Platinum-group elements for the Kudi ophiolite, western Kunlun

The analyses of PGE characteristics for the Kudi ophiolite, western Kunlun, are reported in this note. The Ir-depieted anomalous ancient upper mantle represented by the Kudi mantle peridotites had been percolated and mixed by remelted oceanic crust material from a supra-subduction zone, leaving the rocks relatively enriched in Pd. The PGE contents in the Kudi cumulate pyroxenites and gabbros vary from 2.4 to 23.94 ng/g, and the highest values are in pyroxenites. The Pd/lr ratios increase from the pyroxenites to the gabbros. The PGE patterns for the Kudi cumulate rocks are steeply positively sloped. The Pd enrichment in these rocks is similar to that in pyroxenites from the Thetford ophiolite and the Troodos ophiolite. The Kudi diabase and basalts have low PGE contents and positively sloped PGE patterns, and are comparable with the upper pillow lavas from the Troodos ophiolite, indicative of the environment of back-arc spreading center in a supra-subduction zone.     

Patterns of platinum-group elements in mantle peridotite, granulite xenoliths and basalt in Hannuoba

Neutron activation analysis after preconcentration of nickel sulfide fire assay was used in measurement of Ru, Ph, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt (i.e. PGE elements) and Au concentrations for basalt, mantle and granulite xenoliths in Hannuoba. The chondrite- and primitive mantle-normalized PGE patterns generally exhibit flat (for Iherzolite), negative slope (for harzburgite), and positive slope (for basic granulite and basalt). In addition, strong Ir negative anomaly occurs in basalt and granulite xenolith, and little negative anomaly also exists in Iherzolite xenolith in Hannuoba.     

Trace element characteristics and origin of intergranular components in mantle peridotites

Leaching experiment has been carried out on mantle xenoliths with different petrographic features in order to directly characterize the nature of intergranular components. ICP-MS analyses of leachates show that they are characterized by high LREE concentrations with strong depletion of Ta. The total REE contents and whether the negative Rb, Ba and Nb anomalies are present or not in intergranular components are largely dependent upon the nature of mantle metasomatism experienced by its host rock. It is proposed that intergranular components may represent residues of small volume metasomatic melts.     

一种古特提斯演化的动力学模型——来自中国古特提斯蛇绿岩的证据

东古特提斯的演化是中国大地构造的关键问题之一。中国古特提斯蛇绿岩的综合对比显示，不同地区的蛇绿岩在源区特征和演化时序上体现的相当一致，岩浆源区缺乏来自俯冲板片的成分而基本是洋中脊型（MORB）的，这使古特提斯蛇绿岩区别于世界上大多数蛇绿岩，因而也暗示古特提斯洋盆的演化具有自己的特点，应当把它作为具有时空分布和独立动力学机制的热演化系统。提出了一种建立在洋盆演化和深部动力学过程之上的工作模型。     

Age of Bangong Lake SSZ ophiolite constraints the time of the Bangong Lake－Nujiang Neo-Tethys

The Bangong Lake ophiolite is located in the westernmost part of the Bangong Lake-Nujiang River suture zone. It is a tectonic mélange consisting of numerous individual blocks of peridotite, pillowed and massive lavas and mafic dykes with SSZ-type ophiolitic geochemical affinity formed at the end of a Wilson circle. The SHRIMP U-Pb ages of the co-magmatic zircon domains from one gabbroic dyke (Sample 01Y-155) range from 162.5±8.6 Ma to 177.1±1.4 Ma with an average of 167.0±1.4 Ma (n = 12, MSWD = 1.2), suggesting that the subduction of the Bangong Lake Neo-Tethyan Ocean started before the Middle Jurassic. It is inferred that the tectonic transform from spreading to subduction of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean began before the Middle Jurassic in the Bangong Lake area.     

Discovery of the boninite series volcanic rocks in the Bangong Lake ophiolite mélange, western Tibet, and its tectonic implications

The Bangong Lake ophiolite section, the western-most part of the Bangong Lake-Nujiang River ophiolitezone, is located to the south of the Bangong Lake andabout 10 km north of Rutog Town (Fig. 1). Being over2000 km long in Tibet, it extends westward to Kashmirand southeastward beyond Tibet along the Nujiang River.Although the section of the ophiolite is well exposed, nodetailed research work has yet been done. This ophiolitezone, which is one of the ophiolite zones in Tibet, servesas the…     

Discovery of ophiolite in southeast Yunnan, China

The Babu ophiolite in Malipo County, SE Yunnan, consists of three units: ultramafic, mafic and basaltic rocks. Studies of geological mapping, petrology and geochemistry reveal that the gabbro is similar to that in the Troodos ophiolite, and the diabase and basalt belong to a normal MORB-type, analogous to the Shuanggou ophiolite in west Yunnan. The ophiolite studied as a thrust tectonic slab, was overthrust northwards onto the Late Paleozoic-Triassic deep marine deposits of continental margin. It is inferred to be relics of Paleotethyan ocean; namely, a branch of Paleotethys occurs in South China, where the tectonic nature and evolutional history of the area should be reconsidered.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology and petrogenesis of the plagiogranites from the Lagkor Lake ophiolite, Gerze, Tibet, China

Field relationship, along with petrographical, petrological, and geochemical characteristics, and zircon populations, indicates that the plagiogranites from the Lagkor Lake ophiolite in the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone (~ 20 km south of Gerze County, central Tibet, China), derived from anatexis of hydrated gabbros by ductile shearing during transport of the oceanic crust. Therefore, this kind of plagiogranite is coeval to or little later than the spreading of the oceanic crust. Zircon SHRIMP age of 166 ± 2.5 Ma for the plagiogranites indicates that an oceanic basin existed in the western part of the Bangong-Nujiang zone in the Middle Jurassic.     

