Experimental melting equilibria at 1 kbar PH2O are reported for three early Tertiary granites from Skye and one from Rhum, together with a quartz monzonite from Ardnamurchan. The Hebridean Province leucogranites show cotectic melting behaviour, whilst associated ‘primitive’ (mostly adamellitic) acid plutons have silicate liquidi ∼ 925 °C and plagioclase liquidi ∼ 875 °C. At such high temperatures the morefusible crustal rock types of the region would be almost completely molten. If the Tertiary ‘primitive’ acid magmas were simple crustal melts, they would inherit the incompatible element ratios of their sialic progenitors. This is demonstrably not so. Minor element ratios in these plutons are consistent with extensive fractional crystallization during the evolution of their magmas. But it is, in most individual instances, extremely difficult to specify, either by thermal or geochemical arguments, whether (1) fractional crystallization followed sialic contamination of basic magmas or (2) mixing occurred between fractionation residua and sialic melts. Both the minor element ratios and cotectic melting behaviour of the Hebridean Province leucogranites are consistent with the view that they are products of extreme fractional crystallization of (sial contaminated) more-basic magmas. Nevertheless, it is clear—when the sequence and timing of emplacement of acid magmas within individual intrusive centres is considered—that very complex polycyclic combinations of fusion, fractionation, and re-fusion were involved in the evolution of these granites.

The solidi of the samples studied experimentally, together with published data, show a progressive rise in temperature as the compositions of the rocks diverge from the minimum melting composition in NaAlSi3O8-KAlSi3O8-SiO2 at 1 kbarH2O. This relationship is important when considering the likely nature of sialic contamination of basic to intermediate continental magmatic suites fed through reservoir systems which are swarms of dykes and, or, sills. Because salic low-solidus crustal rock types also show near-cotectic melting behaviour, the composition of the contaminant may be strongly biased towards these (usually minor) crustal units, rather than the ‘bulk’ or average crustal composition.

The Strathy complex is a fault-bounded block of the sub-Moine succession basement characterized by a marked aeromagnetic anomaly. XRF analyses of 94 rocks for 26 elements are used to illustrate the geochemistry of the complex. It comprises siliceous grey gneisses (50 analyses), subordinate amphibolite (13 analyses), hornblende gneiss (13 analyses), and ultramafites (1 analysis), with scapolite-diopside marble and calc-silicate rocks (3 analyses from Strathy, 14 analyses of other calc-silicates). Geochemically the Strathy gneisses are quite distinct from the adjacent Moine lithologies, being unusually low in K, Rb, La, and Ce, and high in SiO2 and Na2O, whilst differences in immobile elements such as Ti and Zr preclude their derivation from a Moine source. The Strathy complex is unlike other high-grade gneiss terrains and apparently acquired its characteristic geochemical features by the removal of an anatectic melt under amphibolite-facies conditions leaving a refractory residue of quartz, plagioclase, Ca-poor amphibole, and garnet ± staurolite in siliceous gneisses. Subsequent influx of water, retrogression to biotite-bearing assemblages, production of sillimanite, and anateclic trondhjemitic melts took place during the maximum metamorphism of the surrounding Moine. The complex is considered to have originated as a dacitic supracrustal sequence with minor sediments and mafic-ultramafic intrusives. REE and Y abundances suggest a Proterozoic age, possibly as part of the Laxfordian cycle.

A reported occurrence of metamorphic rocks containing sodic pyroxenes, in the transition zone between the Pelagonian Crystalline Massif and the Vardar Ophiolite Belt, in Macedonia, Yugoslavia, has been re-investigated, and pyroxenes, micas, plagioclase, and clinozoisite analysed by microprobe. The presence of the high-pressure metamorphic assemblage quartz + omphacite+albite is confirmed, giving the first definite indication of blueschist-facies metamorphic conditions in Yugoslavia.

A previously suggested simple relationship in a diagram of(Al2O3vs. MgO + FeO + Fe2O3)opx for the distinction between igneous and metamorphic orthopyroxenes is shown to be inadequate. A revised diagram is presented and its limitations are discussed. A diagram showing Fe2+/(Fe2+ + Mg) vs. 100Ca/(Fe2+ + Mg + Ca) for orthopyroxenes coexisting with Ca-rich clinopyroxenes proves to be useful for the discrimination of igneous and metamorphic orthopyroxenes and for evaluation of the extent and physical conditions of regional orthopyroxene re-equilibration.

