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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
USGS1967

Borate mineral assemblages in the system Na2O-CaO-MgO-B2O3-H2O

The significant known hydrated borate mineral assemblages (principally of the western United States) in the system Na 2 O-CaO-MgO-B 2 O 3- H 2 O are expressible in three ternary composition diagrams. Phase rule interpretation of the diagrams is consistent with observation, if the activity of H 2 O is generally considered to be determined by the geologic environment. The absence of conflicting tie-lines on a diagram indicates that the several mineral assemblages of the diagram were formed under relatively narrow ranges of temperature and pressure. The known structural as well as empirical formulas for the minerals are listed, and the more recent (since 1960) crystal structure findings are discussed briefly. Schematic Gibbs free energy-composition diagrams based on known solubility-temperature relations in the systems Na 2 B 4 O 7 -H 2 O and Na 2 B 4 O 7 -NaCl-H 2 O, are highly useful in the interpretation and prediction of the stability relations in these systems; in particular these diagrams indicate clearly that tincalconite, although geologically important, is everywhere a metastable phase. Crystal-chemical considerations indicate that the same thermodynamic and kinetic behavior observed in the Na 2 B 4 O 7 -H 2 O system will hold in the Ca 2 B 6 O 11 -H 2 O system. This conclusion is confirmed by the petrologic evidence. The chemical relations among the mineral assemblages of a ternary diagram are expressed by a schematic “activity-activity” diagram. These activity-activity diagrams permit the tracing-out of the paragenetic sequences as a function of changing cation and H 2 O activities.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1967

Fractionation of rare-earth elements in allanite and monazite as related to geology of the Mt. Wheeler mine area, Nevada

Rare-earth contents of 20 allanites and 13 monazites, accessory minerals from a restricted outcrop area of intrusive granitic rocks, are reported. A quantity called sigma (Σ), which is the sum of the atomic percentages of La, Ce and Pr, is used as an index of composition with respect to the rare-earth elements. Values of sigma vary from 61.3 to 80.9 at.% for these allanites and monazites, representing an appreciable range of composition in terms of the rare-earth elements. Degree of fractionation of rare earths varies directly with CaO content of the granitic rocks, which in turn depends largely on proximity of limestone. Four xenoliths included in the study suggest that spotty mosaic equilibria are superimposed on the regional gradients and that locally the degree of fractionation of rare earths responds to whole rock composition over distances of a few yards or less. The chemistry of the granitic rocks under study appears to be similar in some respects to that of alkalio rocks and carbonatites. Allanites from the most calcium-rich rocks show a pronounced concentration of the most basic rare earths, and whole-rock concentrations of such rare constituents as total cerium earths, Zr, F, Ti, Ba and Sr increase sympathetically with whole-rock calcium. The explanation for the concentration gradients observed in this chemical system must involve assimilation more than magmatic differentiation.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1967

A low pressure investigation of the stability of phlogopite

Phlogopite reacts to form orthorhombic kalsilite, leucite, forsterite and fluid (H 2 O) at 1012 ± 7° C , 400 bars pressure, and 905 ± 5° C at 100 bars pressure. The heat of reaction is 39 ± 4 kcal compared to 44 ± 6kcal for the reaction of annite to form orthorhombic kalsilite, leueite, fayalite and fluid (H 2 O). The results are consistent with earlier experiments, but not with the interpretations of those experiments.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1967

K Ar and Rb Sr measurements on P-207, the U.S.G.S. interlaboratory standard muscovite

Potassium-argon analyses of P-207 in twenty-four laboratories and rubidium-strontium analyses in ten laboratories indicate that for material of this typo the average interlaboratory precision for KAr ages is 2.6% and for RbSr ages is 3.4%, and the average intralaboratory precision for KAr ages is 1.6% and for RbSr ages is 2.9%.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1967

Comparison of Macedon and Darwin glass

Chemical analyses are presented for major and minor elements in two specimens of natural glass reported from Macedon, Victoria, and are compared with new analyses of glass from Mt. Darwin, Tasmania. One specimen of Macedon glass is dark, the other light; both are spongy with relatively large cavities of size uncommon in Darwin glass. Some of the new analyses of Darwin glass extend considerably the compositional range previously reported for Mg, Ni and Co. The chemical composition of Macedon glass cannot be distinguished from that of Darwin glass for any of twenty-five elements investigated. It appears possible that the two specimens of glass reported from Macedon may represent either two mislabelled pieces of Darwin glass, or else a separate natural occurrence of Darwin glass 560 km north of Mt. Darwin.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1967

