Petrography, geochemistry, and geochronology of the Sc-enriched Kiviniemi ferrodiorite intrusion, eastern Finland

The Kiviniemi mafic intrusion, near the eastern margin of the Paleoproterozoic Central Finland Granitoid Complex, is both spatially and temporally associated with post-kinematic Fe-Ti-P-enriched Svecofennian orogenic mafic magmatism. The main rock types in this small (~ 15 ha) intrusion are garnet-bearing fayalite ferrodiorite, leucoferrodiorite, ferromonzodiorite, and pyroxene diorite. The garnet-bearing fayalite ferrodiorite and leucoferrodiorite contain 50-281 ppm Sc, 275-5600 ppm Zr, and 58-189 ppm Y (n = 42), delineating a mineralized deposit some 2.5 ha in extent. Overall, these rocks show an evolved (iron-enriched) tholeiitic character; low values of Ni (<20-40 ppm), Cr (<20 ppm), and Cu (<20-80 ppm); and high contents of Zn (213-700 ppm). The rock-forming minerals in the ferrodioritic rocks are (ferro)hedenbergite, plagioclase (~ An(40)), ferropargasite and ferroedenite, almandine garnet, and fayalite (Fo(1-4)). Accessory minerals include zircon, ilmenite, fluorapatite, biotite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, potassium feldspar, grunerite, and clinoferrosilite. Some relict cumulate textures have been preserved, but primary magmatic features have largely been overprinted by strong recrystallization and corona formation. The main carriers of Sc are amphibole, clinopyroxene, and apatite. The remarkably strong enrichment of Sc in ferromagnesian silicates and apatite, rather than in specific Sc-minerals, implies magmatic enrichment. Post-kinematic mafic intrusions in central Finland constitute a bimodal association with co-existing granitoid counterparts. The Kiviniemi mafic intrusion is associated with a coarse megacrystic granite and the two rock type display mingled contacts, indicative of contemporaneity of the two magmas. This conclusion is in accord with the coincident U-Pb zircon ages for the ferrodiorite, at 1857 +/- 2 Ma (multigrain ID-TIMS) and the megacrystic granite, at 1860 +/- 7 Ma (single-crystal LA-MC-ICP-MS). The initial epsilon Nd value of the ferrodiorite and the granite are + 0.1 and - 2.5, respectively. These Nd isotope compositions probably reflect a chondritic mantle source for the ferrodiorite and suggest incorporation of some Archaean crustal material into the granite in the course of magmatic evolution. The resource estimation calculated for Kiviniemi intrusion by using 40 g/t Sc cut off value is 13.4 Mt of rock with an average grade of 162.7 g/t scandium, 1726 g/t zirconium, and 81 g/t yttrium.Peer reviewe

LITHOSPHERE 2018: TENTH SYMPOSIUM ON STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION AND EVOLUTION OF THE LITHOSPHERE: PROGRAMME AND EXTENDED ABSTRACTS

Field work was conducted in the Kullaa area in SW Finland to study the tectonic evolution and structural setting of the gold mineralisations in the area. Our structural data and interpretation recognises the structural complexity associated with the mineralised zone. We suggest that the NE-SW trending faults in association with the second-order structures related to the NW-SE trending Kynsikangas shear zone have controlled the precipitation of the gold-bearing fluids.</p

LITHOSPHERE 2018: TENTH SYMPOSIUM ON STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION AND EVOLUTION OF THE LITHOSPHERE: PROGRAMME AND EXTENDED ABSTRACTS

The Uunimäki gabbro was studied by zircon U-Pb geochronology which yielded an age of ~1.89 Ga, making it one of the oldest plutonic rocks in the Häme Belt. Geochemical analysis of the gabbro reveals that it lacks several characteristics for typical subduction zone rocks: (i) it does not have a negative Ta-Nb anomaly compared to average NMORB-composition, (ii) it shows a rather unfractionated REE pattern, (iii) it lacks clear enrichment of fluid-mobile elements (e.g. Ba, Rb, Th, Pb). Structurally, the Uunimäki gabbro is located at the intersection of several regional features: (i) steep NE-plunging folds, (ii) a ENE-WSW-trending deformation zone immediately to the north and (iii) a large N-S-trending deformation zone to the west. The gabbro itself has been deformed under both brittle and ductile conditions by primarily NW-SE-trending faults and shears.</p