Geochronology and Nd and Pb isotope characteristics of gabbro dikes in the Luobusha ophiolite, Tibet

We report a combined internal and whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron age, and Nd and Pb isotopic data for gabbro dikes of the Luobusha ophiolite in Tibet. The Sm-Nd isochron of data for two whole rocks and plagioclase and clinopyroxene separates from one of the rocks yields a Middle Jurassic age of (177±31) Ma (with an initial ε_Nd(t) = +8), which provides a significant bound on the time of formation of the Luobusha ophiolite. The Nd and Pb isotopic characteristics of the dike indicate an Indian-Ocean-type isotopic affinity, and we conclude that the Luobusha ophiolite formed in an oceanic setting during the Middle Jurassic.     

Floristic Characteristics of the Rare and Endangered Plants and the Conservation Countermeasures in Tibet, China

The floristic elements and the geographical distribution are analyzed in this paper based on statistics of elements of rare and endangered plants in Tibet. The results have been gained as following:① According to ““““the National Important Wild Conservative Plants List (List 1)““““ and ““““the National Important Wild Conservative Plants List (List 1)““““, there are a total of 54 plant species (48 genera and 33 families); ② The geographical elements are very complicated in Tibet with 12 of 15 distribution patterns of genera classified byacademician Wu; ③ There are obvious temperate genera with 28 genera accounting for 60.40% of the total genera; ④ There are abundant endemic speciesaccounting for 18.52% of total species but poor endemic genera; ⑤ The geographical distribution is uneven and a great of species distribute in the areas be-tween 1 000 m and 3 500 m above sea level; ⑥ To protect the rare and endangered plants efficiently, six conservation measures are proposed, and 35 species are suggested for the conservative plants of the autonomous conservation level.     

Sm-Nd isotope study and dating on Honguleleng ophiolite in Xinjiang, China

A study of the Sm-Nd isotope composition of Honguleleng ophiolite in Xinjiang, China, isochron age ((626±25)Ma),ε_Nd(t) =8.40,and its model age (T _DM ^Nd ) in the range of 1 180–1 208 Ma, indicates that the ophiolite was formed in the late stage of the Upper Sinian. In combination with its facies association, petrochemistry, REE patterns, trace elements and associated chromites orebodies, it is believed that the Honguleleng ophiolitic magma derived from the LREE-enriched, self-depleted mantle source and formed at paleo-ocean ridge. This ophiolite is a relic of an oceanic crust within the collision zone.     

Sulfide-melt inclusions in mantle xenoliths of Hannuoba, China

Sulfide fluid incluision study on mantle xenoliths of Hannouba has been carried out by EPMA analysis. It is indicated that the Ni/Fe ratios of metal sulfides in sulfide-melt inclusions from Hannuoba seem to be related to host rocks. These data of lherzolite (pentlandite) are obviously higher than those of olivine pyroxenite (mainly pentlandite, partly pyrrhotine). The LRM analysis shows that sulfur (H₂S + SO₂) occupies larger proportion in gas composition of CO₂ fluid inclusions, generally more than mol 20%. This may be related to sulfide inclusions which are frequently found.     

Forming age and tectono-petrogenises of the Jiugequan ophiolite in the North Qilian Mountain, NW China

The Jiugequan ophiolite is one of the representative ophiolite fragments in the Early Paleozoic orogenic belt of the North Qilian Mountain. It has been drawn much attention and extensively studied in recent years. In this study, ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb dating was carried out for zircons from isotropic gabbro from the Jiugequan ophiolite. Eighteen analyses yield a relatively consistent apparent ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages from 480 to 508 Ma with a weighted mean age of 490±5 Ma (MSWD=1.06), which is believed to be the crystallization age of the gabbro and thus the forming age of the Jiugequan ophiolite. Major and trace element geochemical study indicates that the diabase-basalts from the Jiugequan ophiolite have N-MORB and E-MORB characteristics with some subduction-related signatures. The petrological, geochemical and chronological data enable us to conclude that the Jiugequan ophiolite is most likely to be formed at a spreading center of back-arc basin during the early Ordovician, while the ancient Qilian oceanic plate subducted northwards. The acquisition of forming age and determination of tectonic setting for Jiugequan ophiolite provide significant constraints on the evolution of intra-oceanic subduction system in the North Qilian orogenic belt during the Early Paleozoic era.     

