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Origin of magnesite veins in serpentinites from Mount El-Rubshi and Mount

El-Maiyit, Eastern Desert, Egypt

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 ARCHIWUM MINERALOGICZNE
T. LIV, 2001–2002 (printed 2003), 41–63

ORIGIN OF MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITES

FROM MOUNT EL-RUBSHI AND MOUNT EL-MAIYIT,
EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT

MOHAMED F. GHONEIM, IBRAHIM A. SALEM

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt

MOHAMED M. HAMDY
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
and
Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Twarda 51/57, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Serpentinite-hosted magnesite veins have been studied in Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-
Maiyit, Eastern Desert, Egypt, in order to elucidate the origin of this type of ore. The
studied cryptocrystalline magnesite veins were formed as the fracture fillings from
ascending CO2-rich hydrothermal solutions. These solutions were brought from deeper-
seated horizons upwards to a shallower zone, where due to the decrease of partial
pressure of carbon dioxide the supersaturation of the hydrothermal fluids took place
causing the deposition of magnesite, most likely at temperature below 300ºC.

Key words: serpentinite, magnesite, carbon dioxide, hydrothermal solution, Eastern

Desert, Egypt.

INTRODUCTION

Abu Jaber and Kimberley (1992) have divided the magnesite deposits
associated with ultramafic rocks into two types: (1) massive ore deposits and
(2) vein deposits. Massive ultramafic-associated bodies are attributed to deep-
seated metasomatism of ultramafic rocks by CO2 of magmatic origin (Amin
1955, Griffis 1972, Dulski, Morteani 1989). The CO2-metasomatism of
ultramafic rocks under metamorphic P–T conditions leads to typical mineral
associations of coarse-grained magnesite with serpentine, talc, quartz, enstatite
or anthophyllite (Möller 1989b). A few of these deposits have been interpreted
to be carbonatite (Takasawa, Kuroda 1974). Vein deposits are more widespread.
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

These magnesite veins were formed due to low temperature alteration of

ultramafic rocks by reaction with CO2-rich fluids, leading to the formation of
cryptocrystalline magnesite veins (Dabitzias 1980; Moller 1989a, b; Hamdy
1997). Four different sources of fluids, which formed the carbonate veins, have
been discussed: 1) ground water descending from a zone of weathering (Petrov
et al. 1980; Mohr 1983; Kralik et al. 1989; Jedrysek, Halas 1990), 2) ascending
diagenetic-metamorphic fluids (Dabitzias 1980; Vakanjak et al. 1984; Pohl
1990), 3) volcanism-related fluids (Pantin-Herrera 1967), 4) mantle degassing
products (Gold 1979; Veizer et al. 1989).
In the Eastern Desert of Egypt, magnesite veins are known to occur in
numerous localities where they are associated with serpentinites of ophiolitic
provenance. Two of the occurrences were the subject of the study of the present
authors. Magnesite occurring as very fine to cryptocrystalline aggregates fills
fractures and cavities in serpentinite rocks (Bassyoni 1959; Fasfous, Awad
1982; Hamdy 1997; Salem et al. 1997; Ghoneim et al. 1999).
The aim of this paper is to elucidate the origin of magnesite veins at Mt. El
Rubshi and Mt. El Maiyit hosted in serpentinite rocks.

GEOLOGIC SETTING

Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt.

El-Maiyit are localized in
the central part of the
Eastern Desert of Egypt
(Fig. 1). Mt. El-Rubshi can
be easily reached by means
of Qift – Quseir road at
about 30 km from Quseir,
then 18.5 km further north
through a desert track. Mt.
El-Maiyit can be reached by
means of Idfu – Marsa Alam
road at about 35 km from
Marsa Alam, then about 20
km to the north through a
desert track.
Dixon (1979) estimated
that ultramafic bodies acco-
unt for 5.3% of all Precam-
brian outcrops in the Eastern
Fig. 1. Location map of the serpentinites containing Desert of Egypt. They occur
magnesite veins at Mount El-Rubshi and Mount El- as allochthonous blocks or
Maiyit, Eastern Desert, Egypt. thrust sheets floating in

42
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

a dominantly ophiolitic melange or in various types of metasediments (Hassan,

Hashad 1990). In southern part of the Eastern Desert, undeformed volcanic
rocks, 768 Ma in age (Stern 1979), overlie allochthonous ophiolitic sheets,
which in turn cover metasedimentary and metavolcanic units of 842±22 Ma age
(Church 1986). This implies that at least some of these ophiolites were
emplaced between about 850 and 770 Ma ago (Hassan, Hashad, op. cit.).
The magnesite veins at Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit are hosted within
serpentinite rocks (Fig. 2). In the vicinity of the mineralized veins, these
serpentinite country rocks are altered to brown serpentinites.
In Mt. El-Rubshi, the serpentinite rocks form a lenticular body extending N–
S. This body is thrusted over cataclased amphibolites and gneisses, as well as
over a belt of metasediments, and intruded by clinopyroxenite dyke-type masses
trending NNW (Khudier 1983). The serpentinite rocks at Mt. El-Maiyit form
lenticular body as well, but it extends ENE–WSW. It builds the bottom segment
of a dismembered ophiolitic sequence (Akaad et al. 1995). The ophiolitic
components are restricted to volcanoclastic metasedimentary rocks (schists
formed from andesitic-to-dacitic tuff) accumulated in a back-arc marginal basin
(Abu El-Ela 1985).

