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Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry
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Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 18693

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Iuliu Bobos

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Guest Editor
Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4168-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: low-temperature mineralogy and geochemistry; stable and light isotope geochemistry; clay minerals and zeolites; hydrothermal alteration and diagenesis; biomineralization; uranium aqueous geochemistry; analytic techniques
Dr. Franck Bourdelle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Univ. Lille, IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Artois, Yncrea Hauts-de-France, ULR 4515-LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France
Interests: clay minerals; low-temperature mineralogy; thermobarometry; fluid–rock interactions; nanoscale compositional analysis techniques; diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Low-temperature mineralogy and geochemistry, i.e., mineralogical and geochemical reactions occurring at temperatures below 300 °C, provide challenging topics of the broad qualitative questions related to near-surface Earth processes.

Low-temperature geological processes involve mineral dissolution and the re-crystallization, transformation, mineralization, chemical transfer, and recycling of materials occurring at shallow levels of the Earth’s crust, whose study must allow for characterizing crustal alteration, evolution, and growth. Low-temperature geochemical processes are ubiquitous in chemical weathering, diagenesis, very low-grade metamorphism, and post-magmatic processes, and enable the explaination of the P–T–X history of the Earth’s crust.

In this way, light, stable, and radiogenic isotope ratios are potentially powerful tracers of fluid–mineral interactions, while thermobarometers based on fine mineralogical compositions make appropriate probes to reconstruct pro- and retro-grade mineralogical reactions. Furthermore, remarkable advances have recently been made in understanding chemical elements recycling within the diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism environment, hydrothermal systems, and fluids circulation. Over the past decade, analytical techniques have also advanced and offered a new vision to scientists in mineralogy and geochemistry, making data available with an unparalleled analytical- and spatial-resolution.

Substantial and exciting advanced contributions of low-temperature mineralogy and geochemistry are expected by publishing this Special Issue with contributions from a broad field audience.

Prof. Dr. Iuliu Bobos
Dr. Franck Bourdelle
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • weathering
  • diagenesis
  • very-low grade metamorphism
  • hydrothermal systems
  • mineral–water and thermo–baric reactions
  • trace recycled elements
  • light, stable, and radiogenic isotope geochemistry

