CHROMIUM SCHREYERITE AND CHROMIUM-VANADIUM-MANGANESE-IRON-ZINC SPINEL IN QUARTZITIC SILLIMANITE-CORDIERITE SCHISTS OF THE OLKHON AREA SOUTHWEST OF LAKE BAIKAL

Abstract

New vanadium minerals recently discovered in metamorphic rocks and pyrite ores include schreyerite, V2Ti3O9, and vuorelainenite (Mn, Fe)V2O4, the end member of the chromium-vanadium manganospinel series. We succeeded in finding both these coexisting minerals in high-alumina schists of the Ol'khon area. Our schreyerite is a hitherto unknown high-chromium variety, but the spinel is the variety intermediate between vuorelainenite (sic) and manganochromite. This paper discusses the mineralogy of these finds.