Alteration mineral mapping using masking and Crosta technique for mineral exploration in mid-vegetated areas: a case study in Areletuobie, Xinjiang (China)

Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM)+ data have been successfully employed in the field of mineral exploration to identify key minerals over arid and semi-arid terrains. However, redundant vegetation and cloud may seriously interfere with the discrimination of the minerals with diagnostic features. Therefore, in this study, we use masking technique to eliminate the negative influence of vegetation and cloud and Crosta technique to identify the diagnostic features of hydroxyl-minerals, carbonate-minerals and iron oxides. Then the anomalies were endowed with special colours and overlapped with the remote-sensing and geochemical data, overlaying images as remote-sensing anomalies. The mineral exploration work was carried through by synthetic analysis of the remote-sensing images, geochemical data and structures. Finally, areas with high correlation between the occurrence of hydrothermal alteration and presence of main faults and geochemical anomalies were considered as mineral exploration targets worthy of further detailed exploration programmes.

A MASS-SPECTROMETRIC STUDY OF ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS-COMPOUNDS .5. EI SPECTRA OF 1, 3, 2-OXAZAPHOSPHOLIDINE 2-SULFIDES DERIVATES

The mass spectral behaviour of 15 new type of organic phosphorus compounds with a considerable insecticidal activity, 1, 3,2-oxazaphospholidine 2-sulfides derivatives, under 70 eV electron impact has been studied by means of high and low resolution mass spectrometry as well as by B/E linked scan and MIKES/CID analysis. Discussion is focused into the isomerization between oxygen and sulphur in molecules and some rearrangement reactions.

Helium, neon and argon isotope compositions of fluid inclusions in massive sulfides from the Jade hydrothermal field, the Oldnawa Trough

Helium, neon and argon isotope compositions of fluid inclusions have been measured in massive sulfide samples from the Jade hydrothermal field in the central Okinawa Trough. Fluid-inclusion He-3/He-4 ratios are between 6.2 and 10.1 times the air value (Ra), and with a mean of 7.8Ra, which are consistent with the mid-ocean ridge basalt values [He-3/He-4 approximate to (6Rasimilar to 11Ra)]. Values for Ne-20/Ne-22 are from 10.7 to 11.3, which are significantly higher than the atmospheric ratio (9.8). And the fluid-inclusion Ar-40/Ar-36 ratios range from 287 to 334, which are close to the atmosperic values (295.5). These results indicate that the noble gases of trapped hydrothermal fluids in massive sulfides are a mixture of mantle- and seawater-derived components, and the helium of fluid inclusions is mainly from mantle, the nelium and argon isotope compositions are mainly from seawater.

Sediment provenance and province of the southern Yellow Sea: Evidence from light mineral

The distribution for percent content of light mineral is divided in detail to emphasize distributional trends of higher and lower contents by using 222 samples of light mineral in the southern Yellow Sea. 5 mineral provinces are divided, and they are I-north mineral province of the southern Yellow Sea, the sediment dominantly derived from the Yellow River; II-mixed mineral province, the sediment derived from both the Yellow River and Yangtze River; III-middle mineral province, the sediment derived mainly from the Yellow River and a part of sediment derived from Yangtze River; IV-province east of Yangtze River mouth, the sediment derived dominantly from Yangtze River; and V south mineral province, sediment was affected by relict sediment and modern sediment of Yangtze River. In this paper, the assemblage of dominant mineral and diagnostic mineral for the five provinces are discerned.

Clay mineral distributions in the southern Yellow Sea and their significance

To better understand the characteristics of the clay minerals in the southern Yellow Sea, the X-ray quantitative determinations have been carried out for the surface samples obtained from the Yellow Sea. With newly compiled clay mineral synoptic maps, the depositional processes were described for four main clay minerals (illite, chlorite, kaolinite and smectite). The analysis shows that most clay minerals are of terrigenous source with the Huanghe River acting as the major sediment supplier. Besides, the source of muddy sediments in the Yellow Sea was also discussed. As for the central Yellow Sea mud (CYSM), the sediments in its northern part mainly come from the Huanghe River, and those in the rest are of multi-origin. Very similarly, a large amount of sediments in the northern part of the southeastern Yellow Sea Mud (SEYSM) derive from the Keum River and Yeong-san River, while those in the southern part are of multi-origin.

He, Ne and Ar isotope compositions of fluid inclusions in hydrothermal sulfides from the TAG hydrothermal field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Helium, rieon and argon isotope compositions of fluid inclusions have been measured in hydrothermal sulfide samples from the TAG hydrothermal field at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Fluid-inclusion He-3/He-4 ratios are 2.2-13.3 times the air value (Ra), and with a mean of 7.2 Ra. Comparison with the local vent fluids (He-3/He-4=7.5-8.2 Ra) and mid-ocean ridge basalt values (He-3/He-4=6-11 Ra) shows that the variation range of He-3/He-4 ratios from sulfide-hosted fluid inclusions is significantly large. Values for Ne-20/Ne-22 are from 10.2 to 11.4, which are significantly higher than the atmospheric ratio (9.8). And fluid-inclusion Ar-40/Ar-36 ratios range from 287 to 359, which are close to the atmospheric values (295.5). These results indicate that the noble gases of fluid inclusions in hydrothermal sulfides are a mixture of mantle- and seawater-derived noble gases; the partial mantle-derived components of trapped hydrothermal fluids may be from the lower mantle; the helium of fluid inclusions is mainly from upper mantle; and the Ne and Ar components are mainly from seawater.

Mineral provinces and matter provenance of the surficial sediments in the western Philippine Sea: implication for modern sedimentation in West Pacific marginal basin

The characteristics and distribution patterns of detrital minerals (0.063 similar to 0.125 mm) in marine sediments provide a significant indicator for the identification of the origin of sediment. The detrital mineral composition of 219 surface sediment samples was analysed to identify the distribution of sediments within the western Philippine Sea. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces: ( 1) province east of the Philippine Trench, the detrital minerals in this province are mainly composed of calcareous or siliceous organisms, with the addition of volcanogenic minerals from an adjacent island arc; (II) middle mineral province, clastic minerals including feldspar, quartz and colorless volcanic glass, sourced from seamounts with intermediate-acid volcanic rock, or erupting intermediate-acid volcano; (III) province west of the Palau-Kyushii Ridge, the matter provenance within this province is complex; the small quantity of feldspar and quartz may be sourced from seamounts or erupting volcano with intermediate - acid composition, with a component of volcanic scoria sourced from a volcano erupting on the Palau-Kyushu Ridge. it is suggested that, ( I) Biogenic debris of the study area is closely related to water depth, with the amount of biogenic debris controlled by carbonate lysocline. (2) Volcaniclastic matter derived from the adjacent island are can be entrained by oceanic currents and transported towards the abyssal basin over a short distance. The weathering products of volcanic rocks of the submarine plateau ( e. g. I Benham Plateau) and adjacent ridges provide an important source of detrital sedimentation, and the influence scope of them is constrained by the intensity of submarine weathering. (3) Terrigenous sediments from the continent of Asia and the adjacent Philippine island arc have little influence on the sedimentation of this study area, and the felsic mineral component is probably sourced from volcanic seamounts of intermediate-acid composition.

Mineral provinces and material provenance of the surficial sediments near the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea

Characteristics and distribution patterns of elastic minerals (0.063 similar to 0.125 mm) in bottom sediments represent a significant indicator for the identification of the origin of sediment. One hundred and fourteen surface sediment samples, which were collected from the area near the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, were analysed to identify the mineral suites and their distributions in the study area. The area can be divided into three mineral provinces: ( I) a province of biogenic minerals, which mainly originate from the Zhongsha Atoll; ( H) a province of volcanogenic minerals, which are mainly derived from local basaltic seamounts and small-scale volcanoes that are probably erupting, with some influences from the island-are volcanic region around the South China Sea; and (II) a mixed mineral province whose material source includes biogenic minerals, volcanogenic minerals and terrigenous minerals; the last province can be subdivided into a mixed mineral sub-province of the northeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are mainly derived from China's Mainland and do not exceed 17 degrees N, and a mixed mineral sub-province of the southeastern part of the study area, in which terrigenous minerals are derived from Kalimantan and Indochina Peninsula and might be further transported into the deep sea basin through submarine canyons.

Evolution and variability of the East Asian summer monsoon during the Pliocene: Evidence from clay mineral records of the South China Sea

The Late Pliocene is thought to be characterized by the simultaneous intensification of both the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) and East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). However, the evolution of the EASM during the Pliocene remains still controversial and only little is known about the dynamics of the EASM during the Pliocene on orbital time scales. Here we use clay mineral assemblages in sediments from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1143 in the southern South China Sea (SCS) to obtain proxy records of past changes in the EASM climate during the Pliocene. Provenance analysis suggests that illite, chlorite and kaolinite originated mainly from the Mekong River drainage area. Smectite was derived mainly from the Indonesian islands. The kaolinite/illite ratio and the chemical index of alteration (CIA) of siliciclastic sediments allowed us to reconstruct the history of chemical weathering and physical erosion of the Mekong River drainage area and thus, the evolution of,the EASM during the Pliocene. Our clay minerals proxy data suggests a stronger EASM during the Early Pliocene than during the Late Pliocene. We propose that the long-term evolution of the EASM has been driven by global cooling rather than the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Spectral analysis of kaolinite/ illite ratio displays a set of strong periodicities at 100 ka, 30 ka, 28 ka, 25 ka, and 22 ka. with no clear obliquityrelated signal. Our study suggests that the Pliocene EASM intensity on orbital time scales is not only controlled by the Northern Hemisphere summer insolation, but also strongly influenced by equatorial Pacific ENSO-like ocean atmosphere dynamics. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mineral chemistry and its genetic significance of olivine in Cenozoic basalts from the South China Sea

We dredged lots of Cenozoic basalts from areas covered from the northern sub-slope to the southern sub- slope of the South China Sea. Based on the study on mineral chemistry of clinopyroxenes in these Cenozoic hasalts, this paper indicates that pyroxenes are mostly enstatite and a few of augite, sahlite and Ca-rich pyroxene. Pyroxene microlite has higher content in, Ca, Ti and Fe than pyroxene phenocryst, it may reflect that the evolution trend of host magma of pyroxene is coincidence with that of alkali rock series. The depth of magma chambers which calculated from equilibrium temperatures and pressures between clinopyroxene and melt are as follows, that of magma of tephrite is about 49km, that of magma of trachybasalt is about 25km, and that of magma of basalt is about 15km. Correspondingly, Equilibrium temperatures( K) of three types rocks mentioned above gradually decrease from 1535 1498 to 1429 to 1369. By using discriminant plot which developed from pyroxene and alkali discriminant diagram of host rock, Cenozoic basalt from the South China Sea belongs to intraplate alkali basalt. The results suggest that alkali basalt series in the study area may be the products of continuous evolution of mantle plume, which result from some physical and chemistry process including partial melting and fractional crystallization of mantle plume during the course of its ascent to the surface.

东天山红山高硫型浅成低温铜-金矿床氧化带的形成机理和硫酸盐矿物的系列发现及意义

Located in the Paleozoic uplift along the southern margin of Tu-Ha basin in eastern Xinjiang, the newly discovered Hongshan Cu-Au deposit occurs in the superimposed Mesozoic volcanic basin upon the north section of later Paleozoic Dananhu-Tousuquan accretionary arc. Kalatage Cu-Au orebelt is controlled by NWW-trend faults, and includes Hongshan and Meiling Cu-Au deposits. The host rocks of Hongshan ore district are mainly rhyolitic-dacitic ignimbrites, whereas Cu-Au mineralization is closely related to quartz porphyry, rhyolitic porphyry and granitic porphyry. Mineralization styles are dominantly veinlet-disseminated and veinlet, occasionally stockwork. The mineral association is chalcopyrite, pyrite, bornite, chalcocite and sphalerite. The hydrothermal alteration consists of silicfication, sericitization, alunitization, pyrophylitization, illitization, hydromuscovitization, and chloritization. Hongshan Cu-Au deposit, on the edge of the desert, is one of the driest areas in eastrn Tianshan. Moreover， the highest temperature has been up to 60℃, and the average rainfall receives only 34.1mm/y. The light rainfall and rapid evaporation in the vicinity of this deposit have allowed the formation of a great variety of water-soluble sulfates. Oxidization zone of this deposit lies on the upper part of primary sulfide orebodies appearing with a depth of 50-60m, which is dominant in sulfate minerals. 1. Based on the field observation, the volcanic and sub-volcanic rock composition, hydrothermal alteration, ore structure and mineralization characteristics, this paper proposed that the Hongshan Cu-Au deposit belongs to a transitional type from high-sulfide epithermal to porphyry Cu-Au deposit, which corresponds with the typical HS-epithermal deposit such as Zijinshan Au-Cu deposit in Fujian Province, SE-China. 2. The Hongshan copper-gold deposit was controlled by the tectonic, stratum, magma activity and volcanic apparatus, whereas Au mineralization is closely related to quartz porphyry, rhyolitic porphyry and fine grained pyritization in hydrothermal activity, and Cu mineralization is closely related to quartz porphyry and hydrothermal explosive breccia. 3. Oxidation zone of Hongshan Cu-Au deposit lies on the upper part of primary sulfide orebodies deposit. 23 sulfate minerals were identified in this work. The results of samples XRD and chemical analysis were furthermore confirmed through thermal, infrared spectrum and mössbauer spectrum analysis. Among those, nine minerals as Ferricopiapite, Cuprocopiapite, Rhomboclase, Parabutlerite, Krausite, Yavapaiite, Metasideronatrite Kroehnkite and Paracoquimbite were founded in China for the first time. And Paracoquimbite was secondly reported in the world (first case reported at 1938 in Chile). 4. EPMA analysis shows that Al impurity in crystal lattice is important to polytype formation of paracoquimbite and coquimbite besides stack fault. 5. Compared with Meiling Cu-Au deposit in the same Kalatage ore belt from the characteristics of δ34S of barite, lithofacies, hydrothermal alteration and homogeneous temperature, Hongshan Cu-Au deposit belongs to the same metallogenic system of HS-epithermal type as Meiling Cu-Au deposit. But Hongshan Cu-Au deposit has less extensive alteration and shallower denudation. 6. Sulfur isotope analyses show that δ34S values of pyrites vary in the range of +1.86‰~+5.69‰, with an average of 3.70‰, mostly in the range of +1.86‰~+3.20‰, and δ34Scp<δ34Spy. Therefore ore-forming fluid of porphyry comes from mantle and was contaminated by the earth’s crust. Sulfur isotope has reached balance in ore-forming process. 7. Sulfur isotope analyses show that δ34S values of sulfates vary in the range of +2.15‰~+6.73‰, with an average of +3.74‰, mostly equals as δ34S values of primary sulfides in Hongshan Cu-Au deposit. So supergene sulfates inherit sulfur of primary sulfide. δ34S values are mostly same in different sulfates. As well as pyrite and chalcopyrite, volcanic hot spring and associated native sulfur underground also provide water medium and sulfur during the formation process of sulfate. 8. According to the EPMA of sample chalcopyrite and pyrite in Hongshan Cu-Au, the value of Cu/Ni is 0.98-34.72, mostly close to the value of 5, which shows that Hongshan deposit is a typical volcanogenic magmaic hypothermal deposit. Au and Ag, Zn, Te and Bi are positive correlation, Cu and Hg, Se, Sb are positive correlation, indicates Au and Cu don’t locate in the factor of mineralization of same mineralization groups. The reasons of gold concentration in the oxidation zone are: 1). Change of redox potential (Eh) makes gold to deposit from the liquid of mineralization zone; 2). PH is one of the most factors of gold’s deposition; 3). Soluble complex and colloid of gold can be adsorbed easily. 9. The biotite and hornblende K-Ar isotopic ages from the wall rock－quartz diorite, biotite granite and monzonite granite are 231.99±3.45Ma, 237.97±2.36Ma and 296.53±6.69Ma respectively. The ore-bearing rhyolitic breccia lava contains breccia of the biotite granite which indicates the volcanism and related Cu-Au mineralization occurred later than the granite, possibly in Mesozoic. K-Ar ages of granitoids in Sanya, Baishiquan and Hongliugou area and Molybdenite Re-Os age of Baishan Mo deposit all are in Triassic. Besides late Paleozoic magmatism, igneous magmatic event of Mesozoic was widespread in eastern Tianshan. 10. The K-Ar age dating indicates that the K-Ar age of Voltaite occurred below surface 1m is 56.02±3.98Ma, K-Ar age of Ferricopiapite occurred below surface 1.5m is 8.62±1.12Ma, K-Ar age of Yavapaiite occurred below surface 14 m is 4.07±0.39Ma, and K-Ar age of Voltaite occurred below surface 10 m is 14.73±1.73Ma. So the age interval of oxidation zone of Hongshan copper-golden bed is between 60 -3.38Ma. Oxidization occurred at Caenozoic era (from 65Ma), which can be identified through comparing with different deposits oxidation zone in other countries. The coupling between global tectonic event and climatic change event which occur from Caenozoic era has some effect on epigeosphere system, which can act on the surface of bed oxidation zone similarly. It induces that the age mentioned above coincide with collision of India-Asia and multistage uplifting of Qinhai-Tibet Plateau happened subsequently. Bed oxidation zone is the effect and record of collision and uplifting of Tibet Plateau. The strong chemical weathering of surface accumulation to which was leaded by PETM event occurred Paleocene and Eocene is the reason of Voltaite sharply rises. On the contrary, Ferricopiapite formed due to the global cold weather. The predecessor did much research through biota, isotopes, susceptibility, but this paper try to use different sulfate mineral instead of climatic change. So the research of sulfate minerals not only indicates a great deal of oxidized zone feature, but also the intergrowth of sulfate minerals may be used to trace paleoenviroment and paleoclimate of oxidation zone. 11. Analysis of the information of alteration and mineralization features of four bore cores, induced activity polarization well logging and Eh-4 geophysical section, deep mineralization anomaly objects of Hongshan ore districts shows low resistance, middle and high polarization, measurements of Eh-4 consecutive conductance section show the existing of concealed porphyry ore body deeper than 450m, on the top of and around rock body there are low resistance body ranged from 100-300Ω•m, this area may be the ore-bearing part. In a word, Hongshan Cu-Au deposit deposit is a combine of upper HS-style epithermal Au deposit and deeper porphyry mineralization system. It has great potential to find large HS-style epithermal-porphyry Au-Cu deposits. This paper consists of seven chapters and twenty seven sections. The geological character of deposit is basic condition in this work. Constitute of oxidation zone, research of sulfate mineral, relation between oxidation and primary zone, K-Ar ages of potassic sulfate are key parts of thesis. Genesis of ore deposit is the further expansion of this research. Analysis of ore-controlling factors is the penetration above basic. Analysis of potential is application of exploration.

