work. The investigation of the structural evolution revealed at least three phases of deformation. The gold mineralization occurs in auriferous quartz veins, which are hosted in metavocano-sedimentary, sheared synorogenic granites and listvenites. The auriferous quartz veins are structurally controlled by dominantly NE main shear directions. Conclusions. The gold mineralization in the area can be classified shear zone related mineralization, which is formed during the final event accomplished by crustal cooling, and formation of auriferous quartz vein along shear zones. Gold concentration were recorded in both quartz veins and associates alteration rocks. The area is promising for the presence of a gold deposit.