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The masquerade of alkaline–carbonatitic tuffs by zeolites: a new global pathfinder hypothesis

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Abstract

Rapid and progressive reaction of alkaline–carbonatitic tuffs with magmatic and crustal fluids disguises their initial character and origin. This is collectively indicated from (a) the extensive literature on zeolite formation from volcanic glass precursors and alkaline fluids, (b) mineralogical characteristics of specific zeolite species, (c) a comparative review of global distributions of alkaline–carbonatite suites and of zeolite minerals, and (d) new trace element data from zeolite samples. A unifying conceptual model based on tectonic and geological settings, hydrological regime and mineralogy is presented that helps to explain the global distributions and current understanding of occurrences. The model will assist in resource exploration by contributing deeper understanding of the economically important bedded zeolite deposits and further, serve as a guide to the discovery of new alkaline–carbonatitic suites, potentially of economic significance (metallic ores and rare earth elements). It follows that future testing of the hypothesis will impact on models of natural carbon cycling as volcanic contributions of CO2 are reviewed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was inadvertently inspired by a carbonatite seminar session given by Ken Bailey, Alan Woolley and Frances Wall at the University of Manchester in 2008. Laboratory and technical assistance were given by staff of the Universities of Manchester and Wolverhampton; Cath Davies, Al Bewsher, Karl Hennermann (Fig. 1), Richard Hartley (Fig. 3), with resources from Dave Polya and Richard Pattrick. Permissions from Natural Resources/Geological Survey of Canada and preliminary responses to mapping queries from Alan Woolley, Bruce Kjarsgaard and Beth Hillary (Geological Survey of Canada) are acknowledged. S. Strekopytov (The Natural History Museum, London) provided independent analytical verification for the Mudhills sample. Special thanks are due to zeolite sample suppliers, Alan Dyer for relinquishing some of his personal collection, Timothy Teague (University of Berkeley, California) for sub-samples of R. Hay’s Tanzanian rocks, Hani Khoury (University of Jordan, Amman) for the Jordanian samples, S. Soulyman (Damascus Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology), and commercial zeolite producers. All the zeolite contributors to Mindat.org are acknowledged, without whom the global perspective would have been limited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    L. S. Campbell & P. R. Lythgoe

  2. Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

    A. Dyer

  3. School of Applied Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, UK

    C. Williams

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  1. L. S. Campbell
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  4. P. R. Lythgoe
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Correspondence to L. S. Campbell.

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Campbell, L.S., Dyer, A., Williams, C. et al. The masquerade of alkaline–carbonatitic tuffs by zeolites: a new global pathfinder hypothesis. Miner Deposita 47, 371–382 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-011-0394-z

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