LITHOSPHERE 2018: TENTH SYMPOSIUM ON STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION AND EVOLUTION OF THE LITHOSPHERE: PROGRAMME AND EXTENDED ABSTRACTS

Shear zones of various ages and orientations are common in Southern Finland. In the study area, E-W and N-S trending shear zones are the dominant structural feature. Mylonitic foliations were identified from the most intensely sheared rocks. Ductile shearing has mainly been of dip-slip type. Structural mapping revealed several larger map-scale folds, which appear to be relatively continuous across the study area from SE to NW. In the central area, folding interfered with the shear zones causing a complex crustal structure such as associated with the Uunimäki mineralization. Aeromagnetic and lithological maps, field observations, stereographic projections and oriented thin sections were used to determine the structural features of the study area.</p

Exceptional Microscale Plasticity in Amorphous Aluminum Oxide at Room Temperature

Oxide glasses are an elementary group of materials in modern society, but brittleness limits their wider usability at room temperature. As an exception to the rule, amorphous aluminum oxide (a-Al2O3) is a rare diatomic glassy material exhibiting significant nanoscale plasticity at room temperature. Here, it is shown experimentally that the room temperature plasticity of a-Al2O3 extends to the microscale and high strain rates using in situ micropillar compression. All tested a-Al2O3 micropillars deform without fracture at up to 50% strain via a combined mechanism of viscous creep and shear band slip propagation. Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations align with the main experimental observations and verify the plasticity mechanism at the atomic scale. The experimental strain rates reach magnitudes typical for impact loading scenarios, such as hammer forging, with strain rates up to the order of 1 000 s−1, and the total a-Al2O3 sample volume exhibiting significant low-temperature plasticity without fracture is expanded by 5 orders of magnitude from previous observations. The discovery is consistent with the theoretical prediction that the plasticity observed in a-Al2O3 can extend to macroscopic bulk scale and suggests that amorphous oxides show significant potential to be used as light, high-strength, and damage-tolerant engineering materials.Peer reviewe

GeoERA Raw Materials Monograph : the past and the future

ABSTRACT: GeoERA Minerals projects have produced data aimed at supporting Europe’s minerals sector and to assist the European Commission to realise its goals for raw materials. Data has been compiled on mineral occurrences and mineral provinces across Europe, in particular, areas with potential to host Critical Raw Materials. Anecdotal evidence from the minerals sector provides an indication of the likelihood of exploration leading to mine development. For every 1,000 mineral showings examined, only 100 may receive further exploration work and of those 100, only 10 may warrant more detailed sampling either through trenching, drilling or other means and of those 10 only 1 may proceed to an evaluation through a full feasibility study which itself has only 50% chance of being positive. Following this, any project for which a mine proposal is made must undergo a full evaluation and permitting by authorities including full public consultation. The proposal may or may not pass this scrutiny. In terms of a schedule, the generally accepted minimum time frame from discovery to production is 10 years and usually much more, up to 20 years.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Highly ductile amorphous oxide at room temperature and high strain rate

Oxide glasses are an integral part of the modern world, but their usefulness can be limited by their characteristic brittleness at room temperature. We show that amorphous aluminum oxide can permanently deform without fracture at room temperature and high strain rate by a viscous creep mechanism. These thin-films can reach flow stress at room temperature and can flow plastically up to a total elongation of 100%, provided that the material is dense and free of geometrical flaws. Our study demonstrates a much higher ductility for an amorphous oxide at low temperature than previous observations. This discovery may facilitate the realization of damage-tolerant glass materials that contribute in new ways, with the potential to improve the mechanical resistance and reliability of applications such as electronic devices and batteries

Highly ductile amorphous oxide at room temperature and high strain rate

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