Experimental Study of the Solubility of Fluorides in Fluid-Saturated Potassic Syenite Melt

Abstract

The paper presents experimental results on the solubility of fluorides in fluid-saturated melt of alkaline ultrapotassic syenite-porphyry from the Gross gold ore deposit in southern Yakutia at T = 600–800°C, P = 150–260 MPa. The experiments were carried out to confirm the assumption of high solubility of fluorine in ultrapotassic syenite melt, which could contribute to the formation of specific and low-viscosity melts that were emplaced in the form of a syenite porphyry sill. The solid products after the experiments contained aluminosilicate glass, potassium feldspar, fluorite, quartz, and two fluoride phases differing in composition (potassium and aluminum fluoride and potassium and magnesium fluoride). The experimental results led us to determine a high maximum solubility of fluorine in the melt: up to 4.2–4.6 wt %, with the maximum F content found in the lowest temperature melt at 625°C. The solidus and liquidus temperatures of the syenite melt were estimated at 600–625 and 650–800°C, respectively. The aqueous fluoride fluid coexisting in equilibrium with the melt was determined to be alkaline. Potassium feldspar was the first to crystallize from the melt in the experiments, which is consistent with what is observed in samples of the naturally occurring rocks.