Kola Alkaline Province: Ores, Rocks and Minerals—In Memory of Dr. Gregory Yu. Ivanyuk

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2019) | Viewed by 20997

Special Issue Editor


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Chief Guest Editor
1. Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersmana str. 14, 184209 Apatity, Russia
2. Department of Crystallography, Institute of Earth Sciences, St. Petersburg State University, University Emb. 7/9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
Interests: mineralogy; crystallography; structural complexity; uranium
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Kola Alkaline Province contains the world’s largest peralkaline and alkaline-ultrabasic massifs (Khibiny, Lovozero, Kovdor, Tury Mys, etc.), with giant deposits of strategic and critical metals, including Fe, Ti, Nb, Ta, Zr, Al, Na, K, Sc, REE, and P. Aspects of their genesis include plumes, magmatic reservoirs, magmatic and post-magmatic differentiation, geochemistry of incompatible elements, subsolidus events, plication and fault tectonics, accumulation and emission of hydrogen and hydrocarbon gases, etс. In addition, the Kola Alkaline Province is the world’s largest source of new mineral species (above 300) and natural prototypes of important functional materials (ETS-4, AM-4, IE-911, SIV, etc.), which makes it a source of important information on the crystal chemistry and conditions of synthesis of new mineral-like compounds.

This Special Issue will cover a wide range of topics related to the problems of geology, tectonics, petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and crystal chemistry of the Kola alkaline complexes, as well as technological problems of deep ore processing.

This Special Issue is dedicated to Dr. Gregory Yu. Ivanyuk on the occasion of his unexpected passing.

Prof. Dr. Sergey V. Krivovichev
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Kola Alkaline Province
  • Peralkaline massifs
  • Phoscorite-carbonatite complexes
  • Petrology
  • Geochemistry
  • Mineralogy
  • Crystal chemistry
  • Giant mineral deposits

