The Carbonatite-Hosted Apatite Deposit of Jacupiranga, SE Brazil: Styles of Mineralization, Ore Characterization and Association with Mineral Processing

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Carbonatite-Hosted Apatite Deposit of Jacupiranga, SE Brazil: Styles of Mineralization, Ore Characterization and Association with Mineral Processing Scholars' Mine Masters Theses Student Theses and Dissertations Spring 2008 The carbonatite-hosted apatite deposit of Jacupiranga, SE Brazil: styles of mineralization, ore characterization and association with mineral processing Paula Regina Alves Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses Part of the Geology Commons, and the Geophysics and Seismology Commons Department: Recommended Citation Alves, Paula Regina, "The carbonatite-hosted apatite deposit of Jacupiranga, SE Brazil: styles of mineralization, ore characterization and association with mineral processing" (2008). Masters Theses. 6723. https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/6723 This thesis is brought to you by Scholars' Mine, a service of the Missouri S&T Library and Learning Resources. This work is protected by U. S. Copyright Law. Unauthorized use including reproduction for redistribution requires the permission of the copyright holder. For more information, please contact [email protected]. i THE CARBONATITE-HOSTED APATITE DEPOSIT OF JACUPIRANGA, SE BRAZIL: STYLES OF MINERALIZATION, ORE CHARACTERIZATION, AND ASSOCIATION WITH MINERAL PROCESSING by PAULA REGINA ALVES A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOLOGY 2008 Approved by R. D. Hagni, Advisor J. P. Hogan F. S. Miller ii iii ABSTRACT The carbonatite-hosted apatite deposit of Jacupiranga is located in southeastern Brazil. The major styles of apatite mineralization are veins or veinlets, small pods or patches, disseminated apatite, and massive aggregates (locally). The concentration of apatite involves grinding of the carbonatite, removal of magnetite with a magnet drum, size classification with cyclones, and flotation to suppress carbonates and collect apatite. Samples of carbonatite were collected from more recent exposures of the mine and drill holes. This study utilized a variety of microscopy methods, namely transmitted and reflected light, cathodoluminescence (CL), and scanning electron microscopy (with wavelength-dispersive spectrometers for mineral compositions). Results showed that LREE, Na and Sr are the main elements replacing Ca in the studied apatite, with relatively low oxide contents (< 0.5%, but up to about 1% for Sr). LREE and Sr contents consistently increase in the latest intrusions (C4, C5 and SP24). Chemical and morphological modifications in apatite identified in this work can be related to detrimental effects on flotation recovery. For instance, the reddish apatite was fractured, and some grains show no CL, probably as a result of quenching caused by iron entering the apatite structure, which has also changed its color. In the apatite from the xenolith-rich area, the elevated presence of fine, platy silicates may be interfering more with the lower flotation recovery than compositional variations. In the case of the “hard” apatite (more difficult to grind), most of the area where it occurs was affected by hydrothermal activity, as evidenced by the development of a bright, white CL rim in apatite, and the presence of late veins of carbonates and sulfides filling fractures and possibly resulting in higher cohesiveness of the grains. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this thesis represents the culmination of a trajectory along which many people have contributed at different times and in different ways, but all very important. It started back in 2000, when Dr. Richard Dick Hagni, during a field trip to the Cajati mine, as part of the International Geological Congress, approached the mine geologist, who was showing the site to the visitors, about joining the group of graduate students of the University of Missouri-Rolla. The writer thanks Dick Hagni for all his great support along the road, for his dedication in recruiting students around the world, and for his lovely wife, who walked an extra mile to help the writer settle in Rolla upon her arrival. The initial adaptation in a foreign country, and many other circumstances, became much easier to overcome due to the constant support of the writer’s family, Ira, Michele, Priscila and Junior, many miles away but always present, as well as very special friends who have been always available during the difficult moments that are part of life. The development of this thesis also received the invaluable support from the Society of Economic Geologists, through the Hugh E. McKinstry research grant, from the colleagues with Bunge Brazil, allowing access to the mine and facilitating the field work, and from Dr. Maria Cristina Toledo Motta, a carbonatites enthusiast and professor at the Universidade de São Paulo, through fruitful discussions and access to the thin section preparation laboratory. The writer is also very thankful for the motivation received from the committee members, Dr. John Hogan and Dr. Scott Miller, from the Geology and Geophysics staff, and from Imerys Pigments, in the figure of Dr. Robert Pruett, for his support during the writing of this thesis. Finally, the writer would like to thank the fundamental assistance provided by the Josephine Husbands Radcliffe fund, through the granted teaching assistant scholarship. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................................. iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ....................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ ix LIST OF PLATES.......................................................................................................... x SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................... 1 1.1. OBJECTIVE AND RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCH................................ 1 1.2. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JACUPIRANGA IGNEOUS COMPLEX (JIC) ... 2 1.2.1. Discovery and Mapping of the Complex ................................................. 2 1.2.2. Mining Activities...................................................................................... 3 2. PETROLOGIC AND TECTONIC CONTEXT OF THE CARBONATITE............. 6 2.1. REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND TECTONIC SETTING.................................... 6 2.2. LITHOLOGIES OF THE JACUPIRANGA IGNEOUS COMPLEX (JIC)..... 10 3. METHODS............................................................................................................... 14 3.1. FIELD WORK.................................................................................................. 14 3.2. ANALYTICAL METHODS ............................................................................ 16 3.2.1. Petrography ............................................................................................ 17 3.2.2. Cathodoluminescence Microscopy......................................................... 17 3.2.3. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron Probe Micro-Analysis..... 20 4. RESULTS................................................................................................................. 22 4.1. THE APATITE ORE ........................................................................................ 22 4.1.1. Geochemical and Microscopic Aspects of the Apatite .......................... 25 4.1.2. Characteristics of the Apatite Mineralization......................................... 45 vi 4.2. THE GANGUE MINERALS ........................................................................... 47 4.2.1. Carbonates: Calcite and Dolomite.......................................................... 47 4.2.2. Oxides: Magnetite and Ilmenite ............................................................. 54 4.2.3. Silicates: Olivine and Phlogopite ........................................................... 62 4.2.4. Sulfides: Pyrrhotite, Pyrite, Chalcopyrite, Valleriite ............................. 72 4.2.5. Other Minerals........................................................................................ 77 5. DISCUSSIONS ........................................................................................................ 81 5.1. APATITE PROCESSING IN CAJATI ............................................................ 81 5.2. APATITE CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO PROCESSING ISSUES ... 82 5.3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINERALIZATION: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GANGUE MINERALS............................................................... 84 5.4. PETROGENETIC ASSOCIATION OF THE DOLOMITIC CARBONATITE SP 24 ................................................................................... 85 6. CONCLUSIONS...................................................................................................... 87 6.1. STYLES OF MINERALIZATION .................................................................. 87 6.2. ORE CHARACTERIZATION ......................................................................... 87 6.3. ASSOCIATION WITH MINERAL PROCESSING........................................ 88 APPENDICES A. PLATE SHOWING SELECTED DRILL CORES ................................................. 90 B. PLATES SHOWING SELECTED MICROGRAPHS............................................ 92 C. ESTIMATED MODAL COMPOSITIONS FOR SELECTED THIN SECTIONS ...........................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Mineral Processing
    Mineral Processing Foundations of theory and practice of minerallurgy 1st English edition JAN DRZYMALA, C. Eng., Ph.D., D.Sc. Member of the Polish Mineral Processing Society Wroclaw University of Technology 2007 Translation: J. Drzymala, A. Swatek Reviewer: A. Luszczkiewicz Published as supplied by the author ©Copyright by Jan Drzymala, Wroclaw 2007 Computer typesetting: Danuta Szyszka Cover design: Danuta Szyszka Cover photo: Sebastian Bożek Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27 50-370 Wroclaw Any part of this publication can be used in any form by any means provided that the usage is acknowledged by the citation: Drzymala, J., Mineral Processing, Foundations of theory and practice of minerallurgy, Oficyna Wydawnicza PWr., 2007, www.ig.pwr.wroc.pl/minproc ISBN 978-83-7493-362-9 Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................9 Part I Introduction to mineral processing .....................................................................13 1. From the Big Bang to mineral processing................................................................14 1.1. The formation of matter ...................................................................................14 1.2. Elementary particles.........................................................................................16 1.3. Molecules .........................................................................................................18 1.4. Solids................................................................................................................19
    [Show full text]
  • Optical Properties of Common Rock-Forming Minerals
    AppendixA __________ Optical Properties of Common Rock-Forming Minerals 325 Optical Properties of Common Rock-Forming Minerals J. B. Lyons, S. A. Morse, and R. E. Stoiber Distinguishing Characteristics Chemical XI. System and Indices Birefringence "Characteristically parallel, but Mineral Composition Best Cleavage Sign,2V and Relief and Color see Fig. 13-3. A. High Positive Relief Zircon ZrSiO. Tet. (+) 111=1.940 High biref. Small euhedral grains show (.055) parallel" extinction; may cause pleochroic haloes if enclosed in other minerals Sphene CaTiSiOs Mon. (110) (+) 30-50 13=1.895 High biref. Wedge-shaped grains; may (Titanite) to 1.935 (0.108-.135) show (110) cleavage or (100) Often or (221) parting; ZI\c=51 0; brownish in very high relief; r>v extreme. color CtJI\) 0) Gamet AsB2(SiO.la where Iso. High Grandite often Very pale pink commonest A = R2+ and B = RS + 1.7-1.9 weakly color; inclusions common. birefracting. Indices vary widely with composition. Crystals often euhedraL Uvarovite green, very rare. Staurolite H2FeAI.Si2O'2 Orth. (010) (+) 2V = 87 13=1.750 Low biref. Pleochroic colorless to golden (approximately) (.012) yellow; one good cleavage; twins cruciform or oblique; metamorphic. Olivine Series Mg2SiO. Orth. (+) 2V=85 13=1.651 High biref. Colorless (Fo) to yellow or pale to to (.035) brown (Fa); high relief. Fe2SiO. Orth. (-) 2V=47 13=1.865 High biref. Shagreen (mottled) surface; (.051) often cracked and altered to %II - serpentine. Poor (010) and (100) cleavages. Extinction par- ~ ~ alleL" l~4~ Tourmaline Na(Mg,Fe,Mn,Li,Alk Hex. (-) 111=1.636 Mod. biref.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded for Personal Non-Commercial Research Or Study, Without Prior Permission Or Charge
    MacArtney, Adrienne (2018) Atmosphere crust coupling and carbon sequestration on early Mars. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/9006/ Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten:Theses http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] ATMOSPHERE - CRUST COUPLING AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION ON EARLY MARS By Adrienne MacArtney B.Sc. (Honours) Geosciences, Open University, 2013. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW 2018 © Adrienne MacArtney All rights reserved. The author herby grants to the University of Glasgow permission to reproduce and redistribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in any part in any medium now known or hereafter created. Signature of Author: 16th January 2018 Abstract Evidence exists for great volumes of water on early Mars. Liquid surface water requires a much denser atmosphere than modern Mars possesses, probably predominantly composed of CO2. Such significant volumes of CO2 and water in the presence of basalt should have produced vast concentrations of carbonate minerals, yet little carbonate has been discovered thus far.
    [Show full text]
  • Titanium, Fluorine, and Hydroxyl in the Hrrmite Minerals
