The Bear Lodge alkaline complex in northeastern Wyoming (USA) is host to potentially economic rare-earth mineralization in carbonatite and carbonatite-related veins and dikes that intrude heterolithic diatreme breccias in the Bull Hill area of the Bear Lodge Mountains. The deposit is zoned and consists of pervasively oxidized material at and near the surface, which passes through a thin transitional zone at a depth of ~120-183m, and grades into unaltered carbonatites at depths greater than ~183-190m. Carbonatites in the unoxidized zone consist of coarse and fine-grained calcite that is Sr-, Mn- and inclusion-rich and are characterized by the presence of primary burbankite, early-stage parisite and synchysite with minor bastnäsite that have high (La/Nd)cn and (La/Ce)cn values. The early minerals are replaced with polycrystalline pseudomorphs consisting of secondary rare-earth fluorocarbonates and ancylite with minor monazite. Different secondary parageneses can be distinguished on the basis of the relative abundances and composition of individual minerals. Variations in key element ratios, such as (La/Nd)cn, and chondrite-normalized profiles of the rare-earth minerals and calcite record multiple stages of hydrothermal deposition involving fluids of different chemistry. A single sample of primary calcite shows mantle-like δ18O V-SMOW and δ13C V-PDB values, whereas most other samples are somewhat depleted in 13C (δ13C V-PDB ≈ –8 to –10‰) and show a small positive shift in δ18O V-SMOW due to degassing and wall-rock interaction. Isotopic re-equilibration is more pronounced in the transitional and oxidized zones; large shifts in δ18O V-SMOW (to ~ 18‰) reflect input of meteoric water during pervasive hydrothermal and supergene oxidation. The textural relations, mineral chemistry, and C and O stable-isotopic variations record a polygenetic sequence of rare-earth mineralization in the deposit. With the exception of one Pb-poor sample showing an appreciable positive shift in 208Pb/204Pb value (~39.2), the Bear Lodge carbonatites are remarkably uniform in their Nd, Sr and Pb isotopic composition: (143Nd/144Nd)i=0.512591-0.512608; εNd=0.2-0.6; (87Sr/86Sr)i=0.704555-0.704639; εSr=-1.5-2.7; (206Pb/204Pb)i=18.071-18.320; (207Pb/204Pb)i=15.543-15.593; (208Pb/204Pb)i=38.045-39.165. These isotopic characteristics indicate that the source of the carbonatitic magma was in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and modified by subduction-related metasomatism. Carbonatites are interpreted to be generated from small degrees of partial melt that may have been produced via interaction of upwelling asthenosphere giving a small depleted MORB component, with an EM1 component likely derived from subducted Farallon crust.

The Tapira alkaline complex is the southernmost of a series of carbonatite-bearing intrusions occurring in the Alto Paranaíba region, western Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Together with kamafugites, lamproites and kimberlites, these complexes form part of the Late-Cretaceous Alto Paranaíba Igneous Province (APIP). The Tapira igneous complex is emplaced into rocks of the Late-Proterozoic Brasilia mobile belt, adjacent to a major cratonic area (the Sāo Francisco craton).The complex is formed by the amalgamation of several intrusions, comprising mainly ultramafic rocks (wehrlites and bebedourites), with subordinate syenite, carbonatite and melilitolite. At least two separate units of ultramafic rocks (B1 and B2) and five episodes of carbonatite intrusion (CI to C5) are recognised. The plutonic rocks are crosscut by fine-grained ultramafic and carbonatite dykes. Two varieties of ultramafic dykes are recognised: phlogopite-picrites are the most primitive rocks in the complex; low-Cr dykes are more evolved, and typically lack olivine. The ultramafic dykes are carbonate-rich, and may contain carbonate ocelli, indicating that immiscibility of carbonatite liquid occurred early in the evolution of the complex. The ultramafic dykes are chemically similar to the APIP kamafugites. The primitive Tapira magmas underwent some differentiation in the crust, before their final emplacement. Crystal fractionation from the phlogopite-picrite magma may have produced olivine and chromite-rich cumulates, but these rocks are under- represented in the complex. Crystal fractionation from low-Cr dykes may have produced the bebedourites. The Tapira complex contains examples of carbonatites that originated by either liquid immiscibility or crystal fractionation. These contrasting petrogenetic mechanisms have produced distinct geochemical and mineralogical signatures, which have been used to pinpoint specific events in the evolution of the complex, and to test the consanguinity of carbonatites and associated silicate rocks.

The multiphase Ice River Alkaline Complex is located in the Main Ranges of the Rocky Mountains about 40 km east-southeast of Golden, BC, and comprises, in order of decreasing age: (1) a rhythmically-layered mafic complex; (2) carbonatite (concentrated as a plug in the centre of the complex); (3) a zoned nepheline syenite complex, and; (4) a dyke suite consisting of syenitic dykes, late alkaline lamprophyres, and carbonatites. Petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic analysis of the dykes occurring along the eastern margin of the Ice River Alkaline Complex indicates that the syenitic dykes are the product of extensive fractional crystallization (Zr/Hf = 39 – 80; Nb/Ta = 19 – 305). These syenitic dykes can be subdivided based on mineralogy and composition into a nepheline syenite – nephelinolite group, a syenite – monzodiorite group, and an alkali feldspar granite dyke. The calculated Sm-Nd isochron age of the syenitic dykes (369 ± 15 Ma) is consistent with the accepted age of the complex (359 ± 3 Ma), and is supported by the Rb-Sr errorchron for the same samples, as well as preliminary U-Pb zircon dating. A solidification front (fractional crystallization) model has been described for the development of the Ice River Alkaline Complex, where the syenitic dykes represent structurally controlled periodic discharges from an evolving magma chamber. Isotopic evidence coupled with a U-Th-Pb EPMA date of 165 ± 8 Ma for one of the examined discordant REE-rich carbonatite dykes, indicates that at least some of the carbonatites within the Moose Creek Valley are temporally and magmatically isolated from the Ice River Alkaline complex.

Le Complexe de Jacupiranga (Cajati, SP) est l’une de plusieurs occurrences alcalines du Méso-Cénozoïque situées aux bords de la bassin de Paraná, dans la région sud-est de la Plate-forme Sud-Américaine. Cette unité présente une grande variété de roches: dunites, wehrlites, clinopyroxènites, roches de la série ijolitique, diorite, syénite, monzonite, phonolites, lamprophyres et carbonatites. Considérant que les carbonatites ont été largement étudiés au cours des dernières décennies, grâce à l’importance de sa minéralisation en phosphate, les roches silicatées ont été très peu étudiées. Cette étude présente des nouvelles données géochronologiques, de chimie minérale, de géochimie et isotopique pour le Complexe Jacupiranga, visant à mieux comprendre l'origine et l'évolution de l'unité. Âge argon des différents lithotypes varient entre 133,7±0,5 Ma et 131,9±0,5 Ma, tandis que l’âge obtenu par U-Pb au zircon est de 134,9±0,65 Ma, indiquant que la mise en place de l'unité a été contemporaine à l’extrusion de tholéiites de la Province Magmatique du Paraná. Bien qu'il ne soit pas possible de définir une séquence de mise en place parmi la clinopyroxenite, la diorite et le lamprophyre, la monzonite présente l’âges argon et U-Pb plus âgés que les autres roches. Deux séries magmatiques sont proposées pour les roches silicatées, compte tenu de leurs compositions chimiques: (1) une série fortement sous-saturé en silice, éventuellement lié à un magma parental de composition néphélinitique et (2) une deuxième série modérément sous-saturé, lié à des magmas basanitiques. Les lamprophyres sont considérés représentatifs du magma basanitique. La composition du liquide calculé en équilibre avec les coeurs de la diopside aux clinopyroxénites est similaire aux lamprophyres, ce qui indique qu'une partie des clinopyroxénites est associée au magma basanitique. Monzonite et meladiorite présentent les caractéristiques pétrographiques, compositionnelle et isotopique (87Sr/86Sri: 0,705979 à 0,706086; 143Nd/144Ndi: 0,511945 à 0,512089) qui suggèrent le processus d'assimilation crustale, bien que de caractère local et limité à certains impulsions de magma basanitique. Les carbonatites ont des rapports isotopiques (Nd et Pb) et composition trace (e.g. Ba/La, Nb/Ta) qui exclurent un lien avec les roches silicatées par immiscibilité de liquide. Il est proposé deux scénarios: un magma carbonatitique primaire, généré directement par la fusion du manteau, ou un magma secondaire généré par l’immiscibilité d'un composant silicaté encore inconnu dans l'unité. Données