The Phosphate Mineral Assemblages from La Viquita Pegmatite, San Luis, Argentina

Author(s):  
Miguel A. Galliski ◽  
Encarnación Roda-Robles ◽  
Frédéric Hatert ◽  
María Florencia Márquez-Zavalía ◽  
Viviana A. Martínez

Abstract La Viquita is a rare-element pegmatite of LCT signature, REL-Li subclass, spodumene subtype, that shows Fe > Mn mineral paragenesis instead of Mn > Fe, which is more common in the rare-element pegmatite population of the San Luis ranges. The phosphate mineral association of this pegmatite can be subdivided into (1) primary, with dendritic triphylite [(Fe/(Fe + Mn) = 0.72] and montebrasite–amblygonite as main phases; (2) metasomatic, with subsolidus replacement of triphylite by ferrisicklerite and heterosite; and (3) hydrothermal, with secondary growth of alluaudite at the expense of heterosite and wardite from montebrasite caused by Na-metasomatism. A Ca-rich influx under oxidizing conditions produced childrenite–eosphorite–ernstite, jahnsite-(CaMnFe), and kingsmountite. Apatite-group minerals are present throughout the processes. Very late-stage solutions formed millimetric crystals of hydroxylherderite associated with hydroxylapatite in cavities in K-feldspar.

2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Galliski ◽  
M. F. Marquez-Zavalia ◽  
P. Cerny ◽  
V. A. Martinez ◽  
R. Chapman

1992 ◽  
Vol 56 (383) ◽  
pp. 235-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian A. Finch ◽  
James G. Fletcher

AbstractThe uncommon sodium rare-earth phosphate mineral vitusite-(Ce) (Na3RE(PO4)2) can be considered as the extreme product of sodium and rare-earth substitution in the apatite structure. Lesser amounts of substitution provide sodium and rare-earth-bearing apatites up to about 80 mol.% exchange; beyond this point vitusite is the stable phase. The structure of vitusite, determined previously from a synthetic analogue, can also be considered as a derivative from apatite, but with cations exchanged on sites normally occupied by anions. Vitusite can therefore be considered as a sodium- and rare-earthrich apatite end-member, with a distinct, but apatite-derived, structure, formed in highly persodic and high rare-earth environments. From an examination of the literature on diffusion in apatite, vitusite in principle could be formed from apatitesensu strictoby subsolidus diffusion in response to late-stage NaandRE-rich hydrothermal fluids.


2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadhil N. Sadooni ◽  
Fares Howari ◽  
Howell G.M. Edwards ◽  
Ayman El-Saiy

AbstractDeep-core and surface samples collected from the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi were subjected to a multi-proxy study, including petrographic, geochemical and spectroscopic analyses. The sediments studied are composed of biochemical carbonate-evaporite mineral suites, such as calcite, dolomite, aragonite and gypsum, as well as clastic minerals, such as quartz, feldspar and serpentine. These sediments were also strongly influenced by microbial activities as reflected by the presence of cyanobacterial mats, boring, gas bubble structures, pustular and other macro and micro textures. A combination of marine, fluvial, aeolian, and groundwater processes shaped the geomorphology of the area and led to the formation of such mineral suites, as well as their microbial contents. Data collected from Mars indicate that its surface regolith contains sandstone composed of siliciclastic basaltic debris, as well as carbonate (e.g. magnesite) and evaporite (e.g. jarosite and relics of gypsum) mineral assemblages. Additional data suggest the presence of geomorphic features, characteristic of an arid climate, such as sand dunes and desert varnish. The hydrological model for the Late Noachian-Hesperian period of the plant proposed the existence of a surficial layer containing endolithic and stromatolitic cyanobacterial lamina. The combination of the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi with its carbonate-evaporite mineral suites, the neighbouring sand dune fields of the Empty Quarter Desert and the basaltic sediments resulted from weathering the ophiolitic Northern Oman Mountains to form a candidate terrestrial geologic province that may explain the mineral association of Mars and its potential biosignatures. The lithological features and the mineral association of the sabkha can be recognized by the present day detection equipment used on Mars, and even if their biosignatures are degraded, their existence may be inferred from these features.