METHODS OF INVESTIGATION

Bulk chemical compositions of serpentinite rocks and magnesite veins were

determined by means of XRF (at Nuclear Materials Authority, NMA, Cairo,
Egypt) and AAS (in Tabbin Institute of Metallurgical Studies, TIMS, Cairo,
Egypt) techniques.
X-ray diffraction analyses of the serpentinite and magnesite powdered
samples were carried out by use of a PW 1840 Philips diffractometer with Cu
Kα radiation at the Central Laboratory of Tanta University. Infrared
spectroscopic analyses of magnesite veins were made by means of a Perkin-
Elmer 683 infrared spectrophotometer and potassium bromide pellet method in
the range from 200 to 4000 cm-1 at the Central Laboratory of Tanta University.
The thermal analyses of magnesite veins (DTA, TG and DTG) were carried
out by use of a Stanton Redcroft DTA 673-4 thermal analyzer for DTA and
STA-780 for TGA in the Cambrone School of Mines, Cornwall, England. The
samples were run in air under the following experimental conditions: tempera-
ture range – room temperature to 1100˚C, rate of temperature increase –
15˚C/min, chart speed – 12cm/hour, initial sample weight – about 0.15 g for
DTA and 10 mg for TG and DTG, reference material – alumina powder, heat
source – resistance-heated electric furnace.
Quantitative chemical analyses of minerals were carried out on selected
mounts of both magnesite and gangue minerals by use of JEOL 840 Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM) with Oxford Instruments Energy Dispersive X-ray
spectrometer (Link AN 10000 system) in Cambrone School of Mines, England.

43
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

SERPENTINITE

Mineral components and textures

X-ray diffraction patterns of serpentinites and separated clay fraction of
altered serpentinites were compared with the data of Whittaker and Zussman
(1956). It was found that considerable amounts of lizardite and subordinate
amounts of dolomite, calcite and magnesite are the components of the
serpentinite and altered serpentinite country rocks. Illite with small admixture of
goethite form the clay fraction of the altered serpentinites at Mt. El-Rubshi.
Microscopically, the serpentinite rocks preserved the habits of grains and
original textures of both olivines and orthopyroxenes, indicating harzburgite
composition of parent rocks. Based on Wicks and Whittaker (1977)
classification of serpentinite textures, the Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit
serpentinites represent mainly pseudomorphic types (Fig. 3). In the Mt. El-
Rubshi rocks, the pseudomorphs are of the hourglass type (with unequal sectors
and outlines of original olivine boundaries, see Figs. 3a, b and c) showing pene-
trative fabric and mesh texture (as fine and dense fibrous lamellar aggregates
after olivine, see Fig. 3d). Besides, bastites, i.e. pseudomorphs after pyroxene,
are observed in subordinate amounts. On the other hand, pseudomorphic
textures in Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites are represented by knitted (of interlocked
perpendicular flakes and fibers parallel to the cleavage planes of original
orthopyroxene) and bastite textures (Figs. 3e and f), and sometimes by plumose
texture.
Textures in the altered serpentinite country rocks at Mt. El-Rubshi are non-
pseudomorphic (represented by penetrative fabric serrate veins of lizardite and
carbonate grains enclosing pseudomorph relics of hourglass polygons among
them, see Figs. 4a, b and c), whereas in rocks at Mt. El-Maiyit both
pseudomorphic and non-pseudomorphic textures were observed. The
recrystallization of pseudomorphic into non-pseudomorphic serpentinites
resulted in the replacement of the bastite textures by the interlocking ones.
Moreover, rare mesh pseudomorphs seem to have been stretched and oriented
(Fig. 3d). The parallel oriented lamellae begin to have been slightly brownish-
stained and enriched in carbonate veinlets forming serrate veins texture (Figs.
4e and f). The orientation and recrystallization of pseudomorphic mesh and
bastite textures are extensively developed in highly altered serpentinites.
The opaque minerals in both Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites
are represented mainly by chromite and magnetite. Small amounts of fine blebs
and grains of scattered sulphides (pentlandite and pyrite in Mt. El-Rubshi
serpentinites, and pyrite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite in Mt. El-Maiyit serpenti-
nites) were detected.
In serpentinite country rocks at Mt. El-Rubshi, chromite is the main opaque
mineral, whereas, in serpentinites at Mt. El-Maiyit it is less common than

44
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

Fig. 2. Magnesite veins in serpentinites of Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit: a – series
of inclined veins cutting both types of country rocks (Mt. El-Rubshi); b – thick inclined
veins surrounded by veinlets and brown alteration zone (Mt. El-Maiyit); c – relics of
brown altered serpentinites restricted to the selvages of magnesite hanging wall,
whereas the foot wall of the vein contacts with gray serpentinite (Mt. El-Maiyit); d –
massive magnesite vein inside the altered gray serpentinite (Mt. El-Rubshi); e –
botryoidal structure of the magnesite veins (Mt. El-Rubshi); f – three sets of joints in
magnesite veins (Mt. El-Rubshi).

magnetite. Chromite in Mt. El-Rubshi serpentinites occurs as rounded and

sometimes subhedral grains (0.5–1.5mm). Occasionally, they are brecciated and
deformed (Fig. 5a). On the other hand, in Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites chromite

45
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

Fig. 3. Textures in serpentinite rocks: a – hourglass texture formed of almost

rectangular to square lizardite units, bundles of slightly bent lizardite fibres are visible
in the left part pf the photograph (Mt. El-Rubshi); b – parallel lizardite bundles with
relics of Y-shaped iron oxides (Mt. El-Rubshi); c – mosaic texture of lizardite with
grain boundaries stained by iron compounds, coinciding mostly at the angle of 120°,
amoeboid clusters of iron minerals occur in the cores of the grains (Mt. El-Rubshi); d –
mesh texture formed almost entirely of lizardite and relics of olivine coated with iron
oxides occurring in the lower left part of the photograph (Mt. El-Maiyit); e – knitted
texture of post-amphibole lizardite (Mt. El-Maiyit); f – knitted texture with kink
orientation and decussate pattern of feathery and flaky lizardite (Mt. El-Maiyit); crossed
nicols except for the photograph c, which was taken in plain light. All scale bars
correspond to 0.5 mm.

