Franchini Et Al-2005

©2005 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.
Economic Geology, v. 100, pp. 733–764
Na-Fe-Ca Alteration and LREE (Th-Nb) Mineralization in Marble and

Granitoids of Sierra de Sumampa, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
MARTA FRANCHINI,†
CONICET, CIMAR, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue,
Av. Buenos Aires 1400 (8300) Neuquén, Argentina
RAÚL LIRA,
CONICET, Museo de Mineralogía y Geología “Dr. A. Stelzner”,
F.C.E.F. y N. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Av. V. Sársfield 299 (5000) Córdoba, Argentina
LAWRENCE MEINERT,
Department of Geology, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063
FRANCISCO JAVIER RÍOS,

Fluid Inclusion and Metallogenic Laboratory of the Center for Development of Nuclear Technological (CDTN-CNEN),
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
MARÍA FERNANDA POKLEPOVIC,

CONICET, Museo de Mineralogía y Geología “Dr. A. Stelzner,”
F.C.E.F. y N. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Av. V. Sársfield 299 (5000) Córdoba, Argentina
AGNES IMPICCINI,
CIMAR, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Av. Buenos Aires 1400 (8300) Neuquén, Argentina
AND HUGO A. MILLONE

Museo de Mineralogía y Geología “Dr. A. Stelzner,” F.C.E.F. y N. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Av. V. Sársfield 299 (5000)
Córdoba, Argentina
Abstract
The Jasimampa area in the Sierra Norte de Córdoba of Argentina contains light rare earth element (LREE:
Th-Nb) mineralization associated with several stages of carbonates and widespread fenitization of marble, gran-
ite (496 ± 2.9 Ma), and alkaline and siliceous igneous comendite dikes (U/Pb zircon age of 390 Ma) derived
from fractionation of oceanic island basalts. This is the third discovery of LREE mineralization in Argentina
and marks a new alkaline intracontinental magmatic event of Devonian age.
Albite (Ab97-99) + aegirine (Ae70-92Ja1-11Q6-19) ± hematite ± Mg-arfvedsonite ± fluorine-rich apatite and late
Ca-Fe-Mn carbonates ± monazite ± pyrochlore overprint and crosscut granite and comendite outcrops in a
15 km2 area; locally, the Na-rich assemblage is pervasive and results in total destruction of host rocks. Na-Fe
metasomatism near granite and comendite produced aegirine (Ae86-91Ja1-8Q6-11) ± Mg-arfvedsonite and minor
albite (Ab98-99) in adjacent marble, with multiple stages of late Ca-Mn-Mg-Fe carbonates associated with iron
and manganese oxides, hematite, and traces of sulfides (sphalerite, pyrite, galena). Monazite (Ce > La) is the
main LREE-bearing mineral and occurs with minor ferrocolumbite, pyrochlore, strontiopyrochlore, and ap-
atite associated with a second generation of fine-grained hematite, barite, and celestine. Structural controls
on Na-Fe-Ca alteration and LREE mineralization in granitoid and marble protoliths include brittle-ductile
shear zones, brittle fracture systems, and a series of monolithologic and heterolithologic breccias with hy-
drothermal aegirine, carbonate, and chalcedony matrices that occur at granite-marble-comendite contacts.
Fragments of multiple breccia types within breccias indicate multiple episodes of brecciation, alteration, and
mineralization.
The fluid responsible for early fenitization of granite and comendite was aqueous-carbonic with CO2 of
relatively high density (between 0.85 and 0.95 g/cm3), salinity near 9 wt percent NaCl equiv, and minimum
temperatures in the range of 250° to 280°C. Pervasively altered comendite and granite have high total REE
content (1,750 ppm and 2,126 ppm, respectively), mainly LREE. Early banded and mottled aegirine ±
arfvedsonite replacements of marble have high absolute REE abundance (2,513–4,663 ppm) compared to the
least altered marble (476 ppm). Subsequent hydrothermal stages with carbonates, hematite, pyrolusite,
† Corresponding author: e-mail, mfranchi@uncoma.edu.ar
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734 FRANCHINI ET AL.
monazite, and subordinate celestine and barite caused alteration of marble that was accompanied by an in-
crease in absolute REE abundance, up to 15.45 wt percent, and high Sr (10.5 wt %), Th (4,390 ppm), and Ba
(1.8 wt %).
Alteration and mineralization at Jasimampa are the result of late-stage carbonatitic magma fractionation and
fluid exsolution. This is indicated by the strongly alkaline character of early alteration, the composition of the
hydrothermal carbonates, apatite, and LREE-Sr- and Ba-rich minerals, the chondrite-normalized REE pat-
terns showing strong LREE enrichment without an Eu anomaly, and the replacement of marble by assem-
blages with very high Ba, Th, LREE, and Sr, and strong K, Zr, and Ti depletions. The alteration style and min-
eralization at Jasimampa are similar to the giant Fe-LREE-Nb deposit Bayan Obo and other hydrothermal
LREE deposits hosted in carbonatites of China.
Introduction in Argentina, in the Sierra de Sumampa region of the south-

THE MAJORITY of world resources of rare earth elements western Santiago del Estero province (Fig. 1A and B). This
(REE) are hosted in carbonatites, particularly the large Bayan new occurrence, with monazite as the main LREE-bearing
Obo deposit in China (Mariano, 1989a). Two districts with mineral, has abundant carbonate alteration and fenitization,
REE (Th) mineralization are known in Argentina (Fig. 1A): as is typical of the hydrothermal class of REE mineralization
(1) The Rodeo de los Molles deposit, located in the Oriental associated with carbonatites and alkali granites, and thus
Pampean Ranges of San Luis province (Lira and Ripley, 1992; shares some but not all of the features of the other two oc-
currences. The widespread nature of the Na-Fe-Ca metaso-
Lira et al., 1999a), and (2) a series of prospects located in
matism in the Sierra de Sumampa region suggests significant
Puna and Cordillera Oriental ranges of Salta and Jujuy
future exploration potential for REE mineralization in this
provinces (Sierra de Cobres, Sierra de Tusaquillas, Cerro
area.
Fundición, and Hornillos) (Toselli and Rossi de Toselli, 1977;
Preliminary age determinations of alkaline igneous rocks of
Zappettini, 1999). These deposits and prospects are inter-
the area and of the main LREE-bearing mineral (monazite)
preted as hydrothermal in origin. Available ages for the alter-
(N. McNaughton, pers.commun.) suggest that the alkaline
ation at Rodeo de Los Molles (172 ± 2 Ma Rb-Sr age on K-
magmatism and the mineralization were contemporaneous
feldspar: Lira et al., 1999b) and for the Puna-Cordillera and formed during the Devonian. Thus, besides the potential
Oriental alkaline complexes (194–120 Ma; Zappettini, 1999) importance as an economic source for LREE and other rare
suggest that the source for the hydrothermal fluids was Mid- metals such as Th and Nb, the Sierra de Sumampa district
dle Jurassic to Cretaceous intraplate alkaline magmatism pro- also provides evidence for a previously unknown intraconti-
duced during rifting events in the periphery of the Paraná nental alkaline and carbonatitic magmatic epoch during the
basin concomitant with the breakup of Gondwana and the Middle Paleozoic in the Gondwana supercontinent that may
opening of the South Atlantic (Extensional Gondwana Cycle have exploration significance in other countries.
of Kay and Ramos, 1996, Ramos 1999, Lira et al., 1999b, and
references therein). Previous work
The Rodeo de los Molles LREE and Th deposit is hosted The Sierra de Sumampa district, approximately 15 km2, is
in the Las Huertitas biotitic monzogranite pluton, in the nort- located in southern Santiago del Estero province, about 25
hern edge of the Las Chacras-Piedras Coloradas batholith in km north-northeast of Ojo de Agua city (Fig. 1B), 15 km from
San Luis, Argentina (Lira and Ripley, 1992; Lira et al., 1999a). El Jume, at the intersection of National Route no. 9 and
LREE mineralization at Rodeo de los Molles occurs in the fe- Route no. 93, and 1.5 km southwest of Jasimampa (Fig. 1C).
nitized monzogranite. The deposit has been only partially ex- The area is dominated by gentle hills that emerge from the
plored: ~12 percent of the fenitized outcrop in an area ~2 km plains of the west and northwest regions; thorny trees and
long by 0.4 to 0.6 km across has been drilled down to an ave- bushes densely cover it, making mapping difficult.
rage depth of 30 m, totaling 6,000 m of air reverse circulation The most detailed previous investigation was by Minera
drilling. Average grade is 2.5 percent total REE-oxide and TEA, which explored the mineralized marbles of Jasimampa
200 ppm U3O8 (thorium reserves have not been estimated). in 1968. The Minera TEA exploration program was devel-
At a cutoff grade of 2.1 percent REE-oxide, geologic reserves oped under a contract with the Santiago del Estero govern-
down to 90 m depth total 5.6 Mt (Lira et al., 1999a). The Sie- ment to determine the economic feasibility of the manganese
rra de Cobres, Sierra de Tusaquillas, Cerro Fundición, and district located in the southwestern corner of the province
Hornillos LREE-Th prospects of Puna and Cordillera Orien- (Fig. 1B). At the same time, all other occurrences of ore and
tal are hosted in carbonatite dikes. Like the Rodeo de Los industrial minerals and rocks were investigated.
Molles deposit, these prospects also have been only partially Minera TEA excavated 72 shallow exploration pits and a
explored; mineralized outcrops are 0.2 to 4 m wide and 200 to few shafts, totaling ~125 m of vertical excavation, in an area
2,000 m long, striking northeast to southwest and dipping 35° of 23 ha. Four main shafts—T-20 (~12 m deep), T-21 (8 m),
to 85° W. Grades vary from 0.3 to 0.65 percent total REE + T-22 (5.5 m), and T-23 (5.5 m)—allowed the first detailed de-
Y, 0.005 to 0.52 % ThO2, and the geologic reserves are esti- scription of structures and rock types in the district, including
mated to be 6 Mt, assuming that the mineralization extends to various types of carbonate rocks, altered granite, and brec-
a depth approximately one-third of the outcrop lengths (Zap- cias. Some of the carbonate rocks were identified as typical
pettini, 1999). granoblastic marbles of metamorphic origin, whereas the
This contribution documents a new occurrence of LREE- darker and coarser-grained brown carbonates were consid-
(Th-Nb) mineralization and related Na-Fe-Ca metasomatism ered to be of hydrothermal origin. In addition to several
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ALTERATION AND LREE (Th-Nb) IN MARBLE & GRANITOIDS, SIERRA DE SUMAMPA, ARGENTINA 735
N 64°10´ SOUTH AMERICA
Range
Area of Fig. 1A
elazco
Area of Fig. 1C
ge
B
Ran
R. de V
ARGENTINA
a
El Jume
amp
ON PG
Sum
Villa Ojo de Agua 4 6
5 A
iental
3
Route n°
Puna
C. Or
National
SNAB
PDLC Sierras Pampeanas
SM Area of Fig. 1B
29°45´
1
PR 2
CS
LE
LEGEND
Recent cover
Sandstone and conglomerate (undifferentiated)
SP
Pozo Grande basalts
Other porphyries and aplites
EC Cerro Baritina aplites
Puesto de Los Caminos miarolitic monzogranites
Mylonitic deformation belts
0 10 20km Dacite - Rhyolite (Cerro de Los Burros porphyry)
Granite - Granodiorite (undifferentiated)
Low grade metasediments
N To Jasimampa and Villa Quebrachos C

LEGEND
Area of Fig. 3 Ja-35
Ja-32
29°18´40´´ Sample number
Ja-34 Recent cover
Ja-29
Andesite dike
Ja-54 Ja-32
Ja-30 Ja-33 Pervasively altered
Ja-25 Belgrano
Granite
Ja-26 Moderately altered

Ja-28
Incipiently altered
Ja-57
63°36´35´´
Ja-31 Fresh
Ja-55 Ja-56
0 1 km Marble
FIG. 1. A. Locations of REE (Th) deposits in geologic provinces of central and northwestern Argentina. The shaded out-
lined pattern represents the main outcrop blocks of the Oriental and Occidental Sierras Pampeanas. Also shown are the Puna
“high plateau,” and the Cordillera Oriental ranges. REE (Th) deposits and occurrences are as follows (inset figure): 1 = Jasi-
mampa, 2 = Rodeo de los Molles, 3 = Rangel, 4 = Santa Julia, 5 = Fundición, and 6 = Hornillos. The Sierra Norte-Ambar-
gasta batholith (SNAB) is located in the easternmost block of the Oriental Sierras Pampeanas. B. Geologic map of the Sierra
Norte-Ambargasta ranges simplified after Lucero Michaut (1979), Lira et al. (1997), Miró (1998), Candiani et al. (1999), and
Elortegui Palacios (2002). The undifferentiated granite-granodiorite pattern includes several granitoid plutons and facies that
span the duration of precollisional to postcollisonal geotectonic regimes (see text for details). The Puesto de los Caminos epi-
zonal miarolitic monzogranites (PDLC, Lira et al., 1997; Millone et al., 2003) as well as the Pozo Grande (PG, Koukharsky
et al., 2001) alkaline olivine-basalts are indicated at their type localities. Other rock types referenced within the text and in
Figure 2 are indicated in the map as follows: ON = Oncán rhyolite porphyry (Rapela et al., 1991), PR = Puesto de Rojas mus-
covite-bearing monzogranite, LE = La Estancia rapakivi granite, and CS = Calasuya alkali-feldspar granite (after Elortegui
Palacios, 2002), at their type localities. EC indicates the location of the El Cerro Famatinian peraluminous intrusion (Baldo
et al., 1998, see Figure 2). The trace of the main deformation belts is also indicated: SP = Sauce Punco (Martino et al., 1999)
and SM = Sumampa (Miró et al., 1999). The two rectangles of the upper left extend for about 75 km north-south, enclosing
a cluster of 11 epithermal manganese mining districts that include more than 100 claims (Millone et al., 1994). C. Box indi-
cates area of detailed mapping and sampling shown in Figure 3.
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generations of calcite and ankerite, the following minerals Gondwana, resulting in crustal thickening and high grade re-
were reported by Minera TEA in the mineralized marbles, gional metamorphism (Rapela et al., 1998).
breccias, and altered granite: pyrite, marcasite, chalcopyrite, Sierra de Sumampa is one of several mountain ranges in the
galena, sphalerite, hematite, “limonite”, quartz, pyrolusite, easternmost block of the Oriental Sierras Pampeanas (Fig.
tremolite-actinolite, chlorite, and U-minerals of probable sec- 1B) that are cored by calc-alkaline granitoid intrusions of the
ondary origin. Neither the Na-alteration nor the REE-miner- Sierra Norte-Ambargasta batholith which extends over 8,000
alization was identified at the time. Most shafts are no longer km2 (Lucero Michaut, 1969; Bonalumi, 1988; Lira et al.,
accessible and subsequent work included only very brief geo- 1996, 1997; Millone et al., 2003; Millone, 2004). Crystalliza-
logic descriptions (Quartino and Quartino, 1996). tion ages of the intrusive sequence are shown in Figure 2.
These granitoids are overlain discordantly by relics of conti-
Recent work nental sandstones and conglomerates, such as the Upper Pro-
The present study is based on 195 samples of granite, terozoic to Lower Cambrian El Escondido Formation, upper
comendite, and marble. Samples were analyzed by transmit- Paleozoic La Puerta Formation, and Cretaceous Cerro Col-
ted and reflected light petrography and X-ray diffraction orado Formation. Two episodes of basaltic magmatism re-
(Rigaku-DII-Max) in the Center for Investigation of Clay lated to Late Carboniferous and Late Permian to Early Trias-
Minerals, with a Philips 515 scanning electron microscope sic extensional events are represented by the Pozo Grande
equipped with an energy dispersive analysis system (PV 9900) alkaline olivine-basalts (Koukharsky et al., 2001). Tertiary to
at the University Nacional del Comahue, and by electron mi- Recent alluvial sediments and soils complete the regional
croprobe analyses at Washington State University. REE were stratigraphy (Fig. 1B).
analyzed using natural apatite and monazite standards with Several ductile shear belts have affected the granitoid units.
careful attention to peak/background ratios and wavelength The two most important are the dextral-transcurrent Sauce
interference. Microthermometric measurements on fluid in- Punco belt, developed parallel to the magmatic arc (Martino
clusions in quartz and albite were obtained with normal and et al., 1999; Martino, 2003), and the Sumampa belt, affecting
infrared light from doubly polished sections (~80–100 µm the eastern flank of the Sierras de Sumampa for 90 km (Miró
thick) using Chaixmeca and Fluid Inc. cooling-heating stages et al., 1999) (Fig. 1B). Both comprise mylonitic rocks formed
at the Fluid Inclusion Laboratory of the Center for Develop- by compressive deformation in the latest stages of the Pam-
ment of Nuclear Technological (CDTN, Belo Horizonte). For pean orogeny (Cambrian) (Martino et al., 1999; Miró et al.,
calibration of the Fluid Inc. and Chaixmeca stages, synthetic 1999; Martino, 2003).
standards from Bubbles Inc. were used. Composition of
volatile phases in fluid inclusions was identified by Raman mi- The Jasimampa LREE Prospect: Geology and
crospectroscopy at the Physics Institute of the Federal Uni- Whole-Rock Geochemistry
versity of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte (UFMG-FAPEMIG- Jasimampa occurs in the northwest flank of Sierra de
FINEP). Thirty-three samples of least-altered protoliths and Sumampa (Fig. 1B). The metamorphic host rocks (612 ± 20
various altered and mineralized samples were analyzed for Ma) include marble, amphibolite, gneiss, schist, and quartzite
major and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) that crop out as pendants in the intrusions (Lucero Michaut,
and ICP-mass spectrometry (MS), respectively, at Activation 1979, and references therein). Granitoids of Sierra de
Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs), Canada. A K-Ar radiometric age Sumampa range in age from 515 ± 4 Ma (U/Pb on zircons
for a granite sample also was provided by Actlabs. The K con- from monzogranite: Sims et al., 1998) to 450 ± 20 Ma (whole-
centration and the Ar analyses were determined by ICP and rock K/A: Quartino et al., 1978; Castellote, 1985).
isotope dilution noble gas mass spectrometry, respectively. The Jasimampa area consists mainly of a granite pluton ex-
posed sporadically over approximately 15 km2 (Fig. 1C) and
Regional Geologic Setting cut by minor aplite, andesite, and recently discovered alkaline
The Pampean Ranges (Sierras Pampeanas) consist of a dikes. The petrography of the granite is described in the Ap-
number of mountain blocks that emerge from the plains pendix. Exploration by Minera TEA (1968) exposed the con-
(known as “Pampas”) in central and northwestern Argentina tact between marble and granite; some of the best outcrops
(Fig.1A), including the provinces of San Luis, Córdoba, San- that show a clear intrusive contact are at sampling points Ja-
tiago del Estero, La Rioja, Catamarca, San Juan, Tucumán, 47 and Ja-50 (Fig. 3).
and Salta. The Pampean Ranges have been divided into East- Chemical analyses of least-altered Jasimampa igneous rocks
ern and Western or Northwestern Sierras Pampeanas, mainly are presented in Table 1 along with representative composi-
based on their lithologic and age differences (Caminos, 1979; tions of granitoids from the Sierra Norte-Ambargasta Ranges.
Ramos, 1999). The Eastern Sierras Pampeanas are largely Major element compositions of Jasimampa igneous rocks in-
characterized by Precambrian to Cambrian metasedimentary dicate that they are calc-alkaline and slightly peraluminous
rocks (Gordillo and Lencinas, 1979) that have been intruded (Fig. 4A, B), and they plot in the granite field of the alkali ver-
by large granitoid batholiths that range in age from Precam- sus silica diagram of Middlemost (1994) (Fig. 4C). As in the
brian to Carboniferous (Rapela et al., 1998; Sims et al., 1998; Sierra Norte-Ambargasta batholith granodiorite-monzogran-
Millone et al., 2003). The Pampean orogeny developed dur- ite unit, Jasimampa granite at Ja-55 has lower concentrations
ing eastward subduction of the Pampean terrane under the of Si, and higher Ti, Al, Mg, Ca, Fe, P, and Zr than the most
western margin of the Gondwana supercontinent (Rapela et evolved miarolitic monzogranite of the Sierra Norte-Ambar-
al., 1998; Leal et al., 2003). The formation of the magmatic gasta Ranges. Although the total alkalies of sample Ja-55 are
arc was followed by collision of the Pampean terrane against comparable to the granodiorite-monzogranite unit, Ja-55 has
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Cretaceous 100
Extensional epithermal
Pozo Nuevo Mn-Ba mineralization
Jurassic RDLM
200
Triassic
Permian Pozo Extensional alkaline

