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In the Variscan Schwarzwald metabasic rocks form small bodies included within anatectic plagioclase-biotite gneisses. Many metabasites first underwent an eclogite-facies metamorphism at about 2.0 GPa and 670–700 °C, resulting in the assemblage garnet + omphacite + rutile + quartz ± epidote ± amphibole ± kyanite. Since these eclogites are nearly free of an OH-bearing phase, they underwent almost complete dehydration during subduction, suggesting formation along an average to warm top-of-the-slab geotherm of 10–13 °C/km. The age of the Variscan high-P/high-T metamorphism is > 333 Ma. After partial exhumation from ~ 65 to ~ 15 km depth, the eclogites were overprinted under increasing activity of H2O by a number of retrograde reactions. The degree of this overprint under amphibolite-facies conditions (0.4–0.5 GPa/675–690 °C) was very different. Up to now, only retrograde eclogites have been found, but some samples still contain omphacite. Kyanite is at least partially transformed to aggregates of plagioclase + spinel ± corundum ± sapphirine. On the other hand, there are amphibolites that are extensively recrystallized and show the assemblage amphibole + plagioclase + ilmenite/titanite ± biotite ± quartz ± sulphides. The last relic phase that can be found in such otherwise completely recrystallized amphibolites is rutile. After the amphibolite-facies metamorphism at ~ 333 Ma, the metabasites underwent a number of low-temperature transformations, such as sericitization of plagioclase, chloritization of amphibole, and formation of prehnite. The intimate association of metabasite bodies with gneisses of dominantly meta-greywacke compositions suggests derivation from an active plate margin. This view is corroborated by bulk-rock geochemical data. Excluding elements that were mobile during metamorphism (Cs, Rb, Ba, K, Pb, Sr, U), the concentrations of the remaining elements in most of the metabasites are compatible with a derivation from island-arc tholeiites, back-arc basin basalts or calc-alkaline basalts. Only some samples have MORB precursor rocks.

The investigated mantle bodies from the External Ligurians (Groppo di Gorro and Mt. Rocchetta) show evidences of a complex evolution determined by an early high temperature metasomatism, due to percolating melts of asthenospheric origin, and a later metasomatism at relatively high temperature by hydrothermal fluids, with formation of rodingites. At Groppo di Gorro, the serpentinization and chloritization processes obliterated totally the pyroxenite protolith, whereas at Mt. Rocchetta relics of peridotite and pyroxenite protoliths were preserved from serpentinization. The rodingite parageneses consist of diopside ​+ ​vesuvianite ​+ ​garnet ​+ ​calcite ​+ ​chlorite at Groppo di Gorro and garnet ​+ ​diopside ​+ ​serpentine ​± ​vesuvianite ​± ​prehnite ​± ​chlorite ​± ​pumpellyite at Mt. Rocchetta. Fluid inclusion measurements show that rodingitization occurred at relatively high temperatures (264–334 ​°C at 500 ​bar and 300–380 ​°C at 1 ​kbar). Garnet, the first phase of rodingite to form, consists of abundant hydrogarnet component at Groppo di Gorro, whereas it is mainly composed of grossular and andradite at Mt. Rocchetta. The last stage of rodingitization is characterized by the vesuvianite formation. Hydrogarnet nucleation requires high Ca and low silica fluids, whereas the formation of vesuvianite does not need CO2-poor fluids. The formation of calcite at Groppo di Gorro points to mildly oxidizing conditions compatible with hydrothermal fluids; the presence of andradite associated with serpentine and magnetite at Mt. Rocchetta suggests Fe3+-bearing fluids with fO2 slightly higher than iron-magnetite buffer. We propose that the formation of the studied rodingite could be related to different pulses of hydrothermal fluids mainly occurring in an ocean-continent transitional setting and, locally, in an accretionary prism associated with intra-oceanic subduction.

Clinopyroxene relict magmatic phases in Neoarchean Mangikhuta volcanics are described in detail in terms of their geochemistry for the first time, and their petrogenetic insights obtained. EPMA study indicates their restricted compositional range. Elemental variation diagrams show progressive variation of Al, Ca, Si, Fe+3, Ti, Cr, Aly and Aly/Alz, Ti/Al, Fe+2/Fe+3 elemental ratios with fractionation, which establishes their equilibrium conditions during crystallization differentiation. On pyroxene quadrilateral, they plot along fractionation trend of augite. Ca-Al Tschermak, esseneite and Tp are the “other components” in these clinopyroxenes. Progressive variation of other components indicates decrease of pH2O and fO2 of the magma during fractionation. Other components of clinopyroxenes and chondrite normalized whole rock REE patterns indicate minor fractionation of plagioclase in primitive magma. However, plagioclase became a major precipitating phase in later stage of fractionation. Clinopyroxene geobarometer and geothermometer indicate 0–3 kb pressure and 1100–1250° C temperature of crystallization of Mangikhuta clinopyroxenes. Mangikhuta complex have typically high normative orthopyroxene content (35–45 vol. %) now altered to Mg-Al-Fe chlorite. The Mangikhuta magma was highly aqueous and after genesis, it ascended rapidly giving rise to silica-alumina-calc-alkaline series rocks. In the late magmatic history, there was reaction between orthopyroxene and water and plagioclase and water so that Mg(Al,Fe)SiO3 pyroxene converted to Mg(Fe, Al) chlorite and prehnite.

Figure 1. The (happy) author amidst a pile of crystallized specimens. Jim McGlasson photo.Reproduced with permissionFigure 2. View of mountains near Haystack Butte in the Tonto National Forest, sho...

Visible‐shortwave infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectrometers map composition remotely with spatial context, typically at many meters‐scale from orbital and airborne data. Here, we evaluate VSWIR imaging spectroscopy capabilities at centimeters to sub‐millimeter scale at the Samail Ophiolite, Oman, where mafic and ultramafic lithologies and their alteration products, including serpentine and carbonates, are exposed in a semi‐arid environment, analogous to similar mineral associations observed from Mars orbit that will be explored by the Mars‐2020 rover. At outcrop and hand specimen scales, VSWIR spectroscopy (a) identifies cross‐cutting veins of calcite, dolomite, magnesite, serpentine, and chlorite that record pathways and time‐order of multiple alteration events of changing fluid composition; (b) detects small‐scale, partially altered remnant pyroxenes and localized epidote and prehnite that indicate protolith composition and temperatures and pressures of multiple generations of faulting and alteration, respectively; and (c) discriminates between spectrally similar carbonate and serpentine phases and carbonate solid solutions. In natural magnesite veins, minor amounts of ferrous iron can appear similar to olivine's strong 1‐μm absorption, though no olivine is present. We also find that mineral identification for carbonate and serpentine in mixtures with each other is strongly scale‐ and texture‐dependent; ∼40 area% dolomite in mm‐scale veins at one serpentinite outcrop and ∼18 area% serpentine in a calcite‐rich travertine outcrop are not discriminated until spatial scales of 1 μm are required to identify most organic materials and distinguish most mineral phases., Key Points Meso‐to micro‐scale imaging spectroscopy identifies and maps carbonates, serpentine, and other hydrothermal phases in the Oman ophiolitePigmentation from multiple types of biological materials including mats in travertine springs are distinguished even in shallow watersDetection thresholds of carbonate and serpentine when mixed can be >20area%, which has implications for interpretation of planetary data

In this paper, Raman spectroscopy experiments were used to distinguish the characteristics of inclusions (calcite, anatase, graphite etc.) between natural and heat-treated tanzanite. These characteristics were preliminarily divided according to their pleochroism. In natural unheated tanzanite (N5), calcite inclusion is often interspersed with dolomite and has Raman shifts around 156, 283, 710, and 1087 cm−1. In other high temperature treatment samples, the baseline of calcite increased and their Raman peaks gradually shifted towards lower frequencies. Anatase inclusions in natural tanzanite (N5) have four characteristic Raman peaks around 146, 394, 514, and 641 cm−1. Because of the longer Ti-O bond and the wider bond angle distribution caused by high temperature, fewer Raman peaks were observed and the peaks’ intensities were weakened in the heat-treated T7 sample. The black graphite inclusions are often scattered or have a dotted distribution. The most obvious difference between natural and heat-treated samples is that the latter lack the characteristic 1350 cm−1 Raman peak of graphite, thus representing the order and structural incompleteness of graphite. In addition, there are other inclusions in natural unheated tanzanite, such as lead-grey molybdenite with strong metallic luster, randomly scattered prehnite with white dots, orange-yellow rounded rutile, and metallic luster hematite.

This study aims to constrain the nature of kimberlite–xenolith reactions and the fluid origin for Kimberley-type pyroclastic kimberlite (KPK). KPKs are characterized by an abundance of basement xenoliths (15–90%) and display distinct pipe morphology, textures, and mineralogy. To explain the KPK mineralogy deviating from the mineralogy of crystallized kimberlite melt, we study reactions between hypabyssal kimberlite transitional to KPK and felsic xenoliths. Here, we characterize the pectolite–diopside–phlogopite–serpentine–olivine common zonal patterns using petrography, bulk composition, thermodynamic modelling, and conserved element ratio analysis. To replicate the observed mineral assemblages, we extended the thermodynamic database to include pectolite, using calculated density functional theory methods. Our modelling reproduces the formation of the observed distinct mineralogy in reacted granitoid and gneiss. The assimilation of xenoliths is a process that starts from high temperatures (1200–600 °C) with the formation of clinopyroxene and wollastonite, continues at 600–200 °C with the growth of clinopyroxene, garnet, and phlogopite finishing at temperatures

Highlights • Reaction path models quantified gas-charged waters/basalt interactions • Gas-charged freshwater and seawater compared • Geochemical reactions modelled at temperatures from 25 to 260°C • Optimal conditions for subsurface mineralization of CO2 and H2S identified Mineralization of freshwater-dissolved gases, such as CO2 and H2S, in subsurface mafic rocks is a successful permanent gas storage strategy. To apply this approach globally, the composition of locally available water must be considered. In this study, reaction path models were run to estimate the rate and extent of gas mineralization reactions during gas-charged freshwater and seawater injection into basalts at temperatures of 260, 170, 100, and 25°C. The calculations were validated by comparison to field observations of gas-charged freshwater injections at the CarbFix2 site (Iceland). The results show that more than 80% of the injected CO2 dissolved in freshwater or seawater mineralizes as Ca and Fe carbonates at temperatures ≤170°C after reaction of 0.2 mol/kgw of basalt, whereas at 260°C much lower carbon mineralization rates are observed in response to the same amount of basalt dissolution. This difference is due to the competition between carbonate versus non-carbonate secondary minerals such as epidote, prehnite, and anhydrite for Ca. In contrast, from 80 to 100% of the injected H2S is predicted to be mineralized as pyrite in all fluid systems at all considered temperatures. Further calculations with fluids having higher CO2 contents (equilibrated with 9 bar pCO2) reveal that i) the pH of gas-charged seawater at temperatures ≤170°C is buffered at ≤6 due to the precipitation of Mg-rich aluminosilicates, which delays CO2 carbonation; and ii) the most efficient carbonation in seawater systems occurs at temperatures

