Lapilli from the August 1966 eruption of the carbonatite volcano Oldoinyo Lengai consist of carbonate-cemented aggregates of (i) mono- and poly-mineralic fragments of ijolitic rocks, (ii) single grains and clusters of euhedral nepheline, Ti-andradite, and Ti-magnetite, and (iii) corroded pyroxene and wollastonite grains surrounded by coronas containing combeite, melilite, Ca-silicates (possibly larnite and rankinite), and rounded bodies of submicrometre intergrowths with complex bulk compositions dominated by Na,K,Ca-phosphate-carbonate and alkali-iron-sulphide-carbonate. The (ii,iii) materials, together with abundant Na-carbonate, sylvite and fluorite occurring as cement and shells in the lapilli, are attributed to mixing and incomplete reaction of ijolite and carbonatite magmas during the explosive eruption. The rounded submicrometre intergrowths are interpreted as the quench products of two types of immiscible liquids whose properties should be studied by controlled synthesis.

Li-mica (zinnwaldite and/or lepidolite)—topaz—albite granites in the Tregonning—Godolphin pluton and similar rocks in the St. Austell pluton appear to be petrogenetically unrelated to the spatially associated biotite granites. Evidence is provided by lack of development of Li-mica granites at roof zones of biotite granites and markedly different trends and composition fields in bivariate plots such as Li vs. Cs, Rb vs. Sr and Nb vs. Zr. Thus, differentiation of biotite granite magma is unlikely to have generated Li-mica granite magma, as also, on its own, is partial melting of biotite granite or biotiteabsent residual lower crust. However, partial melting of biotite-rich residual rocks involving biotite breakdown could yield a trace alkali- and F-enriched melt, although this would require marked femic mineral, K-feldspar and anorthite fractionation, and Na-enrichment. It is proposed that volatiles derwed from either a mantle source or the crust/mantle interface have aided metasomatism of either residual S-type crust that earlier provided S-type biotite granite magma, or basic (biotite-rich) granitoid, to produce a low-temperature, low-viscosity Li-mica granite melt that rose rapidly in the crust soon after the emplacement of associated biotite granites.

Orbicules in diorite from the Grenville Front zone of eastern Labrador consist of biotite- and/or hornblende-studded, dioritic cores enclosed by fine-grained shell structures alternately enriched and depleted in biotite. The orbicules occur in a mesocratic, quartz-bearing matrix. Epidote of inferred magmatic origin occurs in all parts of the rock. Plagioclase in the matrix is relatively sodic, and biotite more ferroan than in the orbicules, suggesting that the matrix material has the most evolved composition, and crystallized last.

The diorite is unusually aluminous (orbicules: 24.9-27.4 wt.% Al2O3; matrix: 22.4-23.6% Al2O3) and calcic (orbicules: 7.0-8.4 wt.% CaO; matrix: 6.0-6.9% CaO); it shows a positive Eu anomaly, and has elevated Sr concentrations (1800-2500 ppm Sr), demonstrating that, compositionally, it resembles a plagioclase cumulate. Mass-balance calculations suggest that the orbicule cores had a crystal/melt ratio of ≤5. This accounts for the extreme fractionation of the rock (e.g., in orbicules, Zr <5 ppm). Compared with fractional crystallization patterns, variation diagrams show counter-trends (e.g. the siliceous matrix contains elevated TiO2) or scatter for several components, suggesting that the crystal/melt ratio governed some of the geochemical characteristics of the diorite.

The presence of coarse mafic clots containing primary epidote, biotite and/or hornblende testify to an elevated water content in the orbieule cores. The shell magma apparently formed as a result of the interaction of supercooled orbicule core fluids with the matrix magma, and tended to serve as a reservoir for alkalis and Fe. Alkalis and Ca diffused in opposite directions, possibly as a result of a temperature gradient at the orbicule/matrix interface. This, however, requires decoupling of the thermodiffusional behaviour of alkalis and femic components in hydrated intermediate magma, which contrasts with documented Soret diffusion in mafic systems.

The solidification of the shell magma prior, to the orbicule cores and matrix is attributed to dewatering, consistent with the fine grain size of the shell structures. Except where remobilized core material has disrupted the shells, the cores crystallized in isolation from the matrix, which fractionated toward a more evolved composition.

Data on the distribution of the precious metals (Au, Ag and the platinum=group elements Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt) are rapidly accumulating as a consequence of the application of microbeam analytical techniques such as the electron microprobe, the proton microprobe, and the ion microprobe. The new data obtained with these techniques build on knowledge accumulated over the last 140 years using bulk analytical methods (e.g. spectrographic). The nature of the occurrence, the concentrations, and the variation in amount s of precious metals in minerals and mineral products are reviewed with comments as to the significance of the results with respect to industrial and environmental concerns. Future directions in mineral-specific analysis of trace precious-metal concentrations and applications outside of process mineralogy are discussed.

