International audienceIn their late stages of evolution, peraluminous granitic melts exsolve large amounts of fluidswhich can modify the chemical composition of granitic whole-rock samples. The niobium/tantalum (Nb/Ta) ratio is expected to decrease during the magmatic differentiation of graniticmelts, but the behavior of both elements at the magmatic-hydrothermal transition remainsunclear. Using a compilation of whole-rock geochemical data available in the literature, wedemonstrate that fractional crystallization alone is not sufficient to explain the distribution ofNb-Ta in most peraluminous granites. However, we notice that most of the granitic samplesdisplaying evidence of interactions with fluids have Nb/Ta < 5. We propose that the decreaseof the Nb/Ta ratio in evolved melts is the consequence of both fractional crystallization andsub-solidus hydrothermal alteration. We suggest that the Nb/Ta value of ~5 fingerprints themagmatic-hydrothermal transition in peraluminous granites. Furthermore, a Nb/Ta ratio of ~5appears to be a good marker to discriminate mineralized from barren peraluminous granites

Permian large-scale transcurrent tectonics and massive magmatism are prominent features of the Tianshan belt and neighboring regions of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Structural, geochronological and geochemical analyses of Carboniferous and Permian intrusive rocks associated with the Kangguer-Huangshan Shear Zone (eastern Chinese North Tianshan) provide constraints on their tectonic setting and the tectonic evolution of the Tianshan belt as well. Carboniferous granitic rocks were emplaced at 338 ؎ 4 Ma and 347 ؎ 2 Ma, respectively, and show geochemical features typical of the calc-alkaline series. These arc-type granites do not display ductile deformation, probably because they were completely cooled at the time of shearing tectonics, and are only offset by brittle strike-slip faults. In contrast, Permian granitoids display pervasive ductile tectonic features diagnostic of synkinematic emplacement. Four gabbro and diorite samples from the East Huangshan intrusive complex yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 267 to 275 Ma, and a granitic dike is dated at 290 ؎ 1 Ma. The granitic dike is cut by en-echelon right-lateral strike-slip faults, and the mafic intrusive complex displays a sigmoidal shape with mylonitic foliation localized at its margins. Other specific pluton shapes (such as tongue and tadpole-like) and synmagmatic deformation can be observed in intrusions of the same age, showing similar fabrics and kinematics consistent with that of the Kangguer-Huangshan Shear Zone. Numerous mafic to felsic dikes occur within and off the shear zone with a dominant SE-NW orientation and minor varieties in N-S or NNE-SSW directions.One gabbro dike that intrudes the early Carboniferous granite of the East Kanggurtag area yielded a magmatic age of 274 ؎ 4 Ma, and contains older zircons (ϳ340 Ma, ϳ390 Ma, ϳ450 Ma, and 1.3-2.2 Ga) probably inherited from intruded rocks. The Permian intrusive rocks have variable chemical compositions suggesting derivation of these rocks from depleted and undepleted (or enriched) mantle sources with involvement of subductionrelated components. We conclude from our integrated analysis of the geological, structural, geochemical and geochronological data that the Permian magmatic rocks were formed in a post-collisional/post-orogenic setting from multiple sources, and were emplaced under the control of large-scale dextral transcurrent tectonics.

Although emerald deposits are relatively rare, they can be formed in several different, butspecific geologic settings and the classification systems and models currently used to describeemerald precipitation and predict its occurrence are too restrictive, leading to confusion as to theexact mode of formation for some emerald deposits. Generally speaking, emerald is beryl withsufficient concentrations of the chromophores, chromium and vanadium, to result in green andsometimes bluish green or yellowish green crystals. The limiting factor in the formation of emeraldis geological conditions resulting in an environment rich in both beryllium and chromium orvanadium. Historically, emerald deposits have been classified into three broad types. The first andmost abundant deposit type, in terms of production, is the desilicated pegmatite related type thatformed via the interaction of metasomatic fluids with beryllium-rich pegmatites, or similar graniticbodies, that intruded into chromium- or vanadium-rich rocks, such as ultramafic and volcanic rocks,or shales derived from those rocks. A second deposit type, accounting for most of the emerald ofgem quality, is the sedimentary type, which generally involves the interaction, along faults andfractures, of upper level crustal brines rich in Be from evaporite interaction with shales and otherCr- and/or V-bearing sedimentary rocks. The third, and comparatively most rare, deposit type is themetamorphic-metasomatic deposit. In this deposit model, deeper crustal fluids circulate along faultsor shear zones and interact with metamorphosed shales, carbonates, and ultramafic rocks, and Beand Cr (±V) may either be transported to the deposition site via the fluids or already be present inthe host metamorphic rocks intersected by the faults or shear zones. All three emerald depositmodels require some level of tectonic activity and often continued tectonic activity can result in themetamorphism of an existing sedimentary or magmatic type deposit. In the extreme, at deepercrustal levels, high-grade metamorphism can result in the partial melting of metamorphic rocks,blurring the distinction between metamorphic and magmatic deposit types. In the present paper,we propose an enhanced classification for emerald deposits based on the geological environment,i.e., magmatic or metamorphic; host-rocks type, i.e., mafic-ultramafic rocks, sedimentary rocks, andgranitoids; degree of metamorphism; styles of minerlization, i.e., veins, pods, metasomatites, shearzone; type of fluids and their temperature, pressure, composition. The new classification accountsfor multi-stage formation of the deposits and ages of formation, as well as probable remobilizationof previous beryllium mineralization, such as pegmatite intrusions in mafic-ultramafic rocks. Suchnew considerations use the concept of genetic models based on studies employing chemical,geochemical, radiogenic, and stable isotope, and fluid and solid inclusion fingerprints. The emerald occurrences and deposits are classified into two main types: (Type I) Tectonic magmatic-relatedwith sub-types hosted in: (IA) Mafic-ultramafic rocks (Brazil, Zambia, Russia, and others); (IB)Sedimentary rocks (China, Canada, Norway, Kazakhstan, Australia); (IC) Granitic rocks (Nigeria).(Type II) Tectonic metamorphic-related with sub-types hosted in: (IIA) Mafic-ultramafic rocks(Brazil, Austria); (IIB) Sedimentary rocks-black shale (Colombia, Canada, USA); (IIC) Metamorphicrocks (China, Afghanistan, USA); (IID) Metamorphosed and remobilized either type I deposits orhidden granitic intrusion-related (Austria, Egypt, Australia, Pakistan), and some unclassifieddeposits.

a b s t r a c tWhilst petrology, geochemistry and metal content of small mafic/ultramafic Ni-Cu bearing complexes have been extensively studied, their structural controls and emplacement mechanisms are still poorly documented. This study addresses the last two points with the Huangshan Ni-Cu ore belt (Chinese Eastern Tianshan) as a case study. The Huangshan intrusions are Early Permian; a period when the Tianshan orogenic belt recorded major right-lateral wrench tectonics, characterized by crustal-scale shear zones. Detailed mapping, petro-structural analysis and strain rate calculation within and around the intrusions allow us to establish that the Huangshan Ni-Cu-bearing mafic/ultramafic complexes are not layered intrusions. Instead, they emplaced by injection of several mafic/ultramafic magma batches within kilometre-scale tension gashes generated by Permian dextral shearing, and should be considered as synkinematic sheeted intrusions. Finite strain analysis across the Huangshan-Kangguer shear zone provides rather high shear strain rates (4.5). Considering the location and alignment of the Ni-Cu-bearing mafic/ultramafic bodies along regional shear zones throughout Eastern Tianshan, it appears that wrench tectonics most likely controlled and focussed the intrusion of parent magmas. As a consequence, rifting related to post-orogenic extension is not required to account for Permian magmatic features of the Tianshan Belt. Finally, the Huangshan Ni-Cu bearing mafic/ultramafic intrusions are neither parts of an ophiolitic suture, nor of a dunite-cored Alaskan-type ore deposit, as postulated in some previous studies. In the light of these new results, we believe that structural controls and emplacement mechanisms of many NiCu sulphides deposits hosted by small intrusions (particularly funnel-shaped ones) should be (re-)evaluated from a structural and geophysical point of view.

Colombian emeralds are formed through a hydrothermal-sedimentary process. On the western side of the Eastern Cordillera, the deposits are linked by tear faults and associated thrusts developed during a compressive tectonic phase that occurred at the time of the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, prior to the major uplift of the Cordillera during the Andean phase (middle Miocene). On the eastern side of the Cordillera, emerald mineralization occurred earlier, at the time of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, during a thin-skinned extensional tectonic event linked to evaporite dissolution. This event predates the Andean phase, during which this part of the chain was folded and thrust over the Llanos foreland.