Petrology of eucrites, howardites and mesosiderites

The eucrite and howardite calcium-rich achondrites and many mesosiderites are considered as a coherent meteorite assemblage, their silicates consisting essentially of calciumpoor monoclinic and orthorhombic pyroxenes and calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar. The achondrites can be grouped according to their brecciated structure as follows: eucrites—unbrecciated and monomict brecciated achondrites; howardites—polymict brecciated achondrites. Many mesosiderites contain brecciated structures; they are distinguished from the achondrites by their large metallic fraction. The structure and composition of rock fragments in the breccias indicate a complicated sequence of events including magmatic differentiation, brecciation, recrystallization and refragmentation, and ejection from the parent body. Detailed mineralogical and chemical data suggest that the magmatic differentiation proceeded primarily by the separation of pyroxene from an ultrabasic parent material that had a much lower alkali content than ordinary chondrites. Magmatic crystallization took place in environments ranging from extrusive to deep-seated intrusive. Polymict breccias contain fragments with a wide variety of magmatic and recrystallization textures, which suggests that the breccias were formed either in very large or repeated fragmentation events. Monomict breccias contain fragments with a small range of similar magmatic textures, which suggests that these breccias were formed by small or single events. Petrographic evidence suggests that many of the breccias are impact breccias. Either in their original magmatic crystallization sites or in the sites of breccia accumulation, most of these meteorites apparently had a near-surface location prior to ejection from the parent body. Evidence obtained from eucrites, howardites and mesosiderites forms an important part of our understanding of the early evolution of the surface regions of their parent body. Chemical and oxidation conditions were different from those presently found in the Earth's crust and upper mantle, but the necessary conditions may have been present in the early history of the Earth. A lunar origin for eucrites, howardites and mesosiderites is proposed, but an asteroidal origin can not be presently excluded.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Activity product constant of cryolite at 25°C and one atmosphere using selective-ion electrodes to estimate sodium and fluoride activities

The activity product constant of cryolite (Na 3 AlF 6 ) at 25°C and 1 atm total pressure was calculated from data for solutions from which synthetic cryolite or mixtures of cryolite and a solid apparently related to ralstonite had precipitated. The activities of fluoride and of sodium were estimated using specific ion electrodes. The activity of Al 3+ was calculated from aluminum concentrations using equations which involve aluminum species existing in water solutions containing fluoride and hydroxide ions. For the reaction Na 3 AlF 6 ( c ) = 3 Na ( aq ) + + Al 3+ ( aq ) + 6 E - ( aq ) the activity product constant K so is 10 −33.84 , and the standard free energy of formation at 25°C is -745.4±1.0 kcal mole −1 . This latter is identical to a value from the literature which is based on calorimetric data. Although cryolite and related minerals are easily precipitated in the laboratory, their relative scarcity in nature suggests that the effect of influences, perhaps solutes other than those occurring in the structure, may inhibit or prevent the formation of cryolite.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Studies in the system MgO-SiO2-CO2-H2O(I): The activity-product constant of chrysotile

Chrysotile dissolves congruently in water according to the reaction: Mg 3 Si 2 O 6 ( OH ) 4 c + 5 H 2 O l = 3 Mg aq 2+ + 6 OH aq − + 2 H 4 SiO 4 aq . Experimental determination of the activity-product constant of chrysotile, K chr = [ Mg 2+ ] 3 [ OH − ] 6 [ H 4 SiO 4 aq ] 2 , at 90°C, yields the value of K chr = 10 −49.2 ± 10 0.5 . A synthetic sample and a natural sample from New Idria, California, were used in the determination. Values of K chr were calculated for temperatures ranging from 0°C to 200°C, using the thermochemical data of King et al . (1967) for chrysotile and antigorite, various solubility data for silica, and ionic partial molal heat capacities estimated by the method of criss and Cobble (1964a). K chr is 10 −54.1 at 0°C, rises to a maximum value of 10 −48.5 at approximately 135°C, and is 10 −49.1 at 200°C (all values for the three-phase system, chrysotile plus solution plus vapor). The calculated 90°C value is 10 −49.1 , in excellent agreement with the experimental value; for 25°C, the calculated value is 10 −50.8 .

