Again About the "Magmatic" Nature of Topaz Crystals From Chamber Pegmatites of Volyn (Ukrainian Shield)

Abstract

Various aspects of the genesis of primary fluid inclusions (0.01-1.0 sometimes up to 2 mm) with a large number of mineral inclusions in topaz crystals from chamber pegmatites of Volyn were analyzed. The data could be interpreted in two fundamentally different ways. The first argues for crystals grown in a magmatic melt; the second for an aqueous solution, with a density close to critical. The essence of the discrepancy is the reliability of the identification of the nature of mineral phases in the primary inclusions, if they are crystals captured during growth (xenogenic) or daughter crystals from the fluid. The xenogenic origin of the phases is indicated by the following observations: 1) The location of the mineral inclusions on the growing faces of the topaz crystals depends on the orientation of the crystal’s axis [001] relative to the horizontal plane. It determines the faces on which small mineral phases could be deposited from an aqueous suspension during the growth of topaz crystals. The studied crystals are dominated by individuals in which the mineral inclusions are located on the growing faces {011}, {021}, (001) (and others) of the crystal head. During growth, they were approximately in an upright position. 2) The filling of primary fluid inclusions is not constant. The volume of mineral phases in the inclusions varies from 40 to 95%, often 70-75%, the rest of the volume is gas and aqueous solution. Liquid-gas (liquids ˂ 40%) inclusions without or with < 5% solid phases are very rare. In addition, the ratio between the volumes of different mineral phases in the inclusions is not constant. 3) Light rims (Becke lines) around the inclusions record a change in the refractive indices (caused by a different chemical composition) of topaz when inclusions are acquiring the equilibrium form of the negative crystal. 4) The xenogenic nature of the mineral phases of the primary fluid inclusions in topaz is indirectly confirmed by the value of the fluid pressure (260-300 MPa)of the magmatic melt (determined by the method of homogenization of these inclusions), as it denies the possibility of chamber pegmatite formation at depths of 9-11 km. Thus, the peculiar mineral inclusions were deposited on the face of growing topaz crystals of small mineral phases from a turbid aqueous suspension, which boiled violently. We conclude that topaz crystals in chamber pegmatites of Volyn grew in aqueous solution at a temperature of 380-415ºС and a pressure of 30-40 MPa.