Fenitized Wall Rock Geochemistry of the First Carbonatite Dyke at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China
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We are grateful for General Manager Li Chunlong, Former Manager Zhang Guozhong, Senior Engineer Liu Jianyong, Mining and Smelting College, Bayan Obo Iron Mine of Baotou Iron and Steel (Group) Ltd. Company for providing assistance in the field work. We thank senior engineers Wang Hongyue, Xue Dingshuai and Liu Yanhong for helping with major element analysis and Prof. Zhou Xinhua for his help in improve the manuscript. Special acknowledgements are given to Prof. Zhang Peishan for his help in conducting this study. The study was financially supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant No. 41372081).

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    Abstract:

    The first carbonatite dyke at Bayan Obo is well exposed on the surface for a length and width of approximately 60 m and 1.1–1.5 m, respectively. Along its strike, the fenitized H1 (Qs) and H2 (Cs) quartzite is replaced by Na-amphiboles, aegirines, and alkali-feldspars, intermittently stretching as far away as 800 m in length. Based on petrographical characteristics, the dyke’s fenitized wall rocks are divisible into different zones: (1) outer, (2) middle, and (3) inner. The outer zone is 5–17 m from the NW margin of the dyke. The middle zone is located at 3.5–5 m from the NW margin of the dyke. The inner contact zone is located between direct contact with the dyke and 3.5 m from the dyke. In the outer zone, upon visual examination, no evidence of outcrop fenitization was found and the major elemental rock composition is nearly identical to the unaltered H1 and H2 lithologies. In the thin sections, however, small amounts of Na-amphibole and phlogopite are present. Despite relatively poor development throughout the 5 m of fenitization, the wall rocks have retained at least a small geochemical signature comparable to the original sedimentary protolith. The fenites occurring in the inner zone exhibit distinct variations, not only for the sharp contact at the outcrop scale, but also for variations in major, rare earth elements (REE), and trace elements and Sm-Nd isotope composition. The wall rocks within 3.5 m have undergone strong fenitization, inheriting the geochemical signature derived from the carbonatite dyke. Fenitization in the middle zone was not as strong, at least compared to the inner zone, but was stronger than the outer zone. Compared to some trace elements and REEs, the major elements are relatively immobile during fenitization. The Sm-Nd isotope data for the carbonatite dyke and the adjacent fenitized wall rocks, where the Sm and Nd originate solely from the dyke, plots as a six-point isochron with an age of 1308±56 Ma. This age is identical to that of ore-bearing dolomite carbonatite and the related ore-forming events, indicating that there may be a petrogenetic link between the two. Based on Sr and Nd isotope compositional data, the first carbonatite dyke may be derived from an enriched mantle.

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WANG Kaiyi, ZHANG Jien, YU Liangjun, FANG Aimin, DONG Ce, HU Fuyou.2018. Fenitized Wall Rock Geochemistry of the First Carbonatite Dyke at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica(),92(2):600-613

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History
  • Received:January 12,2018
  • Revised:February 20,2018
  • Adopted:
  • Online: April 24,2018
  • Published: