Abstract
The largest known Precambrian molybdenite occurrences in Sweden are of the aplitic type. In order to improve the understanding of their genesis, 67 samples of aplites, aplitic granites and associated granites were analyzed for major elements, Mo, Sn, Be, Ba, Rb, Sr, Cu, Zn, Zr, V, Cr, Ni, Y, Nb, F, Cl and S. Five samples were analyzed for rare earth elements. The following genetic model can be proposed:
In the upper parts of granitic intrusions the magma is enriched in lithophile elements and elements such as F and Mo. The aplites represent direct differentiation products of the granites and have solidified without the development of a second mobile aqueous phase, except locally, where small pegmatite segregations have formed. As crystallization proceeds, the concentration of Mo in the magma increases, and when the aplites solidify, the Mo that cannot be incorporated in the rock-forming minerals is precipitated as molybdenite. Biotite seems to be the major Mo-carrier among the rock-forming minerals in the aplites.
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Öhlander, B. Geochemistry of Proterozoic molybdenite — mineralized aplites in Northern Sweden. Mineral. Deposita 20, 241–248 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204280
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204280