46
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

occurs as corroded subrounded to irregular grains (0.3–1mm). Chromite grains

in serpentinites in these two localities contain irregular silicate inclusions (about
0.02mm) which are restricted to their inner parts. The replacement of chromite
by ferrichromite merging outward into magnetite is common.
Magnetite in serpentinite rocks is classified genetically as primary (common
in Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites and rare in Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites) and se-
condary types. Primary magnetites occur as fine to medium euhedral to anhed-
ral grains (0.05–0.1mm in serpentinites of Mt. El-Rubshi and 0.05–0.5mm in
serpentinites of Mt.El-Maiyit), highly corroded and replaced by silicate mine-
rals. In Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites, magnetite sometimes forms skeleton-shaped
fine grains (Fig. 5b) and/or fine veinlets transecting silicate minerals. Secondary
magnetite occurs in Mt. El-Rubshi serpentinites as parallel streaks and blades
(0.5-1mm) along the cleavage planes of pyroxene relics (Fig. 5c), and in Mt. El-
Maiyit serpentinites as disseminated rounded grains, fine branching veinlets
cross-cutting the chromite grains and in peripheries of corroded chromite.
Opaque minerals in altered serpentinite rocks are represented mainly by
chromite. Magnetite occurs rarely only in altered Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites.
Chromites are mostly brecciated (Fig. 5d) and sometimes spherical (Fig. 5e),
elliptical and rounded in shape. Brecciated chromite forms elongated pockets
(ranging from 0.1 to 1 mm in size in altered Mt. El-Rubshi serpentinites and
from 0.05 to 0.2mm in altered Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites). The intercalated
cracks are frequently filled with serpentinies showing rarely the effect of
magmatic corrosion. Alteration of chromite mostly to ferrichromite is not
frequent (Fig. 5f). Magnetite in the altered Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites occurs as
disseminated and irregular skeletal primary grains, or as secondary ones, being
the product of alteration of chromite.

Geochemical features

Major and trace elements as well as the loss of ignition (LOI) determinations of
the samples of the wallrock of Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites
are listed in Table 1. The average LOI values of serpentinite rocks (16.11 wt %
and 10.88 wt % in Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites, respectively)
indicate an intense serpentinization at Mt. El-Rubshi and a moderate serpentini-
zation at Mt. El-Maiyit. These estimations were made according to the Malakh-
ov’s method (1956), elaborated to classify the serpentinization intensity on the
basis LOI values. Serpentinite rocks had originally peridotite composition, as
suggested by the interpretation of the RO´/SiO2*) and H2O/SiO2 ratios, made
according to Steinberg (1960), which are respectively within the ranges 1.69–
1.78 and 0.12–0.28 at Mt. El-Rubshi, and 0.4–1.49 and 0.17–0.22 at Mt. El-
Maiyit. Similar protolith might have been expected from the CaO, Al2O3 and
––––––––––––––––
*) RO΄ = RO – x, where RO is molecular sum of total FeO, MgO, CaO and NiO, and x
is molecular sum of Al2O3 and Cr2O3.

47
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

Fig. 4. Textures of altered serpentinites: a – oriented bundles of brownish stained

lizardite in red alteration zone (Mt. El-Rubshi); b – reddish-brown stained polygonal
and oval lizardite clusters of various orientation, late fractures are filled with serpentine
and carbonate grains (Mt. El-Rubshi); c – red-stained rectangular lizardite clusters late
fracture are filled with serrated veinlets of lizardite and carbonate grains (Mt. El-
Rubshi); d – curved parallel bundles of lizardite in groundmass of mesh texture (Mt. El-
Maiyit); e – parallel lizardite bundles and brownish stained lizardite pseudomorphs after
olivine in the right and central parts of the photograph (Mt. El-Maiyit); f – parallel red
stained lizardite bundles forming serrated vein texture in transition texture of isotropic
lizardite plates (Mt. El-Maiyit); crossed nicols. All scale bars correspond to 0.5 mm.

48
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

Fig. 5. Opaque minerals in serpentinites and in altered serpentinites: a – curved chro-

mite lamellae altered at their rims into magnetite (serpentinite, Mt. El-Rubshi); b – mag-
netite grain with numerous serpentine inclusions (serpentinite, Mt. El-Maiyit); c – se-
condary magnetite formed within the original cleavage fissures of the host pyroxene
(serpentinite, Mt. El-Rubshi); d – strongly cataclased chromite, the cracks are filled
with serpentine and clay minerals (altered serpentinite, Mt. El-Rubshi); e – fresh chro-
mite of spherical habit (altered serpentinite, Mt. El-Rubshi); f – chromite altered at the
edges and along cracks into ferrichromite (altered serpentinite, Mt. El-Rubshi). All scale
bars correspond to 0.5 mm.

