Sublimation experiments have been carried out to determine the effect of the mineral dust content of porous ices on the isotopic composition of the sublimate gas over medium (days to weeks) timescales. Whenever mineral dust of any kind was present, the D/H ratio of the sublimated gas was seen to decrease with time from the bulk ratio. Fractionations of up to 2.5 were observed for dust mixing ratios of 9 wt% and higher of JSC MARS-1 regolith simulant 1-10 mum crushed and sieved fraction. These favored the presence of the light isotope, H2O, in the gas phase. The more dust was added to the mixture, the more pronounced was this effect. Theoretical modeling of gas migration within the porous samples and adsorption on the excavated dust grains was undertaken to explain the results. Adsorption onto the dust grains is able to explain the low D/H ratios in the sublimate gas if adsorption favors retention of HDO over H2O. This leads to significant isotopic enrichment of HDO on the dust over time and depletion in the amount of HDO escaping the system as sublimate gas. This effect is significant for planetary bodies on which water moves mainly through the gas phase and a significant surface reservoir of dust may be found, such as on Comets and Mars. For each of these, inferences about the bulk water D/H ratio as inferred from gas phase measurements needs to be reassessed in light of the volatile cycling history of each body.PACS CODES:98.80.Ft Isotopes, abundances and evolution (astronomy)], 64.70.Hz Sublimation], 68.43.-h Adsorption at solid surfaces]

The long warming transition from the Last Ice Age into the present Interglacial period, the last deglaciation, holds the key to our understanding of future abrupt climate change. In the last decades, a great effort has been put into deciphering the linkage between freshwater fluxes from melting ice sheets and rapid shifts in global ocean-atmospheric circulation that characterized this puzzling climate period. In particular, the regional expressions of climate change in response to freshwater forcing are still largely unresolved. This projects aims at evaluating the environmental, hydro-climatic and oceanographic response in the Eastern North Atlantic domain to freshwater fluxes from the Scandinavian Ice Sheet during the last deglaciation (~19,000-11,000 years ago). The results presented in this thesis involve an overview of the regional representations of climate change across rapid climatic transitions and provide the groundwork to better understand spatial and temporal propagations of past atmospheric and ocean perturbations. Specifically, this thesis comprises i) a comparison of pollenstratigraphic records from densely 14C dated lake sediment sequences, which provides insight into the regional sensitivity of North European vegetation to freshwater forcing in the Nordic Seas around the onset of the Younger Dryas stadial (~12,900 years ago); ii) a reconstruction of North European hydro-climate, which, together with transient climate simulations, shed light on the mechanisms and regionality of climate shortly prior to the transition into the Younger Dryas stadial; iii) studies of a ~1250-year long glacial varve chronology, which provides an accurate timing for the sudden drainage of proglacial freshwater stored in the former ice-dammed Baltic Ice Lake into the North Atlantic Ocean; iv) a 5000-year long terrestrial-marine reconstruction of Eastern North Atlantic hydro-climate and oceanographic changes that clarifies the hitherto elusive relationship between freshwater forcing and the transient behaviour of the North Atlantic overturning circulation system. The results presented in this thesis provide new important temporal constraints on the events that punctuated the last deglaciation in Northern Europe, and give a clearer understanding of the ocean – atmosphere – ice-sheet feedbacks that were at work in the North Atlantic. This increases our understanding of how the Earth climate system functions in more extreme situations. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: In press. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

