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24 pages, 12045 KB  
Article
Carboniferous Slab Rollback in the Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights from Basalts of the Qi’Eshan Group in the Dananhu Arc
by Jixiang Dai, He Yang, Hongming Cai, Yuyu Zong and Feng Gao
Minerals 2026, 16(6), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060642 (registering DOI) - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 143
Abstract
Volcanic rocks of the Qi’eshan Group, which are widely distributed in the Dananhu arc of the Eastern Tianshan, NW China, have long been debated in terms of their formation age and tectonic setting. In this study, we conducted an integrated study of U-Pb [...] Read more.
Volcanic rocks of the Qi’eshan Group, which are widely distributed in the Dananhu arc of the Eastern Tianshan, NW China, have long been debated in terms of their formation age and tectonic setting. In this study, we conducted an integrated study of U-Pb apatite geochronology, whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, in situ major element analyses of clinopyroxene, and “Rhyolite-MELTS” thermodynamic modeling on the basalts from the Qi’eshan Group. Geochronological data show that the weighted mean of 206Pb/238U ages of apatite is 329 ± 10 Ma. The basalts belong to the tholeiitic series and are characterized by enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), and enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREEs) relative to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) with weak negative Eu anomalies. They were derived by partial melting of garnet-spinel lherzolite in a depleted mantle source metasomatized by subduction-related fluids, followed by fractional crystallization of spinel, olivine, and clinopyroxene. Clinopyroxene is dominated by augite, characterized by high Mg and Ca contents and low Al and Na contents. Machine-learning-based thermobarometry indicates that clinopyroxene crystallized at temperatures of 1027–1033 °C and pressures of 1.1–1.6 kbar. “Rhyolite-MELTS” isobaric crystallization simulations suggest that mantle-derived magma, with an initial water content of 4 wt.% and oxygen fugacity of FMQ, can generate melts compositionally similar to the volcanic rocks of the Qi’eshan Group through fractional crystallization at a pressure of 1.5 kbar. Combined with previous studies, we propose that the Qi’eshan Group basalts formed in an extensional arc setting related to southward rollback of the northward-subducting Kanguer oceanic slab, which caused asthenosphere upwelling and lithospheric extension, thereby promoting partial melting of the subduction-metasomatized mantle. Our data provide new insights into the Carboniferous rollback of the Kanguer oceanic slab in the northern part of the Eastern Tianshan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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20 pages, 8711 KB  
Article
Late Cretaceous Intraplate Mafic Dyke Swarms in the East Kunlun Orogen, Northern Tibetan Plateau: Implications for Lithospheric Reactivation and Early Surface Uplift
by Denghui Chen, Hao Wu, Wei Wang, Yujie Zhao, Huajun Wen, Dongming Jiang, Xiaotong Sun and Fuhao Xiong
Geosciences 2026, 16(5), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16050201 - 19 May 2026
Viewed by 236
Abstract
The Cretaceous represents a key period in the geodynamic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and the initial development of its paleotopography. While widespread orogenesis and magmatism associated with the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision are well documented in southern Tibet, coeval magmatic records in northern Tibet [...] Read more.
The Cretaceous represents a key period in the geodynamic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and the initial development of its paleotopography. While widespread orogenesis and magmatism associated with the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision are well documented in southern Tibet, coeval magmatic records in northern Tibet are extremely limited, hindering constraints on the deep processes responsible for surface uplift. Zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock geochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes are presented for two mafic dyke swarms from the East Kunlun Orogen, northern Tibet. The two dyke swarms were emplaced at 91.8 ± 2.0 Ma and 84.8 ± 0.6 Ma, indicating a previously underrecognized episode of Late Cretaceous mafic magmatism in northern Tibet. They are subalkaline tholeiites enriched in LILEs and LREEs, depleted in HFSEs, and characterized by negative Nb–Ta anomalies. Their decoupled Nd-Hf isotopes (εNd(t) = −4.96 to +0.94; εHf(t) = +3.75 to +5.76) indicate derivation from an enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by slab-related fluids during Permian-Triassic Paleo-Tethyan subduction. Partial melting modeling indicates that the magmas were generated by low-degree (1–5%) decompression melting of lherzolite within the spinel–garnet transition zone. We propose that these mafic dyke swarms formed in an intraplate extensional setting triggered by far-field stresses associated with the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision, which reactivated lithosphere-scale faults and induced localized mantle melting. These results provide new petrological constraints on Late Cretaceous intracontinental extension in northern Tibet and highlight mafic dyke swarms as key probes for linking lithospheric reactivation to early surface uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Full article
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19 pages, 6166 KB  
Article
Carbon and Sulfur Retention in Forearc Serpentinites: Evidence from the Heimulin Serpentinites, Central China
by Meijun Gong, Peipei Deng and Kai Wu
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050543 - 19 May 2026
Viewed by 1122
Abstract
Subduction zones are crucial for regulating volatile exchange between the Earth’s surface and interior. Specifically, volatile migration in the mantle wedge controls arc magma genesis and outfluxes. However, the poorly constrained capacity of the forearc mantle wedge to retain volatiles limits our ability [...] Read more.
