E. V. Sklyarov

Schreyerite, V2Ti3O9: New occurrence and crystal structure

Abstract A new occurrence of schreyerite, V2Ti3O9, has recently been found in metamorphic rocks of the Sludyanka complex at the southern shore of Lake Baikal, Russia. In contrast to previously known schreyerite lamellae, which are intergrown with rutile, crystals from the Sludyanka complex occur as isolated single crystals associated with titanite, allowing single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The chemical composition was determined with an electron microprobe giving the composition (V1.785Cr0.157Fe0.036)(Ti2.536V0.468)O9. A peculiarity of this schreyerite sample is the partial substitution of V4+ for Ti4+. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and was refined in the monoclinic space group C2/c [a = 17.102(2), b = 5.0253(5), c = 7.0579(8) Å, β = 106.636(10)°] to R1 = 2.84%. The structure is in agreement with the qualitative model of Grey et al. (1973) determined on the basis of electron diffraction and X-ray powder data for synthetic (Fe,Cr)2Ti3O9. Reinvestigation of schreyerite from the type locality indicates that this sample has cell dimensions and symmetry corresponding to the Sludyanka sample. The structure of schreyerite may be considered as a 1:1 polysome composed of slabs of berdesinskiite, V2TiO5, and Ti2O4 (a high-pressure phase of TiO2 with α-PbO2 structure).

X-ray structural investigation of the oxyvanite (V3O5) - berdesinskiite (V2TiO5) series: V4+ substituting for octahedrally coordinated Ti4+

The crystal structures of three different solid-solution members between the new mineral oxyvanite (V3O5) - and berde- sinskiite (V2TiO5) from a quartzite rock in the Pereval marble quarry of the Sludyanka complex, south of Lake Baikal (Russia), have been refined in space group C2/c (a � 10.0, b � 5.0, c � 7.0 A ˚ , b � 111 � ) from X-ray single-crystal diffraction-data. The composition of the studied crystals, determined by electron-microprobe analyses, is: ðV 3þ

Crystal chemistry of Cr3+-V3+-rich clinopyroxenes

Abstract Eleven clinopyroxenes from the Sludyanka Crystalline Complex in Russia belonging to the ternary join NaVSi2O6-NaCrSi2O6-CaMgSi2O6 (natalyite-kosmochlor-diopside) were studied by means of X-ray single crystal diffractometry and electron probe microanalysis. The crystal chemical data show that the T site is almost completely occupied by Si, so that the Na (V3+,Cr3+) → Ca Mg substitution mechanism ensures charge balance. Changes in M1 site geometry are explained by the aggregate ionic radius, and are influenced by Mg occupancy and V3+/(V3+ + Cr3+) ratio. The M2 site geometry depends both on Na content and on the (V3+,Cr3+) → Mg substitution in M1 site. Changes in M2-O3c1 bond length are mainly related to Na content, whereas the longest M2-O3c2 bond lengths are significantly affected by the V3+/(V3+ + Cr3+) ratio of the M1 site. The T site geometry is affected by chemical and geometrical variations at the M1 and M2 sites, principally the M1 site occupancy.

Rare metal granites of the Katugin complex (Aldan shield): Sources and geodynamic formation settings

Isotope–Geochemical Sm–Nd studies of the Early Proterozoic alkaline granites of the Katugan complex (Aldan shield) were carried out. The unique Katugan rare metals (Ta, Nb, Zr, Y, and REE) deposit is confined to these granites. Parent melts of the granites are of mantle–crustal nature.