    AmericanMineralogist, Volume 64, pages 1027-1035, 1979 Titanium, fluorine, and hydroxyl in the hrrmiteminerals Paul H. RBns Department of Geological Sciences Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 Abstract In the humite homologousseries, nMrSiO 4' M F,TL,(F,OH)2-2,O2,(where n : I for nor- bergite, 2 for chondrodite, 3 for humite, and 4 for clinohumite, M : Mg >> Fe > Mn > Ca,Zn,Ni and 0 < x < l), x appearsnever to exceed-0.5 Ti atomsper formula unit, because local electrostaticcharge imbalances at the 3-coordinated(F,OH,O) anion and the 4-coordi- nated oxygen atoms increasevery rapidly as Tia* substitutesfor trP*, even with the con- comitant substitutionof 3-coordinated02- for (F,OH)'-. Both electrostaticand geometricar- gumentssuggest that Ti ordersinto the M(F,OH)O "layer" of the humite structures,t.e., into the M(3)OIV(F,OH,O)|I octahedron,which is the smallestof all octahedrain all the humite minerals(cl Fujino and Tak€uchi, 1978). Refractive indices, density, unit-cell dimensions, and volume are dramatically affected by the substitution of OH for F, and this has been studied as chemistry varies from 1.0 < (F,oH)'ill[(F,oH)"' + o''] = 0.0and 0.0< silv/2(F,oH,o) < l,/8 from sellaiteMg(F'oH), (n : 0) through the humitesto forsterite(r : o1. The volume per anion increasesmuch more rapidly as OH substitutesfor F in theseminerals than would be expectedon the basisof ob- serveddifferences in individual M-(F,OH) distances.As Yamamoto (1977)noted, the effec- tive radius of OHIII would be -0.06A larger
    [Show full text]
  • Diopside Camgsi2o6 C 2001 Mineral Data Publishing, Version 1.2 ° Crystal Data: Monoclinic
    Diopside CaMgSi2O6 c 2001 Mineral Data Publishing, version 1.2 ° Crystal Data: Monoclinic. Point Group: 2=m: As prismatic crystals with nearly square cross sections, to 50 cm; granular, columnar, lamellar massive. Twinning: Simple or multiple twins on 100 or 010 , common. f g f g Physical Properties: Cleavage: Distinct on 110 , (110) (110) 87±; partings on 100 and probably 010 . Fracture: Uneven to conchofidal.g Tenaci^ty: Britt»le. Hardness = 5f.5{6.g5 D(meas.) = 3.f22{3g.38 D(calc.) = 3.278 Optical Properties: Transparent to opaque. Color: Colorless, white, yellow, pale to dark green, black; colorless in thin section. Streak: White, gray, gray-green. Luster: Vitreous or dull. Optical Class: Biaxial (+). Orientation: Y = b; Z c = 38± on (010); X a = 22±. ^ ¡ ^ ¡ Dispersion: r > v; weak to moderate. ® = 1.664 ¯ = 1.672 ° = 1.694 2V(meas.) = 59± Cell Data: Space Group: C2=c: a = 9.746 b = 8.899 c = 5.251 ¯ = 105:63± Z = 4 X-ray Powder Pattern: Schwartzenstein, Austria. (ICDD 11-654). 2.991 (100), 2.528 (40), 2.893 (30), 2.518 (30), 3.23 (25), 2.952 (25), 1.625 (25) Chemistry: (1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2) SiO2 54.66 54.09 FeO 0.07 1.47 K2O 0.15 + TiO2 0.28 MnO 0.02 0.09 H2O 0.22 0.22 Al2O3 0.07 1.57 MgO 18.78 16.96 H2O¡ 0.08 Fe2O3 0.68 0.74 CaO 25.85 21.10 rem: 0.49 Cr2O3 2.03 Na2O 1.37 Total 100.35 100.64 3+ (1) Juva, Finland; corresponds to Ca1:00(Mg1:01Fe0:02)§=1:03Si1:98O6: (2) Dutoitspan mine, 2+ Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa; corresponds to (Ca0:82Na0:05Fe0:04Mg0:04K0:01)§=0:96 3+ (Mg0:88Cr0:06Al0:03Fe0:02Ti0:01)§=1:00(Si1:96Al0:04)§=2:00O6: Polymorphism & Series: Forms two series, with hedenbergite, and with johannsenite.
    [Show full text]
  • A Specific Gravity Index for Minerats
    A SPECIFICGRAVITY INDEX FOR MINERATS c. A. MURSKyI ern R. M. THOMPSON, Un'fuersityof Bri.ti,sh Col,umb,in,Voncouver, Canad,a This work was undertaken in order to provide a practical, and as far as possible,a complete list of specific gravities of minerals. An accurate speciflc cravity determination can usually be made quickly and this information when combined with other physical properties commonly leads to rapid mineral identification. Early complete but now outdated specific gravity lists are those of Miers given in his mineralogy textbook (1902),and Spencer(M,i,n. Mag.,2!, pp. 382-865,I}ZZ). A more recent list by Hurlbut (Dana's Manuatr of M,i,neral,ogy,LgE2) is incomplete and others are limited to rock forming minerals,Trdger (Tabel,l,enntr-optischen Best'i,mmungd,er geste,i,nsb.ildend,en M,ineral,e, 1952) and Morey (Encycto- ped,iaof Cherni,cal,Technol,ogy, Vol. 12, 19b4). In his mineral identification tables, smith (rd,entifi,cati,onand. qual,itatioe cherai,cal,anal,ys'i,s of mineral,s,second edition, New york, 19bB) groups minerals on the basis of specificgravity but in each of the twelve groups the minerals are listed in order of decreasinghardness. The present work should not be regarded as an index of all known minerals as the specificgravities of many minerals are unknown or known only approximately and are omitted from the current list. The list, in order of increasing specific gravity, includes all minerals without regard to other physical properties or to chemical composition. The designation I or II after the name indicates that the mineral falls in the classesof minerals describedin Dana Systemof M'ineralogyEdition 7, volume I (Native elements, sulphides, oxides, etc.) or II (Halides, carbonates, etc.) (L944 and 1951).
