ALBERT

Notes: The spatial distribution of major (K, Ca, Mn, Fe) and trace elements (Ti, Cr, Cu, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Pb, Th, U) were determined in individual fluid inclusions from quartz veins of the Streltsov uranium deposit, Russia, using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SXRF). The analyses were performed on the beamline ID-22 Micro-FID (Fluorescence, Imaging, Diffraction) of the European Synchrotron Research Facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France). Fluorescence X-ray maps of single fluid inclusions show a relatively homogeneous distribution of most elements throughout the inclusion, whereas Fe and, to a lesser extent, Sr display highly localized count rates. This observation argues for the presence of minute, optically invisible, compounds that are precipitated inside the inclusion. Simple model calculations indicate that relatively diluted solutions (10–100 ppm U) trapped at geologically relevant temperatures (e.g. 250 °C) would precipitate submicron sized particles. These particles would be highly reactive to the photon flux but not necessarily visible under the microscope. These results indicate that third-generation synchrotron light source can be a powerful technique to study the physical processes undergone by the fluid. When combined with chemical data, this technique can help to clarify fluid transport properties in natural systems.

Notes: Abstract Microanalytical studies of basement rocks below the Athabasca sandstone basin indicate that monazite is the dominant uranium-bearing mineral in the study area. Drill core samples of hydrothermally altered basement show that monazite is commonly altered to a Th–silicate phase, and uranium has been significantly mobilized. On average, 75% of the uranium bound to monazite is leached out during monazite alteration. In contrast, no substantial mobilization of uranium from detrital minerals (e.g. zircon) has yet been observed in the Athabasca sandstones. It is suggested that hydrothermal alteration of granitic rocks (especially potassic pegmatoids and potassic orthogneisses) of the sub-Athabasca basement, represents the most important uranium source for the unconformity-type deposits.

