Kolabook2004 Chap2 Krasnova Introductiontophoscorites

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Introduction to phoscorites: occurrence, composition,

nomenclature and petrogenesis
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CHAPTER TWO
Introduction to phoscorites:
occurrence, composition,
nomenclature and petrogenesis
N. I. KRASNOVA1,*, T. G. PETROV2, E. G. BALAGANSKAYA3,
D. GARCIA4, J. MOUTTE4, A. N. ZAITSEV1 AND F. WALL5
1
Department of Mineralogy, St. Petersburg State University, University Emb. 7/9,
St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia, 2Department of Crystallography, St. Petersburg State
University, University Emb. 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia, 3Geological Institute,
Kola Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fersmana str. 14, Apatity,
184200 Russia 4Centre SPIN, Ecole des Mines, 158 cours Fauriel, Saint-Etienne,
42023 France and 5Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
ABSTRACT
Phoscorites are plutonic ultramafic rocks, comprising magnetite, apatite and one of the
silicates, forsterite, diopside or phlogopite. They almost always occur in close
association with carbonatites. Common minor minerals are calcite, dolomite,
tetraferriphlogopite and richterite. Key accessories are baddeleyite, pyrochlore,
pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite.
Phoscorites are rare rocks and only 21 occurrences have been found worldwide. They
often form multiphase phoscorite-carbonatite complexes and field relationships include
girdle, ring or arcuate zones and veins around or in the carbonatite cores of many
complexes, steeply dipping veins that form stockwork pipe-like bodies, or oval, lens-
like or isometric bodies up to 100s of metres wide. Five complexes in the Kola
Alkaline Province: Kovdor, Vuoriyarvi, Turiy Mys, Seblyavr and Sokli, provide
examples of phoscorite diversity.
There is no accepted nomenclature for the subdivision of phoscorite varieties. Three
possible systems are: (1) the addition of mineral prefixes, (2) the scheme of Yegorov
(1993) based on modal (volume) abundances of minerals and (3) the RHA method of
Krasnova et al. (2002) based on molecular abundances of minerals calculated from
whole-rock chemistry. Petrogenetic studies of phoscorite emphasize the close
relationship between carbonatites and phoscorites and suggest their origin from
evolving melts by crystal fractionation and/or liquid immiscibility. Isotopic studies
provide evidence of a mantle origin and in some cases argue for successive melt
batches.
* E-mail address of corresponding author: nataly_krasnova@rambler.ru
Krasnova, N.I., Petrov, T.G., Balaganskaya, E.G., Garcia, D., Moutte, J., Zaitsev, A.N. and Wall, F. (2004)
Introduction to phoscorites: occurrence, composition, nomenclature and petrogenesis. Pp. 43 72 in:
Phoscorites and Carbonatites from Mantle to Mine: the Key Example of the Kola Alkaline Province
(A. Zaitsev and F. Wall, editors). Mineralogical Society Series, 10. Mineralogical Society, London. ISBN
0 903056 22 4.
# The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain & Ireland 2004.
N. I. KRASNOVA ET AL.
2.1 How many names do we have for phoscorite?
According to the International Union of Geological Sciences, (IUGS)

classification of igneous rocks (Le Maitre, 2002), phoscorite is ‘‘a magnetite,
olivine, apatite rock usually associated with carbonatites’’. The term
‘phoscorite’ is a mnemonic, derived originally from the name of the
Phosphate Development Corporation and refers to magnetite-olivine-apatite
rocks ringing the Loolekop carbonatite body of the Phalaborwa Complex,
South Africa (Russell et al., 1954). Some South African publications use the
name ‘foskorite’ rather than ‘phoscorite’, referring to the abbreviation of the
Afrikaans version of the mining company name ‘Foskor’ (Fourie and de Jager,
1986; Harmer, 2000). Russian publications also contain a range of names for
phoscorites. They have been described as ‘‘forsterite-magnetite and apatite
rocks’’, as ‘‘rocks of the ore complex’’ (e.g. Kukharenko et al., 1965; Lapin,
1979; Kapustin, 1980; Bulakh and Ivanikov 1984; Krasnova and Kopylova,
1988), as ‘‘complex apatite-magnetite ores’’ (Ternovoy, 1977), and as ‘‘cama-
forites’’ (also spelt kamaforite in some translations), a term derived from the
mineral names calcite, apatite, magnetite and forsterite (Borodin et al., 1973).
The term ‘‘carbonatitoid’’ has also been used (Epshteyn and Danil’chenko,
1988; Epshteyn, 1994).
2.2 Phoscorite field relationships
Phoscorites are rare and are known from only 21 localities worldwide
(Table 2.1). In contrast, there are about 450 occurrences of carbonatite
worldwide (A.R. Woolley, pers. comm.) and over 800 occurrences of alkaline
rocks and/or carbonatites in Africa alone (Woolley, 2001). In compiling
Table 2.1 we used the preferred, broader definition of phoscorite discussed in
section 2.3. It is difficult to assemble a definitive list of localities from
literature description and there are undoubtedly other phoscorite-bearing
complexes that are not described as such. Equally, some of these descriptions
used here are rather ambiguous. The criteria we used to choose phoscorite
localities were: (1) to include the well established provinces and localities
Kola Alkaline Province (KAP), Maymeicha Kotui and Aldan Provinces, and
Phalaborwa complex; (2) to include localities where the term phoscorite is
clearly applied, e.g. Bukusu and Araxá; and (3) to include localities with clear
descriptions of phoscorite where the rock name is not used, e.g. Dorowa.
There appears to be no correlation between the presence of particular rock
types in alkaline-carbonatite complexes and the presence of phoscorites
(Egorov, 1991). There are also some exceptions to the assumption that
phoscorites are typical components of intrusions that contain ultrabasic rocks
(olivinites, clinopyroxenites) and carbonatites (Borodin et al., 1973). For
example, there are no ultrabasic rocks at Sukulu or Nemegosenda Lake, only
melteigite or jacupirangite at Essei, Yraas and Araxá, and no accompanying
44
TABLE 2.1Worldwide phoscorite localities.
Pro- Complex Main rock types ———————— Characteristic of phoscorites ———————— Reference
vince (from old to young) Morphology of phoscorite bodies Rock forming minerals Accessories
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Kovdor Olivinite, clinopyroxenite, Stockwork of steeply dipping Magnetite, apatite, forsterite, Baddeleyite, Kukharenko
turjaite, ijolite, phoscorite, veins form a pipe-like body calcite, dolomite, phlogopite, uranpyrochlore, et al. (1965);
carbonatite, apatite-francolite associated with carbonatites; tetraferriphlogopite, ilmenite, zirconolite, pyrrhotite, Rimskaya-
250 400 m wide and 1200 m richterite chalcopyrite, PGE Korsakova
long. minerals and Krasnova
(2002)
Vuoriyarvi Olivinite, clinopyroxenite, Steeply dipping vein-like bodies Magnetite, forsterite, apatite, Baddeleyite, Kukharenko
ijolite, melteigite, phoscorite, 40 50 m wide and 150 m long calcite, phlogopite, uranpyrochlore, et al. (1965);
carbonatite, apatite-francolite tetraferriphlogopite, richterite pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, Borodin et al.
(1973); Lapin
and
45
Vartiainen
(1983)
Seblyavr Clinopyroxenite, ijolite, Lens-like, semicircular bodies and Magnetite, apatite, phlogopite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore, Kukharenko
melteigite, phoscorite, veins surrounding the carbonatite diopside, forsterite, ilmenite, calzirtite, et al. (1965);
carbonatite core; 6 35 m wide tetraferriphlogopite perovskite Lapin (1979)
Turiy Mys Clinopyroxenite, melteigite, Vein- and lens-like xenoliths in Forsterite, diopside, magnetite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore, Bulakh and
turjaite, ijolite, phoscorite, steeply dipping carbonatite stock; apatite, phlogopite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, Iskoz-
INTRODUCTION TO PHOSCORITES
carbonatite 0.1 15 m wide, <450 m long tetraferriphlogopite, calcite, calzirtite, zircon Dolinina
Kola Alkaline Province

richterite (1978);
———————— Russia ————————

Dunworth
and Bell
(2001)
Sokli Phoscorite, carbonatite, Angular or elongated xenoliths in Magnetite, forsterite, phlogopite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore, Vartiainen
apatite-francolite plug-like central carbonatite core; apatite, calcite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite (1980)
from few cm to several m in size tetraferriphlogopite
Finland
TABLE 2.1 (contd.)
Pro- Complex Main rock types ———————— Characteristic of phoscorites ———————— Reference
vince (from old to young) Morphology of phoscorite bodies Rock forming minerals Accessories
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Essei Melteigite, ijolite, phoscorite, Ring-like phoscorite belt between Magnetite, apatite, forsterite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore Egorov
carbonatite, apatite-francolite calcite carbonatite core and outer phlogopite, calcite (1991);
dolomite carbonatites; < 300 m Yegorov
wide, 2.5 km long (1993)
Dalbykha Melteigite, ijolite, phoscorite, Arcuate and semicircular veins Magnetite, apatite, forsterite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore Egorov
carbonatite 20 30 m wide cut ijolites and diopside, phlogopite, (1991);
melteigites tetraferriphlogopite Yegorov
(1993)
Magan Olivinite, melteigite, ijolite, Oval body in centre of ijolite Magnetite, apatite, forsterite, Baddeleyite, titanite Egorov
nepheline syenite, phoscorite, intrusion; 2 km2 in size calcite, tetraferriphlogopite (1991);
carbonatite Yegorov
46
(1993)
Yraas Melteigite, ijolite, phoscorite, Cement of the explosive breccia; Magnetite, apatite, forsterite, Baddeleyite Egorov
carbonatite, apatite-francolite body is 6.3 km2 in size; two lens- diopside, phlogopite (1991);
like bodies 20x50-100 m in size Yegorov
(1993)
Romanikha Melteigite, ijolite, phoscorite, Lens-like bodies of diopsidite Magnetite, diopside, apatite, Egorov
carbonatite 100x500 m grading in phoscorites phlogopite (1991);
Yegorov
(1993)
Kugda Olivinite, melteigite, ijolite, Semicircular body of breccia-like Forsterite, phlogopite, calcite, Perovskite Egorov
Maymeicha-Kotui Province Russia

phoscorite, carbonatite forsteritites about 5.6 km2 in size montichellite (1991);
Yegorov
(1993)
Guli Dunite, clinopyroxenite, Angular and rounded xenoliths in Magnetite, forsterite, apatite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore Egorov
melilitolite, kugdite, calcite carbonatites, up to 3-5 m in calcite (1991);
melanephelinite, jacupirangite, diameter; veins up to 8 m wide Yegorov
melteigite, phoscorite, (1993);
carbonatite, apatite-francolite Kogarko et al.
(1997)
Arbarastakh Clinopyroxenite, nepheline Ring, arcuate or lens-like bodies Magnetite, forsterite, phlogopite, Baddeleyite, pyrochlore, Borodin et al.
clinopyroxenite, syenite, intervening with carbonatites; area apatite, calcite, chondrodite perovskite, spinel (1973);
phoscorite, carbonatite about 0.3 km2 Glagolev et
Russia
al. (1974)
Barchinskiy Clinopyroxenite, phoscorite Vein-like body 66400 m size Magnetite, apatite, forsterite, Zirkelite, pyrochlore, Borodin et al.
phlogopite, calcite baddeleyite (1973); Landa
stan
and Egorov
(1974)
Phalaborwa Clinopyroxenite, phlogopite- Ring or arcuate bands and veins Magnetite, forsterite, apatite, Chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, Russell et al.
(Loolekop), pyroxene pegmatoid, around and in the carbonatite core; phlogopite, calcite chalcocite, baddeleyite, (1954);
South Africa phoscorite, carbonatite <100 120 m in width PGE minerals Eriksson
(1989);
Harmer
(2000)
Schiel, South Clinopyroxenite, syenite, Thinner bands in clinopyroxenite, Magnetite, phlogopite, calcite, Biotite Verwoerd
Africa phoscorite, carbonatite medium-grained to pegmatitic apatite, diopside, forsterite (1986)
Dorowa, Dunite, ijolite, syenite, Dykes and veins up to 5 m thick, Magnetite, forsterite, apatite, Baddeleyite Johnson
Zimbabwe phoscorite, carbonatite lens-like bodies 150 200 m across vermiculite (1966)
47
Panda Hill, Feldspathic agglomerates and Small dyke-like bodies intervening Magnetite, apatite, phlogopite Pyrochlore Basu and
Tanzania breccias, phoscorite, with carbonatites Mayila (1986)
carbonatite
Bukusu, Dunite, clinopyroxenite, ijolite, Screens of phoscorites intervening Magnetite, phlogopite, forsterite, Calzirtite, perovskite Davies
Uganda nepheline syenite, phoscorite, with dolomite and ankerite-calcite apatite, diopside (1947),
carbonatite carbonatites Woolley
———————Africa ——————— Kazakh- Yakutiya,

(2001)
Araxá Jacupirangite, nepheline Veins 10 50 m wide in belts Magnetite, apatite, phlogopite, Pyrochlore, perovskite Gittins
(Barreiro) syenite, glimmerite, surrounding the carbonatite core calcite (1966); Issa
phoscorite, carbonatite Filho et al.
Brazil
(1984)
Nemegosenda Nepheline syenite, malignite, Concentric zones of phoscorite in Magnetite, apatite Pyrochlore Gittins
Lake phoscorite, carbonatite fenite (1966);
Philpotts
(1967)
Canada
Phoscorites and mineralogically similar rocks have been mentioned but without detailed description from other localities: (1) magnetite-apatite-mica rock, Sukulu complex, Uganda
(Davies, 1947); (2) apatite rock, Tundulu complex, Malawi (Garson, 1966); (3) magnetite-apatite rock, Juquiá complex, Brazil (Gittins, 1966); (4) calcite-bearing magnetite-apatite rock,
Oka complex, Canada (Gold et al., 1986); (5) apatite-magnetite rock, Glenover complex, South Africa (Verwoerd, 1986); (6) phoscorite, Catalão I and Catalão II complexes, Brazil (Gomes
et al., 1990); (7) apatite-magnetite rock, Ngualla complex, Tanzania (van Straaten, 1989); (8) magnetite-rich calcite carbonatite, Stukpan complex, South Africa (Verwoerd et al., 1993) and
(9) calcite-bearing apatite-aegirine-biotite rock, Khibiny complex, Russia (Zaitsev et al., 1990; Zaitsev, 1996).
carbonatite in the Kugda intrusion even though there are large bodies of
phoscorites.
However, most phoscorites are spatially and temporally associated with
carbonatites, often forming multiphase phoscorite–carbonatite series (Russell et
al., 1954; Kukharenko et al., 1965; Borodin et al., 1973; Lapin, 1979;
Vartiainen, 1980; Bulakh and Ivanikov, 1984; Verwoerd, 1986; Krasnova and
Kopylova, 1988; Eriksson, 1989; Egorov, 1991; Yegorov, 1993; Balaganskaya,
1994; Epshteyn, 1994; Zaitsev and Bell, 1995; Verhulst et al., 2000; Dunworth
and Bell, 2001; for a compilation of data from the Former Soviet Union see
the review by Kogarko et al., 1995 and for African complexes see Woolley,
2001). Phoscorites form girdle, ring or arcuate zones and veins around or in
the carbonatite cores of many complexes. Steeply dipping veins of phoscorite
and carbonatite can form stockwork pipe-like bodies. Oval, lens-like or
isometric bodies and small dykes, 10s to 100s of metres thick, of magnetite-,
magnetite-apatite or apatite-bearing phoscorite occur in some intrusions and
screens of phoscorite are interleaved with carbonatite in other carbonatite
complexes. Numerous stripes, schlieren, lenticular bodies or lenses of apatite,
magnetite, forsterite and phlogopite granular aggregates are common in most
calcite and dolomite carbonatites worldwide and although their affinity with
phoscorite is important, these small occurrences are not usually named as
separate rock types. Phoscorites are also common as xenoliths, up to 10 15 m
in diameter, in carbonatite complexes. All occurrences are intrusive; there are
no known extrusive equivalents of phoscorite.
Phoscorite structures can be very variable: they may be pegmatitic, coarse-
or fine-grained and are commonly breccia-like with angular or rounded
xenoliths of various host rocks. Some types of phoscorite have banded, striated
textures, showing plastic deformation of host-rock xenoliths. Crustification
textures are typical in some calcite-bearing types.
Metasomatic zones, varying from a few mm to several m wide, are common
at phoscorite contacts and are often similar to those near carbonatites. The
composition of these zones depends mainly on the host-rock composition but
also depends on the type of phoscorite or carbonatite. For example, reaction
zones do not develop on the contacts of forsteritite or forsterite-apatite veins
with olivinite hosts but monticellite-bearing rocks are replaced by a rhythmic
fine-grained aggregate of forsterite-calcite. Parallel-columnar or fibrous richterite
interlaid with zones of calcite is formed at the contact with clinopyroxenite,
melteigite or jacupirangite. Ijolite and urtite become aggregates of green
phlogopite at the front and forsterite-calcite at the rear of altered zones. At the
contact with phoscorite, fenite, gneiss or shale are replaced by a biotite and
amphibole frontal zone and a biotite and calcite inner zone. Tetraferriphlogopite
is often developed at the contact with dolomite-bearing phoscorite or
carbonatite. The diversity of such contact events has been described by
Kapustin (1979) and Balmasova et al. (1991). Most metasomatism involves
small changes in Al and Si content and high mobility of K and Mg.
48
The diversity of rocks in phoscorite–carbonatite complexes (PCC) is

represented very well by three intrusions in the KAP, namely Kovdor (e.g.
Krasnova and Kopylova, 1988), Vuoriyarvi (e.g. Lapin and Vartiainen, 1983)
and Seblyavr (e.g. Lapin, 1979). Less well developed phoscorite bodies are
also known in the central complex of Turiy Mys (Bulakh and Iskoz-Dolinina,
1978; Dunworth and Bell, 2001) and Sokli (Vartiainen, 1980). Further and
more detailed descriptions of phoscorite field relationships at Kovdor, Sokli,
Vuoriyarvi and Turiy Mys are given in Chapters 4 6, this volume. Several
varieties of phoscorite are known in Arbarastakh complex (Glagolev et al.,
1974) but most other complexes contain only one or two different varieties of
phoscorite (Table 2.1).
2.3 Diversity of phoscorite

2.3.1 Mineral components
As stated above, the essential rock-forming minerals of phoscorites have
previously been defined as apatite, magnetite and forsterite (e.g. Russell et al.,
1954; Kukharenko et al., 1965; Borodin et al., 1973; Eriksson, 1989;
Rimskaya-Korsakova and Krasnova, 2002). The relative amounts of these
minerals can vary widely from almost monomineralic rocks to two-, three- and
polymineralic varieties. The minor minerals in phoscorite include calcite and/or
dolomite, tetraferriphlogopite, amphibole (usually richterite and rare magne-
sioarfvedsonite), schorlomite and ilmenite. Common accessory minerals include
baddeleyite, pyrochlore-group minerals (pyrochlore s.s., uranpyrochlore,
bariopyrochlore and strontiopyrochlore), zirconolite, zirkelite, calzirtite (e.g.
Reischmann et al., 1995; Williams, 1996; Bulakh et al., 1998; Subbotin and
Subbotina, 2000), thorianite (Russell et al., 1954), spinel (mainly as exsolution
in magnetite) (Krasnova et al., 1991; Krasnova and Krezer, 1995), perovskite
(Lapin, 1979), pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite (Subbotina et al., 1981; Subbotina,
1986). Noble metal and PGE minerals are present in phoscorites in trace
quantities (Rudashevsky et al., 1995, 2001). Clinohumite, serpentine, magnesite
and chlorite are common subsolidus minerals that often replace forsterite.
Some authors have described olivine-free but mica- and/or clinopyroxene-
rich varieties of phoscorite (Lapin, 1979; Egorov, 1992, Yegorov, 1993).
Phoscorites at Seblyavr and Turiy Mys (KAP) provide an example of
clinopyroxene-bearing phoscorite with diopside and aegirine (Lapin, 1979;
Bulakh and Ivanikov, 1984) and the Sokli complex (Finland) contains many
phoscoritic rocks composed of magnetite, apatite and phlogopite rather than
phoscorite s.s. (Chapter 5).
Calcite is a common minor mineral in phoscorite and magnetite-apatite-
calcite, magnetite-forsterite-calcite and magnetite-diopside-calcite phoscorites
are typical members of the phoscorite-carbonatite rock series at Kovdor,
Vuoriyarvi, Turiy Mys, Sokli and Seblyavr (KAP), as well as at the
Arbarastakh, Guli, Essei and Barchinskiy complexes (see wt.% CO2 in
49
Tables 2.2 and 2.3). Calcite is also common at the phoscorite type locality of
Phalaborwa, where phoscorites contain on average 18% carbonate component
(e.g. Eriksson, 1989). Some geologists have regarded the carbonate in
phoscorite as a late-stage subsolidus mineral, replacing the original phoscorite
at the contact with carbonatite (e.g. Kapustin, 1980; Epshteyn and
Danil’chenko, 1988; Egorov, 1991). In contrast, other authors (e.g. Russell
et al., 1954; Kopylova et al., 1980; Sokolov, 1983, 1996; Eriksson, 1989;
Zaitsev and Bell, 1995) have considered the carbonate as an original magmatic
component and this is now the more accepted conclusion. Some varieties of
phoscorite, e.g. at Kovdor, contain up to 20 vol.% dolomite (Rimskaya-
Korsakova and Krasnova, 2002). However, there are no reports of phoscorite
containing ankerite, kutnahorite, siderite or magnesite.
Taking into account the similarities between forsterite-bearing phoscorite and
diopside- or phlogopite-bearing varieties of phoscorites, we recommend the
extension of the current definition of phoscorite as follows: ‘Phoscorites are
plutonic ultramafic rocks, comprising magnetite, apatite and one of the
silicates, forsterite, diopside or phlogopite.’
2.3.2 Whole-rock chemistry
The chemical compositions of typical phoscorites from the KAP, Maymeicha-

Kotui and Aldan Provinces, Yakutiya in Russia and also Phalaborwa, South
Africa are given in Tables 2.2 and 2.3. About 70 analyses of phoscorites have
been published to date (e.g. Kukharenko et al., 1965; Borodin et al., 1973;
Lapin, 1979; Egorov, 1980; Egorov, 1991; Yegorov, 1993; Ternovoy, 1977;
Subbotin and Mikhaelis, 1986; Verhulst et al., 2000; Balaganskaya et al.,
2001a,b; Rimskaya-Korsakova and Krasnova, 2002). In addition, new chemical
analyses of 78 phoscorites from the Kovdor, Turiy Mys, Vuoriyarvi and
Phalaborwa complexes are now available on the web-site at http://
www.emse.fr/~moutte
There is a wide range of phoscorite compositions. For example, SiO2 varies
from as low as 4.5 wt.% up to a maximum of 35 wt.% in rocks enriched in
forsterite, diopside or phlogopite. Forsterite-rich phoscorites are also enriched in
MgO, with highest values of ~40 42 wt.%. In contrast, the MgO content can be
<1 wt.% in forsterite-, phlogopite- and diopside-poor rocks. The largest variation
is in Fe content, with Fe2O3+FeO as low as 1 wt.% in some phoscorites but
almost 95 wt.% in monomineralic magnetite phoscorites. The CaO content
varies from 0.5 wt.% to a maximum of 46 wt.% in phoscorites enriched in
apatite and/or calcite. The P2O5 content, directly related to the amount of
apatite, varies from 1 2 wt.% to 20 23 wt.% in magnetite-apatite-forsterite
phoscorites to nearly 30 wt.% in nearly monomineralic apatite-rich varieties. All
phoscorites have variable CO2 contents, from just 0.1 wt.% in forsterite-rich
rocks to 9 13 wt.% in calcite-bearing phoscorites (Tables 2.2 and 2.3). The
CO2 component is usually present as calcite but is occasionally dolomite.
50
TABLE 2.2 Chemical composition of phoscorites from various complexes worldwide (wt.%).
Complex Vuoriyarvi Seblyavr Turiy Mys Essei Yraas Guli Arbarastakh Phalaborwa
Minerals Mag-Fo- Mag-Ap- Di-Ap- Mag- Mag-Ap- Mag- Mag- Mag- Mag- Mag Mag-Di Mag- Mag- Mag-
Cal Cal-Rch Phl-Cal Fo-Cal Cal (tphl) Ap-Cal Tphl-Cal Ap-Cal Ap Ap-Cal Fo-Ap Ap-Fo
Average of 2 9 2 4 2 2 2 4 2
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
SiO2 15.73 9.12 10.61 19.76 15.92 17.60 11.94 21.20 14.53 7.75 4.50 17.70 12.01 6.97 13.97
TiO2 1.52 1.20 1.61 1.68 2.38 2.03 1.52 0.93 2.91 1.25 1.25 1.75 1.37 1.15 3.76
Al2O3 1.15 0.70 2.89 3.61 2.00 1.75 1.85 4.00 1.51 0.12 1.95 4.08 1.03 1.64 0.75
Fe2O3 32.64 36.04 28.35 10.15 31.04 15.53 9.85 24.60 29.96 29.48 55.73 30.64 18.05 44.11 25.08
FeO 16.05 16.91 22.25 9.09 16.38 10.41 5.16 13.36 15.08 23.15 25.44 23.45 9.38 15.77 16.13
MnO 0.78 0.59 0.13 0.25 0.65 0.28 0.32 0.10 0.56 0.38 0.43 0.35 0.67 0.81 0.43
MgO 21.57 16.63 5.50 9.40 13.54 9.47 9.33 12.36 17.92 8.49 2.45 9.13 9.94 12.31 8.13
CaO 5.04 6.93 13.75 22.69 6.26 21.20 28.86 8.99 7.88 17.20 4.30 4.60 28.32 8.30 16.79
51
Na2O 0.12 1.28 0.48 1.31 0.71 1.44 0.74 0.24 0.22 0.12 0.43 0.60 0.20 0.18 0.10
K2O 0.37 1.75 0.38 2.44 1.24 1.79 1.68 4.86 0.43 0.17 0.42 2.58 0.22 0.27 0.37
P2O5 0.26 1.58 5.45 12.43 2.00 9.23 14.94 4.87 3.47 12.90 2.24 1.22 12.61 5.82 10.59
F <0.01 0.55 0.38 0.53 0.63 0.08 0.12 0.35 1.35
CO2 3.92 3.78 3.41 7.62 9.92 3.80 3.50 1.15 4.45 1.48 0.30
SO3 0.091 0.021 1.77 2.78 0.13 0.47 0.051
H2O }0.21 }1.93 0.30 0.10
H2O+ 1.08 0.06 0.13 1.31 1.80 1.42 1.55 0.61 0.59 0.57 2.66
LOI 7.31 7.65 1.01
O=F,S 0.05 0.01 0.23 0.16 0.22 0.26 0.03 0.07 0.15 0.57
Total 100.27 100.172 99.553 99.99 100.33 100.08 98.03 99.65 100.434 101.01 101.00 97.11 99.34 100.26 99.06
not analysed; LOI loss on ignition; 1 determined as S; 2 including 0.06 V2O5; 3 including 0.37 Nb2O5; 4 including 0.01 Nb2O5. Analyses: 1 after Lapin and Vartiainen (1983);
2 and 3 after Kukharenko et al. (1965); 4 7 after Lapin (1979); 8, 9 and 14 after Borodin et al. (1973); 10 3 after Egorov (1991); 15 after Fourie and De Jager (1986).
Abbreviations: Ap apatite, Cal calcite, Di diopside, Fo forsterite, Mag magnetite, Phl phlogopite, Rch richterite, tphl tetraferriphlogopite
TABLE 2.3 Chemical composition of phoscorites and carbonatites from the Kovdor complex (wt. %).
Rock ——————————— Phoscorite ——————————— ————— Carbonatite —————

forsterite-rich apatite-rich magnetite-rich calcite dolomite
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
SiO2 34.13 24.32 5.99 6.05 6.28 7.02 6.50 8.82 0.77 0.64 0.79 0.20
TiO2 <0.01 <0.01 0.30 0.15 0.85 0.52 0.57 2.12 0.10 0.11 <0.01 <0.01
Al2O3 0.35 0.44 0.87 0.06 0.95 2.99 2.18 0.10 0.17 0.21 0.51 0.06
Fe2O3 2.53 4.07 9.39 5.84 46.98 40.46 37.91 28.09 1.62 1.72 2.25 2.25
FeO 6.01 5.76 5.01 2.69 12.12 7.32 11.89 11.17 1.00 1.38 0.52 1.83
MnO 0.32 0.22 0.13 0.11 0.33 0.33 0.35 0.26 0.07 0.04 0.02 0.23
MgO 44.20 31.28 8.33 10.30 16.05 13.95 13.51 13.28 3.58 3.10 2.15 18.77
CaO 5.71 18.56 40.22 42.10 6.30 14.88 15.70 19.48 51.53 53.97 52.91 34.44
Na2O 0.25 0.20 0.50 0.39 0.17 0.09 0.21 0.41 0.13 0.13 0.10 <0.01
K2O <0.01 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.14 0.78 0.10 0.95 0.18 0.17 0.03 0.01
P2O5 6.10 15.00 27.91 29.07 0.51 6.37 8.47 8.34 2.24 3.31 1.93 3.29
52
CO2 0.14 0.32 0.23 2.22 8.30 3.78 1.26 6.56 38.96 36.17 38.57 39.43
F 0.06 0.08 0.27 0.06 0.16 0.18
H2O 0.04 0.14 <0.01
H2O+ <0.01 0.07 0.41 0.12 <0.01 0.47 <0.01
-O=F 0.02 0.03 0.11 0.02 0.07 0.08

Total 99.78 100.54 99.74 99.53 98.98 99.05 98.65 99.68 100.35 100.95 99.78 100.51
Modal composition of the rock (mol.%)
Apatite 5 13 48 42 9 12 9 1 2 1 3
Calcite 1 3 15 23 9 33 89 89 96 2
Dolomite 23 9 8 92
Magnetite 3 4 16 9 53 49 50 36 1 1 1 3
Phlogopite 2 6 1 1 5 41
Forsterite 92 80 27 33 23 14 29 182 2
– not analysed; 1 tetraferriphlogopite; 2 forsterite + richterite + clinohumite. Analyses 1, 4 6, 9 12 were done in the Chemical laboratory of VSEGEI, St.
Petersburg (1979); all others were done in the Chemical laboratory of the Tajik Geological Survey (1974).
Phoscorites generally contain low levels of Cr and Ni, <82 and <70 ppm,
respectively (authors’ unpublished data), but some phoscorites from the Guli
complex (Maymeicha Kotui) are enriched in these elements and contain
466 1630 ppm Cr and 258 1539 ppm Ni (Kogarko et al., 1997). The trace
elements that are characteristically high in phoscorites are Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, Th,
U and Cu. At Kovdor for example, forsterite-rich phoscorites contain
0.07 wt.% ZrO2 (average of 189 analyses), magnetite-apatite-forsterite and
magnetite-calcite-forsterite phoscorites have 0.18 wt.% ZrO2 (average of 204
and 135 analyses, respectively). Magnetite-calcite-forsterite phoscorites with
tetraferriphlogopite contain 0.22 wt.% ZrO2 (average of 197 analyses)
(Krasnova et al., 1988). In contrast, calcite carbonatites have only 0.05 wt.%
ZrO2 (average of 137 analyses). The range of zirconium concentrations in
phoscorites is large (authors’ new data). For example, at Kovdor, Zr ranges
from 409 to 3335 ppm, Vuoriyarvi phoscorites have 58 8561 ppm Zr and
Turiy Mys phoscorites contain up to 668 ppm Zr.
2.4 Mineral occurrence and chemistry
Owing to the economic importance of phoscorite-carbonatite complexes,

particularly Kovdor and Phalaborwa (see review by Petrov, this volume),
most of their major, minor and accessory minerals have been studied
extensively. However, although the carbonatite minerals are well described,
much less information is available for phoscorites and most of the data are
published in Russian. Detailed descriptions of phoscorite minerals, including
mineral chemistry, are available from Kukharenko et al. (1965), Borodin et al.
(1973), Kapustin (1980), Vartiainen (1980), Kravchenko and Bagdasarov
(1987) and Egorov (1991), see also Chapters 4, 5, 6, 9 and 11 of this book.
2.4.1 Magnetite
Magnetite occurs as anhedral, often crushed, grains and in calcite-bearing

phoscorite as octahedral or rhombic dodecahedral crystals up to 10 15 cm in
diameter. Magnetite from KAP phoscorites has been studied by Rimskaya-
Korsakova (1950), Ilinskiy et al. (1975), Bykova and Ilinskiy (1978), Kopylova
et al. (1985), Subbotin et al. (1985) and Kopylova (1988). Information on
Siberian complexes is available from Bagdasarov and Gaidukova (1987) and
Phalaborwa magnetite was studied by Russell et al. (1954).
The magnetite in most phoscorites has a low TiO2 concentration
(0.2 1.2 wt.%) with increasing TiO2 (up to 3 5 wt.%) typical for magnetite
in magnetite-calcite-forsterite phoscorites with tetraferriphlogopite and
7.7 wt.% of TiO2 present in magnetite from diopside (Seblyavr) or phlogopite
(Magan) phoscorite types. Magnetite enriched in Ti contains ilmenite-geikielite
lamellar exsolution structures. Most magnetite in phoscorite-carbonatite
complexes has high MgO (2.5 8 wt.%) and Al2O3 (0.5 3.8 wt.%) and
53
contains spinel exsolution structures (e.g. Krasnova et al., 1991; Krasnova and
Krezer, 1995). Low Cr and Ni contents (<0.02 wt.% of oxides) are
characteristic of phoscorite magnetite.
2.4.2 Apatite
Apatite occurs as granular aggregates, sometimes segregated in stripes, bands

or lenses. Prismatic euhedral or subhedral crystals and their radiating
aggregates occur in calcite-bearing phoscorite. For studies of apatite from
KAP phoscorites see Glagolev (1965), Rimskaya-Korsakova et al. (1968,
1979), Kurbatova (1974, 1981), Balaganskaya et al. (1991) and Zaitsev and
Bell (1995); for the Arbarastakh complex see Glagolev (1968); for the
Maymeicha-Kotui Province see Yegorov (1984); and for Phalaborwa see
Fourie and de Jager (1986).
Hydroxyl- to fluor-apatite occurs in early-stage phoscorites and fluorapatite
is common for late-stage phoscorite varieties. Both minerals have low contents
of SrO (from 0.1 wt.% in Kovdor to 0.7 wt.% in Seblyavr) and REE2O3 (from
0.05 wt.% in Kovdor to 1.0 wt.% in Guli). An exception is apatite from Panda
Hill phoscorite, which contain 3.3 wt.% SrO (Basu and Mayila, 1986). Other
trace elements, e.g. Na, Si or S are present at low levels, commonly <0.2 wt.%
oxide. Apatite from forsterite-rich phoscorites (early-stage rocks) is depleted in
F (mostly <1.0 wt.%, e.g. at Kovdor) and apatite from calcite-bearing
phoscorite with tetraferriphlogopite (late stage rocks) is enriched in F
(average 1.5 wt.%, e.g. at Kovdor). A higher F content in apatite,
2.2 2.5 wt.%, has been reported from Maymeicha-Kotui phoscorites, e.g. the
Dalbykha complex (Yegorov, 1984).
2.4.3 Silicates
Forsterite forms euhedral to anhedral, often crushed, crystals up to 10 cm

diameter. It is characterized by high Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios (0.88 0.97), low
levels of Mn and Ca (commonly <0.7 wt.% oxide) and a negligible Ni content
(<0.1 wt.% NiO) (e.g. Borodin et al., 1973; Vartiainen, 1980; Eriksson, 1989;
Balaganskaya et al., 1991; Egorov, 1991). The high Mg# and low Ni contents
in the forsterite distinguish the phoscorites from other forsterite-bearing rocks
such as olivinite, dunite, wehrlite, melilitite, lamprophyre, monchiquite and
kimberlite (for a compilation of Kola forsterite data see Chapter 8).
Clinopyroxene in phoscorites is usually diopside and rarely aegirine.
Diopside commonly forms euhedral crystals and has a composition close to
the CaMgSi2O6 end-member with relatively low TiO2 (0.2 0.7 wt.%), Al2O3
(<1.2 wt.%) and MnO (<0.2 wt.%) contents. The Na2O content is variable and
ranges from 0.1 wt.% at Turiy Mys to 1.6 wt.% at Yraas (Lapin, 1979;
Egorov, 1991). Aegirine with 10.1 wt.% Na2O, low Al and low Ti has been
reported from Seblyavr phoscorite (Lapin, 1979).
54
Mica, mainly green phlogopite is a common mineral in early-stage

phoscorites. It is characterized by a high Mg#, 0.70 0.95, and moderate Ti
content (0.1 1.4 wt.% TiO2). The F content is low (commonly <1.0 wt.%),
Na2O varies up to 1.5 wt.% and BaO is generally below 0.6 wt.% (e.g.
Kukharenko et al., 1965; Glagolev et al., 1974; Eriksson, 1989; Egorov, 1991).
Late-stage phoscorites often contain the reddish-brown mica, tetraferriphlo-
gopite. Kovdor and Seblyavr (KAP) can be considered as type localities for
tetraferriphlogopite because the mineral was first described by Rimskaya-
Korsakova and Sokolova (1964). They introduced the term tetraferriphlogopite
for mica with anomalous optical properties (reversed scheme of absorption)
caused by a deficit of Al and the presence of Fe3+ in the tetrahedral positions.
Tetraferriphlogopite is also characterized by a high Mg# (>0.75), and a
characteristic, highly variable Al2O3 content, ranging from 10.2 to 0.6 wt.%
(e.g. Kukharenko et al., 1965; Glagolev et al., 1974). Tetraferriphlogopite from
Maymeicha Kotui phoscorites forms two groups: one with a 5 to 20 mol.%
phlogopite end-member and one with a 60 95 mol.% phlogopite, leading
Egorov (1991) to suggest that there is a compositional gap in the
tetraferriphlogopite–phlogopite series.
Amphibole minerals in phoscorites are usually present as radiating or
fibrous-diverse aggregates of light blue-green, and light blue to white needle-
like crystals. The dominant mineral is richterite, with CaO >3.0 4.0 wt.% and
a high Na2O content of ~3.9 7.1 wt.% (e.g.Vartiainen, 1980; Kopylova et al.,
1985; Egorov, 1991). Magnesioarfvedsonite (CaO <3.0 4.0 wt.%) is a rather
rare mineral in phoscorites. Like tetraferriphlogopite, richterite in phoscorite
often has a deficit of tetrahedral cations (Si and Al) which is compensated by
Fe3+.
2.4.4 Carbonates
In carbonate-rich phoscorites, calcite and, to a lesser extent, dolomite forms

fine- to coarse-grained aggregates of allotriomorphic crystals, 1 mm to 5 cm in
diameter. These aggregates form lenses, stripes and nests surrounded by
euhedral crystals of magnetite, forsterite, apatite and phlogopite. In some
bodies of phoscorites, calcite occurs as euhedral platy {0001} crystals, which
form a framework with interstices filled by fine-grained aggregates of other
minerals cemented by calcite. Phoscorite calcite usually contains 0.1 1.0 wt.%
SrO, 0.3 2.5 wt.% MgO, <0.5 wt.% FeO+Fe2O3, <0.2 wt.% MnO, <0.2 wt.%
REE2O3 and <0.1 wt.% BaO (e.g. Kopylova et al., 1980; Sokolov, 1983, 1985,
1996; Zaitsev and Bell, 1995).
The habit of the dolomite is similar to calcite, forming allotriomorphic
grains between magnetite, forsterite, apatite, tetraferriphlogopite and richterite.
Dolomite also replaces calcite along cracks or from grain boundaries. Dolomite
usually contains FeO (0.1 2.1 wt.%), SrO (<0.6 wt.%) and MnO
(0.2 0.8 wt.%).
55
2.4.5 Accessory baddeleyite, pyrochlore-group minerals and sulphides
Baddeleyite is a typical accessory mineral in phoscorite and occurs as small

(average <1 mm, rarely up to 1.5 2 cm) mostly twinned crystals (Rimskaya-
Korsakova and Dinaburg, 1964). A unique 6 cm baddeleyite crystal has been
described and analysed in detail (including the Sr and Nd isotopic
composition) from Phalaborwa (Reischmann et al., 1995). The main impurities
in baddeleyite are HfO 2 (1 2.4 wt.%), Fe 2 O 3 (0.2 2 wt.%), Nb 2 O 5
(0.2 0.4 wt.%) and Ta2O 5 (~0.1 wt.%) (e.g. Kopylova et al., 1980;
Polyakov and Polezhayeva, 1991).
Uranpyrochlore (4.7 23.5 wt.% UO2, <6.2 wt.% ThO2 and 3.7 21.9 wt.%
Ta2O5) is common in tetraferriphlogopite and calcite-bearing phoscorite (e.g.
Subbotin and Subbotina, 2000). It occurs as dark-brown to black octahedral
crystals or anhedral grains (< 1 mm), often in epitaxial intergrowths with
baddeleyite. Late-stage phoscorites contain pyrochlore and rarely strontio- and/
or bariopyrochlore. Niobium and Zr mineralization is described further in
Chapter 9.
Pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite are the most widespread sulphides in phoscorites;
less common are cubanite, valleriite and pentlandite (e.g. Subbotina et al.,
1981; Subbotina, 1986) and bornite, chalcopyrite, chalcosine and cubanite
occur in Phalaborwa (e.g. Verwoerd, 1986; Rudashevsky et al., 2001). The
sulphide, noble metal and PGE mineralization in Kovdor and Loolekop
phoscorites is described in Chapter 11.
2.5 Nomenclature and classification of phoscorite
Some authors use the term phoscorite with no further detail, but if various
varieties of phoscorite are present, a more precise nomenclature and
classification can be useful. Unfortunately, there is no accepted method for
doing this.
2.5.1 Use of a mineral prefix
One possibility is to indicate the major minerals in the phoscorite by a mineral

prefix, e.g. apatite-forsterite phoscorite, forsterite-magnetite phoscorite (rock or
ore in some publications), where the major minerals are listed in increasing
order of their modal (volume) abundances Phoscorites that are near
monomineralic in composition (i.e. >90% one mineral) can be named
according to that mineral, e.g. magnetitite, apatitite, forsteritite (see Yegorov
classification below). Additional qualifiers can be added, such as ‘tetra-
ferriphlogopite-bearing apatite-magnetite phoscorite’. The advantages of this
approach are that it needs no new rock names or classification diagrams, it is
consistent with IUGS recommendations on the use of qualifiers in rocks names,
it can be used both as a field name or following quantification of mineral
56
components in the laboratory, it is adequate for most purposes, and has been
used extensively in many publications (e.g. Borodin et al., 1973; Bulakh and
Ivanikov, 1984; Krasnova and Kopylova, 1988; Zaitsev and Bell, 1995;
Rimskaya-Korsakova and Krasnova, 2002). The disadvantage is that it gives no
indication of the actual modal proportions of the component minerals and in
many cases the order of minerals in the prefix has been based only on visual
impression.
2.5.2 Yegorov classification scheme
The first detailed classification and nomenclature of phoscorites, applied to

rocks predominantly composed of forsterite (or diopside), magnetite and
apatite, was proposed by Egorov (1980) and modified in Egorov (1992)
(translated as Yegorov, 1993) for rock series of the ijolite-carbonatite
complexes of the Maymeicha-Kotui Province. Yegorov’s (1993) classification
scheme for phoscorites (Fig. 2.1) involves nine mineralogical types based on
the relative abundances of the three major minerals: forsterite, magnetite and
apatite. The boundary olivine-poor and olivine-rich phoscorite is set at 35%
olivine using a division between early and late phoscorites at Guli,
Maymeicha-Kotui. The advantages of this scheme are that it sets quantitative
boundaries between the varieties of phoscorite, it uses a well established
FIG. 2..1 The classification scheme for phoscorites proposed by Egorov (1992) [Yegorov
(1993)].
57
method of geological classification by using a ternary diagram and it can be

used in the field or laboratory. Disadvantages include the, the need for
different ternaries to deal with diopside or phlogopite-rich phoscorites, lack of
inclusion of calcite and the use of the term nelsonite for the apatite-magnetite
variety of phoscorite. The Yegorov proposals have not been taken into account
in the IUGS classification of igneous rocks (Le Maitre, 2002).
2.5.3 RHA method
A recently developed method known as the RHA information language (Petrov,

1971, 2001) has been applied to detailed geochemical systematic work on Kola
phoscorites and carbonatites. A short description and example is given here
and a fuller description can be found in Krasnova et al. (2002) and on the web
site at http://www.emse.fr/~moutte/rha/
RHA is a general procedure designed for the description, grouping and
systematic study of any group of objects and for the creation of database
retrieval systems. It can be used as an additional and independent tool for
ordering of all mineralogical and chemical data. The RHA language is
implemented in a new computer program called ‘PETROS-2’ (Moshkin et al.,
2000). The description of a given analysis in the RHA system consists of three
parameters R, H and A based on assumptions that: (1) all material objects are
regarded as mixtures of components (atoms, molecules or minerals); (2) all
components in a mixture are equal in right; and (3) in nature there are no
borders between mixtures, i.e. rock compositional space is continuous.
R – the rank formula is the succession of component symbols arranged
according to their decreasing content. For minerals, the rank formula (Rmin) is
the succession of minerals arranged according to their decreasing molecular %.
For chemical elements, the rank formula (Rchem) is a ‘word’, in which the
‘letters’ are the symbols of the chemical elements ranked according to
decreasing atomic content. Rchem formulae are given as a sequence of rows,
based on the succession of elements within vertical columns ordered according
to increasing atomic number (Table 2.4). In order to simplify the comparison
between various sets of R for ordinary chemical analyses, the length of rank
formulae has been standardized here to 10 components. Rank formulae for a
3-component system are shown on Fig. 2.2a.
H the information entropy is a measure of the complexity of an analysis,
H = S[p1ln(pi)], where pi is the atomic amount of the component. H varies
from 0, when p1 = 1 and p2 = p3 = ... = pn = 0 to ln(n), when p1 = p2 = p3 =
... = pn = 1/n (Shannon, 1948a,b). In order to normalize H to the interval 0 1,
H is redefined as Hn = H/ln(n). The Hn value of an analysis depends mainly
on the major components.
A the information anentropy is a measure of the difference in minor
component concentrations, i.e. in purity. It is defined as A = (1/n)S[ln(pi)]
ln(n) (notation similar to H). A varies from 0, in the case p1 = p2 = p3 = ... =
58
TABLE 2.4 Comparison of rank formulae Rchem and Rmin of phoscorite and carbonatite from the Kovdor complex and values of entropy (Hn)
and anentropy (An) (analysis numbers correspond to Table 2.3) .
No. Rchem Hn An Rmin Suggested rock names

and abbreviations (...)
Phoscorite
1 O Mg Si P= Fe= Ca 0.533 0.292 Fo Ap Mag Phl ‘forsteritite’ (F), (FAM)
2 O Mg Si Ca= P Fe 0.602 0.241 Fo Ap Mag Phl ‘forsteritite’ (F), (FAM)
3 O Ca P Mg= Fe Si 0.631 0.179 Ap Fo Mag Phl Cal ‘apatitite’ (A), (AFM)
4 O Ca P Mg Fe= Si 0.612 0.207 Ap Fo Cal Mag Phl ‘apatitite’ (A), (AFC)
5 O Fe Mg C Ca= Si 0.561 0.229 Mag Dol= Fo Tphl Ap ‘magnetitite’ (M), (MDF)
6 O Fe Mg Ca P Si 0.641 0.136 Mag Cal Fo Ap Phl ‘magnetitite’ (M), (MCF)
7 O Fe Mg Ca P Si 0.614 0.191 Mag Fo Ap Cal Phl ‘magnetitite’ (M), (MFA)
59
8 O Fe Ca= Mg P C= 0.645 0.147 Mag Cal Fo Ap Tphl ‘magnetitite’ (M), (MCF)
Carbonatite
12 O C Ca Mg Fe P 0.524 0.390 Dol Ap= Mag Cal Phl dolomite carbonatite (D), (DAM)
9 O Ca= C Mg P Fe 0.485 0.332 Cal Dol Ap= Mag Tphl calcite carbonatite (C), (CDA)
10 O Ca C Mg= P Fe 0.493 0.325 Cal Dol Ap Mag Tphl calcite carbonatite (C), (CDA)
11 O Ca= C Mg Fe P 0.477 0.354 Cal Fo Ap= Mag calcite carbonatite (C), (CFA)
bold – main components. Abbreviations: for minerals in Rmin: Ap apatite, Cal calcite, Dol dolomite, Fo forsterite, Mag magnetite, Phl
phlogopite, Tphl tetraferriphlogopite
Abbreviations for rock names: A apatitite, C calcite carbonatite, D dolomite carbonatite, F forsteritite, M magnetitite
The ‘=’ sign indicates that the difference between the atomic content of elements is <15%. Distinct groups of Rchem or Rmin are divided by lines
(classifiers) which begin from each new element (mineral) in their vertical succession.
FIG. 2..2 (a) Diagram for the ternary system A-B-C with 6 rank formulae (ABC, ACB, BAC,
BCA, CAB and CBA); the boundaries between sectors on the diagram correspond to equal
concentrations of two components with one variable component; (b) entropy (Hn) and
(c) anentropy (An) isolines a for ternary system.
pn = 1/n, to infinity if pi = 0 for at least one i (Petrov, 1971, 2001). The value
of A correlates negatively with the minor components but varies little
according to the major components. Compositions with similar Hn and An
form isolines on a 3-component diagram (Fig. 2.2b,c).
About 940 chemical analyses have been compiled and calculated for the
systematic study of rocks using the RHA method. The files are available on the
web-sites: http://www.emse.fr/~moutte/rh and http://www.geology.pu.ru/niizk/
RHA.html. The database includes 140 of the authors’ unpublished analyses of
KAP carbonatites and phoscorites (Kovdor, Vuoriyarvi, Turiy Mys and
Sallanlatvi) plus new data from Phalaborwa, South Africa (Ecole de Mines
de Saint Etienne, XRF and ICP-AES methods: analysts F. Gallice and J.
Moutte) available on the web-site http://www.emse.fr/~moutte. Another 700
60
analyses have been selected from the literature (e.g. Kukharenko et al., 1965;
Tuttle and Gittins, 1966; Borodin et al., 1973; Le Bas, 1977; Lapin, 1979;
Egorov, 1980; Yegorov, 1993; Ternovoy, 1977; Subbotin and Mikhaelis, 1986;
Gittins and Harmer, 1997; Verhulst et al., 2000; Balaganskaya et al., 2001a,b;
Rimskaya-Korsakova and Krasnova, 2002). In addition, about 100 unpublished
data have also been used from E.G. Balaganskaya, H. Downes, Yu.M.
Kirnarsky, O.M. Rimskaya-Korsakova and N.A. Volotovskaya.
Few analyses of rocks have an identical Rchem. This shows that the
database is not representative enough, in spite of the large number of analyses,
and, at the same time, it illustrates the chemical diversity of the carbonatites
and phoscorites. Rchem, Hn and An values have been calculated for Kovdor
phoscorites and carbonatites (Table 2.3 and Table 2.4, Rchem column).
To display the composition of rocks with low carbonate contents (CO2), a
Si-P-Fe diagram is most informative (Fig. 2.3). Forsterite-rich phoscorites plot
in the Si-dominant part of the diagram, magnetite-rich phoscorites are
concentrated near the Fe end-member and apatite-rich phoscorites plot in the
P area. Compositions of carbonate-bearing rocks are shown on a ternary
diagram of C-P-Fe (Fig. 2.4). Carbonatites plot in the C-prevailing portion and
FIG. 2..3 Chemical composition of carbonate-poor phoscorites on the ternary diagram Si-P-Fe
(atomic %).
61
calcite- and dolomite-bearing magnetite-rich phoscorites mostly group at the Fe

apex and along the Fe C join. It is noteworthy that there is a continuous
series of compositions between carbonatite and phoscorite. This once more
proves the necessity to consider the phoscorite and carbonatite as a generically
related rock group.
The RHA method can also be used for the systematic study of rocks on the
basis of the normative calculation of the molecular % of their mineral
components, ranked in decreasing order (Tables 2.3 and 2.4, Rmin column).
The molecular % is calculated from the chemical data as the sum of the
atomic % of all elements that compose the mineral. Weight % and volume %
are not used because in chemical reactions, atoms and molecules interact, not
their masses or volumes. It is most informative to use Rmin formulae jointly
with Rchem formulae (Table 2.4).
The nomenclature and classification of phoscorites can be based on the
dominant mineral in the Rmin formula. For example, phoscorite with
predominant forsterite, apatite or magnetite can be given a root-name
forsteritite, apatitite or magnetitite, with abbreviations of F, A and M
(Table 2.4, Fig. 2.5). The Rmin formula can be used for composite phoscorite
FIG. 2..4 Chemical composition of carbonate-bearing phoscorites and carbonatites on the

ternary diagram C-P-Fe (atomic %).
62
names, in which the first 3-component minerals are listed in order of

decreasing of molecular abundance, e.g. magnetite-apatite-forsterite phoscorite
(abbreviated MAF phoscorite), forsterite-apatite-magnetite (FAM) phoscorite,
etc. (Table 2.4, Fig. 2.5).
Phoscorites and carbonatites often have similar rock-forming mineral
assemblages but differ in the presence of minor phases, such as mica,
clinopyroxene, amphibole and/or accessory minerals. The presence of these
characteristic minerals can be reflected in a modifier, e.g. phlogopite-bearing
forsteritite, or in an additional symbol in the rank formula, so that MAC (tphl)
will stand for a magnetite-apatite-calcite phoscorite with tetraferriphlogopite.
These modifiers can reflect any characteristic, e.g. rock colour, texture,
structure, stage of formation, or radioactivity.
The advantages of the RHA method are that it is flexible and can deal with
all variants of phoscorites, including diopside and phlogopite-bearing varieties,
as well as the continuous series through to carbonatite (Table 2.4) and other
FIG. 2..5 Phoscorite classification diagram for the system apatite-forsterite-magnetite

(molecular %) with 6 rank formulae (Rmin). The three sectors represent the compositions with
one predominant mineral, and correspond to phoscorites named apatitite, forsteritite and
magnetitite.
63
related rocks. It also gives a measure of complexity of composition and of

minor components in the entropy and anentropy values. Disadvantages are that
it can only be used if chemical analyses are available, it requires specific
computer software; Rmin works on calculated mineral compositions which may
not be the true modal proportions. The RHA nomenclature is contrary to the
accepted IUGS usage in that the terms forsteritite, apatitite, etc. do not
necessarily refer to rocks that are nearly monomineralic. The RHA mineral
order also lists decreasing molecular abundances, unlike the increasing volume
abundances generally used by the IUGS system. The RHA method does not
make specific groupings of rocks and is therefore a different principle from
most other classification systems. The RHA nomenclature is used by Krasnova
et al. for the description of Kovdor phoscorites in Chapter 4.
2.6 Petrogenesis of phoscorites
Phoscorites at Kovdor were first described as skarns (Koshits, 1934) arising, in

his opinion, at the contact of alkaline silicate rocks (nepheline syenites =
fenites) with marbles (= carbonatites). In contrast Russell et al. (1954)
supported the hypothesis suggested originally by Holmes (1950) that calcite
carbonatite is a magmatic rock and the phoscorites at Loolekop (Phalaborwa)
formed during a previous intrusive stage. This last hypothesis has been
accepted and defined more precisely by most geologists worldwide (e.g. Tuttle
and Gittins, 1966; Lapin, 1979; Kapustin, 1980; Eriksson, 1989; Egorov, 1991;
Rimskaya-Korsakova and Krasnova, 2002). In contrast, some scientists, mainly
of the Russian ‘carbonatitic school’, considered phoscorites as metasomatic
rocks arising from the replacement of various silicate rocks by post-magmatic
high-temperature solutions rich in Fe, P and CO2 (e.g. Kukharenko et al.,
1965; Epshteyn and Danil’chenko, 1988).
The existence of multistage phoscorite-carbonatite complexes, their similar
mineral associations and their geochemical peculiarities reveal, without doubt,
that both rocks were formed from a parental magma through some method of
differentiation. The segregation of heavy minerals (magnetite, forsterite and
apatite) has been proposed as the main process of phoscorite formation,
together with the separation of carbonate-rich magma (Vartiainen, 1980). In
contrast, other authors (Gittins, 1989; Lee and Wyllie, 1998; Veksler et al.,
1998) explain the occurrence of carbonatites as light carbonate-rich cumulates
formed by crystal fractionation. Kogarko et al. (1997) favoured crystal
fractionation as the main process responsible for the phoscorite-carbonatite
system at Guli (Maymeicha-Kotui, Russia), together with cumulation and
hydrothermal transport of some trace elements. However, Verwoerd (1967), Le
Bas (1977) and Lapin and Vartiainen (1983) emphasize the role of liquid
immiscibility in forming carbonatites during the evolution of a parental
magma. Possible evidence for liquid immiscibility is the presence of calcite
globules in a silicate matrix or, silicate globules in a carbonate matrix, such as
64
the orbicular and spherulitic carbonatites and phoscorites at Vuoriyarvi, KAP

