Noble gases in corundum megacrysts from the basalts in Changle, Shandong Province, eastern China

This study presents noble gaseous data of the corundum megacrysts from the Cenozoic basalts in Changle, Shandong Province, eastern China. It is known that no noble gaseous data of corundum megacryst have been documented before. The 3He/4He ratios (1.13-7.37 Ra) of the corundums from Changle vary from atmosphere to MORB values; the 20Ne/22Ne (9.67-10.75) and 21Ne/22Ne (0.0280-0.0372) data define two linear trends on Ne three-isotope diagram, respectively, along the MFL and the correlation line between atmosphere and MORB; the 38Ar/36Ar (0.177-0.194) ratios, the 40Ar/36Ar (280.9 -404.2) ratios and the 128-136Xe/132Xe ration with obvious 129Xe excess are generally higher than at-mospheric component, but the 40Ar/36Ar ratios are much closer to atomospheric ratio. The isotopic compositions of noble gases (particularly for He and Ar) of the corundums are similar to those of py-roxene, anorthoclase megacrysts, and mantle-derived xenoliths from this area, and those of man-tle-derived xenoliths from several areas in eastern China. Therefore, the noble gases trapped in the corundums probably are from mantle source, representing a ‘mixed fluid' produced by the interaction between the lithospheric mantle and fluids releasing from the convective plate. Both the noble gas isotopic compositions and the oxygen isotopic compositions of the solid corundums are not the characteristics of crustal source. These suggest that the corundums crystallized from mantle-derived magmas with minimal crustal contamination.     

Noble gas abundances and isotopic compositions in mantle-derived xenoliths, NE China

Following the researches of helium isotopic compositions in mantle-derived xenoliths in eastern China,this study reported noble gas abundances and isotopic compositions of mantle-derived xenoliths from Kuandian of Liaoning Province, Huinan of Jilin Province and Hannuoba of Hebei Province. Compared with the middle ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and other continental areas, mantle-derived xenoliths in NE China are characterized by slightly low noble gas abundances, 3He/4He equivalent to or lower than that of MORB, 40Ar/36Ar lower than that of MORB, 38Ar/36Ar and Ne-Kr-Xe isotopic ratios equivalent to those of atmosphere. These results indicate the heterogeneity of subcontinentai lithospheric mantle beneath northeastern China, that is, a MORB reservoir-like mantle beneath Kuandian and an enriched/metasomatized mantle beneath Huinan. Low 40Ar/36Ar ratios in the three studied areas may imply that a subducted atmospheric component has been preserved in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.``     

滇西富碱斑岩型多金属矿稀有气体同位素组成特征及地质意义*

通过对滇西富碱斑岩型多金属矿区稀有气体同位素组成的研究表明,黄铁矿和石英脉等流体包裹体中3He/4He值主要为0.160 8~3.470 0 Ra,远高于地壳特征值,而整体略低于地幔特征值;20Ne/22Ne和21Ne/22Ne平均值分别为11.271和0.032 2,接近地幔同位素组成;40Ar/36Ar和38Ar/36Ar平均值分别为395.51和0.197 6,均高于大气比值,而低于MORB比值;128~136Xe/130Xe值与大气相比均表现出过剩的特征。综合研究表明,滇西多金属矿区包裹体中稀有气体同位素组成在显示含矿流体的幔源特征的同时,又表现出强烈的地壳特征;成矿流体主要源于深部地幔,在参与交代蚀变过程中,其性质由熔浆向热液过渡,同时引发壳幔物质叠加混染,正是这种流体作用构成了滇西新生代富碱斑岩多金属成矿的内在统一制约因素。     

惰性气体含量对深层地下水形成温度的示踪意义分析

惰性气体在地下水中的溶解量主要取决于水温和气体分压 ,而且溶解度在常见的水温范围内是水温的单调函数 .因此 ,当深层地下水系统处于封闭状态 ,系统中不存在蜕变成因或变质成因的惰性气体源时 ,可将溶解的惰性气体作为指示地下水形成温度的天然示踪剂 .     