Nielsenite, a rare intermetallide of palladium and copper, was described previously as a late-magmatic formation. A different genetic type of nielsenite was studied in the layered ultrabasite–basite Yoko-Dovyren intrusive. The maximum concentrations of Pd, Pt, Au, and Ag minerals are confined to crosscutting bodies of pegmatoid sulfide-bearing anorthosites within the contact zone between the troctolites and overlapping gabbro-norites strata in this intrusive. Postmagmatic pneumatolytic (fluid-metasomatic) Pd, Pt, Au, and Ag minerals, such as kotulskite, moncheite, michenerite, zvyagintsevite, telargpalite, paolovite, electrum, and sperrillite, compose metasomes in Fe–Ni–Cu sulfides and in the silicate matrix nearby. The Yoko-Dovyren intrusive is tectonized and tilted, crossed by inclined faults with streamlined serpentinized rocks, which contain lizardite, antigorite, clinozoisite, chlorite, actinolite, prehnite, pectolite, and hydrogarnet and are often transformed into rodingites of a prehnite–pumpellyite facies. The serpentinization process is younger than the intrusive rocks by 55 million years. In metamorphosed anorthosites, chalcopyrite is replaced by bornite, chalcocite, digenite, and magnetite; pentlandite is replaced with violarite, heazlewoodite, …; pyrrhotine is replaced by magnetite, …; moncheite is replaced with cuproplatinum–tulameenite; the veins of clinozoisite and pectolite with chlorite inclusions of chalcosine and native copper are well developed. Curved veins of nielsenite in brecciated chalcopyrite occasionally extend such veins. The size of the veins of metamorphogenic-hydrothermal nielsenite reaches up to 200 × 10 microns. Nielsenite metasomes up to 12 microns in diameter are developed nearby. The composition of the Yoko-Dovyren nielsenite is stable and close to stoichiometric with the formula Pd1.01Cu2,81Fe0,17Ni0,01. The Yoko-Dovyren nielsenite differs from the holotype of nielsenite of the Skergaard intrusive by the absence of Pt and Au impurities and a significant impurity of Fe. Yoko-Dovyren nielsenite was likely to appear under conditions of the prehnite–pumpellyite metamorphism facies at a high fugacity of О2 and at an extremely low fugacity of sulfide sulfur (log f S2 < –24 at ≈300°C).

Suites of hydrous and hydrated minerals have been detected on Mars through space-borne remote-sensing instruments. These minerals are often found associated with impact craters, where their origin is attributed to (1) exhumation of pre-existing ancient hydrothermal systems, and (2) impact-related hydrothermal activity. This paper provides a review of the latter, that is, impact-induced hydrothermalism on Mars detected and mapped using orbital imaging spectroscopic as well as high-resolution panchromatic and digital elevation data. The major alteration mineral assemblages that have been detected include phyllosilicates such as smectites, kaolinites, prehnites, chlorites, and mica, and some tectosilicates such as hydrated silica. The most common minerals are chlorites, Fe/Mg smectites, with a few instances of prehnite, which indicate sub-surface alteration. Al-phyllosilicates are also commonly observed suggesting near-surface liquid water activity for extended periods. The observed hydrothermal alteration assemblages are used to get insights into the nature of circulating hydrothermal fluids, including the fluid/rock ratios and pH. Spatial patterns in the distribution of the minerals is not discernible and these impact-induced hydrothermal systems may suggest local events, which are limited within individual craters.

Hydrous phases have been identified to be a significant component of martian mineralogy. Particularly prehnite, zeolites, and serpentine are evidence for low‐grade metamorphic reactions at elevated temperatures in mafic and ultramafic protoliths. Their presence suggests that at least part of the martian crust is sufficiently hydrated for low‐grade metamorphic reactions to occur. A detailed analysis of changes in mineralogy with variations in fluid content and composition along possible martian geotherms can contribute to determine the conditions required for subsurface hydrous alteration, fluid availability and rock properties in the martian crust. In this study, we use phase equilibria models to explore low‐grade metamorphic reactions covering a pressure‐temperature range of 0‐0.5 GPa and 150‐450 °C for several martian protolith compositions and varying fluid content. Our models replicate the detected low‐grade metamorphic/hydrothermal mineral phases like prehnite, chlorite, analcime, unspecified zeolites, and serpentine. Our results also suggest that actinolite should be a part of lower‐grade metamorphic assemblages, but actinolite may not be detected in reflectance spectra for several reasons. By gradually increasing the water content in the modeled whole rock composition, we can estimate the amount of water required to precipitate low‐grade metamorphic phases. Mineralogical constraints do not necessarily require an elevated geothermal gradient for the formation of prehnite. However, restricted crater excavation depths even for large impact craters are not likely sampling prehnite along colder gradients, either suggesting a geotherm of ~ 20 °C/km in the Noachian or an additional heat source such as hydrothermal or magmatic activity.