Subduction zones are crucial for regulating volatile exchange between the Earth’s surface and interior. Specifically, volatile migration in the mantle wedge controls arc magma genesis and outfluxes. However, the poorly constrained capacity of the forearc mantle wedge to retain volatiles limits our ability to quantify global volatile cycling. This study focuses on serpentinites from the Heimulin area and investigates volatile behavior during shallow forearc serpentinization and subsequent recrystallization within the forearc mantle wedge. This is achieved through analyses of carbon and sulfur contents and isotopic compositions, combined with thermodynamic modeling. The carbon content and isotopic composition of the two sample types, which represent different degrees of serpentinization, show no significant difference. However, carbon enrichment and magnesite formation were observed in serpentinites containing ribbon-textured lizardite. Sulfur systematics suggest that slab-derived dehydrating fluids can introduce sulfur into the mantle wedge, where it can be effectively retained in serpentinite systems as pyrite under low water–rock ratios. These findings imply that forearc serpentinites may play a role in volatile transport and serve as reservoirs for carbon and sulfur, which may have implications for understanding volatile cycling in subduction zones. Full article
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24 pages, 45229 KB  
Article
Genesis and Tectono-Metallogenetic Setting of the Dongwujiiazi Gold Deposit, NE China: Insights from Whole-Rock Geochemistry and H–O–S–Pb Isotopes
by Lichun Fu, Guihu Chen, He Yuan, Yingzheng Pei, Qiang Wei, Fangyue Wang and Ahmed S. Moftah
Minerals 2026, 16(5), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050435 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 453
Abstract
The Dongwujiiazi deposit is a structurally controlled orogenic gold deposit situated in the eastern part of the Chifeng–Chaoyang gold belt along the northern boundary of the North China Craton. This study establishes a comprehensive metallogenic model for the Dongwujiiazi gold deposit by integrating [...] Read more.
The Dongwujiiazi deposit is a structurally controlled orogenic gold deposit situated in the eastern part of the Chifeng–Chaoyang gold belt along the northern boundary of the North China Craton. This study establishes a comprehensive metallogenic model for the Dongwujiiazi gold deposit by integrating whole-rock geochemistry (major and trace elements), in situ trace elements and REEs in zircon, multi-isotope systems (H, O, S, Pb), and precise zircon U–Pb geochronology. Five types of intrusive and associated rocks are identified within the main biotite-pyroxene gneiss host of the Dongwujiiazi gold deposit: mylonitized granitic pegmatite, mylonitized porphyritic monzogranite, propylitized fine-grained quartz monzodiorite, quartz monzonite, and porphyritic dolerite. The gold-bearing polymetallic sulfide ores are composed of pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, digenite, and native gold. Zircon grains in the Dongwujiiazi gold ore (2502 ± 15 to 2539 ± 18 Ma) are inherited from surrounding Neoarchean gneiss, recording older crustal sources rather than forming contemporaneously with the gold mineralization. H–O isotopes indicate that the ore-forming fluids were mixed in origin, involving both magmatic and metamorphic components. S and Pb isotopes suggest that the mineralizing sulfur was mainly derived from a magmatic source, while lead originated predominantly from lower crustal materials associated with the surrounding high-grade metamorphic rocks. In this study, we present a new metallogenic model for the Dongwujiiazi gold deposit, in which slab-derived and lower-crustal metamorphic fluids interacted with ascending magmas, resulting in fluid mixing and gold precipitation within structurally controlled zones of gneissic host rocks. Combined geochemical and isotopic evidence (H–O, S, Pb) indicates contributions from both magmatic and metamorphic sources, supporting formation as an intracontinental orogenic gold system in an active continental margin. Full article
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28 pages, 11195 KB  
Article
Late Early Jurassic Continental Arc Magmatism in the Northern Erguna Block: Implications for the Southward Subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean
by Wenlong Li, Zhanlong Li, Chenglu Li, Masroor Alam and Zhaoxun Cheng
Minerals 2026, 16(3), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030305 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 529
Abstract
Late Early Jurassic continental arc magmatism in the northern Greater Khingan Range enables the investigation of complicated tectonic processes associated with the subduction and closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. To further clarify the timing, genesis, and geodynamic mechanisms driving the magmatic activity during [...] Read more.
