Trace element composition and degree of partial melting of pelitic migmatites from the Aoyama area, Ryoke metamorphic belt, SW Japan: Implications for the source region of tourmaline leucogranites

Degree of partial melting of pelitic migmatites from the Aoyama area, Ryoke metamorphic belt, SW Japan is determined utilizing whole-rock trace element compositions. The key samples used in this study were taken from the migmatite front of this area and have interboudin partitions filled with tourmaline-bearing leucosome. These samples are almost perfectly separated into leucosome (melt) and surrounding matrix (solid). This textural feature enables an estimate of the melting degree by a simple mass-balance calculation, giving the result of 5–11 wt.% of partial melting. Similar calculations applied to the migmatite samples, which assume average migmatite compositions to be the residue solid fraction, give degree of melt extraction of 12–14 wt.% from the migmatite zone. The similarity of the estimated melting degree of 5–11 wt.% with that in other tourmaline–leucogranites, such as Harney Peak leucogranite and Himalayan leucogranites, in spite of differences in formation process implies that the production of tourmaline leucogranites is limited to low degrees of partial melting around 10 wt.%, probably controlled by the breakdown of sink minerals for boron such as muscovite and tourmaline at a relatively early stage of partial melting. Because the amount of boron originally available in the pelitic source rock is limited (on average 100 ppm), 10 wt.% of melting locally requires almost complete breakdown of boron sink mineral(s) in the source rock, in order to provide sufficient boron into the melt to saturate it in tourmaline. This, in turn, means that boron-depleted metapelite regions are important candidates for the source regions of tourmaline leucogranites.     

Mineral recorders of pegmatite internal evolution: REE contents of tourmaline from the Bob Ingersoll pegmatite,South Dakota

Trace rare earth elements (REE) have been determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis for tourmaline samples from an internally zoned, rare-element, granitic pegmatite, located in the Black Hills, South Dakota. The total REE concentrations range from 40 ppm–0.2 ppm, and are highest in tourmaline from the exomorphic halo (country rock) and pegmatite border zone. Chondrite-normalized patterns are highly fractionated from light REE to heavy REE; and REE concentrations decrease in tourmaline from the outer wall zone and first intermediate zone, through the inner wall zone and third intermediate zone, to lowest levels in the pegmatite core. The REEs, as recorded by tourmaline, appear to behave compatibly in this pegmatite system due to early crystallization of apatite and other possible “REE-sink” minerals. The large range of REE concentrations and differences in slopes of chondrite-normalized patterns probably also reflect significant changes in the structural state of the pegmatite melt, caused by changes in pH₂O and other volatiles (B, F, P) as crystallization progressed. Tourmaline samples that appear to have been fluid-derived are HREE-depleted relative to coexisting silicate-melt-derived tourmaline. Tourmaline does not exhibit any strong preference for specific REEs, rather its REE content appears to reflect the REE content of the medium from which the tourmaline crystallized.     

Tourmaline geochemistry and boron isotopic variations as a guide to fluid evolution in the Qiman Tagh W-Sn belt,East Kunlun,China

The Qiman Tagh W-Sn belt lies in the westernmost section of the East Kunlun Orogen, NW China, and is associated with early Paleozoic monzogranites, tourmaline is present throughout this belt. In this paper we report chemical and boron isotopic compositions of tourmaline from wall rocks, monzogranites, and quartz veins within the belt, for studying the evolution of ore-forming fluids. Tourmaline crystals hosted in the monzogranite and wall rocks belong to the alkali group, while those hosted in quartz veins belong to both the alkali and X-site vacancy groups. Tourmaline in the walk rocks lies within the schorl-dravite series and becomes increasingly schorlitic in the monzogranite and quartz veins. Detrital tourmaline in the wall rocks is commonly both optically and chemically zoned,with cores being enriched in Mg compared with the rims. In the Al-Fe-Mg and Ca-Fe-Mg diagrams,tourmaline from the wall rocks plots in the fields of Al-saturated and Ca-poor metapelite, and extends into the field of Li-poor granites, while those from the monzogranite and quartz veins lie within the field of Li-poor granites. Compositional substitution is best represented by the MgFe_(-1), Al(NaR)_(-1), and AlO(Fe(OH))_(-1) exchange vectors. A wider range of δ~(11)B values from -11.1‰ to -7.1‰ is observed in the wall-rock tourmaline crystals, the B isotopic values combining with elemental diagrams indicate a source of metasediments without marine evaporates for the wall rocks in the Qiman Tagh belt. The δ~(11)B values of monzogranite-hosted tourmaline range from -10.7‰ and-9.2‰, corresponding to the continental crust sediments, and indicate a possible connection between the wall rocks and the monzogranite. The overlap in δ~(11)B values between wall rocks and monzogranite implies that a transfer of δ~(11)B values by anataxis with little isotopic fractionation between tourmaline and melts. Tourmaline crystals from quartz veins have δ~(11)B values between -11.0‰ and-9.6‰, combining with the elemental diagrams and geological features, thus indicating a common granite-derived source for the quartz veins and little B isotopic fractionation occurred. Tourmalinite in the wall rocks was formed by metasomatism by a granite-derived hydrothermal fluid, as confirmed by the compositional and geological features.Therefore, we propose a single B-rich sedimentary source in the Qiman Tagh belt, and little boron isotopic fractionation occurred during systematic fluid evolution from the wall rocks, through monzogranite, to quartz veins and tourmalinite.     

Geochemical Constraints on Leucogranite Magmatism in the Langtang Valley, Nepal Himalaya

A complex of crustally derived leucogranitic sills emplacedinto sillimanite-grade psammites in the upper Langtang Valleyof northern Nepal forms part of the Miocene High Himalayan graniteassociation. A series of post-tectonic, subvertical leucograniticdykes intrude the underlying migmatites, providing possiblefeeders to the main granite sills. The leucogranite is peraluminous and alkali-rich, and can besubdivided into a muscovite–biotite and a tourmaline–muscovitefacies. Phase relations suggest that the tourmaline leucogranitescrystallized from a water-undersaturated magma of minimum-meltcomposition at pressures around 3–4 kbar. Potential metasedimentaryprotoliths include a substantial anatectic migmatite complexand a lower-grade mica schist sequence. Isotopic constraintspreclude the migmatites as a source of the granitic melts, whereastrace-element modelling of LILEs (Rb, Sr, and Ba), togetherwith the Nd and Sr isotopic signatures of potential protoliths,strongly suggest that the tourmaline-bearing leucogranites havebeen generated by fluid-absent partial melting of the muscovite-richschists. However, REE and HFSE distributions cannot be reconciledwith equilibrium melting from such a source. Systematic covariationsbetween Rb, Sr, and Ba can be explained by variations in protolithmineralogy and P–T–a_H2O. Tourmaline leucogranites with high Rb/Sr ratios represent low-fraction-melts(F{small tilde} 12%) efficiently extracted from their protolithsunder conditions of low water activity, whereas the heterogeneoustwo-mica granites may result from melting under somewhat highera_H2O conditions. The segregation of low-degree melts from sourcewas probably by deformation-enhanced intergranular flow andmagma fracturing, with the mechanisms of migration and emplacementcontrolled by variations in the uppercrustal stress regime duringlate–orogenic extensional collapse of the thickened crust.     

Experimental reactions of amphibolite with boron-bearing aqueous fluids at 200 MPa: implications for tourmaline stability and partial melting in mafic rocks

Reactions between hornblende-plagioclase amphibolite and acidic and alkaline B-bearing aqueous fluids have been investigated by experiments at 475°–600° C and 200 MPa. At 600° C, hornblende+calcic plagioclase react to form tourmaline+danburite+clinopyroxene+quartz in acidic fluids containing 0.5–1.0 wt% B₂O₃.Tourmaline is precipitated directly from acidic fluids, and the reaction is driven by neutralization of fluids by Na±Ca derived from the breakdown of reactant solids. The concentration of B₂O₃ in fluids needed to stabilize tourmaline increases as pH increases (above approximately 6.0), and tourmaline is unstable in alkaline fluids (pH > approximately 6.5–7.0) regardless of B concentration. In addition to acid-base relations, tourmaline stability is favored by comparatively higher activity coefficients for Al species in acidic fluids. The concentrations of Al and Si in fluid increase with alkalinity, with the eventual production of felsic borosilicate melts through partial melting of the plagioclase component of the amphibolite. In seeded experiments, tourmaline also contributes components to melt. Partial melting is evident in the range 500°–525° C at 200 MPa in experiments with 8wt% B₂O₃ in fluid as Na₂B₄O₇. The experimental results are applied primarily to metasomatic reactions between mafic rocks and borate fluids derived from granitic magmas, but tourmaline stability and partial melting in mafic regional metamorphic systems are also discussed briefly.     

Tourmaline-rich Rocks Associated with the Submarine Hydrothermal Rosebery Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag-Au Deposit and Granites in Western Tasmania,Australia

Summary The stratiform massive Zn-Pb sulphide Rosebery deposit of western Tasmania is hosted by metamorphosed deformed acid volcanics and sediments of the Cambrian Mt. Read Volcanics. Tourmalinite, a boron-rich siliceous sulphide facies iron formation, overlies and occurs as an exhalite facies equivalent of the massive sulphides. The orebody is partially replaced by post deformation tourmaline-bearing pyrrhotite-pyrite rocks associated with an alteration facies comprising magnetite-pyrite-tourmaline-phlogopite and the host metavolcanics are transgressed by quartz-tourmaline veins and tourmaline-filled joints. Tourmalinite and tourmaline in alteration zones are associated with other base metal deposits in the area. Tourmaline also occurs as fault-fill and in granitic rocks and associated Sn-W mineralization nearby. Tourmaline associated with the Cambrian massive sulphides is schorl > dravite in contrast to schorl in the Devonian granites.It is suggested that boron was an integral part of the ore fluids at Rosebery which precipitated tourmaline in exhalites immediately after and distal to the mineralization event. Tourmaline from the tourmalinite exhalites appears to have derived from submarine hydrothermal precipitation. Joint- and fracture-fill tourmaline could have derived from remobilization from tourmalinites during Devonian tectonism, however, it is more probable that these discordant tourmaline-bearing veins, tourmaline in the post-cleavage Rosebery Fault and tourmaline-bearing pyrrhotite-pyrite replacement of the Rosebery orebody derived from Devonian granite at a shallow depth which has been intersected in drilling. Tourmaline replacement associated with discordant structures is no different in composition from that from tourmalinites associated with the orebody and hence has undergone re-equilibration with the host rocks during multiple events of deformation and metamorphism associated with Devonian tectonism. In contrast, the composition of tourmaline from the Devonian granites is markedly different from that of the Rosebery area.

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Zusammenfassung Die stratiforme, massive Zn-Pb-Sulfidlagerstätte Rosebery in West-Tasmanien sitzt in metamorphen und deformierten sauren Vulkaniten und Sedimenten der Kambrischen Mt. Read Vulkanit-Serie auf. Turmalingesteine treten im Hangenden dieser Serie auf. Sie stellen eine Bor-reiche Eisenformation in silizuiumreicher Sulfidfazies dar und sind als das exhalative Äquivalent der massiven Sulfide anzusehen. Der Erzkörper wird teilweise von postdeformativen Turmalin-fährenden Pyrrhotin-Pyrit-Gesteinen verdrängt, die mit einer Alterationsfazies, bestehend aus Magnetit-Pyrit-Turmalin-Phlogopit, assoziiert sind. Die erzfährenden Metavulkanite werden von Quarz-Turmalin-Gängen und Turmalinadern durchschlagen. Turmalingesteine wie auch Turmalin in Alterationszonen kommen auch mit anderen Buntmetall-Vererzungen des Arbeitsgebietes vor. Turmalin tritt weiters in Störungszonen, in Graniten und in an diese gebundenen Sn-W Mineralisationen auf.Der mit den kambrischen, massiven Vulkaniten assozierte Turmalin ist ein Schörl > Dravit, während in den devonischen Graniten Schörl dominiert. Es ist anzunehmen, daß Bor einen integralen Anteil der Erzlösungen in der Rosebery-Lagerstätte darstellt. Aus diesen ist Turmalin exhalativ, kurz nach der Sulfidmineralisation distal gebildet worden. Es zeigt sich, daß der Turmalin aus submarin hydrothermalen Absätzen herzuleiten ist. Gangturmaline könnten durch Remobilisation der Turmalingesteine während devonischer Deformation entstanden sein. Es scheint jedoch wahrscheinlicher, daß diese diskordanten Gänge, wie auch der Turmalin in der Rosebery-Störung und die Turmalin-führenden Pyrrhotin-Pyrit-Verdrängungen aus dem devonischen Granit stammen. Verdrängter Turmalin, assoziiert mit diskordanten Strukturen, zeigt in seiner Zusammensetzung keinerlei Unterschiede zum Turmalin in Turmalingesteinen aus dem Erzkörper. Im Zuge mehrphasiger, devonischer Deformation und Metamorphose ist es somit zu Reäquilibrierung des Turmalins mit dem Trägergestein gekommen. Die Zusammensetzung des Turmalins in den devonischen Graniten unterscheidet sich deutlich von der des Rosebery-Gebietes.

     

Geology and tectonic implications of tourmaline bearing leucogranite of Bastipadu,Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh,India

Tourmaline bearing leucogranite occurs as a pluton with pegmatitic veins intruding the Archaean granodiorite in the Bastipadu area, Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. We present field and petrographic relations, mineral chemistry and geochemical data for the leucogranite. It is essentially a two-mica granite, composed of quartz, perthite, microcline, albite, tourmaline and muscovite along with minor biotite and titanite. The euhedral tourmalines are regularly distributed in the rock. The geochemical studies show that the leucogranite is calc-alkaline, peraluminous to metaluminous which formed in a syn-collisional to volcanic arc-related setting. It displays strong ‘S’ type signatures with high K/Na ratios, moderately fractionated light rare earth elements, relatively flat heavy rare earth elements with \(\hbox {[Ce/Yb]}_\mathrm{N} \le 27.8\) and a strong negative Eu anomaly. The geochemical characteristics indicate that the leucogranite melt might have been generated from partial melting of metasediments. Electron probe microanalyser data show the presence of alkali group tourmaline in leucogranite represented by schorl and dravite. Tourmaline compositions plot in the Li-poor granitoids and associated pegmatites and aplites and metapelites/metasammites fields. Partial melting of boron-enriched source rocks is linked with the development of tourmalines in the leucogranite.     

Contrasting tourmaline types from peraluminous granites: a case study from Moslava?ka Gora (Croatia)

Two texturally and chemically distinct types of tourmaline are found inside peraluminous granites of the Moslava?ka Gora, Croatia: nodular tourmaline in the two-mica granite and disseminated tourmaline in the cross-cutting leucogranite dykes. Both tourmaline types belong to alkali tourmaline group, nodular tourmaline being dravite to schorl and disseminated tourmaline corresponding to schorl. Comparison of characteristic parameters of nodular (Nt) and disseminated tourmaline (Dt) shows significant differences in #Fe (0.40?C0.65 for Nt vs. 0.74?C0.85 in Dt) along with variations in the calculated X-site vacancy (0.22?C0.37 pfu in Nt and 0.33?C0.44 in Dt) and ??/(??+Na) ratio (0.23?C0.40 in Nt and 0.34?C0.45 in Dt). Disseminated tourmaline from the MG leucogranites is regarded as an early crystallized magmatic phase, while the interstitial tourmaline from the cores of tourmaline nodules originated from more complex mineralogical and chemical interactions inside the two-mica granite melt. Major element gain (Mg) and loss (Fe, Ca, Na, K) for the ??idealized nodule?? (34 vol. % core + 66 vol. % halo) when compared to the host granite shows that the nodule??s volume is not a completely independent and closed system. Based on the observed characteristics, nodule??s halo can be considered as a ??transitional zone?? between the tourmaline-bearing core and the host granite, texturally and mineralogically related to the host two-mica granite, chemically being an integral part of the nodule??s volume at the same time.     

Obduction-type granites within the NE Jiangxi Ophiolite: Implications for the final amalgamation between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks

Leucogranitic lenses are found within the Xiwan ophiolitic mélange in northeastern Jiangxi Province, South China. The leucogranites occur exclusively within the serpentinized peridotite unit of the ophiolite suite. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating results indicate that these granites were formed at 880 ± 19 Ma, and were overprinted by an Indosinian tectono-thermal event at ~ 230 Ma. The leucogranites are peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.0–1.24), characterized by high Al₂O₃ (14–18.33%) and Na₂O (6.5–10%) and clearly low εNd(T) values of 0.8 to − 3.9 compared with the other rock units of the ophiolite suite. On the basis of their REE characters, the leucogranites can be divided into three groups. Group I leucogranites show the most fractionated LREE-enrichment patterns (with La_N/Yb_N and La_N/Sm_N ratios of 30.1–75.0 and 2.3–3.9, respectively). Group II leucogranites have moderately fractionated LREE-enrichment patterns (with La_N/Yb_N and La_N/Sm_N ratios of 13.1–26.5 and 0.8–1.9, respectively). Group III leucogranites are characterized by obviously low total REE contents and flat REE patterns with significant positive Eu anomalies, probably due to small degrees of partial melting. All these leucogranites were likely formed by partial melting of sedimentary rocks from a marginal basin at the Yangtze side of the orogen, beneath a major thrust fault during the obduction of the ophiolite onto the continental crust. They are broadly similar to obduction-related granites within ophiolites identified in many places worldwide. Identification of the ca. 880 Ma obduction-type granites in the NE Jiangxi ophiolite provides a petrological constraint on the timing of the ophiolite obduction onto the continental crust. In combination with the termination of the Shuangxiwu arc magmatism at ca. 890 Ma, we interpret that the close of the Neoproterozoic back-arc basin and the termination of the continental amalgamation between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks occurred at ca. 880 Ma.     

Provenance analyses of the heavy-mineral beach sands of the Annaba coast,northeast Algeria,and their consequences for the evaluation of fossil placer deposit

The paper presents the first study of heavy-mineral sand beaches from the Mediterranean coast of Annaba/Algeria. The studied beaches run along the basement outcrops of the Edough massif, which are mainly composed by micaschists, tourmaline-rich quartzo-feldspathic veins, gneisses, skarns and marbles. Sand samples were taken from three localities (Ain Achir, Plage-Militaire and El Nasr). The heavy-mineral fraction comprises between 74 and 91 vol%. The garnets of the beaches are almandine rich and tourmalines vary with respect to their location from schorl to dravite. Tourmaline at Ain Achir and the Plage-Militaire is schorlits, while at El Nasr beach dravite is ubiquitous. The World Shale Average normalised REE of the sands and the basement outcrops reveal: (i) Ain Achir beach: REE pattern of sand and the coastal rocks from the studied beaches reflects a multiple sources; (ii) Plage-Militaire: the sand and the coastal outcrops show similar LREE and a strong enrichment in HREE, suggesting the presence HREE-rich phases found as inclusions in staurolite; (iii) El Nasr: two types of sand patterns are found: one with flat REE pattern similar to the proximal rocks and other one enriched in HREE suggesting a mixed source.     

Changes in tourmaline composition during magmatic and hydrothermal processes leading to tin-ore deposition: The Cornubian Batholith,SW England

To investigate the potential of tourmaline as a geochemical monitor, a comprehensive dataset on major, minor and trace element concentrations as well as Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios of tourmaline is presented. The dataset includes samples from five plutonic complexes related to diverse magmatic to hydrothermal stages of the Cornubian Batholith (SW England). Tourmaline composition found in barren and cassiterite-bearing samples include all three primary tourmaline groups and tourmaline species with the general endmembers schorl, dravite, elbaite, uvite, feruvite, foitite and Mg-foitite.Based on textures and compositions, it is possible to distinguish not only between late-magmatic and hydrothermal tourmaline, but also between several formation stages. Hence, tourmaline monitors late-magmatic processes and the partitioning of elements during exsolution of an aqueous phase. For example, in hydrothermal tourmaline Sn is strongly enriched, while Ti, Cr, V and Sc are depleted compared to late-magmatic tourmaline of the same sample. Several tourmaline generations that precipitated from magmatic fluids can be distinguished with differing major and minor elements and REE patterns depending on the composition of the melt from which they were expelled from. Strongly zoned tourmaline allows for unraveling the hydrothermal history of a distinct location including ore precipitation. The precipitation of SnO₂ in the study area was probably caused by mixing between acidic, reduced, Sn-bearing magmatic fluids and oxidized meteoric fluids, which is in agreement with London and Manning (1995) and Williamson et al. (2000). Hence, the ability of tourmaline composition to monitor changes in Sn concentration and redox conditions in hydrothermal fluids has potential as an exploration tool.     

Rare-earth element mobility during ore-forming hydrothermal alteration: A case study of Dongping gold deposit Hebei Province,China

