Zn-Mn ilmenite in the Kuiqi granite from Fuzhou, Fujian province, East China

Summary Zn-Mn ilmenite occurs as a principal constituent of the miarolitic cavities in the Kuiqi granite from Fuzhou. In the cavities potassium feldspar, albite, quartz, fluorite, aegirine and arfvedsonite also occur with accessory zircon, magnetite, hematite and sphalerite. Zn-Mn ilmenite forms a trigonal platy euhedral crystal up to 30 mm in length. Its chemical composition ranges from 37.3 to 63.8 mol.% FeTiO₃ (ilmenite molecule), 61.1 to 22.4 mol.% MnTiO₃ (pyrophanite molecule) and 0.6 to 15.3 mol.% ZnTiO₃ (Znmetatitanate molecule). ZnO content ranges from 0.34 wt.% to 7.63 wt.%. Zonal structure is noticeable in the Zn-Mn ilmenite. FeTiO₃ and ZnTiO₃ molecules increase towards the crystal rim, while MnTiO₃ molecule decreases towards the rim. Unit cell parameters of the rim and the core area = 5.092(6)Å,c = 14.08(2)Å,V = 316.1ų anda = 5.106(7)Å,c = 14.02(3)Å,V = 316.6ų, respectively. Coexisting minerals, except for arfvedsonite and sphalerite, are very low in ZnO content. It is suggested that complete isomorphous replacement between FeTiO₃ MnTiO₃ and ZnTiO₃ may be possible. Oxygen fugacity conditions for crystallization of Zn-Mn ilmenite are considered to be in the vicinity of the magnetite-hematite and quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffers.