Tento přispěvek přinasi informace o geneticky kompletni radě
ložisek prvků ze skupiny vzacných zemin (REE) v Mongolsku;
konkretně vazaných na karbonatity (ložiska Mushgai Khudag,
Bayan Khushu, Khotgor, Cogt Obo, Ulugei Khid, Lugiin Gol, Omnot
Olgii, Khurimt Khad Tolgod) a peralkalicke granity se Zr-Nb-REE
mineralizaci (Khaldzan Buregtei a Khan Bogd) a metasomatity s
nejasnou genezi (Bomin Khara, Gzarta Hudag).
Aynak is the largest known copper deposit in Afghanistan, with indicated resources of 240 Mt grading 2.3% Cu placing it in the 'giant' category. Host rocks are Neoproterozoic metasediments comprising dolomitic marble, carbonaceous quartz schist and quartz-biotite-dolomite schist containing garnet, scapolite and apatite. Chalcopyrite and bornite dominate the hypogene ore with lesser pyrite, pyrrhotite, cobaltite and chalcocite, and rare sphalerite, molybdenite, uraninite and barite. Sulphides occur as bedding-parallel laminae, disseminations, metamorphic segregations and crosscutting veins. Sulphide δ34S ratios range –14.5 to +17.3‰ in bedded and disseminated sulphides (n = 34). This broad range favours biogenic reduction of seawater sulphate as a major source of sulphur, although thermochemical reduction processes are not precluded. The narrower δ34S range of –6 to +12.2‰ in vein and segregation sulphides (n = 21) suggests localized redistribution and partial homogenization during metamorphism. Geochemical associations suggest that Al, P, Ca, Ti and Fe were primary sedimentary constituents whereas Cu, Mg, S, Se, As, Co and Bi were introduced subsequently. We infer that Aynak originated as a shale- and carbonate-hosted stratabound replacement deposit, resembling orebodies of the Central African Copperbelt, although underlying red-beds are absent at Aynak and mafic volcanics were the probable copper source. These giant deposits formed worldwide in the Cryogenian probably due to marine enrichment in copper, magnesium and sulphate coincident with profuse basaltic volcanism and ocean oxidation.
Abstract Carbonatite intrusions host the world’s most important light rare earth element (LREE) deposits, and their formation generally requires extraordinary fertile sources, magmatic evolution, and hydrothermal events. However, carbonatitic magma evolution, particularly the role of fractional crystallization and contamination from silicate rocks in REE enrichment, remains enigmatic. The Maoniuping world-class REE deposit in southwestern China, is an ideal target to decipher magmatic evolution and related REE enrichment as it shows continuous textual evolution from medium- to coarse-grained calcite carbonatite (carbonatite I) at depth, to progressively pegmatoidal calcite carbonatite (carbonatite II) at shallow levels. In both types of calcite carbonatites, four generations of calcite can be classified according to petrographic and geochemical characteristics. Early-crystalizing calcite (Cal-I and Cal-II) are found in carbonatite I and exhibit equigranular and a polygonal mosaic textures, while late calcites (Cal-III and Cal-IV) in carbonatite II are large-size oikocrysts (>0.5 mm in length) with strain-induced undulatory extinction and bent twinning lamellae. All these generations of calcite yield similar, near-chondritic, Y/Ho ratios (26.6–28.1) and are inferred to be of magmatic origin. Remarkably, gradual enrichment of MgO, FeO and MnO from Cal-I to Cal-IV is coupled with a significant increase in REE contents (~800 to 2000 ppm), with LREE-rich and gentle-to-steep chondrite-normalized REE patterns ((La/Yb)N = 3.1–26.8 and (La/Sm)N = 0.9–3.9, respectively). Such significant REE enrichment is ascribed to protracted magma fractional crystallization with initial low degree of fractional crystallization (fraction of melt remining (F) = ~0.95) evolving to late stage (F = 0.5–0.6) by formation of abundant calcite cumulates. Differential LREE and HREE behavior during magma evolution largely depend on separation of phlogopite, amphibole, and clinopyroxene from the carbonatitic melt, which is indicated by progressively elevated (La/Yb)N ratios ranging from 3.1 to 26.8. The four generations of calcite have significantly different C and Sr isotopic compositions with δ13CV-PDB decreasing from −3.28 to −9.97‰ and 87Sr/86Sr increasing from 0.70613 to 0.70670. According to spatial relations and petrographic observations, the relative enrichment of δ13C and depletion in 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Cal-I and Cal-II show primary isotopic characteristics inherited from initial carbonatitic magma. By contrast, the variable Sr and C isotopic compositions of Cal-III and Cal-IV are interpreted as the results of contamination by components derived from silicate wall rocks and loss of CO2 by decarbonation reactions. To model such contamination processes, Raleigh volatilization and Monte Carlo simulation have been invoked and the model results reveal that carbonatitic melt-wall rock interaction requires 40% radiogenic Sr contamination from silicate rocks and 35% CO2 degassing from carbonatitic melt. Moreover, positive correlations between decreasing δ13C values and increasing REE contents, together with bastnäsite-(Ce) precipitation, indicate further REE accumulation during the contamination processes. In summary, alongside REE-rich magma sources, the extent of fractional crystallization and contamination during carbonatitic magma evolution are inferred to be important mechanisms in terms of REE enrichment and mineralization in carbonatite-related REE deposits worldwide.