MgO contents, as appears from the works of Coleman (1977). Serpentinites

formed at the expense of harzburgite.This is indicated by the normative
compositions of olivine, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene (Fig. 6), MgO/SiO2
values, ranging from 0.92 to 1.03 and from 0.88 to 0.95 in Mt. El-Rubshi and
Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites respectively, what is close to the value of 1.11

49
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

Table 1. Chemical composition of fresh and altered serpentinites, wt %

Compo- Fresh serpentinites Altered serpentinites
nents Mt. El-Rubshi Mt. El-Maiyit Mt. El-Rubshi Mt. El-Maiyit
SiO2 36.42 39.87 32.45 - 34.28 32.50 - 39.09
Al2O3 0.31 0.47 0.08 - 0.14 0.03 - 0.09
TiO2 0.053 0.05 0.037 - 0.041 0.45 - 0.75
FeO tot. 8.58 8.45 5.19 - 12.85 10.81 - 12.23
MnO 0.08 0.07 0.10 - 0.15 0.06 - 0.09
MgO 35.72 36.83 9.07 - 19.09 34.75 - 36.00
CaO 1.73 2.10 16.10 - 19.89 2.40 - 2.99
Na2O 0.12 0.08 0.11 - 0.13 0.04 - 0.06
K2O 0.02 0.045 0.016 - 0.017 0.03 - 0.05
H2O 8.64 8.11 n.d. 1.78 - 5.48
LOI 16.11 10.88 24.8 - 25.33 10.72 -17.13
Total 99.15 98.85 99.87 - 100.00 99.45 - 100.82
n.d.= not determined
given by Coleman (1971).
Similar conclusion ca-me
from the MgO/SiO2 values as
well as MgO, Al2O3, Cr2O3,
and SiO2 weight contents
typical of harzburgite (Fig. 7),
as evidenced by Grohman et
al. (1982) for serpentinites
occuring elsewhere.
The major element con-tents
and LOI data of altered
serpentinite rocks were com-
pared with those of fresh ser-
Fig. 6. Serpentinites from Mt. El-Rubshi (open circ- pentinite rocks (Table 1). It is
les) and Mt. El-Maiyit (filled circles) plotted on the concluded that the alteration
Ol–Opx–Cpx triangle of Le Maitre et al. (1989) for in Mt. El-Rubshi serpentinites
the ultramafic rocks classification. was more intensive than in
Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites.
This resulted in remarkable increase of calcium and, to a lesser extent, of total
iron, and in the decrease of magnesium concentration.

MAGNESITE VEINS

The mineralizations of magnesite at both Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit

localities occur as cryptocrystalline veins surrounded by a stockwork of fine
granular veinlets (Fig. 2). Cryptocrystalline magnesite veins occur in two
intersected sets, representing two generations of formation. At Mt. El-Rubshi

50
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

Fig. 7. Serpentinites from Mt. El-Rubshi (open circles) and Mt. El-Maiyit (filled circ-
les) plotted on the diagrams proposed by Grohman et al. (1982) for dunites, harzburgites
and lherzolites.

the older set strikes to N20ºW and dips 10ºNE, whereas at Mt. El-Maiyit it
strikes to NS and dips 50ºW. The younger set at Mt. El-Rubshi strikes to S65ºW
and dips 70ºSE and at Mt. El-Maiyit it strikes to N80ºW and dips 85ºSW. Three
kinds of magnesite veins in Mt. El-Rubshi were distinguished: 1) massive (Fig.
2d); 2) botryoidal and nodular (Fig. 2e), and 3) fractured and jointed (Fig. 2f),
whereas at Mt. El-Maiyit only massive (Fig. 2c), botryoidal and nodular veins
(Fig. 2c) were recognized. However, the magnesite occurrences may display
continuous transitions of one kind to another. Magnesite veins in Mt. El-Rubshi
and Mt. El-Maiyit range in thickness from 70 to 80 cm and from 30 to 90 cm,
and are from 7 to 45 m and from 10 to 30 m in length, respectively. Magnesite
is snowy-white or brownish, or grayish-white, the latter especially if it contains
dolomite. It has porcellaneous luster and conchoidal fracture.
Magnesite veins and veinlets occur in the shear and fracture zones of
serpentinites which are altered into soft, highly fractured, brown and reddish-
brown rocks forming zones restricted to the selvages and inside the magnesite
veins (Figs. 2b, c and d). The contacts of the vein lodes with host rocks are
sharp. The alteration zones range in thickness from few cms up to 2.5 m (Mt.
El-Rubshi) and from few cms up to 2 m (Mt. El-Maiyit). In each major vein, in
the places where it is surrounded by a stockwork of veinlets, the alteration
zones are locally lighter in colour. The alteration ranges from low to high and
this is indicated by the variation in colour from light brown to reddish brown.

Mineral composition

In the studies of the petrographical and mineralogical features of the magne-

site veins from Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit, the following methods and
procedures were used: microscope examination of the stained thin sections and
polished preparations, investigation of the HCl-insoluble residues with the
method proposed by Bisque and Lemish (1959), X-ray diffraction (XRD),
infrared spectroscopy (IR) and differential thermal analysis. The magnesite

