A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco
There are abundant phosphate mines in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Gem-quality apatite is produced at the Anemzi deposit, but its associated gem mineralogy is relatively poorly studied. In this study, apatite from the Anemzi mine in Morocco was analysed using standard gemmological characteri...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Crystals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/12/4/461 |
| _version_ | 1797436226219802624 |
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| author | Pengyu Yuan Bo Xu Zixuan Wang Daiyue Liu |
| author_facet | Pengyu Yuan Bo Xu Zixuan Wang Daiyue Liu |
| author_sort | Pengyu Yuan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There are abundant phosphate mines in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Gem-quality apatite is produced at the Anemzi deposit, but its associated gem mineralogy is relatively poorly studied. In this study, apatite from the Anemzi mine in Morocco was analysed using standard gemmological characterisation methods, including basic tests (hardness, relative density, microscopy, etc.), spectroscopic tests (infrared, Raman, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy), and chemical analyses (electron probe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). This paper explores the gemmological characteristics of Moroccan apatites and the information on diagenesis recorded for apatites by comparing them with apatites from other sources. Apatite from the Anemzi deposit is an igneous fluorapatite. The relatively high Cl content of the apatite suggests that the magma in the area has a high Cl content, whereas the high Cl/F ratio may indicate that the deposit formed in a slab subduction environment. The characteristics of the major and trace elements indicate high oxygen and sulphur escapes in the apatite-forming magma. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:59:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6739dd66a134bf1bc60c9c49bfdc4cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:59:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
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| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6739dd66a134bf1bc60c9c49bfdc4cd2023-12-01T01:23:38ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522022-03-0112446110.3390/cryst12040461A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, MoroccoPengyu Yuan0Bo Xu1Zixuan Wang2Daiyue Liu3School of Gemmology, China University of Geoscience Beijing, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, ChinaSchool of Gemmology, China University of Geoscience Beijing, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, ChinaSchool of Gemmology, China University of Geoscience Beijing, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, ChinaSchool of Gemmology, China University of Geoscience Beijing, 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, ChinaThere are abundant phosphate mines in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Gem-quality apatite is produced at the Anemzi deposit, but its associated gem mineralogy is relatively poorly studied. In this study, apatite from the Anemzi mine in Morocco was analysed using standard gemmological characterisation methods, including basic tests (hardness, relative density, microscopy, etc.), spectroscopic tests (infrared, Raman, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy), and chemical analyses (electron probe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). This paper explores the gemmological characteristics of Moroccan apatites and the information on diagenesis recorded for apatites by comparing them with apatites from other sources. Apatite from the Anemzi deposit is an igneous fluorapatite. The relatively high Cl content of the apatite suggests that the magma in the area has a high Cl content, whereas the high Cl/F ratio may indicate that the deposit formed in a slab subduction environment. The characteristics of the major and trace elements indicate high oxygen and sulphur escapes in the apatite-forming magma.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/12/4/461apatitehalogen elementsRaman spectroscopymagmatic oxidationLA-ICP-MS |
| spellingShingle | Pengyu Yuan Bo Xu Zixuan Wang Daiyue Liu A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco Crystals apatite halogen elements Raman spectroscopy magmatic oxidation LA-ICP-MS |
| title | A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_full | A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_fullStr | A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_short | A Study on Apatite from Mesozoic Alkaline Intrusive Complexes, Central High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_sort | study on apatite from mesozoic alkaline intrusive complexes central high atlas morocco |
| topic | apatite halogen elements Raman spectroscopy magmatic oxidation LA-ICP-MS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/12/4/461 |
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