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 2243 KiB  
Article
Britholite Group Minerals from REE-Rich Lithologies of Keivy Alkali Granite—Nepheline Syenite Complex, Kola Peninsula, NW Russia
by Dmitry Zozulya, Lyudmila Lyalina, Ray Macdonald, Bogusław Bagiński, Yevgeny Savchenko and Petras Jokubauskas
Minerals 2019, 9(12), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9120732 - 27 Nov 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3647
Abstract
The Keivy alkali granite-nepheline syenite complex, Kola Peninsula, NW Russia, contains numerous associated Zr-REE-Y-Nb occurrences and deposits, formed by a complex sequence of magmatic, late-magmatic, and post-magmatic (including pegmatitic, hydrothermal, and metasomatic) processes. The REE-rich lithologies have abundant (some of economic importance) and [...] Read more.
The Keivy alkali granite-nepheline syenite complex, Kola Peninsula, NW Russia, contains numerous associated Zr-REE-Y-Nb occurrences and deposits, formed by a complex sequence of magmatic, late-magmatic, and post-magmatic (including pegmatitic, hydrothermal, and metasomatic) processes. The REE-rich lithologies have abundant (some of economic importance) and diverse britholite group minerals. The REE and actinides distribution in host rocks indicates that the emanating fluids were alkaline, with significant amounts of F and CO2. From chemical studies (REE and F variations) of the britholites the possible fluid compositions in different lithologies are proposed. Fluorbritholite-(Y) and britholite-(Y) from products of alkali granite (mineralized granite, pegmatite, quartzolite) formed under relatively high F activity in fluids with low CO2/H2O ratio. The highest F and moderate CO2 contents are characteristic of fluid from a mineralized nepheline syenite, resulting in crystallization of fluorbritholite-(Ce). Britholite group minerals (mainly fluorcalciobritholite and ‘calciobritholite’) from a nepheline syenite pegmatite formed from a fluid with composition changing from low F and high CO2 to moderate F and CO2. An extremely high F content is revealed for metasomatizing fluids emanating from alkali granitic magma and which affected the basic country rocks. The dominant substitution scheme for Keivy britholites is REE3+ + Si4+ = Ca2+ + P5+, showing the full range of ‘britholite’ and ‘calciobritholite’ compositions up to theoretical apatite. Full article
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31 pages, 17635 KiB  
Article
Petrogenesis of the Eudialyte Complex of the Lovozero Alkaline Massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia)
by Julia A. Mikhailova, Gregory Yu. Ivanyuk, Andrey O. Kalashnikov, Yakov A. Pakhomovsky, Ayya V. Bazai and Victor N. Yakovenchuk
Minerals 2019, 9(10), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9100581 - 25 Sep 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3703
Abstract
The Lovozero Alkaline Massif intruded through the Archaean granite-gneiss and Devonian volcaniclastic rocks about 360 million years ago, and formed a large (20 × 30 km) laccolith-type body, rhythmically layered in its lower part (the Layered Complex) and indistinctly layered and enriched in [...] Read more.
The Lovozero Alkaline Massif intruded through the Archaean granite-gneiss and Devonian volcaniclastic rocks about 360 million years ago, and formed a large (20 × 30 km) laccolith-type body, rhythmically layered in its lower part (the Layered Complex) and indistinctly layered and enriched in eudialyte-group minerals in its upper part (the Eudialyte Complex). The Eudialyte Complex is composed of two groups of rocks. Among the hypersolvus meso-melanocratic alkaline rocks (mainly malignite, as well as shonkinite, melteigite, and ijolite enriched with the eudialyte-group minerals, EGM), there are lenses of subsolvus leucocratic rocks (foyaite, fine-grained nepheline syenite, urtite with phosphorus mineralization, and primary lovozerite-group minerals). Leucocratic rocks were formed in the process of the fractional crystallization of melanocratic melt enriched in Fe, high field strength elements (HFSE), and halogens. The fractionation of the melanocratic melt proceeded in the direction of an enrichment in nepheline and a decrease in the aegirine content. A similar fractionation path occurs in the Na2O-Al2O3-Fe2O3-SiO2 system, where the melt of the “ijolite” type (approximately 50% of aegirine) evolves towards “phonolitic eutectic” (approximately 10% of aegirine). The temperature of the crystallization of subsolvus leucocratic rocks was about 550 °C. Hypersolvus meso-melanocratic rocks were formed at temperatures of 700–350 °C, with a gradual transition from an almost anhydrous HFSE-Fe-Cl/F-rich alkaline melt to a Na(Cl, F)-rich water solution. Devonian volcaniclastic rocks underwent metasomatic treatment of varying intensity and survived in the Eudialyte Complex, some remaining unchanged and some turning into nepheline syenites. In these rocks, there are signs of a gradual increase in the intensity of alkaline metasomatism, including a wide variety of zirconium phases. The relatively high fugacity of fluorine favored an early formation of zircon in apo-basalt metasomatites. The ensuing crystallization of aegirine in the metasomatites led to an increase in alkali content relative to silicon and parakeldyshite formation. After that, EGM was formed, under the influence of Ca-rich solutions produced by basalt fenitization. Full article
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10 pages, 2126 KiB  
Article
Hydrochloric Acidic Processing of Titanite Ore to Produce a Synthetic Analogue of Korobitsynite
by Lidia G. Gerasimova, Anatoly I. Nikolaev, Ekaterina S. Shchukina, Marina V. Maslova, Galina O. Kalashnikova, Gleb O. Samburov and Gregory Yu. Ivanyuk
Minerals 2019, 9(5), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9050315 - 22 May 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2707
Abstract
The modal composition of (apatite)-nepheline-titanite ore and its geological setting within apatite deposits of the Khibiny Massif allow selective mining of titanite ore and its hydrochloric acidic processing. The reaction of titanite with concentrated hydrochloric acid produces hydrated titanosilicate precipitate (TSP) which, in [...] Read more.
The modal composition of (apatite)-nepheline-titanite ore and its geological setting within apatite deposits of the Khibiny Massif allow selective mining of titanite ore and its hydrochloric acidic processing. The reaction of titanite with concentrated hydrochloric acid produces hydrated titanosilicate precipitate (TSP) which, in turn, can be a precursor in titanosilicate synthesis. It is particularly noteworthy that a synthetic analogue of korobitsynite, Na5(Ti3Nb)[Si4O12]2O2(OH)2·7H2O, was synthesized by means of TSP alteration by alkaline hydrothermal solution at 200 °C within three days. The titanosilicate obtained this way has comparatively weak cation-exchange properties regarding Cs+ and Sr2+ cations and considerable photocatalytic activity occurring under visible light, which allows the use of a synthetic korobitsynite analogue (SKR) for production of self-cleaning, sterilizing, and anti-fouling building materials. Full article
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15 pages, 7316 KiB  
Article
Chirvinskyite, (Na,Ca)13(Fe,Mn,□)2(Ti,Nb)2(Zr,Ti)3-(Si2O7)4(OH,O,F)12, a New Mineral with a Modular Wallpaper Structure, from the Khibiny Alkaline Massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia)
by Victor N. Yakovenchuk, Yakov A. Pakhomovsky, Taras L. Panikorovskii, Andrey A. Zolotarev, Julia A. Mikhailova, Vladimir N. Bocharov, Sergey V. Krivovichev and Gregory Yu. Ivanyuk
Minerals 2019, 9(4), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9040219 - 06 Apr 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3224
Abstract
Chirvinskyite, (Na,Ca)13(Fe,Mn,□)2(Ti,Nb)2(Zr,Ti)3(Si2O7)4(OH,O,F)12, is a new wöhlerite–related zirconotitano–sorosilicate. It is triclinic, P 1 ¯ , a = 7.0477(5), b = 9.8725(5), c = 12.2204(9) Å, α = 77.995(5), [...] Read more.
Chirvinskyite, (Na,Ca)13(Fe,Mn,□)2(Ti,Nb)2(Zr,Ti)3(Si2O7)4(OH,O,F)12, is a new wöhlerite–related zirconotitano–sorosilicate. It is triclinic, P 1 ¯ , a = 7.0477(5), b = 9.8725(5), c = 12.2204(9) Å, α = 77.995(5), β = 82.057(6), γ = 89.988(5)°, V = 823.35(9) Å3, Z = 1. The mineral was found in albitized alkaline pegmatites in a foyaite of the Mt. Takhtarvumchorr (Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia, N 67°40′, E 33°33′). Chirvinskyite forms sheaf–like and radiated aggregates (up to 6 mm in diameter) of split fibrous crystals hosted by saccharoidal fluorapatite and albite. The mineral is pale cream in color, with a silky luster and a white streak. The cleavage is not recognized. Mohs hardness is 5. Chirvinskyite is biaxial (–), α 1.670(2), β 1.690(2), γ 1.705(2) (589 nm), 2Vcalc = 80.9°. The calculated and measured densities are 3.41 and 3.07(2) g·cm−3, respectively. The empirical formula based on Si = 8 apfu is (Na9.81Ca3.28K0.01)∑13.10(Fe0.72Mn0.690.54Mg0.05)∑2.00 (Ti1.81Nb0.19)∑2.00(Zr2.27Ti0.63)∑2.90(Si2O7)4{(OH)5.94O3.09F2.97}∑12.00. Chirvinskyite belongs to a new structure type of minerals and inorganic compounds and is related to the wöhlerite-group minerals. Its modular “wallpaper” structure consists of disilicate groups Si2O7 and three types of “octahedral walls”. The mineral is named in honor of Petr Nikolaevich Chirvinsky (1880–1955), Russian geologist and petrographer, head of the Petrography Department of the Perm’ State University (1943–1953), for his contributions to mineralogy and petrology, including studies of the Khibiny alkaline massif. Full article
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Review