Nd-Sr-Pb-Hf indiquent une contribution importante du manteau lithosphérique subcontinental dans la genèse des roches du complexe. Les lamprophyres et le liquide calculé en équilibre avec le clinopyroxène ont des rapports CaO/Al2O3 et La/Zr relativement élevés et faible Ti/Eu, ce qui indique un manteau lithosphérique métasomatisé par des fluides riches en CO2 et les mécanismes de fusion "vein-plus-wall-rock". Les différences de composition entre ces liquides sont interprétés comme comme résultant du mélange entre la fusion des veines métasomatiques avec la fusion des péridotites, ainsi des proportions différentes de clinopyroxène/grenade à la source. Les variations dans les valeurs ΔεHf suggèrent que le magma basanitique represente une contribution plus grande des vein wehrlitique, tandis que le magma nephelinitiquea été être généré à partir des contributions un peu plus important des peridotites, bien que les deux fluides sont enrichis. Appauvrissement en Nb, Yb, enrichissement en ETR lèger pour rapport le lourdes et l'enrichissement en Cs, Rb et Sr dans les lamprophyres réactions suggèrent que les reactions métasomatiques à la source mantellique ont été associées aux fluides dérivés de processus de subduction. Les âges modèles TDM indiquent l'hétérogénéité à la source et sont compatibles avec les valeurs généralement obtenues pour les occurrences alcalines au du Sud-Est de la Plate-forme Sud-Américaine. / The Jacupiranga Complex (Cajati, SP) is one of several Meso-Cenozoic alkaline units intrusive along the Parana Basin margins, in the Central-Southeastern part of the South American Platform. This unit comprises a large variety of lithotypes: dunites, whehrlites, clinopyroxenites, rocks from the ijolite series, diorites, syenites, manzonites, phonolites, lamprophyres, and carbonatites. While carbonatites have been extensively investigated over the last decades, as they host an important phosphate ore deposit, little attention has been paid to the silicate rocks. The current study presents new geochronological, mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic data on the Jacupiranga Complex, in order to better understand the origin and evolution of the unit. 40Ar/39Ar ages for different lithotypes range from 133.7±0.5 Ma to 131.9±0.5 Ma, while monzonite zircon analyzed by SHRIMP yields a U-Pb concordia age of 134.9±0.65 Ma, indicating that the Jacupiranga emplacement was contemporaneous with the extrusion of the tholeiites of the Paraná Magmatic Province. There seems to be no obvious age progression for clinopyroxenites, diorites, or lamprophyres, although the monzonite yield both 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb ages older than those of the other rocks. Geochemical compositions of the silicate rocks are used to evaluate two main magma-evolution trends for that unit: (1) a strongly silica-undersaturated series, probably related to nephelinite melts and (2) a mildly silica-undersaturated series related to basanite melts. Lamprophyre dikes within the complex are considered as good representatives of the basanite parental magma. Compositions of the calculated melts in equilibrium with diopside cores from clinopyroxenites are quite similar to those of the lamprophyres, suggesting that at least a part of the clinopyroxenites is related to the basanite series. Meladiorite and monzonite show petrographic features and geochemical and isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sri: 0.705979-0.706086 and 143Nd/144Ndi: 0.511945-0.512089) suggestive of crustal assimilation, although it may be relegated to a local process and to some basanite batches. Carbonatites yield isotopic ratios (Nd and Pb) and trace elements composition (e.g. Ba/La, Nb/Ta) that preclude a link by liquid immiscibility with the silicate rocks. Two scenarios are envisaged: a primary magma of carbonatite composition originated by direct partial melting of the mantle or an origin by immiscibility from a hypothetical silicate magma currently unknown in the complex. Nd-Sr-Pb-Hf isotopic data indicate an important contribution of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) in the genesis of those rocks. Lamprophyres and calculated melts in equilibrium with clinopyroxene show relatively high CaO/Al2O3 and La/Zr ratios and low Ti/Eu, indicating a lithospheric mantle metasomatized by CO2-rich fluids and vein-plus-wall-rock melting mechanisms. Compositional variations among those liquids are attributed to the mixing between metasomatic veins partial melt and peridotite partial melt, besides as well as to the differences in the clinopyroxene/garnet ratios on in the mantle. ΔεHf variations suggest a slightly higher role of the wall-rock peridotite as a source component for the nephelinites, whereas the basanite parental magma is mainly related to the wehrlite veins, although both are enriched magmas. Depletion in Nb-Yb, enrichment of LREE relative to HREE, and enrichment in Cs, Rb and Sr in the lamprophyres suggest that the metasomatic reactions in the mantle source were caused by slab-derived fluids. TDM model ages indicate the heterogeneous nature of the mantle source and are coherent with the values generally obtained for the alkaline occurrences from the Central-Southeastern part of the South-American Platform.

Le craton archéen de l’In Ouzzal représente une succession d'événements intrusifs et métamorphiques depuis l’Eburnéen qui en font un marqueur important des processus géodynamiques à travers les temps géologiques. La région d’Ihouhaouene située au N-W du terrane de l’In Ouzzal en Algérie est unique de par la présence d’intrusions protérozoïques de carbonatites associées à des roches alcalines saturées. Ces carbonatites intracontinentales comptent parmi les plus anciennes et inhabituelles de par leurs diversités et la présence de minéraux à terres rares. Les carbonatites sont pegmatitiques ou bréchiques avec des fragments de syénite. Elles sont des calciocarbonatites composées de calcite (>50 vol.%), apatite, clinopyroxène et wollastonite et sont associées à des syénites rouges ou blanches présentes sous forme massive. Les syénites sont composées d’alternance de niveaux clairs de feldspaths alcalins rouges ou de wollastonites associées aux feldspaths blancs et de niveaux sombres d’apatites et de clinopyroxènes. Les carbonatites et syénites forment une suite cogénétique caractérisée par une augmentation en SiO2 et une diminution en CaO et CO2. Les carbonatites ont des compositions en silice comprises entre 5 et 35 pds.%, 28 et 53 pds.% CaO et 11 à 36 pds.% CO2. Les syénites montrent une forte teneur en K2O (12 pds.%) et des teneurs très faibles en Na2O (1 pds.%). Les carbonatites et syénites sont riches en éléments incompatibles avec des teneurs en REE supérieures à 7000 fois les chondrites et 1000 fois les chondrites dans les syénites, respectivement, et de fortes teneurs en U, Sr et Th. Les éléments en trace dans les minéraux magmatiques (apatite et pyroxène) mettent en évidence des processus complexes à l’origine de ces roches impliquant plusieurs étapes de cristallisation fractionnée et d’immiscibilité à partir d’un magma mélilititique riche en CO2. Les minéraux des carbonatites riches en silice et des syénites blanches ont des signatures géochimiques similaires et se caractérisent par des rapports élevés en Nb/Ta typiques de magmas riches en carbonate par immiscibilité. Les syénites rouges ont des caractéristiques de liquides silicatés évolués par différentiation. Les minéraux des carbonatites pauvres en silice ont des rapports Nb/Ta très variables, sub-chondritiques (<10), indiquant une cristallisation à partir de liquides très évolués et la présence de magmas carbonatitiques tardifs. Les apatites, en particuliers, enregistrent divers épisodes magmatiques et également supergènes. Elles présentent dans certaines roches une redistribution et un enrichissement en terres rares variables qui se caractérisent par des exsolutions de britholite dans les carbonatites riches en silice et monazite dans les carbonatites pauvres en silice. Ces exsolutions traduisent des rééquilibrations locales sub-solidus avec des fluides tardi-magmatiques de composition riche en Cl-Th-REE pour l’exsolution de la britholite et S-Ca-P-CO2 pour les inclusions de monazite. L’apatite et le zircon présents dans ces roches alcalines et carbonatites, ont permis de déterminer l’âge de mise en place du complexe magmatique de Ihouahouene