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Graphite vein mineralization in the ultramafic rocks of southern Spain: Mineralogy and genetic relationships

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Abstract

Geological and mineralogical characteristics of the two largest graphite vein deposits associated with the ultramafic rocks of the Serranía de Ronda (Málaga, southern Spain) are described for the first time in this paper. The deposits are hosted in the spinel-lherzolite facies of the ultramafic sequence forming in single dikes, pockets and stockworks. Veins are composed of graphite, chromite and Fe-Ni-Cu sulfides. Graphite crystallinity reflects their fully ordered nature, and the c0 parameter indicates temperatures at the time of formation ranging from 770 °C to 820 °C. According to the mineralogy and structural features of graphite veins, a magmatic origin involving assimilation of biogenic carbon from crustal rocks is proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Facultad Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid

    F. J. Luque

  2. Departamento de Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Facultad Quimica, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain

    M. Rodas & E. Galán

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  1. F. J. Luque
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  2. M. Rodas
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  3. E. Galán
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Luque, F.J., Rodas, M. & Galán, E. Graphite vein mineralization in the ultramafic rocks of southern Spain: Mineralogy and genetic relationships. Mineral. Deposita 27, 226–233 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202547

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