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Petrogenesis of the Eppawala carbonatites, Sri Lanka: A cathodoluminescence and electron microprobe study

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Abstract

Field and petrographic investigations, cathodoluminescence (CL) studies as well as microprobe analyses of major rock-forming minerals were conducted to establish the crystallization processes in the Eppawala carbonatites, Sri Lanka. The well preserved magmatic textures and crystal morphologies combined with the chemistry of apatite, calcite and dolomite indicate two major stages of crystal growth, which were accompanied by dynamic crystallization conditions. Initially, nucleation of apatite, ilmenite and possibly olivine was associated with rapid crystal growth during slow cooling of the carbonatite melt at depth. The heat loss through the roof and crystallization processes induced the development of turbulent convective currents, which in turn prevented further nucleation and growth of crystals and led to the dispersion of these earlier formed crystals within the magma chamber. Then, rapid upward movement of magma along structural weaknesses led to (i) the transport of mineral clusters, (ii) deformation of ilmenite, (iii) fracturing of apatite and (iv) the emplacement of the carbonatite melt as dykes. Here, the conditions were favourable for the simultaneous crystallization of magnetite, calcite and dolomite in a non-turbulent environment. Subsequent subsolidus alteration caused the hydrothermal overprint of the documented mineral assemblages, particularly along grain boundaries. The study demonstrates that detailed textural examinations of carbonatites combined with mineral chemical analyses and CL investigations can reveal the crystallization processes within carbonatite melts.

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Acknowledgments

The first author thanks Professors M. Schidlowski and W. Hofmeister (University of Mainz, Germany) for their guidance. Dr. T. Wenzel and Dr. J. Götze (University of Freiberg, Germany) helped with the CL investigations. Financial support by the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (Germany) and Endeavour Programme (Australia) is gratefully acknowledged. Rigorous evaluations by the referees helped to clarify aspects of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Geology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Amarasooriya Pitawala

  2. School of Earth Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Bernd G. Lottermoser

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  1. Amarasooriya Pitawala
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Correspondence to Amarasooriya Pitawala.

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Editorial handling: L. G. Gwalani

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Pitawala, A., Lottermoser, B.G. Petrogenesis of the Eppawala carbonatites, Sri Lanka: A cathodoluminescence and electron microprobe study. Miner Petrol 105, 57–70 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-012-0193-y

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