Non-equilibrium degassing and a primordial source for helium in ocean-island volcanism

Radioactive decay of uranium and thorium produces 4He, whereas 3He in the Earth's mantle is not produced by radioactive decay and was only incorporated during accretion-that is, it is primordial. 3He/4He ratios in many ocean-island basalts (OIBs) that erupt at hotspot volcanoes, such as Hawaii and Iceland, can be up to sixfold higher than in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). This is inferred to be the result of outgassing by melt production at mid-ocean ridges in conjunction with radiogenic ingrowth of 4He, which has led to a volatile-depleted upper mantle (MORB source) with low 3He concentrations and low 3He/4He ratios. Consequently, high 3He/4He ratios in OIBs are conventionally viewed as evidence for an undegassed, primitive mantle source, which is sampled by hot, buoyantly upwelling deep-mantle plumes. However, this conventional model provides no viable explanation of why helium concentrations and elemental ratios of He/Ne and He/Ar in OIBs are an order of magnitude lower than in MORBs. This has been described as the 'helium concentration paradox' and has contributed to a long-standing controversy about the structure and dynamics of the Earth's mantle. Here we show that the helium concentration paradox, as well as the full range of noble-gas concentrations observed in MORB and OIB glasses, can self-consistently be explained by disequilibrium open-system degassing of the erupting magma. We show that a higher CO2 content in OIBs than in MORBs leads to more extensive degassing of helium in OIB magmas and that noble gases in OIB lavas can be derived from a largely undegassed primitive mantle source.     

Early differentiation and volatile accretion recorded in deep-mantle neon and xenon

The isotopes (129)Xe, produced from the radioactive decay of extinct (129)I, and (136)Xe, produced from extinct (244)Pu and extant (238)U, have provided important constraints on early mantle outgassing and volatile loss from Earth. The low ratios of radiogenic to non-radiogenic xenon ((129)Xe/(130)Xe) in ocean island basalts (OIBs) compared with mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs) have been used as evidence for the existence of a relatively undegassed primitive deep-mantle reservoir. However, the low (129)Xe/(130)Xe ratios in OIBs have also been attributed to mixing between subducted atmospheric Xe and MORB Xe, which obviates the need for a less degassed deep-mantle reservoir. Here I present new noble gas (He, Ne, Ar, Xe) measurements from an Icelandic OIB that reveal differences in elemental abundances and (20)Ne/(22)Ne ratios between the Iceland mantle plume and the MORB source. These observations show that the lower (129)Xe/(130)Xe ratios in OIBs are due to a lower I/Xe ratio in the OIB mantle source and cannot be explained solely by mixing atmospheric Xe with MORB-type Xe. Because (129)I became extinct about 100 million years after the formation of the Solar System, OIB and MORB mantle sources must have differentiated by 4.45 billion years ago and subsequent mixing must have been limited. The Iceland plume source also has a higher proportion of Pu- to U-derived fission Xe, requiring the plume source to be less degassed than MORBs, a conclusion that is independent of noble gas concentrations and the partitioning behaviour of the noble gases with respect to their radiogenic parents. Overall, these results show that Earth's mantle accreted volatiles from at least two separate sources and that neither the Moon-forming impact nor 4.45 billion years of mantle convection has erased the signature of Earth's heterogeneous accretion and early differentiation.     

Seawater subduction controls the heavy noble gas composition of the mantle

The relationship between solar volatiles and those now in the Earth's atmosphere and mantle reservoirs provides insight into the processes controlling the acquisition of volatiles during planetary accretion and their subsequent evolution. Whereas the light noble gases (helium and neon) in the Earth's mantle preserve a solar-like isotopic composition, heavy noble gases (argon, krypton and xenon) have an isotopic composition very similar to that of the modern atmosphere, with radiogenic and (in the case of xenon) solar contributions. Mantle noble gases in a magmatic CO2 natural gas field have been previously corrected for shallow atmosphere/groundwater and crustal additions. Here we analyse new data from this field and show that the elemental composition of non-radiogenic heavy noble gases in the mantle is remarkably similar to that of sea water. We challenge the popular concept of a noble gas 'subduction barrier'--the convecting mantle noble gas isotopic and elemental composition is explained by subduction of sediment and seawater-dominated pore fluids. This accounts for approximately 100% of the non-radiogenic argon and krypton and 80% of the xenon. Approximately 50% of the convecting mantle water concentration can then be explained by this mechanism. Enhanced recycling of subducted material to the mantle plume source region then accounts for the lower ratio of radiogenic to non-radiogenic heavy noble gas isotopes and higher water content of plume-derived basalts.     

