Origin of Fe-Ti Oxide Ores in Mafic Intrusions: Evidence from the Panzhihua Intrusion, SW China

Economic concentrations of Fe–Ti oxides occur as massive,conformable lenses or layers in the lower part of the Panzhihuaintrusion, Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China. Mineralchemistry, textures and QUILF equilibria indicate that oxidesin rocks of the intrusion were subjected to extensive subsolidusre-equilibration and exsolution. The primary oxide, reconstructedfrom compositions of titanomagnetite in the ores and associatedintergrowths, is an aluminous titanomagnetite (Usp₄₀) with 40wt % FeO, 34 wt % Fe₂O₃, 16·5 wt % TiO₂, 5·3 wt% Al₂O₃, 3·5 wt % MgO and 0·5 wt % MnO. This compositionis similar to the bulk composition of the oxide ore, as inferredfrom whole-rock data. This similarity strongly suggests thatthe ores formed from accumulation of titanomagnetite crystals,not from immiscible oxide melt as proposed in earlier studies.The occurrence of oxide ores in the lower parts of the Panzhihuaintrusion is best explained by settling and sorting of densetitanomagnetite in the ferrogabbroic parental magma. This magmamust have crystallized Fe–Ti oxides relatively early andabundantly, and is likely to have been enriched in Fe and Tibut poor in SiO₂. These features are consistent with fractionationof mantle-derived melts under relatively high pressures (10kbar), followed by emplacement of the residual magma at 5 kbar.This study provides definitive field and geochemical evidencethat Fe–Ti oxide ores can form by accumulation in ferrogabbro.We suggest that many other massive Fe–Ti oxide depositsmay have formed in a similar fashion and that high concentrationsof phosphorus or carbon, or periodic fluctuation of fO₂ in themagma, are of secondary importance in ore formation. KEY WORDS: ELIP; Fe–Ti oxide ore; layered intrusion; Panzhihua; QUILF     

铁碎片与人体活组织之间的长期相互作用

一铁碎片被意外植入人体内,并在体内呆了16 a。该碎片经历了显著的形态和化学变化。铁碎片的表面呈现葡萄状或者鲕粒状。碎片转化为铁的氧化物和氢氧化物以及钙的磷酸盐(可能为磷灰石)。在碎片中确认出Fe、O、P、Ca、Cl、Na、K和Mg等元素。从边缘到核心,Fe含量增加,P和Ca含量减少。碎片从人身体内吸附了Ca、P、O、Cl、Na和K。研究表明,磷灰石或者其他钙的磷酸盐能够在人体里保持稳定达16 a。然而,钙的磷酸盐与铁的氧化物或者氢氧化物混合,可能还不足以坚固到与骨头结合。本研究也表明,铁或者含铁合金在人体内不够稳定。