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 3064 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Origin of Basalt-Derived Carnelian in the Mesozoic Newark Basin, New Jersey, USA
by Richard A. Volkert, Matthew L. Gorring, William H. Peck and Scott D. Stanford
Minerals 2023, 13(10), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101249 - 24 Sep 2023
Viewed by 983
Abstract
Carnelian occurs locally in New Jersey in the Newark basin as medium- to coarse-size pebbles in fluvial gravel and alluvium and colluvium formed from erosion of Lower Jurassic Preakness Basalt. Vesicles and molds of glauberite are preserved on lower surfaces and botryoidal textures [...] Read more.
Carnelian occurs locally in New Jersey in the Newark basin as medium- to coarse-size pebbles in fluvial gravel and alluvium and colluvium formed from erosion of Lower Jurassic Preakness Basalt. Vesicles and molds of glauberite are preserved on lower surfaces and botryoidal textures on the upper surfaces of some pieces. The microstructure consists of length-fast chalcedony characterized by parallel fibrous bundles overlain by repetitive, wavy extinction bands. Only peaks of ɑ-quartz and minor moganite are recognized in X-ray diffraction patterns. Carnelian contains 97–98 wt.% SiO2, ~1.0 wt.% Fe2O3, and 1.0–1.4 wt.% LOI; other major elements are <0.1 wt.%. Trace element abundances are low except for Y, Nb, Ta, W, Th, and U. Rare earth element (REE) patterns display heavy REE enrichment and large negative Eu anomalies. Most trace elements were mobilized from Proterozoic sources, whereas Si was likely derived from the alteration of basaltic glass in the Preakness. Carnelian δ18OVSMOW values are high and range from +18.3 to +31.2‰, comparable to global occurrences of volcanic rock-derived chalcedony. We propose that carnelian precipitated in the first Preakness flow from the mixing of hydrothermal fluid with meteoric water under conditions of low temperature (20–80 °C) and neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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22 pages, 15546 KiB  
Article
Mineral Chemistry of Low-Temperature Phyllosilicates in Early Paleozoic Metaclastic Rocks, Eastern Tauride Belt, Türkiye
by Ömer Bozkaya and Hüseyin Yalçın
Minerals 2022, 12(9), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12091088 - 28 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
The mineral chemistry of illite/mica and chlorites, together with the evaluation of textural data of low-temperature metaclastic rocks, plays an important role in determining their origin and metamorphic grade. This study aimed to investigate the chemical properties of phyllosilicates in early Paleozoic metaclastic [...] Read more.
The mineral chemistry of illite/mica and chlorites, together with the evaluation of textural data of low-temperature metaclastic rocks, plays an important role in determining their origin and metamorphic grade. This study aimed to investigate the chemical properties of phyllosilicates in early Paleozoic metaclastic rocks in the Eastern Tauride Belt, Türkiye. The textural (electron microscopy) and chemical (mineral chemistry analysis) analyses were performed on the samples representing different grades of metamorphism. The illites/micas and chlorites are observed as detrital (chlorite–mica stacks) and neoformation origin. Trioctahedral chlorites (chamosite) exhibit different chemistry for detrital and neoformed origin as well as the metamorphic grade. Tetrahedral Al and octahedral Fe + Mg increase, whereas octahedral Al decreases together with the increasing grade of metamorphism. The detrital chlorites have higher tetrahedral Al and Fe contents than their neoformed counterparts. Chlorite geothermometry data (detrital: 241–≥350 °C; neoformed: 201–268 °C) are compatible with the texture and illite Kübler index data. Illite/white-mica compositions display muscovite and Na-K mica. Tetrahedral Al and interlayer K + Na contents of illites/micas increase with metamorphic grade. Na-K mica and paragonite are observed as replacement-type developments within the detrital CMS. The obtained data indicate that phyllosilicate chemistry can be used effectively for determining the geological evolution of low-grade metamorphic sequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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18 pages, 5002 KiB  
Article
Efflorescent Sulphates with M+ and M2+ Cations from Fumarole and Active Geothermal Fields of Mutnovsky Volcano (Kamchatka, Russia)
by Elena S. Zhitova, Dmitry A. Khanin, Anton A. Nuzhdaev, Maria A. Nazarova, Rezeda M. Ismagilova, Vladimir V. Shilovskikh, Anastasia N. Kupchinenko, Ruslan A. Kuznetsov and Pavel S. Zhegunov
Minerals 2022, 12(5), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050600 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2733
Abstract
In this study, sulphate efflorescent minerals covering the surface of the Donnoe and Dachnoe fields of the Mutnovsky volcano are described. The minerals were precipitated on the argillic facies as the result of water–rock interaction and fumarole emission. A chemical composition of Ca, [...] Read more.
In this study, sulphate efflorescent minerals covering the surface of the Donnoe and Dachnoe fields of the Mutnovsky volcano are described. The minerals were precipitated on the argillic facies as the result of water–rock interaction and fumarole emission. A chemical composition of Ca, Ba, (NH4)+, Na-Fe3+, (NH4)+-Al, (NH4)+-Fe3+, Na-Al, K-Al, and K-Fe3+ sulphates was reported. Elements such as Sr, Mg, Co, Ni, Ti and P were found as isomorphic impurities. Ammonia species were concentrated around fumaroles. The mineral assemblage described herein is unique in relation to other geological settings and reflects the process of low-temperature mineral formation associated with volcanism. The thermal water contains cations such as H, Na, K, NH4, Ca, Mg, Fe2+, Fe3+, and Al in different proportions with pH ranging from 2.4 to 6.5 and the dominance of acidic waters. The gas condensate bears such cations as (NH4)+, Ca, and Mg and has a pH of ~5. Thus, the rest of the main cations are derived from the leaching of the host rocks. Among the identified phases, the alunite-supergroup minerals are more prone to isomorphism. The Ti, Co, and Ni impurities mark the unique geochemistry of thermal water at the Mutnovsky volcano. We postulate that the chemical composition of alunite-supergroup minerals reflects the types of hydrothermal occurrences and contains important information on the geochemistry of the hydrothermal process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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25 pages, 7614 KiB  
Article
Mineralogy, Fluid Inclusions, and Oxygen Isotope Geochemistry Signature of Wolframite to Scheelite and Fe,Mn Chlorite Veins from the W, (Cu,Mo) Ore Deposit of Borralha, Portugal
by Iuliu Bobos, Carlos Marques de Sá and Fernando Noronha
Minerals 2022, 12(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010024 - 23 Dec 2021
Viewed by 2788
Abstract