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Variation of Nb-Ta, Zr-Hf, Th-U and K-Cs in two diabase-granophyre suites

Concentrations of Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Th, U and Cs have been determined in samples of igneous rocks representing the diabase-granophyre suites from Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, and Great Lake, Tasmania. Niobium and tantalum have a three to fourfold increase with differentiation in each of the suites. The chilled margin of the Great Lake intrusion contains half the niobium and tantalum content (5.3 ppm and 0.4 ppm, respectively) of the chilled basalt from Dillsburg (10 ppm and 0.9 ppm, respectively). The twofold difference between the suites is correlated with differences in their titanium content. The average Nb Ta "> NbTa ratios for each suite are similar: 13.5 for the Great Lake suite, and 14.4 for the Dillsburg suite. The zirconium content of the two suites is essentially the same and increases from 50 to 60 ppm in the chilled margins to 240–300 ppm in the granophyres. Hafnium is low in the early formed rocks (0.5 –1.5 ppm and achieves a maximum in the granophyres (5–8 ppm). The Zr Hf "> ZrHf ratio decreases from 68 to 33 with progressive differentiation. In the Dillsburg suite thorium and uranium increase from 2.6 ppm and 0.6 ppm, respectively, in the chilled samples to 11.8 ppm and 3.1 ppm in the granophyres. The chilled margin of the Great Lake suite contains 3.2 ppm thorium and 9.8 ppm uranium; the granophyre contains 11.2 ppm thorium and 2.8 ppm uranium. The average Th U "> ThU ratios of the Dillsburg and Great Lake suites are nearly the same—4.1 and 4.4, respectively. Within each suite the Th U "> ThU ratio remains quite constant. Cesium and the K Cs "> KCs ratio do not vary systematically in the Dillsburg suite possibly because of redistribution or loss of cesium by complex geologic processes. Except for the chilled margin of the Great Lake suite, the variation of Cs and the K Cs "> KCs ratio are in accord with theoretical considerations. Cesium increases from about 0.6 ppm in the lower zone to 3.5 ppm in the granophyre; the K Cs "> KCs ratio varies from 10 × 10 3 in the lower zone to 6 × 10 3 in the granophyre. A comparison of the abundance of some of these elements is made with those reported on oceanic tholeiites from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Trace elements with large ionic radii (Th, U, Cs) are present in significantly greater concentrations in the two continental tholeiitic series than in the oceanic tholeiites. However, this does not seem to be true for lithophilic elements of smaller ionic radii (Zr and Nb). These trace element distribution patterns, when considered with other minor element and isotopic studies, indicate that 1. crustal contamination does not entirely account for differences between continental and oceanic tholeiites, and 2. the oceanic tholeiites do not necessarily delimit the geochemical characteristics of the mantle.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Dissociation constants of KSO 4 - from 10°-50°C

A cell without liquid junction was used to obtain dissociation constants for the reaction: KSO 4 − = K + + SO 4 2− . At 10°, 25°, 38° and 50°C, values for K diss KSO 4 − are, respectively, 0.19 5 , 0.14 2 , 0.11 7 , and 0.09 5 . At 25°C, , and values for the KSO 4 − ion are −245.96 and −274.02 kcal mole −1 , and S ° is +42.3 cal mole −1 deg −1 .

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Isotope studies of dolomite formation under sedimentary conditions

Measurements of stable isotope abundances of the carbonate portion of the sediment in Deep Springs Lake, California, indicate the presence of at least three phases: a magnesian calcite, a primary sedimentary dolomite, and a detrital dolomite. The former two have isotopic compositions consistent with precipitation at isotopic equilibrium from waters of the lake area. The measured isotopic fractionation factor between sedimentary dolomite and its interstitial water is 1.0351, which is outside the range possible for calcite-water. This indicates that the dolomite has formed by direct crystallization from solution and not from a caloite precursor without further isotope exchange. Isotopic and X-ray evidence does not support the contention of Peterson et al . (1966) that Deep Springs Lake dolomite crystals grow by means of a calcite-like surface layer.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Spectrographic date on cores from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico

Average quantitative spectrographic data are presented for V, Ti, Zr, Ni, Co, Sc, Cr and La in the following Pacific deep-sea cores: siliceous ooze (3), red clay (6), volcanic mud (3), calcareous ooze (3) and one manganese nodule, and in 23 near-shore cores, mostly from the Gulf of Mexico.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1968

Distribution of manganese between coexisting biotite and hornblende in plutonic rocks

