TITANIUM MALAYAITE FROM THE KAN'ONSKOYE STANNIFEROUS SKARN DEPOSIT

Abstract

There could be isomorphism between titanium and tin in minerals of the series from malayaite, CaSnO[SiO4], to sphene, CaTiO[SiO4], because they are isostructural. Published analyses of malayaite from 10 deposits revealed sizable titanium concentrations in it in four cases. Ore minerals in the Kan'onskoye deposit, Magadan oblast, include malayaite that contains virtually no tin and was described earlier. Later, another variety of the mineral was found here - finely zoned, relatively high in titanium. Their abundance and large size has allowed study of this titanium malayaite in detail and information to be obtained on the form of incorporation of titanium into it. The composition of the zoned malayaite was determined with the Camebax electron microprobe. The results confirm that malayaite contains TiO2 in concentrations reaching 3.8 percent. The position of malayaite in the overall sequence of mineral formation in the Kan'onskoye deposit indicates that the tin mineralization was closely associated with the skarn-forming process. Additional aspects of the subject are discussed.