Vários complexos intrusivos de rochas alcalinas e carbonatitos ocorrem na região centro-oeste de Moçambique e estão intimamente relacionados ao Sistema do Rifte da África Oriental. Correspondem a atividades ígneas anorogênicas e cortam o embasamento pré-Cambriano da Cadeia Moçambicana. Destes, foram estudadas algumas amostras de seis complexos carbonatíticos (Xiluvo, Muambe, Muande, Fema, Rio Mufa e Evate) e três sieníticos (Chiperone, Tumbine e Salambidua). Os carbonatitos são caracterizados por uma grande predominância de carbonatos, mais apatita, flogopita e raramente anfibólio. O de Xiluvo apresenta, além disso, minerais típicos de terras raras e pirocloro. O sienito de Chiperone tem como constituinte principal nefelina, enquanto que os dois restantes são compostos essencialmente, de K-feldspatos pertíticos. Todos têm como componentes subordinados anfibólios, piroxênio, biotita e apatita. Idades K-Ar das rochas sieníticas, obtidas em anfibólio e biotita, por volta de 118 Ma, apontam o Cretáceo Inferior como período decolocação dos sienitos de Tumbine e Salambidua, enquanto que o sienito de Chiperone resultou muito mais antigo, com aproximadamente 450 Ma. Estes valores confirmam idades radiométricas anteriores, relacionadas com a Província de Chilwa em Malawi. Dados litogeoquímicos destacam dois grupos distintos entre as amostras dos carbonatitos estudadas. Xiluvo, Muambe e Evate situam-se no campo dos carbonatitos cálcicos, enquanto que Fema, Muande e Rio Mufa situam-se no campo dos carbonatitos ferromagnesianos. Os padrões de distribuição de elementos menores e de terras raras são similares àqueles definidos para diversas ocorrências congêneres. Foi analisada também, por comparação, uma amostra carbonática do mármore de Chíduè, tirando a amostra de Chíduè a qual mostrou-se quimicamente diferente, com concentrações muito baixas em praticamente todos elementos. Por outro lado as amostras do Xiluvo exibem os mais elevados teores na maior parte dos elementos. Quanto à geoquímica isotópica, os carbonatitos exibem uma correlação negativa no diagrama 87Sr/86Sr vs. Nd(0) e indicam a existência de pelo menos dois tipos de fontes. Uma delas, correspondendo aos complexos de Xiluvo e Muambe, com 87Sr/86Sr de cerca de 0.703 e Nd com valores positivos, poderia ser astenosférica. A outra fonte, relativa aos demais complexos, apresenta valores negativos de Nd entre (-4) e (-8), e valores moderadamente elevados de 87Sr/86Sr, entre 0.705 e 0.708. A interpretação dos dados geoquímicos isotópicos levou à hipótese de misturas de fontes mantélicas diferentes, bem como possibilidades de contaminação crustal. / Several Syenitic and carbonatitic alkaline complexes occur in central-western region of Mozambique and are related to the East African Rift System. They correspond to anorogenic igneous activities and intrude the Precambrian basement of the Mozambique belt. Of these, six carbonatites (Xiluvo, Muambe, Muande, Fema, Rio Mufa and Evate) and three syenites (Chiperone, Tumbine and Salambidua) were studied. The carbonatites exhibit a great predominance of carbonates, plus apatite, phlogopite and some amphibole. Xiluvo, Muambe and Rio Mufa in addition, include typical minerals of REE and pyrochlore. The Chiperone syenite exhibits nepheline as the main constituent, while the two other are mainly composed of perthitic K-feldspar. All them present amphibole, pyroxene, biotite and apatite as subordinate constituents. K-Ar ages for the Tumbine and Salambidua syenites, obtained in amphibole and biotite, with around 118 Ma, indicate the Lower Cretaceous as the period of placement. However, the Chiperone syenite yielded a much older age around 450 Ma. These values are compatible with earlier radiometric dates, related to the Chilwa Ineous Province of Malawi. On lithogeochemistry, two groups can be envisaged within the carbonatites. One of them includes the calcium carbonatites of Xiluvo, Muambe end Evate, and the other includes the ferromagnesian carbonatites of Fema, Muande and Rio Mufa. The distribution patherns of trace and REE elements are similar to those of normal carbonatites. A sample of the Chíduè marmor was also analyzed, for comparison, and yielded much lower concentrations for most elements. On the other hand, the Xiluvo samples yielded the highest contents for practically all trace and REE elements. The carbonatites exhibit a negative correlation in the 87Sr/86Sr vs. 143Nd/144Nd diagram, and indicate the existence of at least two different sources. One of them, corresponding to the Xiluvo and Muambe complexes, yielded 87Sr/86Sr values around 0.703 and positive Nd, indicating a possible astenospheric source. The second source, for the other complexes, presents negative values of Nd between (-4) e (-8) and moderately high values of 87Sr/86Sr between 0.705 and 0.708. The interpretation of the geochemical isotopic data leads to the hypothesis of mixtures of mantles sources, as well as some possibility of crustal contamination.

