Ayya V. Bazai

3D mineralogical mapping of the Kovdor phoscorite–carbonatite complex (Russia)

The Kovdor baddeleyite–apatite–magnetite deposit in the Kovdor phoscorite–carbonatite pipe is situated in the western part of the zoned alkali-ultrabasic Kovdor intrusion (NW part of the Fennoscandinavian shield; Murmansk Region, Russia). We describe major intrusive and metasomatic rocks of the pipe and its surroundings using a new classification of phoscorite–carbonatite series rocks, consistent with the IUGS recommendation. The gradual zonation of the pipe corresponds to the sequence of mineral crystallization (forsterite–hydroxylapatite–magnetite–calcite). Crystal morphology, grain size, characteristic inclusions, and composition of the rock-forming and accessory minerals display the same spatial zonation pattern, as do the three minerals of economic interest, i.e. magnetite, hydroxylapatite, and baddeleyite. The content of Sr, rare earth elements (REEs), and Ba in hydroxylapatite tends to increase gradually at the expense of Si, Fe, and Mg from early apatite–forsterite phoscorite (margins of the pipe) through carbonate-free, magnetite-rich phoscorite to carbonate-rich phoscorite and phoscorite-related carbonatite (inner part). Magnetite displays a trend of increasing V and Ca and decreasing Ti, Mn, Si, Cr, Sc, and Zn from the margins to the central part of the pipe; its grain size initially increases from the wall rocks to the inner part and then decreases towards the central part; characteristic inclusions in magnetite are geikielite within the marginal zone of the phoscorite–carbonatite pipe, spinel within the intermediate zone, and ilmenite within the inner zone. The zoning pattern seems to have formed due to both cooling and rapid degassing (pressure drop) of a fluid-rich magmatic column and subsequent pneumatolytic and hydrothermal processes.

Goryainovite, Ca2PO4Cl, a new mineral from the Stora Sahavaara iron ore deposit (Norrbotten, Sweden)

Abstract Goryainovite, Ca2PO4Cl, is a new halophosphate, the chlorine analogue of ‘spodiosite’, Ca2PO4F. It is orthorhombic, Pbcm, a = 6.215(2), b = 7.011(2), c = 10.788(3) Å, V = 470.0(8) Å3, Z = 4 (from powder X-ray diffraction data). The mineral is found in a magnetite-serpentine rock of the Stora Sahavaara iron ore deposit (67.408°N 23.297°E) where it forms small (up to 20 μm in diameter) rounded inclusions in magnetite, in close association with hydroxylapatite–chlorapatite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, valleriite and thorianite. Goryainovite is a transparent, colourless mineral with a vitreous lustre and a white streak. Cleavage is not observed, and the fracture is conchoidal. The Mohs hardness is c. 4. In transmitted light, the mineral is colourless, biaxial (–), β ≈ 1.66 (for λ = 589 nm). Dcalc = 2.98 g·cm−3. The mean chemical composition specified with electron microprobe is (wt.%): P2O5 33.19, Cl 16.96, CaO 53.25, O = Cl –3.83, total 99.57. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 3 cations per molecule is Ca2.01[P0.99O3.98]Cl1.01. The simplified formula is Ca2PO4Cl. The strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines [d in Å, (I), (hkl)] are 2.845(90)(113), 2.746(100)(211), 2.333(25)(114), 2.028(15)(132), 1.9569 (30)(115), 1.8370 (20)(025). The Raman spectrum of goryainovite includes 10 bands of -group vibrations. Goryainovite represents probably an early-formed phosphate of the magnetite-serpentine rock and crystallized together with magnetite. When chlorine fugacity decreased, almost all goryainovite was transformed into chlorapatite–hydroxylapatite, and only grains isolated in magnetite remained unaltered. The mineral is named in honour of Prof. Pavel M. Goryainov (b. 1937) for his contribution to the knowledge of the geology and petrology of banded iron formation of the north-eastern part of the Fennoscandian Shield.

Native elements in rocks of the banded iron formation, Kola Peninsula

Eleven native minerals and intermetallic alloys were identified in rocks of the banded iron formation (BIF) in the Kola Peninsula: copper, silver, gold, electrum, auricupride, cuproauride, tetraauricupride, bismuth, sulfur, tellurium, and graphite. Graphite is a common mineral of sulfide-bearing BIF and gneiss. Sulfur occurs in supergene-altered sulfide-bearing BIFs together with Fe- and Ca-sulfates. Gold of low fineness (electrum) in association with electrum, acanthite, auricupride, volynskite, hessite, cervelleite, pavonite, petzite, and bismuth is related to the areas of hydrothermally altered skarnoids with greenalite, chamosite, aegirine, and Na-Ca amphibole. Redeposited gold of high fineness associated with auricupride, hessite, silver, electrum, kostovite, cuproauride, tetraauricupride, and sperrylite occurs in low-temperature zonal hydrothermal segregations hosted in aluminous gneiss and which formed under the effect of alkalized, highly siliceous solutions at the regressive stage of BIF metamorphism.