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18 pages, 3945 KiB  
Review
Binding Properties of Mechanically Activated Nepheline Containing Mining Waste
by Basya I. Gurevich, Elena V. Kalinkina and Alexander M. Kalinkin
Minerals 2020, 10(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/min10010048 - 03 Jan 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2907
Abstract
The development of apatite and rare-metal deposits of the Khibiny and Lovozero—the world’s largest ultrabasic massifs located in the Kola Alkaline Province—is accompanied by accumulation of huge amounts of sandy tailings dumps, about half consisting of nepheline. These tailings, on the one hand, [...] Read more.
The development of apatite and rare-metal deposits of the Khibiny and Lovozero—the world’s largest ultrabasic massifs located in the Kola Alkaline Province—is accompanied by accumulation of huge amounts of sandy tailings dumps, about half consisting of nepheline. These tailings, on the one hand, pose a real threat of environmental pollution. On the other hand, they are “technogenic deposits” that contain reserves of valuable components (Na2O, K2O, Al2O3, etc.). In this paper, methods of processing of the nepheline-containing mining waste using mechanical activation to produce binding materials—geopolymers and blended cements—are observed. The advantages of combining the nepheline containing tailings dumps with other mining wastes accumulated in the region, such as Cu–Ni slag, are presented. Full article
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31 pages, 6127 KiB  
Review
Occurrence Forms, Composition, Distribution, Origin and Potential Hazard of Natural Hydrogen–Hydrocarbon Gases in Ore Deposits of the Khibiny and Lovozero Massifs: A Review
by Valentin A. Nivin
Minerals 2019, 9(9), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9090535 - 03 Sep 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4162
Abstract
The Khibiny and Lovozero massifs—the world’s largest alkaline massifs—contain deposits with unique reserves of phosphorus and rare metals, respectively. The reduced gas content in the rocks and, especially, the ore deposits of these massifs is unusually high for igneous complexes, thus representing both [...] Read more.
The Khibiny and Lovozero massifs—the world’s largest alkaline massifs—contain deposits with unique reserves of phosphorus and rare metals, respectively. The reduced gas content in the rocks and, especially, the ore deposits of these massifs is unusually high for igneous complexes, thus representing both geochemical and practical interests. There are three morphological types (or occurrence forms) of the gas phase in these deposits: occluded (predominantly in vacuoles of micro-inclusions in minerals), diffusely dispersed, and free. All three morphological types have the same qualitative chemical gas composition. Methane is the main component, and molecular hydrogen (which sometimes dominates) and ethane are the subordinate constituents. Heavier methane homologs (up to and including pentanes), alkenes, helium, and rarely carbon oxide and dioxide are present in minor or trace amounts. All three morphological types of gases are irregularly distributed in space to various degrees. Free gases also show a release intensity that varies in time. The majority of researchers recognize that the origin of these gases is abiogenic and mostly related to the formation of the massifs and deposits. However, the relative time and mechanism of their generation are still debated. Emissions of combustible and explosive hydrogen–hydrocarbon gases pose hazards during the underground mining of ore deposits. Therefore, the distinctive features of gas-bearing capacity are an essential part of the mining and geological characterization of such deposits because they provide a basis for establishing and implementing special measures of the gas regime during mining operations. Full article
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