Development of corona textures around olivine in anorthosites of the Korosten’ pluton, Ukrainian Shield: Mineralogy, geochemistry, and fluid inclusions

Abstract

New data on the composition of minerals in corona textures around olivine and crystal-fluid inclusions in olivine from anorthosites of the Korosten’ pluton (sampled in the Golovino quarry), Ukrainian Shield were obtained using electron and ion microprobe analyses, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and cryo- and thermometry. The corona textures developed around olivine grains in contact with plagioclase and consist of inner orthopyroxene rims around olivine and outer rims of orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene-orthoclase-plagioclase symplectites. The symplectites and orthopyroxene rims most probably developed nearly simultaneously and grew in the opposite directions from the original contact of the magmatic olivine and plagioclase and replaced both olivine and plagioclase. The Al2O3 and CaO concentrations in the symplectitic orthopyroxene increase toward the contact with magmatic plagioclase, whereas the Al2O3 and CaO concentrations in the symplectitic plagioclase simultaneously decrease and its Na2O and K2O increase. Optically discernible crystalline and fluid phases of crystal-fluid inclusions in olivine were identified as pyroxenes (orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene), actinolite, Ca-and Fe, Mg-carbonates, and magnetite, along with practically pure highdensity CO2. The mineral assemblages of corona texture in the Korsten’ anorthosites were produced by autometasomatic processes at a high CO2 activity, and the local variations in the chemistry of corona minerals were likely controlled by the content and chemistry of the interstitial fluid and primary minerals. The coronas developed under subsolidus conditions, via the reaction interaction of olivine and plagioclase under the effect of an integranular fluid, with the dissolution of olivine and plagioclase at T = 980–860°C and P > 5 kbar. Inasmuch as corona textures do not occur ubiquitously in the rocks, the origin of the former was most probably controlled by the amount of the intergranular fluid.