REE mobility during hydrothermal ore-forming processes has been extensively investigated in recent years and the potential of REE to provide information about ore forming processes has commonly been recognized.The Dongping gold deposit,which is located in northwestern Hebei Province,China,occurring in the inner contact zone of the Shuiquangou syenite complex,is spatially,and probably genetically,related to the syenite,the deposit was formed under the moderate to high temperature(220℃ to 320℃),weakly acidic to weakly alkaline,rather high fo2(lgfo2=-30～-34)environment.The REE study of the host rocks,altered wall rocks,ores and gangue minerals from the deposit suggests that the REEs have been mobilized and differentiated during K-feldspathization and silicification.The extremely altered syenite enveloping auriferous quartz vein shows positive Ce anomaly and larger LREE/HREE ratio than that of the unaltered syenite.The REE concentrations and patterns of the ores are determined by the ore types and mineral assemblages,LREE/HREE ratios in the gangue quartz and hydrothermal Kfeldspars are relatively low.The most significant observation is that the gangue quartz shows significant positive Eu anomaly,whereas the hydrothermal K-feldspars show less significant or no positive Eu anomaly at all relative to the primary feldspar in the unaltered syenite. It is evident that the REEs are mobile during K-feldspathization and silicification in the ore forming process.Weak to moderate K-feldspathization caused REE mobility without apparent differentiation with the exception of extreme K-feldspathization and silicification which resulted in significant depletion of HREE and Eu and relative enrichment of Ce.The REE,Y,U,Th and Au contents of the syenite decrease as the degrees of K-feldspathization and silicification of the rocks increase towards the auriferous quartz veins.As the ores were deposited under a rather oxidized environment,Ce^4 predominated over Ce^3 .The precipitation of the former in the form of CeO2 or absorpted onto the secondary mineral assemblage resulted in the inconsistent removal of the REE and the relative Ce enrichment in the strongly altered rocks.in contrast,Eu was present mainly in a low valence state (Eu^2 ).The geochemical differences from the other REE^3 and much less sites in the secondary minerals to accommodate the Eu released form the original minerals resulted in the enrichment of Eu in the fluids.The mobility and differentiation of REE and the coherent mobilities of Y,U,Th and Au also support the argument that the syenite is one of the source rocks for gold mineralization.The REE contents and patterns of the altered rocks enveloping the auriferous quartz vein could be used as a guide for locating ore veins in mineral exploration.     

Chemical compositions of tourmaline in the vein-type tungsten deposits of the kaneuchi mine,Japan

Chemical compositions of tourmaline from the vein-type tungsten deposits of the Kaneuchi mine in Japan are obtained with an electron probe microanalyzer. Tourmaline occurring at this mine belongs to the dravite-schorl series. Magnesium contents are high compared with tourmaline from granitic zones. This suggests that ore-forming solutions are not formed directly from magmatic fluid and reacted with sedimentary rocks. Compositions of tourmaline in quartz veins are similar to those in host rocks, and the bulk compositions of host rocks do not indicate magnesium metasomatic reactions. It can therefore be concluded that water/rock interactions occurred at a deeper level which remains unexplored.     

Depth-related variation of tourmaline in the breccia pipe of the San Jorge porphyry copper deposit,Mendoza, Argentina

The San Jorge porphyry copper deposit in Mendoza, Argentina in some parts contains breccia pipes that are strongly enriched with tourmaline of the dravite–schorl solid solution series with some quartz, muscovite, orthoclase, kaolinite, Cu sulfides and arsenopyrite. The overall composition of tourmaline is rather homogeneous with an intracrystalline variation of the Fe/Mg ratio reflected by its texture, its core-rim zonation of tourmaline and by the statistical variation of the Fe/Mg ratio. The depth-related intracrystalline changes are best interpreted as a hydrothermal collapse breccia which formed as a result of the reaction of primary hydrothermal B–Fe-enriched fluids with the country rocks enriched in Mg. The chemical composition attests to only small-scale interaction of tourmaline with silicate fragments within the tourmaline breccia itself. Tourmaline as one of the ultrastable heavy minerals in stream sediment offers a potential tool to discriminate between Cu-bearing and barren breccia pipes, using the Fe/Mg ratio of the boron silicate for distinction. Fertile breccias reveal a significantly better correlation between Fe and Mg than barren tourmaline breccias.     

Tourmaline from quartz lenses of the Urtui granite pluton,Strel’tsovka orefield,Ttansbaikal krai

Quartz-tourmaline lenses, around which host granite is impregnated by uraninite, have been found among porphyritic granite with large phenocrysts of the Urtui pluton in the Ttansbaikal krai framing the Strel’tsovka volcano-tectonic structure. Two generations of tourmaline are distinguished. Most individual crystals belong to the first generation attributed to “fluor-schorl”; tourmaline-II attributed to schorl occurs as thin rims overgrowing tourmaline-I. The major type of cation isomorphic substitution in both tourmalines is Fe²⁺ → Mg. The Fe³⁺/Fe_tot value and Li content in the average sample are 2% and 80 ppm, respectively. The high F content, comparatively high Li, low Fe³⁺/Fe_tot value, and character of cation isomorphic substitution indicate that the tourmaline relates to greisens. The combination of these features allows one to distinguish greisen-type tourmaline-bearing rocks. The impregnated uranium mineralization in granite of the Urtui pluton, one of the probable sources of uranium in economic U ore of the Strel’tsovka deposit, is suggested to be caused by greisenization and the formation of quartz-tourmaline lenses.     