Astrophyllite is a rock-forming mineral (3.4 vol.%) in the metasomatized wallrocks within 2 to 3 km of the contact with the Mount Gharib A-type complex in northeastern Egypt. In the peralkaline A-type granites of the main complex, astrophyllite occurs in accessory amounts (0.1 to 0.5 vol.%), mostly in association with arfvedsonite. Eighteen chemical analyses of astrophyllite from both rock units have been used to discuss mineral chemistry, compositional variations and isomorphism.

Substitutions in the astrophyllite unit cell [(Na,K)3Fe7Ti2Si8(O,OH)31] involve F, Ca, Mn, Zn, Mg, Nb, Zr, Sn and A1. The contents of the unit cell depart from ideal stiochiometry. Unusually high Nb contents (up to 5 wt.% Nb2O5) characterize the Egyptian astrophyllitcs. The replacement of Ti by Nb is balanced by cation vacancies (Nb5+ → Ti4+ + □). The niobophyllite-astrophyllite relationship and the structure of astrophyllite in relation to mica and biopyriboles are discussed.

Astrophyllite may have been formed at the expense of alkali amphiboles by metasomatic reactions involving Ti-Nb-rich alkaline fluids and arfvedsonite;

Most astrophyllite reported in the literature occurs in association with alkali amphiboles, particularly arfvedsonite, thus suggesting that similar metasomatic reactions were responsible for the formation of astrophyllite in many other localities in the world.

The upper 35 m of a thick (≤175 m) Early Jurassic North Mountain Basalt flow at KcKay Head contains 25 cm thick differentiated layers that are separated by 130 cm sections of basalt. The lower layers are mafic, pegmatitic, and contain thin (2 cm), fine-grained 'rhyolite' bands. Evidence that the rhyolite represents a Si-rich immiscible liquid includes: (1) textures such as fiine-grained globules of Ferich pyroxene (once Fe-rich liquid) bordering pegmatite feldspar grains; (2) structureless, microcrystalline, interstitial, polygonal patches of Si-rich minerals and similar areas of Fe-rich stilpnomelane surrounding skeletal Fe-Ti oxide grains, with bulk chemical compositions (to a first approximation), relative proportions and total modat percentages suggesting they were once Si-rich and Fe-rich glasses respectively; (3) basalt and pegmatite compositions (particularly their Fe, and Ti contents) similar to rocks known to contain immiscible liquids; (4) rhyolite major element compositions generally consistent with formation from an immiscible Si-rich liquid; (5) mineral compositions and temperature of pegmatite formation compatible with immiscibility; (6) the inability of mass balance calculations (crystal fractionation) to explain rhyolite formation unless mesostasis stilpnomelane (representing the Fe-rich liquid) is included in the caculations. If, as we suggest, these rocks are the result of immiscibility, they shed light on the incipient formation of granophyres in mafic intrusions and support liquid immiscibility as an important rock-forming process.

The Kef Lakhal amphibolitcs and associated amphibolitc and olivine-rich enclaves are dcscribcd and their major and trace element chemistry indicates that both amphibolites were evolved medium to high alumina tholeiitic basalts with talc-alkaline affinities probably formed within plate settings. The olivine-rich enclaves are disrupted periodotites of the type lherzolite-harzburgite and probably represent mantle residua after melting.

187Os/186Os ratios were determined for in-situ laurite grains in Alpine-type chromitites and platinumgroup minerals (PGM) in the associated alluvial placers in Borneo, Indonesia/Malaysia. The Osisotope ratios of laurite grains in chromite defne an 187Os/186Os ratio for the 100 Ma mantle source of c. 1.04. Thelow 187Os/186Os ratios in all grains confirm the essential derivation of these platinum-group elements (PGE) from the mantle. A minor variation in 187Os/186Os ratios was detected among PGM from placers, but no variation was found within individual grains, including a grain with chemical inhomogeneity. The values are similar to those for PGM in the associated chromitites. The data are consistent with a detrital origin of PGM in placers: the placer PGM originated in the ultramafic section of ophiolities and the release of these grains from igneous rocks and their deposition in placers was almost entirely by mechanical processes.

The gabbro-anorthosite complex of SW Angola and Namibia (Kunene Complex) is dominated by anorthosite-troctolite cumulates. Other broadly gabbroic rock types are subordinate. An-rich plagioclase (max. An85) and Fo-rich olivine (max. Fo79) are common in the western area of the complex with plagioclase becoming gradually less anorthitic (min. An45) and olivine less forsteritic (min. Fo62) toward the east. This cryptic change is more pronounced in the northern half of the complex where rocks are darker, fresh, and the rhythmic layering is also more conspicuous. Within the white 'massive' anorthosite type, which is largely restricted to the southern half of the intrusion, cryptic layering is less pronounced. Textures indicate that rocks cooled very slowly and the co-existing mineral compositions indicate re-equilibration to usually low temperatures.

A study of mine dump material from Koberg, Bergslagen, Sweden has revealed a varied mineral assemblage, including Zr-, REE-, Th- and U-bearing minerals associated with the sulphide ore deposit. Detailed descriptions and microprobe analyses are presented of the rare earth minerals yttrian zirconolite and allanite-(Ce), and the zirconium oxide baddeleyite. Yttrian zirconolite is patchily zoned in the actinide elements Th and U, and the low analytical totals suggest the presence of several weight per cent of H2O. The implications of these features with respect to synthetic zirconolite in SYNROC and to radioactive waste management are briefly discussed. Chemical zoning of individual REE in yttrian zirconolite is described and the REE distribution compared with those of zirconolites from other localities. Allanite-(Ce) is generally unzoned, but contains REE-rich rims which are considered to be sub-micron intergrowths of allanite plus a bastnäisite-type mineral phase. The MgO content of allanite-(Ce) is unusually high and appears to be a characteristic feature of allanite from other cerium and mineral occurrences of Central Sweden. The rare earth minerals at Koberg are interpretated as having been formed as a result of localized remobilization of elements including Ti and Zr with H2O- and CO2-rich fluids.

Compositional data—that is data where concentrations are expressed as proportions of a whole, such as percentages or parts per million—have a number of peculiar mathematical properties which make standard statistical tests unworkable. In particular correlation analysis can produce geologically meaningless results. Aitchison (1986) proposed a log-ratio transformation of compositional data which allows inter-element relationships to be investigated. This method was applied to two sets of geochemical data—basalts from Kilauea Iki lava lake and grantic gneisses from the Limpopo Belt—and geologically 'sensible' results were obtained. Geochemists are encouraged to adopt the Aitchison method of data analysis in preference to the traditional but invalid approach which uses compositional data.

Banded sphalerite from Bleiberg, Austria, contains ubiquitous relics of Fe-thiosulphates and Fesulphites up to 50 μm in size. Zn, Pb, Ni and As form admixtures ranging from a few to 12 wt.% in these compounds. It is suggested that banded sphalerite is formed by a replacement of banded thiosulphate and thiosulphite precursors. This suggestion is supported by a significant admixture of Fe 0.41-8.20 wt.%) and the presence of goethite inclusions in banded sphalerite. In contrast, crystalline ZnS intergrown with the banded variety is Ni-free and contains only 0.06-0.14 wt.% Fe.

Banded pyrite contains inclusions of Fe-thiosulphate up to 200 μm in size. These thiosulphates contain (wt.%): 0.09-1.92 Zn, and 2.67−4.02 Pb. Pyrite formed by replacement (breakdown) of Fethiosulphate precursors contains 3.69-3.83 wt.% Pb.

It is suggested that banded sulphides precipitate from solutions carrying sulphur with mixed valances, and crystalline sulphides grow from solutions where the dominant dissolved sulphur is in the form of sulphidic anions.

A horizon containing graphite in the Early Silurian slates of the Eastern Central System, Central Spain, has been studied. The carbonaceous slates contain quartz, muscovite, graphitized organic matter, plagioclase, pyrite and apatite; and the slates above the graphite horizon contain quartz, phengite, plagioclase and chlorite. The origin of the graphite is related to a period of very slow accumulation rate, anoxic seafloors deep-water upwellings and plankton blooms. The chlorite and graphite are mutually exclusive and by' using the chlori te AlIV content and the graphite Co parameter, the conditions of metamorphism were calculated to be 300 ± 20°C and 1.5-2 kbar.

Chromian spinel in volcanic rocks is a potential discriminant for magma chemistry. The TiO2 content of spinel, compared at similar Fe3+/(Cr + Al + Fe3+) ratios, can distinguish island arc basalts from intraplate basalts. MORB spinels are low in this ratio and are intermediate for the TiO2 level at comparable Fe3+ ratios. Spinels from back-arc basin basalts, although similar in TiO2/Fe3+ ratio, are more enriched in Fe3+ than the MORB spinels. Spinels in the oceanic plateau basalts are distinctly lower in TiO2 than other intraplate basalt spinels and even slightly lower in TiO2 than the MORB spinels. The data were successfully applied to estimate the kind of the magma from which spinelbearing cumulates, especially dunites, were formed. Original magma chemistry of altered or metamorphosed volcanics in which spinels survive can also be estimated by the chemistry of relict spinel alone. It is possible to estimate the magma type of source volcanics for detrital spinel particles of volcanic derivation.