Genesis of the Katugin rare-metal ore deposit: Magmatism versus metasomatism

Arguments in favor of magmatic or metasomatic genesis of the Katugin rare-metal ore deposit are discussed. The geological and mineralogical features of the deposit confirm its magmatic origin: (1) the shape of the ore-bearing massif and location of various types of granites (biotite, biotite–amphibole, amphibole, and amphibole–aegirine); (2) the geochemical properties of the massif rocks corresponding to A type granite (high alkali content (up to 12.3% Na2O + K2O), extremely high FeO/MgO ratio (f = 0.96–1.00), very high content of the most incoherent elements (Rb, Li, Y, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, Th, U, Zn, Ga, and REE) and F, and low concentrations of Ca, Mg, Al, P, Ba, and Sr); (3) Fe–F-rich rock-forming minerals; (4) no previously proposed metasomatic zoning and regular replacement of rock-forming minerals corresponding to infiltration fronts of metasomatism. The similar ages of the barren (2066 ± 6 Ma) and ore-bearing (2055 ± 7 Ma) granites along with the features of the ore mineralization speak in favor of the origin of the ore at the magmatic stage of the massif’s evolution. The nature of the ore occurrence and the relationships between the ore minerals support their crystallization from F-rich aluminosilicate melt and also under melt liquation into aluminosilicate and fluoride (and/or aluminofluoride) fractions.

Fragment of the Early Paleozoic (∼500 Ma) island arc in the structure of the Olkhon Terrane, Central Asian fold belt

The volcanic (basaltic, basalt andesitic, andesitic, and rhyolitic) porphyric rocks of the Tsagan-Zaba complex are studied in the Olkhon composite terrane of the Central Asian foldbelt. The concordant U-Pb (SHRIMP-II) age of single zircon grains from rhyolites (492 ± 5 Ma) may be interpreted as the period of formation of the Tsagan-Zaba complex. The volcanic rocks of this complex are characterized by clear suprasubduction geochemical features and positive ɛNd(t) values. The similar ages, compositions, and ɛNd(t) values of the studied volcanic rocks and gabbroic rocks of the Birkhin pluton allow us to combine them into a common Birkhin volcano-plutonic association, which may be considered as a fragment of a section of the mature island arc of ∼500 Ma in age. The gabbroic rocks may be interpreted as the middle part of this section, whereas the volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks belong to its upper part. The section was disintegrated 470–460 Ma ago, when the Early Paleozoic island arc was accreted to the southern flank of the Siberian craton in the course of the oblique collision and became a part of the Olkhon composite terrane.

Oxyvanite, V3O5, a new mineral species and the oxyvanite-berdesinskiite V2TiO5 series from metamorphic rocks of the Slyudyanka Complex, southern Baikal region

AbstractOxyvanite has been identified as an accessory mineral in Cr-V-bearing quartz-diopside meta- morphic rocks of the Slyudyanka Complex in the southern Baikal region, Russia. The new mineral was named after constituents of its ideal formula (oxygen and vanadium). Quartz, Cr-V-bearing tremolite and micas, calcite, clinopyroxenes of the diopside-kosmochlor-natalyite series, Cr-bearing goldmanite, eskolaite-karelianite dravite-vanadiumdravite, V-bearing titanite, ilmenite, and rutile, berdesinskiite, schreyerite, plagioclase, scapolite, barite, zircon, and unnamed U-Ti-V-Cr phases are associated minerals. Oxyvanite occurs as anhedral grains up to 0.1–0.15 mm in size, without visible cleavage and parting. The new mineral is brittle, with conchoidal fracture. Observed by the naked eye, the mineral is black, with black streak and resinous luster. The microhardness (VHN) is 1064–1266 kg/mm2 (load 30 g), and the mean value is 1180 kg/mm2. The Mohs hardness is about 7.0–7.5. The calculated density is 4.66(2) g/cm3. The color of oxyvanite is pale cream in reflected light, without internal reflections. The measured reflectance in air is as follows (λ, nm-R, %): 440-17.8; 460-18; 480-18.2; 520-18.6; 520-18.6; 540-18.8; 560-18.9; 580-19; 600-19.1; 620-19.2; 640-19.3; 660-19.4; 680-19.5; 700-19.7. Oxyvanite is monoclinic, space group C2/c; the unit-cell dimensions are a = 10.03(2), b = 5.050(1), c = 7.000(1) Å, β = 111.14(1)°, V = 330.76(5)Å3, Z = 4. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder pattern [d, Å, (I in 5-number scale)(hkl)] are 3.28 (5) (20

Cuprokalininite, CuCr2S4, a new sulfospinel from metamorphic rocks of the Sludyanka Complex, South Baikal region

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