scholarly journals Metamorphic and Metasomatic Kyanite-Bearing Mineral Assemblages of Thassos Island (Rhodope, Greece)

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarantola ◽  
Voudouris ◽  
Eglinger ◽  
Scheffer ◽  
Trebus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Size ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Fluid Circulation ◽  
Large Crystal ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Mineral Compositions ◽  
Host Rocks

The Trikorfo area (Thassos Island, Rhodope massif, Northern Greece) represents a unique mineralogical locality with Mn-rich minerals including kyanite, andalusite, garnet and epidote. Their vivid colors and large crystal size make them good indicators of gem-quality materials, although crystals found up to now are too fractured to be considered as marketable gems. The dominant lithology is represented by a garnet–kyanite–biotite–hematite–plagioclase ± staurolite ± sillimanite paragneiss. Thermodynamic Perple_X modeling indicates conditions of ca. 630–710 °C and 7.8–10.4 kbars. Post-metamorphic metasomatic silicate and calc-silicate (Mn-rich)-minerals are found within (i) green-red horizons with a mineralogical zonation from diopside, hornblende, epidote and grossular, (ii) mica schists containing spessartine, kyanite, andalusite and piemontite, and (iii) weakly deformed quartz-feldspar coarse-grained veins with kyanite at the interface with the metamorphic gneiss. The transition towards brittle conditions is shown by Alpine-type tension gashes, including spessartine–epidote–clinochlore–hornblende-quartz veins, cross-cutting the metamorphic foliation. Kyanite is of particular interest because it is present in the metamorphic paragenesis and locally in metasomatic assemblages with a large variety of colors (zoned blue to green/yellow-transparent and orange). Element analyses and UV-near infrared spectroscopy analyses indicate that the variation in color is due to a combination of Ti4+–Fe2+, Fe3+ and Mn3+ substitutions with Al3+. Structural and mineralogical observations point to a two-stage evolution of the Trikorfo area, where post-metamorphic hydrothermal fluid circulation lead locally to metasomatic reactions from ductile to brittle conditions during Miocene exhumation of the high-grade host-rocks. The large variety of mineral compositions and assemblages points to a local control of the mineralogy and fO2 conditions during metasomatic reactions and interactions between hydrothermal active fluids with surrounding rocks.

scholarly journals Amethyst Occurrences in Tertiary Volcanic Rocks of Greece: Mineralogical, Fluid Inclusion and Oxygen Isotope Constraints on Their Genesis

Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Voudouris ◽  
Vasilios Melfos ◽  
Constantinos Mavrogonatos ◽  
Alexandre Tarantola ◽  
Jens Gӧtze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusion ◽  
Open System ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluids ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Moderate Salinity ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Of Greece

Epithermally altered volcanic rocks in Greece host amethyst-bearing veins in association with various silicates, carbonates, oxides and sulfides. Host rocks are Oligocene to Pleistocene calc-alkaline to shoshonitic lavas and pyroclastics of intermediate to acidic composition. The veins are integral parts of high to intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineralized centers in northern Greece (e.g., Kassiteres–Sapes, Kirki, Kornofolia/Soufli, Lesvos Island) and on Milos Island. Colloform–crustiform banding with alternations of amethyst, chalcedony and/or carbonates is a common characteristic of the studied amethyst-bearing veins. Hydrothermal alteration around the quartz veins includes sericitic, K-feldspar (adularia), propylitic and zeolitic types. Precipitation of amethyst took place from near-neutral to alkaline fluids, as indicated by the presence of various amounts of gangue adularia, calcite, zeolites, chlorite and smectite. Fluid inclusion data suggest that the studied amethyst was formed by hydrothermal fluids with relatively low temperatures (~200–250 °C) and low to moderate salinity (1–8 wt % NaCl equiv). A fluid cooling gradually from the external to the inner parts of the veins, possibly with subsequent boiling in an open system, is considered for the amethysts of Silver Hill in Sapes and Kassiteres. Amethysts from Kornofolia, Megala Therma, Kalogries and Chondro Vouno were formed by mixing of moderately saline hydrothermal fluids with low-salinity fluids at relatively lower temperatures indicating the presence of dilution processes and probably boiling in an open system. Stable isotope data point to mixing between magmatic and marine (and/or meteoric) waters and are consistent with the oxidizing conditions required for amethyst formation.