Five main apatite deposits from the Moroccan Central High-Atlas —including Anemzi, Tirrhist-Inouzane, Tassent, Ait-Daoud-Toumliline and Tasraft— have been investigated through integrated field, petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical studies. The apatite ore occurs as veins, few mm to several cm thick, spatially associated with syenite-quartz monzonite (dominant) to monzodiorite-gabbrodiorite bodies emplaced during the Atlas Jurassic-Cretaceous alkaline magmatic event. Gem-quality apatite crystals, up to 15 cm in size, are associated with albite, clinopyroxene (hedenbergite–augite–diopside), amphibole (hornblende–edenite–actinolite), K-feldspar, quartz, magnetite, titanite, epidote, prehnite, and calcite. Two types of apatite have been distinguished according to their halogen contents: F-rich and Cl-rich apatites. Both types are enriched in REE (up to 2 wt% ΣREE), and have major and trace element contents consistent with a magmatic origin, corroborated by the chemical similarity with accessory apatite in the host alkaline intrusions, as well as with other reference igneous apatites. However, hydrothermal fluids percolating through country sedimentary rocks were also involved, as indicated by the striking Na enrichment observed in the Cl-rich apatites, likely inherited from Triassic evaporites, showing close spatial relationships with the alkaline intrusions. These fluids would also account for pervasive Na-metasomatism of alkaline magmatic rocks, as observed in the wall rocks of the apatite veins., We would like to thank Dr. Franco Pirajno for editorial handling, and Dr. Kathryn M. Goodenough for he insightful review that helped to clarify and improve some parts of the manuscript. This paper was funded in the frame of a master agreement between the OCP Group and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P, Morocco). We would like to thank also all OCP managers who contributed in the genesis, funding, and implementation of the project. CJG acknowledges funding from Junta de Andalucia research group RNM-131. The authors wish to thank Bassou Zayi (UM6P-Geology & Sustainable Mining & UM6P-OCP Geo-Analytical Lab) and Christophe Nevado and Doriane Delmas (Géosciences Montpellier) for their help in sample and thin section preparations.

This paper describes native gold in ore-bearing breccias with realgar-orpiment cement from the Vorontsovskoe gold deposit (Northern Urals, Russia). Particular attention is paid to the morphological features of native gold and its relation to other minerals. The latter include both common (orpiment, barite, pyrite, prehnite, realgar) and rare species (Tl and Hg sulfosalts, such as boscardinite, dalnegroite, écrinsite, gillulyite, parapierrotite, routhierite, sicherite, vrbaite, etc.). The general geological and geochemical patterns of the Turyinsk-Auerbakh metallogenic province, including the presence of small non-economic copper porphyry deposits and general trend in change of the composition of native gold (an increase in the fineness of gold from high-temperature skarns to low-temperature realgar-orpiment breccias) confirm that the Vorontsovskoe deposit is an integral part of a large ore-magmatic system genetically associated with the formation of the Auerbakh intrusion.

Processes for formation, cooling, and altering Earth's ocean crust are not yet completely understood due to challenges in access and sampling. Here, we use contiguous micro‐imaging infrared spectroscopy to develop complete‐core maps of mineral occurrence and investigate spatial patterns in the hydrothermal alteration of 1.2 km of oceanic crust recovered from Oman Drilling Project Holes GT1A, GT2A, and GT3A drilled in the Samail Ophiolite, Oman. The imaging spectrometer shortwave infrared sensor measured reflectance of light at wavelengths 1.0–2.6 μm at 250–260 μm/pixel, resulting in >1 billion independent measurements. We map distributions of nine key primary and secondary minerals/mineral groups—clinopyroxene, amphibole, calcite, chlorite, epidote, gypsum, kaolinite/montmorillonite, prehnite, and zeolite—and find differences in their spatial occurrences and pervasiveness. Accuracy of spectral mapping of occurrence is 68%–100%, established using X‐ray diffraction measurements from the core description. The sheeted dikes and gabbros of upper oceanic crust Hole GT3A show more pervasive alteration and alteration dominated by chlorite, amphibole, and epidote. The foliated/layered gabbros of GT2A from intermediate crustal depths have similarly widespread chlorite but more zeolite and little amphibole and epidote. The layered gabbros of the lower oceanic crust (GT1A) have remnant pyroxene and 2X less chlorite, but alteration is extensive within and surrounding major fault zones with widespread occurrences of amphibole. The results indicate greater distribution of higher temperature alteration minerals in the upper oceanic crust relative to deeper gabbros and highlight the importance of fault zones in hydrothermal convection in the lower ocean crust., Key Points Imaging spectroscopy efficiently and effectively mapped spatial patterns in hydrothermal alteration mineral occurrence in ocean crust coreSamail ophiolite upper ocean crust cores are dominated by chlorite, amphibole, and epidote, while deeper cores have more zeolite/prehniteHydrothermal alteration largely decreases with depth in the ocean crust but is locally intense in major fault zones, even in lower crust

International audience; Exhumed faults in granitoids along the Lanterman Fault-Rennick Graben Fault system (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica) show superposed ductile to brittle deformation and pervasive hydrothermal fluid-rock interaction. These processes triggered multiple brittle slip events producing crosscutting epidote and prehnite-rich fault veins, ultracataclasites and pseudotachylytes of crushing origin. Combined microstructural and minerochemical investigations on fault damage zones show three types of alteration: (i) albitization of K-feldspar and Caplagioclase; (ii) crystallization of prehnite and calcite in veins; (iii) alteration of magmatic phases by secondary hydrous minerals (e.g. chlorite, white mica, epidote and prehnite). The fault experienced various episodes of strain weakening and hardening, due to alteration of minerals and precipitation of epidote and prehnite within ultracataclastic intervals, at decreasing temperature conditions (200 < T • C < 450) and varying CO 2 fugacity of the fluids. Cyclic crystallization of epidote/prehnite within the fault cores caused cementation and locking of faults, concentration of deformation at weaker horizons and a progressive broadening of the fault zone. Our results indicate that multiple co-seismic slip and syntectonic fluid flow very likely occurred prior to the Cenozoic brittle reactivation of inherited anisotropies in the northern Victoria Land crust along the Lanterman Fault-Rennick Graben Fault system and underlines its high potential for polyphasicity.

We studied rodingite and rodingite-like rocks within a serpentinized ultramafic sequence and ophiolitic melange at Um Rashid, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The Um Rashid ophiolite is strongly deformed, metamorphosed, and altered by serpentinization, carbonatization, listvenitization, rodingitization and silicification. The textures, whole-rock chemistry, and composition of fresh primary mineral relics show that the serpentinite protoliths were strongly melt-depleted harzburgite and minor dunite, typical of a supra-subduction zone fore-arc setting. The light-colored rocks replacing gabbro are divided on the basis of field relations, mineral assemblages and geochemical characteristics into typical rodingite and rodingite-like rock. Typical rodingite, found as blocks with chloritite blackwall rims within ophiolitic melange, contains garnet, vesuvianite, diopside and chlorite with minor prehnite and opaque minerals. Rodingite-like rock, found as dykes in serpentinite, consists of hercynite, preiswerkite, margarite, corundum, prehnite, ferropargasite, albite, andesine, clinozoisite and diaspore. Some rodingite-like rock samples preserve relict gabbroic minerals and texture, whereas typical rodingite is fully replaced. Rodingite is highly enriched in CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, and compatible trace elements, whereas rodingite-like rock is strongly enriched in Al2O3 and incompatible trace elements. Based on geochemistry and petrographic evidence, both types of rodingitic rocks likely developed from mafic protoliths in immediate proximity to serpentinite but were affected by interaction with different fluids, most likely at different times. Typical rodingite development likely accompanied serpentinization and shows mineral assemblages characteristic of low-Si, high-Ca fluid infiltration at about 300 °C. Rodingite-like rock, on the other hand, likely developed from seawater infiltration.

