The First Find of Cr2O3 Eskolaite Associated with Marble-Hosted Ruby in the Southern Urals and the Problem of Al and Cr Sources

Abstract

The results of the study of eskolaite associated with marble-hosted ruby found for the first time in the Kuchinskoe occurrence (Southern Urals) are presented. Here, eskolaite was located on the surface and near-surface regions of ruby crystals. Eskolaite diagnostics was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (URS-55). The morphology and chemical composition of eskolaite and associated ruby was studied using a JSM-6390LV scanning electron microscope and a Cameca SX 100 electron probe microanalyzer. The eskolaite crystals were hexagonal and tabular, up to 0.2 mm in size. Ruby mineralization was formed during prograde and retrograde dynamothermal metamorphism. The eskolaite associated with the prograde stage ruby contained Al2O3 (9.1–23.62 wt %), TiO2 (0.52–9.66 wt %), V2O3 (0.53–1.54 wt %), FeO (0.03–0.1 wt %), MgO (0.05–0.24 wt %), and SiO2 (0.1–0.21 wt %). The eskolaite associated with the retrograde stage ruby was distinguished by a sharp depletion in Ti and contained Al2O3 (12.25–21.2 wt %), TiO2 (0.01–0.07 wt %), V2O3 (0.32–1.62 wt %), FeO (0.01–0.08 wt %), MgO (0.0–0.48 wt %), and SiO2 (0.01–0.1 wt %). The associated rubies contained almost equal amounts of Cr2O3 (2.36–2.69 wt %) and were almost free from admixtures. The identification of the eskolaite associated with the marble-hosted rubies from the Kuchinskoe occurrence is a new argument in favor of introduction of Al and Cr into the mineral formation zone. The mineralization was localized in the metamorphic frame of the granite gneiss domes and was formed synchronously with them.