Zirconium-bearing accessory minerals in UK Paleogene granites: Textural, compositional, and paragenetic relationships
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Abstract
The mineral occurrences, parageneses, textures, and compositions of Zr-bearing accessory minerals in a suite of UK Paleogene granites from Scotland and Northern Ireland are described. Baddeleyite, zirconolite, and zircon, in that sequence, formed in hornblende + biotite granites (type 1) and hedenbergite–fayalite granites (type 2). The peralkaline microgranite (type 3) of Ailsa Craig contains zircon, dalyite, a eudialyte-group mineral, a fibrous phase which is possibly lemoynite, and Zr-bearing aegirine. Hydrothermal zircon is also present in all three granite types and documents the transition from a silicate-melt environment to an incompatible element-rich aqueous-dominated fluid. No textures indicative of inherited zircon were observed. The minerals crystallized in stages from magmatic through late-magmatic to hydrothermal. The zirconolite and eudialyte-group mineral are notably Y+REE-rich (REE signifies rare earth element). The crystallization sequence of the minerals may have been related to the activities of Si and Ca, to melt peralkalinity, and to local disequilibrium.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Zirconium-bearing accessory minerals in UK Paleogene granites: Textural, compositional, and paragenetic relationships |
| Series title | European Journal of Mineralogy |
| DOI | 10.5194/ejm-33-537-2021 |
| Volume | 37 |
| Year Published | 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center |
| Description | 34 p. |
| First page | 537 |
| Last page | 570 |
| Country | Northern Ireland, Scotland |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |