Brittle deformation during eclogitization: a perspective from a cold, early Paleozoic subduction zone

<p>The Tsäkkok Lens (northern Scandinavian Caledonides) represents the outermost part of the rifted passive Baltica margin and consists of sediments and pillow basalts of MORB affinity that were metamorphosed under eclogite facies conditions. Fieldwork and further multidisciplinary analytical approach (including e.g. X-ray and EBSD mapping, and μ-CT imaging) revealed that eclogites record brittle deformation on the μm-to-m scale. This deformation is expressed as a set of microfractures (single-grain rupture) and mesofractures (sealed by garnet- and omphacite-veins). Phase equilibrium thermodynamic modeling of phengite-bearing and phengite-free eclogites performed in NCKFMMnASHT and NCFMMnASHT systems predict profuse dehydration related to lawsonite and amphibole breakdown at ~2.35 GPa and ~600°C, close to the peak conditions of ~2.55 GPa and ~640°C. These estimates are in line with conventional thermobarometry and Zr-in-rutile thermometry results. The evidence for dehydration is also provided by the  occurrence of relic glaucophane in matrix and polyphase inclusions in garnet consisting of clinozoisite + quartz ± kyanite ± paragonite that are interpreted as pseudomorphs after lawsonite. Dehydration reactions were responsible for producing fluid, which facilitated brittle fracturing of the eclogites at HP conditions due to increased pore-fluid pressure (also promoted by the volume changes during eclogitization) on the microscale. Altogether, micro- and mesofracturing acted as migration pathways for released fluid, whereas the microfractures are likely precursors of the mesoscale fractures. Garnet-WR Lu-Hf geochronology provided ages of 487.7 ± 4.6, 486.2 ± 3.2, and 484.6 ± 4.5 Ma. LA-ICP-MS trace element profiles of garnet revealed a well-pronounced peak of Lu content in the garnet cores that decreased towards the rims, indicating these dates represent the age of prograde metamorphism. Therefore, the early Paleozoic Tsäkkok Lens eclogites constitute the oldest documented natural example of HP brittle deformation during eclogitization of blueschist.</p><p>Research funded by NCN project no. 2019/33/N/ST10/01479 (M. Bukała) and no. 2014/14/E/ST10/00321 (J. Majka), as well as the Polish National Agency for the Academic Exchange scholarship no. PPN/IWA/2018/1/00046/U/0001 given to M. Bukała.</p>

Chemometric Modeling of Trace Element Data for Origin Determination of Demantoid Garnets

The determination of country of origin poses a common problem in the appraisal of gemstones and is in many cases still based on the observation of inclusions and growth features of a gem, whereas chemical analysis is only done by major labs. We have used Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry to analyze the trace element profiles of demantoid garnets from six different countries and identified a set of six elements, which are magnesium, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, chromium, and manganese, that are necessary to assign the mining regions with a good certainty. By using the logarithms of the trace element concentrations and subjecting them to chemometric modeling, we were able to separate the demantoids originating from Russia, Pakistan, Namibia, Iran, and Madagascar very well, leaving only Italy with some uncertainty. Results are presented for an “all origins” model as well as pair-wise comparison of two locations at a time, which lead to even better results.

Using trace elements to identify the geographic origin of migratory bats

The expansion of the wind energy industry has had benefits in terms of increased renewable energy production but has also led to increased mortality of migratory bats due to interactions with wind turbines. A key question that could guide bat-related management activities is identifying the geographic origin of bats killed at wind-energy facilities. Generating this information requires developing new methods for identifying the geographic sources of individual bats. Here we explore the viability of assigning geographic origin using trace element analyses of fur to infer the summer molting location of eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis). Our approach is based on the idea that the concentration of trace elements in bat fur is related through the food chain to the amount of trace elements present in the soil, which varies across large geographic scales. Specifically, we used inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry to determine the concentration of fourteen trace elements in fur of 126 known-origin eastern red bats to generate a basemap for assignment throughout the range of this species in eastern North America. We then compared this map to publicly available soil trace element concentrations for the U.S. and Canada, used a probabilistic framework to generate likelihood-of-origin maps for each bat, and assessed how well trace element profiles predicted the origins of these individuals. Overall, our results suggest that trace elements allow successful assignment of individual bats 80% of the time while reducing probable locations in half. Our study supports the use of trace elements to identify the geographic origin of eastern red and perhaps other migratory bats, particularly when combined with data from other biomarkers such as genetic and stable isotope data.