Late Early Jurassic continental arc magmatism in the northern Greater Khingan Range enables the investigation of complicated tectonic processes associated with the subduction and closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean. To further clarify the timing, genesis, and geodynamic mechanisms driving the magmatic activity during this period, the present study addresses these critical questions by integrating zircon U–Pb geochronological, geochemical, and isotopic analyses of a wide variety of igneous rocks, including gabbro, gabbro-diorite, granodiorite, porphyritic monzogranite, and biotite-bearing monzogranite from the Fushan region. Zircon U–Pb geochronology constrains the timing of magmatic activity to 184–179 Ma, coinciding with active subduction phases. Geochemical data reveal arc-like signatures characterized by enrichment in light rare-earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs), together with pronounced depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs). A comprehensive analysis of geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic signatures suggests that the mafic rocks originated from an enriched lithospheric mantle modified by subduction-related fluids and sediment-derived melts. By contrast, the granodiorite and porphyritic monzonite exhibit adakitic characteristics, indicating partial melting of the thickened Mesoproterozoic lower crust with contributions from mantle-derived or newly formed crustal material. The biotite-bearing monzogranite, with its pronounced Eu anomaly and lower zircon saturation temperatures, reflects advanced magmatic differentiation from a shallower source. These findings indicate extensive crust–mantle interactions during the southward subduction of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean, driven by high-angle subduction and slab rollback. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 7th National Youth Geological Congress)
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18 pages, 28855 KB  
Article
Mantle Heterogeneity at the Arc–Back-Arc Transition: Insights from Peridotites of the Southern Mariana Trench
by Kana Miyata, Katsuyoshi Michibayashi, Shigeki Uehara and Yasuhiko Ohara
Minerals 2026, 16(3), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030274 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
Peridotites exposed in the southern Mariana Trench provide a rare opportunity to investigate mantle processes operating at the interface between arc and back-arc tectonic domains. This study presents petrographic observations and major element mineral chemistry of 41 depleted mantle harzburgites collected from three [...] Read more.
Peridotites exposed in the southern Mariana Trench provide a rare opportunity to investigate mantle processes operating at the interface between arc and back-arc tectonic domains. This study presents petrographic observations and major element mineral chemistry of 41 depleted mantle harzburgites collected from three sites (Sites A–C) in the southern Mariana Trench. Site A is located on the east-facing slope of the West Santa Rosa Bank Fault, whereas Sites B and C are situated on the southern slope of the South Mariana Forearc Ridge along the eastern side of the Challenger Deep. The harzburgites exhibit variable microstructures ranging from coarse-grained (>1 mm) to medium-grained (<1 mm) to small-grained (>0.1 mm) textures, with or without porphyroclasts, and commonly contain amphibole associated with orthopyroxene and spinel. Olivine Mg# (Mg/[Mg + Fe]) (0.902–0.925) and spinel Cr# (Cr/[Cr + Al]) (0.304–0.720) indicate a wide range of mantle depletion across the three sites. Based on the integrated chemical characteristics of olivine, spinel, and amphibole, the harzburgites are classified into three distinct compositional trends (Trends 1–3). Trend 1 is characterized by high olivine Mg# (~0.925), high spinel Cr# (>0.6), low TiO2 contents (<0.1 wt%), and K2O-enriched but TiO2-poor amphibole (TiO2/K2O < ~0.5), consistent with strongly depleted forearc mantle modified by slab-derived hydrous melts or fluids. In contrast, Trend 2 is defined by relatively high olivine Mg# (>~0.91), lower spinel Cr# (<0.6), slightly higher TiO2 contents (up to ~0.2 wt%), and amphibole moderately enriched in both K2O and TiO2 (TiO2/K2O = 1–4), recording an intermediate geochemical signature that cannot be uniquely attributed to a purely forearc origin. Trend 3 is characterized by lower olivine Mg# (~0.90), lower spinel Cr# (<0.6), distinctly higher TiO2 contents (up to ~0.8 wt%), and TiO2-rich but K2O-poor amphibole (TiO2/K2O > 4), indicating a back-arc mantle origin related to decompression melting. Trends 1 and 2 occur in harzburgites from Sites B and C of the South Mariana Forearc Ridge, whereas Trend 3 is exclusively identified in harzburgites from Site A of the West Santa Rosa Bank Fault, highlighting the juxtaposition of forearc-type, transitional, and back-arc-type mantle domains within a single forearc region. Full article
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17 pages, 5425 KB  
Article
Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Wulanwuzhuer Intermediate–Felsic Intrusion from Qimantag Area, East Kunlun Mountains: Implications for Regional Tectonic Evolution
by Maoguo An, Junjin Zhang, Qinglin Xu, Yanqian Yang, Ziyi Dong and Guangzhou Mao
Minerals 2026, 16(3), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030272 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 659
Abstract
A vast suite of intermediate–felsic intrusive rocks, the Wulanwuzhuer intrusion, which intrude the Jinshuikou Group in the Qimantag area of the Eastern Kunlun Mountains, Qinghai Province, has an unclear formation age and petrogenesis. In this paper, we discuss their formation time, petrogenesis, and [...] Read more.
A vast suite of intermediate–felsic intrusive rocks, the Wulanwuzhuer intrusion, which intrude the Jinshuikou Group in the Qimantag area of the Eastern Kunlun Mountains, Qinghai Province, has an unclear formation age and petrogenesis. In this paper, we discuss their formation time, petrogenesis, and tectonic background. Based on detailed field geological surveys, this paper presents zircon U-Pb isotope chronology and petrogeochemistry to identify the genesis of rocks, determine the intrusion age, and explore their tectonic significance. The Wulanwuzhuer rocks are composed of fine-grained granodiorite, gneissic biotite granite and potassic granite. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircon yields an age of 475 ± 2 Ma for the gneissic biotite granite. This indicates a Caledonian formation age, contrasting with the previously assumed Hercynian age. The Wulanwuzhuer rocks show SiO2 contents that vary from 62% to 74%, K2O varies from 4.0% to 5.2%, K2O/Na2O varies from 1.41 to 6.29, and A/CNK varies from 0.79 to 1.26. The rocks are weakly peraluminous to metaluminous and belong to the shoshonitic series. These geochemical signatures suggest that the formation of the Wulanwuzhuer rocks was predominantly influenced by subduction-related processes, including metasomatism by fluids derived from the subducted oceanic slab. Contributions from an enriched mantle source, as indicated by LILE and LREE enrichment, also played a role. Combined with the age and tectonic evolution, it is concluded that these rocks were formed at an island arc-type active continental margin, which is a response of the Proto-Tethys oceanic crust subducting beneath the Qaidam massif from south to north along the vicinity of modern Kunzhong Fault in the Early Caledonian. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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13 pages, 324 KB  
Article
On the Description of Turbulent Transport in Magnetic Confinement Systems
by Jan Weiland and Tariq Rafiq
Physics 2026, 8(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/physics8010012 - 27 Jan 2026
Viewed by 690
Abstract
We show how a source-aware fluid closure framework for turbulent transport performs well on the confinement timescale in magnetically confined plasmas. A central result is that whether a source is resonant with the turbulence determines which fluid moments must be retained. Using a [...] Read more.