scholarly journals Amethyst occurrences in Tertiary volcanic rocks of Greece: mineralogical and genetic implications

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 477 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Voudouris ◽  
I. Psimis ◽  
C. Mavrogonatos ◽  
C. Kanellopoulos ◽  
M. Kati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Hydrothermal Activity ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluids ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Volcanic Arc ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
High Sulfidation ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Of Greece

Epithermal-altered volcanic rocks in Greece host gem-quality amethyst veins in association with various silicates, carbonates, oxides, sulfides and halides. Host rocks are Oligocene to recent calc-alkaline to shoshonitic lavas and pyroclastics of intermediate- to acid composition. The amethyst-bearing veins occur in the periphery of porphyry-type and/or high-sulfidation epithermal mineralized centers in northern Greece (e.g. Sapes, Kirki, Kornofolia/Soufli, Lesvos island) and on Milos island in the active Aegean Volcanic Arc. Hydrothermal alteration around the quartz veins includes sericitic, K-feldspar (adularia), argillic, propylitic and zeolitic types. Precipitation of amethyst in the northern Greece occurrences, took place during the final stages of the magmatic-hydrothermal activity from near-neutral to alkaline fluids, as indicated by the presence of gangue adularia, calcite, smectite, chlorite, sericite, pyrite, zeolites (laumontite, heulandite, clinoptilolite), analcime and minor amounts of barite, halite, epidote and fluorite in the quartz veins. Amethyst at Milos Island (Chondro Vouno and Kalogries-Vani areas), is accompanied by barite, smectite and lepidocrocite. Colloform-crustiform banding with alternations of amethyst, chalcedony and/or carbonates is a common characteristic of the studied amethyst-bearing veins. Fluid inclusion- and mineralogical data suggest that the studied amethyst were formed at: 174-246 °C (Sapes area), 100-175 °C (Kirki and Kornofolia areas) and 223-234°C (Lesvos island). The amethyst formation requires oxidizing conditions and is probably the result of mixing between meteoric or seawater with upwelling hydrothermal fluids. The involvement of seawater in the studied mineralization is supported by the presence of halite and abundant barite in the veins. Finally, the studied amethyst deposits should be evaluated as potential gemstone sources in Greece.

Secondary Beryl in Cordierite/Sekaninaite Pseudomorphs from Granitic Pegmatites – A Monitor of Elevated Content of Beryllium in the Precursor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Gadas ◽  
Milan Novák ◽  
Michaela Vašinová Galiová ◽  
Adam Szuszkiewicz ◽  
Adam Pieczka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Secondary Minerals ◽  
Moldanubian Zone ◽  
Granitic Pegmatites ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Host Rocks

