Uvarovite from Reduced Native Fe-Bearing Paralava, Hatrurim Complex, Israel

Abstract A new genetic type of chromium garnet—uvarovite with the simplified formula Ca3(Cr,Al,Ti4+,V3+)2(Si,Al)3O12—was detected in unusual wollastonite-gehlenite-bearing paralava within the Hatrurim Complex in Israel. The pyrometamorphic rocks of that Complex usually formed in the sanidinite facies (low pressure and high temperature) and, as a rule, under oxidized conditions. This paralava contains nodules and grain aggregates of native Fe, usually distributed linearly in the rock or located close to gaseous voids. The presence of native iron droplets in association with the “meteoric” phosphide—schreibersite, suggests that the formation of paralava occurred under high-reducing conditions and high temperature, reaching 1500°C. Uvarovite forms xenomorphic grains either randomly distributed within the rock or flattened crystals on the walls of gaseous voids. Analyzed uvarovite indicates a significant enrichment in Ti4+ (up to 8 wt.% TiO2) and V3+ (up to 4.5 wt.% V2O3), the highest concentrations documented for uvarovite. Unlike known uvarovite from different localities, uvarovite from this study does not contain Fe3+, and Fe2+ is present in insignificant amounts. The obtained structural data reveal that the high contribution of hutcheonite, Ca3Ti4+2SiAl2O12 (up to 18%), and goldmanite, Ca3V3+2Si3O12 (up to 11%), end-members increases the lattice parameter a to >12.00 Å. The crystallization of uvarovite occurs in the narrow interval of oxygen fugacity, a little above the iron-wüstite buffer ƒO2 ≥ ΔIW. Uvarovite xenomorphic grains formed due to the decomposition of wollastonite and chromite, including H2S from the intergranular melt/fluid according to the following reaction: Ca3Si3O9 + Fe2+Cr3+2O4 + H2S → Ca3Cr2Si3O12 + FeS + H2O, while the flattened crystals grew from specific melt that formed on the walls of the voids as a result of exposure of hot gas flow. The comparison of the obtained results with available chemical data from previous studies reveals a gap in the natural isomorphic series between andradite and uvarovite.