à 2100 Ma syn-métamorphique et de confirmer l’âge panafricain de son exhumation. L’étude pétrologique, géochimique et géochronologique des carbonatites et syénites d’Ihouhaouene a permis de mettre en évidence l’origine magmatique de ces roches et de définir les interactions fluides-roches supergènes à l’origine des enrichissements en REE. Les carbonatites et syénites d’Ihouahouene proviennent d’un faible taux de fusion partielle d’un manteau Précambrien riche en CO2. Plusieurs étapes de cristallisation fractionnée et d'immiscibilité ont permis la genèse de ces roches hybrides, piégées le long de grandes zones de cisaillement durant la période de transition Archéen /Eburnéen dans un régime extensif à l’In Ouzzal caractérisé par un environnement granulitique d’ultra-haute-température. / The In Ouzzal Archaean craton represents a succession of intrusive and metamorphic events since Eburnean, and an important marker of geodynamic processes through geological time. The Ihouhaouene area located in the N-W of In Ouzzal terrane in Algeria is unique by the presence of Proterozoic carbonatite intrusions associated with silica-saturated alkaline rocks. These intracontinental carbonatites are among the oldest and exceptional because of their diversity and the presence of unusual rare earth minerals. Carbonatites are pegmatitic or brecciated with fragments of syenite. They are calciocarbonatites with calcite (> 50 vol.%), apatite, clinopyroxene and wollastonite and are associated with red or white syenites in massive outcrops. Syenites are composed of alternating light levels of red alkaline feldspar or wollastonite associated with white feldspar and dark levels of apatite and clinopyroxene. Carbonatites and syenites form a cogenetic suite characterized by an increase in silica and decrease in calcium and CO2 content. The carbonatites have silica content ranging from 5 to 35 wt.%, 28 to 53 wt.% CaO, and 11 to 36 wt.% CO2. Syenites have high K2O (12 wt.%) and low Na2O content (1 wt.%). Carbonatites and syenites have high incompatible element concentrations with high REE content (7000*chondrites and 1000*chondrites, respectively) and high U, Pb, Sr and Th content. Trace elements (eg. Rare Earths, Nb-Ta, Zr-Hf) in magmatic minerals (apatite-pyroxene) of carbonatites and syenites reveal complex magmatic processes at the origin of these rocks involving several stages of fractional crystallization and immiscibility from a CO2-rich melilititic magma. Silica-rich carbonatites and white syenites are characterized by high Nb/Ta, Y/Zr and Rb/Sr ratios, typical of carbonate-rich magmas by immiscibility. The red syenites have characteristics of immiscible differentiated silicate melt. Silica-poor carbonatite minerals have variable subchondritic Nb/Ta (<10) indicating crystallization from highly evolved liquids and the presence of late carbonatitic magmas. Apatites, in particular, record various magmatic and supergene processes. They present, in some rocks, redistribution and enrichment in rare earth elements, which are characterized by exsolutions of britholite in silica-rich carbonatites and monazite-quartz-calcite inclusions in silica-poor carbonatites. These minerals reflect local sub-solidus re-equilibration with late-magmatic fluids rich in Cl-Th-REE for the exsolution of britholite and S-Ca-P-CO2 for monazite inclusions. The apatite and zircon present in these alkaline and carbonatite rocks, allow determination of the syn-metamorphic crystallization age of the Ihouahouene magmatic complex at 2100 Ma and confirm the pan-African age of its exhumation. The petrological, geochemical and geochronological study of Ihouhaouene carbonatites and syenites highlights the magmatic origin of these rocks and constrains the fluid-rock interactions at sub-solidus conditions leading to REE-enrichment. The carbonatites and syenites result from a low partial melting rate of a CO2-rich Precambrian mantle. Several fractional crystallization and immiscibility stages allowed the genesis of these hybrid magmas, trapped along large shear-zones during the Archean/Eburnean transition period in the In Ouzzal terrane, characterized by extensive deformation in ultra-high-temperature granulitic environment.

