The nature of petrogenetic links between carbonatites and associated silicate rocks is a matter of discussion for several decades and still remains controversial among igneous petrologists. The ...Belaya Zima plutonic complex in southern Siberia is a typical intrusion, in which carbonatites are spatially and temporally associated with the ijolite series rocks and nepheline syenites. In this study we use whole-rock compositions and trace element characteristics of the major and accessory minerals for reconstructing the magmatic evolution of the complex and clarifying the origin of carbonatites. We conclude that the observed gradual increase of Zr, Nb and REE concentrations in the magma is consistent with the process of extensive fractional crystallization and gradual transition from silicate rocks to carbonatites, and inconsistent with the formation of carbonatites by liquid immiscibility. Magma differentiation by fractional crystallization continued during the carbonatite formation. The textural and analytical evidence indicates that the early calcitic carbonatites evolved to dolomitic and ankeritic carbonatites. In addition, maximum Nb and Zr concentrations occur in the calcitic carbonatite, whereas the REE content increases in the dolomitic and ankeritic facies.
•Сarbonatites are enriched in Zr, Nb and REE in comparison to alkaline silicate rocks.•Alkaline silicate rocks and carbonatites are related by simple fractional crystallization.•Fractional crystallization was continued during the carbonatite formation.
In this study, we present the results of U–Pb (ID-TIMS) geochronological studies of calcic garnet from the alkaline ultramafic complexes of Eastern Sayan province (eastern Siberia). New U–Pb ID–TIMS ...garnet ages obtained from different rocks of Bolshaya Tagna (632 ± 2 Ma) and Srednaya Zima intrusions (624 ± 5 Ma), as well as previously published garnet ages of the Belaya Zima complex (646 ± 6 Ma), allow us to constrain the timing and duration of episodes of alkaline ultramafic magmatism in Eastern Sayan province (619–651 Ma). Variations in the chemical compositions of rocks from three massifs indicate that the parental melts were separated from different magmatic chambers generated during the same episode of mantle melting. This study further highlights garnet U–Pb dating as a potentially robust, high-resolution geochronometer to constrain the evolution of the main pulse of alkaline ultramafic magmatism in the large magmatic provinces.
The mineralogical and geochemical features, as well as the sequence of formation of aillikite and calcite carbonatite (CC) with pyrochlore are described for the massif of alkaline ultramafic ...carbonatite complexes Belaya Zima located in East Siberia. Until now, mutually exclusive information presents the temporal relationships of carbonatites and lamprophyres of the Belaya Zima massif.
The sample marking the contact of aillikite and CC was comprehensive studied using analytical methods, e.g. XRF (ARL-9900XP spectrometer, ThermoFisher Scientific), ICP-MS (Element Finnigan MAT), SEM (MIRA 3 LMU (Tescan Ltd)), transmission and ore microscopy (AxioScope. A1, Zeiss),
40
Ar/
39
Ar age determination of micas (Argus mass spectrometer, Micromass). The data obtained indicate a later formation of CC relative to aillikites and probable separation of the carbonatite melt from a single picrite-carbonatite source.
Pyrochlore-group minerals are the main concentrators of niobium in carbonatites of the Belaya Zima alkaline pluton. Fluorcalciopyrochlore, kenopyrochlore and hydropyrochlore were identified in ...chemical composition. Their main characteristics are given: compositional variation, morphology, and zoning. During evolution from early calcite to late ankerite carbonatites, the UO
2
, TiO
2
, REE, and Y contents gradually increased. All carbonatite types are suggested to contain initial fluorcalciopyrochlore. However, in calcite–dolomite and ankerite carbonatites, it is partially or completely hydrated due to hydrothermal processes at the late stage of the pluton. This hydration resulted in the appearance of kenopyrochlore and hydropyrochlore due to removal of Ca, Na and F, and input of Ba, H
2
O, K, Si, Fe, and probably U and REE. At the last stage of the pluton, this hydrated pyrochlore was replaced by Fe-bearing columbite.