    [Show full text]
  • Titanian Clinohumite in the Carbonatites of the Jacupiranga
    American Mineralogist, Volume 77, pages 168-178, 1992 Titanian clinohumite in the carbonatitesof the JacupirangaComplex, Brazil: Mineral chemistry and comparisonwith titanian clinohumite from other environments Josf C. Glspan Departamento de Mineralogia e Petrologia, Instituto de Geoci€ncias,Universidade de Brasilia, 70910 Brasilia DF, Brazil Ansrucr Titanian clinohumite (TiCl) occurs in the carbonatites of the Jacupiranga Complex, Brazil, either as the result of alteration of olivine (Mitchell, 1978) or in the reaction rock developed in the contact ofthe carbonatitesand the host magnetite pyroxenite, where it may not be related to olivine. Lamellae of titanian chondrodite (TiCh) are found, and the presenceof lamellae of polysomesrepresenting n > 4 is inferred. The TiCl samplescontain TiO, up to 3.78 wto/0,FeO up to 3.09 wto/0,and F up to 2.34 wto/o.Fe and Ti show a positive correlation. Complex zoning is always present. The only consistenttrend is that of increasingTiO, toward the margins, but even this trend is only observedin the crystals of the reaction rock. The partitioning of Fe and Mg between TiCl and olivine indicates enrichment of Mg in the TiCl and is different for samples from the three sovites. The characteristicsof the TiCl are thought to derive from a changing metasomatic environ- ment, and all TiCl so far reported from carbonatite complexesis possibly of metasomatic origin. The JacupirangaTiCl is similar in composition to TiCl from marbles, an obser- vation that cannot be extendedto TiCl from carbonatitesin general.Samples of TiCl from kimberlites have compositions similar to those from some Alpine peridotites. Fluorine TiCl is certainly stable in the upper mantle, but becauseof its rarity it is considered a mineral of no importance to mantle geology.
    [Show full text]
  • The Journal of ^ Y Volume 26 No
    Gemmolog^^ The Journal of ^ y Volume 26 No. 8 October 1999 fj J The Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain Gemmological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain 27 Greville Street, London EC1N 8TN Tel: 020 7404 3334 Fax: 020 7404 8843 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gagtl.ac.uk/gagtl. President: Professor R.A. Howie Vice-Presidents: E.M. Bruton, A.E. Farn, D.G. Kent, R.K. Mitchell Honorary Fellows: Chen Zhonghui, R.A. Howie, R.T. Liddicoat Jnr, K. Nassau Honorary Life Members: H. Bank, D.J. Callaghan, E.A. Jobbins, H. Tillander Council of Management: T.J. Davidson, N.W. Deeks, R.R. Harding, I. Mercer, J. Monnickendam, M J. O'Donoghue, E. Stern, I. Thomson, V.P. Watson Members' Council: A.J. Allnutt, P. Dwyer-Hickey, S.A. Everitt, A.G. Good, J. Greatwood, B. Jackson, L. Music, J.B. Nelson, PG. Read, R. Shepherd, P.J. Wates, C.H. Winter Branch Chairmen: Midlands - G.M. Green, North West -1. Knight, Scottish - B. Jackson Examiners: A.J. Allnutt, MSc, Ph.D., FGA, L. Bartlett, B.Sc, MPhiL, FGA, DGA, E.M. Bruton, FGA, DGA, S. Coelho, B.Sc, FGA, DGA, Prof. A.T. Collins, B.Sc, Ph.D, A.G. Good, FGA, DGA, J. Greatwood, FGA, G.M. Howe, FGA, DGA, B. Jackson, FGA, DGA, G.H. Jones, B.Sc, Ph.D., FGA, M. Newton, B.Sc, D.Phil., C.J.E. Oldershaw, B.Sc (Hons), FGA, H.L. Plumb, B.Sc, FGA, DGA, R.D. Ross, B.Sc, FGA, DGA, PA.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology and Geochemistry of the Early Proterozoic Kortejärvi and Laivajoki Carbonatites, Central Fennoscandian Shield, Finland
    GEOLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE EARLY PROTEROZOIC KORTEJÄRVI AND LAIVAJOKI CARBONATITES, CENTRAL FENNOSCANDIAN SHIELD, FINLAND JUHA NYKÄNEN, KAUKO LAAJOKI and JUHA KARHU JUHA NYKÄNEN, KAUKO LAAJOKI and JUHA KARHU, 1997: Geol- ogy and Geochemistry of the Early Proterozoic Kortejärvi and Laivajoki Carbonatites, Central Fennoscandian Shield, Finland. Bull.Geol. Soc. Fin- land 69, Part 1-2, 5-30. This paper provides for the first time extensive petrological, mineralogical and geochemical data on the early Proterozoic Kortejärvi and Laivajoki car- bonatites, northern Finland, which form metamorphosed and highly strained bodies 2 and 4 km long within a Svecokarelian shear zone in central Fennos- candian Shield. They are not exposed, but have been penetrated by a couple of deep drill holes. In terms of modal mineralogy, both intrusions contain calcite carbonatite and dolomite-calcite carbonatite as their main rock types, but Kortejärvi also contains dolomite carbonatite and calcite-dolomite carbonatite, some glim- men te and olivine-magnetite rock and Laivajärvi tremolite-calcite carbonatite, tremolite-dolomite carbonatite, serpentine-talc-dolomite rock and glimmerite. The main country rock is an amphibolite which is not fenitized. No alkaline rocks have been detected in these intrusions. Calcite is most common mineral in both occurrences. Other carbonate minerals include dolomite with minor ankerite and occassional siderite. In addition to low-Ti phlogopite, tetraferriphlogopite is also encountered. Fresh olivine is rare, and its alteration products include titaniferous clinohumite. The amphiboles are mainly calcic amphiboles, including actinolite, tremolite and edenite. The only sodic-calcic amphibole is accessory richterite. Other essen- tial minerals are Ti-poor magnetite with ilmenite exsolutions, fluorapatite (3.95-4.89 wt.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter 2007 Gems & Gemology
    G EMS & G VOLUME XLIII WINTER 2007 EMOLOGY CVD Synthetic Diamonds Canary Tourmaline W Fluorescence Spectroscopy INTER Napoleon Necklace 2007 P AGES 291–408 V OLUME 43 N O. 4 THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA ® Winter 2007 VOLUME 43, NO. 4 291 LETTERS ________ FEATURE ARTICLES _____________ 294 Latest-Generation CVD-Grown Synthetic Diamonds from Apollo Diamond Inc. Wuyi Wang, Matthew S. Hall, Kyaw Soe Moe, Joshua Tower, and Thomas M. Moses Presents the gemological and spectroscopic properties of Apollo’s latest products, which show significant improvements in size, color, and clarity. 314 Yellow Mn-rich Tourmaline from the Canary Mining Area, Zambia pg. 295 Carat Points Brendan M. Laurs, William B. Simmons, George R. Rossman, Eric A. Fritz, John I. Koivula, Björn Anckar, and Alexander U. Falster Explores the vivid “canary” yellow elbaite from the Lundazi District of eastern Zambia, the most important source of this tourmaline. 332 Fluorescence Spectra of Colored Diamonds Using a Rapid, Mobile Spectrometer Sally Eaton-Magaña, Jeffrey E. Post, Peter J. Heaney, Roy A. Walters, Christopher M. Breeding, and James E. Butler Reports on the use of fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize colored diamonds from the Aurora Butterfly and other collections. NOTES AND NEW TECHNIQUES ________ 352 An Examination of the Napoleon Diamond Necklace Eloïse Gaillou and Jeffrey E. Post pg. 329 Provides a history and gemological characterization of this historic necklace. REGULAR FEATURES _____________________ 358 Lab Notes Apatite in spessartine • Atypical photoluminescence feature in a type IIa diamond • Diamond with “holiday” inclusions • Diamond with large etch channels containing iron sulfides • Black diamond with an oriented etch channel • The pareidolia of diamonds • Notable emerald carving • Gold coated onyx • Double-star sapphire • Imitation turquoise 366 Gem News International Record auction prices for diamonds • Namibian diamond mining pg.
