Home Parageneses of TiB2 in corundum xenoliths from Mt. Carmel, Israel: Siderophile behavior of boron under reducing conditions
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Parageneses of TiB2 in corundum xenoliths from Mt. Carmel, Israel: Siderophile behavior of boron under reducing conditions

  • William L. Griffin ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Sarah E.M. Gain , Martin Saunders , Luca Bindi ORCID logo , Olivier Alard , Vered Toledo and Suzanne Y. O’Reilly
Published/Copyright: October 28, 2020
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Author Information
American Mineralogist
From the journal American Mineralogist Volume 105 Issue 11

Abstract

Titanium diboride (TiB2) is a minor but common phase in melt pockets trapped in the corundum aggregates that occur as xenoliths in Cretaceous basaltic volcanoes on Mt. Carmel, north Israel. These melt pockets show extensive textural evidence of immiscibility between metallic (Fe-Ti-C-Si) melts, Ca-Al-Mg-Si-O melts, and Ti-(oxy)nitride melts. The metallic melts commonly form spherules in the coexisting oxide glass. Most of the observed TiB2 crystallized from the Fe-Ti-C silicide melts and a smaller proportion from the oxide melts. The parageneses in the melt pockets of the xenoliths require fO2≤ΔIW−6,probably generated through interaction between evolved silicate melts and mantle-derived CH4+H2 fluids near the crust-mantle boundary. Under these highly reducing conditions boron, like carbon and nitrogen, behaved mainly as a siderophile element during the separation of immiscible metallic and oxide melts. These parageneses have implications for the residence of boron in the peridotitic mantle and for the occurrence of TiB2 in other less well-constrained environments such as ophiolitic chromitites.

Keywords: Titanium boride; reducing conditions; siderophile element; Mt. Carmel; paragenetic studies; Lithium; Beryllium; and Boron: Quintessentially Crustal

‡ Special collection papers can be found online at http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/AmMin/special-collections.html.

Funding source: University of Western Australia

Award Identifier / Grant number:

Funding source: Macquarie University

Award Identifier / Grant number:

Funding source: Department of Education and Training

Award Identifier / Grant number:

Funding statement: The authors acknowledge the facilities and the scientific and technical assistance of Microscopy Australia at the Centre for Microscopy, Characterization and Analysis, the University of Western Australia, a facility funded by the University, State, and Commonwealth Governments. The study also used instrumentation at Macquarie University, funded by ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) and Department of Education and Training (DEST) Systemic Infrastructure Grants. Luca Bindi thanks MIUR-PRIN2017, project “TEOREM deciphering geological processes using Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial ORE Minerals,” prot. 2017AK8C32. This is contribution 1427 from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (http://www.ccfs.mq.edu.au), and contribution 1368 from the GEMOC ARC National Key Centre (http://www.gemoc.mq.edu.au).

Acknowledgments

We thank Tim Murphy for his assistance with the SEM and EMP analyses, and Sean Murray for guidance on the FE-SEM imaging at Macquarie University. Vadim Kamenetsky is thanked for providing the FE-SEM image used as Figure 3b, and its EDS analyses. We are grateful to Fernando Cámara for perspicacious discussions and commentary. The manuscript was improved through reviews by Jan Cempirek, Chi Ma, and Associate Editor Ed Grew.

References cited

Abe, T., Tsukamoto, K., and Sunagawa, I. (1991) Nucleation, growth and stability of CaAl2Si2O8 polymorphs. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 17, 473–484.10.1007/BF00202227Search in Google Scholar

Bindi, L., Griffin, W.L., Panero, W., Sirotkina, E., Bobrov, A., and Irifune, T. (2018) High-pressure synthesis of inverse ringwoodite sheds light on the subduction history of Tibetan ophiolites. Scientific Reports, 8, 5457.10.1038/s41598-018-23790-9Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Dobrzhinetskaya, L.F., Wirth, R., Yang, J., Green, H.W., Hutcheon, I.D., Weber, P.K., and Grew, E. S. (2014) Qingsongite, natural cubic boron nitride: The first boron mineral from the Earth’s mantle. American Mineralogist, 99, 764–772.10.2138/am.2014.4714Search in Google Scholar

Gaillou, E., Post, J.E., Rost, D., and Butler, J.E. (2012) Boron in natural type IIb blue diamonds: Chemical and spectroscopic measurements. American Mineralogist, 97, 1–18.10.2138/am.2012.3925Search in Google Scholar