Helium isotopic study on mantle degassing in the Altay orogenic zone, China

New helium isotopic data of ores and rocks from the Altay orogenic zone, Xinjiang, China are reported, which show that the pegmatites from No. 3 vein in the Keketuohai area have high³He/⁴He ratios up to 1.795 × 10⁻⁶ and 2.54 × 10⁻⁶. Such a result suggests that the metallogenic process of rare metal deposits in the Altay orogenic zone might be related to mantle degassing.     

Trace-element of Tuoyun clinopyroxene: Implication for the deep processes of lithospheric mantle beneath the southwest Tianshan, West China

Based on the LAM-ICPMS analytic results on the trace elements of clinopyroxenes in peridotitic xenoliths occurring in early-Cretaceous basalts from western Xinjiang, the properties and the deep processes, including partial melting and mantle metasomatism, of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Tuoyun Basin are analyzed. In the northern edge of the Tarim Basin (southwest Tianshan), the Mesozoic subcontinental lithosphere which has experienced the effect of partial melting (<10%) and intricate mantle metasomatism is characterized by Phanerozoic ‘ocean-type’ mantle. The superposed influence of SiO₂-unsaturated silicate melt and carbonate melt probably results in the metasomatic medium which resembles the hydrous silicated carbonate melt in some aspects. By comparing Tuoyun mantle with Cenozoic main mantle beneath eastern China, the properties are similar, while the former shows finer grain and higher diopside content of the peridotites and more conspicuous modal metasomatism.     

Classification and Assessment of Freeze-Thaw Erosion in Tibet, China

Based on the analysis of existing relevant research result, a theoretical basis for the defining freeze-thawerosion zones of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was been put forward, and a equation for calculating the altitude of the lower bound of the freeze-thaw erosion zones of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was been established in this paper. Moreover, the freeze-thaw erosion zones in Tibet was been identified by using Geographical Information System (GIS) software. Next, based on thecomprehensive analysis of impact factors of freeze-thaw erosion, this paper chooses annul temperature range, slop and vegetation as three indexes, works out the criteria for relative classification of freeze-thaw erosion, and realizes the relative classification of the freeze-thaw erosion in Tibet under the support of GIS software. Then, a synthetic assessment of freeze-thaw erosion in Tibet was been done according to the relative classification result.     

Evaluation on the Essentiality Grades of Water Conserving in Tibet, China

Taking Tibet as an example, the functional essentiality degrees of water resources conserving of regions were discussed in this paper. At first, based on the status of regional vegetation, whether the region has the function of water conserving was made certain. And then, according to the impacted objects of water resources conserving, taking into account the demands for water and regional supply capacities of water and the requirement of environmental protection, the functional grades of regional water resources conserving of Tibet were evaluated in this paper.     

The evidence of Sm-Nd isochron age for the early Paleozoic ophiolite in Mangya area, Altun Mountains

The REE patterns of the basic volcanic rocks in Mangya area, Altun, are slight rich in LREE with (La/Ya)-N=1.69-3.20, (La/Sm)-N=1.37-1.87, other trace element ratios of the rocks are Th/Ta≈1 (for a few samples greater than 1.5), Nb/Y=0.34-0.62, Ti/Y=310-443 (on the average: 381), Ti/V=37-62, Zr/Nb=9.4-12.4, Sr/Rb=12-80 (on the average: 37), and Nb/Th=7.7-16.8. These features are similar to that of E-MORE or OIB. The ε Nd(t) value, being 3.95- 4.12, shows that the source of the volcanic rocks is derived from depleted asthenosphere mantle mixed with materials from enriched mantle. These, together with the information of geological setting and rock assemblages, indicate that the basic volcanic rocks are of ophiolite. The Sm-Nd isotope ages for the eight basic volcanic rock samples construct a straight line with good correlation, and the calculated isochron age is (481.3±53) Ma. Besides, the eight calculated ε Nd(t) and model ages are close to each other, which suggests that they are homologous, so the isochron is not a mixed line. In the meantime, the isochron age ((481.3±53) Ma) is lower than the model ages (T DM=1 004-1 534 Ma) of the samples, suggeting that the isochron age represents the formation age of the basic volcanic rocks and the ophiolite belt in Mangya area, Altun is formed in the early Paleozoic (Cambrian-Ordovician). In spite of the greater uncertainty of the age, it is still reliable because it is consistent with the age constrained by the regional strata.     

Fluid/melt inclusions in Cenozoic mantle xenoliths from Linqu,Shandong Province,eastern China: Implications for asthenosphere-lithosphere interactions

Fluid and melt inclusions in mantle xenoliths are thought as direct samples to study mantle liquids. Here we apply Raman mi- crospectroscopy and microthermometry to fluid/melt inclusions in lherzolite xenoliths in Qiaoshan basalts, a Miocene volcano in Linqu, Shandong Province, eastern China. These inclusions include (1) early CO2 fluid inclusions, (2) early carbonate melt inclu-sions, (3) late CO2 fluid inclusions, and (4) late silicate melt inclusions. Among the early CO2 fluid inclusions, most consist of...