A case study of zeolitization process: “Tufo Rosso a Scorie Nere” (Vico volcano, Italy): inferences for a general model

This paper focuses on the authigenic mineralization processes acting on “Tufo Rosso a Scorie Nere” (TRS), i.e. one of the main pyroclastic units of the Vico stratovolcano (Latium, Italy). The pyroclastic deposits appear in general massive and made of “black vitreous vesiculated juvenile scoriae”, immersed in an ashy matrix lithified after zeolitization processes. The main minerals are chabazite and phillipsite, and the zeolitic content is locally variable, reaching 68 % wt. Zeolites grow replacing both amorphous fraction and pre-existing phases, occurring inside both matrix and scoriae. Concerning scoriae, zeolitization moves from the rim to the core of the scoriaceous fragment as a function of (a) temperature of the fluids and (b) permeability (primary or secondary). Composition of parental fresh glass and that of zeolitized rocks is compatible with trachyte chemistry, lightly undersaturated in SiO2, and the alteration processes modified the parental rock chemical features. Zeolites genesis is ascribed to a “geoautoclave-like system”, and zeolites display a Si/Al ratio similar to that of the parental glasses. TRS presents promising mineralogical characteristics as supplementary cementitious material in the production of mixed cements.

Ba- and Ti-enriched dark mica from the UHP metasediments of the Seve Nappe Complex, Swedish Caledonides

We report on the occurrence of peculiar Ba- and Ti-enriched dark mica in metasedimentary rocks that underwent high-pressure metamorphism in the diamond stability field followed by decompression to granulite facies conditions. The mica occurs as well-developed preserved laths in a quartzofeldspathic matrix. The mean concentrations of BaO and TiO2in the mica are 11.54 and 7.80wt%, respectively. The maximum amounts of these components are 13.38wt% BaO and 8.45wt% TiO2. The mean crystallochemical formula can be expressed as (K0.54Ba0.39Na0.02Ca0.01)Σ0.96(Fe1.37Mg0.85Ti0.50Al0.29Mn0.01Cr0.01)Σ3.03(Si2.59Al1.41)Σ4.00O10(OH1.30O0.66F0.02S0.01)Σ1.99, withoxyannite,oxy-ferrokinoshitaliteand siderophyllite as dominating end-members. Based on the petrographical observations, it is proposed that the dark mica was formed at a rather late stage in the evolution of the parental rock, i.e. under granulite facies conditions.