Мetasomatic rocks after shungite-bearing rocks of the Maksovo Deposit, Onega Structure, Karelia

Abstract

The Maksovo metasapropelite deposit, which contains shungite matter and is called maksovite, is located in the eastern Onega structure. The deposit is a diapiric fold which formed ca. 2070±10 Ma ago. It is underlain by carbonate rocks and overlain by tuff siltstones and is cross-cut by 1956±5 Ma gabbro-dolerites. Unaltered maksovites are pelitomorphic rocks with a massive to mildly layered texture and moderate concentrations of all petrogenic components and Сorg of about 30%. Fe-Mg rich and alkaline metasomatic rocks evolve after maksovites and mafic and carbonate tuff siltstones in the northwestern part of the deposit within a multiple ridge-like fold after brecciation zones. They differ from unaltered sedimentary rocks in heterogeneous (brecciated, streaky) textures, mineral and chemical composition and are saturated with numerous sulphide, carbonate, quartz and albite veinlets. They are identified by intense biotitization, chloritization and the presence of calcite, microcline metacrystals, albite-carbonate metacrystals with apatite and carbonate-quartz metacrystals with sulphides and rutile, veinlets and disseminated mineralization. Na concentration rises to 5.67% and K concentration to 7.57%. P and Ti concentrations, accompanying alkaline metasomatism, as well as Mg-Fe and ore-bearing components (often incompatible), increase locally. Metasomatic rocks evolve heterogeneously and are represented by breccia zones. Their slightly elevated radioactivity disturbs the qualitative characteristics of primary maksovite as a useful mineral. Maksovites were dated at 1558±61 Ma by the Re-Os method from sulphides.