Allanite-(La) (containing up to 7.80 wt.% V2O3 and with La/ΣREE and La/Ce atomic ratios up to 0.54 and 1.45, respectively) and allanite-(Ce) (up to 8.46 wt.% V2O3) occur in close association with vanadian muscovite, barian tomichite and vanadian titanite in the main ore zone of the Hemlo gold deposit, Ontario, Canada. Allanite-(Ce) generally occurs as a minor constituent in cross-cutting veins or along foliation planes, whereas allanite-(La) invariably occurs in direct contact with titanite. The high V concentrations in the allanites from Hemlo are readily attributable to an adequate local source of this element, and are most likely controlled mainly by a simple substitution of V for Al in octahedral coordination. Vanadian allanite-(La) and vanadian allanite-(Ce), without any systematic differences in other constituents, are clearly distinct in REE composition, in respect to both the relative concentrations of La and Ce and abundances of other REE. The formation of both allanites (Ce- and La-rich) indicates very localised remobilisation and concentration of REE during a late hydrothermal alteration. The unusual REE composition of vanadian allanite-(La) directly reflects partitioning of REE with coexisting titanite, and the formation of this unusual phase may be attributable to replacement of earlier titanite with redistribution of REE in the solid state.

Metamunirite, β-NaVO3, is found in cavities in sandstone in San Miguel County, Colorado, occurring as fine, fibrous, colourless needles. X-ray powder and precession photographs show the crystals to be orthorhombic, space group Pnma, with a = 14.134(7), b = 3.648(2), c = 5.357(2) Å. They are optically biaxial positive with nα = 1.780(2) (‖c), nβ = 1.800(2) (‖a), nγ ≫ 185 (‖b, fibre axis; positive elongation), 2Vz moderate. A crystal structure analysis, confirming the previously determined structure of β-NaVO3, shows the presence of (VO3)n chains made up of zig-zag VO5 square pyramids. Metamunirite is probably formed by dehydration of munirite, NaVO3.2H2O.

Chemical compositions of goldfieldite-tetrahedrite series minerals from the Iriki mine in Japan are reported for the frst time. The compositional variations of coexisting goldfieldite [atomic proportion Te > (Sb + As + Bi)], tellurian tetrahedrite [Sb > (Te + As + Bi)], and Te-free tetrahedrite from this locality are considered alongside data from the literature. These show that the substitution of (Sb, As)3+ for Te4+ in natural goldfieldite-tetrahedrite series minerals occurs by the following two mechanisms: (i) tetrahedrite, and goldfieldite, form a continuous solid-solution according to the coupled substitution of Cu+Te4+ for (Cu,Fe,Zn)2+(Sb,As)3+, and (ii) goldfieldite, and the ideal end-member, might also form a continuous solid-solution by the coupled substitution of ☐(vacancy)Te4+ for Cu+(Sb,As)3+. According to this work, the general formulae of tellurian tetrahedrite and goldfieldite are, therefore, respectively, , with x = 0 to 2 and , with y = 0 to 2.

Silver-bearing zinc-iron tetrahedrite-tennantite and freibergit fahlores approximating the simplified formula (Ag,Cu)10(Fe,Zn)2(As,Sb)4S13 have been equilibrated with excess electrum (AuxAg1−x) and chalcopyrite + pyrite + iron-bearing sphalerite (CuFeS2 + FeS2 + Fe0.05Zn0.95S) in evacuated silica tubes at 300 °C, in reversed silver-copper exchange experiments with less than 0.1 mg NH4Cl added as a transport medium. A thermodynamic formulation and parameters describing As-Ag incompatibility at 400 °C (Ebel and Sack, 1989), which incorporate large temperature dependencies of standard-state properties and composition-ordering systematics, are shown to apply equally well to these 300 °C results. A generalised graphical model for this mineral assemblage is presented, describing fahlore composition as a function of temperature and the compositions of coexisting electrum and (Fe,Zn)S, which define the Ag(Cu)−1 and Fe(Zn)−1 exchange properties controlling fahlore compositions.

Wonchi volcano (Ethiopia) is the second locality for wilkinsonite, the new mineral related to aenigmatite via the coupled substitution 2Fe3+ = TiFe2+. Wilkinsonite occurs as relics surrounded by rims of riebeckite and biotite in a syenitic ejectum which also contains microphenocrysts of aenigmatite. The two minerals do not represent an equilibrium pair. They both formed in the magma chamber under plutonic to hypabyssal conditions, but during two following stages of crystallisation separated by a major drop in ƒO2 conditions.