Abstract Cordierite-group minerals (cordierite and sekaninaite) from granitic pegmatites are often strongly to completely altered to a fine- or coarse-grained mixture of muscovite, chlorite and/or, biotite, along with several less common secondary minerals, including mainly paragonite, tourmaline, and secondary beryl. The mixture is a common product of early subsolidus hydrothermal alteration at the examined pegmatites of the beryl-columbite subtype – Věžná I and Drahonín (Moldanubian Zone, Czech Republic) and Mount Begbie (Shuswap Complex, Canada); of the beryl-columbite-phosphate subtype – Szklary (Góry Sowie Block, Poland); and of miarolitic intragranitic pegmatites – Zimnik (Massif Strzegom-Sobótka, Poland). We studied in detail (EPMA, LA-ICP-MS) relics of primary cordierite/sekaninaite: Věžná I (Crd77–72Sek27–22MnCrd2–1, Be = 0.39–0.25 apfu, Li = 0.06–0.04 apfu), Drahonín (Crd13–9Sek74–71MnCrd17–16, Be = 0.24–0.18 apfu, Li = 0.07–0.05 apfu), Szklary (Crd50–49Sek30–26MnCrd25–21, Be = 0.45–0.41 apfu, Li ≤ 0.02 apfu), Mount Begbie (Crd34–33Sek53–43MnCrd24–14, Be = 0.33–0.29 apfu, Li = 0.26–0.23 apfu), and Zimnik (Crd2–1Sek75–71MnCrd28–23, Be = 0.25–0.15 apfu, Li = 0.18–0.12 apfu). Secondary beryl has a similar Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratio to its cordierite/sekaninaite precursor but is Mn depleted. The mineral assemblages and textures of the pseudomorphs were examined with a focus on secondary beryl, which forms anhedral grains to subhedral elongated crystals, up to 0.3 mm in size, or aggregates of these in textural equilibrium with associated phyllosilicates and tourmaline. Tourmaline is known from Věžná I, Drahonín, Mount Begbie, and Zimnik, the last also with topaz and “zinnwaldite” (a mineral with chemical composition between siderophyllite and polylithionite). Secondary beryl in pseudomorphs after cordierite/sekaninaite from granitic pegmatites and more evolved granites may have been often overlooked; hence, we present its textures and morphology so that it can be recognized during routine EPMA study and to study the source of elevated concentrations of Be in primary cordierite/sekaninaite. The empirical limit of detection of secondary beryl in pseudomorphs is ∼500–1000 ppm Be, which corresponds to ∼1–2 vol.% of secondary beryl. The chemical composition of the secondary beryl and other minerals indicate that the fluids responsible for the alteration were exsolved from the residual pegmatite melt and were not contaminated by fluids from the host rocks.

scholarly journals New orogenic type gold occurrences in the Uyanga ore knot (Central Mongolia)

2018 ◽  
pp. 22-36
Author(s):  
Ariunbileg Sodov ◽  
Olga Gaskova ◽  
Altansukh Gankhuyag ◽  
Dagva-Ochir Lkhagvasuren ◽  
Otgonbaatar Dorjsuren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microprobe Analysis ◽  
Electron Microprobe Analysis ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Gold Content ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Central Mongolia ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Metallogenic Zone ◽  
Host Rocks

The Uyanga ore knot district of the Khangay metallogenic zone are hosted by the lower-middle Devonian volcanogenic-sedimentary Erdenetsogt formation. About 40 samples were collected from the host rocks, veins and quartz veins in the Uyanga ore knot district in 2016. The new Burgetei, Ult and Senjit gold occurrences were studied. The quartz-sulfide, gold-arsenic and gold-antimony-mercury mineralization are determined in the berecitization, silicification, limonitization and glauconization altered metasomatic zones within the Uyanga ore knot districts. The rocks of the Erdenetsogt formation have an irregular gold content: 0.96 g/t Au is determined in quartz vein taken from trench of the Burgetei occurrence (BG-7/16), Au content is highest up to 3.5 g/t in the quartzite-jasper (Ult-7/16 and Ult-9/16) cut by quartz veins in the Ult occurrence. The Senjit occurrence represents Au-Hg-Sb epizonal level of orogenic gold deposits structure with highest Hg content up to 851 ppm. This year no sulfide minerals were found in the siltstone of this occurrence. The Au content of arsenical pyrite of the Burgetei and Ult is below the detection limit by electron microprobe analysis. The Au content of arsenopyrite of the Ult occurrence is highest (up to 238 ppm). Therefore, the ore-mineral assemblages in the gold occurrences reflect the differences between the three explored sites, formed in the course of fluid evolution during the fluid-rock interaction. Variable concentrations of indicative elements (As, Te, Sb, Hg) and their ratios confirm this fact. The geodynamic position, the type of the hydrothermal alteration of both igneous and sedimentary rocks, textures and mineral assemblages, the mineralization sequences are consistent with orogenic classification for the Burgetei, Ult and Senjit gold occurrences.

CHARACTERIZATION OF PALEOPROTEROZOIC STRUCTURES, AURIFEROUS QUARTZ VEINS, AND HOST ROCKS, FISHER PROPERTY, SEABEE GOLD OPERATION, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Carol Onstad ◽  
◽  
Kevin M. Ansdell ◽  
Camille A. Partin ◽  
Anders Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Host Rocks

scholarly journals Magma Mixing Genesis of the Mafic Enclaves in the Qingshanbao Complex of Longshou Mountain, China: Evidence from Petrology, Geochemistry, and Zircon Chronology

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenheng Liu ◽  
Xiaodong Liu ◽  
Jiayong Pan ◽  
Kaixing Wang ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Rock ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Magma Mixing ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Quartz Crystals ◽  
Alkaline Rocks ◽  
Mafic Enclaves ◽  
Normal Zoning ◽  
Host Rocks

The Qingshanbao complex, part of the uranium metallogenic belt of the Longshou-Qilian mountains, is located in the center of the Longshou Mountain next to the Jiling complex that hosts a number of U deposits. However, little research has been conducted in this area. In order to investigate the origin and formation of mafic enclaves observed in the Qingshanbao body and the implications for magmatic-tectonic dynamics, we systematically studied the mineralogy, petrography, and geochemistry of these enclaves. Our results showed that the enclaves contain plagioclase enwrapped by early dark minerals. These enclaves also showed round quartz crystals and acicular apatite in association with the plagioclase. Electron probe analyses showed that the plagioclase in the host rocks (such as K-feldspar granite, adamellite, granodiorite, etc.) show normal zoning, while the plagioclase in the mafic enclaves has a discontinuous rim composition and shows instances of reverse zoning. Major elemental geochemistry revealed that the mafic enclaves belong to the calc-alkaline rocks that are rich in titanium, iron, aluminum, and depleted in silica, while the host rocks are calc-alkaline to alkaline rocks with enrichment in silica. On Harker diagrams, SiO2 contents are negatively correlated with all major oxides but K2O. Both the mafic enclaves and host rock are rich in large ion lithophile elements such as Rb and K, as well as elements such as La, Nd, and Sm, and relatively poor in high field strength elements such as Nb, Ta, P, Ti, and U. Element ratios of Nb/La, Rb/Sr, and Nb/Ta indicate that the mafic enclaves were formed by the mixing of mafic and felsic magma. In terms of rare earth elements, both the mafic enclaves and the host rock show right-inclined trends with similar weak to medium degrees of negative Eu anomaly and with no obvious Ce anomaly. Zircon LA-ICP-MS (Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) U-Pb concordant ages of the mafic enclaves and host rock were determined to be 431.8 5.2 Ma (MSWD (mean standard weighted deviation)= 1.5, n = 14) and 432.8 4.2 Ma (MSWD = 1.7, n = 16), respectively, consistent with that for the zircon U-Pb ages of the granite and medium-coarse grained K-feldspar granites of the Qingshanbao complex. The estimated ages coincide with the timing of the late Caledonian collision of the Alashan Block. This comprehensive analysis allowed us to conclude that the mafic enclaves in the Qingshanbao complex were formed by the mixing of crust-mantle magma with mantle-derived magma due to underplating, which caused partial melting of the ancient basement crust during the collisional orogenesis between the Alashan Block and Qilian rock mass in the early Silurian Period.

scholarly journals Review of the relationship between aggregates geology and Los Angeles and micro-Deval tests

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 1963-1980
Author(s):  
Solomon Adomako ◽  
Christian John Engelsen ◽  
Rein Terje Thorstensen ◽  
Diego Maria Barbieri
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Crystal Size ◽  
Grain Shape ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Engineering Properties ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractRock aggregates constitute the enormous volume of inert construction material used around the globe. The petrologic description as igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic types establishes the intrinsic formation pattern of the parent rock. The engineering properties of these rocks vary due to the differences in the transformation process (e.g. hydrothermal deposits) and weathering effect. The two most common mechanical tests used to investigate the performance of aggregates are the Los Angeles (LA) and micro-Deval (MD) tests. This study reviewed the geological parameters (including mineralogy, grain and crystal size, grain shape, and porosity) and the relationship to Los Angeles and micro-Deval tests. It was found that high content of primary minerals in rocks (e.g. quartz and feldspar) is a significant parameter for performance evaluation. Traces of secondary and accessory minerals also affect the performance of rocks, although in many cases it is based on the percentage. Furthermore, some studies showed that the effect of mineralogic composition on mechanical strength is not sufficient to draw final conclusions of mechanical performance; therefore, the impact of other textural characteristics should be considered. The disposition of grain size and crystal size (e.g. as result of lithification) showed that rocks composed of fine-grain textural composition of ≤ 1 mm enhanced fragmentation and wear resistance than medium and coarse grained (≥ 1 mm). The effect of grain shape was based on convex and concave shapes and flat and elongated apexes of tested samples. The equidimensional form descriptor of rocks somehow improved resistance to impact from LA than highly flat and elongated particles. Lastly, the distribution of pore space investigated by means of the saturation method mostly showed moderate (R = 0.50) to strong (R = 0.90) and positive correlations to LA and MD tests.

