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Zirconolite, Baddeleyite, Zircon, and Thorite of Island-Arc Quartz Gabbronorite-Dolerites of the Ayu-Dag Intrusive, Crimean Mountains

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Abstract

The Early Bajocian island-arc quartz gabbronorite-dolerites of the Ayu-Dag intrusive contain syngenetic zirconolite and baddeleyite. Zirconolite includes Ca-dominant and atypical Y-dominant (Y, Ca, Th, REE)2FeZr2Ti3O14 varieties. Two genetic types of zircon and thorite occur. The dominant xenogenic zircon-I with thorite inclusions and numerous melting traces (lacunes) is enriched in Hf, Th, Y, and P (up to 6 wt % HfO2, 5 wt % ThO2, 6 wt % Y2O3, 3 wt % P2O5). Thorite contains 7–9 wt % UO2. Zircon-I and thorite-I of similar compositions are typical minerals of highly radioactive granites. The isotope age of xenogenic zircon is more than 2 Ga. Rare syngenetic zircon-II is extremely depleted in Th, U, Y, and Hf. Thus, the Ayu-Dag basic magma was contaminated by Early Precambrian highly radioactive granites, whose bodies probably occur in the basement of Crimean Mountains.

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Correspondence to E. M. Spiridonov.

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Original Russian Text © E.M. Spiridonov, S.V. Filimonov, E.S. Semikolennykh, N.N. Korotaeva, N.N. Krivitskaya, 2018, published in Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, Seriya 4: Geologiya, 2018, No. 5, pp. 70–78.

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Spiridonov, E.M., Filimonov, S.V., Semikolennykh, E.S. et al. Zirconolite, Baddeleyite, Zircon, and Thorite of Island-Arc Quartz Gabbronorite-Dolerites of the Ayu-Dag Intrusive, Crimean Mountains. Moscow Univ. Geol. Bull. 73, 538–548 (2018). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0145875218060121

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