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The Neoproterozoic, epidote-bearing Mons Claudianus Batholith (MCB), Egypt, consists of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) lithologies, containing variable contents of quartz, feldspars, amphiboles, biotite, and magmatic epidote, with accessory titanite, zircon, allanite, apatite, opaque magnetite and ilmenite. Plagioclase varies from An49to An19, and K-feldspars possess near end-member compositions (Or97to Or91). Amphiboles are calcic (Ca = 1.88–1.92 atoms per formula unit (apfu)), Al-rich (average AlT= 1.84 apfu), having an average Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio of 0.50, and are edenite, ferro-edenite and ferropargasite. The Al-in-Hb barometer produced an average crystallization pressure of 5.5 kbar, consistent with the presence of magmatic epidote; the association epidote – Al-rich-Hb suggests mesozonal crustal levels, and thus a possible average rate of regional uplift for the Nubian Shield would have been in the order of 0.03 mm/yr. Calculated temperatures (using the Hb-Plag geothermometer) range from 729 to 754°C (average 747°C). The calculatedP / Tvalues of epidote-bearing MCB rocks fall within the experimentally-determinedP-Trange of stability of magmatic epidote withfO2buffered from NNO to HM. Biotites in the MCB are moderately Mg-rich (Fe/(Fe + Mg) = 0.42 to 0.50), and are type 'C'-biotite, typical of calcalkaline orogenic suites, which are distinct from types 'A' and 'P' biotites occurring in anorogenic alkaline, and peraluminous lithologies, respectively. The minor secondary chlorite phases, with their Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios of 0.37–0.52, are pycnochlorite and ripidolites, and belong to group 'c' chlorites. Minerals of the MCB reflect a petrogenetic history involving a wet, subsolvus, typically orogenic magmatic system. Results of this study could have wide implications for mineralogical characterization, level of emplacement and evolution of magmatic systems of TTG suites occurring in other orogenic belts.

Zoned Ca-amphibole from metaclastic rocks and synfolial quartz-rich veins of the Jubrique area (Alpujárride complex, Betic Cordillera, Spain), and their significance in the Alpine metamorphic evolution are described here for the first time. Typical Al-rich metapelites from this area show assemblages with white mica and chlorite, with sporadic kyanite and chloritoid. Nevertheless, some Ca-richer phyllites, fine-grained quartzites and quartz veins, show assemblages consisting of Ca-amphibole, plagioclase, epidote, titanite, chlorite and quartz. Ca-amphibole, appearing in large radial grains as well as in smaller subhedral crystals, displays a zonation with actinolite cores, overgrown by magnesiohomblende (and edenite) and minor tschermakite (and pargasite or hastingsite). The zoning suggests growth during prograde metamorphism. Retrogressive rims are variably developed in the several lithotypes. General zonation is well described in terms of the tschermakite, the edenite and the Fe3+Al-1, the MgFe2+-1, the NaK-1 and the OHCl-1 exchanges. Chemical parameters (IVAl, A(Na+K), BNa) indicate an evolution from low- to medium-grade temperature and pressure. The Al-in-amphibole thermobarometer provides a range of prograde temperatures between ∼300°C (for cores) and ∼600°C (for rims), for pressures from ∼1 to ∼6 kbar, respectively. Despite the uncertainty resulting from the fact that the thermobarometer used was calibrated for metabasites, amphibole defines a prograde pressure-temperature path typical of Barrovian-type metamorphism.

