The Western Gneiss Region (WGR) of Norway consists largely of Proterozoic orthogneisses, but also contains paragneisses, peridotites, anorthosites, gabbros and coarse-grained intermediate-acid ‘rapakivi granites’. All of these lithologies enclose eclogites. Structural and isotopic data suggest that many of these rocks were juxtaposed by early Caledonian thrusting prior to eclogite formation at ca. 425 Ma.

Low-P protoliths can be demonstrated for many eclogites. Prograde metamorphism to eclogite facies is demonstrated by inclusion suites within garnet grains and zoning of eclogite minerals. The regional distribution of KD (gnt/cpx) and Xcpxjd shows a decrease in Tmax, and in the corresponding P, away from the present coastline. The lowest values (500 °C, 10 kbar) are found in the Sunnfjord area and the highest (∼ 800 °C) along the coast of Sunnmøre and Nordmøre.

Maximum pressures were reached at temperatures 100–200° < Tmax. This P-T-t path is consistent with the preservation of jadeite-rich cpx (and possible coesite) in the coastal regions. Earlier overestimates of Pmax, based on partitioning of Al between opx and gnt, resulted from combination of early low-T (low-Al) opx and T values derived from cpx/gnt equilibrated at Tmax. Despite pervasive later amphibolitization, high-P assemblages (phengite + kyanite, omphacite + quartz) are locally preserved within gneisses near the coast. The high-P metamorphism can be explained by westward subduction of the Baltic continental plate beneath the Greenland plate, during the Caledonian orogeny.

At least some of the Mg-Cr garnet peridotites of the WGR were derived from low-P protoliths (spinel ± chlorite peridotites, enclosing high-Al pyroxenites). While Sm-Nd mineral ages of most eclogites cluster around 425 Ma, garnet peridotites and their enclosed garnet pyroxenites give Proterozoic Sm-Nd mineral ages (1700–1000 Ma). The tectonic position of the Mg-Cr garnet peridotites, relative to the Caledonian high-pressure metamorphism, remains to be resolved.

Amphibolite blocks from an Archaean (2.9 Ga) trondhjemite-agmatite complex in the Lewisian at Gruinard Bay have a varied trace element and REE content. Whilst some of the variability is attributable to element mobility during high-grade metamorphism and subsequent trondhjemite magmatism, it is for the main part considered to be a primary feature of the amphibolites. The observed trace element and REE chemistry is best explained in terms of source region heterogeneity and suggests a melting regime comparable with that beneath certain types of mid-ocean ridge. There are geochemical similarities between the amphibolites and the Lewisian layered gabbro-ultramafic complexes, and the two may represent the derivative liquid and associated cumulates respectively from a common parent magma. Thus there is a parallel between the processes which generated some Archaean amphibolites and layered gabbro complexes and those operating beneath modern ocean ridges. Hornblendite and amphibolite pods enclosed within tonalitic gneiss, also found as blocks in the agmatite complex, are geochemically distinct from the main group of amphibolites and are probably of calc-alkaline parentage.

The epicontinental sedimentary, epi- to mesozonal rocks of the Middle Palaeozoic of the Central Pyrenees host several economic Pb-Zn concentrations and numerous occurrences of these metals. The authors have endeavoured to recognize the original mineralogical nature of the epizonal host rocks in the concession of Baren (Haute-Garonne). Seventy-two whole-rock analyses were used for this purpose and interpreted by means of chemico-mineralogical diagrams.

These diagrams use parameters chosen so as to include in the projection planes the essential minerals forming the rocks under discussion. In this way, the nature and the possible initial mineralogical composition of the rocks, which are usually obliterated during metamorphism, are made visible. The chemical compositions of the different rock units are sufficiently typical to compensate for the absence of fossils and to allow stratigraphic identifications.

No volcanic contribution could be recognized in the pelites. The latter demonstrate the existence of a continent, undergoing a kaolinite-producing alteration, especially during the Silurian. The analysed trace elements (Ba, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, U, V and Zn) are not enriched with respect to the clarkes for these rocks, except slightly in the case of U and Th and more strongly for Cr and V. The carbonate rocks contain predominantly calcite, with subordinate dolomite. They show a strong enrichment in Ba, whereas the content of the other trace elements is normal.

The Hatapang granite was discovered during geological mapping and mineral exploration in northern Sumatra by the British Geological Survey in conjunction with the Indonesian Directorate of Mineral Resources. The pluton comprises a two-mica granite which shows significant greisenization and veining around its margins associated with Sn and W mineralization. An Rb-Sr isochron derived for the pluton indicates an age of 80 Ma and an initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.7151. This together with major and trace element data show the Hatapang to be of clear S-type affinity.

The greisens are quartz-mica-topaz rocks and are almost totally deficient in Na. Trioctahedral mica compositions progress from biotite through siderophyllite to zinnwaldite during final differentiation and greisenization of the granite. Accompanying dioctahedral micas are phengitic. Associated with late-stage differentiation of the granite is the precipitation of tourmaline and various Nb-Ta oxides. Sn and W mineralization is manifested as cassiterite in the greisens, while wolframite tends to be related to quartz veining. A later and lower temperature sulphide event produced a suite of base metal sulphides and Ag-Bi-Pb sulphosalts. The identification of a Sn-W granite of Cretaceous age in northern Sumatra provides a link with occurrences of economically important Late Cretaceous Sn-W granites in Thailand and Burma and increases the potential of an area which until recently was thought to lie outside the SE Asian tin belt.

Hybrid olivine grains from locally concordant contact zones between bodies of iron-rich ultramafic pegmatite (postcumulate) and layered harzburgite (cumulate) are distinguished from cumulus olivine grains by petrographic features and compositional differences. The hybrid olivines, which in comparison with the cumulus crystals are Fe-Mn-rich and Mg-Ni-poor, represent an arrested stage of replacement and exhibit unusually high NiO/MgO ratios. These features are explained by a disequilibrium process of cation-for-cation exchange between crystals and silicate liquid i.e. magmatic metasomatism. Plots of cations across a contact zone give straight line relationships, a function of the extent to which the metasomatizing liquid infiltrated the cumulate layer. A plot of NiO against MgO enables a distinction to be made between metasomatic olivine and olivine that has fractionally crystallized from a tholeiitic magma. These metasomatic olivines all formed by the replacement of pre-existing cumulus olivine and no chemical evidence has been found to support the formation of olivine in iron-rich ultramafic pegmatite bodies by metasomatism of other phases.

The Loe Shilman carbonatite sheet complex comprises an extensive amphibole sovite which is intruded by minor biotite sovite and amphibole ankeritic carbonatite. The carbonatites have fenitized the country rocks to form a metasomatic zone c. 100 m wide of alternating mafic and felsic mica-bearing banded fenites which grade into slates and phyllites. Phlogopite-rich micas occur nearest to the carbonatite contact. The biotites occur in K-feldspar + albite ± Na-amphibole ± aegirine and ± phengite fenites produced by the intrusion of the early amphibole sovite. Aegirine buffered the iron distribution and the biotites became more magnesian. Veins cross-cutting the fenites consist of biotite and/or Ba-bearing K-feldspar, and are interpreted to result from solutions emanating from the biotite sovite. The ankeritic carbonatite is responsible for the formation ofphlogopite in the fenites in a c. 3 m wide zone adjacent to the carbonatite, and evidently are the result of fenitizing fluids rich in Mg. Chemical equations calculated to balance the reactions interpreted to have taken place in the fenites suggest that about 10% of the Al and Si in the protolith was mobilized and moved towards the carbonatites during fenitization, and that the fenitizing solutions were strongly alkaline and oxidizing.

Specimens collected from a small lens of phlogopite-rich rock in the granulite-facies terrain of the Arunta Block, central Australia, have unusual bulk compositions and mineral assemblages. One sample consists of phlogopite enclosing blue spinel (mg 96) with minute granules of corundum and sapphirine at the margins; a second of phlogopite enclosing porphyroblasts of corundum and peraluminous sapphirine. In the first the sapphirine is close to the 7 : 9 : 3 composition; in the other it is markedly peraluminous, e.g. (Mg1.628Fe0.028)Al4.714Si0.636O10, intermediate between the 7 : 9 : 3 and 3 : 5 : 1 members. The texture suggests that this sapphirine is a stable phase in equilibrium with eastonitic phlogopite and corundum. The very potassic, very magnesian bulk composition of the rocks is attributed to potassium metasomatism of a protolith consisting of magnesian chlorite and quartz.

