Abstract:
In early calcite carbonatites of the Kovdor ore deposit four morphological types of dolomite are represented. In the first type, dolomite microcrystals occur as lamellae enclosed by optically continuous calcite. In the second, dolomite microcrystals occur as segmented rods, plates and xenomorphic grains, enclosed by optically discontinuous calcite, and in the third, dolomite is represented by grains of various morphologies, situated along calcite grain boundaries. The fourth type of dolomite occurs as a fine-grained aggregate, which develops along grain boundaries and cleavage cracks of calcite. From microscopic, scanning electron microscope and microprobe studies of these different types of dolomite microcrystals, as well as the calcite associated with them, it can be concluded that the first type of dolomite was exsolved from magnesian calcite during cooling. The second, and the third types of dolomite microcrystals were formed by recrystallization. The fourth type of dolomite was formed by metasomatic dolomitization. As the result of these two processes-recrystallization and metasomatic dolomitization-early dolomite microcrystals seldom occur. The composition of the early-formed primary magnesian calcite yielded temperatures of exsolution of dolomite from magnesian calcite between 665 and 700°C.