Petrology,geochronology and Sr–Nd isotopic geochemistry of the Konso pluton,south-western Ethiopia: implications for transition from convergence to extension in the Mozambique Belt

Granites were shown to be excellent geochronological, structural and geodynamic markers. Among several generations of granites described in the Neoproterozoic of Ethiopia, we studied the post-tectonic Konso pluton to characterise the post-Pan-African evolution of the Mozambique Belt (MB) of southern Ethiopia. The Konso pluton is a composite intrusion of slightly peraluminous and ferro-potassic, bt (biotite)–leucogranites, bt–hbl (hornblende)–granites and subordinate coeval metaluminous monzodiorites, intruded into high-grade gneiss–migmatite associations of the MB. The whole suite displays chemical features of A-type granites. It is LIL- and HFS-elements enriched with Y/Nb and Yb/Ta1.2. The granites and leucogranites show non-fractionated to fractionated REE patterns [(La/Yb)_N=0.3–9.4] with strong negative Eu anomalies. The monzodiorites show fractionated REE patterns [(La/Yb)_N=5.5–7.4] with negligible negative Eu anomaly. The low initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₄₅₀ ratios (0.70113–0.70441) and positive Nd₍₄₅₀₎ values (+1.8 to +3.3) suggest an isotopically primitive source. The Konso granites are likely to be derived from a basaltic parent, with minor contamination by crustal material with high Y/Nb and low Sr initial isotopic ratios. Age of pluton emplacement is constrained by a Rb–Sr isochron and zircon U–Pb data at 449±2 Ma. The Konso pluton is, therefore, the witness of an Ordovician A-type magmatic event, which marks a change from convergence, related to the Pan-African collision, to extension in the Mozambique Belt of southern Ethiopia.     

Rare earth element abundances in hydrothermal fluids from the Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea: Indicators of sub-seafloor hydrothermal processes in back-arc basins

Rare earth element (REE) concentrations are reported for a large suite of seafloor vent fluids from four hydrothermal systems in the Manus back-arc basin (Vienna Woods, PACMANUS, DESMOS and SuSu Knolls vent areas). Sampled vent fluids show a wide range of absolute REE concentrations and chondrite-normalized (REE_N) distribution patterns (La_N/Sm_N ∼ 0.6-11; La_N/Yb_N ∼ 0.6 - 71; ). REE_N distribution patterns in different vent fluids range from light-REE enriched, to mid- and heavy-REE enriched, to flat, and have a range of positive Eu-anomalies. This heterogeneity contrasts markedly with relatively uniform REE_N distribution patterns of mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal fluids. In Manus Basin fluids, aqueous REE compositions do not inherit directly or show a clear relationship with the REE compositions of primary crustal rocks with which hydrothermal fluids interact. These results suggest that the REEs are less sensitive indicators of primary crustal rock composition despite crustal rocks being the dominant source of REEs in submarine hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, differences in aqueous REE compositions are consistently correlated with differences in fluid pH and ligand (chloride, fluoride and sulfate) concentrations. Our results suggest that the REEs can be used as an indicator of the type of magmatic acid volatile (i.e., presence of HF, SO₂) degassing in submarine hydrothermal systems. Additional fluid data suggest that near-seafloor mixing between high-temperature hydrothermal fluid and locally entrained seawater at many vent areas in the Manus Basin causes anhydrite precipitation. Anhydrite effectively incorporates REE and likely affects measured fluid REE concentrations, but does not affect their relative distributions.     