Grande basalt intrusions
300
Carboniferous
DME
ACHALIAN magmatism
Devonian REE-Nb
Jasimampa AD Extensional magmatism-
400 mineralization
Silurian El Cerro FAMATINIAN
Ordovician Cerro Baritina S-Type intrusives
Sumampa 500
Cambrian PAMPEAN
PDLC Fm. MAGMATIC ARC
I-Type granitoids
Neoproterozoic GMDR Series
600
Magmatism Mineralization
FIG. 2. Major magmatic and mineralizing episodes in the Sierra Norte-Ambargasta and Sumampa ranges. Data are shown
for granodiorite-monzogranite (GM) and dacite-rhyolite series (DR), as well as Puestos de los Caminos highly evolved mi-
arolitic monzogranites (PDLC), and Cerro Baritina aplites (Rapela et al., 1998; Söllner et al., 2000; Millone et al., 2003; Mil-
lone, 2004), Sumampa granite (Castellote, 1985; Sims et al., 1998; this paper), El Cerro peraluminous granite (Baldo et al.,
1998), Jasimampa alkaline dikes and REE-Nb mineralization (this paper), the “Devonian metallogenetic epoch” (DME)
temporally and spatially related to the Achalian magmatism (mesothermal Lode Au, high level Ag-Pb-Zn and W veins, Skir-
row et al., 2000), Pozo Grande basalts (Koukharsky et al., 2001), Rodeo de los Molles REE-Th deposit (Lira et al., 1999b),
epithermal Mn-Ba vein deposits (Brodtkorb and Etcheverry, 2000).
29°18´40´´ To Villa Quebrachos Ja-19

Ja-18 LEGEND
Ja-47 Ja-48
Ja-17 Ja-40
Sample number
Ja-14
Main shafts
N Ja-43
Ja-45 Ja-51 Ja-16 Recent cover
Ja-50
Ja-44
Ja-46
Ja-15 Main breccia zone
Ja-52
Heterolithologic breccias
Ja-49
Ja-39 Monolithologic breccias
400
Ja-13
Alkaline dikes
Ja-21 Ja-40
Ja-12 Ja-42
Altered granite outcrops
Ja-36/37
Ja-5
Ja-11 Altered marble outcrops
Ja-20
Ja-38
Ja-4
Unexposed marble
Ja-53
Ja-10 N
Ja-22 Ja-41 N=18 (P)
Ja-9 Ja-7
Ja-3
Ja-2
Ja-8
Ja-1 0 100 m
Route n°93
Ja-6
415
63°39´3.13´´ Orientations of aegirine veins

FIG. 3. Map of the western sector of the Jasimampa district showing sample locations, geology, and alteration in the old
mining works and outcrops on the road to Villa Quebrachos (modified from Minera TEA, 1968). Topographic contours are
shown (5 m intervals). The lower hemisphere stereonet plot shows the orientation of aegirine veins (poles).
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FeOtotal
A) B)
6
Al2O3/K2O + Na2O (molar)

I-type S-type
5
Tholeiitic
4 Metaluminous Peraluminous
50 50
3
GM GM
2 Ja-54, Ja-30, Ja-55 SN 26
Calc-alkaline
SN 20 Ja-55
1 PDLC Ja-54
Ja-30
Peralkaline
PDLC
0.2 0.6 1 1.4 1.8 Na2O + K2O 50 MgO
Al2O3 / CaO + K2O + Na2O (molar)
C) D)
104 Jasimampa granites
14 Ja-54
Ja-30
12 PDLC Ja-55
103
Sample/Chondrite
Na2O + K2O (wt %)
Quartz SNAB
10 Monzonite GM, SNAB
PDCL, SNAB
8
102 SN 20 and 26
6
SN 20 and 26
4 GM Granite 10
SNAB CB, SNAB
2 Granodiorite
Tm
Sm
Nd
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
La
100
Er
Pr
40 50 60 70 80
SiO2 (wt %)
E) 103 F)
104 Jasimampa granites
Syn-collisional Within-plate Ja-54
Ja-55 Ja-30
Ja-30 PDLC, SNAB Ja-55
103
Sample/Chondrite
2
10 Ja-54
Rb (ppm)
GM, SNAB
SN 20 and 26 2
10
10 Volcanic arc
10
Ocean
ridge
1 1
Sm
Nb
Nd
Rb
Ba
Th
Ce
La
Zr
10 1000
Y
K
100
Y + Nb (ppm)
FIG. 4. Chemical characterization of least-altered Jasimampa granitoids (samples Ja-30, Ja-54 and Ja-55) A. Plot of alu-
minum saturation. B. AFM diagram where the boundary line is from Irvine and Baragar (1971). C. Total alkali-silica classi-
fication (Middlemost, 1994). D. Bulk-rock REE concentrations normalized to chondrite abundances (Boynton, 1989). E. Ge-
otectonic discriminatory diagram from Pearce et al. (1984) for the Jasimampa granite rocks. F. Chondrite-normalized trace
element diagram showing their deep negative Nb anomalies. Representative analyses of the Sierra Norte Ambargasta
(SNAB) granodiorite-monzogranite unit (GM), late collisional Puesto de Rojas granite (SN 20 and 26), the miarolitic mon-
zogranite (PDLC = Puesto de los Caminos epizonal miarolitic monzogranites), and Cerro Baritina aplites (CB) are shown
for comparison (data from Lira et al, 1997; Millone et al., 2003; Elortegui Palacios, 2000).
a higher K/Na ratio. Sample Ja-54 has a composition that is late collisional granites such as the Puesto de Rojas granite
similar to the most evolved miarolitic monzogranite (Puesto (samples Sn 20 and SN 26, Fig. 4B, C, D and E; Elortegui
de los Caminos epizonal miarolitic monzogranites), except Palacios, 2002), there are some striking geochemical differ-
for its higher Ca, Ba, Sr, and lower Rb contents. The compo- ences, especially their higher Mg and Ba and, to a lesser ex-
sition of sample Ja-30 is intermediate between that of the tent, Sr, in the range of 71 to 76 wt percent SiO2, probably re-
granodiorite-monzogranite and Puesto de los Caminos epi- flecting different compositions of biotite and plagioclase.
zonal miarolitic monzogranite units, with a high K/Na ratio, Their depletion in Th and Ta (Ja-54) and Nb (Ja-30) also dif-
like Ja-55. When Jasimampa granites are compared to typical fers from late-collisional granites.
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Whole-rock REE analyses (Table 1) normalized to chon- Caminos epizonal miarolitic monzogranites, but their HREE
drite abundances (Boynton, 1989) are shown in Figure 4D. contents are markedly depleted compared to all Sierra Norte-
The LREE concentrations of Jasimampa granite Ja-55 are Ambargasta facies, and Ja-54 lacks the significant negative Eu
similar to that of the least evolved facies of the Sierra Norte- anomaly present in all granitoid rocks from the Sierra Norte-
Ambargasta Ranges (granodiorite-monzogranite), although Ambargasta Ranges. If these are primary characteristics, then
slightly enriched in Nd and Sm, whereas the HREE (heavy the parental magmas of Jasimampa granites are different
rare earth elements) slope fits the trace of the evolved units from the granite at Ja-55 and from the Sierra Norte-Ambar-
of the Puesto de los Caminos epizonal miarolitic monzogran- gasta Ranges granitoids. Granite represented by samples Ja-
ites. Granite samples Ja-30 and Ja-54 have LREE contents 30 and Ja-54 could have formed by melting of a mantle source
between granodiorite-monzogranite and Puesto de los with residual garnet or other melt type or by assimilation of
TABLE 1. Whole-Rock Major and Trace Element Compositions of Representative Granite and Comendite Samples from Jasimampa
Jasimampa (this study) Sierra Norte-Ambargasta
Granite Comendite GM PDLC CB Puesto de Rojas

Sample no. Ja-55 Ja-30 Ja-54 Ja-3 Ja-36a 2078 2099 2147 2020 2100 2266 2061 SN 20 SN 26
(Wt %)
SiO2 71.45 73.29 76.20 68.62 68.15 71.20 63.40 70.40 75.60 77.10 76.10 76.60 75.58 72.66
TiO2 0.32 0.22 0.13 0.09 0.10 0.37 0.78 0.46 0.09 0.09 0.07 0.07 0.15 0.32
Al2O3 14.19 13.17 12.92 16.23 16.46 14.10 15.30 13.10 12.80 12.20 12.50 12.70 13.01 12.64
Fe2O3 2.62 1.30 1.54 1.81 2.34 2.67 6.49 3.52 1.37 1.14 0.78 0.80 1.62 2.46
MnO 0.07 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.06 0.09 0.13 0.08 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.06 0.06
MgO 0.67 0.34 0.29 0.05 0.06 0.67 2.11 1.02 0.11 0.11 0.09 0.09 0.23 0.59
CaO 1.46 0.94 1.48 1.00 0.46 2.48 4.50 2.32 0.45 0.21 0.50 0.32 1.33 1.32
Na2O 2.71 1.92 3.06 6.10 6.57 3.75 3.22 3.27 3.78 3.39 3.13 3.12 3.70 3.78
K2O 5.96 6.98 4.51 5.21 5.10 3.33 2.74 3.38 4.82 4.58 4.75 5.54 3.85 3.82
P2O5 0.09 0.07 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.11 0.17 0.13 0.05 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.05 0.09
LOI 0.74 0.51 0.60 1.20 0.76 0.95 1.20 1.85 0.85 1.15 1.10 0.80 0.36 1.34
Total 100.26 98.77 100.81 100.42 100.10 99.72 100.04 99.53 99.96 100.05 99.05 100.10 99.92 99.08
(Ppm)
Zn 48 <30 <30 45 <30 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Ga 16 11 11 28 26 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Rb 251 162 100 170 113 111 106 135 223 159 210 210 220 221
Sr 141 173 137 115 86 235 237 150 26 48 62 21 77 85
Y 42 15 7 8 7 28 38 48 46 20 38 61 43 41
Zr 223 142 100 469 426 220 266 225 99 94 87 66 135 195
Nb 12 4 18 137 164 18 34 26 27 22 12 18 13 16
Cs 13 3 2 <0.5 <0.5 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Ba 881 1490 1040 365 281 990 640 856 100 657 351 48 310 252
Hf 7 4 3 10 9 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 4 6
Ta 2 1 0.2 8 8 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1 2
Tl 1 1 0.2 0.3 0.2 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Pb 36 28 6 77 12 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
Th n.a. n.a. 7 7 8 14 7 12 25 17 20 18 17 19
U n.a. n.a. 1 9 7 2 6 <2 3 2 2 4 3 4
La 67.18 48.29 38.52 33.61 41.50 66.70 32.10 51.10 20.60 23.20 21.40 12.00 25.14 38.74
Ce 130.29 81.44 70.98 56.79 70.96 128.00 69.00 109.00 42.60 48.10 49.90 31.70 49.11 78.56
Pr 12.32 8.09 6.79 5.51 6.00 11.20 7.10 9.40 5.10 4.80 4.90 3.30 5.87 8.96
Nd 50.73 28.48 24.82 20.01 18.03 39.40 29.90 34.40 21.40 18.80 19.60 14.10 23.04 35.05
Sm 9.71 4.71 3.54 2.88 2.64 6.70 6.40 5.80 6.30 4.10 4.70 3.90 5.76 7.40
Eu 1.14 0.73 0.86 0.94 0.90 1.27 1.37 1.21 0.22 0.71 0.65 0.45 0.79 0.80
Gd 7.77 3.53 2.08 2.09 1.74 6.30 6.50 5.30 6.90 4.20 5.10 4.10 5.82 6.61
Tb 1.31 0.56 0.28 0.29 0.21 0.90 1.10 0.80 1.40 0.80 1.00 0.90 1.16 1.18
Dy 7.31 2.89 1.48 1.53 1.34 4.50 5.60 3.70 7.90 4.30 5.30 5.10 7.20 7.26
Ho 1.37 0.57 0.26 0.31 0.28 1.07 1.44 0.85 2.11 1.09 1.41 1.46 1.49 1.48
Er 4.34 1.65 0.77 0.85 0.91 2.50 3.20 1.90 5.20 2.70 3.50 3.80 4.33 4.11
Tm 0.68 0.23 0.11 0.13 0.14 0.50 0.60 0.40 1.00 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.69 0.64
Yb 4.45 1.51 0.82 0.98 1.28 2.90 3.70 2.20 6.70 3.30 4.30 5.30 4.30 4.08
Lu 0.71 0.26 0.12 0.14 0.23 0.46 0.61 0.36 1.06 0.57 0.75 0.93 0.62 0.57
TREE 299.30 182.93 151.45 126.06 146.17 272.40 168.62 226.42 128.49 117.27 123.21 87.84 135.32 195.44
Major and trace element analyses of Jasimampa granite and comendite were by ICP and ICP-MS, respectively, at Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs), Canada;
compositions of the GM series (granodiorite, monzogranite, dacite, and rhyolite), late collisional Puesto de Rojas granite, Puesto de los Caminos Formation
(PDLC monzogranites) and Cerro Baritina Formation (CB aplites) from Sierra Norte-Ambargasta are shown for comparison (Lira et al., 1997; Elortegui Pala-
cios, 2002); formation names are after Millone et al. (2003)
n.a. = not analyzed
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 739

