Accessory minerals of the C�novec (Zinnwald) granite cupola, Czech Republic: indicators of petrogenetic evolution

Abstract

A fully cored drillhole was drilled to 1596 m by the Czech Geological Survey in 1961–1963 in the central part of the Cinovec (Zinnwald) granite cupola. Two types of granite were intersected: zinnwaldite granite (ZG), observed down to a depth of 730 m, and protolithionite granite (PG), occurring to the end of the hole. The core was used to study the distribution and chemistry of: zircon, thorite, xenotime, monazite, bastnasite, synchysite, REE oxyfluorides and hydroxyfluorides. Zircon occurs throughout the drillcore; it is strongly hydrated and fluorinated with about 18.5 wt.% H2O content in the apical part of the cupola. Its F-content reaches 2.41 wt.%. Within the PG, the F concentration in zircon is low. Zircon is poor in Th and U and its HfO2 contents vary from 1.01 to 5.24 wt.%. Thorite is common in the PG, becoming rare in the ZG. It is strongly hydrated (up to 14 wt.% H2O) and fluorinated (up to 2.04 wt.% F). Extensive solid solution between ThSiO4 and YPO4 was observed. Xenotime is strongly hydrated (up to 16 wt.% H2O), but its F content is low (<0.31 wt.%). Two types of monazite were identified: Th-rich (up to 9.3 wt.% ThO2) in the ZG, and Th-poor (<2.5 wt.% ThO2) in the PG. Monazite remained stable during the hydration and fluorination process. Its REE chondrite-normalized distribution patterns show negative anomalies for La and Nd and a pronounced negative anomaly for Eu. Chemical compositions of several REE oxyfluorides and hydroxyfluorides were studied. REE fluorocarbonates are represented by bastnasite and synchysite. Bastnasite is abundant in the ZG. Its chondrite-normalized REE patterns are characterized by an important negative Eu anomaly and downward kinks at La and Nd. Synchysite-(Ce) and synchysite-(Y) are particularly well developed in the deeper parts of the cupola, and exhibit REE distribution patterns characterized by a weak negative Eu anomaly (synchysite-(Ce)), or a weak positive Eu anomaly (synchysite-(Y)).