In Australia’s semi-arid and arid interior, groundwater resources provide water supply security for agriculture and community consumptive use and are critical for underpinning economic development. . The Southern Stuart Corridor Project in central Australia, is an inter-disciplinary study which aims to better characterise regional groundwater systems and identify the location, quantity and quality of new groundwater resources. The main aims of the project are(1) to de-risk investment in development of a potential agricultural precinct in the Western Davenport Basin, and expansion of horticulture in Ti-Tree Basin, (2) to identify future water supplies for Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, and (3) for regional water supplies for mineral resource development.The project is funded by Geoscience Australia (GA) as part of the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Programme. The project integrates airborne electromagnetic (AEM), ground geophysics (ground magnetic resonance (GMR) and borehole geophysics (Induction, gamma and nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)) with drilling and pump testing; hydrochemistry and geochronology; and geomorphic, geological, hydrogeological and structural mapping and modelling. Advancements in temporal remote sensing technologies for surface hydrology, vegetation and landscape mapping are also used to facilitate the identification of recharge and discharge zones and groundwater-dependent vegetation.This paper reports on initial AEM inversion results for the Alice Springs, Ti-Tree Basin, Western Davenport and Tennant Creek areas and the use of a machine learning approach for rapid geological and hydrogeological interpretation of the AEM data. These machine learning approaches have the potential to significantly reduce interpretation time and facilitate the rapid delivery of project results.
The world-class Sarbai, Kachar and Sokolovsk iron ore deposits of the Turgai belt, in the Carboniferous Valerianovskoe arc of northwest Kazakhstan, contain an aggregate of more than 3 billion tonnes of mineable massive magnetite. The Valerianovskoe arc is the possible westward extension to the South Tien Shan arc that is host to the giant Almalyk Cu-Au porphyry system in Uzbekistan. The magnetite bodies of the Turgai belt replace limestone and tuffs, and are distal to locally proximal to the contacts of gabbro-diorite-granodiorite intrusive complexes. Three main stages of alteration and mineralisation can be recognised at these deposits, namely: (1) pre-ore; (2) the main magnetite forming; and (3) post ore phases. The pre-ore stage is characterised by high temperature, metamorphic/metasomatic calc- and alumino-silicates. The main magnetite ore phase formed when hot, sulphur poor, acidic, iron-, silica- and aluminium rich fluids were structurally focused to dissolve and replace the dominantly limestone hosts. This was accompanied by a skarn assemblage gangue of epidote, calcic-pyroxenes, calcic-garnet and calcic-amphiboles, minor sulphide minerals and high field strength element (HFSE)-bearing accessory minerals such as titanite and apatite. This magnetite-skarn
mineralisation was followed by a late sulphide phase, when comparatively cooler fluids, which produced distinctive and extensive alteration assemblages of sodium-rich scapolite, albite, chlorite and K feldspar, accompanied by chalcopyrite, pyrite and minor sphelarite and galena. The post-ore phase, is characterised by cross cutting barren veins composed of calcite, lesser albite and K feldspar, and minor quartz, and by widespread alteration comprising scapolite, albite and silica, which surrounds the deposit, and extends for several kilometers into the host rock. Many of the geological and mineralogical features of these deposits closely resemble those of IOCG deposits and provinces around the world.
However, as the copper sulphide mineralisation is sub-economic, they may only be classified as either IOCG-style or IOCG-related deposits. Stable isotope (C, O, S) studies have been carried out on a range of sulphides, carbonates and silicates related to the mineralisation. Preliminary results from sulphides intergrown with magnetite support a magmatic source for the sulphur. Oxygen isotope data from associated silicates and iron oxides also support an igneous, or igneous rock equilibrated source for the mineralising fl uids. Carbon and oxygen isotope data from gangue carbonates suggest
carbonate is derived from the interaction of igneous-derived or igneous-equilibrated fl uids with host limestones.