The Al (Nb, Ta) Ti(in−2) substitution in titanite: the emergence of a new species?

Abstract

The highest (Nb, Ta) content ever encountered in titanite is reported from the Marsikov 11 pegmatite in northern Moravia, Czech Republic. This dike is a member of a pegmatite swarm of the beryl-columbite subtype, metamorphosed under conditions of the amphibolite facies. The pegmatite carries, i.a., rare tantalian rutile intergrown with titanian ixiolite, titanian columbite-tantalite, fersmite and microlite. Fissures generated in the Nb, Ta oxide minerals during deformation are filled with titanite, formed by reaction of the oxide minerals with metamorphic pore fluids. The titanite displays limited degrees of substitutions Na(Ta > Nb)(CaTi)−1, (Ta > Nb)4□Ti−4Si−1 and AI(OH, F)(TiO)−1, but an extensive (and occasionally the sole significant) substitution (Al > Fe3+)(Ta > Nb)Ti−2, responsible for widespread oscillatory zoning. This substitution reduces the proportion of the titanite componentsensu stricto, CaTiSiO4,O, to less than 50 mole % in many analyzed spots. The extreme composition corresponds to (Ca0.994Na0.011)(Ti0.436Sn0.007Al0.280Fe3+ 0.006Ta0.199Nb0.079)Si0.988O4(O0.974F0.026). However, so far this substitution fails to generate compositions that would define a new species.