Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geologic Characteristics and Genetic Problems Associated with the Development of Granite-Hosted Deposits of Tantalum and Niobium

  • Conference paper
Lanthanides, Tantalum and Niobium

Part of the book series: Special Publication No. 7 of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits ((MINERAL DEPOS.,volume 7))

Abstract

Granite-hosted deposits of tantalum and niobium form massive or sheetlike zones of disseminated mineralization in the upper portions of some geochemically specialized granite plutons. Such mineralization usually reaches a maximum in association with albite and fluorite (±lithium)-rich zones in small, late-stage intrusions. These zones are formed in some cases by crystallization of fluorine-rich magmas, and in other cases may result from postmagmatic alteration.

The detailed textural and timing information required to assess the influence of magmatic and postmagmatic processes in the development of these deposits is lacking in many cases. Two major genetic models for mineralization envisage metal accumulation to result either from enrichment within the upper portion of a zoned magma chamber at the magmatic stage, or by leaching from lower levels of the granite with precipitation in the upper levels at the postmagmatic stage. Further detailed mineralogical, textural, geochemical and isotopic studies are required before the relative importance of these alternatives can be fully assessed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Beus AA (1962) Wall rock alterations of hydrothermal-pneumatolytic deposits of rare elements. Int Geol Rev 4: 1144–1153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beus AA (1970) Metasomatic zoning in deposits of rare elements of the albitite formation. In: Pouba Z Stemprok M (eds) Problems of hydrothermal ore deposition. Int Union Geol Sci Ser A, 2. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart, pp 325-329

    Google Scholar 

  • Beus AA (1982) Metallogeny of Precambrian rare-metal granitoids. Rev Bras Geosci 12: 410–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Beus AA, Zalashkova N Ye (1964) Postmagmatic high temperature metasomatic processes in granitic rocks. Int Geol Rev 6: 668–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beus AA, Severov EA, Sitnin AA, Subbotin RD (1962) Albitized and greisenized granites (apogranites). Academic Science Press, Moscow, 194 pp (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth B (1968) Petrogenetic significance of alkali feldspar megacrysts and their inclusions in Cornubian granites. Nature (London) 217: 1036–1038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowden P, Kinnaird JA (1978) Younger granites of Nigeria — a zinc-rich tin province. Trans IMM Sec B (Appl Earth Sci) 78: B66–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowden P, Kinnaird JA (1984) Geology and mineralization of the Nigerian anorogenic ring complexes. Geol Jahrb R B 56: 68 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen EH, Burt DM, Sheridan MF, Wilson RT (1983) The petrogenesis of topaz rhyolites from the western United States. Contrib Mineral Petrol 83: 16–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuney M, Autran A, Burnol L (1985) Premiers resultats apportés par le sondage GPF de 900m realisé sur le granite sodolithique et fluoré à minéralization disseminée de Beauvoir. Chron Rech Mineral 481: 59–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Dingwell DB (1985) The structure and properties of fluorine-rich silicate melts: implications for granite petrogenesis. In: Taylor RP, Strong DF (eds) Granite-related mineral deposits: geology, petrogenesis and tectonic setting (ext abs). CIM, Halifax, pp 72-79

    Google Scholar 

  • Dingwell DB, Scarfe CM (1983) Major element partitioning in the system haplogranite-HF-H2O: implications for leucogranites and high-silica rhyolites. EOS 64: 312

    Google Scholar 

  • Drysdall AR, Jackson NJ, Ramsay CR, Douch CJ, Hackett H (1984) Rare element mineralization related to Precambrian alkali granites in the Arabian Shield. Econ Geol 79: 1366–1377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garson MS, Mitchell AHG (1975) The geology of the tin belt in Peninsular Thailand around Phuket, Phangnga and Takua Pa Inst Geol Sci Overseas Mem 1: 112 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginzberg AI, Fel’dman LG (1977) Deposits of tantalum and niobium. In Smirnov VI (ed) Ore deposits of the USSR, Vol. 3. Pitman, London, pp 372-424