Proveniência por métodos isotópicos em duas unidades litodêmicas – o Complexo Metamórfico Porongos (CMP) no domínio central-oriental do Cinturão Dom Feliciano (CDF) e a Suíte Metamórfica Várzea do Capivarita (SMVC), localizada no domínio leste do CDF - apresentou áreas-fonte similares nos dois casos: Os metassedimentos do CMP, na região das Antiformes de Santana da Boa Vista e Serra dos Pedrosas, foram depositados entre 785 e 595 Ma (U-Pb em zircão detrítico por LA-ICP-MS). Apresentam registros de áreas-fonte com predominância de idades de ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, mesmas idades do embasamento da região, o Complexo Encantadas. As assinaturas isotópicas de 207Pb/204Pb X 206Pb/204Pb mostraram pouca relação dos metassedimentos do CMP com áreas-fonte do cráton Rio de La Plata, e εNd variando entre -13 a -6.5, com valores menos negativos para amostras onde foram obtidos zircões com mesma idade do vulcanismo félsico do CMP. Outros registros incluem idades de 1.5-1.4 Ga, cujas assinaturas εHf indicam fontes juvenis, possivelmente relacionadas a um sistema de rifteamento registrado nos Anortositos Capivarita. Na Antiforme Capané, zircões datados em SHRIMP e LA-ICP-MS de rochas metavulcânicas intermediárias a félsicas indicaram idades de 663 ± 2.7 Ma, representando um vulcanismo mais jovem do que aquele encontrado anteriormente no CMP, vinculado à fusão parcial crustal. Novos dados U-Pb em zircão confirmam registro do metavulcanismo de 783.4 ± 3.9 Ma nos metassedimentos, comparáveis a idades obtidas nos Gnaisses Cerro Bori, interpretados como um arco continental de ca. 800 Ma. Zircões detríticos de rochas metassedimentares da SMVC apresentaram registros de ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, além de idades de ca. 1.4 Ga e idade máxima de deposição de 714.3 ± 3.9 Ma, com pico metamórfico registrado em borda metamórfica de zircões com 618 ± 7.3 Ma εHf predominantemente negativas. Mármores apresentaram razões 87Sr/86Sr de 0.70609, o que permite deduzir uma idade de deposição mais antiga que 715 Ma, próximo dos valores encontrados em mármores na região de Arroio Grande. A comparação dos isótopos de Hf com rochas do Cinturão Damara nos crátons Kalahari e Congo, cuja amalgamento junto ao Rio de La Plata deu origem ao Gondwana Ocidental, mostram que existe pouca ou nenhuma relação com áreas-fonte dos metassedimentos do CMP e SMVC no Neoproterozóico. Estes dados levam a dedução de que acresção de terrenos ou microcontinentes com características de embasamento, nesse caso denominado aqui como Embasamento Encantadas, cuja evolução se dá com acresção de um arco continental de idades entre 780 e 660 Ma, é a origem de parte das áreas-fonte do CMP, e possivelmente foi um dos eventos tectônicos que controlaram evolução do terreno ao longo do CMP e SMVC. / Isotopic provenance realized in two lithodemic units – Porongos Metamorphic Complex (PMC), in the central-eastern domain of the Dom Feliciano Belt (DFB) and the Várzea do Capivarita Metamoprhic Suite (VCMS), in the eastern domain of the same belt – presented similar source-areas in both cases: The PMC metasediments, in Santana da Boa Vista and Serra dos Pedrosas Antiforms were deposited between 785 and 595 Ma (LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon U-Pb). Both PMC and VCMS displayed source-areas with ages varying from ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, which is the same age presented in the regional basement, the Encantadas Complex. 207Pb/204Pb X 206Pb/204Pb isotopic signatures displayed little resemblance between CMP metasediments and possible source-areas in the Rio de La Plata Craton, and εNd varied between -13 to -6.5, with less negative values in samples were where obtained zircons with the same age of felsic volcanism in the PMC. Others records included ages from 1.5 to 1.4 Ga, with εHf signatures indicating juvenile sources, possibly related to a rifting system recorde in the Capivarita Anorthosite. In the Capané Antiform, SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages from felsic to intermediary metavolcanic rocks displayed 663 ± 2.7 Ma, which is a younger record than the previously obtained in the PMC, and can be related to partial crustal fusion. Also new U-Pb detrital zircon ages confirm the record of the metavolcanics of 783.4 ± 3.9 Ma in the metasediments, comparable to the ages obtained in the Cerro Bori orthogneisses, interpreted as a continental arc of ca. 800 Ma. Metasedimentary rocks of VCMS displayed zircons with ca. 2.2-2.0 Ga, besides ages of ca. 1.4 Ga and maximum depositional age of 714.3 ± 3.9 Ma, with metamorpich peak recorded in metamorphic rims of 618 ± 7.3 Ma and negative εHf signatures. Marbles presented 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70609, which can be deducted as an older than 715 Ma depositional age, near values obtained to Arroio Grande marbles. Comparison of Hf signatures with rocks from Damara Belt of Kalahari and Congo Cratons, whose assembly with Rio de La Plata to form West Gondwana in Neoproterozoic, displayed little to no relationship with the source-areas of PMC and VCMS metasediments I in the Neoproterozoic. This indicates that terrain or a microcontinent accretion with basement features, in this case the Encantadas Basement, whose evolution underwent accretion in a continental arc between 780 to 660 Ma, it’s the source to part of the PMC , and possible was one of the tectonic events that controlled terrain evolution in the PMC and VCMS.

No description available.

Volatiles (H2O, CO2, S, Cl) play a key role in magmatic processes at subduction zones. In this study, the dissolved volatile contents of olivine-hosted melt inclusions from cinder cones in the Lassen segment of the Cascade arc are used to investigate dehydration of subducted oceanic lithosphere, magma formation in the sub-arc mantle wedge, and mafic magma storage and evolution in the crust. Relatively young, hot oceanic lithosphere subducts beneath the Cascade arc. The hydrogen-isotope and trace-element compositions of melt inclusions, when integrated with thermo-petrologic modeling, demonstrate that fluids in Cascade magmas are sourced from hydrated peridotite in the deep slab interior and that the oceanic crustal part of the slab extensively dehydrates beneath the forearc. In contrast to their slab-derived H, the melt inclusions have B concentrations and isotope ratios that are similar to mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), requiring little to no slab contribution of B, which is also consistent with extensive dehydration of the downgoing plate before it reaches sub-arc depths. Correlations of volatile and trace element ratios in the melt inclusions (H2O/Ce, Cl/Nb, Sr/Nd) demonstrate that geochemical variability in the magmas is the result of variable amounts of addition of a hydrous subduction component to the mantle wedge. Radiogenic isotope ratios require that the subduction component has less radiogenic Sr and Pb and more radiogenic Nd than the Lassen sub-arc mantle and is therefore likely to be a partial melt of subducted Gorda MORB. These results provide evidence that chlorite-derived fluids from the deep slab interior flux-melt the oceanic crust, producing hydrous slab melts that migrate into the overlying mantle, where they react with peridotite to induce further melting. The basaltic magmas that erupted at Cinder Cone near Mt. Lassen trapped melt inclusions during olivine crystallization at ~7-15 km depth. The melt inclusion compositions require that two different mantle-derived magmas were involved in the eruption, and temporal changes show that arrival of the two batches correlates with two explosive phases of activity. Both magmas experienced rapid crustal contamination before erupting, illustrating the complexities of cinder cone eruptions. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material.