He and Ar isotopes in mantle megacryst minerals from Nushan and Yingfengling in Southeast China

He and Ar isotopic compositions of megacrystal minerals from mantle xenoliths were measured by the technique of vacuum crushing extraction. The used samples were clinopyroxene, garnet and ilmenite in Cenozoic alkaline basalts, which were from Nushan in Anhui Province and Ying-fengling in Guangdong Province, respectively, and represented materials from the upper mantle in the continental margin of SE China. The results show ^3He/^4He ratios of 7.99 Ra to 8.58 Ra, consistent with the characteristic ratios of the MORB-type mantle. ^40Ar／^39Ar ratios vary from 313 to 909, suggesting a binary mixing between the MORB-type mantle and air argons. This may reflect the incorporation of the air argon absorbed in oceanic sediments into the mantle beneath the continental margin by subduction of oceanic plate. This study presents the first report that ilmenite megacrysts contain abundant fluid inclusions and noble gases in the mantle xenoliths.     

An approach to noble-gas isotopic compositions in natural gases and gas-source tracing in the Ordos Basin, China

Isotopic compositions of noble gases, i.e. He Ar Kr and Xe, are measured in natural gases from the Zhongbu gasfield in the Ordos Basin. And heavy noble-gas isotopes (Kr, Xe) are here first used in geochemically studying natural gases and gas-source correlation. Isotopic compositions of heavy noble gases in natural gases, especially Xe, show two-source mixing in the Zhongbu gasfield. Gas sources are somewhat different in the northeast and the southwest of the gasfield. Generally, the gas source of the Lower Paleozoic makes a greater contribution in the southwest than in the northeast in the field. Two kinds of gases can be differentiated from isotopic compositions of heavy noble gases and from their relation with the Ar isotopic composition, Therefore, the comprehensive study on isotopic compositions of light and heavy noble gases can supply more useful information on gas-source correlation and tracing.     

Noble gas and cosmic-ray exposure age of Juancheng chondrite

The analytical results of noble gase in recently fallen Juancheng chondrite indicate that cosmic-ray ages of cosmogenic nuclei of³He,²¹Ne and³⁸Ar are 5.1, 5.0 and 5.8 Ma, respectively, averaging 5.3 Ma. The gas retention ages radiogenic nuclei of⁴He and⁴⁰Ar are 3 200 and 4 200 Ma, respectively. The average cosmic-ray age shows that it has occurred at breakup of the meteoroid from its parent body by impact before 5.3 Ma.     

Leakage of mantle helium from the Liaodong Peninsula, China

The isotopic cumpositions of helium have been investigated in hot spring gases sampled from the Liaodong Peninsula. China. The³He/⁴He ratios range from 0.14 Ra (0.14 times the atmospheric³He/⁴He ratio of 1.40 × 10^-6 to 0.72 Ra.³He/⁴He versus⁴He/²⁰Ne ratios and He contents suggest that a small amount of mantle-derived helium reaches the earth’s surface. Helium iwtope ratios of the hot spring gases show a distribution pattern similar to the regional heat flow values, indicating that the positive thermal anomaly occurring in the rtrea is closely associated with the presence of mantle-derived helium. The observations described above provide some significant evidence that the molten magma originating from partial melting of the upper mantle may have intruded into the continental crust along the activity fault. The coupling of the presence of mantle He and heat flow anomalies to seismic activity in studied region seem to imply that there is an internal relationship between mantle degassing and seismic activity.     

Noble-gas-rich chondrules in an enstatite meteorite

Chondrules are silicate spherules that are found in abundance in the most primitive class of meteorites, the chondrites. Chondrules are believed to have formed by rapid cooling of silicate melt early in the history of the Solar System, and their properties should reflect the composition of (and physical conditions in) the solar nebula at the time when the Sun and planets were forming. It is usually believed that chondrules lost all their noble gases at the time of melting. Here we report the discovery of significant amounts of trapped noble gases in chondrules in the enstatite chondrite Yamato-791790, which consists of highly reduced minerals. The elemental ratios 36Ar/132Xe and 84Kr/132Xe are similar to those of 'subsolar' gas, which has the highest 36Ar/132Xe ratio after that of solar-type noble gases. The most plausible explanation for the high noble-gas concentration and the characteristic elemental ratios is that solar gases were implanted into the chondrule precursor material, followed by incomplete loss of the implanted gases through diffusion over time.     