Contact metamorphism of Carboniferous rocks by the Whin Sill in Upper Teesdale is documented utilizing boreholes drilled in the 1960s ground investigation for the Cow Green reservoir. Hedenbergite, prehnite and datolite are recorded for the first time, and the first analyses for seven contact minerals are presented. Pure limestones are recrystallized into saccharoidal marbles with average calcite grain sizes increasing from 20 m from the contact, up to 0.5 mm within 5 m from the contact. Grossular is the most abundant mineral, and along with epidote is recorded over 20 m from the sill contact; all other minerals are restricted to Supplementary material: X-ray fluorescence whole rock Sr (ppm) analyses of limestone beds in boreholes 17, 18, 21, 22, 35, 39, 40 and 41 in Table S1, and Electron MicroProbe Analysis of garnet, feldspar, epidote, idocrase, prehnite, pyroxene and chlorite in Table S2 are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5077640

The Highland Valley Copper (HVC) district in British Columbia, Canada, is host to at least four major porphyry Cu systems: Bethlehem (~209 Ma), and Valley, Lornex, and Highmont (~208 to 207 Ma). High spatial resolution (0.2&ndash, 1.0 mm/pixel) hyperspectral imagery in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) were acquired on 755 rock samples and 400 m of continuous drill core. Spectral metrics are used to measure the relative abundance of 12 minerals and an additional metric is derived to estimate white mica grain size. In the Valley and Lornex deposits, coarse-grained white mica is associated with mineralization and is detectable up to 4 km away from the deposits. Kaolinite is present within 2 km of the mineralized centers but does not necessarily occur within strongly mineralized intervals. Prehnite is ubiquitous from 4 to 8 km from the deposits. In the Bethlehem deposit, tourmaline and epidote are associated with mineralization. We propose a spectral alteration score based on these proximal hyperspectral SWIR mineralogical patterns to assist explorers in targeting porphyry Cu systems when using drill core, surface rock samples and potentially remote sensing imagery. In a production environment, this metric could serve to facilitate ore-sorting.

The historic Yinggelike nephrite jade deposit in the Altyn Tagh Mountains (Xinjiang, NW China) is renowned for its gem-quality nephrite with its characteristic light-yellow to greenish-yellow hue. Despite the extraordinary gemological quality and commercial significance of the Yinggelike nephrite, little work has been done on this nephrite deposit, due to its geographic remoteness and inaccessibility. This contribution presents the first systematic mineralogical and geochemical studies on the Yinggelike nephrite deposit. Electron probe microanalysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry were used to measure the mineralogy, bulk-rock chemistry and stable (O and H) isotopes characteristics of samples from Yinggelike. Field investigation shows that the Yinggelike nephrite orebody occurs in the dolomitic marble near the intruding granitoids. Petrographic studies and EMPA data indicate that the nephrite is mainly composed of fine-grained tremolite, with accessory pargasite, diopside, epidote, allanite, prehnite, andesine, titanite, zircon, and calcite. Geochemical studies show that all nephrite samples have low bulk-rock Fe/(Fe + Mg) values (0.02&ndash, 0.05), as well as low Cr (0.81&ndash, 34.68 ppm), Co (1.10&ndash, 2.91 ppm), and Ni (0.52&ndash, 20.15 ppm) contents. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of most samples exhibit strong to moderate negative Eu anomalies (0.04&ndash, 0.67), moderate LREE enrichments, nearly flat HREE patterns, and low &Sigma, REE contents (2.16&ndash, 11.25 ppm). The nephrite samples have &delta, 18O and &delta, D values of 5.3 to 7.4&permil, and &ndash, 74.9 to &ndash, 86.7&permil, respectively. The mineralogy, bulk-rock chemistry, and O&ndash, H isotope characteristics are consistent with the dolomite-related nephrite classification. Based on mineral paragenetic relationships, three possible mineral crystallization stages are recognized: (1) diopside formed by prograde metasomatism, (2) nephrite jade formed by retrograde metasomatism and replacement of Stage I anhydrous minerals, (3) hydrothermal alteration after the nephrite formation. Features of transition metal contents indicate that the color of the Yinggelike nephrite is likely to be controlled by the Fe2+, Fe3+, and Mn. Yellowish color is related to Mn and especially Fe3+, while greenish color is related to Fe2+. Our new mineralogical and geochemical results on the Yinggelike nephrite provide better constraints on the formation of other nephrite deposits in the Altyn Tagh Mountains, and can facilitate future nephrite prospecting and research in the region.