    Google Scholar 

  • Hards NJ (1976) Distribution of elements between the fluid phase and the silicate melt phase of granites and nepheline syenites. NERC Rep Progr Exp Petrol 3: 88–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu S, Cao X, Yan Z, Ouyan Z (1984) The relations between H-Na-K metasomatic alterations and Li-Nb-Ta metallizations of the granite No 414 in south China. 27th Int Geol Congr (preprint)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy GC (1950) A portion of the system silica-water. Econ Geol 45: 629–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinnaird JA (1985) Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization of the alkaline anorogenic ring complexes of Nigeria. J Afr Earth Sci 3: 229–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinnaird JA, Bowden P, Ixer RA, Odling NWA (1985) Mineralogy, geochemistry and mineralization of the Ririwai complex, northern Nigeria. J Afr Earth Sci 3: 185–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosakevitch A (1976) Evolution de 1a minéralization en Li, Ta et Nb dans la coupole granitique de Beauvoir (massif d’Echassiéres, Allier). BRGM, Orleans, 72 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Koval PV, Yurchenko SA, Nicolayeva DKh (1971) Paragenetic types of muscovite from apogranites of Transbaykal. Int Geol Rev 13: 1233–1241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koval PV, Kovalenko VI, Kuz’min MI, Pisarskaya VA, Yurchenko SA (1972) Mineral parageneses, composition and nomenclature of micas in rare metal and albite-bearing granitoids. Dokl Acad Sci USSR Earth Sci Sec 202: 163–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalenko VI (1978) The genesis of rare metal granitoids and related ore deposits. In: Stemprok M, Burnol L, Tischendorf G (eds) Metallization associated with acid magmatism. Geol Surv (Prague) 3: 235: 258

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalenko VI, Kovalenko NI (1984) Problems of the origin, ore-bearing and evolution of rare-metal granitoids. Phys Earth Planet Int 35: 51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovalenko VI, Kuz’min MI, Letnikov FA (1970) Magmatic origin of lithium-and fluorine-bearing rare-metal granite. Dokl Acad Sci USSR Earth Sci Sec 190: 189–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalenko VI, Kuz’min MI, Antipin VS, Petrov LL (1971) Topaz-bearing quartz keratophyre (ongonite), a new variety of subvolcanic igneous vein rock. Dokl Acad Sci USSR Earth Sci Sec 199: 132–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagache M, Weisbrod A (1977) The system: two alkali feldspars-KCl-NaCI-H2O at moderate to high temperatures and low pressures. Contrib Mineral Petrol 62: 77–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manning DAC (1981) The effect of fluorine on liquidus phase relationships in the system Qz-Ab-Or with excess water at 1 kb. Contrib Mineral Petrol 76: 206–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ontoev DO (1978) Relation of multi-stage deposits of tungsten, molybdenum and tin to the history of granitoid formation. In: Stemprok M, Burnol L, Tischendorf G (eds) Metallization associated with acid magmatism. Geol Serv (Prague) 3: 97-108

    Google Scholar 

  • Pichavant M (1983) (Na, K) exchange between alkali feldspars and aqueous solutions containing borate and fluoride anions, experimental results at P= lkbar. 3rd NATO Adv Stud Inst Feldspars and feldspathoids, Rennes, p 102

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollard PJ, Taylor RG (1986) Progressive evolution of alteration and tin mineralization: controls by interstitial permeability and fracture-related tapping of magmatic fluid reservoirs in tin granites. Econ Geol 81: 1795–1800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon JR, Walker BM, Carten RB, Geraghty EP (1982) Unidirectional solidification textures and their significance in determining relative ages of intrusions at the Henderson Mine, Colorado. Geology 10: 293–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shcherba GN (1970) Greisens. Int Geol Rev 12: 114–150, 239-255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone M, Austin WGC (1961) The metasomatic origin of the potash feldspar megacrysts in the granites of southwestern England. J Geol 69: 464–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syritso LF, Chernik LN (1967) Evolution in accessory mineral paragenesis during metasomatic alteration of granites in eastern Transbaikalia massifs. Int Geol Rev 9: 814–827

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syritso LF, Zalashkova, NYe, Zorina ML, Sokolova YeP (1971) Micas in metasomatically altered granites of the acid series. Int Geol Rev 13: 717–729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor RG (1979) Geology of tin deposits. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 543 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor RG, Pollard PJ (1987) Pervasive hydrothermal alteration in tin-bearing granites and implications for the evolution of ore-bearing magmatic fluids. In: Taylor RP, Strong DF (eds) Recent advances in the geology of granite-related mineral deposits. CIM Spec Vol 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyart J, Sabatier G (1955) Solubilité du quartz dans les solutions de sels alcalins sous pression au-dessus de la température critique. CR Acad Sci 240: 2157–2159

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalashkova NYe, Sitnin AA (1967) Features of the distribution of rare elements in tantalum-bearing apogranites and biotite granites. Geochem Int 4: 1013–1025

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, 4811, Australia

    P. J. Pollard

Authors
  1. P. J. Pollard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bereich Kernchemie und Reaktor, Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin GmbH, Postfach 390128, D-1000, Berlin 30, Germany

    Peter Möller

  2. Department of Earth Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

    Petr Černý

  3. Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, B.P. 20, F-54501, Vandoevre les Nancy Cedex, France

    Francis Saupé

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Pollard, P.J. (1989). Geologic Characteristics and Genetic Problems Associated with the Development of Granite-Hosted Deposits of Tantalum and Niobium. In: Möller, P., Černý, P., Saupé, F. (eds) Lanthanides, Tantalum and Niobium. Special Publication No. 7 of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, vol 7. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87262-4_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87262-4_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-87264-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-87262-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation