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Rifts, evaporites and the origin of certain alkaline rocks

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Zusammenfassung

Die Assimilation von Evaporiten und Solen durch basaltisches Magma in Zonen von kontinentalen Rifts dürfte für alkalischen Magmatismus und Metasomatismus verantwortlich sein. Die Spilite könnten das ozeanische Äquivalent der Alkalisyenite darstellen. Die Remobilisierung von alkalischem Material, ausgehend von Evaporiten und Solen, wäre auch für die Feldspatisation (z. B. die alpine Albitisierung) verantwortlich. Außerdem könnte dieser Vorgang eine wichtige Rolle bei der Bildung von Glaukophangesteinen spielen. Es ist von besonderer Bedeutung, daß die ältesten heute bekannten Lagerstätten von Evaporiten, Nephelinsyeniten und Glaukophanschiefern dem oberen Präkambrium (bzw. dem Eokambrium) angehören. Diese Gesteine scheinen mit abnehmendem Alter in ihrer Häufigkeit zuzunehmen. Dies könnte eine Evolution im Alkaligehalt des Meerwassers widerspiegeln, eine Erscheinung, welche ihrerseits einer zunehmenden Alkalisierung der Erdkruste entsprechen könnte.

Abstract

The assimilation of evaporites and brines by basaltic magma in continental rifts may be responsible for alkaline magmatism and metasomatism. Spilites may be the oceanic counterpart of alkaline syenites. Remobilisation of alkaline material from evaporites and brines may also lead to feldspathisation and, moreover, it may be an essential factor in the production of glaucophane-bearing rocks. It is particularly significant that the oldest known occurrences of evaporites, nepheline syenites, and glaucophane “schists” are all of late Precambrian (-Eocambrian) age. These rocks appear to have become increasingly abundant with decreasing age, and this may reflect an evolution in the alkali (especially sodium) content of sea water, which in turn may correspond to progressive alkalinisation of the Earth's crust.

Résumé

L'assimilation d'évaporites et de saumures par le magma basaltique montant dans des zones à rifts continentaux conduirait à des phénomènes de magmatisme et métasomatisme alcalins. Les spilites représenteraient le pendant océanique des syénites alcalines. La remobilisation de matériel alcalin à partir d'évaporites et de saumures serait également responsable de la feldspathisation (l'albitisation alpine, par exemple). De plus, elle pourrait jouer un rôle important dans la production de roches à glaucophane. Il est particulièrement significatif que les gisements les plus anciens, connus à ce jour, d'évaporites, de syénites néphéliniques, et de « schistes » à glaucophane, datent tous du Précambrien supérieur (ou de l'Eocambrien). Ces roches semblent augmenter de fréquence avec la diminution d'âge, ce qui pourrait refléter une évolution dans la teneur en alcalis (sodium surtout) de l'eau de mer, correspondant, à son tour, à l'alcalinisation croissante de la croûte terrestre.

Краткое содержание

Ассимиляция эвапори тов и соляных раствор ов базальтовой магмой в зонах континентальных риф тов может быть ответс твенна за появление щелочного магматизма и метасом атизма. Спилиты могут представлять собой о кеаническиc эквиваленты щелочны х сиенитов. Повторная мобилизация щелочного материала, идущего от эвапорито в и соляных растворов, может быть также ответственна и за появление полево го шпата (напр.: альпийс кая альбитизация). Кроме того, этот процесс мог играть важную роль пр и образовании глаукоф ановых пород. Особенно интер есно то, что самые древ ние известные на сегодня залежи овапоритов, нефелин-с иенитов и глаукофано вых сланцев принадлежат к верхне му докембрию, или оокемб рию. Количество этих п ород увеличивается с умен ьшением возраста. Такое взаим оотношение может отр ажать эволюцию содержания щелочей в морской вод е — явление, которое, в свою очередь, может соотве тствовать увеличивающейся щел очности земной коры.

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  1. Stephen Ayrton

    Present address: Institut de Minéralogie-Pétrographie, Université de Lausanne, Palais de Rumine, Lausanne, Switzerland

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    Ayrton, S. Rifts, evaporites and the origin of certain alkaline rocks. Geol Rundsch 63, 430–450 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01820823

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