Trace elements in biotites from granites and gneisses

Abstract

91 biotites (53 from granites, 35 from highly metamorphic gneisses, 3 from redwitzites) were separated and analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, Cl, Sn, Ni, Co, Or, Cu, V, Mo, Pb. Biotites from gneisses contain much more Ni, Co, Cr, V but less Fe, Mn, Zn than those from granites. However, the distinction between biotites from gneisses and from granites on the basis of these elements is not certain. If a gneiss undergoes anatexis, the contents of Ni, Co, Cr, V, Zn and Sn of the preexistent biotite fractionate: Zn, Sn and Pe enter the anatectic melt readily while Ni, Co, Cr and V concentrate in the remaining matter (restite). Ni, Co, Cr and V are strongly positively correlated with one another but negatively with Fe and Zn, the latter being positively correlated with Pe. The chemical composition of biotites from granites depends not only on a potential degree of secondary decomposition into chlorite and muscovite but much more on the percentage of biotite in the rock: The more biotite, the higher the content of Ni, Co, Cr, V and the lower Fe, Zn and Sn in the biotite. Thus, it is possible to distinguish between normal and abnormal concentrations of an element in a biotite and in a rock. This might be useful in geochemical prospecting. Abnormal high concentrations of Sn and Zn were found in biotites from some granites which are connected with mineralizations of these elements. It is impossible hitherto to gain informations about the history and the parental material of a granitic magma from the minor elements in the rock or the biotite because their concentrations depend on how much biotite could be incorporated by the melt. The distribution coefficient of Cl between the lattice of 4 biotites and their fluid inclusions was determined to be 0,08.