2001 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Β. ΜΕΛΦΟΣ ◽  
Π. ΒΟΥΔΟΥΡΗΣ ◽  
Κ. ΑΡΙΚΑΣ ◽  
Μ. ΒΑΒΕΛΙΔΗΣ

The present study correlates both the mineralogy of the hydrothermal alteration and the mineral chemistry of molybdenites from three porphyry Mo ± Cu occurrences in Thrace: Melitena, Pagoni Rachi/Kirki and Ktismata/ Maronia. The mineralisations are genetically related to calcalkaline, subvolcanic bodies of Tertiary age. According to their mineralogical and chemical composition the host rocks are characterized as dacite (Melitena), dacitic andésite (Pagoni Rachi) and porphyry microgranite (Ktismata/Maronia). The molybdenites occur in disseminated form, as fracture fillings, as well within quartz stockworks crosscuting the central alteration zones of the intrusives. They are accompanied by the following mineral assemblages: quartz, sericite, pyrophyllite, diaspore, Ca-Ba-rich alunite, pyrite (Melitena); quartz, albite/K-feldspar, biotite, actinolite, magnetite (Pagoni Rachi); and sericite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, chlorite (Ktismata). Preliminary microthermometric results showed homogenisation temperatures from 352° to 390 °C for Pagoni Rachi area and from 295° to 363 °C for Melitena area. The salinities range between 4.5 and 6.1 wt% eq. NaCl and between 2.7 and 3.4 wt% eq. NaCl, respectively. Detailed study on over 400 fluid inclusions from the porphyry Cu-Mo deposit in Maronia area revealed formation temperatures from 300° to 420 °C, whereas salinities are distincted in two different groups from 6 to 16 wt% eq. NaCl and from 28 to 55 wt% eq. NaCl. The chemical composition of the molybdenites from the three porphyry Mo±Cu deposits in Thrace was studied with 155 microprobe analyses. The results revealed unusual high and variable Re concentrations in the studied molybdenites. Re content in molybdenite from Melitena area vary from 0.21 to 1.74 wt%, 0.79 wt% on average. The highest values were measured in samples from Pagoni Rachi (0.45-4.21 wt%, 1.98 wt% on average). Finally, microprobe analyses from molybdenite in Ktismata/Maronia showed Re content between 0.12 and 2.88 wt% (0.76 wt% on average). Rhenium is a very rare element with many definite uses, and is mainly associated with molybdenite in porphyry type deposits. According to the data published so far the Re content in molybdenite reaches up to 0.42 wt%. It is obvious therefore that such high Re concentrations (0.12 to 4.22 wt%) from the studied molybdenites in Thrace, are very ineresting for a possible future exploitation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halley A Keevil ◽  
Olivier Namur ◽  
Marian B Holness

Abstract Replacive symplectites (vermicular intergrowths of two or more minerals) are an important feature of layered igneous intrusions, recording evidence of late-stage reactions between interstitial liquid and crystals. They are common throughout the Layered Series of the 564 Ma Sept Iles layered intrusion in Quebec, Canada, and fall into three types: oxy-symplectites, ‘Type I’ symplectites, and ‘Type II’ symplectites. Oxy-symplectites are comprised of magnetite and orthopyroxene, nucleate on olivine primocrysts, and form via the reaction Olivine + O2 → Orthopyroxene + Magnetite; Type I symplectites (of which there are 3 distinct categories) are comprised of anorthitic plagioclase with pyroxene, amphibole, or olivine vermicules, grow from primocryst oxide grains, and replace primocryst plagioclase; and Type II symplectites (of which there are 2 distinct categories) are comprised of anorthitic plagioclase with orthopyroxene ± amphibole vermicules, grow from primocryst olivine grains, and replace primocryst plagioclase. Rare symplectites composed of biotite and plagioclase are also present. Symplectite growth occurred at 700–1030°C with pressure constraints of 1–2 kbar. We propose that Type I symplectites, and some Type II symplectites, formed from the interaction of primocrysts with residual Fe-rich liquid as a consequence of differential loss of an immiscible Si-rich liquid conjugate from the crystal mush. However, redistribution and concentration of hydrous fluids in incompletely solidified rock, or an increase in water activity of the interstitial melt, may be more plausible processes responsible for the formation of replacive symplectites comprising abundant hydrous mineral assemblages.


