Implications from inclusions in topaz for greisenisation and mineralisation in the Hensbarrow topaz granite, Cornwall, England |
| |
| Authors: | B J Williamson C J Stanley J J Wilkinson |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD,;(2) Department of Geology, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BP, |
| |
| Abstract: | Textural and geochemical studies of inclusions in topaz from greisens in the Hensbarrow topaz granite stock (St. Austell,
Cornwall) are used to constrain the composition of fluids responsible for late stage greisening and mineralisation. The topaz
contains an abundant and varied suite of inclusions including aqueous liquid + vapour (L + V), quartz, zinnwaldite, albite,
K-feldspar, muscovite, ilmenorutile, apatite, columbite, zircon, varlamoffite (Sn, Fe)(O, OH)2] and qitianlingite (Fe+2,Mn+2)2(Nb,Ta)2W+6O10]. Primary L + V inclusions in topaz show relatively high T
h (mainly 300 to >500 °C) and a narrow range of salinities (23–30 wt % NaCl equivalent) compared with those in greisen quartz
(150–450 °C, 0–50 wt % NaCl equivalent). Textures indicate that topaz formed earlier than quartz and the fluid inclusion data
are interpreted as indicating a cooling of the hydrothermal fluids during greisenisation, mixing with meteoric waters and
a decrease in pressure causing intermittent boiling. The presence of early-formed albite and K-feldspar as inclusions in the
topaz is likely to indicate that the greisen-forming fluid became progressively more acid during greisenisation. The most
distinctive inclusions in the topaz are wisp- and bleb-shaped quartz, < 50 μm in size, which show textural characteristics
indicating former high degrees of plasticity. They often have multiple shrinkage bubbles at their margins rich in Sn, Fe,
Mn, S and Cl and, more rarely, contain euhedral albite, K-feldspar, stannite or pyrrhotite crystals up to 40 μm in size. The
quartz inclusions show similar morphologies to inclusions in topaz from quartz-topaz rocks elsewhere which have been interpreted
as trapped “silicate melt”. Their compositions are, however, very different to those expected for late stage topaz-normative
granitic melts. From their textural and chemical characteristics they are interpreted as representing crystallised silica
colloid, probably trapped as a hydro gel during greisenisation. There is also evidence for the colloidal origin of inclusions
of varlamoffite in the topaz. These occurrences offer the first reported evidence in natural systems for the formation of
colloids in high temperature hydrothermal fluids. Their high ore carrying potential is suggested by the presence of varlamoffite
and the occurrence of stannite, pyrrhotite and SnCl within the quartz inclusions.
Received: 9 April 1996 / Accepted: 12 November 1996 |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