This study considered the geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, formation and evolution of the heavy rare earth element (HREE) mineralised Lofdal alkaline carbonatite complex (LACC), which is located on the Bergville and Lofdal farms northwest of Khorixas, in the Kunene Region of the Republic of Namibia. . Field methods used included mapping, ground and hyperspectral airborne geophysics, and sampling. Analytical techniques used were optical petrography and CL, XRF, ICP-AES, backscattered and secondary electron imaging, electron microprobe, LA-ICP-MS, leaching, as well as carbon and oxygen stable isotope determination. The LACC comprises a swarm of dykes, mainly calcite carbonatite but also dolomite and ankerite carbonatite dykes (classified into five types) and two newly discovered plugs of calcite carbonatite (‘Main’ and ‘Emanya’), with associated dykes and plugs of phonolites, syenites and rare mafic rocks. These all intrude into the Huab Metamorphic Complex basement rocks within a NE-SW shear zone over 30 km long. The main HREE host mineral is xenotime-(Y). It occurs in highly oxidised iron-rich calcite carbonatite dykes mantling and replacing zircon, associated with hematite, thorite and apatite, or associated with monazite-(Ce), synchysite-(Ce), and parisite-(Ce), replacing the fluorocarbonates; it also forms aggregates in ankerite carbonatite. Although xenotime-(Y) occurs throughout the paragenetic sequence, there is much evidence for hydrothermal fluid activity at Lofdal, altering the dykes, and taking xenotime-(Y) into brecciated carbonate veins in albitised country rock (fenite). Radiogenic (Sr, Nd-Sm, U-Pb) and C and O stable isotope studies confirm that the carbonatite, derived from an enriched mantle, is the source of the REE. Mineralisation was contemporaneous with carbonatite emplacement at 765 ±16 Ma. Magmatic fluids >300°C were diluted with cool meteoric fluids. Abundant fluorite and carbonate indicate roles for F- and CO32- in addition to Cl- in REE transport. These ligands form the most stable complexes with HREE and since xenotime is soluble in concentrated alkali halide solutions, they could have preferentially transported and then deposited xenotime. Many of the features of Lofdal are common to other REE-rich carbonatite complexes but the xenotime-(Y) abundance is so far unique. The high amount of fluid activity in shear zones around the dyke swarm and probably a higher proportion of HREE in the original magmas seem to be the main differentiating features.

Niobium and rare earth elements (REE) are considered as strategic metals in industrialised countries, and are mainly derived from carbonatite-related deposits. Indicator mineral methods for carbonatites using of portable XRF and Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy (QEMSCAN®), shows promise in exploration for Nb and REE. Portable XRF analysis of stream sediments from the Aley, Lonnie, and Wicheeda carbonatites identified 125-250 μm as the ideal size fraction for indicator mineral studies. QEMSCAN® provides (with no additional processing) detection and characterisation of indicator minerals (when found in high concentrations) from carbonatite deposits. Preconcentration by Mozley C800 separator is recommended for sediment samples with low concentrations of indicator minerals. Discrimination diagrams for pyrochlore supergroup and columbite-tantalite series minerals show that minerals from carbonatites occupy the pyrochlore field and extend slightly into the betafite field. Columbite-tantalite series minerals from carbonatites have Mn/(Mn+Fe) atomic ratios ≤0.25 and Ta/(Ta+Nb) ≤0.20. The compositional fields for pyrochlore supergroup and colubmite-tanatlite series minerals from different deposit types partially overlap. / Graduate / 0996 / 0411 / 0372

As recentes descobertas de corpos carbonatíticos no estado geram interesse sobre o potencial econômico destas rochas. Associada ao Complexo Granulítico Santa Maria Chico, o carbonatito Três Estradas apresenta um elevado teor de apatita torna-o um alvo para a implantação de um empreendimento de produção de fosfato, importante para a produção de insumos na indústria agrícola. Neste projeto procurou-se examinar este mineral associado ao carbonatito Três Estradas no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, bem como no perfil de alteração intempérica gerado sobre estas rochas. Foi realizado um estudo detalhado das ocorrências deste mineral associado a este corpo carbonatítico que mostrou a presença de diferentes gerações de apatita ao longo do perfil de alteração intempérica, evidenciando processos de dissolução parcial, substituições químicas e precipitação. Confirmada a existência de apatitas de diferentes gerações, o estudo foi direcionado para caracterizar as populações de apatitas e o ambiente geoquímico associado. Dentre os métodos que foram utilizados cita-se a análise química das amostras por espectrometria de fluorescência de raios-X, microssonda eletrônica, espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier e espectroscopia micro Raman, análise