The Rare Earth Elements and Uranium in Garnets from the Beinn an Dubhaich Aureole, Skye, Scotland, UK: Constraints on Processes in a Dynamic Hydrothermal System

Garnets from skarns in the Beinn an Dubhaich granite aureole,Isle of Skye, Scotland, have a large range of concentrationsof uranium (0·2–358 ppm) and the rare earth elements(REE) (23–4724 ppm). Variations in these concentrationscorrelate with major element zonation within the garnets, andwith changes in the shape of REE patterns. Typical patternsin most garnets display light REE (LREE) enrichment, flat heavyREE (HREE) distribution and a negative Eu anomaly. These patternsare interpreted to represent equilibrium trace element exchangebetween pre-existing pyroxene, hydrothermal fluid and calcicgarnets. Iron-rich zones are characterized by positive Eu anomaliesand an increase in the abundance of the LREE relative to theHREE. These patterns are interpreted as resulting from changesin REE speciation related to the introduction of externallybuffered fluid to the skarn system. Relatively Fe-poor zonesshow strongly HREE-enriched patterns with negative Eu anomaliesand in some instances depletions in Y relative to Ho and Dy,which are interpreted as resulting from surface sorption ofthe REE during rapid, disequilibrium garnet growth. Strong correlationsbetween U abundance and the REE patterns indicate that the sameprocesses have affected U distribution. Both types of patterncan be modified by the effects of closed-system crystallizationon REE abundance in the fluid, and changes in fluid major elementchemistry. KEY WORDS: fractionation; garnet; hydrothermal; rare earth elements; skarn