Abstract: Babingtonite is a common constituent of calcareous volcanic detritus in the interstices of pillow lavas from an outcrop of the Takitimu Group, western Southland, New Zealand, Associated minerals include Fe-rich prehnite (Fe/(Fe+Al) = 0.12–0.33), Fe-rich epidote (Ps_24–53), grandite garnet (av. Andradite₇₀ Grossular₃₀), quartz, calcite, chlorite, and pumpellyite. Babingtonite shows little departure from its ideal composition other than minor Mg, Mn, and Al and a trace of Na.

Textural evidence and microprobe data suggest that the babingtonite, Fe-rich epidote, calcite, and quartz formed from hydrothermal solutions by direct precipitation in open cavities and by replacement of higher temperature silicate phases (in particular plagioclase and basaltic glass) in a shallow marine volcanic environment. During subsequent burial and low-grade metamorphism babingtonite was partially replaced by prehnite, less Fe-rich epidote, grandite, and chlorite.