mineralógica através da difratometria de raios X e análise petrográfica e dos elementos texturais por microscopia ótica complementada pela microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Com os resultados obtidos foi possível compreender as variações na composição química das apatitas proveniente do carbonatito e no perfil de alteração destas rochas, identificando distintos tipos de ocorrência deste mineral e caracterizando-os quimicamente, além de especular sobre as condições supergênicas que propiciaram a formação de gerações tardias do mineral elevando consideravelmente as concentrações de fosfato. / Recent discoveries of carbonatite bodies in the state of Rio Grande do Sul created interest about the economic potential of these rocks. Associated with the granulitic complex Santa Maria Chico, the Três Estradas carbonatite presents a high content of apatite, making it a target to the implementation of an adventure for the production of phosphate, an important mineral for the production of inputs for the agricultural industry. In this project, this mineral was examined, as well as the weathering profile occurring in these rocks. A detailed study of the occurrence of this mineral associated with this carbonatite body was elaborated and revealed the presence of different generations of apatite along the weathering profile, evidencing processes of partial dissolution, chemical substitutions and precipitation. Once confirmed the existence of apatite of different generations, the study was directed to characterizing the populations and the geochemical environment associated with each one. Among the methods applied were the chemical analysis of the samples by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, electronic microprobe, Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy and micro Raman spectroscopy, the mineralogic analysis by x-ray diffraction, and the petrographic and textural analysis by optic microscopy complemented by scanning electron microscope. With the results obtained it was possible to comprehend the variations in the chemical composition of the apatite from the carbonatite and in the weathering profile of these rocks, allowing the identification of different types of occurrence and its chemical characteristics, as well as speculate about the supergenic condition that favored the formation of late generations of the mineral, what elevates considerably the phosphate concentration.

A avaliação integrada de dados de geoquímica do solo, aerogamaespectrometria (eTh), mapeamento geológico e estrutural associado à descrição de furos de sondagem e afloramentos da região de Caçapava do Sul, sul do Brasil, levou à descoberta de dois corpos de carbonatitos. Estes corpos estão localizados próximos aos limites sudeste e leste do Granito Caçapava, intrudindo o Complexo Passo Feio. O sistema é composto por alvikitos de coloração rosada seguidos por beforsitos brancos tardios, ambos na forma de corpos tabulares deformados concordantes com a xistosidade e dobras das rochas encaixantes. Análises petrográficas e avaliações utilizando microscópio eletrônico de varredura demonstraram que a calcita é o mineral predominante nos alvikitos, sendo os seguintes minerais acessórios e traço: apatita, magnetita, ilmenita, biotita, badeleita, zircão, rutilo, minerais do grupo do pirocloro e minerais de elementos terras raras (ETR). O beforsito, caracterizado pela presença abundante de dolomita, possui os mesmos minerais acessórios e traço observados nos alvikitos. A metodologia utilizada para geocronologia foi U-Pb em zircões via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), executada em uma amostra de beforsito. A idade de cristalização fornecida pelo método foi de 603,2 ± 4,5 Ma, colocando a intrusão em um contexto de ambiente pós-colisional ediacarano, com tectonismo transpressivo predominante e atividade vulcânica marcada por características shoshoníticas. / The integrated evaluation of soil geochemistry, aerogammaspectrometry (eTh), geological and structural mapping associated with description of boreholes and outcrops of Caçapava do Sul region, southernmost Brazil, led to the discovery of two carbonatite bodies. They are located near to the east and southeast of Caçapava Granite, intruding the Passo Feio Complex. The system is composed by early alvikite pink-colored rock followed by late white beforsite dikes in deformed tabular units concordant with the host rock schistosity and folds. Petrographic and scanning electron microscopy show that the alvikites are dominantly by calcite with subordinate apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, biotite, baddeleyite, zircon, rutile, pyrochlore-like and rare earth element minerals. Beforsites have the same minor and accessory minerals of the alvikites. U-Pb zircon geochronology via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was performed on a beforsite sample, yielding a 603.2 ± 4.5 Ma crystallization age, in an Ediacaran post-collisional environment with transpressive tectonism and volcanic activity market by initial shoshonitic characteristics.

