Reductive kinetics of the reaction between a natural ilmenite and carbon

The reductive degree and rate of Bama ilmenite concentrate by graphite under argon atmosphere were measured by using thermogravimetric analysis system at the temperatures from 850 °C to 1400 °C. The reduction degree of the ilmenite increased with temperature rise, the case similar to reaction rate. The higher the temperature was, the faster the reaction rate was. The phases before and after reduction and the morphology of reduced samples were identified by using X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy analysis, respectively. The reduction degree of the ilmenite decreased due to the presence of impurities. Manganese and magnesium oxide-rich zones formed which prevented complete reduction of Fe²⁺. In general, the reaction products were iron, Ti₃O₅, reduced rutiles and pseudobrookite solid solution. The kinetics was also discussed and it was found that the rate-controlling steps were different in the different temperature ranges.     

Petrogenetic Appraisal of Early Palaeozoic Granitoids of Kinnaur District, Higher Himachal Himalaya, India

The Early Palaeozoic felsic magmatism of Kinnaur district is represented by more-or-less equivalent Akpa granitoids (477±29 Ma) and Rakcham granitoids (453±9 Ma), which form an integral part of the Central Crystalline Zone in the southern portion of the Tethys Himalayan Tectogen. Both, Akpa granitoids (AG) and Rakcham granitoids (RG), intrude the rocks of the Vaikrita Group. Substantially low magnetic susceptibility values (c = 0.016-0.187 × 10⁻³ SI) of these Early Palaeozoic granitoids suggest their nature similar to as ilmenite series (reduced-type) granitoids emplaced in a syn-collisional tectonic setting. The modal compositions of AG mainly correspond to two-mica (muscovite-biotite) monzogranite belonging to the granitoids generated by crustal fusion. Based on mineral assemblage (Ms+Bt+Tur+Ap), associated skarn-type tungsten mineralization, occurrence of metasedimentary enclaves, and whole-rock geochemistry (SiO₂ = 70.75-72.95 wt.%, TiO₂ = 0.02-0.17 wt.%, K₂O/Na₂O = 1.05-2.32, molar A/CNK = 0.93 to 1.33, CIPW corundum 0.17 to 3.82 wt.%, Av. Sr = 304ppm, initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7206±0.00235), the AG can be typically characterized as peraluminous (S-type) granite as similarly noted for RG. Higher Rb/Sr ratio and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.737±0.002 of RG compared to that of AG however indicate involvement of relatively more crustal component in generation of RG. The AG is enriched in Ba and light rare earth elements (LREE). The chondrite normalized REE patterns of AG appear weakly fractionated (La_N/Lu_N= 1.06-6.43) and show pronounced negative Eu-anomaly (Eu_N/Eu^* = 0.03). The AG and RG represent typical S-type granite suites that largely evolved due to differential degree of anatexis (partial fusion) of sedimentary protoliths, prior to Caledonian but after the Pan-Indian thermal orogenic event.     

Sequential high-pressure transformations of FeGeO3 high-P clinopyroxene (C 2 /c) at temperatures up to 365 ¯C

 In order to elucidate high-pressure transformations of high-P clinopyroxene (C2/c) at kinetically low temperature where atoms are not thermally activated, the transformation processes of FeGeO₃ clinopyroxene (C2/c) have been investigated at pressures up to 20 GPa and 365 °C by powder X-ray diffraction using a synchrotron radiation source and TEM observation. With increasing pressure up to 20 GPa at room temperature, FeGeO₃ high-P clinopyroxene (C2/c) reversibly transforms into a new high-pressure phase, FeGeO₃(II). On increasing the temperature up to 365 °C, this phase rapidly transforms into FeGeO₃ ilmenite within about 2 h. Intensity analysis of the X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the high-pressure phase of FeGeO₃(II) has an intermediate structure between clinopyroxene and ilmenite: the cation arrangement is similar to that of clinopyroxene and the oxygen arrangement is similar to that of ilmenite. The comparison of the crystal structures of these polymorphs suggests that clinopyroxene to FeGeO₃(II) and FeGeO₃(II) to ilmenite transformations are performed by the slight deformation of the oxygen packing and the short-range movement of cations, respectively. It is shown that this high-P clinopyroxene transforms into ilmenite through a low-activation energy path under the low-temperature condition. Received: 30 August 2000 / Accepted: 10 February 2001     