Chromites from two horizons of the Sukinda area (India) marked as ‘grey ore’ and ‘brown ore’ zones have been studied by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, which revealed that both chromite types are oxidised and have a type of disordered spinel structure in which octahedral sites are occupied by Fe2+ ions.

The spectra of the grey ore sample can be fitted to three doublets corresponding to Fe2+ (A), Fe3+ (A) and Fe2+ (B) sites. This sample is less oxidised than the brown ore, in which progressive oxidation in the magmatic (?) stage led to the complete conversion of Fe2+ in A sites to Fe3+. The spectra of the brown ore are characterised by two doublets correpsonding to two tetrahedral (A) sites of Fe3+ with different next-nearest neighbour configurations and a third doublet for Fe2+ at the B site. The brown ores have higher chromium and Fe3+ content and have lesser amounts of Ni and Al in comparison to the grey ores. Megascopically, the former shows larger crystal sizes. The high Fe3+ content in the brown ore suggests that this type of chromite was formed in a region of high ƒO2 in the magmatic environment. This perhaps occurred at the part of the mantle where the temperature was higher and the rate of cooling was slower than that of the grey ores which crystallised in the magmatic melt.

Poikilitic eudialyte outcrops in a strongly peralkaline phonolithic cumulo-dome in Jabal Al Hasawinah, Libya. Textural relationships reveal that the eudialyte has formed at a very late stage of the rock petrogenesis. Electron microprobe analyses confirm its volatile (hydrous) nature and low REE content.

Relict clinopyroxenes from metadolerites of the Early Permian Petroi Metabasalt formation, studied by electron microprobe, show a limited compositional range near the diopside-augite boundary in the pyroxene quadrilateral. Clinopyroxene analyses from three metadolerites, grouped in approximately equal Fs contents, define an overall smooth trend between Fs10 and Fs16. This is typical of clinopyroxenes from mildly alkaline basic magmas. Pyroxene stoichiometry suggests high Fe3+ contents (0.04 to 0.20 a.f.u.), which with high Al (0.10 to 0.31 a.f.u.) and Ti (0.03 to 0.08 a.f.u.) implies that CaTiAl2O6 and CaFe3+AlSiO6 are important ‘other components’. Relative Alz in CaFe3+AlSiO6 decreases and consequently CaTiAl2O6 increases with progressive fractionation. This, with the Fe2+:Fe3+ ratios in the Petroi clinopyroxenes, suggests falling ƒO2 in the magma with fractionation. The ƒO2 controlled entry of Alz, Tiy and Nax into the clinopyroxenes and hence the Petroi clinopyroxene trend.

Dumortierite is described from several occurrences of cordierite-orthoamphibole-bearing rocks in the upper-amphibolite facies area of the Bamble Sector, south Norway. Dumortierite occurs with chlorite, muscovite and quartz in late M4 alteration zones or aggregates after M3, peak-metamorphic cordierite and garnet and early M4 vein-cordierite, and intergrown with or replacing orthoamphibole. Late M4P-T conditions, which are interpreted as conditions of dumortierite formation, are estimated from the associated late M4 kyanite-andalusite-chlorite-quartz assemblage and Mg-Fe exchange geothermometry to be 500 ± 50 °C and 3–4 kbar. Retrogression of M3 mineral assemblages is initiated by influx of fluids with XCO2 of 0.3–0.4 during early M4 followed by more water-rich fluids during late M4. Late M4 fluids may show local variations in alkalis and boron. The dumortierites are the most Mg-rich (2.23–3.42 wt. % MgO) ever reported, and contain 0.00–2.05 wt.% TiO2, 0.00–1.08 wt.% Fe2O3, 29.62–32.42 wt.% SiO2 and 55.20–59.71 wt.% Al2O3. Al is the most likely substituent for Si, which shows a minor deficiency at the tetrahedral sites in most dumortierites. The major variations in the mineral chemistry can be described by the coupled substitutions Mg + Ti = 2AlVI, 3Mg = 2AlVI and possibly Mg + H = AlVI. Favoured by low ƒO2 prevailing conditions a significant part of total iron in dumortierites at one locality is present as Fe2+ giving evidence for the Fe2+ + SiIV = AlIV + AlVI tschermakite substitution. FeMg−1 substitution is considered to be limited. Ti-rich dumortierites coexist with rutile, ilmenite or titaniferous magnetite. The development of dumortierite from orthoamphibole correlates with an observed decrease of Al, Mg and Na and increase of Si and Fe in orthoamphibole towards dumortierite.

