Abstract
The assemblage tephroite-hausmannitess-galaxitess has been found in a granulite-facies manganese ore body associated with metabasites and quartzrich lithologies. The metamorphic rocks are located in the Khawr Fakkan massif near the northern end of the Semail Ophiolite, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), metamorphosed at 800–850°C and 6.5–9 kbar. The galaxite shows approximately 35% solid solution of hausmannite, similar to that reported for jacobsite and franklinite whereas the solid solution of galaxite in hausmannite is maximally 7%. The assemblage of tephroite-hausmannite and hausmannite-galaxite indicates a restricted log fO2 of-9 to-11 which is outside the stability of braunite under similar physico-chemical conditions. The modal abundance of the minerals and bulk rock chemistry indicate that the present assemblage was formed from the breakdown of Fe-poor braunitess+hausmannitess.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abs-Wurmbach I (1980) Miscibility and compatibility of braunite, Mn2+Mn6O8/SiO4, in the system Mn-Si-O at 1 atm in air. Contrib Mineral Petrol 71:393–399
Abs-Wurmbach I (1987) Zur Petrologie, Kristallphysik und Kristallchemie von Oxiden und Silikaten des Mangans in den Systemen Al-Mn-Si-O-H, Ca-Mn-Si-O und Fe-Mn-Si-O. Habilitation, Bonn
Abs-Wurmbach I, Langer K (1975) Synthetic Mn3+-kyanite and viridine, (Al2-x Mn3+)SiO5, in the system Al2O3-MnO-MnO2-SiO2. Contrib Mineral Petrol 49:21–38
Abs-Wurmbach I, Langer K, Schreyer W (1983) Phase relations in the system Mn-Si-O: an experimental and petrological study. Neues Jahrb Mineral Abh 146:258–279
Allemann F, Peters T (1972) The ophiolite-radiolarite belt of the North-Oman Mountains. Eclogae Geol Helv 65:657–697
Bucher M, Kurz D (1991) The metamorphic series associated with the Semail Ophiolite nappe of the Oman Mountains in the United Arab Emirates. MS thesis, Univ of Bern, CH
Chopin C (1978) Les paragenèses réduites ou oxydées de concentrations manganésiféres des “schistes lustrés” de Haute-Marien (Alpes Françaises). Bull Mineral 101:514–531
Dasgupta HC, Manickavasagam RM (1981) Regional metamorphism of non-calcareous manganiferous sediments from India and the related petrogenetic grid for a part of the system Mn-Fe-Si-O. J Petrol 22:363–369
Dekker EHLJ, Rieck GD (1975) Revised phase diagram and X-ray data of the Mn3O4-Al2O3 system in air. Z Anorg Allg Chem 415:69–80
Essene EJ, Peacor DR (1983) Crystal chemistry and petrology of coexisting galaxite and jacobsite and other (solid) spinel solutions and solvi. Am Mineral 68:449–455
Frondel C, Klein C Jr (1965) Exsolution in franklinite. Am Mineral 50:1670–1680
Ghent ED, Stout MZ (1981) Metamorphism at the base of the Semail ophiolite, southeastern Oman mountains. J Geophys Res 86:2557–2571
Glennie KW, Boeuf MGA, Hughes-Clarke MW, Moody-Stuart M, Pilaar WFH, Reinhardt BM (1974) Geology of the Oman Mountains. Verh K Ned Geol Mijnbouwk Genoot Ged Ser 31:1–423
Gnos E (1992) The metamorphic rocks associated with the Semail Ophiolite (Sultanate of Oman and United Arab Emirates). PhD thesis, Bern, CH
Gnos E, Kurz D (1994) Sapphirine-quartz and sapphirine-corundum assemblages in metamorphic rocks associated with the Semail Ophiolite (United Arab Emirates). Contrib Mineral Petrol 116:398–410
Gnos E, Peters T (1993) K-Ar ages of the metamorphic sole of the Semail Ophiolite: implications for ophiolite cooling history. Contrib Mineral Petrol 113:325–332
Gnos E, Armbruster T, Nyfeler D (1995) Kanoite, donpeacorite and tirodite: Mn-Mg-silicates from a manganese quartzite in the United Arab Emirates. Eur J Mineral (in press)
Huebner JS (1976) The manganese oxides—a bibliographic commentary. In: Rumble D (ed) Oxide minerals, Mineral Soc Am, Washington, pp SH1-SH11
Kickmaier W, Peters T (1991) Chert-hosted manganese deposits in the Wahrah Formation: a depositional model. In: Peters T, Nicolas A, Coleman RG (eds) Ophiolite genesis and evolution of oceanic lithosphere. Proc Ophiolite Conf, Muscat, Oman 1990. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 647–674
Mason B (1947) Mineralogical aspects of the system Fe3O4-Mn3O4-ZnMn2O4-ZnFe2O4. Am Mineral 32:426–441
Meyers J (1981) Thermodynamic properties of minerals in the system Fe-Si-O. Trans Am Geophys Union EOS 62:1070
Peters T (1983) Equilibrium fugacities of the Cu2O-CuO and Cu-Cu2O-buffers. Schweiz Mineral Petrogr Mitt 63:7–11
Peters T, Trommsdorff V, Sommerauer J (1980) Progressive metamorphism of manganese carbonates and cherts in the Alps. In: Varentsov IM, Grassely G (eds) Geology and geochemistry of manganese, vol. 1. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart, pp 271–283
Ranganathan T, MacKean BE, Muan A (1962) The system manganese oxide-alumina in air. J Am Ceram Soc 45:279–281
Ross CS, Kerr PF (1932) The manganese minerals of Bald Knob, N.C. Am Mineral 17:1–18
Roy S (1981) Manganese deposits. Academic Press, London
Searle MP, Malpas J (1980) Structure and metamorphism of rocks beneath the Semail ophiolite of Oman and their significance in ophiolite obduction. Trans R Soc Edinburgh Earth Sci 71: 247–262
Stössel F, Ziegler U (1985) The metamorphic series associated with the Semail Ophiolite nappe of the Oman Mountains in the United Arab Emirates. Thesis, Univ Bern, CH
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gnos, E., Peters, T. Tephroite-hausmannite-galaxite from a granulite-facies manganese rock of the United Arab Emirates. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 120, 372–377 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306514
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306514