日本西南冲岛新生代过铝质花岗岩类的特征和成因

日本西南冲岛花岗岩类按岩性可划分出两种类型:谷尻型(Tanijiri type)堇青石-紫苏辉石花岗闪长岩和母岛型(Mashima type)电气石-石榴石黑云母花岗岩。两者均以中等过铝质,高的钛铁矿/磁铁矿比值、高的Rb/Sr比值和中等至强的负铕异常等指示其成因上应归属于钛铁矿系列花岗岩,与澳大利亚的S型花岗岩有相似之处。谷尻型花岗闪长岩的源岩主要为一套中性-中基性变质火山岩和火山沉积岩。由于未经充分的沉积分异,成熟度低,含放射成因~(87)Sr较少,由这种源岩经部分熔融形成的初始岩浆具有较低的I_(Sr)~t值(0.70765)和较高的ε_(Nd)~t值(-6.3),这些又不同于典型的S型花岗岩。根据Rb/Sr模拟计算,母岛型花岗岩可能是谷尻型花岗闪长岩浆经26～65％结晶相分离结晶后的产物。     

Heavy Mineral Placer Deposits of Ekakula Beach, Gahiramatha Coast, Orissa, India

Abstract: Ilmenite, hematite, garnet, monazite, zircon, rutile, magnetite, sillimanite, pyroxene and amphibole from the beach sands of Ekakula, Gahiramatha coast, Orissa, India are reported here for the first time. Their total concentration varies from 26. 4 to 100%. Ilmenite, monazite and zircon are between 100 and 300 um in size and are well rounded in shape. Ilmenite-hematite intergrowth is common. Ilmenite has 50. 02–54. 73% TiO₂, 42. 42–46. 90% FeO (total Fe) and small amounts of Al, Mn, Mg, Ca, Ba, Si, V, Cr, and Zn. The bulk samples contain 10. 63–41. 42 % TiO₂, 6. 15–26. 07 % FeO, 5. 86–16. 75 % Fe₂O₃, 7. 41–61. 74 % SiO₂, 1. 39–12. 83% A1₂O₃, 0. 32–4. 97% CaO, 0. 53–4. 24% P₂O₅, 0. 17–3. 27% MgO, 0. 15–2. 97% Na₂O, 0. 07–2. 34% K₂O, and 0. 05–0. 71% V₂O₅ together with appreciable amounts of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Y, U, Th, Zr, and trace amounts of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, and Cr. Khondalite, charnockite, calc-silicate granulite, leptynite, migmatite, gneiss, basic granulite and pegmatite of the Eastern Ghats appear to be the major source for the above heavy mineral assemblages. The samples are amenable to gravity and magnetic methods of beneficiation.     

山东省沂水宿山钛铁矿矿床地质特征

山东省沂水宿山钛铁矿属于岩浆结晶分异矿床。含矿岩石赋存于古元古代早期红门岩套三官寨中粗粒角闪辉长岩中。矿区内共圈定钛铁矿矿体1个,矿体长1 665m,宽4.01～77.14m,矿体单样品TiO2含量一般为5.00%～9.00%,平均6.66%。矿石中TiO2含量与TFe含量变化呈正相关关系。矿体经风化淋滤后,多发生褐铁矿、钛铁矿化现象,使矿体地表露头多呈红褐色,为其重要找矿标志。     

西天山哈拉达拉辉长岩的Fe-Ti富集机制及其构造意义

特克斯哈拉达拉辉长岩体是西南天山出露规模最大的层状基性-超基性侵入杂岩体,其富含Fe-Ti氧化物(含量高达15%)。哈拉达拉辉长岩中的橄榄石具有较低的Fo值(64~75),斜长石主要为中-拉长石,单斜辉石相对低Mg^#(0.66~0.87),属于次透辉石或普通辉石,总体上显示出较高的岩浆演化程度。Fe-Ti氧化物以钒钛磁铁矿为主(TiO₂=0.8%~20.6%;V₂O₃=0.10%~0.83%),常与钛铁矿呈矿物对共生或出溶钛铁矿。晚期的云母矿物均围绕他形的Fe-Ti氧化物生长,主要为富MgO的金云母,少量属于黑云母;大部分云母成分富含F、Cl(F+Cl高达3.14%),指示岩浆形成于贫水环境。哈拉达拉辉长岩体的主量元素成分变化很大(Mg^#=0.48~0.73),橄榄辉长岩主要受橄榄石和斜长石的结晶分异/堆晶作用影响,而辉长岩的成分变化主要受控于斜长石和Fe-Ti氧化物的堆晶作用。哈拉达拉岩体的Fe-Ti氧化物主要为岩浆正常结晶分异作用的结果,该体系具有较低氧逸度、贫水的特点,其地幔源区的熔融程度较高,可能是塔里木地幔柱在天山造山带这一构造薄弱带的早期岩浆活动。     

Experimental studies At 5–12 GPa of the Ondermatjie hypabyssal kimberlite

Liquidus and sub-liquidus phase relationships are reported for melts formed from an aphanitic kimberlite composition crystallized at 5–12 GPa and 900–1400 °C. The liquidus phase over the pressure range investigated is forsteritic olivine. This is followed with decreasing temperature by olivine plus garnet as the initial sub-liquidus solid phase assemblage. Supra-solidus assemblages consist of olivine+garnet+clinopyroxene+Mg-ilmenite+liquid at 5–7 GPa or olivine+garnet+clinopyroxene+hematite–ilmenite solid solutions (+/−perovskite)+liquid at 8–12 GPa. Phlogopite forms as a near-solidus phase only at 900 °C and 6 GPa. Orthopyroxene does not form at any temperature and pressure. All garnets formed at 6–7 GPa are Ti-rich almandine–grossular–pyrope solid solutions and not Cr-pyrope, whereas garnets formed above 8 GPa are Ti- and Fe³⁺-rich and have no natural counterparts. Quenched liquids are represented by magnesite at 10–12 GPa and Mg–Ca-carbonates at lower pressures. In addition to forming discrete crystals, Mg-ilmenite and hematite–ilmenite solid solutions occur as lamellar intergrowths that are identical in texture to naturally occurring intergrowths. Mg-ilmenite compositions at 6–7 GPa are similar to those of the natural occurrences, whereas clinopyroxenes are richer in Ca. The effects of graphite versus platinum capsules on the oxygen fugacity of the experimental charges and the composition of the olivine, clinopyroxene, Fe–Ti-oxides and garnets formed are described. These experimental data are interpreted to indicate that kimberlite magmas are unlikely to be formed by very small degrees of partial melting of a simple homogeneous carbonated garnet lherzolite mantle. It is proposed that kimberlite magmas form by extensive partial melting of metasomatized mantle, i.e. mineralogically complex carbonate-bearing veins in a lherzolitic/harzburgitic substrate, and that lamellar ilmenite–clinopyroxene intergrowths represent the products of non-equilibrium growth in kimberlite magma.     

Application of CCSEM to heavy mineral deposits: Source of high-Ti ilmenite sand deposits of South Kerala beaches, SW India

For the characterization of sediments, Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM) is a powerful method in obtaining chemical data on individual mineral grains and modal analysis of the heavy mineral fraction of sediment samples. Here we show how the CCSEM method can be used to evaluate ilmenite ore grade as well as a tool to investigate the source of heavy mineral deposits.The heavy mineral rich deposits in beach sands around the town of Chavara in SW India are characterized by ilmenite with elevated TiO₂ contents, often exceeding 60 wt.%. In order to determine the origin of these high-TiO₂ ilmenite deposits, we collected a series of beach sediment samples (22) from a c. 800 km long stretch of coastline from northern Kerala state to well within the Tamil Nadu state. A set (7) of river sediments was also taken, roughly covering the catchment area to the beach samples. The data show that the sediments in the Chavara high-Ti ilmenite deposit are distinguished by minor elements in ilmenite, garnet chemistry and heavy mineral assemblage: Chavara ilmenite has high MgO and low MnO contents; garnets have low grossular components and the heavy mineral assemblage is dominated by sillimanite–kyanite in addition to ilmenite. These features correlate with basement geology in the hinterland, and with sediments from rivers, draining the basement. Based on these observations we conclude that high-Ti ilmenite from Chavara beaches originates in the khondalite belt of high-grade metasediments. Our study demonstrates rapid mineral analyses in sediments by CCSEM to be efficient in the characterization of mineral compositions and assemblages in sediments, in the identification of possible source regions and thus ultimately in exploration for industrial mineral resources.     

山东省沂水县下儒林钛铁矿矿床地质特征

下儒林钛铁矿位于沂沭断裂带内汞丹山凸起的东部边缘,浮来山白粉子断裂的西侧。含矿岩石(矿化体)为侵入于新太古代泰山岩群中的新太古代晚期含钛磁铁矿角闪石岩,其呈透镜状或带状发育于泰山岩群中或被捕虏(残留)于古元古代吕梁期傲徕山弱片麻状中粗粒二长花岗岩内,其产状与新太古代变质地层基本一致。矿区内圈定矿体5个,矿体长240~1000m,宽14~140m。矿石TFe含量一般为15%~16%,最高为21.84%,矿床平均为15.55%;TiO2含量一般为5%~8%,最高为10.13%,矿床平均为6.54%。矿石中TiO2与TFe含量变化呈正相关关系。