Pyroxene phase relations in the Mg-rich corner of the pyroxene quadrilateral, at 1 atmosphere, have been reinvestigated. Experimental studies on sixteen selected compositions in the systems CMS and CFMS were undertaken in the temperature range 1100–1400 °C. The results of this study clarify our understanding of the pyroxene stability relations at low pressure. In particular, the demonstration that there is a high-temperature stability field of orthoenstatite denies the existence of a stable (or real) invariant point defined by the reactions OE = PE + DI, PE + DI = PI, and OE + DI = PI, in the system CaMgSi2O6-Mg2Si2O6. New phase relations, consistent with the experimental findings of this and other studies, for the Mg-rich corner of the pyroxene quadrilateral are presented. These new phase relations may be of use in interpreting the origin of volcanic rocks containing magnesian pigeonite.

Experimental data from the system CaO-MgO-Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 and from the system CaO-MgO-FeO-Al2O3-SiO2 are used to show the nature of the changes in composition, with temperature and with pressure, of liquids in equilibrium with augite, plagioclase, and olivine as MgO in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 is partially replaced by FeO and as Na2O replaces CaO. As differentiation of tholeiitic basalts proceeds, Fe/Mg increases, Na/Ca increases, and normative hypersthene increases and these effects alter the solubilities, and hence the proportions of augite, plagioclase, and olivine which co-precipitate. In particular olivine becomes more soluble (less is precipitated) as Fe/Mg increases; plagioclase becomes more soluble but augite less soluble as Na/(Na + Ca) increases; augite also becomes less soluble as normative hypersthene increases, and as pressure is reduced during ascent.

Experimental data from remelted ocean tholeiites encounter the same equilibrium and are presented and compared with the data from synthetic systems.

Some natural examples of daughter liquids related to parents by crystallization of augite, plagioclase, olivine, are combined with the experimental data and with some model calculations to demonstrate that only a very limited range of proportions of augite : plagioclase: olivine (approximately 30 : 50 : 15 to 20 : 60: 20) produces daughter liquids which lie on the major element variation of the tholeiitic basalt series. Other proportions lead to daughter liquids which are not basalts. In the light of these restrictions, several recent publications are reinterpreted as examples of fractionation of augite, plagioclase, and olivine, rather than examples of partial melting. The recognition of the small effect that massive (50 to 83%) crystallization has on basaltic chemistry by contrast with the large effect that small accumulations of phenocrysts can have is particularly emphasized in this reinterpretation.

Comparisons and possible relationships are suggested between some low-K2O, low-TiO2 tholeiites; some calcic-, aphyric-, dykes of some tholeiitic provinces; some chilled margins of some layered intrusions; some basalts from Iceland, and some basalts from the ocean ridges.

A high-pressure modification of NaAlSiO4, with the calcium ferrite structure was synthesized at pressures higher than 24 GPa using a double-stage split-sphere type high-pressure apparatus. The unit cell dimensions are: a=10.1546(8), b=8.6642(8), c= 2.7385(4) Å, and V = 240.93(3) Å3 with the space group Pbnm. Calculated density is 3.916(1) g/cm3. The crystal structure was determined by the ordinary powder X-ray method. Both M1O6 and M2O6 octahedra run parallel to the c-axis, forming edge-shared double chains. The shared edges exhibit remarkable shortening (2.25–2.39 Å). Sodium atoms are located in the ‘tunnel’ formed by the linked double chains, being in eightfold co-ordination. The structure is very similar to that predicted by Dempsey and Strens (1976) with the aid of the DLS method. The possible instability of the calcium ferrite type of Mg2SiO4 is discussed.

Borehole samples from the Wildmoor Sandstone Formation have been analysed for whole-rock major and trace elements and the mineralogy determined by X-ray diffraction and conventional thin sections. The forty-two samples studied were obtained from boreholes drilled in a long established effluent site and from control boreholes away from the site. Elements are associated with one or more of calcite, quartz, K-feldspar, and clay plus oxide. The most important mineralogical change due to current infiltration is progressive loss of calcite. Background element concentrations are established and only Pb, and in one sample Cu and Zn, are found in higher concentrations representing anthropogenic additions to the system.

