Abstract: The compositions and textural relationships of the oxide minerals zirconolite, pyrochlore and baddeleyite are described. These occur as accessory minerals, often intergrown with each other, from a phoscorite rock associated with the Kovdor carbonatite complex. Both the zirconolite and baddeleyite have relatively high concentrations of Nb and Ta; the pyrochlore is rich in U and Ta. Backscattered electron images, coupled with detailed microprobe analyses, reveal complex compositional zoning in zirconolite and pyrochlore which reflect changes in the fluid composition during growth of these minerals. A comparison is made of incompatible element ratios Zr/Hf, Nb/Ta and Th/U between the three accessory minerals.
Mineralogical Magazine; August 1996 v. 60; no. 401; p. 639-646; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1996.060.401.09
© 1996, The Mineralogical Society
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