Amphibole in the Larvik alkaline plutonic complex in the Oslo rift, Norway, has Ti-rich compositions from edenite through pargasite to kaersutite, and has a large H+ deficiency (0.7–1.1 atoms per formula unit: a.p.f.u.) with a large oxy component in the amphibole OH– site (O2– = 2 – (OH + F + Cl) = 0.2–0.9 a.p.f.u.), similar to the mantle-derived kaersutites. Their compositions reveal a characteristically low Fe3+/(Fe3++Fe2+) ratio (3+ ratio caused by Fe2+ + OH– = Fe3+ + O2– + 1/2H2 substitution is negligible, which is supported by H and O isotope compositions. A possible substitution, [6]Al3+ + OH– = [6]Ti4+ + O2– may be operative for Larvik kaersutites when the O2–/Ti is 1.0. A relatively larger O2–/Ti ratio (1.2—2.0) suggests an another kaersutite substitution mechanism, [6]R2+ + 2OH– = [6]Ti4+ + 2O2–, where [6]R2+ = Fe2+ + Mg + Mn. These effects might result in the limited O2–/Ti ratio value from 1.0 to 2.0.A negative correlation between Ti and F, suggesting F incorporation into kaersutite may diminish the O2–/Ti ratio, not only due to the occupation of this non-oxy species in the O3 site, but also due to F—Ti avoidance. Composition-dependent H and O isotope variations (δD = –106 to –71% and δ18O = 4.6–5.2%) suggest equilibrium in the closed-system magma with differentiation. The mineral chemistry of Larvik oxy-kaersutitic amphibole could reflect the crystallization in a closed-system magma during rifting with passive crustal thinning at the Oslo palaeorift.

Amphiboles in dykes from the dominantly silica-undersaturated Monteregian series range from pargasitic megacrysts and xenocrysts to kaersutitic, pargasitic and hastingsitic phenocrysts, groundmass prisms and reaction rims. Amphiboles in dykes and plutons from the silica-oversaturated White Mountain Magma Series range from kaersutite, through hornblende, hastingsite and edenite, to sodic-calcic and sodic varieties. This contrast between the amphiboles from the two series is probably a reflection of differing melt silica activity and is a useful petrologic discriminant. In most cases, pargasitic amphibole megacrysts from Monteregian monchiquites reflect the Mg numbers of their host rocks and are considered cognate. The megacrysts are lower in Ti and higher in Mg and Al than their phenocryst mantles and rims. This is probably a result of higher pressures of formation.

In the Gåsborn area, West Bergslagen, central Sweden, Mn-silicate-magnetite-jacobsite skarns were formed as the result of three successive processes. (1) Deposition of exhalative-sedimentary manganiferous iron-ore-bearing sediments together with cherts and volcanics. (2) Intrusion of a synvolcanic anorogenic granite and some slightly younger gabbros and tonalites: under influence of these intrusives the manganiferous iron-ore-bearing sediments were metamorphosed into (a) rhodonite(I)-magnetite-pyrophanite-garnet assemblages; (b) (manganiferous) hedenbergite(I)-allanite-titanite-garnet-magnetite assemblages; (c) tephroite-jacobsite-pyrophanite-garnet assemblages and (d) magnetite-bearing quartzites. (3) Release of hydrothermal fluids from the granite and subsequent alteration of the above assemblages into metasomatic infiltration skarns, consisting of rhodonite(II), garnet, hedenbergite(II), biotite, actinolite or edenite (with up to 20.11 wt.% MnO), chlorite, bementite, fluorite, helvite, rhodochrosite, hematite, rutile and accessory galena, sphalerite, wittichenite, aikinite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite.The maximum temperature (T) and pressure (P) during contact metamorphism are estimated at 550°C and 1.0 kbar respectively. The fluid under influence of which the metasomatic infiltration skarns were formed was relatively rich in Fe, Cl and F and carried little or no Mg and Mn.During early diagenesis (beginning of stage 2) fo2 was between the hematite/magnetite (hm/mt) and the hausmannite + hematite = jacobsite buffers (h + m = j). During stage 2, with increasing T, fo2 changed from above to below hm/mt. Magnetite and jacobsite at some distance from the hydrothermal veins from which the metasomatic skarn-forming fluids were released, were altered during stage 3 into hematite. Magnetite in, and close to the hydrothermal veins was not altered to hematite, implying an increase in fo2 to above hm/mt with increasing distance from these veins.