New data on the composition of cumulus phases in the Belhelvie intrusion presented by Wadsworth (1991) are discussed in the light of existing data and of knowledge on the form and internal structure of the intrusion. The relevance of the Rustenburg Layered suite of the Bushveld Complex as a model for the 'single intrusion' hypothesis for the layered basic intrusions in NE Scotland is examined: current knowledge of the Rustenburg Layered Suite and related intrusions suggests that similar crystallisation sequences of cumulus phases and ranges of cryptic variation do not give any case for a single intrusion hypothesis.

Nyböite occurs as porphyroblasts in the Jianchang eclogite in the Donghai area, northeastern Jiangsu Province, eastern China. The Jianchang eclogite contains some inclusions of quartz after coesite in clinopyroxene, garnet and epidote. It has colourless to pale-violet pleochroism. A thin rim with violet pleochroism often develops around nyb6ite and is taramitic. It is further retrogressed by the symplectite which is mainly composed of hornblende, aegirine-augite and albite. Nyböite is associated with jadeitic pyroxene in the Jianchang eclogite, although other porphyroblastic amphiboles in other Donghai eclogites are barroisitic to katophoritic and are associated with omphacite.

Fe-Mg partitioning between garnet and clinopyroxene and the presence of coesite pseudomorphs indicate P-T conditions in the Jianchang eclogite of about 740 ± 60°C and more than 28 kbar. Similar P-T conditions were estimated for other porphyroblastic amphibole-bearing eclogites in the Donghai area. Nyböite can occur in the Na-Al-Fe-rich local bulk composition under the medium to high temperature and very high-pressure conditions. Retrograde rim amphibole is poorer in NaB, variable in Si content, and richer in NaA variable than the porphyroblastic amphibole in the Donghai area. This roughly implies a P-T path where P decreases without a large decrease of T.

Fluids trapped inside fluid inclusions in quartz from the multiphase Starav monzogranite in Etive, Argyll, were extracted under vacuum and quantitative data for H2O and CO2 were obtained manometrically. Na and K were determined on an aqueous leach from the decrepitated grains. A bivariate diagram of H2O/CO2 versus Na/K discriminates between magma pulses and mirrors the whole-rock trace-element chemistry. This work shows that compositional variations of fluids in quartz from a weakly mineralised granitoid intrusion are sensitive indicators of its magmatic history and identify subtle changes in its mineralogical composition.

Geochemical investigation of samples from 20 granitic intrusions in six tectonic zones of the Hellenides shows that both I-type and S-type granites occur in the region. The I-type granites from four of the zones, namely the Rhodope Massif (RM), the Serbomacedonian Massif (SMM), the Perirhodope Zone (PRZ) and the Attico-cycladic Zone (ACZ), show some systematic differences in their geochemistry. In particular, the Rb, Y, Nb, K and Ti contents increase in the sequence PRZ, SMM, RM and ACZ. The PRZ granites are of Jurassic age, those of the SMM and RM are Eocene to Oligocene and the ACZ ones are Miocene. The differences between zones are attributed to a combination of differences in partial melting and high-pressure fractionation processes. Geochemical differences within zones are explained by variable degrees of amphibole and apatite fractionation and accumulation.

Curie temperatures indicating non-titaniferous magnetite are common in Icelandic basalts of all ages, especially Tertiary ones. Yet, microprobe analyses of such samples have shown high titanium in the magnetite. To resolve this paradox, and the mechanism at work, the magnetic mineral fraction of eight basalt samples with Js-T curves characteristic for pure magnetite was subjected to a multi-disciplinary analysis including Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In most of the samples titanium in the magnetite, as analysed with the microprobe, ranged between 16 and 28 wt.%, indicating submicroscopic solvus exsolution in the titanomagnetite, beyond the power of resolution for the microprobe. More unexpectedly in view of the reversible Js-T curves, Mössbauer spectroscopy showed appreciable proportion of maghemite in the magnetic fraction. A three-stage mechanism is proposed for the formation of the mineral assemblages observed: (1) limited high-temperature oxyexsolution; (2) solvus exsolution during low-temperature hydrothermal alteration; and (3) maghemitization of the magnetite. Finally, the maghemite may transform to hematite with time. It is concluded that maghemite is much more common in Icelandic rocks than hitherto believed.