51
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.
Table 2. Insoluble residue content in %, modal compositions and macroscope and
microscope characteristics of different ore types
Type
Mt. El-Rubshi
Massive, white with porcelain lustre.
Insoluble residue ranges from 0.22 to 1.70%
Magnesite
(av. 1.04%). Magnesite (up to 97%) occurs
as microcrystalline and interlocked aggre-
gates forming granular and mosaic textures.
Massive or botryoidal, white or pale gray,
lustre from dull to intermediate. Insoluble
Dolomite-magnesite
residue ranges from 0.19 to 5.19% (av.
1.86%) Magnesite (60–93%) occurs as
microcrystalline (0.1–0.8 mm) compact gra-
iny aggregates with vugs filled by dolomite
(4–35% of vein volume). Cryptocrystalline
variety has colloform texture. Iron oxides
occur as streaks or delinate cavities.
Massive, sometimes botroyidal. Gray to gra-
Dolomite·calcite·magnesite
yish and brownish white, dull to intermediate
lustre. The ranges of insoluble residue are
1.12–5.82% (av. 3.39%). Magnesite (40–
85%) occurs as cryptocrystalline aggregates
including clusters of microcrystalline mag-
nesite. Calcite (8–35%) and dolomite (5–
20%) fill and line in the magnesite ground-
mass. Iron oxides occurs as disseminated
magnetite or limonite stain.
Not found.
Dolomite-lizardite-magnesite
52
Mt. El-Maiyit
Massive, snow-white, with porcelain lus-
tre. Insoluble residue ranges from 0.89 to
3.22% (av. 2.11%). Magnesite (up to
95%) forms microcrystalline aggregates of
granular texture. It may occur as relatively
large (0.05–0.07 mm) sub- to anhedral
zoned grains, lining and filling cavities.
Massive, pale flesh- or grayish brown,
lustre dull. Insoluble residue ranges from
1.71 to 3.88% (av. 2.90%). Magnesite
(82–90%) forms compact grainy aggrega-
tes (0.3–0.85 mm). Dolomite (9–15%) fills
and lines cavities. Magnesite may occur as
anhedral zoned grains, usually are semi-
parallel in strips or as fibrous aggregates
perpendicular to the wall of the fractures.
Not found.
Massive, pale brown to grayish brown,
dull to intermediate lustre. The ranges of
insoluble residue are 11.12–13.87%, av.
12.41%. Magnesite (75–85%) occurs as
fine, saccharoidal and aggregated anhedral
grains and as cryptocrystalline irregular
clusters. Lizardite (8–12%) occurs as fine
small streaks and planes, occupying the Y-
shaped cracks among iron oxide remnants.
Dolomite (5–10%) occurs as disseminated
sub- to anhedral fine grains in the
magnesite groundmass and sometimes
lines and fills vugs. Iron oxides are
remarkably present as massive aggregates
or as disseminated grains, composed
mostly of magnetite.
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

Massive, sometimes strongly fractured, Massive, sometimes botroyidal, pale gray,

grayish-white with dull lustre. Insoluble dull to intermediate lustre. Insoluble resi-
Lizardite-dolomite-magnesite

residue ranges from 1.14 to 10.47% (av.
6.50%) Magnesite (60–90%) occurs as
microcrystalline saccharoidal aggregates
(grain size 0.2-0.7 mm) and rarely as
cryptocrystalline clusters. Dolomite (6–15%)
occurs as relatively large (1.5–1.8 mm) sub
to anhedral grains. Lizardite (4–10%) forms
massive pockets and stretched plates.
Not found.
Lizardite-magnesite
due ranges from 4.99 to 5.84% (av. 5.42
%). Magnesite (80–87%) occurs mostly
as microcrystalline saccharoidal aggrega-
tes. Sometimes, it forms sub- to anhedral
grains lining the cavities, or fibres and
needles perpendicular to the fractures and
vugs, or as wavy accumulations of collo-
form bands. Dolomite (10–13%) occurs as
relatively large sub- to anhedral grains.
Lizardite (2–5%) makes disseminated gra-
ins, streaky and platy inclusions.
Massive, white with porcelain lustre. The
ranges of insoluble residue are 5.05–

6.38%, av. 5.72%. Magnesite (85–90%)

occurs as equant, microcrystalline com-
pact aggregates. It may occur as coarse
(0.5–0.1 mm) sub- to euhedral grains lin-
ing fissures and cavities. Lizardite (10–
15%) forms streaks or platelets filling
cavities in the magnesite groundmass.

veins at Mt. El-Rubshi are composed of magnesite, dolomite, calcite, lizardite

and scarce amounts of talc (in one sample), whereas at Mt. El-Maiyit they con-
sist of magnesite, dolomite and lizardite. On the basis of predominance of mag-
nesite and associated minerals, four different ore types in the Mt. El-Rubshi ma-
gnesite veins (essentially magnesite; dolomite-magnesite; dolomite-calcite-ma-
gnesite and lizardite-dolomi-
te-magnesite types) and five
ore types in the Mt. El-Maiyit
vein (essentially magnesite;
dolomite-magnesite; dolomi-
te-lizardite-magnesite; lizardi-
te-magnesite and lizardite-
dolomite-magnesite types)
have been distinguished (Ta-
ble 2, Figs. 8 and 9).

X-ray diffraction data

The XRD patterns of diffe-

rent vein filling types were
compared with data of Pow- Fig. 8. Modal analyses of magnesite veins from
der Diffraction File (1992) of Mt. El-Rubshi (squares) and Mt. El-Maiyit
the ICDD. The estimated (circles) in volume percent.

53
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

Fig. 9. Minerals of the magnesite veins: a – colloform magnesite contacting with rhom-
bohedral dolomite (dolomite-magnesite type, Mt. El-Rubshi); b – granular dolomite in a
fissure in cryptocrystalline magnesite with amorphous iron hydroxides (dolomite-mag-
nesite type, Mt. El-Maiyit); c – cryptocrystalline magnesite, microcrystalline dolomite
grains (both light) and calcite (dark), stained thin section (dolomite-calcite-magnesite
type, Mt. El-Rubshi); d – clusters of rhombohedral carbonate in pores in grainy magne-
site (dolomite-calcite-magnesite type, Mt. El-Rubshi); e – lizardite fibres in pores within
aggregate of rhombohedral carbonates (dolomite-lizardite-magnesite type, Mt. El-
Maiyit); f – thin crenulated cover of clay mineral relics on microcrystalline magnesite
(lizardite-dolomite-magnesite type, Mt. El-Rubshi). Photos a–c taken under optic
microscope, scale bars 0.5 mm, photos d–f made by SEM, scale bars 10 µm.
abundance of magnesite and gangue minerals composing magnesite veins is
different (cf. Table 2). Magnesite exhibits its most characteristic reflections in
Mt. El-Rubshi veins at the following d values (here and later in Å, arranged
according to decreasing intensities): 2.77, 2.12, 1.72, 1.96, 1.78, 2.53, and 2.33;

