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Platt, R. Garth, Woolley, Alan R. (1986) The mafic mineralogy of the peralkaline syenites and granites of the Mulanje complex, Malawi. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (355) 85-99 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.355.12

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Reference TypeJournal (article/letter/editorial)
TitleThe mafic mineralogy of the peralkaline syenites and granites of the Mulanje complex, Malawi
JournalMineralogical MagazineISSN0026-461X
AuthorsPlatt, R. GarthAuthor
Woolley, Alan R.Author
Year1986 (March)Volume50
Issue355
PublisherMineralogical Society
Download URLhttps://rruff.info/doclib/MinMag/Volume_50/50-355-85.pdf+
DOIdoi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.355.12Search in ResearchGate
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Mindat Ref. ID3818Long-form Identifiermindat:1:5:3818:2
GUID0
Full ReferencePlatt, R. Garth, Woolley, Alan R. (1986) The mafic mineralogy of the peralkaline syenites and granites of the Mulanje complex, Malawi. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (355) 85-99 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.355.12
Plain TextPlatt, R. Garth, Woolley, Alan R. (1986) The mafic mineralogy of the peralkaline syenites and granites of the Mulanje complex, Malawi. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (355) 85-99 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.355.12
In(1986, March) Mineralogical Magazine Vol. 50 (355) Mineralogical Society
Abstract/NotesAbstractStudies of the mafic mineralogy of the Mulanje granite-quartz-syenite-syenite Massif of southern Malawi delineate two mineralogically distinct complexesβ€”the Main complex and the Chambe complex. Each complex is associated with its own trend of pyroxene evolution. The Main complex pyroxenes exhibit initial enrichment in hedenbergite before subsequent enrichment in acmite (i.e. sodic-salite-sodic-hedenbergite-aegirine-hedenbergite-aegirine), whereas the Chambe pyroxenes display constantly increasing acmite content with no significant enrichment in hedenbergite (i.e. sodic-salite-aegirine-augite-aegirine). This phenomenon is also reflected in the more Mg-rich amphiboles and biotites of the Chambe rocks when compared to those of the Main complex.The general evolutionary trend of the Main complex amphiboles is katophorite β†’ ferroricherite β†’ arfvedsonite which broadly correlates with a change in rock type from syenite to granite. Superimposed on this trend is an essentially similar, yet less extensive trend of the more Mg-rich Chambe amphiboles. The micas of both complexes show a general evolution to more iron-rich compositions with relatively constant Al content. Those of the Main complex, however, display extreme iron enrichment with ultimate formation of essentially pure ferrous annite.Aenigmatite, astrophyllite, fayalite, chevkinite, yttrofluorite, and unidentified RE minerals are characteristic of the Main complex rocks but totally absent from those of the Chambe complex. Ilmenite constitutes the only iron oxide phase in the Main complex rocks whereas titaniferous magnetite (now unmixed) and ilmenite are both present in the rocks of Chambe.The differences between the two complexes are explained in terms of oxygen fugacity, silica activity, crystallization interval, and the relative rates of development of peralkalinity. In essence, the Chambe magmas are considered to have crystallized under high fO2 conditions with an earlier development of peralkaline tendencies when compared to those of the Main complex magmas. Moreover, a lower initial silica activity, a smaller alkali to alumina ratio, and a correspondingly smaller crystallization interval could account for the lack of highly evolved granitic magmas in the Chambe complex, whereas such magmas are integral in the evolution of the Main complex.

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Mlanje Massif, Mulanje, Southern Region, Malawi

Mineral Occurrences

LocalityMineral(s)
Mlanje Massif, Mulanje, Southern Region, Malawiβ“˜ Aegirine, β“˜ Aegirine-augite, β“˜ Aenigmatite, β“˜ Albite, β“˜ Alkali Feldspar, β“˜ Amphibole Supergroup, β“˜ Andalusite, β“˜ Arfvedsonite, β“˜ Astrophyllite, β“˜ BastnΓ€site, β“˜ Biotite, β“˜ Chevkinite Group, β“˜ Corundum, β“˜ Fayalite, β“˜ Feldspar Group, β“˜ Ferro-richterite, β“˜ Ferrosalite, β“˜ Fluocerite, β“˜ Fluorite, β“˜ Gneiss, β“˜ Granite, β“˜ Hedenbergite, β“˜ Katophorite, β“˜ Magnetite, β“˜ Mica Group, β“˜ Monazite Group, β“˜ Oligoclase, β“˜ Pegmatite, β“˜ Perthite, β“˜ Pyroxene Group, β“˜ Quartz-syenite, β“˜ Rhyolite, β“˜ Riebeckite, β“˜ Sillimanite, β“˜ Syenite, β“˜ Titanium-bearing Magnetite, β“˜ Yttrofluorite


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