He-Ar isotopic system of fluid inclusions in pyrite from the molybdenum deposits in south margin of North China Block and its trace to metallogenetic and geodynamic background

The helium and argon isotopic compositions of the ore-forming fluids from the molybdenum deposits such as Jinduicheng, Donggou, Shijiawan, and Sandaozhuang, which are located in the East Qinling molybdenum belt in south margin of North China Block （SMCNB）, are reported in this paper. The origin and the evolution of the ore-forming fluids and their coupled-relationships with the intra-continental collision and orogenic process of Qinling Orogen in Mesozoic-Cenozoic have been discussed. The 3He/4He and 40Ar/36Ar values （3He/4He=1.38-3.64 Ra, and 40Ar/36Ar=295.68-346.39, respectively） of the fluid inclusions in pyrite from the molybdenum deposits in East Qinling suggest that, the ore-forming fluid system is mixed by two end members. One is the high temperature deep-derived fluid congenetic with the porphyries generated by crust-mantle mixing, and the other is the low-temperature meteoric water which is rich in crustal radiogenic He with the component of atmospheric Ar. From the Pb isotopic composition, and ore-bearing potential of the porphyry and the regional stratum, we can conclude that the ore-forming materials of the deposits in the East Qinling molybdenum belt are derived from the deep source by the mixing of lower crust and upper mantle. Therefore, the formation of the molybdenum deposits in SMNCB can be related to the crust-mantle interaction, which is accompanied by the intra-continental orogenic and extension process in the post-collision period of Qinling Orogen. The granitic porphyries which are related to Mo mineralization are not simple crust-remelting type granites or S type granites, but belong to syntexis-type or mantle-derived granites, hence their formation has a profound and regional geodynamic background.     

Behavior of argon gas release from manganese oxide minerals as revealed by <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar laser incremental heating analysis

Manganese oxides in association with paleo- weathering may provide significant insights into the multiple factors affecting the formation and evolution of weathering profiles, such as temperature, precipitation, and biodiversity. Laser probe step-heating analysis of supergene hollandite and cryptomelane samples collected from central Queensland, Australia, yield well-defined plateaus andconsistent isochron ages, confirming the feasibility dating very-fined supergene manganese oxides by 40Ar/39Ar technique. Two distinct structural sites hostingAr isotopes can be identified in light of their degassing behaviors obtained byincremental heating analyses. The first site, releasing its gas fraction at thelaser power 0.2-0.4 W, yields primarily 40Aratm, 38Aratm, and 36Aratm (atmospheric Ar isotopes). The second sites yield predominantly 40Ar* (radiogenic 40Ar),39ArK, and 38ArK (nucleogenic components), at ～0.5-1.0 W. There is no significant Ar gas released at the laser power higher than 1.0 W, indicating the breakdown of the tunnel sites hosting the radiogenic and nucleogenic components. The excellent match between the degassing behaviors of 40Ar*, 39ArK, and 38ArK suggests that these isotopes occupy the same crystallographic sites and that 39ArK lossfrom the tunnel site by recoil during neutron irradiation and/or bake-out procedure preceding isotopic analysis does not occur. Present investigation supports that neither the overwhelming atmospheric 40Ar nor the very-fined nature of the supergene manganese oxides poses problems in extracting meaningful weathering geochronological information by analyzing supergene manganese oxides minerals.     

The abundances of constituents of Titan's atmosphere from the GCMS instrument on the Huygens probe

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, remains an enigma, explored only by remote sensing from Earth, and by the Voyager and Cassini spacecraft. The most puzzling aspects include the origin of the molecular nitrogen and methane in its atmosphere, and the mechanism(s) by which methane is maintained in the face of rapid destruction by photolysis. The Huygens probe, launched from the Cassini spacecraft, has made the first direct observations of the satellite's surface and lower atmosphere. Here we report direct atmospheric measurements from the Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS), including altitude profiles of the constituents, isotopic ratios and trace species (including organic compounds). The primary constituents were confirmed to be nitrogen and methane. Noble gases other than argon were not detected. The argon includes primordial 36Ar, and the radiogenic isotope 40Ar, providing an important constraint on the outgassing history of Titan. Trace organic species, including cyanogen and ethane, were found in surface measurements.     

Potash-rich volcanic rocks and lamprophyres in western Shandong Province: 40Ar39Ar dating and source tracing

Highly precise 40Ar39Ar dating results demonstrate that the ages of potash-rich volcanic rocks in western Shandong Province are 114.7-124.3 Ma, and that of the lamprophyres is 119.6 Ma. The potash-rich volcanic rocks have relatively high (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios ( 0.708715-0.711418)and distinctly negative εNd values ( -11.47 - -17.54), and are enriched in radiogenic lead (206Pb/204pb=17.341-17.622,207pb/204Pb=15.525-15.538, 208Pb/204pb = 37.563-37.684).Similarly, the lamprophyres also have quite low εNd values ( -11.57 - -19.64). Based on the fact that the Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of potash-rich volcanic rocks are very consistent with that of the clinopyroxene separates, and by integrating comprehensive analyses of their tectonic settings,and extensive comparisons of the Sr, Nd isotopic compositions with that of the related simultaneous rocks, it is concluded that the potash-rich volcanic rocks and lamprophyres in western Shandong Province were most possibly derived from the partial melting of enriched mantle which was caused by source contamination and metasomatism of subducted continental crustal materials.``     

Origin of ore-forming fluid in the Piaotang tungsten deposit in Jiangxi Province: Evidence from helium and argon isotopes

The Piaotang tungsten deposit in Jiangxi Province is one of the most important tungsten deposits in the South China Tungsten Metallogenic Province.In this study,we selected wolframite and chalcopyrite from the main mineralizing stage of the Piaotang tungsten deposit,and analyzed the helium and argon isotopic compositions in fluid inclusions of these minerals.The results show a 3He/4He ratio of 0.17 to 0.86 R/Ra,which fall within the range between continental crust(0.01―0.05 R/Ra) and air-saturated water(1 R...     

Cosmic-ray exposure and gas retention ages of the Guangmingshan (H5) chondrite

Isotopic compositions of noble gases from the Guangmingshan chondrite were analyzed. Based on the analyses of cosmogenic nuclei, cosmic-ray exposure age of the meteorite is (65±10.0) Ma (³He), (80±12) Ma (²¹Ne) and (65±10.0) Ma (³⁸Ar), with an average of 70 Ma. This is the highest exposure age of H-group ordinary chondrites. Gas retention ages of K-Ar and U, Th-⁴He are (4230±100) Ma and (3300±60) Ma, respectively. The smaller ages of³He than²¹Ne and⁴He than⁴⁰Ar suggest that both³He and⁴He lost together. This is probably related to a solar heating effect of a meteorite with a small perihelion during the last exposure period.     

Effects of helium on titanium films and the helium diffusion

Using direct current-magnetron sputtering, Helium-trapped Ti films with a He/Ar mixture was studied. The relative helium content, helium depth profiles for the Ti films and crystallization capacity were analyzed by Enhanced Proton Backscattering Spectrometry （EPBS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. It was found that helium diffusion enhanced as more helium trapping into Ti films, and the He holding ratios were 95.9%, 94.9%, 93.9%, 82.8% when the Ti films with the He/Ti of concentrations of 9.7 at.%, 19.5 at.%, 19.7 at.%, 48.3 at.% were measured again 4 months later, respectively. The diffraction peaks became weak and wider, the peak of （002） plane was shifted to smaller diffraction angles and the relevant interplanar spacing d（hk,） increased gradually as more helium trapping into Ti films. The main peak was made trending to the （101） plane by both higher deposition temperature and more helium trapping.     

Geochronology of source materials from high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks in Jurassic sedimentary rocks of Hefei Basin

Eclogite cobbles were discovered by Wang et al. (2001) in the Fenghuangtai Formation of the northern margin of Dabie Mountains in the Dushan area of Anhui Province, China[1]. They proposed that after the formation during the Triassic, the high-pressure (HP) and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks reached the sur-face through exhumation and uplifting before the late Ju-rassic. However, they have not provided any evidence about isotopic ages. One kind of cobbles of HP-UHP rocks w…