Notes: Abstract The French Massif Central (FMC) represents the whole West European Variscan (WEV) belt, in terms of both the geodynamic evolution and the metallic content. Thus, a study of the metallogenic evolution of the FMC may elucidate the conditions that allow the mineralisation of a collision belt, since recent collision belts, e.g. the Himalayas or the Alps show that mineralisation does not necessarily result from the collision process. The Palaeozoic history of the FMC is divided into three geodynamic stages unevenly involved from the metallogenic view point. The Eo-Variscan stage (Cambrian to Silurian) was not important; the Meso-Variscan stage (Devonian-Early Carboniferous) was of limited importance; and most of the mineralisations formed during the Neo-Variscan stage (Late Carboniferous-Early Permian). In addition, some more mineralisation was produced during the Mesozoic because of the thermal reactivation linked with the Alpine orogenies. The Eo-Variscan stage (Cambrian-Silurian) corresponded to the pre-collision history, marked at the WEV belt scale by a fragmentation of the northern Gondwana (immature crust evolved from the Late Proterozoic Cadomian orogeny), up to the break-up of the crust and the formation of oceanic basins (Cambrian-Ordovician), followed by their resorption by subduction during the Silurian. In the FMC, no subduction-related magmatism is known (being rare at the WEV belt scale), and consequently subduction-related mineralisation, e.g. porphyry copper, is unknown in the WEV belt. Although some ophiolitic remnants are known, they never display Cyprus-type VMS deposits, nor massive podiform chromitites. Beside platformal sedimentary deposits on passive margins, the only deposits formed during the Eo-Variscan stage were of the SEDEX type, linked with the early rifting of the Gondwanian crust. The Meso-Variscan stage (Devonian-Early Carboniferous) corresponded to the collision proper, with the formation of crustal-scale nappe structures and the intrusion of collision-related peraluminous granites. Although these granites were enriched in rare metals they did not yield significant hydrothermal mineralisation, due to the great depth of their emplacement, as the similar granites in the Himalayas. However, they were a source of rare metals (in particular, uranium) for later mineralisation events. At the WEV belt scale Devonian distensive events are coeval with the collision. They were recorded by the formation of sedimentary basins of limited time and space extent, corresponding to the splitting of the continental crust (up to formation of oceanic domains in many cases), and were characterised by a bi-modal (“spilite-keratophyre”) volcanism. These basins formed in transtensional (or pull-apart) settings along major strike-slip faults, a peculiarity of the Variscan collision belt (which may conveniently be described as a “strike-slip orogen”). In such basins, many deposits linked with the volcanic thermal energy were formed: SEDEX deposits of the Meggen-type, iron deposits of the Lahn-Dill-type and VMS base metal deposits, the latter being the only ones known in the FMC (Brévenne deposits). The Neo-Variscan stage corresponded to the “hypercollision” and was characterised by a shift from compressional tectonics (late thickening of the crust during the Sudetian event and long-lasting dextral strike-slip tectonics along NW-SE to NE-SW fault zones) towards extensional tectonics (“basin and range” of the Late Stephanian-Early Permian), as well as by high heat flows, recorded by LP-HT metamorphism, extensive granitisation and granulitisation of the lower crust. These characteristics record the development of a lithospheric delamination process. In response to the energetic input released by this process, numerous hydrothermal deposits were formed in the FMC, as well as in the whole WEV belt, during the Neo-Variscan stage. These are mainly: (1) high-temperature granite-centered tungsten deposits, mainly associated with cordierite-bearing high level intrusions of Namurian-Westphalian age; (2) rare metal granites (and the associated hydrothermal tin mineralisations), resulting from fluid-induced low-degree partial melting of the middle crust in relation with the devolatilisation of the granulitised lower crust; (3) shear-zone hosted gold and antimony deposits, related to crustal-scale hydrothermal circulation, triggered by the transition to extensional tectonics at about 300 Ma; and (4) uranium deposition in extensional settings related to the Early Permian distension. The Post-Variscan mineralising events recorded the renewal of thermal flows in the lithosphere linked with early Alpine events (mainly the Trias-Lias distension in the Tethyan realm and the middle Cretaceous opening of the Bay of Biscay in the Pyrenean realm). They resulted in low-enthalpy geothermal systems, leading to a variety of deposits, mainly: (1) F-Ba districts, reworking F and Ba from Late Variscan granites and ignimbrites; (2) a major uranium deposit (Lodève), reworking uranium from the Permian Lodève basin; and (3) Zn-Pb districts of the MVT-type. Finally, the mineralisation of the Variscan collision belt is mainly the consequence of the Neo-Variscan lithospheric delamination process. By contrast, the absence of such a process in collision belts like the Himalayas or the Alps is the key of them being devoid of mineralisation. It appears that the mechanical energy released by the collision itself is not sufficient to mobilise and concentrate the trace elements involved in the metallogenic processes.

Notes: Abstract The LILE geochemical patterns of the three main lithological units (graywacke-shale metasedimentary sequence, tholeiitic metaigneous rocks and migmatitic rocks) of the Lapland Granulite belt are described. K, Ba, Sr and Th concentrations in metasediments are nearly similar to average continental crust, whereas Rb and U are unevenly impoverished. In particular graphitic metashales and calcsilicate rocks are not significantly depleted in uranium. Tholeiitic metaigneous rocks comprises metavolcanics which present K/Rb ratios similar to metasediments, and metaplutonics with LILE abundances close to those of the low-K-tholeiites. Migmatites show wide range in LILE content. Metatexites and diatexites have higher K, Rb, Th and U concentrations and similar K/Rb ratios with respect to equivalent unmobilized rocks. Potassic pegmatoïds are strongly enriched K, Rb, Ba and Th but moderately in Sr and U. Plagioclasic pegmatoids and ferromagnesian restites are rich in Sr and poor in other LIL elements. A comparative review of the LILE geochemistry between Lapland granulites and equivalent lithological units taken from non metamorphosed to high grade terrains suggest that fractionation processes are not systematic but controlled by original lithology and mineralogy, mineral — fluid equilibria during progressive (or retrogressive) metamorphism and mineral-melt-fluid equilibria during anatexis. Moreover, statistical analysis on K-Rb distribution patterns in these various rock types shows that there is no metamorphic trend characteristic of granulite facies terrains as previously suggested.

Notes: Abstract The St. Malo migmatitic dome represents an interesting example wherein migmatites arise from the anatexis of the surrounding gneisses. Petrographical and chemical data suggest that leucosome compositions are compatible with partial melting of the quartzo-feldsphathic fraction of the parent gneiss. The contribution of the incongruent melting of biotite to the melt does not exceed 5% of the parent rock. Petrogenetic modelling based on experimental data and assuming non modal batch melting show that the K, Rb, Ca, Sr, U and Th chemical patterns of these migmatites result in fact from the interaction of several mechanisms, namely: equilibrium partial melting, mixing between melts and refractory minerals (biotite and accessories), melt removal and late hydrothermal alteration. Zr, Y and Th which are mostly hosted in accessory minerals are significantly withheld from the melts and remain stored in melanosomes (metatexites) except when leucosomes are affected by mixing (diatexites). U is frequently enriched in the leucosomes as well as in some melanosomes suggesting external supply.

Notes: Abstract  The late-Hercynian granites of Königshain underwent multistage hydrothermal processes. Extensive high-temperature late-magmatic alteration is, for example, indicated by low Zr/Hf and an REE pattern displaying the tetrad effect. Intensive post-magmatic alteration of the granite occurred along brittle structures. At least two main stages of post-magmatic hydrothermal alteration are involved. The first high-temperature stage, which is characterized by albitization and/or quartz leaching (episyenitization), resulted from fluid–rock interaction with late-magmatic fluids that very probably mixed with external low-salinity fluids. Quartz dissolution was triggered by vapour condensation and/or the cooling of these fluids (below 450  °C) along brittle structures. The high porosity resulting from quartz leaching during stage 1 assisted subsequent circulation of low-temperature fluids at stage 2; the latter is characterized by the chloritization and illitization of episyenites. Almost all major and trace elements were enriched or depleted during one of the main alteration stages. However, Zr, Hf, Th, and Ti were immobile during post-magmatic alteration. The significant depletion of LREE and the enrichment of HREE in albitized samples is controlled by the dissolution of monazite and the new formation of HREE-rich polycrase-(Y) or aeschynite-(Y) during post-magmatic stage 1. Negative Ce anomalies of episyenites are associated with illitization and suggest oxidizing conditions during stage 2.

Notes: Abstract Late Hercynian U-bearing carbonate veins within the metamorphic complex of La Lauzière are characterized by two parageneses. The first is dominated by dolomite or ankerite and the second by calcite and pitchblende. Fluids trapped in the dolomites and ankerites at 350–400° C are saline waters (20 to 15 wt % eq. NaCl) with δD∼ −34 to −49‰. In the calcite they are less saline (17 to 8 wt % eq. NaCl) and trapped at 300–350° C with δD∼ −50 to −65‰. All fluids contain trace N2, CO2 and probably CH4. The carbonates have Δ 13C∼ −8 to −14‰. and derived their carbon from organic matter. Evolution of the physico-chemical conditions from dolomite (ankerite) to calcite deposition was progressive. H and O-isotope studies indicate the involvement of two externally derived fluids during vein development. A D-rich (∼ −35‰) low fO2, saline fluid is interpreted to have come from underlying sediments and entered the hotter overlying metamorphic slab and mixed with more oxidizing and less saline U bearing meteoric waters during regional uplift. This evidence for a sedimentary formation water source for the deep fluid implies that the metamorphic complex overthrusted sedimentary formations during the Late-Hercynian.