Scheelitization of Mn-bearing wolframite, scheelite, quartz, and Fe,Mn-chlorite veins was identified in the W, (Cu,Mo) ore deposits of Borralha, by optical microscopy, electron-microprobe analysis, and stable isotope geochemistry. Fluid inclusions derived scheelite crystallization temperature was compared with the oxygen isotope temperature estimated. Scheelite [...] Read more.
Scheelitization of Mn-bearing wolframite, scheelite, quartz, and Fe,Mn-chlorite veins was identified in the W, (Cu,Mo) ore deposits of Borralha, by optical microscopy, electron-microprobe analysis, and stable isotope geochemistry. Fluid inclusions derived scheelite crystallization temperature was compared with the oxygen isotope temperature estimated. Scheelite was formed mainly during stage I from a low salinity aqueous-carbonic fluid dominated by CO2, where the homogenization temperature (Th) decreased from 380 °C to 200 °C (average of 284 °C). As temperature decreased further, the aqueous-carbonic fluid became dominated by CH4 (Stage II; (average Th = 262 °C)). The final stage III corresponds to lower temperature mineralizing aqueous fluid (average Th = 218 °C). In addition, salinity gradually decreased from 4.8 wt.% to 1.12 wt.%. The δ18OFluid values calculated for quartz-water and wolframite-water fractionation fall within the calculated magmatic water range. The ∆quartz-scheelite fractionation occurred at about 350–400 °C. The ∆chlorite-water fractionation factor calculated is about +0.05‰ for 330 °C, dropping to −0.68‰ and −1.26‰ at 380 °C and 450 °C, respectively. Estimated crystallizing temperatures based on semi-empirical chlorite geothermometers range from 373 °C to 458 °C and 435 °C to 519 °C. A narrower temperature range of 375 °C to 410 °C was estimated for Fe,Mn-chlorite crystallization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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20 pages, 7042 KiB  
Article
Kaolinite-to-Chlorite Conversion from Si,Al-Rich Fluid-Origin Veins/Fe-Rich Carboniferous Shale Interaction
by Franck Bourdelle, Michel Dubois, Emily Lloret, Cyril Durand, Ahmed Addad, Schéhérazade Bounoua, Sandra Ventalon and Philippe Recourt
Minerals 2021, 11(8), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080804 - 26 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2547
Abstract
The kaolinite-to-chlorite conversion is one of the chloritization processes that occurs in low temperature diagenetic and hydrothermal systems. The mechanism of this mineralogical transformation is still under discussion, since direct transformation, conversion via berthierine as intermediate phase or direct formation of berthierine/chlorite mix, [...] Read more.
The kaolinite-to-chlorite conversion is one of the chloritization processes that occurs in low temperature diagenetic and hydrothermal systems. The mechanism of this mineralogical transformation is still under discussion, since direct transformation, conversion via berthierine as intermediate phase or direct formation of berthierine/chlorite mix, either by dissolution-crystallization or by solid state transformation (or a combination of both), are all hypotheses put forward. In this context, each description of a kaolinite-to-chlorite conversion occurrence becomes an opportunity to shed new light and to renew this debate. Studying Carboniferous shale–crosscut by large quartz-kaolinite veins–from the mining basin of the North of France, we report therefore an uncommon kaolinite-Fe-rich chlorite assemblage. This assemblage appears as a chlorite fringe 20 µm wide along the interfaces between the shale and the quartz-kaolinite veins. All petrographical, mineralogical and chemical data suggest that the Fe-chlorite results from the interaction between the shale, providing the Fe,Mg supply, and the Si,Al-rich veins, leading to the chloritization of the kaolinite at a small scale via at least one dissolution-recrystallisation step. High-resolution observations highlight that neoformed Fe-rich chlorite contains some 7Å isochemical layers, as relict of berthierine. Therefore, we advance that the conversion takes place either through the precipitation of berthierine following by a second step involving solid state berthierine-chlorite conversion, or through the direct precipitation of a chlorite-rich/berthierine-poor mix driven by the Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio, at low temperature and in reducing conditions. The comparison of our data with the recent literature allows to prefer the second hypothesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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13 pages, 2756 KiB  
Article
Sm–Nd Isochron Age Constraints of Au and Sb Mineralization in Southwestern Guizhou Province, China
by Zepeng Wang, Qinping Tan, Yong Xia, Jianzhong Liu, Chengfu Yang, Songtao Li, Junhai Li, Faen Chen, Xiaoyong Wang, Qiquan Pan and Dafu Wang
Minerals 2021, 11(2), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020100 - 21 Jan 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2184
Abstract
Southwestern Guizhou, China, is famous for hosting clusters of Carlin-type Au, Sb, and Hg-Tl deposits. These deposits are thought to be the products of a low-temperature hydrothermal metallogenic event. Calcite and fluorite are common and widespread gangue minerals in Au and Sb deposits, [...] Read more.
Southwestern Guizhou, China, is famous for hosting clusters of Carlin-type Au, Sb, and Hg-Tl deposits. These deposits are thought to be the products of a low-temperature hydrothermal metallogenic event. Calcite and fluorite are common and widespread gangue minerals in Au and Sb deposits, respectively. Ore-related calcite commonly coexists with stibnite, realgar, and orpiment at the periphery of high-grade orebodies in Au deposits, while ore-related fluorite is generally intergrown with stibnite in Sb deposits. In this study, ore-related calcite and fluorite samples from representative Au (Zimudang) and Sb (Dachang) deposits, respectively, were separated, and the rare earth element (REE) concentrations, Sm/Nd isotope ratios, and Sm–Nd isochron ages were analyzed. This study aims to determine the formation ages of the calcite and fluorite and to constrain the age of low-temperature metallogenic event in Southwestern Guizhou. The calcite and fluorite samples contain relatively high total concentrations of REEs (8.21–22.5 μg/g for calcite, 21.7–36.6 μg/g for fluorite), exhibit variable Sm/Nd ratios (0.51–1.01 for calcite, 0.35–0.49 for fluorite), and yield Sm–Nd isochron ages of 148.4 ± 4.8 and 141 ± 20 Ma, respectively. These ages are consistent with the age range constrained by the low-temperature thermochronology of zircon (132–160 Ma), crosscutting relationships of stratigraphy or intrusions (96–160 Ma), and previous dating results (135–150 Ma) in Southwestern Guizhou. Collectively, the ages obtained in this study add new evidence to previous geochronology studies, such that the low-temperature hydrothermal mineralization in Southwestern Guizhou can be constrained to 135–150 Ma, corresponding to the Yanshanian orogeny, which was associated with a weak extensional tectonic environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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Review

