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Crystal chemistry of titanite from the Roxby Downs Granite, South Australia: insights into petrogenesis, subsolidus evolution and hydrothermal alteration

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Abstract

Titanite textures and chemistry have been investigated from the Roxby Downs Granite, host to the Olympic Dam Cu–U–Au–Ag deposit, South Australia. Three textural subtypes of titanite are documented: primary magmatic (cores and rims); deuteric; and hydrothermal (low T recrystallisation). Magmatic cores are defined by enrichment in LREE (~ 3 wt%), Nb (up to 1 wt%) and Zr relative to rims, which typically contain < 1 wt% LREE and Nb, as well as greater concentrations of Al, Ca, Fe and F. Deuteric titanite occurs as overgrowths on pre-existing titanite and other magmatic accessory minerals (magnetite and ilmenite), and is depleted in HFSE compared to magmatic rims, showing geochemical trends consistent with substitution of Ca2+ + Ti4+ ↔ REE3+ + (Al, Fe)3+. Hydrothermal titanite forms as a low-temperature hydrothermal overprint on primary titanite as well as an alteration product of chloritised phlogopite. Applying Zr-in-titanite geothermometry, three temperature ranges are obtained for titanite crystallisation: magmatic cores ~ 765 to 780 °C; rims ~ 705 to 740 °C; and deuteric ~ 680 to 690 °C. Titanite breakdown is a ubiquitous feature of the Roxby Downs Granite, and occurs through interaction with CO2- and F-rich fluids, forming pseudomorphs characterised by the presence of REE-fluorocarbonates, which are subsequently overprinted by REE-phosphates with increased proximity to the Olympic Dam Breccia Complex. This change is related to interaction with fluids containing appreciable PO42− liberated from local dissolution of fluorapatite. Such observations are consistent with and linked to later/retrograde stages in the formation of the Olympic Dam deposit.

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(modified from Kontonikas-Charos et al. 2018a)

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Acknowledgements

BHP Olympic Dam is kindly thanked for providing financial support and access to Olympic Dam samples and facilities. Staff at Adelaide Microscopy are also acknowledged for assistance with microanalysis. This work was supported by the ARC Research Hub for Australian Copper–Uranium (Grant IH130200033), co-supported by BHP Olympic Dam and the South Australian Mining and Petroleum Services Centre of Excellence. We gratefully acknowledge the comments from two anonymous reviewers and Associate Editor Chris Ballhaus who assisted us to clarify ideas expressed in this contribution.

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  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Alkiviadis Kontonikas-Charos, Nigel J. Cook & Cristiana L. Ciobanu

  2. BHP Olympic Dam, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia

    Kathy Ehrig

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  1. Alkiviadis Kontonikas-Charos
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Kontonikas-Charos, A., Ehrig, K., Cook, N.J. et al. Crystal chemistry of titanite from the Roxby Downs Granite, South Australia: insights into petrogenesis, subsolidus evolution and hydrothermal alteration. Contrib Mineral Petrol 174, 59 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-019-1594-2

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