A review of mineral assemblages of agpaitic rocks from the Poços de Caldas alkaline massif, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study revises the early-magmatic, late-magmatic, and hydrothermal mineral assemblages occurring in rocks of agpaitic affinity, mainly represented by nepheline syenites and phonolites, from the Poços de Caldas alkaline massif. Mostly composed of different types of silicates, these rocks include rare minerals of of distinct groups, such as sulfides, oxides, carbonates, phosphates, sulfates, niobates, and notably halides, with villiaumite (NaF) as an important phase indicative of extreme alkali enrichment. Hydrothermal alteration products of nepheline and alkali feldspar typically consist of feldspathoids and zeolites. The rare minerals are of varied origin, from magmatic crystallization to hydrothermal and weathering processes. In general, they tend to occur interstitially or form euhedral crystals, especially when filling cavities or growing out from their walls. Petrological conditions involving the formation of the agpaitic rocks and their mineral assemblages are discussed.