Amphiboles and coexisting ferromagnesian silicates in granitic rocks in Mahé, Seychelles

A variety of granitic rocks from granodiorite to alkaline granite is developed in Mahé island, Seychelles, Microprobe analyses were made on amphiboles and coexisting minerals.Amphibole constitutes the most prominent ferromagnesian minerals in the Seychelles granitic rocks. Its chemical composition ranges widely from calcic through sodic-calcic to alkali amphiboles and amphibole composition evolves systematically from Fe-poor to Fe-rich: magnesiohornblende → ferrohornblende → ferroedenite → silicic ferroedenite → ferrorichterite and ferrowinchite → riebeckite. Riebeckite occurs abundantly in the alkaline rocks as subsolidus minerals. Throughout the evolution two types of isomorphous substitution, Mg ⇌ Fe²⁺ and Al + Ca ⇌ Si + Na principally took place. Compositions of clinopyroxene and biotite also evolve from Fe-poor to Fe-rich varieties. All these compositional evolutions of the constituent minerals suggest a comagmatic origin of the Seychelles granitic rocks studied.In the Seychelles alkaline magma, ferrorichterite crystallized at the late-magmatic stage under conditions of 650–700°C in temperature and of slightly above the QFM buffer in oxygen fugacity. With falling temperature, oxidizing condition prevailed and riebeckite crystallized.Generally, in alkaline granite and quartz syenite magmas, ferrorichterite evolves continuously to arfvedsonitic compositions when oxygen fugacity is defined by QFM buffer even during subsolidus stage. On the other hand, ferrorichterite evolves to riebeckite composition when oxidizing condition prevails. But, in this case, continuous solid solution between ferrorichterite and riebeckite is not found, presumably owing to an existence of a compositional gap between them.     

Alkali Amphiboles from the Blueschists of Cazadero, California

Alkali amphiboles from Type III and Type IV metamorphic zonesin blueschist facies rocks of Cazadero, California, and fromcomparable New Caledonian rocks have been characterized by X-raycrystallographic, optical, and chemical methods. The compositionof any particular alkali amphibole is strongly controlled bythe bulk composition of the host rock. Within the blueschistfacies, metamorphic zones are not characterized by changes inamphibole composition. All the alkali amphiboles studied hereinbelong to the C2/m space group and complete miscibility betweenglaucophane and riebeckite has been demonstrated for the conditionsprevailing during metamorphism in the Cazadero and New Caledonianblueschists. Linear relationships are found between unit-celldimensions and variations in composition between glaucophaneand riebeckite. The alkali amphiboles of glaucophane compositionsbelong to the high pressure-low temperature series, glaucophaneII-riebeckite. Limited miscibility of actinolite in glaucophanemay be characteristic of blueschist facies metamorphism.     

Compositions and phase relations of calcic amphiboles in epidote- and clinopyroxene-bearing rocks of the amphibolite and lower granulite facies,central Massachusetts,USA

Calcic amphiboles coexisting with epidotegroup minerals (zoisite, clinozoisite, epidote) and/or clinopyroxene±plagioclase±quartz±garnet occur in amphibolites and calc-silicate rocks that underwent amphibolite to lower granulite-facies metamorphism in the Acadian metamorphic high of central Massachusetts, USA. Across the region, peak metamorphic conditions range from about 580° C and 6.2 kbar to 730° C and 6.3 kbar. The coexistence of most Ca-amphiboles with Fe³⁺-rich epidote-group minerals suggests the presence of Fe³⁺ in most of these amphiboles. An empirical Fe³⁺ estimation for the microprobe analyses is based on two constraints: the Na?Ca content of the M4 sites of Ca-saturated, gravimetrically analyzed hornblendes gives the relation: Ca(M4) ^c =-1.479 Na(M4) ^c +2 (c=corrected). The second constraint is the stoichiometric equation Ca(M4)+Na(M4)+FM=15, where FM is the sum of all cations exclusive of Ca, Na, and K. Solving the two equations simultaneously gives: 20.185=0.479 Ca(M4)+1.479 ΣFM. Starting with the uncorrected values of Ca(M4) ^u and ΣFM(M4) ^u (u = uncorrected) of the all ferrous formula, the normalization factor NF for calculating the corrected cations of the ferric formulas is: 20.185/(0.478 Ca(M4) ^u +1.479 ΣFM ^u ). From the deficient oxygen the Fe³⁺ content which is equal to 2(23-ΣOX) can be calculated. Determinations of Fe³⁺ contents of four hornblende separates by Mössbauer spectroscopy are in agreement with the calculated values. The Ca-amphiboles show systematic changes in composition with increasing grade of metamorphism within the amphibolite and lower granulite-facies zones: increasing edenite and tschermakite substitution, increasing Ti content, and increasing Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+Mg) ratio. In addition, the coexisting clinopyroxenes are also characterized by an increase in Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+Mg) ratio. In quartz-free rocks with coexisting Ca-amphibole and plagioclase there is an increase in the ratio X _Ab/X _Ed, where X _Ab=Na/(Na+Ca) in plagioclase and X _Ed=Na in the amphibole A-site. These chemical changes in mineral composition together with the disappearance of epidote at the transition to granulite-facies metamorphic conditions are attributed to the continuous reaction: albite+epidote+Fe-Mg hornblende→Fe?Mg clinopyroxene+anorthite+(NaAlSi_-1)^Hbl+H₂O.     