the wall rocks. It is also possible, and more likely, that the considerable amount of zircon could be of xenocrystic origin
granitoid REEs have been modified by hydrothermal (N. McNaughton, pers. commun., 2004), this classification
processes. As I-type granitoids, the Jasimampa granites have also should be considered carefully. Based on FeOt/Al2O3
large negative Nb anomalies on a chondrite-normalized trace (MacDonald, 1975), these porphyries would be considered
element diagram (Fig. 4F). In this diagram the low Y content comendite (Ja-3) and comenditic trachyte (Ja-36a).
of granite samples Ja-54 and Ja-30 is also notable. These rocks have a high concentration of the HFSE, in-
Sample Ja-54 yielded a K-Ar age of 496 ± 2.9 Ma (Table 2). cluding Ga (26–28 ppm), Nb (137–164 ppm), Zr (426–469
This age, which is much younger than the late-collisional gran- ppm), Ta (7.5–8.2 ppm), Hf (9.3–9.8 ppm), and low concen-
itoids, is similar to the K-Ar age reported for a granite from trations of Sr (86–115 ppm), Ba (281–365 ppm), and Y (7–8
Belgrano (500 ± 20 Ma: Castellote, 1985) and the recently ob- ppm). Zr is normally compatible in melts with more than 67
tained Rb-Sr isochron age of Cerro Baritina aplites (500 ± 5 wt percent SiO2. The late occurrence of zircon, indicated by
Ma: Millone, 2004), considered by the authors to be repre- textural evidence, is typical of alkaline to peralkaline melts in
sentative of the latest intrusions of the Pampean orogeny. which crystallization of zircon is inhibited by the high alkalies
(Collins et al., 1982; Watson and Harrison, 1983). Although
Dikes not all zircon is of primary origin, the SiO2/Zr ratios suggest a
Alkaline dikes in 11 outcrops were identified as intrusive chemical affinity with A-type granites (Chapell et al., 2000),
into biotite-granite (Ja-20, Ja-36a, Ja-36b, Ja-42) and marble which is also supported by their high Ga content (Collins et
(Ja-3, Ja-7a, Ja-12, Ja-16b, Ja-18c, Ja-46). Clasts of alkaline al., 1982; Whalen et al., 1987). Total REE concentrations vary
dikes also are widespread in breccias (Ja-7b, Ja-8, Ja-20, Ja- from 120 to 150 ppm, of which about 90 wt percent are
38, Ja-39, Ja-52b) (Fig. 3). The alkaline dikes are 0.4 to 0.8 m LREE (La/Sm = 11.7–15.7), probably controlled by the pres-
thick, strike north 230°, and have near-vertical dips. They are ence of apatite and/or monazite that occur as accessory
reddish pink in color with characteristic conchoidal fracture phases. REE concentrations normalized to chondrite (Boyn-
and jointing that produces polygonal blocks (Poklepovic et al., ton, 1984, 1989) show a positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* =
2002). Petrographic descriptions of the dikes are provided in 1.17–1.28; Fig. 5A), although this ratio could have been mod-
the Appendix. ified by metasomatic processes. Enrichment in Yb and Lu,
All identified porphyry dikes are, to some extent, affected with a positive Yb anomaly (Yb/Yb* = 1.09; Fig. 5A), could be
by Na metasomatism. Two of the least-altered samples (Ja-3 due to the abundance of zircon.
and Ja-36a; Table 1) are characterized by high SiO2, Na2O, The classification scheme of Whalen et al. (1987),
K2O and FeOt/MgO ratios (>32), and low CaO, TiO2, MnO, K2O+Na2O/CaO versus Zr + Nb + Ce + Y, and the ratio 1,000
and P2O5, which are all typical of highly evolved felsic melts. Ga/Al versus Zr + Nb + Ce + Y used by Eby (1990) confirm
The agpaitic index (A.I. = Na2O + K2O/Al2O3 mol %) is close the A-type character of these dikes (Fig. 5B, C). Eby (1990)
to unity (0.96–0.99) and indicates a peralkaline affinity. Based used the Y/Nb ratio as indicative of the magma source and es-
on SiO2 – Na2O + K2O ratios (Irvine and Baragar 1971), these tablished that values below 1.2 characterize rocks derived
dikes plot within the alkaline field, with total alkalies up to from fractionation of oceanic island basalts (OIB, mantle-re-
11.7 wt percent. In other classification schemes (i.e., Cox et lated) emplaced during intraplate extension and commonly
al., 1979; De la Roche et al., 1980; Le Maitre, 1989), these associated with voluminous mafic magmatism. This geotec-
rocks range from rhyolite to quartz trachyte to trachyte. tonic signature also is indicated by the Y-Nb-3Ga and Y-Nb-
Owing to the variable degrees of metasomatism that affected Ce triangular plots of Eby (1992; Fig. 5D, E).
these rocks, their positions in discrimination diagrams need to The comendite dike (Ja-3) contains relatively equant sub-
be viewed with caution. For example, the Nb/Y ratio, which is hedral to euhedral zircons, mostly <100 µm in length, that
an excellent indicator of alkalinity, is >10, well beyond the were used by N. McNaughton for age determination. Twenty
boundaries of the alkaline field in the Winchester and Floyd ion microprobe U/Pb ages were determined on 19 grains,
(1977) scheme. The Zr/TiO2 ratio classifies these rocks as with the youngest age of ca. 390 Ma representing the maxi-
comendite-pantellerites. However, owing to the fact that a mum emplacement age of the commendite (N. McNaughton,
pers. commun., 2004).
TABLE 2. Biotite K-Ar Age for Jasimampa Granite (ages of other igneous Alteration and Mineralization
rocks from Sierra Norte-Ambargasta shown for comparison)
Alteration in granite, aplite, and comendite
Igneous rock Locality Age (Ma)
Na-Fe-Ca alteration has been recognized in discontinuous
Granite (Ja-54) Jasimampa1 496 ± 2.9 outcrops within an area of 15 km2 (Franchini et al., 2002; Fig.
Granodiorite-monzogranite unit Sierra Norte2 627 ± 27
Puesto de Los Caminos monzogranites Sierra Norte2 523.5 ± 4.4
1C). Granitoids have green + red, red + black or light gray +
Cerro Baritina aplites Sierra Norte3 500 ± 5 black + green colors and show varying degrees of hydrother-
Granite Belgrano4 500 ± 20 mal alteration with the development of secondary albite, ae-
Monzogranite Ojo de Agua5 515 ± 4 girine, calcite, hematite, apatite, and minor arfvedsonite,
monazite, and locally pyrochlore-group minerals and white
1
This study mica. The alteration is associated with numerous fractures
2
Millone et al.(2003)
3
Millone (2004)
crosscutting the granite, although their structural and spatial
4
Castellote (1985) relationship to surrounding granitoids is obscured by recent
5
Candiani et al. (1999) sediment cover and vegetation.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 740

4 4
A) 10 B) 10
3 3
10 10
Sample/Chondrite
K2O+Na2O/CaO
2
A-Type
10 2
10
10 10 FG
OGT
1 1
1 10 100 1000 10000
Tm
Sm
Nd
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
La
Er
Pr
Zr + Nb + Ce + Y (ppm)
C) 10
Ja-52
5
10000 Ga/Al
A-type Ja-36b
Ja-18
FG Ja-16
Ja-36a
Ja-3
OGT
300 1000 4000

Zr + Nb + Ce + Y (ppm)
Nb Nb
100 E) 100
D)
50 50
Within-plate granite Within-plate granite
Post-orogenic Post-orogenic
100 50 100 50
Y 3Ga Y Ce
FIG. 5. A. Total REE concentrations in alkaline dikes normalized to chondrite (Boynton, 1984, 1989). B. K2O +
Na2O/CaO vs. Zr + Nb + Ce + Y (Whalen et al., 1987). C. 1000 Ga/Al vs. Zr + Nb + Ce + Y (Eby, 1990). D. Y-Nb-3Ga. E.
Y-Nb-Ce triangular plots (Eby, 1992) illustrating trace-element content, classification and geotectonic signature of the Jasi-
mampa porphyry dikes.
Granite and aplite outcrops with incipient alteration (<20% of strike of the main breccia body shown in Figure 3. These veins
the rock volume; Figs. 1C, 6), contain aegirine veins, up to 1 cm have planar walls and aegirine crystals occur perpendicular to
wide, and clots of aegirine + albite with calcite ± monazite. Al- the vein walls; they have albite + aegirine selvages up to 10 cm
bite also occurs as turbid aggregates near veinlets, replacing K- wide that grade outward to granite with very fine veinlets and
feldspar and rimming plagioclase crystals. In these altered zones dissemination of aegirine and albite. Locally, a swarm of sub-
biotite has been replaced by muscovite, plagioclase is cloudy parallel and thin albite + aegirine veinlets with calcite ± opaque
and partially replaced by sericite ± calcite, and quartz is frac- minerals are interconnected with aegirine and albite patches by
tured and shows undulose extinction and locally subgrain devel- hairlike cracks, suggesting brittle behavior (Ja-34, Fig. 6). Other
opment. Where fenitization of granite is more pronounced (>40 textures suggest transient fluid overpressuring and fluctuations
% of the rock volume; Figs. 1C, 3), dissolution of quartz crystals between brittle and ductile behavior (McCuaig and Kerrich,
has occurred near vein walls and there is pervasive replacement 1994; Ja-35, Fig. 6).
of magmatic feldspars. Structural data taken from aegirine veins Granite outcrops with pervasive alteration and veining have
(n = 18) reveals a dominant northwest-southeast strike and partially to completely lost the original igneous textures with
southwest dip with a maximum density striking north ~126º and complete quartz dissolution (Ja-47; Figs. 3, 6). In most cases,
dipping 30º southwest (Fig. 3), which is coincident with the albite that replaces granite is associated with very fine grained
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 741

Ja-30 Ja-25 Ja-28

Kfs
Pl
Ae
Qtz
Ab
Ae
Bt Qtz
Qtz
1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
Ja-34 Ja-35 Ja-47
Ab
Ae Qtz Ae
Ae
Ae
Qtz
1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
Ja-32 Ja-41 Ja-20
Kfs
Ab
Hem
Ab
Ab+Hem+Cal+Ap
1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
FIG. 6. Photographs of different Na-Fe-Ca alteration styles and intensity in granite and comendite. Ja-30: Fresh, medium-
grained granite. Ja-25: Incipient fenitization with an aegirine vein and aegirine + albite clusters. Ja-28: Moderate fenitization
with quartz dissolution near aegirine vein walls and strong albitization of feldspars. Ja-34: Swarm of subparallel and thin al-
bite + aegirine + calcite + opaque veinlets, suggesting brittle behavior. Ja-35: Relict elongated quartz crystals with textures
typical of ductile-brittle pressure fluctuations surrounded by albite + aegirine + calcite meshwork. Ja-47: Pervasive aegirine
+ albite replacement of granite. Ja-32: Relict, patchy K-rich and minor albite feldspars surrounded by calcite + hematite. Ja-
41: Pervasive albite + hematite + calcite + apatite replacement of granite. Ja-20: Pervasive altered comendite dike with al-
bite replacing phenocrysts and groundmass together with oxidized opaque minerals and calcite preserving the original por-
phyritic texture. See reddish cast in samples Ja-41 and Ja-20. Ab = albite; Ae = aegirine, Ap = apatite, Bt = biotite, Cal =
calcite, Hem = hematite, Kfs = K feldspar, Pl = plagioclase, Qtz = quartz (symbols after Kretz, 1983).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 742

to submicroscopic flakes of hematite that give the rock a red- comendite (Fig. 3). The cover of Recent sediment and vege-
dish tint (Ja-20 and Ja-41, Fig. 6). Such dusty hematite pig- tation has limited the recognition of breccia geometry and the
mentation also has been cited as characteristic of perthitic contact relationships with neighboring rocks. The two main
feldspars from the Rodeo de los Molles REE-Th deposit breccia types are monolithologic and heterolithologic.
(Lira and Ripley, 1992) and in several areas of the Sierra Monolithologic breccias: The monolithologic breccias are a
Norte-Ambargasta batholith (Lira et al., 1995; Poklepovic and product of an anastomosing style of fragmentation that pro-
Lira, 2002) of the eastern Sierras Pampeanas ranges. Radiat- duced lensoid or ovoid fragments without significant frag-
ing prismatic aegirine crystals, together with albite and locally ment displacement. Examples of this style of fragmentation
white mica (paragonite?) and traces of arfvedsonite form include Ja-14 and Ja-47 (Fig. 8), in which primary compo-
patches filling vugs, possibly created by the dissolution of nents of granite have been replaced by albite (with local relict
quartz. Likewise, aegirine with subordinate amounts of potassium feldspar cores). Individual fragments are angular,
limonitized hematite, apatite, and traces of monazite fill veins small- to medium-size (0.3–3 cm) and exhibit deformation
up to 10 cm thick with anastomosing and “network” veinlets. microstructures similar to those associated with the granite
Calcite accompanies aegirine and albite in some veins and alteration; all grains are cut by numerous microfractures and
patches and fills late veinlets that cut early alteration. some have been dislocated. The hydrothermal infill consists
In alkaline dikes, albitization occurs as pseudomorphic re- of more than one generation of the assemblage albite + cal-
placement of feldspars and groundmass, preserving the origi- cite + hematite ± apatite with traces of aegirine, arfvedsonite,
nal porphyritic trachytic or equigranular texture (Ja-20; Fig. and monazite. The breccias in Ja-50 have 20 percent clastic
6). Albite occurs in polysynthetic wedge-twinned crystals matrix (rock flour), in addition to hydrothermal infill, but are
ranging in size from 20 m m to 1.5 cm. Aegirine with fibrous still clast supported. In Ja-47, the breccia fragments have
and prismatic habit replaces mafic phenocrysts and ground- been displaced and rotated (Fig. 8). In Ja-1, angular frag-
mass and lines cavities filled with calcite or Fe-oxides (ae- ments of medium- to coarse-grained (1.5–5 cm), radiating, fi-
girine ± albite, with ± calcite ± iron oxides). brous aegirine crystals ± secondary albite with relic igneous
potassium feldspar cores and minor hematite are surrounded
Alteration in marble by a hydrothermal matrix of concentric and fibrous chal-
Where marble outcrops near granite and dike contact, it is cedony bands with a cockade texture (Fig. 8). The centers of
coarse grained and green, bluish green, pink, brown, dark the bands are filled with microcrystalline quartz and calcite
brown, orange-brown, or yellow in color. Marble at contacts aggregates or are outlined by well-terminated quartz and cal-
with fenitized comendite and granite is replaced by strongly cite crystals. This breccia contains less than 30 percent matrix
banded (Ja-15, Ja-47, Ja-48) and mottled (Ja-8, Ja-46; Fig. 3) and is clast supported.
aegirine with hydrothermal carbonates, albite, and apatite or Another variety of monolithologic breccia consists of
disseminated, diamond-shape arfvedsonite crystals. Individ- comendite clasts in a clastic matrix (<0.2 cm) that comprises
ual, centimeter-scale aegirine bands consist of numerous 50 to 60 percent of the breccia volume. Comendite porphyry
anastomosing and coalesced microveinlets overgrown by radi- clasts are very angular, range in size from 0.3 to 5.5 mm, and
ating aegirine prisms, and interstitial albite crystals and car- show strong albite alteration in both phenocrysts and ground-
bonate occur locally within the aegirine network. Aegirine mass. This breccia can occur as fragments within a het-
bands alternate with hydrothermal carbonate layers contain- erolithologic breccia such as Ja-20 (Fig. 8).
ing limonite microveinlets surrounding individual carbonate Heterolithologic breccias: These breccias contain small (<3
crystals and minor amounts of arfvedsonite fibers (Fig. 7). Lo- cm) and poorly sorted fragments of the surrounding rock
cally, clusters of apatite prisms up to 0.6 mm long occur types, with a continuous size gradation between the biggest
within arfvedsonite fibers. fragments and the clastic matrix (<0.2 mm). Breccias with ae-
Primary carbonate grains commonly show evidence of de- girine in the matrix crop out at the contact between altered
formation with secondary twins, bent cleavage, undulose ex- granite and comendite (Ja-38), altered granite, comendite
tinction, and numerous trails of secondary fluid inclusions and marble (Ja-1-2, Ja-7, Ja- 8, Ja-20, Ja-39) and altered
along sealed microfractures. The hydrothermal carbonate comendite and marble (J-52, Fig. 3). These breccias are ma-
grains include manganoan calcite, ferroan dolomite, and trix supported, with 60 to 80 percent vol percent matrix, and
ankerite (Fig. 7). The chemistry of the carbonates is discussed contain subangular to subrounded fragments that range in
below. The occurrence of more than two generations of hy- size from 0.2 to 1.5 cm (most are in the 0.4–0.6 cm range) set
drothermal carbonate is common. Early coarse-grained, an- in a sand- to silt-sized clastic matrix cemented by hydrother-
hedral calcite, dolomite, and ferroan dolomite grains are cut mal minerals. Clasts of comendite porphyry exhibit variable
and rimmed by finer grained manganoan calcite or ankerite degrees of sodic alteration ranging from microcrystalline tab-
crystals; a network of later carbonate microveinlets delineates ular to feathery albite replacement of phenocrysts and
relict grain boundaries. Subordinate amounts of barite-celes- groundmass, to albite replacement of phenocrysts with fine-
tine in irregularly distributed clusters or stringers of tabular grained aegirine or clusters of albite with subordinate ae-
crystals accompany these late carbonates. Late calcite and girine and minor apatite replacement of the groundmass.
quartz (or chalcedony) veinlets cut the above alteration types. Ja-39 contains fragments of replaced marble with cores of
hydrothermal carbonate + albite + monazite and a rim of ar-
Breccias fvedsonite + limonite, in addition to altered comendite and
Several types of breccia have been recognized at the con- granite fragments (Fig. 8). In Ja-38, fragments of fenitized
tact between altered marble and fenitized granite and/or granite (hydrothermal albite ± radiating prismatic crystals of
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 743

Ja-7a Ja-15 Ja-47
Arf
Cal
Ae
1 cm
Ja-8 Ja-48 Ja-46
Ae Arf Hem Cal

Ae Co
Arf Ae
Cal
Arf
Ab
Ae
Hem
Ja-11 Ja-21 Ja-2
Lm
Fe-Mn-Nb oxides
Fe-Nb oxides
Mnz
Lm
Mnz
Fe-Mn-Nb oxides
Mnz
FIG. 7. Photographs of different Na-Fe-Ca alteration styles in marble. Ja-7a: Least altered marble. Ja-15: Banded aegirine
(green)-arfvedsonite (bluish) at fenitized granite contact (upper center, right). Ja-47: Banded aegirine enclosing fenitized
comendite fragments (pinkish, see upper left), all cut by limonite veinlets. Ja-8: Mottled aegirine (green) rimmed by arfved-
sonite (bluish) fibers that also fill veinlets within the marble; fenitized granite fragment in the upper right. Ja-48) Contact be-
tween fenitized granite and altered banded marble. Ja-46: Comendite dike intruding marble; both altered. Ja-11: Hy-
drothermal carbonates + Fe-Nb-Mn oxides and monazite replacements of marble. Ja-21: Hydrothermal carbonates +
Fe-Nb-Mn oxides and monazite replacements of marble. Ja-2: Hydrothermal carbonates + barite with Fe + Nb oxides. See
text for explanation. Ab = albite, Ae = aegirine, Ank =ankerite, Arf = arfvedsonite, Cal = calcite, Co = comendite, Gr = gran-
ite, Hem = hematite, Lm = limonite, Mnz = monazite.
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Ja-14 Ja-47 Ja-1

Chy
Ab Ae
Ab + Cal + Hem + Ap
Ab + Hem + Cal + Ap
Kfs
Chy
Ab
1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
Ja-8 Ja-1-2 Ja-38
Ae Gr
Ae
Fe-oxides + Cal + Mz
Co Ae
Ae Ae
Ab + Cal
Gr
Gr Ae
1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
Ja-39 Gr Ja-5 Ja-20
Fe-Nb oxides + Mz
Arf + Lm Ae
Ae breccia
Cal + Ab + Mz
Co breccia
Ab Ae
Co Gr Cal
1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
FIG. 8. Photographs of different breccia types. Monolithologic breccias (Ja-14) anastomosing fragmentation without frag-
ment displacement; (Ja-47) with fragment displacement and >20 percent matrix; (Ja-1) aegirine, feldspar fragments ce-
mented by chalcedony with remnant void. Heterolithologic breccias (Ja-8, Ja-38, Ja-39, Ja-1-2, and Ja-5) with fragment-de-
rived rock flour replaced by aegirine and carbonates + altered opaques and cut by late carbonate + altered opaques;
fragments are fenitized comendite, granite and marble. Ja-20) Multiple episodes of brecciation, including fragments of
comendite breccia and heterolithologic breccia with aegirine cement cut by calcite. See text for further explanation. Ab = al-
bite, Ae = aegirine, Arf = arfvedsonite, Ap = apatite, Cal = calcite (and hydrothermal carbonates), Chy = chalcedony, Co =
comendite, Gr = granite, Hem = hematite, Kfs = K feldspar, Lm = limonite, Mnz = monazite.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 745

aegirine ± carbonates ± limonite) are similar in abundance to carbonate veinlets or in association with anhedral patches of
comendite fragments with variable sodic alteration (albite ± dark carbonates (iron-rich calcite, ankerite) and hematite ±
aegirine ± opaque minerals ± carbonates; Fig. 8). The matrix apatite ± barite-celestine that cut early albite ± aegirine and
consists of fragment-derived rock flour that has been partially albite alteration. In contrast to altered marble, here monazite
to completely replaced by hydrothermal aegirine. Some brec- is present in trace amounts, but Nb-bearing minerals (py-
cias contain hydrothermal carbonates + opaques irregularly rochlore and ferrocolumbite) are conspicuous in pervasively
distributed as patches within aegirine cement and intercon- fenitized comendite (e.g., Ja-18 and Ja-52, Fig. 3).
nected by very fine aegirine veinlets. Late veins and patches Sulfides have been observed only locally in altered marble
of a second carbonate generation with local limonite or albite (i.e., Ja-2, Ja-20). They consist of sphalerite crystals with in-
+ calcite cut the breccias. clusions of pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite, minor pyrite,
In Ja-20 the breccia mainly consists of angular clasts, up to and traces of galena. All carbonate generations have been
5 cm in diameter, of heterolithologic breccia with aegirine subject to intense supergene alteration with replacement by
matrix and subordinate, 0.3 to 2 cm, clasts of the monolitho- goethite (Fig. 7). Likewise, some monazite crystals near
logic comendite breccia with calcite cement (Fig. 8). The hematite are rimmed by goethite. Clusters of acicular and
presence of fragments of multiple breccia types within brec- granular pyrolusite aggregates probably replaced Mn-carbon-
cias is clear evidence of multiple episodes of brecciation. ates or Mn-oxides that are no longer present.
Mineralization Mineral Chemistry
The mineralization at Jasimampa consists of LREE- and
subordinate Nb-bearing minerals accompanied by iron and Pyroxene
manganese oxides with only local sulfides. The LREE-bear- Pyroxene in veins exhibits optical and compositional zona-
ing minerals are hosted mainly by altered marble. tion, with the crystals in the vein margins enriched in Fe com-
Specular hematite (up to 1.8 mm basal plates) is conspicu- pared to the crystals in the center of the veins (Table 3). In
ous locally in granite with pervasive albitization (such as Ja- the Q-J diagram, where Q = Ca + Mg + Fe2+ and J = 2 Na
43, Ja-47, and Ja-51; Fig. 3) and associated with multiple cations (Fig. 10A), most analyses crystals plot in the field of
brecciation (Ja-14 and Ja-50; Figs. 3, 8). Hematite occurs in Na-rich pyroxene, except one sample from the fenitized gran-
stringers, clusters, veinlets, and as the hydrothermal infill in ite and another from the monolithologic breccia that plot in
breccias, accompanied by carbonates ± apatite and minor to the Ca-Na field. In the (Wo-En-Fs)-Jd-Ae diagram (Fig.
trace monazite, all with hydrothermal albite. Hematite com- 10B), most pyroxene plots in the aegirine field, except those
monly cuts early albite that has replaced granite and coarser- from the fenitized granite and monolithologic breccia sam-
grained hydrothermal carbonate that has replaced marble. In ples that plot in the aegirine-augite field. Overall, pyroxene
altered marble, Fe-oxides include (1) scarce, euhedral and compositions range from 70 to 92 mol percent aegirine, a
coarser (up to 0.7 mm) hematite crystals disseminated in the range that is inferred to reflect variation in the activity of Fe
hydrothermal carbonates (this hematite is mainly replaced by and Na in the hydrothermal fluid rather than the composition
limonite), (2) idiomorphic, fine hematite crystals (0.01–0.1 of the protolith.
mm) in association with REE in interstices between hy-
drothermal carbonates and filling veinlets and stringers that Albite
cut carbonate, and (3) fine hematite plates that fill late vein- Hydrothermal albite in turbid aggregates, chessboard-
lets and locally rim early Fe-oxides. twinned patches, untwinned crystals infilling stringers and
Identified LREE- and Nb-minerals include monazite, py- clear crystals filling cavities range from Ab97 to Ab99 (Table 4)
rochlore, strontiopyrochlore, ferrocolumbite, and apatite. and are similar for all textural occurrences in fenitized ig-
Most are very fine (0.6 mm) to extremely fine grained (0.02 neous rocks. Feldspar compositions from samples of banded
mm), late-stage minerals. Monazite is the most abundant and mottled aegirine in marble and feldspar fragments from
LREE-mineral and is widespread in altered marble. It gener- monolithologic and heterolithologic breccias are similar in
ally shows a close spatial association with fine, euhedral composition to albite in fenitized granitoids (Ab98 to Ab99;
hematite crystals, apatite, and minerals of the barite-celestine Table 4). These narrow ranges, corresponding to almost pure
series. It occurs in clusters and irregular stringers of pris- albite, suggest that fluid composition (Na activity) and not the
matic, euhedral, fine-grained crystals (0.05–0.7 mm diam) in- protolith composition was the most important control on the
terstitial to hydrothermal carbonates (Fig. 9) and with calcite, composition of hydrothermal feldspar.
filling microveinlets that cut early hydrothermal carbonates.
Many crystals are replaced by a yellow to light-green, Amphibole
pleochroic mineral optically similar to chlorite (Fig. 9). Lo- Amphibole is rare in the alteration assemblage but occurs
cally, very fine grained, idiomorphic pyrochlore, strontiopy- locally intergrown with or close to aegirine. Representative
rochlore, and ferrocolumbite are associated with monazite compositions of amphibole from fenitized granite, mottled
(Ja-13, Ja-15, Ja-17). The distribution and texture of these aegirine + amphibole, and disseminated amphibole in marble
minerals suggest that LREE- and Nb-mineralization oc- are presented in Table 5. The amphiboles with NaB > 1.50,
curred late in the cycle of carbonate alteration. (Na + K)A > 0.5, and Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) between 0.6 and 0.9
In fenitized granite, comendite, and breccias, monazite is correspond to magnesio-arfvedsonite (Leake et al., 1997). In
present as individual idiomorphic crystals or as aggregates of addition, most have high F. The Mg in the amphibole is
2 to 3 crystals ranging in size from 10 to 20 m m, filling late thought to have been derived from breakdown of biotite.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 746

A B
Hem
Mnz
Mnz
Cal
Cal
Mnz
Hem
Hem
Mnz
12.5 µm 12.5 µm
C Mnz D
Brt
Mnz Chl
Chl
Chl
Hem
12.5 µm Hem 12.5 µm

FIG. 9. Photomicrographs showing stringers and clusters of monazite crystals in close spatial association with fine-grained
hematite and barite-celestine, all interstitial to hydrothermal carbonates and early iron oxides. A. Monazite crystals with cal-
cite and hematite. B. Monazite crystals with calcite. C. Monazite crystals rimmed by limonite or replaced by a yellow to light-
green, pleochroic mineral optically similar to chlorite. D. Intergrown barite-celestine and chlorite associated with monazite.
Brt = barite, Cal = calcite (and hydrothermal carbonates), Chl = chlorite, Hem = hematite, Mnz = monazite.
Q
A) B) (Wo, En, Fs)
2.0
Breccias
Banded marble
Quad
Quad Mottled marble
1.5 Rodeo de Los Molles Fenitized granite
Q(Ca+Mg+Fe2+)
pyroxene
Rodeo de Los Molles

1.0 Ca-Na 50 pyroxene 50
Aegirine-augite
0.5 Omphacite
Na Jadeite Aegirine
0 (Jd) (Ae)
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Na AlSi2O6 Na Fe3+Si2O6
J (2Na)
FIG. 10. Composition of pyroxene from Jasimampa. A. Q-J diagram, where Q = Ca + Mg + Fe2+ and J = 2Na. B. (Wol-
lastonite-enstatite-ferrosilite)-jadeite-aegirine diagram. Field of Rodeo de Los Molles pyroxene is shown for comparison
(based on 10 analyses from Lira and Ripley, 1992).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 747

TABLE 3. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Na-rich Pyroxene from Different Alteration Styles in the Jasimampa District 748
Sample Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9a2 Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9b Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-15 Ja-15 Ja-8b Ja-8b Ja-1a Ja-1a Ja-1a Ja-1a Ja-20 Ja-20 Ja-20
Banded Mottled Heterolithologic

Host Altered granite marble marble Monolithologic breccia breccia
Vein Vein Vein Vein Vein

Comment Lath Lath Lath Lath center center center margin margin Vein Fragments Matrix
Wt %
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
SiO2 52.18 53.08 52.66 52.01 52.34 52.71 52.41 52.38 52.72 52.31 51.70 51.41 52.19 51.78 53.27 53.61 53.74 54.08 56.01 53.82 52.23 43.82 49.33
TiO2 1.43 2.28 0.67 1.93 1.91 2.18 2.06 0.73 0.08 0.67 2.19 2.95 2.44 3.14 0.98 0.79 1.44 1.50 1.41 1.64 2.98 1.53 0.41
Al2O3 0.67 0.29 0.68 0.34 1.82 0.82 0.74 0.43 0.20 0.41 0.45 0.38 0.66 1.45 0.23 0.29 0.90 0.94 0.52 1.33 0.81 2.74 1.33
CaO 0.79 1.37 1.28 0.55 0.88 0.72 0.71 2.86 0.61 0.68 0.11 0.21 0.08 0.37 0.90 1.08 0.26 0.27 0.39 0.13 0.48 0.34 0.90
MgO 1.06 1.34 1.05 1.04 1.32 1.23 1.19 1.12 0.40 0.59 0.76 1.09 0.53 0.62 0.77 0.94 0.48 0.47 0.50 0.30 0.86 0.43 0.65
Fe2O3 1 26.84 24.77 27.50 26.58 25.28 25.68 24.92 28.36 30.57 28.05 26.61 25.79 28.83 25.50 31.60 28.61 30.33 27.86 25.66 27.22 26.10 26.06 26.73
MnO 0.11 0.44 0.19 0.12 0.32 0.35 0.42 0.85 0.10 0.21 0.15 0.35 0.05 0.04 0.34 0.26 0.02 0.03 0.25 0.07 0.11 0.02 0.05
K2O 0.01 0.01 n.d. 0.03 0.11 n.d. 0.01 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. 0.03 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. 0.10 0.01
Na2O 12.65 12.20 12.01 12.79 11.06 12.34 12.34 11.78 12.71 12.81 12.63 12.42 12.86 13.12 12.80 12.38 13.18 13.16 10.97 13.12 12.47 10.16 14.01
P2O5 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.02 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d.
F n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.02 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Cl n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. 0.02 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Total 95.74 95.79 96.05 95.40 95.04 96.03 94.85 98.53 97.40 95.74 94.61 94.63 97.65 96.02 100.9 97.97 100.3 98.30 95.72 97.62 96.04 85.20 93.43
Cations based on 6 oxygens

Si 2.05 2.07 2.06 2.05 2.05 2.05 2.07 2.02 2.05 2.06 2.05 2.04 2.02 2.02 2.01 2.06 2.02 2.06 2.15 2.06 2.04 1.95 2.27
Al 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.08 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.07
Ti oct 0.04 0.07 0.02 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.07 0.09 0.07 0.09 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.09 0.05 0.01
748
Fe3+ 0.75 0.64 0.72 0.75 0.55 0.66 0.66 0.77 0.84 0.79 0.71 0.68 0.76 0.70 0.85 0.74 0.79 0.72 0.40 0.69 0.77 0.83 0.31
Fe2+ 2 0.06 0.14 0.14 0.06 0.29 0.14 0.12 0.07 0.09 0.06 0.12 0.13 0.12 0.07 0.07 0.13 0.10 0.12 0.51 0.14 0.06 0.19 0.00
Mg 0.06 0.08 0.06 0.06 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.05 0.06 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.03 0.04
FRANCHINI ET AL.
Mn 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ca 0.03 0.06 0.05 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.12 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.04
Na 0.96 0.92 0.91 0.98 0.84 0.93 0.94 0.88 0.96 0.98 0.97 0.95 0.96 0.99 0.94 0.92 0.96 0.97 0.82 0.97 0.94 0.87 1.25
K 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
Total 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
Wo-En-Fs3 7.55 12.86 12.07 6.90 19.29 11.32 10.57 12.68 6.63 5.82 8.01 9.76 7.48 5.96 7.61 11.17 6.85 7.50 25.25 7.49 6.23 11.95 3.43
Jadeite 3.67 1.79 3.65 1.91 10.62 4.79 4.45 2.17 1.02 2.19 2.64 2.31 3.53 8.17 1.11 1.57 4.47 5.13 4.10 7.38 4.37 5.41 18.25
Aegirine 88.78 85.35 84.28 91.19 70.09 83.89 84.99 85.16 92.35 91.99 89.35 87.94 88.99 85.87 91.29 87.26 88.68 87.37 70.65 85.13 89.40 82.64 78.31
n.d. = not detected

2 3
1 All iron as Fe O ; the structural formula was recalculated assuming that the cation sum is 4 on the basis of 6 oxygens (Morimoto et al., 1988)
2
Fe2+ was calculated from the charge balance of the structural formula
3
Wo = wollastonite, En = enstatite, Fs = ferrosilite
TABLE 4. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Hydrothermal Feldspar from Different Alteration Styles in the Jasimampa District
Sample no. Ja-9a Ja-9a Ja-9b Ja-9b Ja-9b Ja-14b Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-15 Ja-15 Ja-15 Ja-8b Ja-8b Ja-1a Ja-1a Ja-1a Ja-1a Ja-20 Ja-20
Heterolithologic
Host Fenitized granite Banded marble Mottled marble Monolithologic breccia breccia
Untwinned Wide Narrow Clear Clear

Comment Patches Stringer Twin Twin Turbid Stringer Crystals Twinned Core Rim Euhedral Clast Clast Clast Clast Clast Clast
(Wt %)
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
SiO2 69.17 69.19 67.77 67.37 68.15 65.35 66.27 68.33 66.90 67.32 68.10 68.74 68.40 70.06 70.21 70.41 69.90 67.03 64.76
TiO2 0.01 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d. 0.06 n.d. 0.11
Al2O3 19.62 19.34 19.58 19.50 20.05 20.61 18.91 19.28 19.31 19.31 19.78 19.28 19.10 19.41 19.36 19.77 19.92 18.96 18.12
CaO 0.04 n.d. 0.22 0.10 0.30 0.07 0.02 0.32 0.09 n.d. 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 n.d. 0.01 0.02 n.d. 0.05
MgO 0.01 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 0.01 n.d. 0.01 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.02
FeO 0.05 0.14 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.17 0.28 n.d. 0.10 n.d. 0.16 0.13 0.33 n.d. 0.09 0.04 0.01 0.65 2.87
MnO n.d. 0.02 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.02 0.06 n.d. 0.03 n.d. 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01 n.d. 0.01
K2O 0.14 0.19 0.14 0.12 0.20 0.14 0.33 0.07 0.15 0.16 0.33 0.19 0.22 0.16 0.04 0.17 0.15 0.28 0.14
Na2O 11.29 10.75 11.51 10.93 11.23 11.26 10.98 11.24 11.09 11.43 9.18 11.98 11.59 11.79 11.90 11.58 12.02 11.24 11.23
Totals 100.3 99.63 99.25 98.02 99.92 97.63 96.84 99.24 97.68 98.24 97.59 100.3 99.71 101.5 101.6 102.0 102.1 98.16 97.30

Si 12.02 12.08 11.94 11.98 11.91 11.72 11.97 12.01 11.96 11.97 12.07 11.99 12.00 12.05 12.06 12.04 11.97 11.96 11.77
Al 4.02 3.98 4.07 4.09 4.13 4.36 4.03 4.00 4.07 4.05 4.13 3.96 3.95 3.94 3.92 3.98 4.02 3.99 3.88
Ti 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01
Fe3+ 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.39
Mg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01
Mn 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
749
Ca 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.01 0.00 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01
Na 3.80 3.64 3.93 3.77 3.81 3.92 3.84 3.83 3.84 3.94 3.16 4.05 3.94 3.93 3.96 3.84 3.99 3.89 3.96
K 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.08 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.08 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.01 0.04 0.03 0.06 0.03
Orthoclase 0.80 1.18 0.76 0.69 1.14 0.80 1.92 0.41 0.85 0.92 2.34 1.01 1.24 0.91 0.20 0.96 0.80 1.59 0.81
Albite 99.02 98.82 98.19 98.83 97.42 98.85 98.01 98.05 98.71 99.08 97.54 98.89 98.60 99.01 99.80 98.99 99.11 98.40 98.95
Anorthite 0.18 0.00 1.06 0.48 1.45 0.35 0.08 1.54 0.44 0.00 0.11 0.10 0.16 0.08 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.01 0.24
n.d. = not detected

ALTERATION AND LREE (Th-Nb) IN MARBLE & GRANITOIDS, SIERRA DE SUMAMPA, ARGENTINA
749
TABLE 5. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Hydrothermal Amphibole There is very little difference in their chondrite-normalized
from the Fenitized Granite and Marble in the Jasimampa District REE concentrations, which are characterized by a steep
Sample no. Ja-9a2 Ja-9a2 Ja-8a Ja-8a Ja-8a LREE-enriched pattern (discussed below; Fig. 11A). La2O3
and Ce2O3 concentrations vary by up to 5 and 3 wt percent,
Alteration Fenitized granite Mottled marble respectively, whereas the variation of other LREE is much
smaller. Cerium is the dominant REE in all monazite crystals,
(Wt %)
SiO2 55.79 54.69 55.99 55.16 56.33
with La/Ce and Nd/Ce between 0.50 and 0.76, and 0.24 and
TiO2 0.24 0.60 0.23 0.26 0.58 0.31, respectively (Table 7). Thus, they can be classed as mon-
Al2O3 0.07 0.09 0.40 0.61 1.28 azite-(Ce), based on the nomenclature of Bayliss and Levin-
CaO 0.87 0.47 0.45 0.50 0.38 son (1988). In addition to the REE, the analyzed monazite
MgO 14.76 14.53 13.77 12.72 16.17 contains up to 3.2 wt percent ThO2 through the substitutions
Fe2O3 11.83 14.83 15.50 16.97 12.65
MnO 1.50 1.49 0.71 0.26 0.41 Th4++Si4+ « REE3+ + P5+ and Th4+ + Ca2+ « 2REE2+ (Rapp
K2O 2.04 2.14 1.48 1.41 2.85 and Watson, 1986).
Na2O 8.47 9.01 8.38 7.86 6.95 Apatite from fenitized granite is fluorapatite (3.1–4.9 wt %
P2O5 n.d. 0.05 n.d. n.d. n.d. F) with low hydroxide and chlorine contents. Total REE ox-
F n.d. 3.00 n.d. 2.61 2.77
Cl n.d. 0.01 n.d. 0.02 0.01
ides in apatite vary from 0.46 to 3.54 wt percent, increasing
Total 95.56 99.65 96.90 97.27 99.22 from crystal core to rim (see Ja-18; Table 9; Fig. 12B). These
REE values are high considering that the apatites do not be-
Cations based on 23 oxygens long to the monazite-rich paragenetic stage (altered marbles).
Si 8.01 7.81 8.01 8.01 7.89 They are typically enriched in the LREE, with more Ce than
Al 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.11
T site 8.01 7.82 8.01 8.01 8.00 La in all crystals. Figure 13A shows chondrite-normalized
REE concentrations in apatite, characterized by a steep
Al 0.01 0.00 0.07 0.10 0.10 LREE-enriched pattern (discussed below). In the Mn versus
Fe3+ 1.16 0.00 1.20 0.00 0.00
Ti 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.06
Mg 3.15 2.99 2.93 2.75 3.31
Fe2+ 0.27 1.77 0.65 2.06 1.48 A) 106
Mn 0.18 0.18 0.09 0.03 0.05
C site 4.78 5.00 4.96 4.98 5.00
10
5
Jasimampa
Mg 0.11 0.07
Monazite/chondrite
Na 1.87 1.82 1.93 1.92 1.87 4

10
Ca 0.13 0.07 0.07 0.08 0.06
B site 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 3
10
Na 0.49 0.68 0.40 0.29 0.02 Bayan Obo
K 0.38 0.39 0.27 0.26 0.51 10
2
A 0.87 1.07 0.67 0.55 0.53

Total 14.79 15.90 15.64 15.54 15.55
Mg/(Mg + Fe2+) 0.92 0.63 0.82 0.58 0.69 10
Structural formulas were calculated after normalizing to 23 O and when 1

possible, empirical Fe2+ was estimated (Leake et al., 1997); La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy (Y)
n.d. = not detected
B)
9 Bayan Obo monazites:
Because least-altered marble is Mg-free, availability of hy- a- in disseminated, banded ores
8
drothermal Mg may have been the limiting factor in amphi- and veins
7 b- in fluorite stage
bole formation.
6
La/Nd (cn)
Carbonates Monazite from

5
Carbonates in altered marble have a range of colors that re- Jasimampa
4
flect chemical variations. According to microprobe analyses
(Table 6), pink carbonates are manganoan calcite and 3
b a
manganoan ankerite, yellow carbonates correspond to 2
ankerite whereas more brownish and turbid carbonates are 1
ferroan calcite and Mn-rich calcite. Carbonate filling veinlets
0
in fenitized granite is calcite. 70 75 80 85 90
REE- bearing minerals (La + Ce + Pr)/ REEtotal (atomic %)
REE-bearing minerals include monazite (Table 7), py- FIG. 11. A. Chondrite-normalized plot of monazite compositions from
Jasimampa. B. Chondrite-normalized La/Nd vs. (La+Ce+Pr)/REEtotal (at. %)
rochlore, strontiopyrochlore, ferrocolumbite (Table 8), and ap- diagram of monazites from Jasimampa. For comparison, data from Bayan
atite (Table 9). All studied monazites come from the altered Obo monazites (shaded fields from Smith et al., 1999, 2000) are shown in
marble and probably formed during a similar paragenetic stage. both diagrams. Chondrite values are from Boynton (1989).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 750

TABLE 6. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Hydrothermal Carbonates from Altered Marble and Fenitized Granite Veinlet in the Jasimampa District
Sample no. Ja-2 Ja-2 Ja-2 Ja-2 Ja-2 Ja-6 Ja-6 Ja-6 Ja-15 Ja-14b
Host Altered marble Fenitized granite
Manganoan Manganoan Mn-rich Manganoan Ferroan

Comment Ankerite ankerite calcite Calcite Calcite calcite Ankerite ankerite calcite Calcite
(Wt %)
SiO2 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.47 n.d. 0.17 0.76
TiO2 0.01 n.d. 0.03 n.d. 0.04 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Al2O3 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.06 n.d. n.d. 1.07
CaO 28.39 29.18 57.57 56.35 56.36 58.61 48.61 26.79 56.57 53.50
MgO 12.40 12.50 0.17 0.05 0.10 0.06 0.28 10.97 0.51 0.08
FeO 10.16 6.17 0.47 0.41 0.37 0.00 17.65 11.55 3.80 0.10
MnO 4.58 7.74 5.22 1.50 1.61 2.59 1.43 4.33 0.56 1.17
K2O n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.32
Na2O n.d. 0.03 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.03 0.03 0.01
F n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.04 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Total 55.54 55.61 63.47 58.32 58.48 61.30 68.49 53.66 61.64 57.00
Si 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.02
Al 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ti oct 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Fe2+ 0.28 0.17 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.42 0.33 0.10 0.00
Mg 0.60 0.60 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.56 0.02 0.00
Mn 0.13 0.21 0.13 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.03 0.13 0.01 0.03
Ca 0.99 1.01 1.85 1.95 1.94 1.93 1.50 0.98 1.85 1.84
Total 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.98 2.00 1.99 1.90
n.d. = not detected
TABLE 7. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Monazite in the Jasimampa District
Sample no. Ja-2b Ja-6 Ja-6 Ja-6 Ja-8a Ja-11 Ja-11 Ja-12 Ja-12 Ja-13 Ja-13 Ja-13 Ja-13
Host Altered marble
(Wt %)
CaO 0.06 0.17 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.16 0.07 0.16 0.25 0.06 0.09 0.11
Y2O3 0.06 0.05 0.31 0.25 0.28 0.18 0.12 0.13 0.16 0.05 0.04 0.06 n.d.
La2O3 22.75 21.53 24.20 24.43 21.99 19.35 20.10 18.58 18.03 22.84 16.87 21.51 21.77
Ce2O3 33.89 34.77 33.03 33.31 33.56 34.48 35.09 33.37 34.08 32.16 34.47 33.56 34.25
Pr2O3 2.93 2.80 2.92 2.57 3.11 3.16 3.35 3.22 2.99 2.69 3.54 3.24 3.07
Nd2O3 8.71 8.99 8.61 8.56 9.17 10.99 10.67 10.49 10.74 9.25 10.71 9.73 9.44
Sm2O3 0.71 0.51 0.74 0.61 0.88 0.92 0.95 1.07 1.14 0.63 0.91 0.53 0.60
Gd2O3 0.21 0.36 0.33 0.30 0.49 0.46 0.40 0.56 0.48 0.06 0.26 0.23 0.12
Al2O3 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
FeO 0.03 0.07 n.d. 0.02 0.03 n.d. 0.06 n.d. 0.02 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.03
MnO 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.04
MgO 0.03 0.03 n.d. 0.02 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.03
TiO2 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.02 0.02 n.d. 0.03 n.d. 0.01 n.d. n.d. 0.01 n.d.
SiO2 0.05 0.17 0.15 0.10 0.21 0.13 0.19 0.52 0.42 0.13 0.64 0.33 0.19
ThO2 0.67 0.33 0.45 0.59 0.80 0.54 0.34 2.20 2.60 0.95 3.20 1.56 1.01
P2O5 28.84 29.24 29.98 29.66 28.97 28.51 28.47 28.40 29.02 28.87 28.56 29.17 29.28
F n.d. 0.35 0.53 0.35 0.39 0.17 0.25 0.06 0.16 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.04
F=O n.d. 0.15 0.22 0.15 0.17 0.07 0.10 0.02 0.07 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.02
Total 98.96 99.27 101.18 100.80 99.92 99.03 100.11 98.66 99.97 97.90 99.31 100.04 99.96
Ca 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
Y 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
La 0.34 0.31 0.35 0.35 0.32 0.29 0.30 0.28 0.26 0.34 0.25 0.31 0.32
Ce 0.50 0.50 0.47 0.48 0.49 0.51 0.51 0.49 0.49 0.47 0.51 0.49 0.50
Pr 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.04
Nd 0.12 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.13 0.16 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.13 0.15 0.14 0.13
Sm 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Gd 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Th 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.01
Si 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.01
P 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.97 0.97 0.96 0.97 0.97 0.99 0.97 0.98 0.98
F 0.00 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
n.d. = not detected
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 751

TABLE 8. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Ferrocolumbite, Sr diagram of Hogarth (1989), Jasimampa apatites cluster in
Pyrochlore and Strontiopyrochlore in the Jasimampa District the carbonatite field (Fig. 13B). Two analyses of apatite indi-
Sample no. Ja-13 Ja-13 Ja-13 cate higher Sr than the rest (discussed below).
Ferrocolumbite Pyrochlore Strontiopyrochlore Alteration Geochemistry

(Wt %) Major and minor element distribution
Na2O 0.06 0.03 7.28 7.09 2.44 2.28
CaO 0.86 1.05 15.30 15.54 4.50 4.63 Whole-rock and trace-element analyses of strongly altered
Nb2O5 53.88 53.78 71.12 70.42 66.65 67.26 comendite, granite and marble are compared to least altered
TiO2 4.41 4.48 1.27 1.26 0.90 1.17
SiO2 3.05 3.11 0.12 0.24 0.37 0.32
samples in Table 10. All major and trace elements were mo-
SrO 0.13 0.19 1.99 1.64 15.57 15.23 bile during the alteration of these rocks. For example, during
FeO 27.34 27.01 0.11 0.14 1.09 1.54 albite + aegirine + calcite and albite + hematite + apatite al-
MnO 0.56 0.71 0.01 0.02 0.07 n.d. teration of granite (Ja-35-3, Ja-40, Ja-50), Fe, Na, Ca, P, Ti,
F 0.22 n.d. 6.54 7.46 3.58 3.68
Total 90.43 90.37 100.98 100.67 93.65 94.56
and Mn increased, whereas Si and K were lost. This is consis-
tent with the observed quartz dissolution and progressive re-
n.d. = not detected placement of K-feldspar by albite and aegirine. Most trace el-
TABLE 9. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Apatite in the Jasimampa District
Sample no. Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-18 Ja-9 Ja-9a2 Ja-9a2
Host Fenitized granite