Author(s):  
Jie Dong ◽  
Chunjing Wei

Abstract The South Altyn ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt is claimed to host the deepest subducted continental crust based on the discovery of former stishovite, and thus can provide unique insights into the tectonic evolution from deep continental subduction and exhumation to arc–backarc extension. In this paper, we present detailed studies of petrography, mineral chemistry, phase equilibria modelling and zircon U-Pb dating for three representative samples involving garnet amphibolite (A1531 & A1533) and associated garnet-biotite gneiss (A1534) from the UHP belt. Three phases of metamorphism are inferred for the rocks. The first phase high pressure (HP)–UHP-type eclogite facies is represented by the mineral assemblages of garnet and phengite inclusions in zircon and garnet cores with the high grossular (XGrs = 0.33–0.34). The Si contents of 3.40–3.53 and 3.24–3.25 p.f.u. in phengite inclusions yield pressure conditions of >1.7–2.3 GPa for A1533 and 2.5–2.55 GPa for A1534 at a fixed temperature of 770 °C. The second phase medium-pressure (MP)-type overprinting of garnet amphibolite facies shows P–T conditions of 0.8–1.2 GPa/750–785 °C based on the stability fields of corresponding mineral assemblages, the measured isopleths of Ti contents in biotite and amphibole cores, and XGrs in garnet. The third phase low-pressure (LP) type overprinting includes early-stage heating to peak granulite facies followed by cooling towards a late-stage amphibolite facies. The peak granulite facies is represented by the high Ti amphibole mantle, high Zr titanite and the intergrowths of clinopyroxene + ilmenite in A1533 & A1531, with P–T conditions of 800–875 °C/0.80–0.95 GPa. The late-stage is defined by the solidus assemblages, giving P–T conditions of 0.5–0.7 GPa/720–805 °C. U-Pb geochronology on metamorphic zircons from A1533 and A1534 gives three ages of c. 500 Ma, c. 482 Ma and c. 460 Ma. They are interpreted to represent the HP–UHP, MP and LP types of metamorphism respectively, based on cathodoluminescence images, mineral inclusions and trace element patterns. Combining the regional geology and metamorphic evolution from the Altyn Orogen, a tectonic model is inferred, including the following tectonic scenarios. The small Altyn Microcontinent was subducted to great mantle depths with dragging of the surrounding vast oceanic lithosphere to undergo the HP–UHP eclogite facies metamorphism during the early subduction stage (c. 500 Ma) of the Proto-Tethys Ocean. Then, the subducted slabs were exhumed to a thickened crust region to be overprinted by the MP-type assemblages at c. 482 Ma. Finally, an arc–backarc extension was operated within the thickened crust region due to the retreat of subduction zones. It caused evident heating and the LP-type metamorphic overprinting at c. 460 Ma, with a fairly long interval of 30–40 Myr after the HP–UHP metamorphism, distinct from the short interval of <5–10 Myr in the Bohemian Massif.