We show how a source-aware fluid closure framework for turbulent transport performs well on the confinement timescale in magnetically confined plasmas. A central result is that whether a source is resonant with the turbulence determines which fluid moments must be retained. Using a nonlinear current formulation, we show that resonance broadening—the dominant kinetic nonlinearity—cancels linear resonances and thereby justifies a quasilinear fluid closure already on the turbulence timescale. We derive a practical negative-energy criterion and identify parameter regimes satisfied by ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) modes (slab and toroidal), with parallel ion compressibility and magnetic curvature controlling the sign. The framework clarifies when velocity-space dynamics must be retained in the kinetic Fokker–Planck equation (for example, for fast-particle instabilities at frequencies about 102 higher than drift-wave frequencies). The present study provides additional support for our model by predicting transport that increases with radius and by showing—consistent with nonlinear kinetic simulations—that the diamagnetic flow dominates the Reynolds stress. Altogether, the results obtained provide a consistent, reduced-cost path to fluid closures that retain the essential kinetic physics while remaining tractable on confinement timescales. Full article
26 pages, 6464 KB  
Article
An Analytical Solution for the Stability Evaluation of Anti-Dip Layered Rock Slopes Under Water-Level Fluctuations in Reservoirs
by Ning Sun, Shuang Yao, Leilei Jin, Wenxi Fu, Yang Wang, Fei Ye and Zhihao Wu
Water 2025, 17(23), 3375; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17233375 - 26 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 776
Abstract
Significant fluctuations in reservoir water levels occur seasonally during the flood period, adversely affecting the stability of bank slopes. In this paper, a modified mechanical model for the flexural toppling of anti-dip rock slopes under water level fluctuations is established, and an actual [...] Read more.
Significant fluctuations in reservoir water levels occur seasonally during the flood period, adversely affecting the stability of bank slopes. In this paper, a modified mechanical model for the flexural toppling of anti-dip rock slopes under water level fluctuations is established, and an actual deflection equation for rock slabs is derived. The critical length for the flexural toppling failure of rock slabs is calculated, which can be used to evaluate slope stability. Multiple linear regression analysis reveals the relative degree of the influence of each parameter (such as rock slab thickness, rock layer dip angle, water level height, etc.) on the critical length. The results indicate that rock slab thickness plays a controlling role in slope stability. The failure mechanisms of the slope under the influence of water level fluctuations are revealed through fluid–solid coupling numerical simulations. The results indicate that the rise in water level reduces the strength of the rock mass in the submerged zone and generates significant water pressure on the rock mass at the slope toe, leading to its cracking. A rapid drop in water level generates seepage forces detrimental to slope stability and carries away fractured rock particles at the slope toe, ultimately causing slope failure. Finally, the reliability and applicability of the proposed method are validated through numerical simulations, case studies, and comparisons with existing analytical solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrogeology)
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31 pages, 9920 KB  
Article
Genesis of Early Cretaceous Magmatism in the Western Gangdese Belt, Southern Tibet: Implications for Neo-Tethyan Oceanic Slab Subduction
by Jiqing Lin, Ke Gao, Zizheng Wang, Zhongbiao Xu and Yongping Pan
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111143 - 30 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1001
Abstract
Research on the Mesozoic–Cenozoic magmatism and the tectonic framework within the Lhasa Terrane is voluminous. However, the sparse documentation of Early Cretaceous magmatism in this region fuels ongoing debate over the prevailing tectonic regime during this time period (i.e., normal subduction vs. flat [...] Read more.
