Mineralogical, Petrogenetic, and Geochemical Characteristics of the Meldon Aplite and Its Implications to Cornwall and Devon for Rare- Element Pegmatite Exploration
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Mineralogical, petrogenetic, and geochemical characteristics of the Meldon Aplite and its implications to Cornwall and Devon for rare- element pegmatite exploration Submitted by Janviere Uwanyirigira to the University of Exeter as a dissertation towards the degree of Master of Science in Mining geology, August, 2018. ‘I certify that the material in this dissertation which is not my own work has been identified, and that no material is included for which has been previously been conferred on me’ ………………..Signature 0 Abstract Recent development of high-tech industries and the global drive towards a carbon free economic have placed a tremendous demand on Li and placed substantial importance on exploration of lithium deposits. The Meldon Aplite has long been described as unique feature across SW England in terms of its mineralogy and exception enrichment in rare-element such as lithium, caesium, fluorine, phosphorous and niobium-tantalum. The Meldon Aplite present a potential for lithium mineralization. This study has identified a range of lithium rich minerals in the Meldon Aplite including lepidolite, elbaite, petalite, amblygonite-montebrasite, and eucryptite. It has equally ruled out the presence of spodumene in the aplite. Mineralogy and textural studies conducted in this study resulted in the identification of four different crystallization stages. These are magmatic, magmatic-hydrothermal, hydrothermal and supergene stages. In terms of lithium mineralisation, lepidolite, elbaite, petalite and amblygonite-montebrasite are primary magmatic phases with eucryptite forming at the expenses petalite complete hydrothermal replacement and clay montmorillonite forming from petalite weathering. The close association of amblygonite-montebrasite with fluorapatite indicate that it is altered at a certain extent. From trace element, the Meldon Aplite is characteristically enriched in Li (2626 to 5569 ppm), Cs (75 to 612ppm), Rb (940 to 2540 ppm), and moderately enriched in Be (8 to 84 ppm), Ta (11 to 49 ppm), and Nb (35 to 90 ppm). Such geochemistry suggest that the Meldon Aplite is relatively evolved. Comparison of Tellus (2014) soil data with the Meldon Aplite geochemistry has delineated six zones with high caesium and tantalum concentration, geochemically comparable to the Meldon Aplite. These are underlain by metasedimentary rocks, metabasic rocks and on one occasion by Gunnislake granite. The Meldon Aplite extent cannot be traced with surface exposure, however soil samples close to the aplite contain relatively elevated Rb (>62ppm). 1 Acknowledgment I wish to express my heart felt sincere gratitude to Dr Charlie Moon for providing me the opportunity to undertake this project, for his tremendous help and encouragement over the last three months. I would like to thank Ms Sharon Uren, Mr Stephen Pendray, Mr Malcolm Spence, Dr Joe Pickles and Dr Gavyn Rollinson for their help and advice with the analytical work. It is my pleasure to thank all the academic staffs at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, especially Dr Jens Andersen and Dr Robin Shail for taking their time out their busy schedule to help me with microscopy. I am grateful to the Commonwealth scholarship commission and to the University of Exeter for funding my studies. I would not end without thanking my family and friends who kept me going over the last twelve months. 2 Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 : Introduction ................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Introductory statement (Statement of scene of dissertation) .............................................. 7 1.2 Study Area location ............................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Aim and objectives of the project ........................................................................................ 9 1.4 Scope of the project .......................................................................................................... 10 1.4.1 Activities undertook: ....................................................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Organisation of the dissertation ..................................................................................... 10 1.4.3 Problem .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.5 Definition and Terminology ............................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2 Literature review ......................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Regional geological history of SW England ...................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Pre-Devonian basement ............................................................................................ 13 2.1.2 Rheic ocean rifting and passive margin development ............................................... 14 2.1.3 Variscan convergence and passive margin inversion ................................................ 17 2.1.4 Early post-Variscan extension ................................................................................... 19 2.1.5 Early post-Variscan tectonics and magmatism .......................................................... 20 2.1.7 Mineralization ............................................................................................................. 24 2.2 Previous work on the Meldon aplite .................................................................................. 24 2.2.1 Texture and mineralogy of Meldon aplite ................................................................... 24 2.2.2 Geographical extend of the Meldon aplite ................................................................. 27 2.3. Accounts on the occurrence and formation of rare-element pegmatites/aplites.............. 29 2.3.1 Global prospective on rare-element pegmatites/aplites ............................................. 29 2.3.2. Regional scale examination of LCT deposits ............................................................ 33 Chapter 3 Fieldwork and Sample Collection ............................................................................... 35 3.1 Field mapping .................................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Sample collection .............................................................................................................. 40 3.3 Tellus SW database .......................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 4 : Analytical Procedures .............................................................................................. 43 4.1 Sample preparation ........................................................................................................... 43 4.2 Analytical conditions .......................................................................................................... 44 Chapter 5 Results ....................................................................................................................... 46 5.1 Field aspects ..................................................................................................................... 46 5.2 Mineralogical and textural characteristics ......................................................................... 50 5.2.1 Meldon Aplite ............................................................................................................. 50 5.2.2 Summary of paragenetic diagram ....................................................................... 66 5.2.3 Host rock .................................................................................................................... 68 5.2.4 Pan concentrate ......................................................................................................... 69 5.3 Geochemical composition ................................................................................................. 69 3 5.3.1 Meldon Aplite ............................................................................................................. 69 6.3.2 Host rock .................................................................................................................... 75 5.3.3 Stream sediments ...................................................................................................... 76 5.3.3 Soil ............................................................................................................................. 76 Chapter 6 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 77 6.1 Texture, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Meldon Aplite ............................................ 77 6.1.1 Texture ....................................................................................................................... 77 6.1.2 Mineralogy .................................................................................................................. 77 6.1.3 Geochemical variation and melt evolution ................................................................. 82 6.2. Implications to the classification and petrogenesis