Delindeite and lourenswalsite are two new barium titanosilicate minerals found as microscopic crystals in miarolitic cavities in nepheline syenite in the Diamond Jo quarry, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. Delindeite is found as aggregates of flake-like crystallites in compact spherules, light pinkish grey in colour, with a resinous, pearly lustre. The flakes are biaxial positive with average n ∼ 1.813; the measured density is 3.3 g/cm3. Electron diffraction revealed a monoclinic unit cell in space group C2/m or subgroup, with a = 21.617(13), b = 6.816(5), c = 5.383(3) Å, β = 94.03(5)° (refined from X-ray powder data). The strongest X-ray lines are (hkl, dobs, Irel): (200, 10.80, 100); (311, 3.54, 24); (6̄01, 3.083, 28); (601, 2.888, 31); (2̄21, 2.806, 20); (910, 2.262,18). The crystals are submicroscopically twinned on (100) and also produce additional continuous diffraction streaks parallel to a*, which double the b and c axes. The formula derived from electron and ion probe analyses (H2O by difference), as constrained by density and molar volume data, is approximately (Na,K)2.7(Ba,Ca)4(Ti,Fe,Al)6Si8O26(OH)14, with Na > K, Ba ≫ Ca, Ti ≫ Fe,Al; Z = 1. Lourenswalsite occurs as very thin hexagonal plates in rosettes, silver grey to light brownish grey in colour. The crystals are biaxial negative with very low 2V angle. Indices of refraction are nα = 1.815, nβ ≈ nγ = 1.840; the measured density is 3.17 g/cm = 1.840; the measured density is 3.17 g/cm3. X-ray and electron diffraction show a sharp pseudohexagonal lattice with a = 5.244 Å, but extremely diffuse diffraction streaks normal to the hk0 plane. In these streaks a period of 20.5 Å can be discerned. A hexagonal unit cell with a = 5.244(2) Å, c = 20.49(3) Å can be refined from the powder diffraction data but does not account for some lines, probably because of extreme layer disorder as shown by precession single-crystal patterns. The strong X-ray powder lines are (002, 10.22, 20); (-, 3.93, 20); (111, 2.608, 100); (300, 1.5145, 80); (220, 1.3111, 25). The formula given by microprobe analyses, constrained by density and molar volume data, is approximately (K,Ba)2(Ti,Mg,Ca,Fe)4(Si,Al,Fe)6O14(OH)12 with K > Ba, Ti ≫ (Mg,Ca,Fe), Si > Al > Fe; Z = 1. These minerals are formed under oxidizing weathering conditions, and iron is assumed to be in the Fe3+ state.

Phacolite from Mitaki, Sendai City, Japan, has a core of penetration-twinned chabazite. The crystal has a convex (0001) face on which many twin individuals are produced by a two-dimensional nucleation mechanism, resulting in complicated twinning during growth. Both the r and the faces repeat finely during growth because of twinning, resulting in {112̄3} sectors with polysynthetic twinning. Finally, single structures nucleate on the crystal edges [211̄] and develop along the (112̄3) face, penetrating each other near the centre of the face.

A simple general equation is presented for estimating the Fe3+ concentrations in ferromagnesian oxide and silicate minerals from microprobe analyses. The equation has been derived using stoichiometric criteria assuming that iron is the only element present with variable valency and that oxygen is the only anion. In general, the number of Fe3+ ions per X oxygens in the mineral formula, F, is given by;

where T is the ideal number of cations per formula unit, and S is the observed cation total per X oxygens calculated assuming all iron to be Fe2+. Minerals for which this equation is appropriate include pyralspite and ugrandite garnet, aluminate spinel, magnetite, pyroxene, sapphirine and ilmenite. The equation cannot be used for minerals with cation vacancies (e.g. micas, maghemite) unless, as in the case of amphiboles, the number of ions of a subset of elements in the formula can be fixed. Variants of the above equation are presented for some of the numerous published schemes for the recalculation of amphibole formulae. The equation is also inappropriate for minerals showing Si4+ = 4H+ substitution (e.g. staurolite, hydrogarnet), minerals containing an unknown proportion of an unanalysed element other than oxygen (e.g. boron-bearing kornerupine) and minerals containing two or more elements with variable valency.

A complete mechanism for the transformation goethite to hematite based upon the results of thermogravimetric, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction investigations is presented. A porous microstructure and hematite crystallites in twin orientation are found to develop during transformation. For the main part of the transformation, and at higher temperatures, the reaction is controlled by a two-dimensional phase boundary. Activation energies of 169 ± 8 kJ/mole (for an ore mineral) and 154 ± 15 kJ/mole (for a recent sedimentary goethite) were obtained for this part of the transformation. At early stages and lower temperatures, the mechanism is one of proton/iron transfer across the reaction interface. Important goethite characteristics are grain size, shape, crystallinity and excess water content. The activation energy is found to depend upon temperature and degree of dehydration.

A new experimental determination of the stability relationships for the dehydration of gypsum to the hemihydrate mineral bassanite at elevated temperature and pressure is described. The experimental method used depends on the observation of very small changes in pressure on the onset of reaction due to the potential volume change in the reaction. The technique yields P-T data of very high precision for this dehydration reaction, and the method is likely to be of use for other reactions. The experimental P-T results have been compared with those calculated from existing thermodynamic data for this reaction.

Efflorescent outgrowths and compact vein-like material from brucite-rich specimens is a basic magnesium carbonate and possibly a dimorph of artinite. X-ray, infrared, chemical and thermal data reveal the material to be different from known natural basic magnesium carbonates.