S. I. Shkol’nik

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of detrital zircons from metaterrigenous deposits of the Vendian-Cambrian cover of the Tuva-Mongolian microcontinent (Tunka Bald Mountains, East Sayan)

154 The northeastern segment of the Central Asian foldbelt (CAFB) contains ancient continental blocks; the largest of them are the Tuva Mongolian (TMM) and Dzabakhan microcontinents. There is a fairly extensive isotope database for magmatic, metamor phic, and sedimentary rocks of the Dzabakhan conti nental block [1–4], whereas most characteristics of the TMM were obtained for magmatic formations [5–7]. Filling the lack in the study of sedimentary formations of the TMM, we studied detrital zircons of the Shu mak Formation (Tunka bald mountains), which is one of the several preserved fragments of terrigenous sedi mentation of nonglacial genesis within the shelf of this continental block.

Possibility of identification of back-arc paleobasins from high-grade orthometamorphite rocks: Evidence from basic crystalline schists of the Slyudyanka crystalline complex, South Baikal region

The Slyudyanka crystalline complex is located within the composite Khamar-Daban metamorphic terrane, the part of the Central Asian fold belt. Geochemical composition of the basic crystalline schists of the Slyudyanka Group (subterrane) metamorphosed under the high-temperature subfacies of the granulite facies suggests that their protoliths were tholeiitic basalts. Their geochemical signatures are intermediate between mid-ocean ridges and island arc basalts, best approximating back-arc basin basalts. The types of the metamorphic rocks of the Slyudyanka Group and their combination in sequences also most correspond to accumulation in back-arc basins. It was concluded that the high-grade metavolcanic rocks retain main geochemical signatures of protoliths, which allows the reconstruction of their paleogeodynamic settings, including back-arc basins.

New data about structure and time of formation of the Khamar-Daban terrane: U-Pb LA-ICP-MS zircon ages

This paper provides new data on the age of detrital zircons from metaterrigenous rocks of the Khamardaban Group (Kornilovskaya and Shubutuiskaya formations) which crown the succession of the Khamar-Daban terrain. It was established that the accumulation of the protoliths of both formations occurred in the interval between the Late Riphean and Early Ordovician. In this case, there is a difference between sequences of Shubutuiskaya and Kornilovskaya formations due to a sharp change in a provenance area and depositional conditions, which is a consequence of the change in the paleogeodynamic environment. In addition, this indicates the tectonic juxtaposition of these sequences and probability of accumulation of deposits of the Shubutuiskaya Formation within Dzhida island arc system.

Geochemistry of Manganese Ores from the Southern Folded Margin of the Siberian Platform

We present geochemical data on the composition of manganese ores associated with volcano-sedimentary sequences of the Olkhon and Ikat terranes located at the southern folded margin of the Siberian Platform. The study shows that hydrothermal activity was the major source of manganese supply to the sedimentation basin. The geochemical and isotopic data suggest that the manganiferous sediments were deposited at a distance from the source of hydrothermal activity under the conditions of suppressed terrigenous sedimentation. The lenticular shape and small thickness of the ore bodies suggest that they were deposited in small troughs within a larger deep-water basin.

Genesis of Manganese Ores and Their Position in Sedimentary Basins of the Eastern Segment of the Paleoasian Ocean: Sm-Nd Isotopic and Geochemical Evidence

The first geochemical and Sm-Nd isotopic characteristics of Neoproterozoic-Cambrian manganese ores from the south folded framing of the Siberian Craton have been obtained. For manganese ores from the Podikat deposit, Tsagan-Zaba and, in part, for Slyudyanka ore manifestations, an explicit positive Eu anomaly and variable Ce behavior are typical no depending on degree of metamorphism. In the rocks of Itantsa ore manifestation and, in part, in those of Slyudyanka, REEs have distribution patterns similar to the normal sedimentary pattern and are characterized by a gentle slope with a negative Eu anomaly and by the absence of a Ce anomaly. With the geochemical peculiarities, including REE distribution in them, on aggregate, reconstruction of vast hydrothermal fields within the south framing of the Siberian Craton and spatial position of the studied manganese basins relative to the craton has become possible.

A fragment of back-arc paleospreading in the Tunka terrane

High magnesium metavolcanites, which are found for the first time in the Tunka terrane (the Baikal-Khubsogul region), are described. By the content of MgO (12–16%), SiO2 (up to 52%), and alkali oxides, they are classified as metamorphosed picrites. There are two groups of them, divided by the TiO2 content and by the TiO2/Al2O3 ratio. When making a distinction between geochemical peculiarities of two groups, their rare-element composition is intermediate between picrites and boninites. The comparison between metavulcanites and their nonmetamorphosed analogues is made, some aspects of their genesis are considered, and the conclusion is made that these metavulcanites mark paleospreading of the back-arc basin.

Nd isotope systematics of the Vendian–Early Cambrian sedimentary ores in the northern segment of the Paleoasian Ocean

Isotope–geochemical studies of Mn, P, and Ba ores were performed in order to establish the influence of submarine hydrotherms on the formation of Early Cambrian sedimentary rocks of the southern environs of the Siberian Platform. Based on study of the geochemical and isotope (εNd) characteristics of the shallow-water Mn and Ba ores and phosphorites of southern environs of the Siberian Platform with similar ages, two types of sedimentary basins of the different geodynamic origins were distinguished: intraplate oceanic and those of the active continental margin, for which the sources of ore materials differ by the proportions of the mantle and contaminated crustal matter.

Geochemistry of highly aluminiferous Vendian-Cambrian sediments of the Tunka Bald Mountains, East Sayan

This paper presents comprehensive geochemical characteristics of highly aluminiferous schists discovered in the Tunka Bald Mountains and associated with the Vendian-Cambrian cover of the Tuva-Mongolian Microcontinent. The Al2O3 content varies within a wide range, the maximum being up to 36.11 wt. %. A specific feature of the geochemical composition of these rocks is the simultaneously high contents of Cr (up to 1400 ppm), V (up to 2700 ppm), and Zr (up to 800 ppm). The origin has been interpreted, and the conditions in which the highly aluminiferous rocks formed have been considered. Based on geochemical data, it is assumed that the main origin could be weathering crusts formed after ultramafic and mafic rocks, with a felsic source playing a secondary role.