黄铁矿热转变过程的岩石磁学研究

Pyrite is the most stable iron-sulfide in reduced environment, and plays an important role in geochemical iron-sulfur cycling of sediments. Thus, the presence of pyrite in sediments and rocks is an important indicator of sedimentary environments. Previous studies on the thermal products of pyrite showed that all of the products (e.g., pyrrhotite, magnetite, hematite) have strong capability of carrying remanence. To deepen our understanding of the environmental and paleomagnetic significances of pyrite, the mineral transformation processes of pyrite upon heating were systematically investigated in this study using intergrated rock magnetic experiments (in both argon and air atmospheres) and X-ray diffraction analysis. The room temperature susceptibility of the paramagnetic pyrite is about 2.68×10-5 SI. In argon atmosphere (reducing environment), pyrite was transformed into monoclinic stable single domain (SD) pyrrhotite above 440 C. The corresponding coercive force and remanence coercivity are about 20 mT and 30 mT, respectively. In contrast, in air atmosphere (oxidation environment), the intermediate thermal products of pyrite are magnetite and pyrrhotite, which were quickly further oxidated to SD hematite, which has coercivity of about 1400 mT. In addition, the hematite particles gradually grow from SD to PSD grain size region by multiple heating runs. The transformation processes of pyrite in oxidation atomosphere can be interpreted by three possible pathways: (1) pyrite→magnetite→hematite; (2) pyrite→pyrrhotite→magnetite→hematite; and (3) pyrite→pyrrhotite→hematite. Low-temperature magnetic experiments show no transitions for pyrite. Despite that low-temperature magnetic method is not suitable for identification of pyrite, it is clear in this study that the high-temperature thermomagnetic measurements (e.g.,  -T and J-T curves) are very sensitive to the presence of pyrite in sediments and rocks. Nevertheless, for the thermal treatment products, low-temperature magnetic measurements showed the 34 K transition of pyrrhotite and the 250 K Morine transition of hematite. Iron-sulfide has also been found on Martian meteorolites by other workers. Therefore, systematic study of rock magnetism of pyrite (and other iron-sulfides) and their products will have great significances for both paleomagnetism and planetary magnetism.