Ion microprobe analyses of Li are presented for minerals of the Variscan granites and related rocks of west Cornwall. Together with electron microprobe data these provide insight into the behaviour of Li during the protracted late- and post-magmatic history of the granites. The role of the Mg-Fe tourmaline series is emphasized in this exploratory study.

The distribution of the minor impurities, aluminium and silicon, between co-existing phases in altered ilmenite grains from three Western Australian localities has been investigated using SEM and electronmicroprobe analyses. A striking dependence of the impurity levels on the Ti/(Ti + Fe) fraction is observed. For compositions with Ti/(Ti + Fe) between 0.45 and 0.60, i.e. between ferrian-ilmenite and pseudorutile, the impurity content is virtually independent of Ti/(Ti + Fe), and is very low (0.2 wt. % Al2O3. 0.05 wt. % SiO2). For compositions between those of rutile and pseudorutile, there is a direct correlation between the impurity contents and the Ti content of the alteration phase. The impurity levels increase with increasing Ti/(Ti+Fe) to about 3 wt. % Al2O3 and 1 wt. % SiO2 for compositions close to TiO2. Thus during the latter stages of ilmenite alteration, alumina and silica are extracted from the ambient environment and are coprecipitated with, or adsorbed on to, the alteration products. The observed dependence of the alumina and silica contents on extent of alteration is consistent with a two-stage alteration mechanism earlier proposed (Grey and Reid, 1975).

Six specimens of Australian iron ore, three hematite-rich and three goethite-rich, have been investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy at both 300 K and 4.2 K. The resulting spectra provide data relevant to crystallite particle size variations in the hematite and goethite, the extent of isomorphous replacement, and the existence within one specimen of a poorly defined goethite-like material.

The chemistry and crystallography of type georgiadesite from Laurion, Greece, have been reexamined using electron microprobe analysis along with powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Georgiadesite is monoclinic, P21/c, with a = 13.803(10), b = 7.910(2), c = 10.812(4) Å, and β = 102.68(3)°. No twinning was observed. The probable chemical formula is either Pb16(AsO4)4Cl14O2(OH)2 or Pb16(AsO4)4Cl14(OH)6. The calculated densities for these formulae are 6.39 and 6.44 g/cm3, respectively, compared to a measured value of 6.3 + 0.3 g/cm3

Unit-cell parameters of synthesized members of the crandallite (a = 7.007 Å, c = 16.216 Å)-goyazite (a = 7.013 Å, c = 16.650 Å) series vary linearly with composition between end-members. Most members of the series consist of 0.1 μm platy crystals, but crandallite also contains some larger (1–5 µm) tapered crystals elongated along the c axis.

With increasing Sr substitution the dehydroxylation temperature decreases from c. 475 °C for crandallite to 420 °C at 20 mole % Sr, and then increases to 440 °C for goyazite. Partial dehydroxylation of crandallite is accompanied by contraction of the c unit cell parameter and expansion of a, thereby retaining an unaltered unit cell volume. The much greater sensitivity of c to both Sr substitution and dehydroxylation may be due to the rigidity of continuous sheets of Al(OH)4O2 octahedra which are parallel to the (001) plane in these minerals.

Zoned spherulites in greenalite-siderite-silica rocks of the Emilia-San Valentin lead-zinc deposit, Sierra de Cartagena, SE Spain, show a core of iron-rich talc, (Mgl.8Fel.2)Si4Ol0(OH)2, an intermediate zone of opal-chalcedony, and a rim of minnesotaite, (Fe2.7Mg0.3)Si4Ol0(OH)2. Crystalllization of the spherulites, presumably from undercooled silica sols carrying dissolved Mg and Fe, began with the non-equilibrium precipitation of metastable iron-rich talc; the residual fluids enveloping the growing spherulites became more iron-rich in composition until metastable equilibrium between iron-rich talc and iron-enriched residual liquid impeded the further growth of the iron-rich talc; the spherulites were then overgrown by colloidal silica flocculates and a rim of minnesotaite precipitated from the iron-enriched residual fluid. The proposed crystallization model implies that, if talc and minnesotaite represent an isomorphic series, under equilibrium conditions there is a broad immiscibility region in the series.