Composition of hornblendes formed during the hercynian progressive metamorphism of the Aracena metamorphic belt (SW Spain)

This paper attempts to illustrate the chemical variations of metamorphic hornblendes regarding host rocks and prograde variations. Changes related to bulk chemistry (orthoamphibolites) mainly concern Si, Al, Mg, Fe_tot and Ca. The Mg, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ contents of hornblendes are, however, not strictly related to host rook compositions and Mg enrichments are correlated with increasing Fe³⁺ contents in the amphiboles. Thus, variations of oxygen fugacity may control the Mg contents of the Ca amphiboles studied but this does not show clear relations with the prograde metamorphism. The most sensitive but irregular variation related to the metamorphic conditions is the prograde enrichment of the alkalis into the A vacant position and an increase of the (Na+K)_tot/Na+K+Ca ratios of the amphiboles. Increasing Ti and Al^IV contents as well as decreasing Al^VI concentrations are also, but much less evidently, related to increasing T and P. A variation trend from tschermakitic to edenitic hornblendes may be drawn using Shido's end members calculation; this tendency and the relative deficiency of Al^VI contents in the low-grade members suggests that the amphiboles studied were subjected to conditions of a low-pressure metamorphism type. Such a conclusion is in agreement with the occurrence of andalusite-cordierite/sillimanite-cordierite associations in the metapelitic rocks, and the absence of Fe-rich garnet and epidote from the orthoamphibolites of the amphibolite facies at Aracena. Comparisons with Ca amphiboles from other metamorphic areas show, in agreement with various authors, that Abukuma hornblendes are similar to those encountered in high-grade thermal aureoles and tonalitic intrusives but different from the hornblendes of Barrovian metamorphism types.     

Evolution cristallochimique des amphiboles dans la série granitique de Fort-Trinquet (Mauritanie)

The precambrian postorogenic pluton of the Fort-Trinquet area (Northern Mauretania) is composed by a series of granitic rocks in which amphiboles are the characteristic mafic minerals. Twenty six amphiboles have been separated and chemically analysed; the optical properties and the unit-cell data are also given.The crystallographic and chemical differences between these minerals reflect the variations in bulk composition of the host-rocks. In the plutonic suite, two igneous trends have been recognized: 1) a granitic trend (quartz monzonite-adamellite-granite) and 2) a syenitic trend (syenite-quartz bearing syenite-alkali granite). The amphiboles of the first trend belong to the tremolite-hastingsite series; they become richer in hastingsite mole with increasing proportion of quartz and decreasing Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratio in the rocks. The granitoids of the second trend are characterized by the occurrence of two amphiboles: a primary prismatic green-coloured actinolitic hornblende generally surrounded by a dark blue rim of riebeckite composition; the riebeckite may also form some acicular crystals associated to needles of stilpnomelane. These coexisting amphiboles would result from autometasomatic reactions which affected the rocks of the syenitic trend and which gave rise to the late alkali pegmatites where the constituent is a low arfvedsonitic riebeckite. The major substitutions involved in that amphibole transformation are Na^x R³⁺Ca^x R²⁺ and Na^xSiCa^xAl^IV.Comparison with experimental data allows to estimate the physical conditions during the emplacement and the tardimagmatic evolution of this granitoid series.     

Glaucophane-bearing assemblage overprinted by greenschist-facies metamorphism in the Variscan Kaczawa complex, Sudetes, Poland

An Early Palaeozoic (Ordovician ?) metamudstone sequence near Wojcieszow, Kaczawa Mts, Western Sudetes, Poland, contains numerous metabasite sills, up to 50 m thick. These subvolcanic rocks are of within-plate alkali basalt type. Primary igneous phases in the metabasites, clinopyroxene (salite) and kaersutite, are veined and partly replaced by complex metamorphic mineral assemblages. Particularly, the kaersutite is corroded and rimmed by zoned sodic, sodic–calcic and calcic amphiboles. The matrix is composed of actinolite, pycnochlorite, albite (An ≤ 0.5%), epidote (Ps 27–33), titanite, calcite, opaques and, occasionally, biotite, phengite and stilpnomelane. The sodic amphiboles are glaucophane to crossite in composition with Na^B from 1.9 to 1.6. They are rimmed successively by sodic–calcic and calcic amphiboles with compositions ranging from magnesioferri-winchite to actinolite. No compositions between Na^B= 0.92 and Na^B= 1.56 have been ascertained. The textures may be interpreted as representing a greenschist facies overprint on an earlier blueschist (or blueschist–greenschist transitional) assemblage. The presence of glaucophane and no traces of a jadeitic pyroxene + quartz association indicate pressures between 6 and 12 kbar during the high-pressure episode. Temperature is difficult to assess in this metamorphic event. The replacement of glaucophane by actinolite + chlorite + albite, with associated epidote, allows restriction of the upper pressure limit of the greenschist recrystallization to <8 kbar, between 350 and 450°C. The mineral assemblage representing the greenschist episode suggests the P–T conditions of the high-pressure part of the chlorite or lower biotite zone. The latest metamorphic recrystallization, under the greenschist facies, may have taken place in the Viséan.     