In the Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux quarry (Armorican Hercynian belt, western France), an epigenetic hydrothermal alteration affects an oolitic ironstone layer intercalated within the Lower Ordovician Grès armoricain Formation. The hydrothermal overprint produced pervasive and massive sulphidation with stratoid pyritised lenticular bodies within the oolitic ironstone layer. These sulphide lenses are spatially associated with strike-slip faults and extend laterally from them. After the massive sulphidation stage (Fe-As, stage 1), subsequent fracturing allowed the deposition of base metals (stage 2) and Pb-Sb-Au (stage 3) parageneses in veins. The dominant brittle structures are vertical extension veins, conjugate shear veins and strike-slip faults of various orders. All these structures are filled with the same paragenetic sequence. Deformation analysis allows the identification of structures that developed incrementally via right-lateral simple shear compatible with bulk strain affecting the Central Armorican Domain. Each increment corresponds to a fracture set filled with specific parageneses. Successive hydrothermal pulses reflect clockwise rotation of the horizontal shortening direction. Geothermometry on chlorite and arsenopyrite shows an input of hot hydrothermal fluids (maximum of 390-350°C) during the main sulphide stage 1. The subsequent stages present a marked temperature drop (300-275°C). Lead isotopes suggest that the lead source is similar for all hydrothermal stages and corresponds to the underlying Neo-Proterozoic basement. Lead isotope data, relative ages of deformation and comparison with neighbouring deposits suggest that large-scale fluid pulses occurred during the whole Hercynian orogeny rather than pulses restricted to the late Hercynian period. The vicinity of the Hercynian internal domain appears as a key control for deformation and fluid flow in the oolitic ironstones, which acted as a chemical and structural trap for the hydrothermal fluids. The epigenetic mineralisation of Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux appears to be very similar to epigenetic sulphidation described in banded iron formation-hosted gold deposits.

International audienceApatite is a ubiquitous accessory mineral found in most magmatic rocks and is often the only U-bearing mineral available to date mafic rocks because primary zircon and/or baddeleyite are not present. In this paper, U-Pb LA-ICP-MS dating of apatite was applied to seven different dike and sill samples of dolerite from the Variscan belt of Brittany (Armorican Massif, western France). These dolerites, which are characterized by a within-plate tholeiite geochemical signature, are organized in several dense swarms across the belt. Their geochemical compositions are homogeneous although they intrude a large geographical area subdivided into several domains each characterized by different tectonic-metamorphic settings. Their emplacement ages were so far poorly constrained due to the difficulty to date these mafic rocks using either the 40Ar/39Ar or the U-Pb methods on classical minerals like mica, plagioclase, or zircon. Although the closure temperature of apatite is lower than the emplacement temperature of the magma, physical models show that the time needed to solidify and cool these mafic dikes and sills below the apatite closure temperature is basically of the order of 100 years or less. Consequently, the U-Pb dates obtained on apatite can be interpreted as the emplacement ages for these mafic intrusions. Our results demonstrate that, in all cases, the apatite grains do carry enough radiogenic Pb to be dated by in situ U-Pb analyses and yield a 207Pb-corrected mean age of 363.4 ± 5.8 Ma. These results reveal the existence of a major and short-lived magmatic event in the Variscan belt of Brittany during the Devonian-Carboniferous transition, a feature further highlighted by field evidence. Beyond the geological implications of these results, U-Pb LA-ICP-MS dating of apatite appears to represent an ideal tool to date small size mafic intrusions

International audienceSix non-sulfide Zn-Pb ore deposits were investigated in the Moroccan High Atlas, to understand processes and timing of their formation. Sulfide and non-sulfide ores are hosted in Lower Jurassic reefal to para-reefal limestone. Zn (Pb) carbonates, Zn silicates and associated hydrated phases directly replace the stratabound primary ore bodies or fill cavities along fractures related to the Atlasic compression. Field observation has been complemented by a multidisciplinary approach (e.g. XRD, Raman, SEM, EPMA) for the mineralogical characterization. All six ore deposits present similar parageneses revealing three successive stages for ore deposition: 1) formation of the protore sulfides, 2) early supergene weathering with formation of Zn-Pb-bearing carbonates and iron oxi-hydroxides and 3) late supergene weathering with deposition of Zn-carbonates, Zn-silicates and hydrated phases. Direct replacement of primary sulfides is accompanied by precipitation of zinc non-sulfide minerals in cavities or internal sediments filling. The proposed three-step scenario can be placed within the tectonic evolution of the Moroccan High Atlas belt. Deposition of primary sulfides is contemporaneous with opening of the Tethyan and Atlantic oceans. During the Tertiary, intracontinental deformation has given rise to the High Atlas fold-and-thrust belt and to regional uplift. As a result, Zn-Pb sulfides, hosted in carbonates experienced oxidation under an arid climate to form karst-related Zn-Pb non-sulfide ore bodies