Compositional Variations of Titanite: A Possible New Tool for Cyprus-Type Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit Prospecting

Gabriella Kiss, Federica Zaccarini

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Abstract

Titanite in submarine mafic magmatic rocks of Neotethyan origin was studied to reveal its possible use as an indicator mineral of modern Cyprus-type VMS deposits. Four ore deposit bearing (mineralized) and eight barren (unmineralized) Triassic–Jurassic locations from the Apennines, displaced fragments of the Dinarides, as well as the Dinarides and Hellenides were studied in order to gain representative results. Preliminary SEM-EDS and more detailed EPMA analyses were performed to characterize compositional variations of titanite from basalt, dolerite and gabbro. The obtained results show compositional differences according to the mode of formation. Titanite from VMS mineralized zones shows a composition close to stoichiometric values, and thus can be distinguished based on Ti content (Ti (apfu) ≥ 0.85). Due to Fe + Al substitution on Ti site, the Fe + Al vs. Ti binary plot seems to be the most discriminant for distinguishing mineralized and unmineralized locations. However, Fe vs. Al, Al vs. Mn and Si vs. Ca + Mn discrimination diagrams can also be used. Hence, compositional variations of titanite may be a possible new tool for prospection of concealed Cyprus-type deposits in the Neotethyan realm.

Original languageEnglish
Article number290
Number of pages11
JournalGeosciences (Switzerland)
Volume10.2020
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Jul 2020

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Publisher Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

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