54
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

In the Mt. El-Maiyit veins the values are: 2.78, 2.12, 1.70, 1.34, 1.95, 2.53,
1.36, 1.25, 1.77 and 2.33. Dolomite in the Mt. El-Rubshi veins is identified by
its reflections at d 2.94, 1.81, 2.22 and 2.03, whereas it is characterized only
by one reflection 2.97 inthe Mt. El-Maiyit veins. Calcite in the Mt. El-Rubshi
veins is identified by most intense reflections 3.06, 1.88, 1.92, 2.29, 2.52 and
1.61. Lizardite is detected in both Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit magnesite
veins by characteristic reflections 3.65 and 7.36.

Infrared absorption data

The infrared absorption spectral curves of different ore types were compared
with those published by Adler and Kerr (1963), Olphen and Fripiat (1979),
Whenshi et al. (1985) and Dubrawski et al. (1989).
There are four absorption bands of the CO32- resonator. They are represented
by very sharp ν2 and ν4 bands related with the out-of-plane and in-plane
bending mode of carbonate ion respectively, two broad bands ν3 due to
asymmetric internal stretching mode and ν6 caused by lattice vibration
(Dubrawski et al. 1989). The following absorption bands were identified (the
first range refers to the samples from Mt. El-Rubshi and the second one – to the
samples from Mt. El-Maiyit): ν3 at 1452–1520 and 1450–1490 cm-1, ν2 at 882–
884 and 881–884 cm-1, v4 at 743–745 and 745–748 cm-1, ν6 at 395–438 and
382–403 cm-1. The spectra display stronger and sharper bands in magnesite than
in its mixtures with other minerals. When comparing the obtained absorption
spectra with those reported in the literature, significant shifts were observed in
the studied samples due to Ca2+ substitution in magnesite. These shifts for the
magnesite samples from the Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit veins respectively
are as follows: larger shifts in bands ν3 (12–80 and 10–42 cm-1) and ν6 (17–60
and 2–4 cm-1), and smaller shifts in bands ν2 (2–3 cm-1) and ν4 (from –1 to +1
cm-1).
The absorption bands of lizardite are at 300–303 and 300–306 cm-1, 561–576
and 565–570 cm-1, 622 and 619 cm-1, 964–992 and 990–995 cm-1, and at 1076–
1084 and 1078-1081 cm-1 in the samples from the Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-
Maiyit veins, respectively. These bands correspond to the Si–O and Mg–O
vibration modes. The absorption band 3668-3682 cm-1 (samples from the Mt.
El-Rubshi veins) and 3670-3675 cm-1 (samples from the Mt. El-Maiyit veins)
are attributed to O–H stretching vibration (Luce 1971).

Differential thermal analysis data

Thermal curves of different mineral filling types of the veins were compared
with those reported by Kulp et al. (1951) and Banerjee et al. (1970).
Differential thermal curves (DTA) of magnesite veins show that complete
decomposition of MgCO3 starts approximately at 380-415˚C and at 350–440˚C,

55
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

and is almost finished at 589–614˚C and at 620–630˚C in the Mt. El-Rubshi and
Mt. El-Maiyit veins, respectively. The temperature of MgCO3 decomposition
and the symmetry of endothermic peaks increase with decrease of the sample
particle size. Besides, the intensity of the endothermic peak is directly
proportional to the content of magnesite.
Shallow endothermic peaks in temperature ranges 747–763˚C and 747–
800˚C, appearing due to the decomposition of dolomite admixture, were de-
tected in magnesite of Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit veins, respectively. The
intensities of these peaks are proportional to the dolomite contents. The
decomposition of calcite in magnesite veins of Mt. El-Rubshi is indicated by
moderate asymmetric broad endothermic peak at 828˚C.
The samples from the different types of the magnesite veins do not show any
thermal effects in the temperature range 1000 to 1100˚C, what is an indication
of absence of the polymorphic changes of MgO up to 1100˚C (Banerjee et al.
1970). The lack of exothermic peaks indicates small amounts of FeO and SiO2
(Banerjee et al. 1970) in magnesite veins.
Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves
are smooth, indicating gradational weight loss. The first weight loss of 29–43 %
(samples from the Mt. El-Rubshi magnesite veins) and of 37.9–45.5 % (samples
from the Mt. El-Maiyit magnesite veins) is due to magnesite decomposition at
temperatures 600–650˚C and 336–628˚C. The weight loss of 1–15 % and 3.5–
5.2 % results from the decomposition of dolomite in temperature ranges 700–
775˚C and 593–876˚C.