Paragenesis of veins of the Duck Pond tin prospect, Meguma Group, East Kemptville, Nova Scotia

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2032-2043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian V. Pitre ◽  
Jean M. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Manganese Oxides ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Granitic Magma ◽  
Sulphide Minerals ◽  
Main Indicator ◽  
Argillic Alteration ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Indicator Mineral ◽  
Host Rocks

The Duck Pond tin prospect is a vein- and strata-bound cassiterite prospect that is located 2 km west of the East Kemptville open-pit tin mine in southwestern Nova Scotia. The host rocks of the Duck Pond prospect are interbedded metawacke and meta-argillite that belong to the transition unit of the Meguma Group. These rocks contain quartz, sericite, chlorite, hematite, rutile, manganese oxides, feldspar, and porphyroblastic garnet, but not detrital cassiterite. The prospect is structurally controlled and contains several cross-cutting vein sets that have alkalic, chloritic, or argillic alteration assemblages. Muscovite is the main indicator mineral for alkalic alteration and occurs in veins that contain anorthoclase or quartz. Cassiterite is associated with chloritic alteration and occurs as subhedral to euhedral grains, acicular needles, and colloform layers in veins in meta-argillite and as strata-bound disseminations in metawacke. Most cassiterite precipitated under externally buffered conditions with respect to oxygen. Fe, Cu, Zn, and As sulphide minerals and quartz were deposited during argillic alteration. Late-stage processes such as recrystallization, sulphidation, and oxidation also occurred. Chalcopyrite is replaced by bornite and covellite; pyrite is replaced by marcasite.Unlike the F-rich East Kemptville deposit, fluorine-rich and tin-sulphide minerals are not present in the Duck Pond prospect. Trace tourmaline, absent at East Kemptville, is found at Duck Pond. However, the source of tin-mineralizing fluids at Duck Pond and East Kemptville was likely the granitic magma of the Davis Lake complex, which also hosts the East Kemptville deposit. From the mineral assemblages and textural relationships, it appears that as the temperature dropped from 425–405 °C to less than 200 °C at Duck Pond, the pH dropped from 5.2 to no lower than 3. Log [Formula: see text] dropped from at least −19 to −43. Log [Formula: see text] rose from < −15 to > −10. Cassiterite precipitated at the higher ends of the temperature and pH ranges and the lower end of the log [Formula: see text] range.

scholarly journals Ultrasonic Shaking of Glauconite Pellets with Diverse Reagents for a Comparison of Their K–Ar with Already Published Rb–Sr Results

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
Norbert Clauer ◽  
Edward Keppens ◽  
I. Tonguç Uysal ◽  
Amélie Aubert
Keyword(s):  
Clay Material ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Metallic Trace Elements ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Isotopic Studies ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Preparation Step ◽  
Mineral Compositions ◽  
Sr Method

