Manganiferous pyroxenes and pyroxenoids from three Pb-Zn-Cu skarn deposits

Abstract

Samples from the Pb-Zn-Cu skarns of M. Ci-villina (Italy), Valle del Temperino (Italy), and Empire Mine (New Mexico, USA) have been analysed for their pyroxenes and pyroxenoids. The samples were collected immediately adjacent to the marble-skarn replacement front. All contain manganiferous pyroxenoids and manganeserich Ca-pyroxenes. The pyroxenes from each deposit form distinct groups of compositions within the diopside-hedenbergite-johannsenite triangle, with no apparent miscibility gap. Diopside contents usually are below 15 mole percent. Fibrous bustamite occurs as monomineralic zones in the Empire and in the Temperino deposit. Although rhodonite may be a primary phase in some samples from the Empire Mine, it is commonly of secondary origin in the Empire Mine and in the Civillina deposit. Its formation from manganiferous clinopyroxenes is either due to increasing Mn activity in the hydrothermal skarn solution or to higher X(CO₂) in the vapour phase. When rhodonite is formed within clinopyroxenes as submicroscopic lamellae that eventually replace the whole host crystal, resulting compositions lie in the miscibility gap between rhodonite and bustamite. Textural relations indicate the replacement reaction: johannsenite + CO₂ = rhodonite + calcite + quartz. Equilibrium temperatures for this reaction have been calculated by using estimated thermochemical data for johannsenite, giving a T(eq)=385° C for X(CO₂)=0.1 at P(tot)= 1 kbar. Taking into consideration the reduced activity of Mn in rhodonite and of Ca in calcite, both buffered by the johannsenite, the temperature is increased for about 15° C at X(CO₂)=0.01. At lower temperatures, where johannsenite is stable, the X(CO₂) is confined to values below 0.01. Despite the mineralogical similarities of the three deposits differences in the development of the manganiferous skarns can be depicted.