Chemical compositions of minerals

Magnesite. The average structural formulae of magnesite in Mt. El-Maiyit

and Mt. El-Rubshi veins are: Mg11.58Ca0.19Mn0.03Fe2+0.02Ni0.001(CO3)12 and
Mg11.46Ca0.32Fe2+0.02Mn0.004Ni0.001(CO3)12. They reflect the substitution of Mg by
mainly calcium, moreover by ferrous iron, manganese and nickel. The Cr and
Ni enrichment in magnesite is due to admixture of other trace mineral phases
derived from parent ultramafic rocks (Möller 1989a). The correlation of Mn and
Fe in the studied magnesite veins with those in cryptocrystalline, sparry and
evaporite magnesites reported by Martiny and Rojković (1977) indicates that
the studied magnesite belongs to cryptocrystalline type (cf. Fig.12).
Dolomite. The average calculated formulae of dolomite in Mt. El-Rubshi
and Mt. El-Maiyit magnesite veins are Ca6.04Mg5.86Na0.12Fe2+0.003Mn0.001(CO3)24
and Ca6.07Mg5.79Na0.20Fe2+0.004Mn0.001(CO3)24. They reflect minor substitution of
Mg2+ and Ca2+ by Fe2+, Na+ and Mn2+.
Lizardite. The chemical composition of serpentines in magnesite veins fits to
the composition of lizardite given by Moody (1976) and Wicks and Plant
(1979); this confirms the identification made by the XRD analysis by the
present authors. The calculated average formulae of lizardite in the Mt. El-

56
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit magnesite veins are: (Mg4.22Fe2+0.35 Ni0.01 Mn0.01)(Si3.43
Al0.01)O10(OH)8 and (Mg5.00Fe2+0.09Ni0.01Na0.06Cr0.01)(Si3.39 Al0.04)O10(OH)8.
Chromite. This mineral was detected within serpentinite fragments in the
magnesite veins at Mt El-Rubshi. Chromite has average crystallochemical
formula (Fe2+1.99Mg0.97)(Cr5.04Al0.70Fe3+0.26)O16; it is chemically homogeneous
and its composition is similar to that of the chromite in unaltered serpentinites
(Hamdy 1997). This suggests that a strong alteration of serpentinites was not
required for the formation of magnesite veins in the considered place, the
components of the veins, including magnesium, could migrate from other
regions. The studied chromite represent the aluminian variety, according to the
classification of Stevens (1944), and is of Alpine type as it appears from the
Mg/(Mg+Fe2+) and Fe3+/(Cr+Al+Fe3+) values after Irvine and Findly (1972).

Table 3. Average chemical compositions of the magnesite veins

Vein type
Components,

dolo-
dolomite
mite- lizardite- lizardite
wt %

dolomite- -calcite-
magnesite lizardite dolomite- -mag-
magnesite mag-
-mag- magnesite nesite
nesite
nesite
Locali- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El- Mt. El-
zation Rubshi Maiyit Rubshi Maiyit Rubshi Maiyit Rubshi Maiyit Maiyit
SiO2 0.37 0.62 0.61 1.14 1.78 7.20 3.78 1.49 1.75
Al2O3 0.02 0.08 0.03 0.02 0.05 0.36 0.21 0.01 0.01
FeOtot. 0.11 0.28 0.05 0.13 0.09 4.19 2.37 0.34 0.13
MnO 0.02 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.06 0.07 0.04 0.03
MgO 43.44 44.69 43.11 41.87 17.43 33.60 34.52 41.33 43.90
CaO 1.18 1.22 4.67 2.84 25.72 6.09 7.17 3.06 2.36
K2O 0.06 0.04 0.03 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.06
LOI 54.32 52.85 51.00 53.50 54.81 48.50 51.81 53.5 51.5
Total 99.51 99.95 99.55 99.72 99.98 100.24 100.04 99.88 99.77
Trace elements, ppm
Cr 38 20 40 105 100 300 1150 130 70
Ni 52 25 65 130 80 180 400 40 90
Ti 115 135 210 63 180 100 95 78 60
Na 98 288 68 465 510 697 354 147 99

Magnetite. In the magnesite veins, this oxide occurs within serpentinite

fragments. Magnetite in the veins of Mt. El-Rubshi is homogeneous of average
composition of (Fe2+3.77Mg0.17Ni0.05Ca0.01)(Fe3+7.83Al0.04)O16, whereas in the Mt.
El-Maiyit veins it is inhomogeneous, ranging from Mn-poor variety with the
composition (Fe2+3.64Mg0.23Ni0.165Mn0.005Ca0.005)(Fe3+7.4Cr0.255Al0.04)O16 to the
Mn-rich one (Fe2+2.73Mg0.43Mn0.78Ca0.04Ni0.02)(Fe3+7.73 Cr0.005Al0.03)O16.

57
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

Geochemical characteristics

Table 3 lists the averages of chemical compositions of different ore types in

magnesite veins of the Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinite bodies.
The average contents of major oxides in the Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit
magnesite veins are as follows: MgO 37.19% (with a minimum of 17.43% re-
corded in dolomite-calcite-magnesite vein, and a maximum of 45.1% in dolomi-
te-magnesite vein) and 41.71% (with a minimum of 33.60% recorded in dolo-
mite-lizardite-magnesite vein, and a maximum of 45.09% in magnesite vein).
The mean contents of CaO amount to 7.39% (with a minimum of 7.71% in
lizar-dite-dolomite-magnesite ve-in, and a maximum of 25.72% in dolomite-
calcite-magnesite vein) and 2.8% (with a minimum of 1.22% in magnesite vein,
and a maximum of 6.09% in dolomite-lizardite-magnesi-te vein). The average
con-tents of SiO2 are 1.61 (with a minimum of 0.15% in essentially magnesite
vein, and a maximum of 4.32% in lizardite-dolomite-magnesite vein) and
1.99% (with a minimum of 0.3% in essentially magnesite vein, and a maximum
of 7.20% in dolomite-lizardite-magnesite vein). The mean FeOtot contents are
0.73% (with a minimum of 0.02% recorded in dolomite-magnesite vein, and a
maximum of 3.1% in lizardite-dolomite-magnesite vein) and 0.78% (with a
minimum of 0.09% in dolomite-magnesite vein, and a maximum of 4.19% in
dolomite-lizardite-magnesite vein).
Comparing the average concentrations of chromium, nickel and titanium in
the different studied magnesite veins with those given by Möller (1989a), it is
concluded that these magnesite veins are the products of low-temperature
alteration of ultramafic rocks.