    [Show full text]
  • OH-Bearing Planar Defects in Olivine Produced by the Breakdown of Ti-Rich Humite Minerals from Dabie Shan (China)
    Contrib Mineral Petrol (2007) 153:417–428 DOI 10.1007/s00410-006-0155-7 ORIGINAL PAPER OH-bearing planar defects in olivine produced by the breakdown of Ti-rich humite minerals from Dabie Shan (China) Jo¨ rg Hermann Æ John D. Fitz Gerald Æ Nadia Malaspina Æ Andrew J. Berry Æ Marco Scambelluri Received: 14 August 2006 / Accepted: 23 October 2006 / Published online: 21 November 2006 Ó Springer-Verlag 2006 Abstract The partial breakdown of Ti-chondrodite beyond the breakdown of the hydrous humite minerals and Ti-clinohumite during exhumation from ultra-high and confirms earlier suggestions that Ti plays a key role pressure to amphibolite facies conditions in garnet- in OH incorporation in mantle olivine. We suggest that pyroxenites from Dabie Shan (China) produces coro- olivine containing Ti-clinohumite defects is an impor- nas of olivine coexisting with ilmenite blebs. Fourier tant phase for water transport in subduction zones and transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of this newly formed for the storage of water in cold subcontinental mantle. olivine exhibit absorption bands in the hydroxyl- However, these defects are unlikely to be stable in stretching region. Two intense peaks were observed at hotter parts of the oceanic mantle such as where 3,564 and 3,394 cm–1, identical in energy to peaks in Ti- basaltic magmas are generated. clinohumite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the same olivine domains revealed the presence of a Keywords Ti-chondrodite Á Ti-clinohumite Á complex (001) planar intergrowth. These interlayers OH in olivine Á Transmission electron microscopy Á have a 1.35 nm repeat distance, which is characteristic Infrared spectroscopy Á UHP metamorphism of clinohumite.
    [Show full text]
  • Spinel from Mogok, Myanmar—A Detailed Inclusion Study by Raman
    FEATURE ARTICLE Spinel from Mogok, Myanmar—A Detailed Inclusion Study by Raman Microspectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy Myint Myat Phyo, Eva Bieler, Leander Franz, Walter Balmer and Michael S. Krzemnicki ABSTRACT: Mineral inclusions within 100 gem-quality spinels from both primary marble and secondary alluvial mining sites within Myanmar's Mogok Valley were analysed using Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (including backscattered-electron imaging and energy-dispersive spectroscopy). The samples ranged from pink to red, orangey pink to orangey red, and grey to purplish grey. We identified a number of inclusions that are reported here for the first time in Mogok spinel: amphibole (presumably pargasite), anatase, baddeleyite, boehmite, brucite, chlorite, clinohumite, clinopyroxene, diaspore, geikielite, goethite, halite, marcasite, molybdenite, periclase and pyrrhotite. We also found several minerals that were previously known as inclusions in Mogok spinel, including anhydrite, apatite, carbonates (calcite, dolomite and magnesite), chondrodite, elemental sulphur, graphite, iron oxides or iron hydroxides, phlogopite and zircon. We further differentiated the occurrence of inclusions in spinel from different mining sites in Mogok to assess whether these mineral assemblages can enhance our understanding of the geological origin of these gems and whether the inclusions can help separate Mogok spinels from those of other marble-related deposits worldwide. The Journal of Gemmology, 36(5), 2019, pp. 418–435, http://doi.org/10.15506/JoG.2019.36.5.418 © 2019 Gem-A (The Gemmological Association of Great Britain) ince ancient times, gem-quality spinel (ideally imperial jewels, two of which were later integrated into MgAl2O4) has been appreciated for its range British royal jewels (the Black Prince’s ‘Ruby’ and the of colour and often exceptional clarity, and Timur ‘Ruby’; see also Pardieu & Hughes 2008; Yavorskyy today spinel is the second most important and & Hughes 2010; Truong 2017).
    [Show full text]