1996 ◽  
Vol 60 (402) ◽  
pp. 767-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Roda ◽  
F. Fontan ◽  
A. Pesquera ◽  
F. Velasco

AbstractIn the Fregeneda area different pegmatitic types can be distinguished on the basis of their mineralogy, internal structure and field relationships. The most common type corresponds with simple pegmatites with a homogeneous internal structure, but Li and Sn-bearing pegmatites are also relatively widespread, besides a minority group of Fe-Mn phosphate-bearing pegmatites that has recently been characterized. These pegmatites are located in an intermediate zone, between the barren pegmatites and the most evolved Li and Sn-bearing bodies, and they carry a complex association of phosphate minerals. The study of these phosphates has allowed the identification of the primary phases as wyllieite, graftonite, sarcopside, triplite-zwieselite and ferrisicklerite; the secondary phosphates are rosemaryite, heterosite-purpurite, alluaudite and väyrynenite. In this study, the main characteristics of these phosphate minerals are reported, including their chemical composition, analysed by electron microprobe, and their unit-cell parameters, calculated using X-ray powder diffraction techniques.A common transformation mechanism in this phosphate association is the oxidation of the transition metal cations at the same time as Na-leaching in wyllieite to generate rosemaryite, and Li-leaching in ferrisicklerite to generate heterosite. The occurrence of sarcopside lamellae in ferrisicklerite and heterosite is evidence of the replacement processes of the former by the latter. A Na-metasomatic replacement of the early phosphates as ferrisicklerite and graftonite, producing alluaudite, is also a well developed process.Phosphate minerals occur in pegmatites with an intermediate degree of fractionation, appearing between the barren and the more evolved pegmatites with Li and Sn, which is in agreement with the pegmatite field zonation established in the literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 751-761
Author(s):  
Marco E. Biglia ◽  
Mark A. Cooper ◽  
Edward S. Grew ◽  
Martin G. Yates ◽  
Jorge A. Sfragulla ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Liraite, ideally NaCa2Mn2[Fe3+Fe2+]Mn2(PO4)6(H2O)2, is a new mineral found in the Ceferino Namuncurá pegmatite, Pocho Department, Córdoba province, Argentina. It occurs in ellipsoidal nodules up to 20 cm in diameter in the intermediate zone of a Muscovite-Rare Element class pegmatite. Secondary phosphates, such as varulite, robertsite, fluorapatite, phosphosiderite, and Sr-rich metaswitzerite, together with minor quartz in veinlets, are associated minerals. Liraite is interpreted to have formed by reaction of phosphate minerals with Na-bearing hydrothermal fluids. It is dark brown with greenish hues (nearly black) in massive aggregates and dark olive green in translucent slices with a dark brownish green streak and a vitreous luster. It is brittle with an irregular fracture, one very good cleavage, and a good cleavage orthogonal to the very good cleavage. The Mohs hardness is 5, and the measured and calculated densities are 3.52(1) and 3.529(1) g/cm3, respectively. In transmitted light it is pleochroic X = Y = olive, Z = yellowish brown with X = Y > Z and optical orientation X = 2V(calc.) = 69.2°. The refractive indicies measured with monochromatic light (λ = 589 nm) are α = 1.732 (3), β = 1.739 (3), γ = 1.754 (3). Liraite is orthorhombic (Pcab) and has unit-cell parameters a = 12.608(6) Å, b = 12.918(6) Å, c = 11.737(4) Å, V = 1911.6(14) Å3, Z = 4. The six strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are as follows: [d in Å, (I), (hkl)] 2.7452, 100, (421); 2.8563, 65, (014); 2.9266, 49, (004); 2.7061, 30, (412); 2.0966, 29, (334); 2.7693, 26, (402). The crystal structure was refined to an R index of 1.94% based on 2910 observed (>4σF) reflections measured with MoKα X-radiation. Chemical analysis by electron microprobe of the structure crystal (holotype specimen) gave Na2O 1.58, FeO 5.29, Fe2O3 11.45, CaO 10.52, MgO 0.77, MnO 24.00, P2O5 41.55, SrO 0.72, ZnO 0.19, H2O (calc.) 3.50, total 99.57 wt.% where water was calculated from the crystal-structure analysis and the Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio was determined by charge balance. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 26 oxygen atoms is (Na0.53□0.47)Σ1.00(Ca1.93Sr0.07)Σ2.00(Fe3+1.48Fe2+0.76Mn3.48Mg0.20Zn0.02)Σ5.94P6.02O24(H2O)2, ideally NaCa2M(1)Mn2M(2)[Fe3+Fe+2]M(3)Mn2(PO4)6(H2O)2. The Gladstone-Dale relation gives a compatibility index of 1 – (KP/KC) = 0.010 (superior). This new member of the wicksite group is Mn-rich, and, like bederite, has Mn dominant at the M(1) and M(3) sites. However, the Na site in liraite is Na-dominant with M(2)[Fe3+Fe2+], whereas bederite is □-dominant with M(2)Fe3+2. Liraite has a very low MgO content, and even with all available Mg assigned to the M(2) site, Fe2+ > Mg at M(2). Consequently, liraite is the first wicksite-group mineral with endmember M(2) composition [Fe3+Fe2+].