A combined ultrasonic treatment, with de-ionized H2O, dilute HAc or dilute HCl, of three Mid-Miocene glauconite samples was applied to K–Ar date the different separates in order to compare the results with those obtained by the Rb–Sr method using the same three samples and that were analyzed strictly in the same way. Two aliquots yield opposite elemental and K–Ar trends, which suggests different initial mineral compositions for the various pellets. The K–Ar data of two untreated and leached L7 and L8 aliquots are almost within analytical uncertainty from 17.3 ± 0.6 Ma to 19.6 ± 0.7 Ma (2σ), while those of the third L10 sample are slightly higher at 22.1 ± 1.2 Ma (2σ). Comparatively, the earlier published Rb–Sr ages of the three untreated samples and of the leached aliquots gave similar data for the L7 aliquots by an isochron at 18.1 ± 3.1 (2σ) Ma and for the sample L8 by an isochron with an age of 19.6 ± 1.8 (2σ) Ma, while the untreated L10 aliquot yields a very high Rb–Sr date of 42.1 ± 1.6 (2σ) Ma. This untreated L10 glauconite fraction contains blödite, a Sr-rich carbonate that impacted the two isotopic systems differently. Generally, dilute HCl or HAc acids dissolve carbonates, sulfates, sulfites and oxides, while they do not affect the clay-type crystals such as glauconites. These soluble minerals can be identified indirectly, as here, by X-ray diffraction and the amounts of leached Na2O, CaO and Fe2O3 contents. Together with the leaching of some metallic trace elements, those of NaO confirm the leaching of metals and of blödite that are both hosted by the glauconite pellets. The occurrence of this Sr-enriched mineral explains the age differences of the non-treated aliquots and suggests a systematic leaching of any glauconite separate before isotope determination and, possibly, a comparison of the Rb–Sr and K–Ar results. Ultrasonic shaking appears appropriate for physical disaggregation of any contaminating grains that may remain hosted within the pellets, even after a preliminary H2O wash, which may dissolve and remove the soluble minerals but not the H2O-insoluble silicates. The K–Ar study completed here as a complement to a previous Rb–Sr study highlights, again, the importance of the preparation step in isotopic studies of glauconite-type and, by extension, of any clay material, as all occurring minerals can interfere in the final age determinations and, therefore, differently in the mineral assemblages. All those not in isotopic equilibrium need to be removed before analysis, including the soluble Sr or alkali-enriched ones.

scholarly journals Genesis of alpinotype fissure minerals from Thasos Island, Northern Greece - Mineralogy, mineral chemistry and crystallizing environment.

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 468 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Voudouris ◽  
S. Constantinidou ◽  
M. Kati ◽  
C. Mavrogonatos ◽  
C. Kanellopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Chemistry ◽  
Core Complex ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Quartz Crystals ◽  
Widespread Occurrence ◽  
Mineral Deposition ◽  
Extensional Tectonic ◽  
Silicate Layers ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Metamorphic Core

Alpinotype fissure-minerals in Thasos Island are hosted in gneisses, amphibolites, Mn-rich schists and calc-silicate layers, and marbles of the Carboniferous-Permian Pangeon Unit, which represents the lower tectonostratigraphic unit of the southern Rhodope metamorphic core complex. Alpinotype fissures crosscut metamorphic fabrics and are closely related to the exhumation processes of the core complex during the Oligocene-Miocene. Most mineralized fissures occur close to a major detachment fault, which separates gneisses from marbles and amphibolites. The mineralogy of the alpinotype fissures is closely related to the host rocks: amphibolite-hosted fissures include adularia, albite, quartz, titanite, apatite, actinolite, chlorite, calcite, hematite and rutile. Fissures in para- and orthogneisses- and in metapegmatites are characterized by smoky and clear quartz, adularia, muscovite and hematite. Fissures within spessartite-piemontite schists contain quartz, chlorite, spessartite, hematite, rutile, albite, epidote and traces of zircon. Finally fissures in calc-silicate layers include Mn-grossular, quartz and Mn-clinozoisite. Hydrothermal alteration halos surrounding the fissures may suggest leaching of the wall rocks as a potential mechanism for mineral deposition. Scepter quartz crystals consist of a lower Tessinhabit crystal and several generations of upper prismatic quartz crystals, suggesting several stages of crystallization and changing P-T-x conditions with time. Chlorite geothermometry indicates temperatures of formation in the range between 286 and 366 °C. Tessin habit quartz was deposited from CO2-bearing fluids, probably at the transition from a compressional to an extensional tectonic regime and was later dissolved by meteoric water dominated fluids resulting in the formation of quartz scepters. Oxidizing conditions are indicated by the widespread occurrence of hematite in the mineralization. The studied area represents a unique mineralogical geotope. Its geological-mineralogical heritage should be protected through establishment of a mineralogical-petrological geopark that will also promote sustainable development of the area.

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