Proveniência por métodos isotópicos em duas unidades litodêmicas – o Complexo Metamórfico Porongos (CMP) no domínio central-oriental do Cinturão Dom Feliciano (CDF) e a Suíte Metamórfica Várzea do Capivarita (SMVC), localizada no domínio leste do CDF - apresentou áreas-fonte similares nos dois casos: Os metassedimentos do CMP, na região das Antiformes de Santana da Boa Vista e Serra dos Pedrosas, foram depositados entre 785 e 595 Ma (U-Pb em zircão detrítico por LA-ICP-MS). Apresentam registros de áreas-fonte com predominância de idades de ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, mesmas idades do embasamento da região, o Complexo Encantadas. As assinaturas isotópicas de 207Pb/204Pb X 206Pb/204Pb mostraram pouca relação dos metassedimentos do CMP com áreas-fonte do cráton Rio de La Plata, e εNd variando entre -13 a -6.5, com valores menos negativos para amostras onde foram obtidos zircões com mesma idade do vulcanismo félsico do CMP. Outros registros incluem idades de 1.5-1.4 Ga, cujas assinaturas εHf indicam fontes juvenis, possivelmente relacionadas a um sistema de rifteamento registrado nos Anortositos Capivarita. Na Antiforme Capané, zircões datados em SHRIMP e LA-ICP-MS de rochas metavulcânicas intermediárias a félsicas indicaram idades de 663 ± 2.7 Ma, representando um vulcanismo mais jovem do que aquele encontrado anteriormente no CMP, vinculado à fusão parcial crustal. Novos dados U-Pb em zircão confirmam registro do metavulcanismo de 783.4 ± 3.9 Ma nos metassedimentos, comparáveis a idades obtidas nos Gnaisses Cerro Bori, interpretados como um arco continental de ca. 800 Ma. Zircões detríticos de rochas metassedimentares da SMVC apresentaram registros de ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, além de idades de ca. 1.4 Ga e idade máxima de deposição de 714.3 ± 3.9 Ma, com pico metamórfico registrado em borda metamórfica de zircões com 618 ± 7.3 Ma εHf predominantemente negativas. Mármores apresentaram razões 87Sr/86Sr de 0.70609, o que permite deduzir uma idade de deposição mais antiga que 715 Ma, próximo dos valores encontrados em mármores na região de Arroio Grande. A comparação dos isótopos de Hf com rochas do Cinturão Damara nos crátons Kalahari e Congo, cuja amalgamento junto ao Rio de La Plata deu origem ao Gondwana Ocidental, mostram que existe pouca ou nenhuma relação com áreas-fonte dos metassedimentos do CMP e SMVC no Neoproterozóico. Estes dados levam a dedução de que acresção de terrenos ou microcontinentes com características de embasamento, nesse caso denominado aqui como Embasamento Encantadas, cuja evolução se dá com acresção de um arco continental de idades entre 780 e 660 Ma, é a origem de parte das áreas-fonte do CMP, e possivelmente foi um dos eventos tectônicos que controlaram evolução do terreno ao longo do CMP e SMVC. / Isotopic provenance realized in two lithodemic units – Porongos Metamorphic Complex (PMC), in the central-eastern domain of the Dom Feliciano Belt (DFB) and the Várzea do Capivarita Metamoprhic Suite (VCMS), in the eastern domain of the same belt – presented similar source-areas in both cases: The PMC metasediments, in Santana da Boa Vista and Serra dos Pedrosas Antiforms were deposited between 785 and 595 Ma (LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon U-Pb). Both PMC and VCMS displayed source-areas with ages varying from ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, which is the same age presented in the regional basement, the Encantadas Complex. 207Pb/204Pb X 206Pb/204Pb isotopic signatures displayed little resemblance between CMP metasediments and possible source-areas in the Rio de La Plata Craton, and εNd varied between -13 to -6.5, with less negative values in samples were where obtained zircons with the same age of felsic volcanism in the PMC. Others records included ages from 1.5 to 1.4 Ga, with εHf signatures indicating juvenile sources, possibly related to a rifting system recorde in the Capivarita Anorthosite. In the Capané Antiform, SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages from felsic to intermediary metavolcanic rocks displayed 663 ± 2.7 Ma, which is a younger record than the previously obtained in the PMC, and can be related to partial crustal fusion. Also new U-Pb detrital zircon ages confirm the record of the metavolcanics of 783.4 ± 3.9 Ma in the metasediments, comparable to the ages obtained in the Cerro Bori orthogneisses, interpreted as a continental arc of ca. 800 Ma. Metasedimentary rocks of VCMS displayed zircons with ca. 2.2-2.0 Ga, besides ages of ca. 1.4 Ga and maximum depositional age of 714.3 ± 3.9 Ma, with metamorpich peak recorded in metamorphic rims of 618 ± 7.3 Ma and negative εHf signatures. Marbles presented 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70609, which can be deducted as an older than 715 Ma depositional age, near values obtained to Arroio Grande marbles. Comparison of Hf signatures with rocks from Damara Belt of Kalahari and Congo Cratons, whose assembly with Rio de La Plata to form West Gondwana in Neoproterozoic, displayed little to no relationship with the source-areas of PMC and VCMS metasediments I in the Neoproterozoic. This indicates that terrain or a microcontinent accretion with basement features, in this case the Encantadas Basement, whose evolution underwent accretion in a continental arc between 780 to 660 Ma, it’s the source to part of the PMC , and possible was one of the tectonic events that controlled terrain evolution in the PMC and VCMS.