Comment Core Core Rim Rim Core Rim Rim Core Rim
(Wt %)
Na2O 0.03 0.28 0.02 0.70 0.69 0.02 0.66 0.69 0.74 0.10 0.27
SiO2 0.30 0.42 0.16 0.03 0.08 0.26 0.06 0.04 0.07 0.12 0.04
P2O5 41.72 41.42 43.20 42.09 42.09 42.48 41.02 40.91 40.40 41.78 41.21
Al2O3 0.01 n.d. 0.01 0.01 n.d. n.d. 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
CaO 54.51 52.32 55.73 51.45 51.95 55.50 52.89 52.49 49.93 54.39 53.40
MgO 0.01 0.03 0.03 n.d. 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 n.d. 0.02
MnO 0.11 0.08 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.07 0.12 0.08 0.04 0.08
1
FeO 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.16 0.03 0.06 n.d.
TiO2 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.01 0.01 n.d. 0.02 0.02 n.d. n.d.
SrO 0.42 0.59 0.51 0.83 0.74 n.a. 0.72 n.a. n.a. 1.61 1.53
La2O3 0.12 0.20 0.10 0.37 0.37 0.16 0.34 0.32 0.72 0.03 0.28
Ce2O3 0.37 0.73 0.23 1.19 1.17 0.32 0.79 1.29 1.40 0.17 0.65
Pr2O3 0.13 0.11 n.d. 0.11 0.20 n.d. 0.08 0.17 0.24 n.d. 0.08
Nd2O3 0.09 0.36 0.07 0.85 0.89 0.10 0.88 0.79 0.63 0.13 0.32
Sm2O3 0.07 0.12 0.13 0.18 0.19 0.07 0.23 0.22 0.19 0.11 0.12
Gd2O3 0.06 0.09 n.d. 0.18 0.17 n.d. 0.20 0.14 0.20 0.03 0.02
Y2O3 0.07 0.15 0.02 0.25 0.20 0.02 0.41 0.29 0.16 0.01 n.d.
ThO2 n.d. 0.02 n.d. n.d. 0.26 0.01 n.d. 0.05 n.d. n.d. 0.01
H2O 0.09 0.02 0.34 0.10 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.10 n.d.
F 3.55 3.66 3.12 3.49 3.73 4.87 4.33 4.18 4.14 3.52 3.74
F=O 1.49 1.54 1.31 1.47 1.57 2.05 1.82 1.76 1.74 1.48 1.57
Total 100.20 99.11 102.47 100.50 101.35 101.96 100.93 100.16 97.22 100.72 100.20
Total REE2O3 0.92 1.75 0.55 3.13 3.19 0.68 2.94 3.23 3.54 0.46 1.47
Na 0.01 0.09 0.01 0.22 0.22 0.00 0.21 0.22 0.24 0.03 0.09
Si 0.05 0.07 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01
P 5.74 5.76 5.82 5.83 5.78 5.68 5.66 5.68 5.76 5.74 5.71
Ca 9.49 9.21 9.50 9.02 9.04 9.40 9.24 9.23 9.01 9.46 9.37
Fe3+ 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.00
Mn 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01
Mg 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00
Sr 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.08 0.07 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.15
La 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.00 0.02
Ce 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.07 0.07 0.02 0.05 0.08 0.09 0.01 0.04
Pr 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01
Nd 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.01 0.02
Sm 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Gd 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00
Y 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.04 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00
Th 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
F 1.83 1.90 1.57 1.81 1.92 2.44 2.24 2.17 2.20 1.81 1.94
Total 15.30 15.18 15.36 15.26 15.25 15.13 15.30 15.34 15.23 15.27 15.28
1 = total FeO as Fe2O3; n.d. = not detected; n.a. = not analyzed
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 752

A) Ferrocolumbite B) Apatite
Core: SrO: 0.51%,
total REE-oxides: 0.55 %
Rim: SrO: 0.83%,

Strontiopyrochlore total REE-oxides: 3.13 %
Pyrochlore 10 µm 375 µm
FIG. 12. A. Backscattered electron images of small crystals of ferrocolumbite and a zoned crystal with pyrochlore core and
strontiopyrochlore rim (sample Ja-13). B. Zoned apatite crystal with higher REE and Sr content in the rim than in the core
resulting from reaction with hydrothermal fluid (sample Ja-18, fenitized granite, see Table 9).
ements such as Zr, Th, U, and Nb show progressive enrich- levels of Sr (up to 10%), Ba (up to 3%), and locally Zn en-
ment with increasing albitization. richment due to the presence of sphalerite. Thorium concen-
During alteration of marble Si, Na, Fe, Mn, Al, and P in- trations correlate with the abundance of monazite and also
creased. Trace elements in banded aegirine-arfvedsonite al- with Sr enrichment (barite-celestine). Minera TEA (1968)
teration show an increase of Th and Nb, high and erratic demonstrated that Mn and Fe as well as Zn (up to 9 wt %),
A) 106 B) 1.0
Granite
10
5 Bayan Obo pegmatite Jasimampa
Apatite/chondrite
4
10 0.1 b
Mn (wt.%)
a
3
10 Phosphorite Carbonatite
102 Jasimampa 0.01 Skarn
10 Bayan Obo apatites:

a- Types 1 and 4
1 0.001 b- Types 2 and 3
La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy(Y) 0.001 0.01 0.1 1.0 10
Sr (wt.%)
C) D)
Bayan Obo apatites: Bayan Obo apatites:
0.16 a- Types 1, and 4 1.4 a- Types 1, 3, and 4
Na + REE (a.p.f.u)
b- Types 2 and 3 b- Type 2
0.12 3 1.2
Sr (a.p.f.u.)
2 b
0.08 0.8
b
Jasimampa
0.04 0.4 Jasimampa
a
a
0
7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5
Ca (a.p.f.u.) Ca (a.p.f.u.)
FIG. 13. Apatite composition from fenitized granite. A. Chondrite-normalized REE diagram. B. Mn vs. Sr diagram. C. Sr
vs. Ca diagram. D. Na + REE vs. Ca diagram. For comparison, data from Bayan Obo apatites collected from the Main and
East orebodies (shaded fields: Campbell and Henderson, 1997) are shown in all diagrams: type 1 = tiny discrete grains with-
out zonation in banded ore; type 2 = large masses associated with REE minerals in banded ore; type 3 = in veins that cut the
banded ore, with aegirine and REE minerals; type 4 = coarse-grained associated with late stage fluorite. Chondrite values
from Boynton (1989). a.p.f.u = atoms per formula unit.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 753

TABLE 10. Whole-Rock and Trace Element Analyses of Altered Comendite, Granite,
Sample Ja-3 Ja-16 Ja-52 Ja-18 Ja-36b Ja-30 Ja-54 Ja-35-3 Ja-40 Ja-50 Ja-44 Ja-32 Ja-38
Comendite Granite Breccia

Least-
altered Altered Fresh Altered
(Wt %)
SiO2 68.62 57.95 63.44 60.89 63.28 73.29 76.20 74.92 58.56 58.41 61.72 56.59 61.00
Al2O3 16.23 15.81 17.85 16.80 17.02 13.17 12.92 9.36 13.74 16.59 16.98 12.90 14.27
Fe2O3 1.81 3.38 1.83 6.65 1.14 1.30 1.54 2.40 4.65 8.28 0.73 2.10 8.00
MnO 0.06 0.20 0.29 0.04 0.20 0.025 0.03 0.08 0.41 0.13 0.12 0.14 0.25
MgO 0.05 0.09 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.34 0.29 0.09 0.69 0.08 0.07 0.03 0.15
CaO 1.00 6.54 2.69 0.34 2.25 0.94 1.48 2.53 5.77 3.14 3.79 9.31 2.54
Na2O 6.10 9.50 10.55 4.75 1.11 1.92 3.06 3.34 8.03 9.53 4.69 1.93 11.00
K2O 5.21 0.12 0.06 7.90 13.58 6.98 4.51 3.60 2.63 0.18 7.73 8.47 0.16
TiO2 0.09 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.222 0.13 0.29 0.33 0.47 0.10 0.06 0.30
P2O5 0.04 0.32 0.02 0.13 0.09 0.07 0.04 0.12 0.16 0.74 0.03 0.02 0.05
LOI 1.20 5.60 2.82 2.64 2.24 0.51 0.60 2.17 5.35 2.58 3.22 7.38 2.38
Total 100.4 99.6 99.6 100.2 101.0 98.8 100.8 98.9 100.3 100.1 99.2 98.9 100.1
(Ppm)
V <5 34 28 18 15 26 9 34 28 95 8 20 120
Ni <20 <20 <20 <20 <20 <20 30 <20 <20 <20 <20 <20 <20
Cu 47 15 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 24 15 <10 11 <10
Zn 45 101 30 284 <30 <30 <30 <30 170 174 105 33 40
Ga 28 24 37 30 17 11 11 13 21 25 18 11 24
Ge 1 1 1 <1 <1 2 <1 2 1 1 <1 <1 2
As <5 11 16 18 6 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Rb 170 <2 <2 175 254 162 100 94 57 6 119 226 2
Sr 115 582 219 603 165 173 137 53 731 426 368 45 159
Y 8 14 7 3 3 15 7 62 19 67 6 5 8
Zr 469 62 216 39 24 142 100 251 137 306 52 15 136
Nb 137 138 1320 1700 644 4 18 22 91 175 11 5 256
Mo 6 12 9 85 9 <2 <2 <2 10 9 3 <2 108
Sn 3 3 <1 <1 <1 1 <1 7 4 21 2 12 16
Ba 365 1,580 182 534 1,400 1,490 1,040 636 802 703 844 769 203
Hf 10 2 3 1 0.4 4 3 7 4 7 2 1 7
Ta 8 4 13 31 13 1 0.2 0.3 1 0.5 0.2 <0.1 4
W 2 <1 2 5 2 <1 <1 1 <1 3 <1 1 <1
Pb 77 7 17 17 11 28 6 28 24 67 20 53 19
Th 7 17 43 8 12 n.a. 7 n.a. 17 41 n.a. n.a. 4
U 9 3 22 45 11 n.a. 1 n.a. 2 2 n.a. n.a. 6
La 34 287 536 75 224 48 39 95 776 511 24 4 83

Ce 57 439 881 112 333 81 71 172 1,030 857 42 6 123
Pr 6 37 74 9 28 8 7 19 75 83 5 1 11
Nd 20 116 217 27 87 28 25 70 204 275 16 4 34
Sm 3 13 22 3 8 5 4 11 20 34 2 1 4
Eu 1 3 6 1 2 1 1 3 5 11 1 0.3 1
Gd 2 4 8 1 2 4 2 11 5 30 2 1 2
Tb 0.3 0.5 1 0.1 0.2 1 0.3 2 1 3 0.2 0.1 0.2
Dy 2 3 2 1 1 3 1 10 5 15 1 1 2
Ho 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 1 0.3 2 1 2 0.2 0.2 0.3
Er 1 1 1 0.4 0.3 2 1 6 2 6 1 0.4 1
Tm 0.1 0.2 0.1 <0.05 <0.05 0.2 0.1 1 0.3 1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Yb 1 2 1 0.4 0.3 2 1 4 2 3 0.4 0.4 1
Lu 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 <0.04 0.26 0.12 1 0.30 0.34 0.08 0.07 0.1
TREE 126 907 1,750 228 686 183 151 408 2,126 1,829 94 19 261
TREE % 0.01 0.09 0.17 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.21 0.18 0.01 0.00 0.03
REE2O3,wt % 0.03 0.21 0.41 0.05 0.16 0.04 0.04 0.10 0.50 0.43 0.02 0.00 0.06
Cu (up to 0.06 wt %), and Ag + Au (up to 44 ppm) are higher altered granite with albite + aegirine + calcite (Ja-40) and
in samples from underground than in surface samples. hematite + calcite + apatite (Ja-50) alteration have high total
REE contents (2,126 and 1,828 ppm, respectively), more
Rare earth element distribution than an order of magnitude higher than least-altered granite
The bulk REE patterns of altered and fresh granite, comen- in the area (151 ppm; sample Ja 54). Altered granite samples
dite, breccia, and marble are shown in Figure 14. Pervasively have La concentrations up to 776 times chondrite, with La/Lu
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 754

and Marble Compared to Least-Altered Samples in the Jasimampa District
Sample Ja- 7a Ja -15 Ja- 8(3) Ja -51 JA- 1c Ja-3 Ja-7b Ja-11c Ja-12b Ja-13b Ja-16 Ja-17 Ja-21 Ja-43 Ja-53
Marble
Least- Dissem-
altered Banded Mottled inated Hydrothermal carbonates
(Wt %)
SiO2 0.18 18.42 7.18 4.52 5.45 5.47 3.00 4.03 4.70 1.68 13.46 3.94 2.50 0.96 8.22
Al2O3 0.03 2.30 0.20 0.17 0.11 0.30 0.41 0.22 0.53 0.27 0.25 0.17 0.84 0.13 0.14
Fe2O3 0.45 9.68 3.06 4.71 10.35 10.85 12.54 11.75 10.66 16.19 10.56 4.72 5.86 7.86 10.47
MnO 1.18 1.71 2.05 4.31 2.89 3.57 0.80 3.94 0.91 4.57 9.90 2.21 2.23 4.31 2.27
MgO 0.12 0.27 1.11 0.49 0.09 1.07 0.09 0.43 <0.01 1.31 0.32 0.04 0.85 0.89 6.02
CaO 54.41 34.59 46.73 45.17 41.16 38.13 37.75 37.62 14.01 34.49 31.65 47.15 45.31 45.73 32.45
Na2O <0.01 3.51 1.14 0.33 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.03 0.02 0.05 <0.01 <0.01 0.07 <0.01 0.03
K2O 0.01 0.07 0.14 0.06 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.03 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.04
TiO2 <0.001 0.24 0.05 0.61 <0.001 <0.001 0.01 0.09 0.16 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.01 <0.001 0.00
P2O5 0.02 0.55 0.13 0.90 0.03 1.18 3.22 2.29 8.35 0.93 0.38 0.24 0.77 0.19 0.80
LOI 43.07 27.50 37.06 36.34 34.26 32.91 31.48 31.81 12.30 31.06 27.02 37.16 37.76 38.20 34.38
Total 99.5 98.8 98.8 97.6 94.3 93.5 89.3 92.2 51.5 90.7 93.5 95.6 96.2 98.3 94.8
(Ppm)
V <5 93 11 59 21 291 131 326 78 67 206 79 11 <5 77
Ni <20 21 <20 24 27 <20 27 <20 <20 250 <20 <20 25 <20 <20
Cu 33 46 23 26 38 21 19 24 <10 25 24 24 37 18 13
Zn <30 313 55 208 138 201 137 113 63 108 816 98 285 482 144
Ga <1 10 8 4 25 35 113 79 185 42 38 24 26 6 26
Ge <1 2 1 1 4 5 18 15 65 7 5 3 4 <1 4
As <5 <5 6 21 64 167 154 174 286 55 323 25 16 414 48
Rb <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 2 <2 5 <2 <2 5 <2 <2
Sr 3580 4810 2880 3900 820 1550 1300 1290 105000 2670 1010 799 10300 3590 1030
Y 95 76 102 238 41 73 162 203 395 57 63 72 93 39 77
Zr <5 114 51 64 <5 <5 8 8 26 15 6 17 21 <5 7
Nb 33 1720 29 394 38 24 27 282 202 169 25 72 56 19 53
Mo <2 74 5 63 103 92 51 18 60 26 76 43 3 2 87
Sn <1 17 1 1 <1 3 5 3 5 4 <1 1 5 <1 3
Ba 1,510 1,500 3,880 1,060 13,500 4,920 232 3,970 17,600 28,700 9,840 15,100 465 418 4,970
Hf 0.3 5 1 3 0.5 1 1 1 3 1 0.5 1 1 <0.2 1
Ta <0.1 4 <0.1 1 0.2 <0.1 <0.1 1 1 0.4 <0.1 0.3 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1
W <1 2 <1 <1 56 2 <1 2 2 2 4 26 <1 <1 <1
Pb 7 50 20 18 25 50 59 41 120 27 12 18 24 11 15
Th 6 25 41 7 242 465 1370 823 4390 428 119 130 99 30 279
U <0.1 11 0.3 4 3 5 3 5 3 7 69 4 1 1 3
La 84 778 1,530 316 4,680 8,370 19,800 10,300 45,100 4,120 5,540 3,900 2,590 1,090 5,470
Ce 152 1,150 2,160 750 6,120 11,200 30,400 18,200 72,500 7,500 7,490 5,560 5,220 1,690 7,560
Pr 19 102 213 102 574 1,090 2,910 2,130 7,290 842 676 542 621 163 787
Nd 91 354 610 430 1,630 3,180 9,700 7,510 25,200 2,650 1,750 1,520 2,050 453 2,160
Sm 29 45 54 101 122 255 834 810 2,690 227 120 115 201 59 174
Eu 12 12 12 29 25 53 176 177 602 43 22 24 46 14 37
Gd 36 27 27 82 40 93 322 341 894 83 34 47 96 28 73
Tb 6 4 4 13 3 6 21 20 34 5 3 4 8 2 5
Dy 29 19 17 54 11 20 60 53 149 15 13 16 25 8 18
Ho 4 3 4 11 1 2 6 6 18 2 2 3 4 2 3
Er 8 8 13 28 4 6 15 14 35 6 7 9 10 5 8
Tm 1 1 2 4 0.4 1 1 1 2 0.5 1 1 1 1 1
Yb 4 9 15 25 2 4 7 8 9 3 5 7 6 4 4
Lu 0.4 1 2 3 0.3 0.5 1 1 1 0.4 1 1 1 1 0.5
TREE 476 2,513 4,663 1,948 13,213 24,281 64,252 39,571 154,525 15,497 15,663 11,748 10,878 3,518 16,299
TREE % 0.05 0.25 0.47 0.19 1.32 2.43 6.43 3.96 15.45 1.55 1.57 1.17 1.09 0.35 1.63
REE2O3,wt % 0.11 0.59 1.09 0.45 3.09 5.69 15.04 9.26 36.17 3.63 3.67 2.75 2.55 0.82 3.82
n.a.= not analyzed; TREE = total rare earth element content; TREE % = total rare earth element content in percent
= 156–266 and positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.04–1.48). Samples of banded and mottled aegirine, with subordinate
Fenitized and albitized comendite samples (Ja-16N, Ja-E18, arfvedsonite, replacing marble are enriched in total REE
Ja-36b, and Ja-52) have elevated total REE concentrations (2,513–4,663 ppm) and have (La/Lu)N = 70–66 ppm, com-
(up to 1,750 ppm) and a more pronounced positive Eu* pared to the least-altered marble (476 ppm; [La/Lu]N = 22).
anomaly (up to 1.49). Both banded and mottled aegirine have higher LREE and
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 755

A) 105 B) 105
Ja-32 calcite + k-feldspar + hematite Ja-52
Ja-44 alkali feldspars + calcite Ja-36b altered comendite dikes
Ja-40 aegirine + albite + calcite (strong) Ja-18
10 4 Ja-50 albite + hematite + calcite + ap (strong) 4
Ja-35 moderate altered granite 10 Ja-16
Sample/Chondrite
Ja-54 least altered granite Ja-36a least altered comendite dikes
Sample/Chondrite
Ja-3
3
10 10
3
2 2
10 10
10 10
1 1
Tm
Sm
Tm
Nd
Sm
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
Nd
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
La
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
Er
La
Pr
Er
Pr
C) 106 D) 106
Ja-15 banded aegirine Carbonates + monazite + iron
Ja-51 disseminated arfvedsonite Ja-7b
Ja-8 mottled aegirine+arfvedsonite oxides replacement of marble
5 5
10 Ja-7a least altered marble 10 Ja-7a, least altered marble
Ja-11
Sample/Chondrite
Sample/Chondrite
4 4
10 10
Ja-12
3 3
10 10
2 2
10 10
10 10
Average calcite carbonatite 9 samples
(Le Bas et al., 1992)
1 1
Tm
Sm
Tm
Nd
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
Sm
Nd
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
La
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
Er
La
Pr
Er
Pr
E) 105 F)106
1 Bayan Obo carbonatites
Ja-38, heterolithic breccia and dolomite (Yang et al., 2003)
Ja-3, least altered comendite
Ja-54, least altered granite 5 2 Oka sovites (Eby, 1975)
4 10 3 Fen silicocarbonatite, sovite
10 1 (Mitchell and Brunfelt, 1975)
Sample/Chondrite
4 Barra do Itapirapua carbonatite

Sample/Chondrite
4
10 (Andrade et al., 1999)
3
10 2
3
10 4
2 3
10
102
10
10
1 1
Tm
Sm
Tm
Sm
Nd
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
Nd
Gd
Dy
Ho
Yb
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
La
Ce
Eu
Tb
Lu
La
Er
Pr
Er
Pr
FIG. 14. Chondrite-normalized plot of the bulk REE patterns of fresh and altered (A) granite, (B) comendite, (C, D) mar-
ble, and (E) breccia from Jasimampa. For comparison, data for Bayan Obo carbonatites and dolomite (Yang et al., 2003), Oka
sovites (Eby, 1975), Fen silicocarbonatite, sovite (Mitchell and Brunfelt, 1975), and Barra do Itapirapua carbonatite (An-
drade et al., 1999), are also shown in the lower right diagram (F). Chondrite values from Boynton (1989).
HREE than marble but have similar intermediate REE con- Sr (105,000 ppm), Th (4,390 ppm), and high Ba (17,600
centrations. Altered marble with hydrothermal carbonates, ppm).
hematite, pyrolusite, and barite-celestine has the highest total An aegirine-cemented breccia (Ja-38) with altered granite
REE concentrations (up to 154,525 ppm REE; 36.17 wt % and comendite fragments has relative and absolute abun-
as REE2O3 %), La up to 8,370 times chondrite, and (La/Lu)N dances of REE similar to that of the least-altered granite and
up to 3,245. HREE also are high, with (Dy/Lu)N of up to 103. comendite, indicating that this late stage of brecciation and
The sample with the highest REE (Ja 12) also has the highest replacement of the matrix by aegirine did not introduce REE.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 756

Fluid Inclusion Studies which is birefringent. Ice-melting temperatures (Tmice) be-

Fluid inclusions are abundant in relict igneous quartz and tween –17.5° and –14.0°C indicate that the solutions were not
hydrothermal albite in fenitized granite at Jasimampa (Ja-28, saturated with respect to NaCl (i.e., salinity between 17.7 to
Ja-34, and Ja-35). All inclusions in quartz are secondary. They 20.6 wt % NaCl equiv; Bodnar and Vityk, 1994). The second
typically occur as planar arrays along numerous microfrac- solid (S2), did not melt up to 300°C; thus it is different from
tured planes and, based on petrographic characteristics, can S1 and probably corresponds to CaCO3 or a trapped solid.
be subdivided into two groups (Fig. 15). Fluid inclusions in albite are more abundant than in quartz
Inclusions of the first group are aqueous-carbonic, 5 to 20 and occur along cleavage or twin planes, often cut by mi-
µm in size, and have room temperature phase assemblages of crofractures. The primary inclusions are tubular in shape,
liquid H2O + liquid CO2 + CO2-rich vapor. All inclusions two-phase at room temperature (H2O + CO2) and typically
were frozen by –140°C. Carbonic phase melting (TmCO2) oc- <10 µm in size (Fig. 15). They have a high filling ratio (vol-
curred in the range of –56.6 to –56.9°C. The small difference ume liquid/total volume = 0.9). Due to the low transparency
in melting temperature from the CO2 triple point (–56.6°C) of albite, the first ice-melting temperature was difficult to ob-
in some inclusions may indicate the presence of other com- serve. After cooling to –140°C, melting of the carbonic phase
pounds (e.g., CH4, N2), although laser Raman spectroscopy was observed in a few inclusions at –56.6° to –56.7°C, sug-
did not confirm this. Ice melting occurred between 5.0° and gesting pure CO2. At higher temperatures, formation and
5.1°C, indicating that the aqueous liquid has a salinity near 9 melting of clathrates was not observed. The homogenization
wt percent NaCl equiv (Collins, 1979). Homogenization of of the carbonic phase (ThCO2) occurred between 3.5° and
the carbonic phase (Th CO2) occurred over a wide tempera- 10.0°C, a range that suggests relatively high CO2 densities
ture range: in inclusions less than 10 µm in size, the ThCO2 oc- (between 0.85 and 0.90 g/cm3). All inclusions homogenized to
curred between 0.0° and 11.0°C; in fluid inclusions larger a liquid in the range of 250° to 280°C. These TmCO2 and
than 10 µm, ThCO2 occurred between 11.0° and 26°C. This ThCO2 ranges are similar to those obtained in aqueous-car-
corresponds to fluid densities between 0.75 and 0.95 g/cm3. bonic fluid inclusions in quartz; thus, the inclusions in albite
Homogenization to a liquid occurred from 220° to 260°C, al- probably trapped the same fluid as that documented for
though some inclusions decrepitated prior to homogenization quartz. Table 11 summarizes fluid inclusion data from feni-
(between 150° and 200°C). The difference between ThCO2 tized granite in the Jasimampa district.
and density values of the <10 µm versus >10 µm inclusions
may reflect leakage of the larger inclusions during deforma- Comparison with Other REE Deposits
tion. Thus, the characteristics of the smaller inclusions may Similarities between Jasimampa and Rodeo de Los Molles
be closer to primary compositions. include the sodic-Fe-Ca alteration of granitoid host rocks,
A second group of secondary fluid inclusions in quartz, characterized by the association of secondary albite + ae-
ranging from 5 to 50 µm in size, contains three or more girine-augite + apatite cut by several generations of late cal-
phases (liquid water + vapor + solid 1 ± solid 2), with one or cite. At Rodeo de los Molles, the primary LREE mineraliza-
two high-birefringence solids of variable shape (rounded, tion occurs as britholite-(Ce) + allanite-(Ce) (partially
pseudocubic, irregular) that do not correspond to halite or replaced by bastnäesite) nodules within the fenitized monzo-
sylvite. All the samples were initially cooled to –120°C and no granite, and pyroxene does not contain as much sodium as at
CO2 phase was detected, nor did the solid phases show any Jasimampa (Fig. 9). Late-stage centimeter-thick zoned calcite
changes. First melting occurred between –35° and –40°C, in- + fluorite + bastnäesite veins cut early mineralization, and the
dicating the possible presence of ions such as Fe2+ and Mg2+ presence of monazite with high La/Nd, and the Nb-bearing
in addition to Na+ and K+. The inclusions homogenized by oxide (ilmenorutile) have been reported only in stream sedi-
vapor bubble disappearance over a temperature range of 120° ments from the drainage basin of the deposit (Lira et al.,
to 180°C. Solid melting temperatures (Ts) were observed be- 1987, 2000). No evidence of alkaline magmatism or carbon-
tween 193° and 219°C for the first unknown phase (S1), atites was found in the area.
A B C
S2
S1
20 µm 20 µm 20 µ m
FIG. 15. Photomicrographs showing (A) primary aqueous-carbonic LH2O + LCO2 + VCO2 fluid inclusions in hydrother-
mal albite, infrared light, (B) secondary aqueous-carbonic LH2O + LCO2 + VCO2 fluid inclusions in quartz, normal light and
(C) secondary fluid inclusions in quartz (Lw + Gw + S1 ± S2), normal light. The S1 solid phase melts at 202°C.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 757

TABLE 11. Fluid Inclusion Data from Fenitized Granite in the Jasimampa District
Fluid inclusion Salinity Density of CO2 Th CO2 Th, Tht and Ts

host mineral Composition Type of FI (wt % NaCl equiv) (g/cm3) (ºC) (ºC) n
Quartz Aqueous-carbonic Secondary 9 0.75–0.95 0–11; 11–26 220–260 (Tht) 62

Quartz Aqueous-saline Secondary 17.7–20.6 9 120–180 (Th) 34
193–219 (Ts1) 14
>300 (Ts2) 16
Albite Aqueous-carbonic Primary 9 0.85–0.90 3.5–10 250–280 (Th) 56
Tht = total homogenization temperature, Th = homogenization temperature, Ts1 and Ts2 = solid phases dissolution temperature
Data correspond to fluid inclusions in relict quartz and hydrothermal albite from fenitized granite (samples Ja-28, Ja-34
and Ja-35)
n = number of analyzed inclusions
In the Sierra de Cobres, Sierra de Tusaquillas, Cerro 2000). Monazites at Jasimampa are enriched in La and de-
Fundición, and Hornillos, LREE-Th prospects of Puna and pleted in Nd compared to monazites from late-stage, fluorite-
Cordillera Oriental, several carbonatite types have been de- related amphibole-calcite veinlets at Bayan Obo. Thorium
scribed, from typical magmatic (i.e., sovite, alvikite, concentrations in monazite from Jasimampa are considerably
rauhaugite) to late-stage, hydrothermal brecciated carbon- higher (between 0.33 and 3.2% ThO2) than in monazite from
atites with calcite, siderite, ankerite, manganoan calcite, Bayan Obo (maximum values of 0.54% ThO2; Chao et al.,
quartz, barite, and fluorite. The latter contain most of the ore 1997; Smith et al., 2000), but lower than in monazite from
minerals, which include thorite, monazite, ilmenite, mag- non-alkaline rocks (Overstreet, 1960, 1967; Fleischer and
netite, hematite, strontianite, with pyrite, chalcopyrite, Altschuler, 1969; Rapp and Watson, 1986; Förster, 1998). The
galena, and sphalerite. LREE are concentrated in thorite, chondrite-normalized REE patterns of altered marble, with
monazite, and carbonates (Zappettini, 1999). strong LREE enrichment and no Eu anomaly (Fig. 14), are
Alteration and mineralization at Jasimampa show many fea- typical of carbonatites worldwide (Woolley and Kempe, 1989;
tures in common with iron-oxide–REE deposits associated Le Bas, 1999). Aegirine and arfvedsonite replacing marble
with alkaline igneous rocks and carbonatite complexes, such have mantle-normalized trace elements distributions (Fig.
as Bayan Obo and other REE deposits of China (Drew et al., 15A, B) with high Ba, Th, LREE, and strong K, Zr, and Ti de-
1990; Wu et al., 1996; Chao et al., 1997; Smith and Chengyu, pletions, which are similar to world average ferrocarbonatite
2000; Smith et al., 2000). Common features include (1) the (Woolley and Kempe, 1989; Fig. 16A, B). The carbonate +
presence of monazite as the main LREE-bearing mineral, in monazite + iron oxides replacing marble at Jasimampa have
association with iron oxides (hematite), apatite, barite-celes- the highest concentrations of REE, similar to the LREE-en-
tine, pyrochlore, strontiopyrochlore, and ferrocolumbite, (2) riched carbonatites from Fen (Mitchell and Brunfelt, 1975),
the fine- to extremely fine grained texture of the main REE Oka (Eby, 1975), Barra do Itapirapuã (Andrade et al., 1999),
and Nb ore minerals, (3) alteration of the host marble to ae- and Bayan Obo (Yang et al., 2003; Fig. 14). This assemblage
girine, alkali amphibole, ferroan dolomite, manganoan and is enriched in Ba, Th, LREE, and Sr but is compositionally
ferroan calcite, manganoan ankerite, and ankerite, (4) intense similar to carbonatite worldwide (Fig. 16A, B). Secondary
fenitization of siliceous host rocks, including early albitization carbonates have trace element signatures similar to the Wu
+ aegirine and calcite, (5) distinctive LREE-enriched, steep carbonatite dikes and dolomite marble of the Bayan Obo
chondrite-normalized REE patterns associated with high giant REE-Nb-Fe ore deposit (Fig. 16C; Yang et al., 2003)
concentrations of Nb, Ba, Sr, Th, and P and low Rb, and (6) and, except for the Nb content, the late Khibina carbonatites
minor to no sulfides. Total REE2O3 and Fe2O3 contents in al- (Fig. 16D; Zaitsev et al., 1998). Thus, it is suggested that al-
tered marble samples from Jasimampa vary from 0.45 to teration and mineralization at Jasimampa could be the prod-
36.17 wt percent and 3 to16.19 wt percent, respectively, ucts of late-stage carbonatitic magma fractionation and fluid
which is within the range of concentrations at Bayan Obo exsolution.
(2.01 to > 48 wt % and 2.14 to 45.75 wt %, respectively: Smith In Figure 16A, it is also evident that even the least-altered
and Chengyu, 2000). The potassium metasomatism that char- marble in the study area has been influenced by hydrother-
acterizes low-temperature alteration of hanging-wall rocks of mal fluids. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of al-
Bayan Obo and late fluoritization of the hosts are not found at tered granite and comendite also show an LREE enrichment
Jasimampa. However, some altered granite samples from the without an Eu anomaly (Fig. 14), although the concentra-
periphery of the deposit show unusual high K2O (i.e., samples tions of LREE are lower than in the marble. The chemical
Ja-32 and Ja-44; see Table 10), and apatite, amphibole, py- compositions of aegirine and arfvedsonite from fenitized
rochlore, strontiopyrochlore, monazite, and ferrocolumbite granite and comendite are similar to aegirine and amphibole
are enriched in fluorine. compositions in banded and mottled alteration in marble
In the chondrite-normalized La/Nd versus LREE diagram (see Tables 3 and 5). Apatite from fenitized granite is fluora-
of Figure 11B, monazites from Jasimampa are compared with patite with LREE and Ce higher than La (Table 9), a steep
monazites from different paragenetic settings of the Bayan LREE-enriched pattern similar to apatite from Bayan Obo
Obo Fe-REE-Nb deposit (Smith et al., 1999; Smith et al., (Fig.13A; Campbell and Henderson, 1997) and Mn and Sr
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 758

