Perovskite group oxides from the Lovozero Alkaline Massif, Kola Peninsula

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Abstract

Four mineral species of the perovskite subgroup (loparite, isolueshite, tausonite and perovskite) have been identified in rocks of the Lovozero Alkaline Massif (Kola Peninsula). Loparite is the most common mineral of this subgroup and can be looked upon as determining the ore potential of the Lovozero Massif. This mineral occurs in all alkaline rocks of this massif, as well as in roof xenoliths of volcanoclastic rocks of the trap formation. Morphological features of loparite suggest that its protracted crystallization began at the late magmatic stage and terminated during the hydrothermal alteration of rocks. Variations in the chemical composition of loparite reflect two trends: (1) an increasing proportion of its lueshite component from rocks of the Eudialyte Complex to rocks of the Layered Complex, (2) an increasing proportion of its tausonite component from rocks of the Eudialyte and Layered complexes to rocks of the Poikilitic Complex. In the roof xenoliths, loparite formed due to metasomatizing effects of alkaline rocks. The composition of loparite from the roof xenoliths is characterized by the highest content of the perovskite component, reflecting the most calcic environment of its crystallization. Lueshite was previously identified only by its chemical composition. Structural X-ray studies showed that the mineral phase of the NaNbO3 composition belongs to isolueshite, the cubic polymorphic modification. Isolueshite occurs mainly in rocks of the Eudialyte Complex; in the Layered and Poikilitic complexes, this is very rarely found. The consistency of its chemical composition in different rocks may indicate the post-magmatic origin of this mineral which crystallized from hydrothermal solutions. Tausonite, previously unknown in rocks of the Lovozero Massif, was found only in rocks of the Poikilitic Complex. Such mineralogical features of tausonite as morphology, composition, and association, allow us suggest that this mineral crystallizated from a residual melt-solution with active involvement of metasomatic processes. Perovskite is rare in Lovozero Massif. In addition to the roof xenoliths of volcano-sedimentary rocks, perovskite was found in a lamprophyre vein. The formation of perovskite is concluded to be related to the metasomatizing effect of alkaline rocks on xenoliths, which is reflected in morphology of this mineral and wide variation in its chemical composition. The data obtained have shown that the individual mineralogical and genetic positions may be specified for all mineral species of the perovskite subgroup, despite the wide isomorphic substitutions.

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About the authors

L. M. Lyalina

Federal Research Centre Kola Science Centre

Author for correspondence.
Email: l.lyalina@ksc.ru

Geological Institute

Russian Federation, Apatity

J. A. Mikhailova

Federal Research Centre Kola Science Centre

Email: l.lyalina@ksc.ru

Geological Institute

Russian Federation, Apatity

E. A. Selivanova

Federal Research Centre Kola Science Centre

Email: l.lyalina@ksc.ru

Geological Institute

Russian Federation, Apatity

A. A. Zolotarev

Saint Petersburg State University

Email: l.lyalina@ksc.ru

Institute of Earth Sciences

Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg

Ya. A. Pakhomovsky

Federal Research Centre Kola Science Centre

Email: l.lyalina@ksc.ru

Geological Institute

Russian Federation, Apatity

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2. Fig. 1. Geological scheme of the Lovozero alkaline massif after (Saprykina et al., 1977).

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3. Fig. 2. Loparite morphology from Layered and Eudyalite rock complexes of the Lovozero alkaline massif.

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4. Fig. 3. Loparite morphology from poikilitic rocks of Lovozero alkaline massif.

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5. Fig. 4. Loparite morphology from roof xenoliths of volcanoclastic rocks in Lovozero alkaline massif.

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6. Fig. 5. Compositional variation (mol. %) of loparite from the Lovozero alkaline massif.

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7. Fig. 6. Isolueshite morphology from the Lovozero alkaline massif.

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8. Fig. 7. Compositional variation (mol. %) of isolueshite from the Lovozero alkaline massif.

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9. Fig. 8. Perovskite morphology from the Lovozero alkaline massif

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10. Fig. 9. Compositional variation (mol. %) of perovskite from roof xenoliths of volcanoclastic rocks in the Lovozero alkaline massif.

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11. Fig. 10. Tausonite morphology from poikilitic foid syenite of the Lovozero alkaline massif

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12. Fig. 11. Tausonite morphology from uneven-grained syenite of the Lovozero alkaline massif.

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13. Fig. 12. Compositional variation (mol. %) of tausonite from poikilitic foid syenite of the Lovozero alkaline massif

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