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Magnetite-apatite ores record widespread involvement of molten salts.
- Source :
-
Geology . Jun2024, Vol. 52 Issue 6, p417-422. 6p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The origins of magnetite-apatite deposits are controversial, and the crux of the debate is what types of fluids form these rocks. We present evidence from 20 magnetite-apatite deposits worldwide showing ubiquitous involvement of molten salts. The studied deposits are distributed globally, from various tectonic settings, and from Precambrian to Quaternary in age. In every case, water-poor polycrystalline melt inclusions in ore-stage minerals are dominated by sulfate, chloride, and carbonate components plus variable proportions of calc-silicates, phosphates, and iron ± titanium oxides that re-melt between 285 °C and 1100 °C. These fluids are very different from what is generally expected in most geologic settings, but their ubiquitous presence in magnetite-apatite rocks indicates that molten salts are widespread and essential to the formation of these deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *APATITE
*FUSED salts
*TITANIUM oxides
*ORES
*MAGNETITE
*PRECAMBRIAN
*MINERALS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00917613
- Volume :
- 52
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Geology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177684797
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1130/G51887.1