Mineral intergrowths replaced by "elbow-twinned" rutile in altered rocks

Canadian Mineralogist
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Abstract

Some aggregates of rutile, classically considered to be "elbow" twinned, instead are topotactic replacements of ilmenite or other hexagonal titaniferous precursors. Twinned rutile can be differentiated from the reticulated rutile of topotactic replacements by the angle of prism intersections, junction morphology, and the overall form of the aggregate. In a special case of topotactic replacement of ilmenite, rutile forms pseudomorphs of "trellis"-textured ilmenite lamellae in {111} of precursor magnetite. We trace the progress of rutile formation through the alteration of fine-grained magnetite-bearing host rocks. The sequential two-step topotaxy from magnetite through ilmenite to rutile requires rutile prisms to parallel the intersections of {111} planes in precursor magnetite. Some coarse reticulated rutile may result from the same paragenetic sequence.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Mineral intergrowths replaced by "elbow-twinned" rutile in altered rocks
Series title Canadian Mineralogist
Volume 34
Issue 3
Year Published 1996
Language English
Contributing office(s) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 10 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Canadian Mineralogist
First page 605
Last page 614
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