Chemistry of Kornerupine and Associated Minerals, a Wet Chemical, Ion Microprobe, and X-Ray Study Emphasizing Li, Be, B and F Contents

Kornerupine and associated minerals in 31 samples of high-graderocks relatively rich in Al and Mg were analysed by wet chemistry,ion microprobe mass analyser, electron microprobe and X-raypowder diffraction. For 11 samples of kornerupine and threesamples of biotite (F only) analysed by both wet chemical andion microprobe methods, the best agreement was obtained forB₂O₃, whereas the ion microprobe Li₂O values were systematicallysomewhat higher than the wet chemical values. The wet chemicalmethods give Li₂O=0–0?19 wt.%; BeO=0–0?032 wt.%;B₂O₃=0–4?01 wt.%; and F=0?07–0?77 wt.% in kornerupine,whereas ion microprobe analyses on other kornerupines give valuesup to 0?35 wt.% Li₂O, O066 wt.% BeO, and 4?72 wt.% B₂O₃. Thesum B+Al+Fe³⁺+Cr is close to 6?9 atoms per 22 (O, OH, F) or21?5 (O) in kornerupine. In general, Li/Fe ratios decrease as follows: kornerupine ?sapphirinebiotite> Crd (Na<0?03 per 18 oxygens)>tourmaline, garnet,orthopyroxene. However, for cordierite with Na>004, Li/Fedecreases as follows: cordierite>kornerupine. Sapphirineand sillimanite are the only associated minerals to incorporatesignificant boron (0?1–0?85 wt.% B₂O₃) and then only whenthe single site for B in kornerupine is approaching capacity.Sillimanite B₂O₃ contents increase regularly with kornerupineF. Fractionation of fluorine increases as follows: kornerupinekrn-Bt^D=(F/OH)^Krn/(F/(OH)^Bt (assuming ideal anion composition)increases with biotite Ti. Kornerupine B₂O₃ content is a measureof B₂O₃ activity in associated metamorphic fluid, whereas sillimaniteB₂O₃ content increases with temperature, exceeding 0?4 wt.%whenT=900?C at very low water activities. New data on 11 kornerupines and literature data indicate thatthe unit cell parameters a, c, and V decrease with increasingB content and b, c, and V increase with increasing Fe³⁺ content.In Fe³⁺-poor kornerupines, b increases with Mg and with (Mg+ Fe²⁺) but the effect of Mg on b via the substitution ^VIMg+^IVSi=^VIAl+^IVAloverwhelms the effect of Fe²⁺=Mg substitution.