The intensity of amphibole OH bands in the infrared absorption spectrum

Polarized IR spectra of single-crystals of amphiboles show that the molar absorptivity of the fundamental vibrational OH band is strongly wavenumber dependent. The intensity increases by a factor of 1.6 from 3674 cm^-1 (tremolite endmember; MgMgMg) to 3618 cm^-1 (grunerite endmember; FeFeFe). Spectra obtained from Ca and Fe-Mg amphiboles consist of sharp, well-resolved bands on a well-defined background. The high intensity of the OH bands in Ca and Fe-Mg amphiboles makes it sometimes necessary to thin the samples to under 2 μm thickness, whereas alkali amphiboles can be measured at 25–50 μm thickness.     

Phase relations of pyroxene and amphibole in greenstone,blueschist and eclogite of the Franciscan Complex,California

The phase relations of pyroxenes, amphiboles and associated minerals in metamorphic rocks of the Franciscan Complex can be graphically depicted on a ternary diagram which has at its apices the metamorphic clinopyroxene end members, viz NaAl-NaFe³⁺-Ca(Fe²⁺, Mg). Phases are plotted by projection from a constant subassemblage of minerals. This analysis allows interpretation of the effects of pressure, temperature, bulk rock composition and fluid composition on stability of minerals within the Franciscan.Pyroxenes in meta-igneous rocks and metagraywackes have a limited compositional range and fall into two groups: the omphacites, with 50±5% diopside +hedenbergite component; and the jadeitic pyroxenes with 10±5% diopside+hedenbergite. Pyroxenes intermediate between these two groups are unstable relative to assemblages containing Na-amphibole+other minerals.Coexisting pyroxenes and amphiboles in eclogites and associated coarse blueschists comprise equilibrium assemblages, and the proportion of pyroxene to amphibole is a function of rock composition. Eclogites are stable at higher temperature than regionally developed fine-grained greenstones and blueschists in the Franciscan, and at higher pressure than amphibolites. X _H2O ^fluid is not an important factor in the stability of Franciscan eclogite relative to amphibolite.     

Variations in composition and δ18O values within the Kaffo albite—Riebeckite granite of Liruei Complex,Younger Granites of Nigeria

The peralkaline Kaffo albite—riebeckite granite is an albitised, low-temperature intrusion in Liruei Complex, one of the oldest of the ring-complexes in the Younger Granite province of Nigeria. Analyses of borehole samples from different parts of the intrusion show it to be compositionally heterogeneous, especially in respect of Si, Al, Na, K and F distribution and this, in part, can be correlated with the variable degree of albitisation. Isotopically the granite is a normal plutonic type with δ¹⁸ O values of $\text{+ 8.1 ± 0.2‰}$, and albitisation does not seem to have been accompanied by exchange of isotopes between albitising fluid and the granite. Co-existing riebeckitic-arfvedsonite and aegirine pairs from borehole samples show extreme enrichment in Na and Fe; the amphibole also shows considerable substitution of Fe by Ti, Zn and Mn, and of OH by F. Isotopically the amphibole and pyroxene are different from others, having low, variable δ¹⁸ O values (+5.3–+6.4 and $\text{+4.4–+5.1‰}$, respectively), and the fractionation value Δ Px — Am is always large, negative and constant (—$\text{1.2 ± 0.2‰}$). The low δ¹⁸ O values are considered to be due to special features of the crystal chemistry of the alkali amphiboles and pyroxenes, and the spread of each set of values may be due to sub-solidus isotope exchange between the minerals and albitising fluid.     

Experimentally determined partitioning of Rb between richterites and aqueous (Na, K)-chloride solutions

The distribution of Rb-Na and Rb-K between richterite and a 2-molal aqueous (Na, K, Rb)-chloride solution has been investigated with hydrothermal experiments at 800^∘C and 200 MPa. Experiments were performed as syntheses in which amphiboles grew in the presence of an excess fluid containing the exchangeable cations Na⁺-Rb⁺ or Na⁺-K⁺-Rb⁺. The obtained amphiboles were large enough (up to 20 m in width) for reliable EMP analysis. They were chemically homogeneous and HRTEM investigations showed that they were structurally well ordered. The Rb, Na, K, Ca and Mg concentrations in coexisting fluids were measured by ICP-AES. According to the possible incorporation of Na, K and Rb on the A-site, solid solutions in the ternary Na(NaCa) Mg₅[Si₈O₂₂/(OH)₂] (richterite)-K(NaCa)Mg₅[Si₈O₂₂/(OH)₂] (K-richterite)-Rb(NaCa)Mg₅[Si₈O₂₂/(OH)₂] (Rb-richterite) were expected. However, Rb-rich richterites always had significant amounts of A-site vacancy concentrations (X _□ ^amph=□ ^A /(Rb^A+K^A +Na^A+□^A) of up to 0.42 in the K-free (Na,Rb)-richterites and of up to 0.67 in the (Na, K, Rb)-richterites which corresponds to the same content of tremolite+cummingtonite-component. Amphiboles containing practically only Rb besides vacancies and no Na and/or K on the A-site were also synthesized, however. The Rb-Na and Rb-K exchange coefficients between fluid and richterites are similar. Rubidium always fractionated strongly into the fluid phase. For low Rb-concentrations in richterite (X _Rb ^amph<0.1) a linear correlation between X _Rb ^fluid and X _Rb ^amph exists. In this concentration range, the derived exchange coefficients K _D(Rb−K) ^amph−fluid and K _D(Rb−Na) ^amph−fluid were 0.08 ± 0.04 and 0.04 ± 0.02, respectively. These low exchange coefficients show that significant amounts of Rb in amphiboles require a Rb-rich fluid phase. The results indicate that K-Rb fractionation between alkali amphiboles and fluids is significantly different from K-Rb fractionation between alkali feldspar/ phlogopite and fluid, with K_Ds of about 0.5 and 1.2, respectively. Formation of richterites will drastically alter the K/Rb-ratios of fluids or melts. These results may have important implications for the genetical interpretation of various geological settings, e.g., MARID-type rocks. Received: 6 October 1997 / Accepted: 7 July 1998     

Geochemistry and origin of the Neoproterozoic Dahongliutan banded iron formation (BIF) in the Western Kunlun orogenic belt,Xinjiang (NW China)

The Neoproterozoic (593–532 Ma) Dahongliutan banded iron formation (BIF), located in the Tianshuihai terrane (Western Kunlun orogenic belt), is hosted in the Tianshuihai Group, a dominantly submarine siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentary succession that generally has been metamorphosed to greenschist facies. Iron oxide (hematite), carbonate (siderite, ankerite, dolomite and calcite) and silicate (muscovite) facies are all present within the iron-rich layers. There are three distinctive sedimentary facies BIFs, the oxide, silicate–carbonate–oxide and carbonate (being subdivided into ankerite and siderite facies BIFs) in the Dahongliutan BIF. They demonstrate lateral and vertical zonation from south to north and from bottom to top: the carbonate facies BIF through a majority of the oxide facies BIF into the silicate–carbonate–oxide facies BIF and a small proportion of the oxide facies BIF.The positive correlations between Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, Sc, V, Cr, Rb, Cs, Th and ∑REE (total rare earth element) for various facies of BIFs indicate these chemical sediments incorporate terrigenous detrital components. Low contents of Al₂O₃ (<3 wt%), TiO₂ (<0.15 wt%), ∑REE (5.06–39.6 ppm) and incompatible HFSEs (high field strength elements, e.g., Zr, Hf, Th and Sc) (<10 ppm), and high Fe/Ti ratios (254–4115) for a majority of the oxide and carbonate facies BIFs suggest a small clastic input (<20% clastic materials) admixtured with their original chemical precipitates. The higher abundances of Al₂O₃ (>3 wt%), TiO₂, Zr, Th, Cs, Sc, Cr and ∑REE (31.2–62.9 ppm), and low Fe/Ti ratios (95.2–236) of the silicate–carbonate–oxide facies BIF are consistent with incorporation of higher amounts of clastic components (20%–40% clastic materials). The HREE (heavy rare earth element) enrichment pattern in PAAS-normalized REE diagrams exhibited by a majority of the oxide and carbonate facies BIFs shows a modern seawater REE signature overprinted by high-T (temperature) hydrothermal fluids marked by strong positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu¹_PAAS = 2.37–5.23). The low Eu/Sm ratios, small positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu¹_PAAS = 1.10–1.58) and slightly MREE (middle rare earth element) enrichment relative to HREE in the silicate–carbonate–oxide facies BIF and some oxide and carbonate facies BIFs indicate higher contributions from low-T hydrothermal sources. The absence of negative Ce anomalies and the high Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺) ratios (0.98–1.00) for the oxide and silicate–carbonate–oxide BIFs do not support ocean anoxia. The δ¹³C_V-PDB (−4.0‰ to −6.6‰) and δ¹⁸O_V-PDB (−14.0‰ to −11.5‰) values for siderite and ankerite in the carbonate facies BIF are, on average, ∼6‰ and ∼5‰ lower than those (δ¹³C_V-PDB = −0.8‰ to + 3.1‰ and δ¹⁸O_V-PDB = −8.2‰ to −6.3‰) of Ca–Mg carbonates from the silicate–carbonate–oxide facies BIF. This feature, coupled with the negative correlations between FeO, Eu/Eu¹_PAAS and δ¹³C_V-PDB, imply that a water column stratified with regard to the isotopic omposition of total dissolved CO₂, with the deeper water, from which the carbonate facies BIF formed, depleted in δ¹³C that may have been derive from hydrothermal activity.Integration of petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic data indicates that the silicate–carbonate–oxide facies BIF and part of the oxide facies BIF precipitated in a near-shore, oxic and shallow water environment, whereas a majority of the oxide and carbonate facies BIFs deposited in anoxic but Fe²⁺-rich deeper waters, closer to submarine hydrothermal vents. High-T hydrothermal solutions, with infusions of some low-T hydrothermal fluids, brought Fe and Si onto a shallow marine, variably mixed with detrital components from seawaters and fresh waters carrying continental landmass and finally led to the alternating deposition of the Dahongliutan BIF during regression–transgression cycles.The Dahongliutan BIF is more akin to Superior-type rather than Algoma-type and Rapitan-type BIF, and constitutes an additional line of evidence for the widespread return of BIFs in the Cryogenian and Ediacaran reflecting the recurrence of anoxic ferruginous deep sea and anoxia/reoxygenation cycles in the Neoproterozoic. In combination with previous studies on other Fe deposits in the Tianshuihai terrane, we propose that a Fe²⁺-rich anoxic basin or deep sea probably existed from the Neoproterozoic to the Early Cambrian in this area.     