Proveniência por métodos isotópicos em duas unidades litodêmicas – o Complexo Metamórfico Porongos (CMP) no domínio central-oriental do Cinturão Dom Feliciano (CDF) e a Suíte Metamórfica Várzea do Capivarita (SMVC), localizada no domínio leste do CDF - apresentou áreas-fonte similares nos dois casos: Os metassedimentos do CMP, na região das Antiformes de Santana da Boa Vista e Serra dos Pedrosas, foram depositados entre 785 e 595 Ma (U-Pb em zircão detrítico por LA-ICP-MS). Apresentam registros de áreas-fonte com predominância de idades de ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, mesmas idades do embasamento da região, o Complexo Encantadas. As assinaturas isotópicas de 207Pb/204Pb X 206Pb/204Pb mostraram pouca relação dos metassedimentos do CMP com áreas-fonte do cráton Rio de La Plata, e εNd variando entre -13 a -6.5, com valores menos negativos para amostras onde foram obtidos zircões com mesma idade do vulcanismo félsico do CMP. Outros registros incluem idades de 1.5-1.4 Ga, cujas assinaturas εHf indicam fontes juvenis, possivelmente relacionadas a um sistema de rifteamento registrado nos Anortositos Capivarita. Na Antiforme Capané, zircões datados em SHRIMP e LA-ICP-MS de rochas metavulcânicas intermediárias a félsicas indicaram idades de 663 ± 2.7 Ma, representando um vulcanismo mais jovem do que aquele encontrado anteriormente no CMP, vinculado à fusão parcial crustal. Novos dados U-Pb em zircão confirmam registro do metavulcanismo de 783.4 ± 3.9 Ma nos metassedimentos, comparáveis a idades obtidas nos Gnaisses Cerro Bori, interpretados como um arco continental de ca. 800 Ma. Zircões detríticos de rochas metassedimentares da SMVC apresentaram registros de ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, além de idades de ca. 1.4 Ga e idade máxima de deposição de 714.3 ± 3.9 Ma, com pico metamórfico registrado em borda metamórfica de zircões com 618 ± 7.3 Ma εHf predominantemente negativas. Mármores apresentaram razões 87Sr/86Sr de 0.70609, o que permite deduzir uma idade de deposição mais antiga que 715 Ma, próximo dos valores encontrados em mármores na região de Arroio Grande. A comparação dos isótopos de Hf com rochas do Cinturão Damara nos crátons Kalahari e Congo, cuja amalgamento junto ao Rio de La Plata deu origem ao Gondwana Ocidental, mostram que existe pouca ou nenhuma relação com áreas-fonte dos metassedimentos do CMP e SMVC no Neoproterozóico. Estes dados levam a dedução de que acresção de terrenos ou microcontinentes com características de embasamento, nesse caso denominado aqui como Embasamento Encantadas, cuja evolução se dá com acresção de um arco continental de idades entre 780 e 660 Ma, é a origem de parte das áreas-fonte do CMP, e possivelmente foi um dos eventos tectônicos que controlaram evolução do terreno ao longo do CMP e SMVC. / Isotopic provenance realized in two lithodemic units – Porongos Metamorphic Complex (PMC), in the central-eastern domain of the Dom Feliciano Belt (DFB) and the Várzea do Capivarita Metamoprhic Suite (VCMS), in the eastern domain of the same belt – presented similar source-areas in both cases: The PMC metasediments, in Santana da Boa Vista and Serra dos Pedrosas Antiforms were deposited between 785 and 595 Ma (LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon U-Pb). Both PMC and VCMS displayed source-areas with ages varying from ca. 2.2 – 2.0 Ga, which is the same age presented in the regional basement, the Encantadas Complex. 