Geochemistry and petrography of gold-quartz-tourmaline veins of the Okote area, southern Ethiopia: implications for gold exploration

Summary Quartz-tourmaline vein-hosting rocks of the Okote area belong to the Neoproterozoic Adola Belt. Metasomatic auriferous quartz-tourmaline veins occur in ductile N–S trending, sinistral shear zones. These veins commonly contain quartz, carbonates, and tourmaline, with minor pyrite, and accessory chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and gold. Tourmaline forms isolated euhedral crystals in the fracture surfaces of quartz carbonate veins. Many of the tourmaline crystals are optically zoned with a bluish core and a bluish to brown rim. Electron microprobe analyses show that the tourmalines comprise an intermediate dravite-schorl solid solution with a mean FeO/(FeO + MgO) = 0.47. Abrupt transitions between the colour zones within single tourmaline crystals are accompanied by relative variations in the FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratios. The tourmaline separates indicate that the tourmalines contain highly variable average contents of trace elements. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) abundances of tourmaline separates from auriferous veins show LREE-enriched to LREE-depleted patterns with negative to positive Eu anomalies and a flat, near-chondritic HREE pattern. The auriferous quartz-tourmaline veins have LREE-enriched patterns without a Eu anomaly and a flat HREE pattern, but tourmaline-free gold-quartz veins have very low REE contents and LREE-depleted patterns also without Eu anomalies. The FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratios, major and trace element compositions, and the types of wall-rock alteration are used to suggest that the sources of boron are dominantly metamorphic (dehydration and devolatilization processes), but do not totally exclude the possibility of a magmatic source. The occurrences of high-grade gold associated with tourmaline make tourmaline a valuable prospecting guide for hydrothermal gold mineralization in the Adola Belt, southern Ethiopia. Received November 17, 1999; revised version accepted July 23, 2001     

Fractionation of Rare-Earth Elements in the Processes of Hydrothermal Ore Formation

The data on the distribution of elements in the Pb–Zn cross-section of the Gatsirovskaya vein (the Upper Zgid deposit, North Ossetia, Russia) have shown that the spectra of rare-earth elements (REEs) changed significantly in the ore samples during the vein formation. The sharp growth of the La_N/Yb_N, La_N/Nd_N, Gd_N/Ho_N, and Gd_N/Yb_N ratios is confined to the vein intervals, where the maximum amount of ore components is deposited. The comparison of the REE spectra of ores to the characteristics of the spectra of the rocks surrounding the vein and the host rocks suggests that the vein material deposited from the solutions in which the REE ratio changed with time. REE fractionation occurred due to the mobilization of components by hydrothermal solutions during their interaction with the Paleozoic host granites.     

Tourmaline mineralization in the Barberton greenstone belt,South Africa: early Archean metasomatism by evaporite-derived boron

Tourmaline-rich rocks are common in the lowgrade, interior portions of the Barberton greenstone belt of South Africa, where shallow-marine sediments and underlying altered basaltic and komatiitic lavas contain up to 50% tourmaline. The presence of tourmaline-bearing rip-up clasts, intraformational tourmalinite pebbles, and tourmaline-coated grains indicates that boron mineralization was a low-temperature, surficial process. The association of these lithologies with stromatolites, evaporites, and shallow-water sedimentary structures and the virtual absence of tourmaline in correlative deep-water facies rocks in the greenstone bels strengthens this model.Five tourmaline-bearing lithologic groups (basalts, komatiites, evaporite-bearing sediments, stromatolitic sediments, and quartz veins) are distinguished based on field, petrographic, and geochemical criteria. Individual tourmaline crystals within these lithologies show internal chemical and textural variations that reflect continued growth through intervals of change in bulk-rock and fluid composition accompanying one or more metasomatic events. Large single-crystal variations exist in Fe/Mg, Al/Fe, and alkali-site vacancies. A wide range in tourmaline composition exists in rocks altered from similar protoliths, but tourmalines in sediments and lavas have similar compositional variations. Boron-isotope analysis of the tourmalines suggest that the boron enrichment in these rocks has a major marine evaporitic component. Sediments with gypsum pseudomorphs and lavas altered at low temperatures by shallow-level brines have the highest ¹¹B values (+2.2 to-1.9); lower ¹¹B values of late quartz veins (-3.7 to-5.7) reflect intermediate temperature, hydrothermal remobilization of evaporitic boron. The ¹¹B values of tourmaline-rich stromatolitic sediments (-9.8 and-10.5) are consistent with two-stage boron enrichment, in which earlier marine evaporitic boron was hydrothermally remobilized and vented in shallow-marine or subaerial sites, mineralizing algal stromatolites. The stromatolite-forming algae preferentially may have lived near the sites of hydrothermal discharge in Archean times.