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16 pages, 1859 KiB  
Review
Low-Temperature Chlorite Geothermometry and Related Recent Analytical Advances: A Review
by Franck Bourdelle
Minerals 2021, 11(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020130 - 28 Jan 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4478
Abstract
Chlorite, a 2:1:1 phyllosilicate, has all the required attributes to form the basis of a geothermometer: this mineral is ubiquitous in metamorphic, diagenetic, and hydrothermal systems with a broad field of stability and a chemical composition partly dependent on temperature (T) and pressure [...] Read more.
Chlorite, a 2:1:1 phyllosilicate, has all the required attributes to form the basis of a geothermometer: this mineral is ubiquitous in metamorphic, diagenetic, and hydrothermal systems with a broad field of stability and a chemical composition partly dependent on temperature (T) and pressure (P) conditions. These properties led to the development of a multitude of chlorite thermometers, ranging from those based on empirical calibrations (linking T to AlIV content) to thermodynamic or semi-empirical models (linking T to chlorite + quartz + water equilibrium constant). This present study provides an overview of these geothermometers proposed in the literature for low-temperature chlorite (T < 350 °C), specifying the advantages and limitations of each method. Recent analytical developments that allow for circumventing or responding to certain criticisms regarding the low-temperature application of thermometers are also presented. The emphasis is on micrometric and nanometric analysis, highlighting chemical intracrystalline zoning—which can be considered as evidence of a succession of local equilibria justifying a thermometric approach—and mapping ferric iron content. New perspectives in terms of analysis (e.g., Mn redox in Mn-chlorite) and geothermometer (molecular solid-solution model, oxychlorite end-member) are also addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Temperature Mineralogy and Geochemistry)
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