Author(s):  
Henning Sørensen ◽  
Lotte Melchior Larsen

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Sørensen , H., & Melchior Larsen, L. (2001). The hyper-agpaitic stage in the evolution of the Ilímaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 190, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v190.5177 _______________ The term hyper-agpaitic covers mineral associations characterised by a wealth of Na-rich minerals such as natrosilite, zirsinalite, ussingite, vuonnemite, vitusite and lomonosovite. This mineral association clearly indicates a higher degree of alkalinity than for agpaitic rocks in general. In the Ilímaussaq complex hyper-agpaitic mineral associations occur not only in pegmatites and hydrothermal veins as in the Kola complexes, Khibina and Lovozero, but also in highly evolved lujavrites and in the fenitised volcanic rocks in the roof of the complex. This paper reviews the occurrences of hyper-agpaitic mineral associations in the Ilímaussaq complex. The mineral assemblages are determined by an interplay of temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity, alkalinity, especially the concentration of Na, and contents of elements such as Zr, Ti, Nb, REE, Fe, Mn, U, Th, P, F, Cl and H2O. Increasing and decreasing stages of alkalinity may be distinguished. At increasing alkalinity nepheline is for instance substituted by naujakasite, while at decreasing alkalinity and temperature naujakasite is substituted by analcime.


Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Cámara ◽  
Luca Bindi ◽  
Adriana Pagano ◽  
Renato Pagano ◽  
Sarah Gain ◽  
...  

Dellagiustaite, ideally Al2V2+O4, is a new spinel-group mineral from Sierra de Comechingones, San Luis, Argentina, where it is found associated with hibonite (containing tubular inclusions, 5–100 μm, of metallic vanadium), grossite, and two other unknown phases with ideal stoichiometry of Ca2Al3O6F and Ca2Al2SiO7. A very similar rock containing dellagiustaite has been found at Mt Carmel (northern Israel), where super-reduced mineral assemblages have crystallized from high-T melts trapped in corundum aggregates (micro-xenoliths) within picritic-tholeiitic lavas ejected from Cretaceous volcanoes. In the holotype, euhedral grains of dellagiustaite are found as inclusions in grossite. The empirical average chemical formula of dellagiustaite is (Al1.09 V 0.91 2 + V 0.87 3 + Mg0.08 Ti 0.04 3 + Mn0.01)Σ3O4, but it may show limited replacement of V2+ by Mg and of V3+ by Al. As Al is the dominant trivalent cation, the ideal formula is Al2V2+O4 according to the current IMA rules. Dellagiustaite shows the usual space group of spinel-group minerals (Fd 3 ¯ m, R1 = 1.46%) with a = 8.1950(1) Å. The observed mean bond lengths <T–O> = 1.782(2) Å and <M–O> = 2.0445(9) Å, the observed site scattering (T = 13.3 eps, M = 22.5 eps), and the chemical composition show that dellagiustaite is an inverse spinel: T tetrahedra are occupied by Al3+, whereas M octahedra are occupied by V2+ and V3+, leading to the site assignment as TAlM( V 0.91 2 + V 0.88 3 + Al 0.09 3 + Mg0.08 Ti 0.03 3 + Mn0.01)O4.


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