The distribution of manganese between coexisting biotite and hornblende for 80 mineral pairs from igneous rocks of diverse provenance (including Southern California, Sierra Nevada, Boulder, and Boulder Creek batholiths and the Jemez Mountains volcanics) has been determined by neutron activation analysis. Data on the distribution ratio ( K d = Mn hornblende Mn biotite "> Kd=MnhornblendeMnbiotite ) indicate that an equilibrium distribution of Mn is closely approached, though not completely attained, in most samples from plutonic environments. Comparison of K d values of mineral pairs with bulk chemical composition of host rocks reveals no correlation. Because initial crystallization temperatures vary with rock composition, the lack of correlation of composition with K d suggests that the equilibrium distribution of Mn between biotite and hornblende reflects exchange at subsolidus temperatures rather than initial crystallization temperatures. The highest K d values are for volcanic rocks, in which rapid quenching prevents subsolidus redistribution of Mn. For sample pairs from the Southern California and Sierra Nevada batholiths there is a positive correlation of K d with TiO 2 content of biotite. Though the evidence is not compelling, K d may also correlate with the rate of cooling and/or the presence or absence of sphene in the rock.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1969

Thermochemical study of the system Fe-As-S

The results of Toulmin and Barton (1964) for the Fe-S system have been combined with a series of new measurements on As-bearing assemblages in the 500°–850°C temperature range to derive data on the free energies, enthalpies, and entropies of formation for arsenopyrite, loellingite, orpiment, realgar, FeAs, and Fe 2 As. The enthalpies and free energies of formation of orpiment and realgar are only approximately one-half as large as indicated in recent compilations of thermochemical data ( Wagman et al ., 1965). Data are also presented for the covariation of activity of S 2 (g) with temperature and composition of the sulfur-arsenic liquid.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1969

U.S. Geological Survey standards-II. First compilation of data for the new U.S.G.S. rocks

Rock analyses, determinations of major and minor constituents, and determinations of 57 trace elements reported by analysts throughout the world are presented for the new series of U.S. Geological Survey rock samples. Averages for both the constituents generally reported in a rock analysis and the trace elements are given. Variances of the distributions of data by rock analysts for several oxides in G-2 are compared with similar variances for G-l.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1969

The isotopic composition of lead in potassium feldspars from some 1.0-b.y. old North American igneous rocks

The isotopic composition of lead and the uranium, thorium and lead concentrations in potassium feldspars are determined for more than 30 1.0-b.y. old North American igneous rocks. Samples representing a broad spectrum in petrographic type and mode of occurrence were chosen; an effort was made to include only rocks having well-documented ages from 950 to 1140 m.y. and showing minimal evidence of subsequent metamorphism. Most samples, including those from extensive terranes of contemporaneous age, have limited lead isotope variations ( Pb 206 Pb 204 = 16.74–17.38 "> Pb206Pb204= 16.74–17.38 ; Pb 207 Pb 204 = 15.39–15.59 "> Pb207Pb204= 15.39–15.59 ; Pb 208 Pb 204 = 36.38–37.10 "> Pb208Pb204= 36.38–37.10 ), which yield model ages close to the radiometric ages. Granite, pegmatite, and rhyolite from within the Grenville province of Canada and age-equivalent rocks of New York, Virginia, Texas, and Colorado and granophyric units associated with the Duluth Gabbro Complex of Minnesota are among the materials yielding this main isotopic spectrum. Several samples were encountered which had isotopic compositions very different from the above group. Lead showing a marked deficiency in radiogenic isotopes was found in two granitic bodies associated with older Labrador Trough rocks from Quebec, in a rapakivi granite from southern Nevada, and in a small granite stock from Mellen, Wisconsin. These occurrences all involve small intrusions of granite which lie near considerably older areas of basement rock. Model ages calculated from the Pb 206 Pb 204 "> Pb206Pb204 ratio are older than the age of the intrusions and approach the age of the host basement rock. Several possible interpretations are offered to explain the isotopic behavior encountered in this study. In particular, a “vertically differentiated crust” model is proposed which will account for both the main spectrum and the anomalous lead. The significance of lead isotopic studies in understanding crustal structure in continental regions is discussed.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1969

The relationship of the rare-earth composition of minerals to geological environment

It has been known for a long time that the composition of the lanthanides in minerals is controlled to a large degree by crystallo-chemical factors, but is also greatly influenced by changes in geological environment. In general, igneous rocks rich in silica are favourable for the concentration of the heavy lanthanides and yttrium; those low in silica and high in carbonate are favourable for the concentration of the light lanthanides. These generalizations are illustrated by summaries of the available data on monazite, sphene, and apatite from different geological environments. Apatite of marine sedimentary origin (a large potential source of rare earths) shows marked depletion of cerium, as has been noted previously for sea water.

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