Goldsmith, J.R. (1980) The melting and breakdown reactions of anorthite at high pressures and temperatures. American Mineralogist, 65, 272–284.Search in Google Scholar

Grew, E. S. (2015) Boron—the crustal element. Elements, 13, 162–163.Search in Google Scholar

Grew, E. S., Hystad, G., Hazen, R.M., Golden, J., Krivovichev, S.V., and Gorelova, L.A. (2017) How many boron minerals occur in Earth’s upper crust? Invited Centennial Paper, American Mineralogist, 102, 1573–1587.10.2138/am-2017-5897Search in Google Scholar

Griffin, W.L., Afonso, J.C., Belousova, E.A., Gain, S.E., Gong, X-H., González-Jiménez, J.M., Howell, D., Huang, J-X., McGowan, N., Pearson, N.J., and others. (2016a) Mantle recycling: Transition-zone metamorphism of Tibetan ophiolitic peridotites and its tectonic implications. Journal of Petrology, 57, 655–684.10.1093/petrology/egw011Search in Google Scholar

Griffin, W.L., Gain, S.E.M., Adams, D.T., Huang, J-X., Saunders, M., Toledo, V., Pearson, N.J., and O’Reilly, S.Y. (2016b) First terrestrial occurrence of tistarite (Ti2O3 Ultra-low oxygen fugacity in the upper mantle beneath Mt. Carmel, Israel. Geology, 44, 815–818.10.1130/G37910.1Search in Google Scholar

Griffin, W.L., Huang, J-X., Thomassot, E., Gain, S.E.M., Toledo, V., and O’Reilly, S.Y., (2018a) Super-reducing conditions in ancient and modern volcanic systems: Sources and behaviour of carbon-rich fluids in the lithospheric mantle. Mineralogy and Petrology, 112, Supp. 1, 101–114.10.1007/s00710-018-0575-xSearch in Google Scholar

Griffin, W.L., Gain, S.E.M., Bindi, L., Toledo, V., Cámara, F., Saunders, M., and O’Reilly, S.Y. (2018b) Carmeltazite, ZrAl2Ti4O11 a new mineral trapped in corundum from volcanic rocks of Mt. Carmel, northern Israel. Minerals, 8, 601–612.10.3390/min8120601Search in Google Scholar

Griffin, W.L., Gain, S.E.M., Huang, J-X., Saunders, M., Shaw, J., Toledo, V., and O’Reilly, S.Y. (2019a) A terrestrial magmatic hibonite-grossite-vanadium assemblage: desilication and extreme reduction in a volcanic plumbing system, Mt. Carmel, Israel. American Mineralogist, 104, 207–219.10.2138/am-2019-6733Search in Google Scholar

Griffin, W.L., Toledo, V., and O’Reilly, S.Y. (2019b) Discussion of “Enigmatic super-reduced phases in corundum from natural rocks: Possible contamination from artificial abrasive materials or metallurgical slags” by Litasov et al. Lithos, 348-349,105122.10.1016/j.lithos.2019.06.024Search in Google Scholar

Higashi, I., and Atoda, T. (1970) Growth of titanium diboride single crystals in molten aluminum. Journal of Crystal Growth, 7, 251–253.10.1016/0022-0248(70)90019-9Search in Google Scholar

Higashi, I., Takahashi, Y., and Atoda, T. (1976) Crystal growth of borides and carbides of transition metals from molten aluminium solutions. Journal of Crystal Growth, 33, 207–211.10.1016/0022-0248(76)90044-0Search in Google Scholar

Korolev, N., Kopylova, M., Gurney, J.J., Moore, A.E., and Davidson, J. (2018) The origin of Type II diamonds as inferred from Cullinan mineral inclusions. Mineralogy and Petrology, 112, Suppl. 1, S275–S289.10.1007/s00710-018-0601-zSearch in Google Scholar

Litasov, K.D., Kagi, H., and Bekker, T.B. (2019a) Enigmatic super-reduced phases in corundum from natural rocks: Possible contamination from artificial abrasive materials or metallurgical slags. Lithos, 340-341, 181–190.10.1016/j.lithos.2019.05.013Search in Google Scholar

Litasov, K.D., Bekker, T.B., and Kagi, H. (2019b) Reply to the discussion of “Enigmatic super-reduced phases in corundum from natural rocks: Possible contamination from artificial abrasive materials or metallurgical slags” by Litasov et al. (Lithos, v.340-341, p.181–190) by W.L. Griffin, V. Toledo and S.Y. O’Reilly. Lithos, 348–349, 105170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2019.10517010.1016/j.lithos.2019.105170Search in Google Scholar

Ottonello, G., Attene, M., Ameglio, D., Belmonte, D., Zuccolini, M.V., and Natali, M. (2013) Thermodynamic investigation of the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 system at high P and T through polymer chemistry and convex-hull techniques. Chemical Geology, 346, 81–92.10.1016/j.chemgeo.2012.09.018Search in Google Scholar

Palme, H., and O’Neill, H. St.C. (2005) Cosmochemical estimates of mantle composition. In R.W. Carlson, Ed., Treatise on Geochemistry, vol. 2: The Mantle and Core, p. 1–38. Elsevier-Pergamon.10.1016/B0-08-043751-6/02177-0Search in Google Scholar

Pekov, I.V., Anikin, L.P., Chukanov, N.V., Belakovskiy, D.I., Yapaskurt, V.O., Sidorov, E.G., Britvin, S.N., and Zubkova, N.V. (2019) Deltalumite, a new natural modification of alumina with spinel-type structure. Zapiski RMO, 148, 45–58.10.1134/S1075701520070089Search in Google Scholar

Segev, A., and Rybakov, M. (2011) History of faulting and magmatism in the Galilee (Israel) and across the Levant continental margin inferred from potential field data. Journal of Geodynamics, 51, 264–284.10.1016/j.jog.2010.10.001Search in Google Scholar

Sheldrick, G.M. (2008) A short history of SHELX. Acta Crystallographica, A64, 112–122.10.1107/S0108767307043930Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Smith, E.M., Shirey, S.B., Nestola, F., Bullock, E.S., Wang, J., Richardson, S.H., and Wang, W. (2016) Large gem diamonds from metallic liquid in Earth’s deep interior. Science, 354, 1403–1405.10.1126/science.aal1303Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Smith, E.M., Shirey, S.B., Richardson, S.H., Nestola, F., Bullock, E.S., Wang, J., and Wang, W. (2018) Blue boron-bearing diamonds from Earth’s lower mantle. Nature, 560, 84–87.10.1038/s41586-018-0334-5Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Stoyanov, E., Langenhorst, F., and Steinle-Neumann, G. (2007) The effect of valence state and site geometry on Ti L3,2 and O K electron energy-loss spectra of TixOy phases. American Mineralogist, 92, 577–586.10.2138/am.2007.2344Search in Google Scholar

Villars, P., and Calvert, L.D. (1991) Persons’s Handbook of Crystallographic Data for Intermetallic Phases, 2nd ed. American Society for Metals, Materials Park, Ohio.Search in Google Scholar

Wilson, A.J.C. (1992) International Tables for Crystallography, Volume C: Mathematical, physical and chemical tables. Kluwer Academic.Search in Google Scholar

Xiong, Q., Griffin, W.L., Huang, J-X., Gain, S.E.M., Toledo, V., Pearson, N.J., and O’Reilly, S.Y. (2017) Super-reduced mineral assemblages in “ophiolitic” chromitites and peridotites: The view from Mt. Carmel. European Journal of Mineralogy, 29, 557–570.10.1127/ejm/2017/0029-2646Search in Google Scholar

Xiong, F., Xu, X., Mugnaioli, E., Gemmi, M., Wirth, R., Grew, E.S., and Robinson, P.T. (2019a) Potential new titanium minerals in corundum from the Cr-11 chromitite orebody, Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet, China: Evidence for super-reduced mantle derived fluids? Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 51, no. 5, doi: 10.1130/abs/2019AM-333493.10.1130/abs/2019AM-333493Search in Google Scholar

Xiong, F., Xu, X., Mugnaioli, E., Gemmi, M., Wirth, R., Grew, E.S., and Robinson, P.T. (2019b) Jingsuiite, IMA 2018-117b. CNMNC Newsletter No. 52; Mineralogical Magazine, 83. https://doi.org/10.1180/mgm.2019.7310.1180/mgm.2019.73Search in Google Scholar

Zhang, Y., Jin, Z., Griffin, W.L., Wang, C., and Wu, Y. (2017) High-pressure experiments provide insights into the Mantle Transition Zone history of chromitite in Tibetan ophiolites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 463, 151–158.10.1016/j.epsl.2017.01.036Search in Google Scholar

Zolotarev, A.V., Krivovichev, S.V., Panikorovskii, T.L., Gurzhiy, V.V., Bocharov, V.N., and Rassomokhin, M.A. (2019) Dmisteinbergite, CaAl2Si2O8 a metastable polymorph of anorthite: Crystal-structure and Raman spectroscopoic study of the holotype specimen. Minerals, 9, 570–582.10.3390/min9100570Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2019-11-22
Accepted: 2020-03-18
Published Online: 2020-10-28
Published in Print: 2020-11-25

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Parageneses of TiB2 in corundum xenoliths from Mt. Carmel, Israel: Siderophile behavior of boron under reducing conditions
  2. Crystal structure and Raman spectroscopic studies of OH stretching vibrations in Zn-rich fluor-elbaite
  3. Crystal structure of Ag-exchanged levyne intergrown with erionite: Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Molecular Dynamics simulations
  4. Br diffusion in phonolitic melts: Comparison with fluorine and chlorine diffusion
  5. Crystal chemistry and microfeatures of gadolinite imprinted by pegmatite formation and alteration evolution
  6. A new occurrence of corundum in eucrite and its significance
  7. Zircon survival in shallow asthenosphere and deep lithosphere
  8. Reconsidering initial Pb in titanite in the context of in situ dating
  9. Solubility of Na2SO4 in silica-saturated solutions: Implications for REE mineralization
  10. Vanadium micro-XANES determination of oxygen fugacity in olivine-hosted glass inclusion and groundmass glasses of martian primitive shergottite Yamato 980459
  11. Donwilhelmsite, [CaAl4Si2O11], a new lunar high-pressure Ca-Al-silicate with relevance for subducted terrestrial sediments
  12. Magnetite texture and trace-element geochemistry fingerprint of pulsed mineralization in the Xinqiao Cu-Fe-Au deposit, Eastern China
  13. Magmatic haggertyite in olivine lamproites of the West Kimberley region, Western Australia
  14. Trace elements in sulfides from the Maozu Pb-Zn deposit, Yunnan Province, China: Implications for trace-element incorporation mechanisms and ore genesis
  15. Letter
  16. New pressure-induced phase transition to Co2Si-type Fe2P
  17. Effects of small crystallite size on the thermal infrared (vibrational) spectra of minerals
https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2020-7375
Keywords for this article
Titanium boride; reducing conditions; siderophile element; Mt. Carmel; paragenetic studies; Lithium; Beryllium; and Boron: Quintessentially Crustal

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Parageneses of TiB2 in corundum xenoliths from Mt. Carmel, Israel: Siderophile behavior of boron under reducing conditions
  2. Crystal structure and Raman spectroscopic studies of OH stretching vibrations in Zn-rich fluor-elbaite
  3. Crystal structure of Ag-exchanged levyne intergrown with erionite: Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Molecular Dynamics simulations
  4. Br diffusion in phonolitic melts: Comparison with fluorine and chlorine diffusion
  5. Crystal chemistry and microfeatures of gadolinite imprinted by pegmatite formation and alteration evolution
  6. A new occurrence of corundum in eucrite and its significance
  7. Zircon survival in shallow asthenosphere and deep lithosphere
  8. Reconsidering initial Pb in titanite in the context of in situ dating
  9. Solubility of Na2SO4 in silica-saturated solutions: Implications for REE mineralization
  10. Vanadium micro-XANES determination of oxygen fugacity in olivine-hosted glass inclusion and groundmass glasses of martian primitive shergottite Yamato 980459
  11. Donwilhelmsite, [CaAl4Si2O11], a new lunar high-pressure Ca-Al-silicate with relevance for subducted terrestrial sediments
  12. Magnetite texture and trace-element geochemistry fingerprint of pulsed mineralization in the Xinqiao Cu-Fe-Au deposit, Eastern China
  13. Magmatic haggertyite in olivine lamproites of the West Kimberley region, Western Australia
  14. Trace elements in sulfides from the Maozu Pb-Zn deposit, Yunnan Province, China: Implications for trace-element incorporation mechanisms and ore genesis
  15. Letter
  16. New pressure-induced phase transition to Co2Si-type Fe2P
  17. Effects of small crystallite size on the thermal infrared (vibrational) spectra of minerals
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 22.11.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.2138/am-2020-7375/html
Scroll to top button