Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures
Graphite usually occurs in mineral/rock associations in the form of solid inclusions and plays an important role in tracing regional metamorphic degree, ore-forming temperature, fluid evolution, as well as the deep carbon cycle of the Earth. In this study, we investigate the placer black nephrite ja...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1403 |
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| author | Jifei Zheng Lei Chen Cun Zhang Yue Liu Ruicong Tian Jinlin Wu Yu Wu Shouting Zhang |
| author_facet | Jifei Zheng Lei Chen Cun Zhang Yue Liu Ruicong Tian Jinlin Wu Yu Wu Shouting Zhang |
| author_sort | Jifei Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Graphite usually occurs in mineral/rock associations in the form of solid inclusions and plays an important role in tracing regional metamorphic degree, ore-forming temperature, fluid evolution, as well as the deep carbon cycle of the Earth. In this study, we investigate the placer black nephrite jade where the co-occurrence of abundant graphite inclusions and jade remains extraordinary. By employing petrographic, mineral-chemical, and Raman spectroscopic methods, we characterize the textures and crystallinity of graphite inclusions that exist in nephrite jade. EPMA and petrological data indicate that the main constituents of black jade are tremolite and graphite, with minor phases of diopside, calcite, dolomite, epidote, and apatite. Micro-Raman spectroscopic thermometry of carbonaceous material shows that most of the formation temperatures of graphite inclusions are between 378 and 556 °C, and only a few temperatures may be above 650 °C, indicating that graphite inclusions were formed at medium- to high-temperature metamorphic facies. The petrologic and spectral investigations of graphite inclusions in these nephrite jade samples show major metamorphic signatures with mixed features associated with fluid precipitation. Our results allow us to propose that primary nephrite jade was formed under multi-stage tectonic evolution conditions, and regional temperatures were predominately driven by the late continent–continent collision, while the ore-controlling temperatures of nephrite jade formation were found in a medium- to high-temperature environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:35:32Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b159271d5ca24c6490cb1cdf8ee70357 |
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| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:35:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b159271d5ca24c6490cb1cdf8ee703572023-11-24T14:57:33ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-11-011311140310.3390/min13111403Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation TemperaturesJifei Zheng0Lei Chen1Cun Zhang2Yue Liu3Ruicong Tian4Jinlin Wu5Yu Wu6Shouting Zhang7School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, 29 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, ChinaShandong Geological Survey Institute, 17 Jingshan Road, Jinan 250020, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), 3501 Daxue Road, Jinan 250353, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), 3501 Daxue Road, Jinan 250353, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Qilu Normal University, Jinan 250020, ChinaNational Gemstone Testing Center Shenzhen Laboratory Company Ltd., Shenzhen 518020, ChinaGemological Inspection Institute of Xinjiang Zhongjian, Xinjiang 830002, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, 29 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, ChinaGraphite usually occurs in mineral/rock associations in the form of solid inclusions and plays an important role in tracing regional metamorphic degree, ore-forming temperature, fluid evolution, as well as the deep carbon cycle of the Earth. In this study, we investigate the placer black nephrite jade where the co-occurrence of abundant graphite inclusions and jade remains extraordinary. By employing petrographic, mineral-chemical, and Raman spectroscopic methods, we characterize the textures and crystallinity of graphite inclusions that exist in nephrite jade. EPMA and petrological data indicate that the main constituents of black jade are tremolite and graphite, with minor phases of diopside, calcite, dolomite, epidote, and apatite. Micro-Raman spectroscopic thermometry of carbonaceous material shows that most of the formation temperatures of graphite inclusions are between 378 and 556 °C, and only a few temperatures may be above 650 °C, indicating that graphite inclusions were formed at medium- to high-temperature metamorphic facies. The petrologic and spectral investigations of graphite inclusions in these nephrite jade samples show major metamorphic signatures with mixed features associated with fluid precipitation. Our results allow us to propose that primary nephrite jade was formed under multi-stage tectonic evolution conditions, and regional temperatures were predominately driven by the late continent–continent collision, while the ore-controlling temperatures of nephrite jade formation were found in a medium- to high-temperature environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1403graphite inclusionsRaman spectroscopyformation temperaturesplacer nephrite jadeNorthwest China |
| spellingShingle | Jifei Zheng Lei Chen Cun Zhang Yue Liu Ruicong Tian Jinlin Wu Yu Wu Shouting Zhang Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures Minerals graphite inclusions Raman spectroscopy formation temperatures placer nephrite jade Northwest China |
| title | Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures |
| title_full | Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures |
| title_fullStr | Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures |
| title_short | Constraints on Crystallinity of Graphite Inclusions in Nephrite Jade from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for Nephrite Jade Formation Temperatures |
| title_sort | constraints on crystallinity of graphite inclusions in nephrite jade from xinjiang northwest china implications for nephrite jade formation temperatures |
| topic | graphite inclusions Raman spectroscopy formation temperatures placer nephrite jade Northwest China |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1403 |
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