Research on the Mesozoic–Cenozoic magmatism and the tectonic framework within the Lhasa Terrane is voluminous. However, the sparse documentation of Early Cretaceous magmatism in this region fuels ongoing debate over the prevailing tectonic regime during this time period (i.e., normal subduction vs. flat subduction). The present study investigates the Luerma pyroxenite and Boyun granitoid in the Western Lhasa Terrane through zircon U-Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes. The findings date the formation of Luerma pyroxenite at 115 Ma and Boyun granites at 113 Ma to the Early Cretaceous period (115–113 Ma). SiO2 content of pyroxenite is relatively low (34.27–44.16 wt.%), characterized by an enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), light rare earth elements (LREEs), and a depletion in heavy field strength elements (HSFEs), indicative of a metasomatic origin. The εNd (t) and εHf (t) values of the Early Cretaceous ultrabasic rocks range from +2.1 to +2.7 and −0.8 to +10.1, respectively, suggesting their derivation from an enriched mantle source with asthenospheric material incorporation. The Early Cretaceous granodiorites and their mafic enclaves belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series, and show enrichment in LILEs (e.g., Rb, Ba, U, and Th) and depletion in HFSEs (e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti, and Zr). The acidic rocks and their developed mafic enclaves exhibit the geochemical characteristics of trace elements found in island arc magmas. Their εNd (t) values are (−6.0–−5.0), while their εHf (t) values are (−11.7–−1.8); the MMEs εHf (t) values are (−4.1–+0.9). In summary, the Early Cretaceous pyroxenite in the Gangdese Belt originated from a combination of asthenospheric and enriched lithospheric mantle melts, while the granitoids were generated by partial melting of the mantle wedge, a process driven by metasomatism resulting from the slab-derived fluids. At the same time, heat from upwelling mantle-derived melts induced the partial melting of lower crustal materials, leading to the formation of acidic magmas through varying degrees of mixing with basic magmas. This study suggests that Early Cretaceous magmatic activity occurred within a northward subduction setting, characterized by the rotation and fragmentation of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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34 pages, 4392 KB  
Article
Post-Collisional Mantle Processes and Magma Evolution of the El Bola Mafic–Ultramafic Intrusion, Arabian-Nubian Shield, Egypt
by Khaled M. Abdelfadil, Hatem E. Semary, Asran M. Asran, Hafiz U. Rehman, Mabrouk Sami, A. Aldukeel and Moustafa M. Mogahed
Minerals 2025, 15(7), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070705 - 2 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2609
Abstract
The El Bola mafic–ultramafic intrusion (EBMU) in Egypt’s Northern Eastern Desert represents an example of Neoproterozoic post-collisional layered mafic–ultramafic magmatism in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS). The intrusion is composed of pyroxenite, olivine gabbro, pyroxene gabbro, pyroxene–hornblende gabbro, and hornblende-gabbro, exhibiting adcumulate to heter-adcumulate [...] Read more.
The El Bola mafic–ultramafic intrusion (EBMU) in Egypt’s Northern Eastern Desert represents an example of Neoproterozoic post-collisional layered mafic–ultramafic magmatism in the Arabian–Nubian Shield (ANS). The intrusion is composed of pyroxenite, olivine gabbro, pyroxene gabbro, pyroxene–hornblende gabbro, and hornblende-gabbro, exhibiting adcumulate to heter-adcumulate textures. Mineralogical and geochemical analyses reveal a coherent trend of fractional crystallization. Compositions of whole rock and minerals indicate a parental magma of ferropicritic affinity, derived from partial melting of a hydrous, metasomatized spinel-bearing mantle source, likely modified by subduction-related fluids. Geothermobarometric calculations yield crystallization temperatures from ~1120 °C to ~800 °C and pressures from ~5.2 to ~3.1 kbar, while oxygen fugacity estimates suggest progressive oxidation (log fO2 from −17.3 to −15.7) during differentiation. The EBMU displays Light Rare Earth element (LREE) enrichment, trace element patterns marked by Large Ion Lithophile Element (LILE) enrichment, Nb-Ta depletion and high LILE/HFSE (High Field Strength Elements) ratios, suggesting a mantle-derived source that remained largely unaffected by crustal contribution and was metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. Tectonic discrimination modeling suggests that EBMU magmatism was triggered by asthenospheric upwelling and slab break-off. Considering these findings alongside regional geologic features, we propose that the mafic–ultramafic intrusion from the ANS originated in a tectonic transition between subduction and collision (slab break-off) following the assembly of Gondwana. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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26 pages, 15286 KB  
Article
Late Triassic Felsic and Mafic Magmatism in the South Qinling Orogen, Central China: Insights from the Petrology, Zircon U-Pb Geochronology, and Geochemistry of the Huoshaodian Pluton
by Meijing Li, Xianzhi Pei, Lei Pei, Zuochen Li, Ruibao Li, Shaowei Zhao, Li Qin, Mao Wang and Xiao Wang
Minerals 2025, 15(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020120 - 26 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1900
Abstract
The petrology, geochemistry, and zircon U-Pb chronology of the Huoshaodian pluton in the Liuba area of the western part of the South Qinling tectonic belt are investigated in this study. The Huoshaodian pluton consists of gabbro, quartz diorite, and granodiorite, and the dominated [...] Read more.