207Pb/204Pb X 206Pb/204Pb isotopic signatures displayed little resemblance between CMP metasediments and possible source-areas in the Rio de La Plata Craton, and εNd varied between -13 to -6.5, with less negative values in samples were where obtained zircons with the same age of felsic volcanism in the PMC. Others records included ages from 1.5 to 1.4 Ga, with εHf signatures indicating juvenile sources, possibly related to a rifting system recorde in the Capivarita Anorthosite. In the Capané Antiform, SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages from felsic to intermediary metavolcanic rocks displayed 663 ± 2.7 Ma, which is a younger record than the previously obtained in the PMC, and can be related to partial crustal fusion. Also new U-Pb detrital zircon ages confirm the record of the metavolcanics of 783.4 ± 3.9 Ma in the metasediments, comparable to the ages obtained in the Cerro Bori orthogneisses, interpreted as a continental arc of ca. 800 Ma. Metasedimentary rocks of VCMS displayed zircons with ca. 2.2-2.0 Ga, besides ages of ca. 1.4 Ga and maximum depositional age of 714.3 ± 3.9 Ma, with metamorpich peak recorded in metamorphic rims of 618 ± 7.3 Ma and negative εHf signatures. Marbles presented 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.70609, which can be deducted as an older than 715 Ma depositional age, near values obtained to Arroio Grande marbles. Comparison of Hf signatures with rocks from Damara Belt of Kalahari and Congo Cratons, whose assembly with Rio de La Plata to form West Gondwana in Neoproterozoic, displayed little to no relationship with the source-areas of PMC and VCMS metasediments I in the Neoproterozoic. This indicates that terrain or a microcontinent accretion with basement features, in this case the Encantadas Basement, whose evolution underwent accretion in a continental arc between 780 to 660 Ma, it’s the source to part of the PMC , and possible was one of the tectonic events that controlled terrain evolution in the PMC and VCMS.

Vários complexos intrusivos de rochas alcalinas e carbonatitos ocorrem na região centro-oeste de Moçambique e estão intimamente relacionados ao Sistema do Rifte da África Oriental. Correspondem a atividades ígneas anorogênicas e cortam o embasamento pré-Cambriano da Cadeia Moçambicana. Destes, foram estudadas algumas amostras de seis complexos carbonatíticos (Xiluvo, Muambe, Muande, Fema, Rio Mufa e Evate) e três sieníticos (Chiperone, Tumbine e Salambidua). Os carbonatitos são caracterizados por uma grande predominância de carbonatos, mais apatita, flogopita e raramente anfibólio. O de Xiluvo apresenta, além disso, minerais típicos de terras raras e pirocloro. O sienito de Chiperone tem como constituinte principal nefelina, enquanto que os dois restantes são compostos essencialmente, de K-feldspatos pertíticos. Todos têm como componentes subordinados anfibólios, piroxênio, biotita e apatita. Idades K-Ar das rochas sieníticas, obtidas em anfibólio e biotita, por volta de 118 Ma, apontam o Cretáceo Inferior como período decolocação dos sienitos de Tumbine e Salambidua, enquanto que o sienito de Chiperone resultou muito mais antigo, com aproximadamente 450 Ma. Estes valores confirmam idades radiométricas anteriores, relacionadas com a Província de Chilwa em Malawi. Dados litogeoquímicos destacam dois grupos distintos entre as amostras dos carbonatitos estudadas. Xiluvo, Muambe e Evate situam-se no campo dos carbonatitos cálcicos, enquanto que Fema, Muande e Rio Mufa situam-se no campo dos carbonatitos ferromagnesianos. Os padrões de distribuição de elementos menores e de terras raras são similares àqueles definidos para diversas ocorrências congêneres. Foi analisada também, por comparação, uma amostra carbonática do mármore de Chíduè, tirando a amostra de Chíduè a qual mostrou-se quimicamente diferente, com concentrações muito baixas em praticamente todos elementos. Por outro lado as amostras do Xiluvo exibem os mais elevados teores na maior parte dos elementos. Quanto à geoquímica isotópica, os carbonatitos exibem uma correlação negativa no diagrama 87Sr/86Sr vs. Nd(0) e indicam a existência de pelo menos dois tipos de fontes. Uma delas, correspondendo aos complexos de Xiluvo e Muambe, com 87Sr/86Sr de cerca de 0.703 e Nd com valores positivos, poderia ser astenosférica. A outra fonte, relativa aos demais complexos, apresenta valores negativos de Nd entre (-4) e (-8), e valores moderadamente elevados de 87Sr/86Sr, entre 0.705 e 0.708. A interpretação dos dados geoquímicos isotópicos levou à hipótese de misturas de fontes mantélicas diferentes, bem como possibilidades de contaminação crustal. / Several Syenitic and carbonatitic alkaline complexes occur in central-western region of Mozambique and are related to the East African Rift System. They correspond to anorogenic igneous activities and intrude the Precambrian basement of the Mozambique belt. Of these, six carbonatites (Xiluvo, Muambe, Muande, Fema, Rio Mufa and Evate) and three syenites (Chiperone, Tumbine and Salambidua) were studied. The carbonatites exhibit a great predominance of carbonates, plus apatite, phlogopite and some amphibole. Xiluvo, Muambe and Rio Mufa in addition, include typical minerals of REE and pyrochlore. The Chiperone syenite exhibits nepheline as the main constituent, while the two other are mainly composed of perthitic K-feldspar. All them present amphibole, pyroxene, biotite and apatite as subordinate constituents. K-Ar ages for the Tumbine and Salambidua syenites, obtained in amphibole and biotite, with around 118 Ma, indicate the Lower Cretaceous as the period of placement. However, the Chiperone syenite yielded a much older age around 450 Ma. These values are compatible with earlier radiometric dates, related to the Chilwa Ineous Province of Malawi. On lithogeochemistry, two groups can be envisaged within the carbonatites. One of them includes the calcium carbonatites of Xiluvo, Muambe end Evate, and the other includes the ferromagnesian carbonatites of Fema, Muande and Rio Mufa. The distribution patherns of trace and REE elements are similar to those of normal carbonatites. A sample of the Chíduè marmor was also analyzed, for comparison, and yielded much lower concentrations for most elements. On the other hand, the Xiluvo samples yielded the highest contents for practically all trace and REE elements. The carbonatites exhibit a negative correlation in the 87Sr/86Sr vs. 143Nd/144Nd diagram, and indicate the existence of at least two different sources. One of them, corresponding to the Xiluvo and Muambe complexes, yielded 87Sr/86Sr values around 0.703 and positive Nd, indicating a possible astenospheric source. The second source, for the other complexes, presents negative values of Nd between (-4) e (-8) and moderately high values of 87Sr/86Sr between 0.705 and 0.708. The interpretation of the geochemical isotopic data leads to the hypothesis of mixtures of mantles sources, as well as some possibility of crustal contamination.

The tuff of Elevenmile Canyon (TEC) is a 25.1 Ma trachydacite to rhyolite intracaldera tuff produced by the largest of 6 Oligocene overlapping calderas that, along with related plutons, constitute the Stillwater Caldera Complex, one of the largest eruptions of the Western Nevada Volcanic Field during the mid-Tertiary ignimbrite flare-up. Typically crystal-rich with a mineral assemblage of plagioclase > quartz  sanidine > biotite ± hornblende and clinopyroxene, there are two discernable pumice types throughout the tuff: a lighter crystal-rich pumice and a darker, commonly aphyric pumice type. Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic compositions of pumice fragments and whole rock samples indicate an enriched mantle component (87Sr/86Srin = 0.70495 – 0.70535, Nd[t=25.1Ma] = -1.13 to -0.39) similar to that of coeval Cenozoic mafic lavas. Pb isotopes (206Pb/204Pbin = 19.042 – 19.168, 207Pb/204Pbin = 15.557 – 15.664) fall along a tight trend between the Northern Hemisphere Reference Line (Hart 1984) and an endmember similar to local granitic units. Major and trace element modelling support a source for the TEC derived from the mixing of anatectic melts of crustal rocks with intruded mantle-derived magmas similar to a local basaltic-andesite.