5
A) 105 B) 10
Rock/Primordial Mantle
4
10
4
10 b)
3
10
3
10
10
2
102 a)
10 10
1 1
0.1 0.1
Rb Ba Th K Nb La Ce Sr Nd P Zr Ti Y Rb Ba Th K Nb La Ce Sr Nd P Zr Ti Y
Average ferrocarbonatite b) Secondary carbonates + Fe-Mn oxides + REE minerals
Average calciocarbonatite a) Aegirine + arfvedsonite replacements in marble
Average limestone
Ja7 least altered marble
5
C) 10 D) 105
4 4
10 10
3
a) 3 b)
10 10
102 102
b) a)
10 10
1 1
0.1 0.1
Rb Ba Th K Nb La Ce Sr Nd P Zr Ti Y Rb Ba Th K Nb La Ce Sr Nd P Zr Ti Y
b) Fine grained dolomite marble hosting the ore deposit b) Late Khibina carbonatites
a) Wu carbonatite dike from Bayan Obo a) Early Khibina carbonatites
FIG. 16. Distribution of trace elements normalized to primitive mantle (Wood et al., 1979). A. Least-altered Jasimampa
marble. B. The aegirine-arfvedsonite and hydrothermal carbonates + Fe-Mn oxides + REE minerals in the alteration as-
semblages of marble. C. Carbonatite dikes and dolomite marble hosting the ore deposit at Bayan Obo (Yang et al., 2003).
D. Early and late carbonatites at Khibina, Russia (Zaitsev et al., 1998). For comparison, data for average calcio-carbon-
atite, ferro-carbonatite (Woolley and Kempe, 1989), and sedimentary limestone (Veizer, 1983) are also shown in diagrams
A and B.
concentrations possibly indicating an evolved carbonatitic Mariano (1989b), in which monazite and other REE-miner-
source (Fig.13B; Hogarth, 1989; Le Bas et al., 1992). In the als, such as ancylite and fluorcarbonates (bastnäsite-type),
Sr versus Ca diagram of Figure 13C, most apatites from Jasi- occur as replacement veins in carbonatite and related rocks,
mampa plot within the field of Bayan Obo type 2 apatite usually accompanied by barite, fluorite, quartz, and strontian-
(from the banded ore), indicating Ca-Sr substitution, whereas ite. Other examples of hydrothermal monazite associated
the Sr-rich apatites from Jasimampa plot well above all Bayan with carbonatites include Mountain Pass, California; Kan-
Obo fields. Substitution of Ca for Sr is well documented in gankunde, Malawi; Wigu Hill, Tanzania; Karonge, Burundi;
apatites from the ijolite pegmatites emplaced in a volcanic Bayan Obo, China; Fen, Norway; Gem Park, United States;
olivine melanephelinite of La Madera, in southern Córdoba Nkombwa, Zambia; Cerro Manomó, Bolivia; and Saint Hon-
province (Galliski et al., 2004); apatites from La Madera ijo- oré, Quebec, Canada (Wall and Mariano, 1996).
lites average 4.3 wt percent SrO; up to 12.44 wt percent in
some crystal rims, producing strontium-apatite, similar to that Summary and Conclusions
from alkaline complexes. All analyzed apatites from Jasi- Based on textures, chemical compositions of ore and
mampa come from fenitized granite, which is low in REEs. gangue minerals, and fluid inclusion criteria, the alteration
Thus, in the Na + REE versus Ca diagram of Figure 13D, and mineralization at Jasimampa are interpreted as hydro-
Jasimampa data plot below the Bayan Obo type 2 REE- thermal replacement of granite, comendite, and marble by
enriched apatite. fluids derived from alkaline magma. The host granite and
Mineral assemblages at Jasimampa are similar to the comendite are replaced by hydrothermal albite and aegirine
carbonatite-associated REE-mineralization described by that occur in veins, clots, veinlets, meshwork, stringers,
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 759

disseminations, filling cavities and vugs, and by a late stage of indicated by the presence of such altered rocks as breccia
calcite ± iron oxide minerals ± apatite ± muscovite ± mon- fragments. Alteration continued through the brecciation
azite. Likewise, hydrothermal replacement of granoblastic stage, with the replacement of the matrix by aegirine, hy-
marble ranges from early aegirine, arfvedsonite, carbonates in drothermal carbonate, or direct precipitation of chalcedony
haloes near the granitoids to late-stage, coarse-grained Ca- and albite + hematite + apatite in vugs, and late carbonate +
and Mg-carbonates, whereas early Na- and Fe-silicates and minor REE-bearing veins. The hydrothermal breccias range
carbonates are flooded with late, fine-grained Fe-, Mn-, and from matrix-dominated at depth to open breccias cemented
Mg-carbonate and barite-celestine. There is also a weak ter- by hydrothermal alteration minerals higher up, to anasto-
minal stage of silicification. Each of these stages was accom- mosing breccia superimposed on brittle-ductile shear pat-
panied by iron-oxide minerals (hematite). Fine-grained terns to vein stockworks.
LREE and Nb ore minerals (monazite, pyrochlore, stron- The Jasimampa prospect in the Sierra de Sumampa is the
tiopyrochlore, ferrocolumbite, and apatite) occur in late-stage first documented occurrence of LREE associated with alka-
stringers, veinlets, and grouped in clusters accompanied by line intracontinental magmatism older than the Middle Juras-
fine-grained dark carbonates, calcite, hematite, and barite-ce- sic-Cretaceous intraplate alkaline magmatism of the Exten-
lestine. Extensive brecciation of the fenitized host rocks, sional Gondwana Cycle (Kay and Ramos, 1996; Ramos, 1999;
along with precipitation of aegirine and carbonates ± opaque Lira et al., 1999b), with which the other Argentinian LREE
minerals ± monazite and/or albite ± calcite hydrothermal ce- deposits and prospects are associated. Future exploration po-
ments, indicates superposition of successive hydrothermal tential in this area is high considering that the previous 36
events in the hydrothermal system. years of exploration activity did not recognize the widespread
Preliminary U-Pb dating of monazite from mineralized Na alteration and LREE mineralization described in the pre-
marble (ca. 390 Ma: N. McNaughton) suggests that mineral- sent study. Exploration should focus on the documented Na-
ization was contemporaneous with local alkaline magmatism. Fe-Ca alteration types, as these are both distinctive and more
However, considering the extent of the alteration (»15 km2) widespread than the REE mineralization. REE mineral oc-
and the small size of the dikes, another possibly deeper currences of the type documented at Jasimampa may be more
source for the hydrothermal fluids is likely. Several features of abundant and higher grade than strictly magmatic carbon-
the alteration and mineralization in marble suggest an anal- atite-hosted deposits, as previously suggested by Mariano
ogy with the products of carbonatitic magma fractionation: (1) (1989a) and Gieré (1996).
the strongly alkaline character of early alteration, including
aegirine, albite, and magnesio-arfvedsonite, the amphibole Acknowledgments
most frequently found in carbonatites (Mariano, 1989 a, b; Le This work forms part of a project financed by Agencia Na-
Bas et al., 1992); (2) hydrothermal carbonates consisting of cional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT no. 07-
ferroan dolomite, manganoan and ferroan calcite, manganoan 03581). We express our appreciation to MIM Exploration
ankerite, and ankerite, typical of ferrocarbonatites (Woolley (Dr. E. Bastías) for information about their early exploration
and Kempe, 1989); (3) the abundance of monazite-(Ce) with and mining activities, Kazuo Fuzikawa (CDTN/CNEN,
minor pyrochlore, strontiopyrochlore, and ferrocolumbite ac- Brazil) and the Laboratorio de Espectroscopía Micro-Raman
companied by barite-celestine, which are common as late- (UFMG-FAPEMIG-CNPq-FINEP, Brazil) for additional an-
stage products in carbonatite complexes (i.e., Zaitsev et al., alytical work, Bernard Charoy from the Ecole Supérieure de
1998). Géologie, France, for his invaluable help with references on
At Jasimampa, fluid inclusions in secondary albite and sec- Na metasomatism and fenitization, Martin Smith from Uni-
ondary inclusions in quartz indicate that the early hydrother- versity of Brighton, UK, X. M. Yang, from University of New
mal fluid was aqueous-carbonic with relatively high CO2 den- Brunswick, Canada, and Fabio Andrade, from Universidade
sity (between 0.85 and 0.95 g/cm3), salinity near 9 wt percent Estadual Paulista, Brazil, for sending us their publications on
NaCl equiv, and homogenization temperatures in the range of the Bayan Obo REE deposit and Barra do Itapirapuã carbon-
250° to 280°C. There is no evidence for boiling, suggesting atites, Peter Pollard, from James Cook University, Australia,
that pressures at the beginning of fenitization may have been for sharing his observations of broken rock patterns, and
lithostatic, and the measured homogenization temperatures Leopoldo López Escobar, from Instituto GEA, Universidad
are minima rather than true trapping temperatures. Based on de Concepción, Chile, for his comments on REE patterns of
whole-rock compositions, this early aqueous-carbonic fluid granite. We thank Antonio Arribas and an anonymous re-
added Fe, Na, P, REE, Zr, Th, U, and Nb to the original gran- viewer for their helpful and constructive reviews, which led to
ite and removed Si, K, Ba, and Rb during albite + aegirine al- a substantial improvement of the manuscript. Finally, we wish
teration. Fluids of similar composition and temperature were to thank Mark Hannington for his careful examination of the
involved in the formation of Fe-REE-Nb Bayan Obo deposit manuscript during several stages of revision and for his over-
(Smith and Henderson, 2000; Smith et al., 2000). all dedication as an editor.
Structural controls on fluid flow and Na-Fe-Ca alteration
in granitoid and marble protoliths included brittle-ductile December 30, 2003; May 18, 2005
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la Sierra de los Cobres, Prov. de Salta, Argentina: Tucumán, R. Argentina, Yang, X.M., Yang, X.Y., Zheng, Y.F., and Le Bas, M.J., 2003, A rare earth el-
Acta Geológica Lilloana, v. 13, no. 5, p. 169–186. ement-rich carbonatite dyke at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, North China:
Veizer, J., 1983, Trace elements and isotope in sedimentary carbonates, in Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 78, p. 93–110.
Roeder, R.J., ed., Carbonates: Mineralogy and chemistry: Reviews in Min- Zaitsev, A.N., Wall, F., and Le Bas, M.J., 1998, REE-Sr-Ba minerals from the
eralogy, v. 11, p. 265–299. Khibina carbonatites, Kola Peninsula, Russia: Their mineralogy, paragene-
Wall, F, and Mariano, A.N., 1996, Rare earth minerals in carbonatites: A dis- sis and evolution: Mineralogical Magazine, v. 62, p. 225–250.
cussion centred on the Kangankunde carbonatite, Malawi: The Mineralog- Zappettini, E., 1999, Depósitos de tierras raras y torio de la Puna y Cordillera
ical Society, London, Chapman and Hall, Series 7, p. 193–225. Oriental, Jujuy y Salta, in Zappettini, E. ed., Recursos Minerales de la Re-
Watson, E.B., and Harrison, T.M., 1983, Zircon saturation revisited: Tem- pública Argentina: Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales, Servicio
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and Planetary Science Letters, v. 64, p. 295–304.
Whalen, J., Currie, K., and Chappell, B., 1987, A-types granites: Geochemi-
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APPENDIX
Petrographic descriptions (also described by Crowder and Ross, 1973, Moore and Liou,
The granitic pluton consists of quartz, potassium feldspar 1979, and Carten, 1986), as very fine grained crystals with ae-
(Or97-98), and plagioclase (Ab70-An30), minor biotite and ac- girine in veinlets, as untwinned crystals infilling irregular
cessory magnetite, ilmenite, allanite, zircon, and apatite. The thick stringers that cut altered granite and rim plagioclase,
texture varies from granular hypidiomorphic to porphyritic and as fine- to medium-grained euhedral and clear crystals
with alkali feldspar megacrysts. Locally, mafic microgranular filling cavities created by quartz dissolution.
enclaves (biotite) up to 10 cm long are present. Quartz is an- The texture of alkaline dikes is holocrystalline porphyritic
hedral, medium-grained and shows irregular to sutured bor- to glomeroporphyritic, some showing a flow texture. The
ders between adjacent crystals; some grains have deformation groundmass is dominantly aphanitic (~20 m m), varying from
lamellae with sharp boundaries. Alkali feldspar occurs in two trachytic (pilotaxic) to equigranular mosaic-type. Phenocrysts
forms: (1) abundant anhedral to subhedral grains of un- range in size from 0.15 to 1 cm and make up approximately
twinned microperthite with plagioclase or quartz inclusions 50 percent of the rock, consisting dominantly of feldspar with
similar to a granophyric texture, and (2) less abundant crystals minor relics of amphibole strongly replaced by fibrous ae-
of M-twinned microcline. Plagioclase is often zoned and con- girine-augite. Feldspar occurs in glomeroporphyritic aggre-
tains partial rims of myrmekite, some of which occur as par- gates with several compositional ranges: a) alkaline feldspars
tial replacement of alkali feldspar. The plagioclase has incipi- of the Ab-Or series (anorthoclase Or10-Or35), sodic orthoclase
ent alteration to sericite, epidote and calcite. Biotite is (Or35-Or59), and orthoclase (Or61-Or98); b) albite-oligoclase
fine-grained and interstitial; where fresh it is red brown, al- (An0-An13), and c) low temperature replacement albite (An0-
though many crystals are partially (along cleavage planes) to An2). The groundmass is composed of K-feldspar, plagioclase
completely altered to chlorite ± titanite or chlorite ± epidote. and quartz. In sample Ja-3, approximately 15 percent of the
Subhedral to euhedral magnetite shows hematite exsolution groundmass is formed by individual crystals or aggregates of
lamellae and hematite rims (martitization) and is locally in- fine prismatic aegirine, short apatite crystals (~20 m m), and
tergrown with ilmenite. Apatite and zircon occur as euhedral oxidized opaque minerals (20–200 m m). This sample also
inclusions in biotite; some granite also contains allanite crys- contains bypyramidal zircon (@ 100 m m) as isolated crystals
tals. Late quartz, calcite, chlorite, and epidote microveinlets in the groundmass or associated with vug-filling calcite, indi-
locally cut the granite outcrops. cating its late-stage position in the paragenetic sequence
In granite outcrops with pervasive alteration albite is ubiq- (Poklepovic et al., 2002). In sample Ja-36a the groundmass is
uitous. It occurs as fine-grained and turbid aggregates over- K-feldspar rich and the grain size is coarser than in sample Ja-
grown on plagioclase, as irregular chessboard-twinned patches 3. Phenocrysts of magmatic origin have cores of plagioclase
and coarse-grained, anhedral crystals replacing K-feldspar and anorthoclase with thick rims of turbid K-feldspar.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 764

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©2005 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Economic Geology, v. 100, pp. 733–764

Na-Fe-Ca Alteration and LREE (Th-Nb) Mineralization in Marble and

FRANCISCO JAVIER RÍOS,

MARÍA FERNANDA POKLEPOVIC,

AND HUGO A. MILLONE

† Corresponding author: e-mail, mfranchi@uncoma.edu.ar

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Introduction in Argentina, in the Sierra de Sumampa region of the south-

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N 64°10´ SOUTH AMERICA

N To Jasimampa and Villa Quebrachos C

Ja-26 Moderately altered

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Permian Pozo Extensional alkaline

29°18´40´´ To Villa Quebrachos Ja-19

63°39´3.13´´ Orientations of aegirine veins

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Al2O3/K2O + Na2O (molar)

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Jasimampa (this study) Sierra Norte-Ambargasta

Granite Comendite GM PDLC CB Puesto de Rojas

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300 1000 4000

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Ja-30 Ja-25 Ja-28

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Ja-7a Ja-15 Ja-47

Ae Arf Hem Cal

Ja-11 Ja-21 Ja-2

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Ja-14 Ja-47 Ja-1

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12.5 µm Hem 12.5 µm

Rodeo de Los Molles

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Banded Mottled Heterolithologic

Vein Vein Vein Vein Vein

Cations based on 6 oxygens

n.d. = not detected

Untwinned Wide Narrow Clear Clear

Cations based on 32 oxygens

n.d. = not detected

Na 1.87 1.82 1.93 1.92 1.87 4

A 0.87 1.07 0.67 0.55 0.53

Structural formulas were calculated after normalizing to 23 O and when 1

Carbonates Monazite from

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Host Altered marble Fenitized granite

Manganoan Manganoan Mn-rich Manganoan Ferroan

n.d. = not detected

TABLE 7. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Monazite in the Jasimampa District

n.d. = not detected

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Ferrocolumbite Pyrochlore Strontiopyrochlore Alteration Geochemistry

TABLE 9. Representative Microprobe Analyses of Apatite in the Jasimampa District

Host Fenitized granite

1 = total FeO as Fe2O3; n.d. = not detected; n.a. = not analyzed

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