First finding of burkeite in melt inclusions in olivine from sheared lherzolite xenoliths

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2009 Aug;73(3):424-7. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2008.10.029. Epub 2008 Nov 5.

Abstract

For the first time burkeite was observed as a daughter phase in the melt inclusions in olivine by Raman spectroscopy. The olivine comes from sheared lherzolite xenoliths from the Udachnaya-East kimberlite pipe (Yakutia, Russia). This anhydrous sulfate-carbonate mineral (Na(6)(CO(3))(SO(4))(2)) is generally considered to be a characteristic mineral in saline soils or in continental lacustrine evaporite deposits. Recently, however, this mineral was identified in hydrothermal fluids. Our observations indicate that burkeite can also be formed from a mantle-derived melt.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Iron Compounds / analysis*
  • Magnesium Compounds / analysis*
  • Russia
  • Silicates / analysis*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman*

Substances

  • Iron Compounds
  • Magnesium Compounds
  • Silicates
  • olivine