A new method for measuring the crystallinity index of quartz is presented. It is based on the measurement of the intensity of the first derivative of the infrared absorption spectrum at the shoulder at c. 1145 cm−1. The results correlate well with X-ray and D.T.A. crystallinity measurements.

Samples from a traverse across the Blå Måne Sø perthosite unit in the Tugtutôq Central Complex of the Gardar province, South Greenland have been examined for cathodoluminescence characteristics, microporosity and δ18O isotopic values. Reddening of cathodoluminescence colours in alkali feldspars (normally blue) from the unit may be correlated with increased microporosity of the feldspars as determined using scanning electron microscopy. δ18O values of all samples lie within the range of values expected of juvenile fluids, independent of the level of alteration indicated by cathodoluminescence studies.

Observations are consistent with previous suggestions that levels of alkali feldspar microporosity and levels of fluid alteration (as determined by cathodoluminescence of alkali feldspars) are related phenomena. Oxygen isotope ratios suggest that the fluid is largely juvenile in origin, with, perhaps, some meteoric (low δ18O) component.

The amygdaloidal carbonatite lavas at Qasiarsuk have a primary phenocryst assemblage of calcite, fluor-apatite and magnetite set in a groundmass of calcite, apatite and iron oxides, and minor dolomite. Cathodoluminescence reveals a complex history, both for the major minerals which show zonal growth, and for important Nb and REE accessory phases which include pyrochlore and perovskite. The REE reside in fluor/hydrous-carbonates included exclusively in apatite. These REE minerals are similar to synthetic phases from hydrothermal experiments, but probably crystallised in equilibrium with a late-stage volatile-rich carbonate melt. Apart from low-temperature alteration, the rocks have been little disturbed since their extrusion during the earliest phase of development of the Gardar Alkaline Igneous Province.

The oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition of hydrothermal fluids associated with the Variscan granites of southwest England has been inferred from analysis of various silicate minerals (predominantly quartz) and by direct analysis of fluid inclusions within quartz and fluorite. These data have been combined with the results of a fluid inclusion study to develop a model for the origin and evolution of hydrothermal fluids in the region. Magmatic fluids expelled from the granites had compositions in the range δD = −65 to −15‰, and δ18O = 9 to 13‰. Respective temperature, salinity, fluid δD, and fluid δ18O values for the (i) early Sn-W mineralization, (ii) later Cu-Pb-Zn sulphide mineralization, and (iii) latest ‘crosscourse’ Pb-Zn-F mineralization are: (i) 230–400 °C, 5–15 wt.% NaCl equiv., −39 to −16‰, and 7.0 to 11.2‰, (ii) 220–300 °C mostly 2–8 wt.% NaCl equiv., −41 to −9‰, and 2.3 to 8.1‰, and (iii) 110–150 °C 22–26 wt.% NaCl equiv., −45 to +2‰, and −1.8 to +5.5‰. These data highlight the important role of both magmatic fluids exsolved from the crystallizing granite, and basinal brines circulating within restricted fracture systems.

The crystal structure of fedotovite, K2Cu3O(SO4)3 has been determined, space group C2/c, a 19.037(6), b 9.479(2), c 14.231(5) Å, β 111.04(3)°, Z = 8, Dx = 3.09 g/cm3. The main units of the fedotovite structure are formed around two additional oxygen atoms and consist of edge-sharing [OCu4] tetrahedra and four [SO4] tetrahedra attached to them. The units are further connected by two [SO4] tetrahedra, building distinct layers parallel to the yz plane. These layers are interconnected by potassium atoms. In the fedotovite structure, the three kinds of copper atoms are fivefold (4 + 1) coordinated to oxygen atoms with a strong Jahn-Teller effect. The coordination polyhedra of Cu1 and Cu2 atoms are distorted and flattened orthorhombic pyramids with Cu-O distances varying from 1.912 to 2.333 Å, the sixth neighbour of the both atoms is the copper atom lying at 2.975 and 2.981 Å for Cu2 and Cu1 respectively. The coordination environment of the Cu3 atom is a distorted elongated orthorhombic pyramid with four Cu-O distances from 1.943 to 1.961 Å, a fifth at 2.558 Å, and further sixth and seventh neighbours (oxygen and copper atoms) at 2.809 and 2.806 Å, respectively.