The study of the Bol’shaya Tagna alkaline-carbonatite massif and adjacent areas was focused on the mineral and chemical compositions of minerals, the distribution of petrogenic and trace elements in ...pyroxene-free alkaline picrites in veins and dikes dated at the late Riphean (circa 645 Ma), and comparison with the Bushkanai kimberlite-picrite dike. Phenocrysts in the pyroxene-free picrites are represented by olivine (replaced with serpentine) and phlogopite; the bulk is formed by serpentine, phlogopite, monticellite, calcite, etc .; xenocrysts of pyrope and chrome diopside are absent. Phlogopite and Cr-spinel from the picrites are chemically similar to these minerals in kimberlites, but the evolution of the spinel compositions corresponds to the titanomagnetite trend; monticellite is depleted in forsterite (Mg2SiO4). The rocks contain strontianite, burbankite, titanium andradite, calcirtite and Mn-ilmenite, which are not typical of kimberlites, but are inherent in carbonate-bearing ultramafic lamprophyres, ayllikites. The pyroxene-free picrites have low contents (wt %) of SiO2 (28.4‒33.2), Al2O3 (3.2‒5.6), and Na2O (0.01‒0.05); relatively high contents of TiO2 (2.0‒3.3), and К2О (0.45‒1.33); varying contents of MgO (16.1‒24.1), СаО (12.9‒22.8), СО2 (1.1‒12.2), Ni (260‒850 ppm), and Cr (840‒2200 ppm); and Mg#=0.73‒0.80. The contents of Th, U, Nb, Ta, La, and Ce in the veins are approximately two orders higher than those in the primitive mantle; the spectra of trace elements differ from the spectra of the South African and Yakuian kimberlites. In the pyroxene-free picrites and the rocks of the Bushkanai dike, the Nb/U, Nb/Th, Th/Ce, La/Nb, and Zr/Nb ratios are similar to those in ocean island basalts (OIB) and thus give evidence of the leading contribution of the recycled component into the source melt. In experiments conducted to investigate melting of carbonated garnet lherzolite, the pyroxene-free alkaline picrites melted at 5–6 GPa.
Secondary multiphase inclusions were studied in olivine from olivine-pyrochlore varieties of calcite carbonatites of the Belaya Zima alkaline complex, Eastern Sayan, Siberia, Russia. The inclusions ...form trails cross-cutting the host olivine. Their composition varies from carbonate to silicate-carbonate species. Multiphase silicate-carbonate inclusions contain Na-Ca-carbonates (shortite, nyerereite), Na-Mg-carbonates (northupite, eitelite, bradleyite), common carbonates (calcite, dolomite), Ba-Sr-rich carbonates (olekminskite, burbankite, strontianite), tetraferriphlogopite, magnetite, humite-clinohumite and other mineral phases. Na-Ca-carbonates, tetraferriphlogopite, humiteclinohumite and magnetite are omnipresent and dominant phases within the inclusions. The phase composition of secondary olivinehosted inclusions seems to reflect evolutionary features for the Belaya Zima carbonatites at their late stages of formation. During crystallization calciocarbonatite melt gradually evolved toward enrichment in alkalis (mainly, in sodium) and volatile components (Cl, F and H
2
O).
L’analyse du régime alimentaire par examen de pelotes de réjection au niveau d’une colonie de la Sterne hansel, Gelochelidon nilotica, nichant à Sebkha Zima, centre-ouest du Maroc, a montré un ...spectre alimentaire réduit chez cette espèce. Son régime alimentaire est caractérisé par la prédominance des proies des régions environnantes du site de nidification. Les invertébrés terrestres : Orthoptères (Acrididés), Coléoptères (Scarabéidés et Lucanidés), des Scorpionidés et les lézards acanthodactyles constituent les proies principales. En revanche, les invertébrés aquatiques Artemiidea et Dytiscidés constituent des proies secondaires.
Analysis of pellets from a colony of Gull-billed Terns, Gelochelidon nilotica, nesting in Sebkha Zima, West-central Morocco, revealed a reduced food spectrum in this species. Its diet is predominantly made of preys from areas around the nesting site. Terrestrial invertebrates ; Orthoptera (Acrididae), Coleoptera (Scarabeidae and Lucanidae), Scorpionidae along with Acanthodactylus lizards were the major prey items. Aquatic invertebrates rather secondary prey categories.