<p>The Alnö complex on the central Swedish east coast is composed of a main composite intrusion (the main intrusion) and four smaller satellite intrusions (Söråker, Sälskär, Långharsholmen and Båräng) distributed around the main intrusion on Alnö Island and on the mainland north of the island. The major rock types exposed within the complex are melilitolite, pyroxenite, ijolite series (melteigite-ijolite-urtite), nepheline syenite, carbonatite and alnöite dykes. Melilitolite is only exposed within the Söråker intrusion. The intrusive sequence is melilitolite → pyroxenite → ijolite series → nepheline syenite → carbonatite → alnöite.</p><p>Mineralogical, whole rock geochemical and radiogenic isotope (Nd-Sr-Pb) studies of exposed rocks from the Alnö alkaline complex, east central Sweden, were performed in order to investigate the genetic relationships between the diverse rock-types, and to evaluate the contributions from mantle and crustal components in the genesis of the complex. Most analysed samples fall within the depleted quadrant in a eNd-eSr diagram, similar to carbonatites and alkaline silicate rocks from other complexes, indicating derivation of parental magma(s) from a source that had experienced time-integrated depletion in LIL elements. Contamination by local crust is indicated by Sr and Pb isotope data, but is geographically restricted to samples collected from the outer parts of the main intrusion and from satellite intrusions. This localized contamination is attributed to selective hydrothermal element leaching of surrounding bedrock during fenitization. Nd- and Sr-isotope data separates the carbonatites into two groups (group I and II), each related to a specific set of silicate rock types. The overlap of group II carbonatites with ijolite and nepheline syenite could indicate a common origin through liquid immiscibility but this hypothesis cannot be confirmed by trace element data because initial concentrations are obscured by fractionation processes. Interestingly, results from AFC-modelling suggest that production of ijolite residual magma requires addition of a small volume (2.4 %) of carbonatite component to the parental magma, whereas formation of nepheline syenite residuals requires removal of an almost equal amount of carbonatite (1.5 %) to yield a statistically significant result. AFC-modelling further suggests that the various silicate rock types exposed within the complex are related to the same parental olivine-melilitite magma through crystal fractionation of olivine, melilite, clinopyroxene, nepheline, Ti-andradite and minor phases. These results agree with compositional trends exhibited by clinopyroxene and Ti-andradite from the silicate rocks of the main intrusion, which suggests co-genesis of pyroxenite, ijolite series rocks and nepheline syenite. Production of ijolite-like residual liquids can be achieved by <40% fractionation whereas production of nepheline syenite residuals requires >80% fractionation.</p><p>An investigation of the origin of silicate minerals in carbonatites suggest that most silicate minerals observed in the carbonatites on Alnö Island are derived from surrounding wall-rock and/or produced through corrosive interaction between carbonatite liquid and assimilated phases. This leads to ambiguities when addressing the possible genetic link between carbonatites and associated silicate rocks as occurrences of identical “liquidus” phases in inferred immiscible liquids may not actually be such.</p>