Polymerization process of biopyribole in metasomatism at the Akatani ore deposit, Japan

Abstract

Clinopyroxene transforms to triple chain silicate, double chain silicate (amphibole) and sheet silicate (talc) in the metasomatic process of the Akatani ore deposit. The triple chain silicate is contained in fibrous amphibole-like phase (“amphibole”). It is of electron microscopic size of 1,000 Å at maximum width in b-direction, and is a calciferous analogue of clinojimthompsonite. Various kinds of fine textures formed in metasomatic reaction process were found in clinopyroxenes. A large amount of triple chains and a small amount of double chains were transformed from single chains in the host clinopyroxene, maintaining topotactic relation. The kinetics of the structural change of biopyriboles at the Akatani ore deposit was discussed from the viewpoint of the mode of occurrence of triple and double chain silicates. The nucleation of triple chain structure slab with one triple chain width is apt to occur rather than the nucleation of double chain structure slab with width of two double chains in clinopyroxene host. Various fine textures in clinopyroxenes and amphibole-like phase were interpreted as corresponding to the propagation of metasomatic reactions.