and Gornoye Ozero, Siberia (Fizhenko, 1970), Tororo, Uganda (Sutherland,
1980), Sokli, KAP (Lapin and Vartiainen, 1983), Arbarastakh, Yakutiya
(Glagolev et al., 1974) and Kovdor, KAP (see description in Chapter 4).
According to Lapin (1979) and Rimskaya-Korsakova and Krasnova (2002)
both crystal fractional differentiation and liquid immiscibility seem to cause
the formation of phoscorite and carbonatite rock series.
The mantle origin of phoscorite has been confirmed by both radiogenic and
stable isotope studies (e.g. Eriksson, 1989; Zaitsev and Bell, 1995; Marty et
al., 1998; Verhulst et al., 2000; Dunworth and Bell, 2001; Tolstikhin et al.,
2002). The rather large range in Sr-Nd isotope values of phoscorites,
carbonatites and silicate rocks from the Kovdor and Turiy Mys complexes,
KAP suggest a complex evolution of these rocks with several magma batches
derived from an isotopically heterogeneous mantle or mixing of several (from
two to four) mantle components (Zaitsev and Bell, 1995; Verhulst et al., 2000;
Dunworth and Bell, 2001).
Investigations of melt inclusions in Kovdor phoscorite suggest crystallization
temperatures for forsterite of 750 900ºC and apatite of 700 900ºC
(Kharlamov et al., 1981; Sokolov, 1981, 1983). A similar temperature range
has been determined for apatite from Phalaborwa phoscorites: T = 850 870ºC
with a pressure of 4 4.5 kbar (Solovova et al., 1998). A further study of melt
inclusions at Kovdor by Veksler et al. (1998) led them to propose a fractional
crystallization origin for the Kovdor carbonatites, in which calcite carbonatite
is cumulate and abundant Na-K-Ca and Na-Mg carbonate daughter phases,
especially in late-stage inclusions in forsterite, suggest that the carbonatite
melts were alkaline.
A recent investigation of inclusions in forsterite and apatite from successive
phoscorite and carbonatite rock groups at Kovdor (Mikhailova et al., 2002)
shows a proportional decrease in the amount of silicate accompanied by
increasing carbonate and liquid-vapour phases in inclusions. The absence of
vapour or liquid phases in inclusions from host forsterite indicates crystal-
lization from melts poor in volatiles. The temperature of homogenization of
inclusions in forsterite varies from 860 to 900ºC while the inclusions in apatite
from the same rocks always homogenize at lower temperatures, <800ºC. The
form and the composition of some inclusions indicate that immiscibility
produced phosphate- (^magnetite) and carbonate-rich magmatic fractions.
Thus the main studies and discussion regarding phoscorite petrogenesis
involve the role of crystal fractionation and/or liquid immiscibility as a means
to separate carbonate and phoscorite, the relationship between the phoscorite-
carbonatite and other ultrabasic and alkaline rocks in the igneous complexes,
and the possible role of separate mantle-derived melt batches. The role of
metasomatism, including late-stage alteration, is also important in the ultimate
understanding of these rocks.
65
2.7 Conclusions
(1) Phoscorites are rare rocks, with only 21 confirmed occurrences worldwide.
They almost always occur in association with carbonatites, as girdle, ring or
arcuate zones and veins around or in the carbonatite cores of intrusive
complexes, as steeply dipping veins that form stockwork pipe-like bodies, or as
oval, lens-like or isometric bodies up to 100s of metres wide. They often form
multiphase phoscorite-carbonatite complexes.
(2) Taking into consideration the general usage of the term ‘phoscorite’ in
geological practice and literature, as well as the recommendations of the
International Union of Geological Sciences Subcomission on the Systematics
of Igneous Rocks (Le Maitre, 2002), we propose the following definition:
‘‘Phoscorites are plutonic ultramafic rocks, comprising magnetite, apatite and
one of the silicates, forsterite, diopside or phlogopite. Common minor minerals
are calcite, dolomite, tetraferriphlogopite and richterite. Key accessories are
baddeleyite, pyrochlore, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. Phoscorites almost always
occur in close association with carbonatites’’.
(3) There is no generally accepted system for nomenclature and
classification of phoscorites. Possibilities are: (a) the use of mineral prefixes
before the term phoscorite; (b) the scheme of Yegorov (1993) based on modal
(volume) abundances of the major minerals (apatite, forsterite and magnetite);
and (c) the RHA method of Krasnova et al. (2002) based on molecular
abundances of minerals calculated from whole-rock chemistry.
(4) Phoscorites occur in close spatial and temporal association with
carbonatites and often form multiphase phoscorite-carbonatite series. They
are mantle-derived rocks and much discussion centres on whether carbonatite
and phoscorites separate by fractional crystallization and cumulation and/or
liquid immiscibility.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to S.V. Moshkin for creating the computer program
‘PETROS’ and for permission to use it. We thank our reviewer M.J. Le Bas
for very detailed and constructive comments, which improved the manuscript.
The study has been supported by INTAS.
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Introduction to phoscorites: occurrence, composition,

Chapter · January 2004

Nataly Krasnova Tomas G. Petrov

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Daniel Garcia Jacques Moutte

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Этиологический анализ (Петрова-Чебанова) Etiological analysis (by Petrov&Chebanov) View project

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2.1 How many names do we have for phoscorite?

According to the International Union of Geological Sciences, (IUGS)

2.2 Phoscorite ﬁeld relationships

Kola Alkaline Province

———————— Russia ————————

Maymeicha-Kotui Province Russia

———————Africa ——————— Kazakh- Yakutiya,

The diversity of rocks in phoscorite–carbonatite complexes (PCC) is

2.3 Diversity of phoscorite

2.3.2 Whole-rock chemistry

The chemical compositions of typical phoscorites from the KAP, Maymeicha-

Rock ——————————— Phoscorite ——————————— ————— Carbonatite —————

-O=F 0.02 0.03 0.11 0.02 0.07 0.08

2.4 Mineral occurrence and chemistry

Owing to the economic importance of phoscorite-carbonatite complexes,

Magnetite occurs as anhedral, often crushed, grains and in calcite-bearing

Apatite occurs as granular aggregates, sometimes segregated in stripes, bands

Forsterite forms euhedral to anhedral, often crushed, crystals up to 10 cm

Mica, mainly green phlogopite is a common mineral in early-stage

In carbonate-rich phoscorites, calcite and, to a lesser extent, dolomite forms

2.4.5 Accessory baddeleyite, pyrochlore-group minerals and sulphides

Baddeleyite is a typical accessory mineral in phoscorite and occurs as small

2.5 Nomenclature and classiﬁcation of phoscorite

2.5.1 Use of a mineral prefix

One possibility is to indicate the major minerals in the phoscorite by a mineral

2.5.2 Yegorov classification scheme

The ﬁrst detailed classiﬁcation and nomenclature of phoscorites, applied to

method of geological classiﬁcation by using a ternary diagram and it can be

2.5.3 RHA method

A recently developed method known as the RHA information language (Petrov,

No. Rchem Hn An Rmin Suggested rock names

calcite- and dolomite-bearing magnetite-rich phoscorites mostly group at the Fe

FIG. 2..4 Chemical composition of carbonate-bearing phoscorites and carbonatites on the

names, in which the ﬁrst 3-component minerals are listed in order of

FIG. 2..5 Phoscorite classiﬁcation diagram for the system apatite-forsterite-magnetite

related rocks. It also gives a measure of complexity of composition and of

2.6 Petrogenesis of phoscorites

Phoscorites at Kovdor were ﬁrst described as skarns (Koshits, 1934) arising, in

the orbicular and spherulitic carbonatites and phoscorites at Vuoriyarvi, KAP

Sokolov, S.V. (1996) Rock-forming Carbonates of Carbonatites and Accompanying Rocks.

editors). Geological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg.

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