The introduction of a fifth amphibole group, the Na-Ca-Mg-Fe-Mn-Li group, defined by 0.50 < B(Mg, Fe2+, Mn2+, Li) < 1.50 and 0.50 < = B(Ca, Na) < = 1.50 apfu (atoms per formula unit), with members whittakerite and ottoliniite, has been required by recent discoveries of B(LiNa) amphiboles. This, and other new discoveries, such as sodicpedrizite (which is herein slightly, but significantly changed from the original idealised formula), necessitate amendments to the IMA 1997 definitions of the Mg-Fe-Mn-Li, calcic, sodic-calcic and sodic groups. The discovery of obertiite and the finding of an incompatibility in the IMA 1997 subdivision of the sodic group, requires further amendments within the sodic group. All these changes, which have IMA approval, are summarised.

A FORTRAN program has been written which inputs amphibole analyses, and outputs complete IMA-approved names, along with tabulated analyses, formula units, and IMA classification parameters. Several important corrections, additions, and amendments to the IMA scheme were found to be necessary. Two newly approved names have been incorporated—sadanagaite (ferro-pargasitic amphibole with Si < 5.5), and nyboite (alkali amphibole with (Na+K)A ⩾ 0.5, Fe3 ⩽ AlVI, Si < 7.5). The name anophorite (alkali amphibole with (Na+K)A ⩾ 0.5, Fe3 > AlVI, Si < 7.5) has been reinstated to complement nyboite, with the approval of the Amphibole Subcommittee of the IMA. Results of computer processing of several hundred analyses, which together cover the range of IMA-approved names, are summarized. These indicate substantial differences between IMA and previous nomenclature. The IMA-favoured procedure for reallocating total Fe in microprobe data is quite effective, except in kaersutites. Over half the analyses processed have anomalously high cations (e.g. Ca > 2), or cation totals (e.g. T + C + B > 15), commonly reflecting low H2O determinations. These prevent strict obeyance of the IMA site occupancy calculation rules. This problem can often be overcome by recalculation free of H2O, but other cases require modifications to the IMA rules. In particular, ‘misclassification’ of certain sodic-calcic amphiboles as edenite follows from transferring large excesses of C cations to the B site.

High-alumina subsilicic calcic amphiboles, including sadanagaite and subsilicic ferroan pargasite, are found in rock samples from the contact aureole in the Nōgō-Hakusan area, central Japan. They occur in the reaction zones between dark fragments and the surrounding crystalline limestone of the pyroxene hornfels facies zone. The dark fragments which underwent K-metasomatism are originally basaltic rocks. The sadanagaite and subsilicic ferroan pargasite have high Al2O3 (16–19 wt. %) and K2O (3.6–4.3 wt. %) contents. The Si value ranges from 5.38 to 5.64 and the total Al ranges from 3.10 to 3.43 when cation ratios are calculated on the basis of O = 23. The calculated unit cell parameters of sadanagaite are a 10.00 (1), b 18.06 (2), c 5.355 (4) Å, β105.52(7)°, V 932(1) Å3. The A-sites of the amphiboles is occupied almost entirely by K and Na; the amphiboles are saturated with the edenite component. The amphiboles show a larger extent of tschermakite-type substitution [(Mg,Fe)Si⇌AlAl] than does ordinary pargasite. Sadanagaite is probably stable at the temperature above the upper amphibolite facies.

SummaryBased on nearly 1500 published amphibole analyses the maximum possible Alvi in hornblendes is shown to increase with increase of Aliv. New analyses of hornblendes from amphibole-corundum rocks, with and without anorthite, are given and after critical examination of the available data it is concluded that the maximum verified Alvi-rich calciferous amphibole that approaches the closest to hypothetical tschermakite comes from a kyanite-bearing aluminous high-pressure-crystallized schist from Lukmanier, Switzerland. Pure natural edenite or ferroedenite is unknown, but a new analysis of the nearest known natural edenite, from Mysore, India, agrees with the postulated view that extraordinarily low temperatures are needed for edenite-ferroedenite crystallization, much below that possible in magmas and only rarely achieved in metamorphic rocks containing amphiboles. The limit of the approach of igneous hornblendes to edenite-ferroedenite and tremolite-ferroactinolite is outlined.At least 1100 °C is required for complete expulsion of water from some amphiboles.