Genesis and composition of borates in the metasomatically altered dolomitic, rhodochrosite, and calcareous marbles of Japan

The paper addresses the composition and genesis of endogenous borates from hypabyssal skarn deposits of Japan (Honshu Island) that were formed after dolomitic, rhodochrosite, and calcareous marbles in the contact aureoles of magmatic intrusions of diverse felsicity (from granites to diorite-monzonites). Metasomatic bodies formed at the prograde stage of the mineral formation are characterized by clearly expressed zoning of primitive type. Borates occur in the calciphyres at the Neichi, Kaso, and Rito mines, and are developed in calcitic marbles at the Fuka mine. Depending on initial composition of carbonate rocks, borates are represented by suanite, kotoite, jimboite, and takedaite in the outer zones of spinel-forsterite and galaxite-jacobsite-tephroite calciphyres or calcitic marbles, respectively. It was shown that early borates are subjected to hydration that is expressed in variable deficit of boron. At the next stages of hydrothermal mineral formation, they are replaced by pertsevite, wiserite, sibirskite, and other borates.