Analiza strukturalna i zróżnicowanie pegmatytów w starożytnym twierdzeniu, Giraúl IV, dystrykt pegmatytów Namibe, Angola

Abstract

Since the early 60´s, in the past XX century, the Giraúl pegmatites have been known for their resources of beryl, mica and feldspars, which were exploited in a regular basis from Giraúl claims I to IV till 1974, during the Portuguese administration of Angolan territory. A broader exploration of this pegmatite field was performed by the ancient Lobito Mining Company (LMC) engaged in detailed geological mapping of the granitic pegmatites and the structural constraints of their location. A structural map of the region was than elaborated, combining the interpretation of aerial photographs with field work performed by the LMC geologists. Recently, a growing economic interest is attributed to these claims, in the region of Bulamucolocai, Pitau and Muvero desert-dry rivers (locally known as “Mulolas”), considering the Li, Cs, and Ta (LCT) metallic specialization of some pegmatite bodies and the occurrence of beryl and tourmaline gemstones, mainly, morganite (Cs-beryl), aquamarine and also elbaite-liddicoatite. Giant crystals of spodumene, up to 6 m in length, define individualized quartz + spodumene units inside some of the more typical LCT pegmatite bodies. Pollucite was identified in the main pegmatites of Giraúl IV claim and not in the adjacent igneous leucocratic breccias. These, in turn, correspond to a complex pegmatite assemblage, very peculiar in what concerns its selective metasomatic effect over some surrounding rocks, with the formation of rims of holmquistite amphibole in contact with gabbro and norite and schorl-dravite tourmaline in contact with gneissic to metapelitic hosts. The breccia-like granitic rock combines clasts of spodumene an K-feldspar with a matrix mainly composed of some quartz, albite and mica including tourmaline, garnet and F-apatite, as accessory minerals. In the same area, huge potassic pegmatites hold giant crystals of microcline and orthoclase and very little quartz, being unusual due to its high content of triplite – zwieselite and triphylite – lithiophilite primary phosphates. The overall composition of these pegmatites is more likely syenitic (low quartz content) than truly granitic. A high-resolution structural analysis of the LCT ensemble (pegmatite plus related lithotypes) is now proposed enhancing the unusual relations between granite breccia plugs, sill-like more typical pegmatites, irregular shaped isodiametric bodies and products of metasomatism. This approach will lead to the understanding of the true dimension, anatomy and inner fraccionation of the different LCT facies and rare-metal deposits with obvious consequences regarding mineral detection and resource – reserve estimation, through the proposal of a more suitable conceptual model to rule its exploration.