Apatite as a tracer for magmatic-hydrothermal ore-forming processes
Keyword(s):
This project focuses on the trace element chemistry of igneous apatite in various magmatic systems with the use of in situ analytical techniques. The composition of apatite may possibly be used as a tracer for various magmatic-hydrothermal processes due to the breadth of chemical substitutions possible within the structure. Apatite is found in many mineralized layered intrusions as a minor phase. Apatite may be utilized in the tracking of metasomatic fluids in layered intrusions or in geochronological studies in the absence of other commonly used phases i.e. zircon. Apatite accumulations can be exploited economically for phosphorus and possibly for rare earth elements as well.