Miroslav Stemprok

Tantalum mineralization in the apical part of the Cínovec (Zinnwald) granite stock

SummaryGranite-hosted tantalum mineralization was studied in the apical part of the Cínovec (Zinnwald) granite stock (eastern Krušné hory, Czech Republic). Samples of granite and greisen from drill hole CS-1 (1596m deep), situated in the centre of the granite body were analysed chemically and examined by electron microprobe. The apical, mainly lepidolite granite with 24 to 212 ppm Ta contains Ta-rich Mn columbite, uranmicrolite and strueverite (tantalian rutile). During greisenization the contents of Ta decreased or remained the same, but the newly formed cassiterite has elevated contents of Ta, probably due to remobilization from albitized granites. Niobium and tantalum mineralization can be linked with both magmatic and postmagmatic stages of granite evolution. Ta-rich columbite formed as a result of albitization dominant at the top of the granite cupola, whereas magmatic Nb-rich columbite is present throughout the entire profile of the granite stock.The Cínovec granite stock is similar to some Palaeozoic Ta-bearing granite stocks in the Far East of Russia (Vosnesenka, Pogranichnyi) which are characterized by a vertical sequence of lepidolite, zinnwaldite and protolithionite granites. It shows minor similarities with Mesozoic amazonite-bearing granites in Transbaikalia (Etyka, Orlovka) and differs petrologically and mineralogically from the Palaeozoic lepidolite granite of Beauvoir (Échassieres) in France.ZusammenfassungEine granitgebundene Tantalvererzung wurde im oberen Teil des Cínovec (Zinnwalder) Granitstocks (östliches Erzgebirge, Tschechische Republik) untersucht. Granit- und Greisenproben aus der Mitte des Granitkörpers wurden chemisch und mittels Elektronenstrahl-Mikrosonde analysiert. Der apikale Lepidolitgranit mit 24-212 ppm Ta führt Ta-reichen Mangancolumbit, Uranmikrolit und Strueverit (Tantalrutil). Im Verlauf der Vergreisung wurden die Tantalgehalte erniedrigt oder blieben gleich. Nur der neugebildete Kassiterit zeigt, wahrscheinlich als Folge der Remobilisierung aus den albitisierten Graniten, erhöhte Tantalgehalte. Die Niob- und Tantalmineralisation ist an das magmatische und postmagmatische Stadium der Granitentwicklung gebunden. Tantalreiche Columbite wurden durch die Albitisierung im Apikalteil des Granitstockes gebildet, während die niobreichen Columbite des magmatischen Stadiums über das ganze Bohrprofil hinweg vorkommen.Der Zinnwalder Granitstock ist einigen paläozoischen Granitstöcken mit Tantalmineralisation im fernen Osten von Russland (Voznesenka, Pogranichnyi) ähnlich, welche durch eine vertikale Zonierung von Lepidolit-, Zinnwaldit- und Protolithionitgranit charakterisiert sind. Der Granitstock zeigt wenig ähnlichkeiten mit den mesozoischen Amazonitgraniten in Transbaikalien (Etyka, Orlovka) und unterscheidet sich petrologisch und mineralogisch vom paläozoischen Granit aus Beauvoir (Échassieres) in Frankreich.

An overview of the association between lamprophyric intrusions and rare-metal mineralization

An overview of the association between lamprophyric intrusions and rare-metal mineralization Granite-related rare metal districts in orogenic settings are occasionally associated with lamprophyre dikes. We recorded 63 occurrences of lamprophyres in bimodal dike suites of about 200 granite bodies related to rare metal deposits. Most lamprophyres occur in Paleozoic and Mesozoic metallogenic provinces in the northern hemisphere. Lamprophyres which are associated with rare metal deposits are calc-alkaline (kersantites, minettes, spessartites) or more rarely alkaline lamprophyres (camptonites, monchiquites) which occur in the roof zone of complex granitic bodies as pre-granitic, intra-granitic, intra-ore or post-ore dikes. Most lamprophyres are spatially associated with dominant felsic dikes and/or with mafic dikes represented by diorites or diabases. Diorites and lamprophyres occasionally exhibit transitional compositions from one to another. Lamprophyres share common geochemical characteristics of highly evolved granitoids such as enrichment in K and F, increased abundances of Li, Rb, and Cs and enrichment in some HFSE (e.g. Zr, U, Th, Mo, Sn, W). Lamprophyres in rare metal districts testify to accessibility of the upper crust to mantle products at the time of rare metal mineralization and possible influence of mantle melts or mantle-derived fluids in the differentiation of granitic melts in the lower crust.