Coexisting Rubies and Blue Sapphires from Major World Deposits: A Brief Review of Their Mineralogical Properties

Gem corundum deposits are typically divided into blue sapphire and ruby deposits. However, this classification often overlooks the fact that the precious stones produced are the same mineral with only an overall slight difference in their trace element profiles. It can take only a couple thousand ppm chromium to create the rich, red color expected of a ruby. This contribution deals specifically with economically important gem corundum mining regions that produce both blue sapphires and rubies either in comparable quantities (Mogok, Myanmar, and the basalt-related gem fields on the border between Thailand and Cambodia at Chanthaburi, Thailand, and Pailin, Cambodia) or predominantly blue sapphires with rare rubies (secondary Montana sapphire deposits and Yogo Gulch in Montana as well as the gem fields of Sri Lanka). Comparison of the trace element profiles and inclusions in the blue sapphire/ruby assemblages in these deposits shows that there are both monogenetic and polygenetic assemblages in which the blue sapphires and rubies have the same geological origin (monogenetic) or distinct geological origins (polygenetic). In the monogenetic assemblages, the rubies and blue sapphires have essentially indistinguishable inclusions and trace element chemistry profiles (with the exception of Cr contents). On the other hand, polygenetic assemblages are composed of rubies and blue sapphires with distinct inclusions and trace element chemistry profiles. Notably, in the monogenetic assemblages, chromium seems to vary independently from other trace elements. In these assemblages, Cr can vary by nearly four orders of magnitude with essentially no consistent relationship to other trace elements. The observations described herein are an attempt to address the question of what the geochemical and geological constraints are that turn gem corundum into a spectacular ruby.

Geochemical and isotopic compositions of Late Permian metavolcano–sedimentary sequence in the southern Songpan–Ganzi Orogen, eastern Tibetan Plateau

The Permian metavolcano–sedimentary sequence of the Jianglang and Taka domes in the southern Songpan–Ganzi Orogen is composed of bedded marble and sandwiched metabasalt. This study presents geochemistry, C–O–Nd isotope systematics and zircon U–Pb geochronology data to explore the formation mechanism and tectonic setting of its protolith. The marble samples have high δ13CV-PDB (4.0 ‰ to −0.1 ‰) and δ18OV-SMOW (16.3 ‰ to 13.6 ‰) values, with similar εNd(t) values (−5.3 to −7.2) to Late Permian conodonts. They display seawater-like features, e.g. superchondritic Y/Ho ratios, negative Ce and positive La, Gd and Y anomalies, indicating a marine carbonate protolith in oxygen-rich palaeoseawater. Their pronounced positive Eu anomalies suggest a contribution (5 % to 1 %) of submarine high-T hydrothermal fluids. The metabasalt samples show low SiO2, high Fe2O3T and MgO contents. They have low La/Sm, (Th/Ta)PM and (La/Nb)PM ratios, without correlations between MgO and other major/trace elements. These signatures could be attributed to insignificant fractional crystallization and crustal contamination. Their rare earth elements (REE) patterns, trace element profiles and trace element ratios are comparable to those of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), suggesting a depleted MORB-type mantle reservoir. Melt modelling illustrates low degrees (<10 %) of partial melting in the spinel stability field at a depth of 30–60 km. Moreover, the metabasalt contains 2453.7–258.9 Ma detrital zircons significantly related to the Palaeoproterozoic crystalline basement, Rodinia supercontinent, Caledonian events and c. 260 Ma Emeishan large igneous province. Combined with previous studies, we advocate that the investigated metavolcano–sedimentary suquence was most likely formed during the Late Permian in a mature back-arc basin of the Palaeo-Tethys ocean.