Orogenic Lherzolites and Mantle Processes: Editorial

The papers in this thematic issue of Journal of Petrology weredelivered at the Fourth International Workshop on Orogenic Lherzolitesand Mantle Processes, which was held in Samani, Hokkaido, Japan,between August 26 and September 3, 2002. Fifty oral presentationswere given and 45 posters were displayed during the meeting,and the research papers in this issue provide an     

Two Se-bearing Ag–Bi Sulphosalts, Benjaminite and Matildite from the Ikuno Deposits, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan –Au–Ag Mineralization in Polymetallic Zone

Abstract: Se-bearing benjaminite and matildite are described from the polymetallic zone of the Ikuno deposits, Japan. The former is the first occurrence in Japan, and is from two separate veins, the Nanten and Daimaru, while the locality of the latter could not be specified. The empirical formulae of two benjaminites based on 22 atoms are (Ag_{2. 74}Cu_{0. 24})_{Σ2. 98}(Bi_{7. 00}Sb_{0. 01})_{Σ7. 01}(S_{10. 89}Se_{1. 12})_{Σ12. 01} (Nanten) and (Ag_{2. 90}Cu_{0. 10})_{Σ3. 00}(Bi_{6. 74}Pb_{0. 18}Sb_{0. 07})_{Σ6. 99}(S_{11. 68}Se_{0.33)Σ12. 01} (Daimaru), leading to the validation of the formula Ag₃Bi₇S₁₂ as the ideal one for benjaminite, and that of matildite based on 4 atoms is Ag_{1. 00}Bi_{1. 00}(S_{1. 78}Se_{0. 22})Σ_{2. 00}. These designate the substitution of Se for S in all of them, where Se is preferentially incorporated into these Ag-Bi sulphosalts. The unit-cell parameters of them and matildite are: a 13. 272, b 4. 037, c 20. 185 Å, and β 103. 16° (Daimaru), a 13. 270, b 4. 040, c 20. 273 Å, and β103. 17° (Nanten); and a 4. 0670, c 18. 996 Å, respectively. The products of Au-Ag mineralization in the Ikuno polymetallic vein-type deposits also occur as such Ag-Bi sulfosalts as benjaminite and matildite, in addition to pavonite, “treasurite derivative” and “electrum” with cassiterite in the polymetallic zone, and also do as “electrum”, acanthite, and pyrargyrite-proustite in the Au-Ag zone. The significant quantity of the Ag-Bi sulfosalts does not violate the zoning occupying the outermost part of the zonal distribution of ores in the deposits.     

Silicate, Hydrous and Carbonate Metasomatism at Lherz, France: Contemporaneous Derivatives of Silicate Melt-Harzburgite Reaction

Complex multi-stage models involving silicate, hydrous and carbonatemelts of distinct provenance have been invoked to explain themetasomatism observed in mantle rocks. In contrast, relativelysimple models requiring polybaric crystallization of alkalinesilicate melts have been proposed to explain the occurrenceof veined mantle rocks. To address the spatial and temporalrelationships between veins and wall-rocks, a sequence of drillcores was obtained from Lherz, France. In outcrop the vein (amphibole–garnetpyroxenite dyke) is spatially associated with hornblendite veinlets(lherzite), and proximal amphibole-bearing and distal apatite-bearingwall-rock peridotite. Considerable elemental and isotopic heterogeneityexists in these wall-rock peridotites, in many instances equivalentto, or greater than, that observed in mantle xenoliths fromworldwide localities. A single stage of reactive porous flowbest explains the elemental and isotopic heterogeneity in thewall-rock. In essence it is proposed that emplacement of thesilicate melt (dyke) was inextricably linked to chromatographicfractionation/reaction of derivatives which led to the coexistence,in space and time, of silicate, hydrous and carbonate melts.This model elegantly and simply describes the formation of complexmetasomatic aureoles around mantle veins and negates the need,in the case of basalt-hosted (and kimberlite-hosted) xenoliths,for complex multi-stage models involving several episodes ofmelt influx with each melt being of different provenance. KEY WORDS: mantle metasomatism; trace-element enrichment; isotopic contamination; wall-rock peridotite; Lherz peridotite     

Extending the applicability of the Raman carbonaceous‐material geothermometer using data from contact metamorphic rocks

The degree of graphitization of carbonaceous material (CM) has been widely used as an indicator of metamorphic grade. Previous work has demonstrated that peak metamorphic temperature (T) of regional metamorphic rocks can be estimated by an area ratio (R2) of peaks recognized in Raman spectra of CM. The applicability of this method to low‐pressure (<3 kbar) contact metamorphism was tested using Raman spectroscopic analyses of samples from two contact‐metamorphic aureoles in Japan (Daimonji and Kasuga areas). A suitable measurement procedure allows the dependence of the geothermometer on sample type (thin section, chip) and incident angle of laser beam relative to the c‐axes of CM to be tested. Two important general results are: (i) in addition to standard thin sections, chips are also suitable for spectral analysis; and (ii) the incident angle of the laser beam does not significantly affect the temperature estimation, i.e. spectral measurements for the geothermometer can be carried out irrespective of the crystallographic orientation. A laser wavelength of 532 nm was used in this study compared with 514.5 nm in an independent previous study. A comparison shows that the use of a 532‐nm laser results in a slightly, but systematically larger R2 ratio than that of a 514.5‐nm laser. Taking this effect into account, our results show that there is a slight but distinct difference between the R2–T correlations shown by contact and regional metamorphic rocks: the former are slightly better‐crystallized (have slightly lower R2 values) than the latter at the same temperature. This difference is interpreted as due to the degree of associated deformation. Despite the slight difference, the results of this study coincide within the estimated errors of ±50 °C with those of the previously proposed Raman CM geothermometer, thus demonstrating the applicability of this method to contact metamorphism. To facilitate more precise temperature estimates in regions of contact metamorphism, a new calibration for analyses using a 532‐nm laser is derived. Another important observation is that the R2 ratio of metamorphosed CM in pelitic and psammitic rocks is highly heterogeneous with respect to a single sample. To obtain a reliable temperature estimate, the average R2 value must be determined by using a substantial number of measurements (usually N > 50) that adequately reflects the range of sample heterogeneity. Using this procedure (with 532‐nm laser) and adapting our new calibration, the errors of the Raman CM geothermometer for contact metamorphic rocks decrease to ～±30 °C.