Gold Mineralization in Banded Iron Formation in the Amalia Greenstone Belt,South Africa: A Mineralogical and Sulfur Isotope Study

The Blue Dot gold deposit, located in the Archean Amalia greenstone belt of South Africa, is hosted in an oxide (± carbonate) facies banded iron formation (BIF). It consists of three stratabound orebodies; Goudplaats, Abelskop, and Bothmasrust. The orebodies are flanked by quartz‐chlorite‐ferroan dolomite‐albite schist in the hanging wall and mafic (volcanic) schists in the footwall. Alteration minerals associated with the main hydrothermal stage in the BIF are dominated by quartz, ankerite‐dolomite series, siderite, chlorite, muscovite, sericite, hematite, pyrite, and minor amounts of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. This study investigates the characteristics of gold mineralization in the Amalia BIF based on ore textures, mineral‐chemical data and sulfur isotope analysis. Gold mineralization of the Blue Dot deposit is associated with quartz‐carbonate veins that crosscut the BIF layering. In contrast to previous works, petrographic evidence suggests that the gold mineralization is not solely attributed to replacement reactions between ore fluid and the magnetite or hematite in the host BIF because coarse hydrothermal pyrite grains do not show mutual replacement textures of the oxide minerals. Rather, the parallel‐bedded and generally chert‐hosted pyrites are in sharp contact with re‐crystallized euhedral to subhedral magnetite ± hematite grains, and the nature of their coexistence suggests that pyrite (and gold) precipitation was contemporaneous with magnetite–hematite re‐crystallization. The Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio of the dolomite–ankerite series and chlorite decreased from veins through mineralized BIF and non‐mineralized BIF, in contrast to most Archean BIF‐hosted gold deposits. This is interpreted to be due to the effect of a high sulfur activity and increase in fO₂ in a H₂S‐dominant fluid during progressive fluid‐rock interaction. High sulfur activity of the hydrothermal fluid fixed pyrite in the BIF by consuming Fe²⁺ released into the chert layers and leaving the co‐precipitating carbonates and chlorites with less available ferrous iron content. Alternatively, the occurrence of hematite in the alteration assemblage of the host BIF caused a structural limitation in the assignment of Fe³⁺ in chlorite which favored the incorporation of magnesium (rather than ferric iron) in chlorite under increasing fO₂ conditions, and is consistent with deposits hosted in hematite‐bearing rocks. The combined effects of reduction in sulfur contents due to sulfide precipitation and increasing fO₂ during progressive fluid‐rock interactions are likely to be the principal factors to have caused gold deposition. Arsenopyrite–pyrite geothermometry indicated a temperature range of 300–350°C for the associated gold mineralization. The estimated δ³⁴S_ΣS (= +1.8 to +2.5‰) and low base metal contents of the sulfide ore mineralogy are consistent with sulfides that have been sourced from magma or derived by the dissolution of magmatic sulfides from volcanic rocks during fluid migration.     

Geochemistry of braunite and associated phases in metamorphosed non-calcareous manganese ores of India

In the metamorphosed manganese oxide ores of India, braunite is ubiquitous in all assemblages from chlorite to sillimanite grades. Chemical analyses of braunite from different prograde assemblages confirm the presence of a fixed R²⁺ (=Mn²⁺+Mg+Ca) SiO₃ molecule in the mineral. Element partitioning between coexisting braunite and bixbyite indicates a near-ideal mixing of Fe⁺³/ -Mn⁺³ in the phases. This also indicates that braunite became relatively ferrian while equilibrating with associated phases such as bixbyite, hollandite and jacobsite during prograde reactions. Petrogenetic studies show that as a general trend, prograde lower oxide phases appeared by deoxidation of higher oxide phases. But braunite, a more reduced phase than bixbyite, appeared early from deoxidation of pyrolusite in presence of quartz. Bixbyite could appear later from the reacting pyrolusite-braunite-quartz assemblage. Inferred mineral reaction paths and the general trend of pro-grade deoxidation reactions suggest that the composition of ambient fluid phase was internally buffered during metamorphism.     

Leaching of silica bands and concentration of magnetite in Archean BIF by hypogene fluids: Beebyn Fe ore deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

The ~2,752-Ma Weld Range greenstone belt in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia hosts several Fe ore deposits that provide insights into the role of early hypogene fluids in the formation of high-grade (>55 wt% Fe) magnetite-rich ore in banded iron formation (BIF). The 1.5-km-long Beebyn orebody comprises a series of steeply dipping, discontinuous, <50-m-thick lenses of magnetite–(martite)-rich ore zones in BIF that extend from surface to vertical depths of at least 250 m. The ore zones are enveloped by a 3-km-long, 150-m-wide outer halo of hypogene siderite and ferroan dolomite in BIF and mafic igneous country rocks. Ferroan chlorite characterises 20-m-wide proximal alteration zones in mafic country rocks. The magnetite-rich Beebyn orebody is primarily the product of hypogene fluids that circulated through reverse shear zones during the formation of an Archean isoclinal fold-and-thrust belt. Two discrete stages of hypogene fluid flow caused the pseudomorphic replacement of silica-rich bands in BIF by Stage 1 siderite and magnetite and later by Stage 2 ferroan dolomite. The resulting carbonate-altered BIF is markedly depleted in SiO₂ and enriched in CaO, MgO, LOI, P₂O₅ and Fe₂O_3(total) compared with the least-altered BIF. Subsequent reactivation of these shear zones and circulation of hypogene fluids resulted in the leaching of existing hypogene carbonate minerals and the concentration of residual magnetite-rich bands. These Stage 3 magnetite-rich ore zones are depleted in SiO₂ and enriched in K₂O, CaO, MgO, P₂O₅ and Fe₂O_3(total) relative to the least-altered BIF. Proximal wall rock hypogene alteration zones in mafic igneous country rocks (up to 20 m from the BIF contact) are depleted in SiO₂, CaO, Na₂O, and K₂O and are enriched in Fe₂O_3(total), MgO and P₂O₅ compared with distal zones. Recent supergene alteration affects all rocks within about 100 m below the present surface, disturbing hypogene mineral and the geochemical zonation patterns associated with magnetite-rich ore zones. The key vectors for identifying hypogene magnetite-rich Fe ore in weathered outcrop include textural changes in BIF (from thickly to thinly banded), crenulated bands and collapse breccias that indicate volume reduction. Useful indicators of hypogene ore in less weathered rocks include an outer carbonate–magnetite alteration halo in BIF and ferroan chlorite in mafic country rocks.     

Altered rocks of the Onguren carbonatite complex in the Western Tansbaikal Region: Geochemistry and composition of accessory minerals

The paper discusses the mineralogy and geochemistry of altered rocks associated with calcite and dolomite–ankerite carbonatites of the Onguren dyke–vein complex in the Western Transbaikal Region. The alteration processes in the Early Proterozoic metamorphic complex and synmetamorphic granite hosting carbonatite are areal microclinization and riebeckitization; carbonates, phlogopite, apatite, and aegirine occur in the near-contact zones of the dolomite–ankerite carbonatite veins; and silicification is displayed within separated zones adjacent to the veins. In aluminosilicate rocks, microclinization was accompanied by an increasing content of K, Fe³⁺, Ti, Nb (up to 460 ppm), Th, Cu, and REE; Na, Ti, Fe³⁺, Mg, Nb (up to 1500 ppm), Zr (up to 2800 ppm), Ta, Th, Hf, and REE accumulated in the inner zone of the riebeckitization column. High contents of Ln _Ce (up to 11200 ppm), U (23 ppm), Sr (up to 7000 ppm), Li (up to 400 ppm), Zn (up to 600 ppm), and Th (up to 700 ppm) are typical of apatite–phlogopite–riebeckite altered rock; silicified rock contains up to (ppm): 2000 Th, 20 U, 13000 Ln _Ce, and 5000 Ва. Ilmenite and later rutile are the major Nb carriers in alkali altered rocks. These minerals contain up to 2 and 7 wt % Nb₂O₅, respectively. In addition, ferrocolumbite and aeschynite-(Ce) occur in microcline and riebeckite altered rocks. Fluorapatite containing up to 2.7 wt % (Ln _Ce)₂O₃, monazite-(Ce), cerite-(Ce), ferriallanite-(Ce), and aeschynite-(Ce) are the REE carriers in riebeckite altered rock. Bastnäsite-(Ce), rhabdophane-group minerals, and xenotime-(Y) are typical of silicified rock. Thorite, monazite-(Ce), and rhabdophane-group minerals are the Th carriers.     

Major element distribution in Archean banded iron formation (BIF): influence of metamorphic differentiation

The Archean (2.8 Ga) Banded Iron Formation (BIF) of the Bell Lake region of Yellowknife greenstone belt, Canada is recrystallized to metamorphic assemblages of the amphibolite facies. This BIF is characterized by centimetre‐scale Fe‐rich and Si‐rich mesobands. In the Si‐rich mesobands, thin layers of magnetite microbands are developed in a quartz matrix. The Fe‐rich mesobands are composed mainly of Ca‐amphibole (hornblende), Fe–Mg amphibole (grunerite), and magnetite. The metamorphic foliation locally cuts across the mesoband boundaries, indicating the mesobanding was formed prior to peak metamorphism. Variations in mineral modal proportions between Fe‐rich mesobands and microbands are diagnostic of depositional compositional differences between beds. Micro‐X‐ray fluorescence imaging reveals metamorphic differentiation within Fe‐rich mesobands, with segregation of Fe–Mg amphibole, and the incompatible element Mn is concentrated at the margins of the Fe‐rich mesobands during the amphibole‐forming reactions. Ti was relatively immobile during metamorphic segregation and its distribution provides a record of the original structures in the Fe‐rich mesobands.     

Cobalt‐Bearing Grunerite in the Metamorphosed Banded Iron Formation in Orissa,India

Banded iron formation (BIF) comprising high grade iron ore are exposed in Gorumahisani‐Sulaipat‐Badampahar belt in the east of North Orissa Craton, India. The ores are multiply deformed and metamorphosed to amphibolite facies. The mineral assemblage in the BIF comprises grunerite, magnetite/martite/goethite and quartz. Relict carbonate phases are sometimes noticed within thick iron mesobands. Grunerite crystals exhibit needles to fibrous lamellae and platy form or often sheaf‐like aggregates in linear and radial arrangement. Accicular grunerite also occur within intergranular space of magnetite/martite. Grunerite needles/accicules show higher reflectivity in chert mesoband and matching reflectance with that of adjacent magnetite/martite in iron mesoband. Some grunerite lamellae sinter into micron size magnetite platelets. This grunerite has high ferrous oxide and cobalt oxide content but is low in Mg‐ and Mn‐oxide compared to the ones, reported from BIFs, of Western Australia, Nigeria, France, USA and Quebec. The protolith of this BIF is considered to be carbonate containing sediments, with high concentrations of Fe and Si but lower contents of cobalt and chromium ± Mg, Mn and Ni. During submarine weathering quartz, sheet silicate (greenalite) and Fe‐Co‐Cr (Mg‐Mn‐Ni)‐carbonate solid solution were formed. At the outset of the regional metamorphic episode grunerite, euhedral magnetite and recrystalized quartz were developed. Magnetite was grown at the expense of carbonate and later martitized under post‐metamorphic conditions. With the increasing grade of metamorphism greenalite transformed to grunerite.     

Coexisting Amphiboles from Blueschist Facies Metamorphic Rocks

Four pairs of associated calcic and sodic amphiboles from blueschistfacies metamorphic rocks were analyzed with the electron microprobeand studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques.Except for ranges in the ratios Mg/(Mg+Fe) and Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺+Al+Ti),the sodic amphiboles are similar in chemical composition. Theamount of calcium in the M(4)-site ranges only from 0·18to 0·21 ion per formula unit. The calcic amphiboles,in addition to a range in Mg/(Mg+Fe), vary in Na/(Na+Ca) ratio(0·29–0·48). Three of the calcic amphibolescontain less than 1·5 calcium ions per formula unit,indicating a significant solid solution of sodic amphibole componentsin the calcic amphibole phase. The a and b unit-cell parametersof the calcic amphiboles decrease with increased content ofthe sodic component.     

Formation of ferrian chromite in podiform chromitites from the Golyamo Kamenyane serpentinite,Eastern Rhodopes,SE Bulgaria: a two-stage process

The Golyamo Kamenyane serpentinite is a portion of a metaophiolite, located in the Upper High-Grade Unit of the metamorphic basement of the Eastern Rhodope Metamorphic Complex, SE Bulgaria. It consists of metaharzburgite and metadunite hosting layers of metagabbro and some chromitite bodies. All these lithologies were affected by ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism and subsequent retrograde evolution during exhumation. Chromite from chromitites can be classified into four textural groups: (1) partly altered chromite, (2) porous chromite, (3) homogeneous chromite and (4) zoned chromite. Partly altered chromite shows unaltered, Al-rich cores with unit cell size of 8.255 Å and Cr# [Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio] = 0.52–0.60, Mg# [Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺) atomic ratio] = 0.65–0.70 and Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) = 0.20–0.30, surrounded by porous chromite, with a cell size of 8.325 Å, Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) < 0.20 and values of Cr# and Mg# evolving from 0.60 to 0.91 and 0.65–0.44, respectively, from core to rim. The chemical composition of porous chromite varies within the following ranges: Cr# = 0.93–0.96, Mg# = 0.48–0.35 and Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) = 0.22–0.53. Its unit cell size is very constant (8.350 Å). Most pores in porous and partly altered chromite are filled with chlorite, which also occurs between chromite grains. Homogeneous chromite has Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) = 0.55–0.66, Cr# = 0.96–0.99, Mg# = 0.32–0.19 and a cell size of 8.385 Å. The cores of zoned chromite are similar to those of partially altered chromite, but the rims are identical to homogeneous chromite. Although chlorite predominates in the silicate matrix of homogeneous and zoned chromite, it coexists with some antigorite, talc and magnesiohornblende. Mineral data and thermodynamic modeling allow interpretation of the alteration patterns of chromite as the consequence of a two-stage process developed during retrograde metamorphic evolution coeval with fluid infiltration. During the first stage, chromite reacts in the presence of fluid with olivine to produce chlorite and Cr- and Fe²⁺-rich residual chromite (ferrous chromite) at ~700 to ~450 °C. This dissolution–precipitation reaction involves continuous chromite mass loss resulting in the development of a porous texture. This stage takes place progressively on cooling under water-saturated and reducing conditions. The second stage mainly consists of the formation of homogeneous chromite with ferrian chromite composition by the addition of magnetite to the porous ferrous chromite during a late oxidizing hydrothermal event.     

Genesis of superimposed hypogene and supergene Fe orebodies in BIF at the Madoonga deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

The Madoonga iron ore body hosted by banded iron formation (BIF) in the Weld Range greenstone belt of Western Australia is a blend of four genetically and compositionally distinct types of high-grade (>55 wt% Fe) iron ore that includes: (1) hypogene magnetite–talc veins, (2) hypogene specular hematite–quartz veins, (3) supergene goethite–hematite, and (4) supergene-modified, goethite–hematite-rich detrital ores. The spatial coincidence of these different ore types is a major factor controlling the overall size of the Madoonga ore body, but results in a compositionally heterogeneous ore deposit. Hypogene magnetite–talc veins that are up to 3 m thick and 50 m long formed within mylonite and shear zones located along the limbs of isoclinal, recumbent F₁ folds. Relative to least-altered BIF, the magnetite–talc veins are enriched in Fe₂O_3(total), P₂O₅, MgO, Sc, Ga, Al₂O₃, Cl, and Zr; and depleted in SiO₂ and MnO₂. Mafic igneous countryrocks located within 10 m of the northern contact of the mineralised BIF display the replacement of primary igneous amphibole and plagioclase, and metamorphic chlorite by hypogene ferroan chlorite, talc, and magnetite. Later-forming, hypogene specular hematite–quartz veins and their associated alteration halos partly replace magnetite–talc veins in BIF and formed during, to shortly after, the F₂-folding and tilting of the Weld Range tectono-stratigraphy. Supergene goethite–hematite ore zones that are up to 150 m wide, 400 m long, and extend to depths of 300 m replace least-altered BIF and existing hypogene alteration zones. The supergene ore zones formed as a result of the circulation of surface oxidised fluids through late NNW- to NNE-trending, subvertical brittle faults. Flat-lying, supergene goethite–hematite-altered, detrital sediments are concentrated in a paleo-topographic depression along the southern side of the main ENE-trending ridge at Madoonga. Iron ore deposits of the Weld Range greenstone belt record remarkably similar deformation histories, overprinting hypogene alteration events, and high-grade Fe ore types to other Fe ore deposits in the wider Yilgarn Craton (e.g. Koolyanobbing and Windarling deposits) despite these Fe camps being presently located more than 400 km apart and in different tectono-stratigraphic domains. Rather than the existence of a synchronous, Yilgarn-wide, Fe mineralisation event affecting BIF throughout the Yilgarn, it is more likely that these geographically isolated Fe ore districts experienced similar tectonic histories, whereby hypogene fluids were sourced from commonly available fluid reservoirs (e.g. metamorphic, magmatic, or both) and channelled along evolving structures during progressive deformation, resulting in several generations of Fe ore.