The petrology, geochemistry, and zircon U-Pb chronology of the Huoshaodian pluton in the Liuba area of the western part of the South Qinling tectonic belt are investigated in this study. The Huoshaodian pluton consists of gabbro, quartz diorite, and granodiorite, and the dominated rock type is quartz diorite. The results indicate that the Huoshaodian pluton belongs to the calc-alkaline series. In the chondrite-normalized REE, all of the samples showed similar patterns, with an enrichment of light REEs and depletion of heavy REEs, but they showed slight differences in the degrees of Eu anomalies. The primitive mantle-normalized trace element diagram reveals an enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and light rare earth elements (LREEs), as well as depleted high field strength elements (HFSEs). The zircon U-Pb dating results reveal that the gabbro, quartz diorite, and granodiorite have crystallization ages of 214.9 ± 0.58 Ma, 215.0 ± 1.2 Ma, and 215.4 ± 1.9 Ma, respectively, indicating that the Huoshaodian pluton was emplaced during the late Triassic period (214.9–215.4 Ma). In terms of petrogenesis, the gabbro of the Huoshaodian pluton originates from a transitional lithospheric mantle that has undergone fluid metasomatism and partial melting. Specifically, it originated through 1%–2% garnet spinel peridotite undergoing partial melting. In addition, the gabbro underwent a slight degree of contamination by crustal materials during its ascent and intrusion, with some continental crust material being incorporated. The quartz diorite and granodiorite of the Huoshaodian pluton are formed through partial melting processes occurring within the normal lower crust. Combined with the previous studies on the early Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the South Qinling, this study proposes that the formation mechanism of the Huoshaodian pluton may be as follows: in the early Triassic, the Mianlue Ocean subducted northward beneath the Qinling microblock, resulting in a large-scale continental-continental collision between the North China Block and the Yangtze Block; when the oceanic crust subducted to a certain depth, the detachment of the subducting slab triggered the upwelling of mantle material. The heat from mantle-derived magma caused the partial melting of the mafic lower crust, while the mafic magma entered into the upper granitic magma chamber and began to mix. Due to the high viscosity contrast and temperature difference between the two end-member magmas, incomplete mixing led to the formation of a melt with distinct adakitic characteristics and a mafic melt representing mantle-derived material. Full article
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24 pages, 4166 KB  
Article
Reconstruction of the Temperature Conditions of Burial-Related Pressure Solution by Clumped Isotopes Validates the Analysis of Sedimentary Stylolites Roughness as a Reliable Depth Gauge
by Nicolas E. Beaudoin, Daniel Koehn, Einat Aharonov, Andrea Billi, Matthieu Daeron and Adrian Boyce
Minerals 2025, 15(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010073 - 14 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1709
Abstract
Rough surfaces known as stylolites are common geological features that are developed by pressure solution, especially in carbonate rocks, where they are used as strain markers and as stress gauges. As applications are developing in various geological settings, questions arise regarding the uncertainties [...] Read more.
Rough surfaces known as stylolites are common geological features that are developed by pressure solution, especially in carbonate rocks, where they are used as strain markers and as stress gauges. As applications are developing in various geological settings, questions arise regarding the uncertainties associated with quantitative estimates of paleostress using stylolite roughness. This contribution reports for the first time a measurement of the temperature at which pressure solution was active by applying clumped isotopes thermometry to calcite cement found in jogs linking the tips of the stylolites. This authigenic calcite formed as a redistribution of the surrounding dissolved material by the same dissolution processes that formed the extensive stylolite network. We compare the depth derived from these temperatures to the depth calculated from the vertical stress inversion of a bedding parallel stylolite population documented on a slab of the Calcare Massiccio formation (early Jurassic) formerly collected in the Umbria-Marches Arcuate Ridge (Northern Apennines, Italy). We further validate the coevality between the jog development and the pressure solution by simulating the stress field around the stylolite tip. Calcite clumped isotopes constrain crystallization to temperatures between 35 and 40 °C from a common fluid with a δ18O signature around −1.3‰ SMOW. Additional δ18O isotopes on numerous jogs allows the range of precipitation temperature to be extended to from 25 to 53 °C, corresponding to a depth range of 650 to 1900 m. This may be directly compared to the results of stylolite roughness inversion for stress, which predict a range of vertical stress from 14 to 46 MPa, corresponding to depths from 400 to 2000 m. The overall correlation between these two independent depth estimates suggests that sedimentary stylolites can reliably be used as a depth gauge, independently of the thermal gradient. Beyond the method validation, our study also reveals some mechanisms of pressure solution and the associated p,T conditions favouring their development in carbonates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stylolites: Development, Properties, Inversion and Scaling)
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22 pages, 14163 KB  
Article
Petrogenesis of Permian Granodiorite and Diorite in Eastern Jilin Province and Its Constraints on the Late-Stage Evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean
by Yao Tang, Deyou Sun, Changzhou Deng, Jun Gou, Changliang Fu and Dongguang Yang
Minerals 2024, 14(12), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14121223 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1791
Abstract
The Solonker-Xar Moron-Changchun-Yanji Suture Zone is the result of the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). However, the closure time of the PAO in Northeast China remains controversial. The Hunchun area is located in the easternmost part of the Solonker-Xar Moron-Changchun-Yanji Suture [...] Read more.
