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Alteration Features in Natural Zirconolite from Carbonatites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

C.T. Williams ,
A.G. Bulakh ,
R. Gieré ,
G.R. Lumpkin  and
A.N. Mariano
C.T. Williams
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mineralogy, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
A.G. Bulakh
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mineralogy, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
R. Gieré
Affiliation:
Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1397, USA.
G.R. Lumpkin
Affiliation:
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
A.N. Mariano
Affiliation:
48 Page Brook Road, Carlisle, MA 01741, USA
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Abstract

In nature, zirconolite occurs as an accessory mineral in many different rock types, but the majority of reported occurrences are from carbonatites (magmatic carbonates) of geological age varying from a few million years to 2 billion years old. Within these 19 carbonatite occurrences, of which 15 have been studied in some detail, zirconolite displays varying degrees of alteration in six samples. This alteration ranges from incipient minor effects to major corrosion, recrystallization and complete replacement by secondary phases. The degree of alteration broadly correlates with either the age, or actinide content of the zirconolite (or both), and thus the extent and degree of metamictization. Changes in zirconolite composition with alteration include an increase in hydration (H2O), Si, Ba and Pb (possibly radiogenic in origin), and a decrease primarily in Ca and Fe. Th can be remobilized, and of the rare earth elements (REE), there is evidence that the heavy-REE are mobilized more readily than the light-REE. Using backscattered electron images and electron microprobe analyses, this study documents and illustrates the range of alteration features observed in zirconolite from several carbonatites, in terms of both compositional and textural changes, and provides some physico-chemical information on the fluids responsible for the alteration.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 663: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste management XXIV , 2000 , 945
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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