Chapter 4.2 - The Sokli Carbonatite Complex

Abstract

The Sokli carbonatite complex is one of 22 alkaline complexes comprising the Devonian Kola alkaline province (KAP). It represents the largest carbonatite intrusion of the province, and possibly the largest carbonatite on Earth. The Sokli complex shows many important similarities to other alkaline complexes of the KAP, especially Kovdor and Vuorijärvi, such as associated early ultramafic cumulate rocks, a well-developed phoscorite-carbonatite association and late carbonatites that represent carbonate liquid evolution to dolomite carbonatites to a final light rare earth element (LREE)-Sr-Ba dolomite carbonatite pulse. However, a critically important difference with Sokli is the vastly greater abundance of carbonatite relative to the associated cumulate ultramafic rocks.