Microstructures in carbonates from the Alnø and Fen carbonatites

The nature of carbonates and related second phase minerals in carbonatite samples from the Alnø and Fen regions has been studied by optical and transmission electron microscopy, aided by X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analysis.Calcite, dolomite and ankerite have been found to exhibit two phase microstructures. Coherent ribbons of calcitic material occur in dolomite and ankerite, while the calcite grains commonly contain a fine dispersion of plate-like and sometimes rod-like precipitates. Calcite and dolomite frequently occur in contact with the same crystallographic lattice orientation, the small lattice mismatch being indicated by moiré patterns at the grain boundaries and occasional misfit dislocations.The two-phase structure of calcite in dolomite reported for the first time in this paper is thought to be a high temperature analogue of the modulated microstructures reported recently in calcian sedimentary dolomites (Wenk et al. 1983).