Table 4. Selected element ratios for magnesite accumulations

Element ratios Medians (Rösler, Lange 1972) Medians, this study

by weight Cryptocrystalline Metamorphic Mt. El-Rubshi Mt. El-Maiyit
Fe/Mg 2×10-4 4×10-1 2.3×10-2 2.6×10-2
-4 -3
Mn/Mg 4×10 – 1.1×10 1.2×10-3
Cr/Mg 1×10-4 2×10-3 1.8×10 -3
4.6×10-4
Ni/Mg 2×10-4 2×10-4 8.1×10 -4
3×10-4

Table 4 presents the average Cr/Mg, Fe/Mg and Mn/Mg values in magnesite
veins of Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit serpentinites, compared to those of
cryptocrystalline and metamorphic magnesites after Rösler and Lange (1972).
The data indicate, that the studied magnesite approach in this context rather the
cryptocrystalline type of magnesites from other localities or to magnesite
accumulations formed in metamorphic processes (Rösler, Lange 1972).
However, our data extend the field of the above element ratios for the
cryptocrystalline magnesite, as visible from the plot of the iron versus
manganese contents (Fig. 10).

58
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

SERPENTINIZATION
AND FORMATION
OF MAGNESITE

Pseudomorphic textures of
fresh serpentinite host rocks
are characteristic of allofacial
ultramafic rocks belonging to
ophiolites (Bucher, Frey 1994)
formed by retrograde meta-
morphism of low to high static
type as indicated by mono-
mineral composition of lizar-
Fig. 10. Iron versus manganese contents in the dite clusters (Wicks 1984).
studied magnesites, compared to cryptocrystalline These rocks were formed from
magnesite (Rösler, Lange 1972) and sparry mag- a peridotite-type protolith of
nesite (Martiny, Rojković 1977) from various loca- harzburgite composition, as
lities in the area of Slovakia
confirmed by their petrogra-
phic and geochemical features.
The altered serpentinite rocks were formed from olivine-rich protolith as
indicated by abundance of pseudomorphic structure with abundant hourglass
pseudomorphs of serpentine after olivine. The pseudomorphic textures were
replaced by non-pseudomorphic ones; this is an indication of recrystallization of
the original pseudomorphic serpentinites (Wicks, O’Hanley 1988).
When discussing the genesis of Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit magnesite
veins, the following observations must be considered:
1) almost monomineral magnesite veins with sharp boundaries occur within
both altered and relatively fresh serpentinites;
2) magnesite is predominantly cryptocrystalline;
3) silica minerals are absent and talc is very scarce in the veins;
4) rare angular to subangular fragments of host rocks are encountered within
the magnesite veins but restricted to their margins;
5) chromite and magnetite, which are common in host rocks occur in
magnesite veins only within the host rock fragments;
6) carbonate veinlets in altered host rocks are composed of magnesite,
dolomite and calcite;
7) evidences of shrinkage were not found in magnesite;
8) brucite or any hydrous magnesium carbonate minerals are absent in the
magnesite veins.
The above mentioned results of field and laboratory investigations could
favor the following origin of the magnesite in question:
a) The cryptocrystalline texture of magnesite indicates that the input of the

59
 MOHAMED F. GHONEIM ET AL.

CO2-rich fluids must have been fairly rapid causing the abundant precipitation
of magnesite from solutions (Jancić, Grootsholten 1984; Abu-Jaber, Kimberley
1992) under near-surface conditions (Abu-Jaber, Kimberley, op.cit) at
temperature below 300ºC as indicated by absence or very scarce occurrence of
talc (Johannes 1970);
b) The presence of angular fragments of host rocks and no other relics of
serpentinites including spinels in magnesite veins suggest that magnesite was
not formed by metasomatosis of the serpentinite rocks, but it precipitated from
ascending solutions rich in Mg2+ (Dulski, Morteani 1989, Pohl 1990). This is
also confirmed by the comparison of Cr/Mg, Fe/Mg and Mn/Mg ratios with
those reported by Rösler and Lange (1972). Most likely, the alteration of
serpentinite rocks was the source of magnesium in the vein fillings.
As the dolomite and calcite are filling cavities and fissures in magnesite
veins, they had to form after the main process of magnesite crystallization
ended. According to the T-X diagram of Johannes (1970), two factors
controlled the formation of dolomite and calcite. These factors are temperature
and the ratio Ca/(Ca+Mg) in mineralizing fluids. The increase of Ca/(Ca+Mg)
value of the parent fluids due to magnesite crystallization as well as the
decrease of temperature caused crystallization of dolomite and calcite.

CONCLUSIONS

The precipitation of magnesite in Mt. El-Rubshi and Mt. El-Maiyit

serpentinites most probably occurred after serpentinization, near the Earth’s
surface. The temperature of magnesite precipitation was less than 300˚C as
indicated by cryptocrystalline textures and very minor presence or absence of
talc. The alteration of serpentinites yielded significant amounts of available
magnesium. Regional metamorphism of the surrounding organic-matter-rich
shales could produce carbon dioxide in quantities sufficient to crystallization of
the described magnesite in veins. This suggestion of carbon source needs
further confirmation, e.g. from the studies of stable carbon isotopes. However,
the upper mantle origin of this gas should also be taken into account.

Acknowledgement. The manuscript benefited from discussion with Docent Dr

hab. Nonna Bakun-Czubarow (Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish
Academy of Sciences).

Received: May 2002.

Accepted: September 2003.

60
 MAGNESITE VEINS IN SERPENTINITE FROM EGYPT

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