Minor and trace element distribution in minerals of the Muzzle River Gabbro

Abstract

Minor and trace elements in the Muzzle River gabbro are concentrated mainly in the accessory minerals, especially apatite and sphene. These minerals contain the major part of the lanthanides, Y, D, and Th. Sphene, but not apatite, is highly enriched in Sc, Zr, Nb, Sn, Sb, Hf, W, and Pb. Barium and rubidium are concentrated in biotite and orthoclase. The feldspars show positive europium anomalies, which are plausibly ascribed to the presence of this element in the divalent state.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of two Amîtsoq gneisses from the Godthåb region, West Greenland

“…The ability of sphene to concentrate Nb has been noted previously, e.g. Mason (1972), and is evidently due to coupled substitution ofthe type NaNb = CaTi.…”

Mineralogy and occurrence of europium-rich dark monazite

“…A small downward deflection for the Eu in mafic minerals in dicates a depletion, whereas a large upward deflection for Eu in feldspars indicates an enrichment (Haskin and Korotev, 1973;Nagasawa and Schnetzler, 1971;Paster and others, 1974;Schnetzler and Philpotts, 1970;and Wildeman and Condie, 1973). Some evidence indicates that potash feldspars are relatively more enriched in Eu than are plagioclases (Mason, 1972;and Schnetzler and Philpotts, 1970). Accessory minerals, including apatite, allanite, monazite, and zircon, show the same partitioncoefficient curves as the mafic minerals, with various depletions for Eu (Haskin and Korotev, 1973;Wildeman and Condie, 1973).…”