Magnesian Högbomite in a Sapphirine-Bearing Rock from the Fiskenaesset Region, W. Greenland

D. Ackermand, B. F. Windley and R. K. Herd
Mineralogisches Institut der Universität, D-2300 Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany
Department of Geology, The University, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K.
Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OE8

Abstract: Högbomite occurs in a 20 × 80 cm gedrite-rich lens between meta-volcanic amphibolite and anor-thosite at the top of the Fiskenaesset Complex in the Angnertussoq area 13 km SE of Fiskenaesset. Between coarse prismatic gedrites there are dusters with chlorite, spinel, sapphirine, rutile, högbomite and corundum. Högbomite forms 200 µm grains often associated with rutile, surrounded by spinel and sapphirine but never in contact with gedrite. Usually sapphirine forms rims on spinel and contains relict gedrite. Corundum is intergrown with spinel and sapphirine. Reactions suggested by the textures are: 1. Gedrite + spinel + rutile → sapphirine + högbomite + chlorite. 2. Sapphirine → chlorite + corundum + spinel. 3. Högbomite → rutile + corundum + spinel. In some areas without rutile or högbomite the reaction gedrite + spinel + ? → sapphirine + chlorite took place.

Mg/(Mg + Fe + Mn) ratios are in the following order: sapphirine (0.95–0.92) > chlorite (0.94) > hornblende (∼ 0.91) > anthophyllite (∼ 0.86) > gedrite (∼ 0.86) > spinel (0.77–0.74) > högbomite (0.75–0.71). Högbomite usually has an anhydrous total of c. 98 %; on the basis of 31 oxygens and with total Fe as FeO one representative analysis has Mg 4.59, Fe 1.73, Zn 0.02, Ni 0.05, Al 14.78, Cr 0.02, Ti 1.2 atoms per formula unit.

Mineralogical Magazine; December 1983 v. 47; no. 345; p. 555-561; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1983.047.345.17
© 1983, The Mineralogical Society
Mineralogical Society (www.minersoc.org)