The Solonker-Xar Moron-Changchun-Yanji Suture Zone is the result of the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). However, the closure time of the PAO in Northeast China remains controversial. The Hunchun area is located in the easternmost part of the Solonker-Xar Moron-Changchun-Yanji Suture Zone. Tectonism and magmatism in the Hunchun area can provide important information for understanding the late-stage evolution of the PAO. In this study, our zircon U-Pb ages show that the granodiorites and diorites in the Hunchun were formed at 282.3–251.4 Ma. This geochronological evidence suggests prolonged Permian magmatism in the Hunchun area. Whole-rock geochemistry, zircon trace, and Lu-Hf isotope data show that all the intrusive rocks are mainly calc-alkaline series to arc tholeiite series. Granodiorites are I-type granites formed by the partial melting of juvenile lower crust derived from the mantle. Diorites show similar characteristics to the sanukitic high-Mg diorite and are formed by the partial melting of the depleted mantle metasomatized by subduction sediments and/or slab-derived fluids. These results indicate that the Permian diorites and granodiorites in the Hunchun area formed in an active continental margin setting related to the subduction of the PAO plate. Significantly, sudden changes in the whole-rock Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios and zircon εHf(t) values are observed in the Late Permian-Early Triassic igneous rocks in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). This indicates that the final closure of the PAO in Northeast China likely occurred in the Late Permian-Early Triassic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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29 pages, 7954 KB  
Article
The Evolution of Neoproterozoic Mantle Peridotites Beneath the Arabian–Nubian Shield: Evidence from Wadi Sodmein Serpentinites, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt
by Khaled M. Abdelfadil, Asran M. Asran, Hafiz U. Rehman, Mabrouk Sami, Alaa Ahmed, Ioan V. Sanislav, Mohammed S. Fnais and Moustafa M. Mogahed
Minerals 2024, 14(11), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14111157 - 15 Nov 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2802
Abstract
Serpentinites make up one of the most significant rock units associated with primary suture zones throughout the ophiolite sequence of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Wadi Sodmein serpentinites (WSSs) represent dismembered parts of the oceanic supra-subduction system in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. In [...] Read more.
Serpentinites make up one of the most significant rock units associated with primary suture zones throughout the ophiolite sequence of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Wadi Sodmein serpentinites (WSSs) represent dismembered parts of the oceanic supra-subduction system in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. In this context, we present whole-rock major, trace, and rare earth elements (REE) analyses, as well as mineral chemical data, to constrain the petrogenesis and geotectonic setting of WSS. Antigorite represents the main serpentine mineral with minor amounts of chrysotile. The predominance of antigorite implies the formation of WSS under prograde metamorphism, similar to typical metamorphic peridotites of harzburgitic protolith compositions. The chemistry of serpentinites points to their refractory composition with notably low Al2O3, CaO contents, and high Mg# (90–92), indicating their origin from depleted supra-subduction zone harzburgites that likely formed in a forearc mantle wedge setting due to high degrees of hydrous partial melting and emplaced owing to the collision of the intra–oceanic arc with Meatiq Gneisses. Spinels of WSS generally exhibit pristine compositions that resemble those of residual mantle peridotites and their Cr# (0.625–0.71) and TiO2 contents (<0.05 wt%) similar to forearc peridotite spinels. Moreover, WSS demonstrates a significant excess of fluid mobile elements (e.g., Th, U, Pb), compared to high-field strength elements (e.g., Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta), implying an interaction between mantle peridotites and fluids derived from the oceanic subducted-slab. The distinct U-shaped REE patterns coupled with high Cr# of spinel from WSS reflect their evolution from mantle wedge harzburgite protolith that underwent extensive melt extraction and re-fertilized locally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogy, Chemistry, Weathering and Application of Serpentinite)
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