Abstract The Serra Branca pegmatite in northeastern Brazil is unique because of its megacrysts of bluish-green amazonite currently exploited for ornamental purposes and as high-quality gemstones. Here we analyze microtextural, spectroscopic, and geochemical data on specimens from two magmatic generations of amazonite from this pegmatite in order to characterize their mineralogy and propose a schematic evolution diagram for twinning during their development. The amazonite consists of intergrowths of the low microcline and low albite XRD varieties that evolved according to a twin coarsening process, in which the first generation (I-tg) of ± A/P twinning developed at the monoclinic-triclinic transformation, whereas the second generation (II-tg) gave rise mainly to ± A twins. The bluish-green color of the amazonite was preserved during the process of microcline twinning. In addition to the irrational II-tg twinning, which is typically found in microcline from anorogenic settings, the serra branca amazonite crystals also show elevated contents of Rb, Pb, Fe, Cs, and Tl in both generations, whereas albitic intergrowths present high concentrations of Fe, Pb, Sr, and Ga. Finally, our chemical and spectroscopic results are compatible with the hypothesis that Pb-water centers account for the bluish green color in amazonite.

Abstract The Vieirópolis pegmatite field is characterized by amazonite pegmatites inserted in the Borborema Province. The Serra Branca pegmatite is hosted by the Serra Branca granites, which intruded partially the Serra Negra granites, and stands out by its amazonite mineralization. To comprehend the crystallization conditions and the source of this pegmatite and associated Serra Branca and Serra Negra granites, petrographic, mineral chemistry, geochronological and whole-rock geochemical data were used. The Serra Branca pegmatite is Cs-, Rb-, Pb-, Nb-, and Ta-rich. The Serra Branca granites (563 ± 2 Ma) are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, crystallized under high fO2 conditions, pressure of 2.68-2.80 kbar and temperatures ranging from 667-670°C, with many zircon grains showing inherited cores of Paleoproterozoic ages. The Serra Negra granites (594 ± 4 Ma) comprises metaluminous granites crystallized under high fO2 conditions, temperatures within 711-751°C, pressure varying from 4.72 to 5.42 kbar. Both granites resulted from distinct partial melting degrees of a source similar to the Caicó Complex orthogneisses. The Serra Branca pegmatite geochemical data suggests that it was originated by extreme fractionation of the Serra Branca granites magma. The Serra Branca amazonite pegmatite is the first pegmatite mineralogically and geochemically characterized as Nb-Y-F (NYF)-type from the gadolinite subtype in the Borborema Province.

Abstract The Paraná deposit, located at Southwestern Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil, is one of the few emerald deposits found at Borborema Province. The mineralization occurs in phlogopite schists and actinolite-phlogopite schists associated with pegmatites and albitites within the Portalegre Shear Zone. Unlike other well-known Brazilian emerald deposits, the mineralogy of Paraná emeralds has remained poorly investigated for the last 40 years. In this study, we conducted mineralogical characterization of theses emeralds through gemological testing, mineral chemistry, absorption and reflectance spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The Paraná emeralds are bluish-green colored, characterized by high refractive index, several two-phase fluid inclusions and mica is the main mineral inclusion. Electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analyses detected the presence of Fe2+ (0.43-1.94 wt.% FeO) and Cr3+ (0.04-0.14 wt.% Cr2O3) as the main chromophores replacing octahedral Al3+ in the crystal structure. In addition, substantial amounts of MgO (0.40-2.72 wt.%), Na2O (0.50-1.81 wt.%), and Cs2O (0.07-0.44 wt.%) were also identified. The main causes for its coloration were attributed to Cr3+ absorption features in visible spectral range, which were corroborated by absorption and reflectance spectra. The presence of types I and II H2O at channel-sites was recorded in Fourier-transform infrared spectra and demonstrated by dehydration processes observed in different thermal and thermogravimetric analyses.

Abstract reflectance spectroscopy is a fast tool for mineral identification and classification. We conducted spectral characterization of elbaite samples (n = 30) from Seridó Pegmatite Province, Borborema Province, NE Brazil, using a FieldSpec portable instrument and geochemical data from electron probe microanalysis. Visual interpretation of reflectance spectra reveals the absorption features in the visible to near infrared (350-1,200 nm) range related to the electronic transition processes of iron (e.g., ~720, ~1,180 nm), copper (e.g., ~694, ~922 nm) and manganese (e.g., ~400, ~520 nm) ions. In general, electron probe microanalysis data show correlation with the absorption features related to chromophore elements (e.g., Cu, Fe, Mn), but the complex crystal structure of the tourmalines also accounts for the generation of absorption features. Vibrational processes in the short-wave infrared (1,200-2,500 nm) spectral range appear associated with Mn-OH, OH, Al-OH, H2O and B-OH bonds. A statistical approach, using principal component analysis, was chosen for distinguishing tourmalines of different composition. We discriminated tourmalines characterized by green, blue, blue-green, red/purple colors, as well as the colorless ones. This included the Paraíba tourmaline, a high value variety of elbaite that is the focus of exploration carried out in Seridó Pegmatite Province.

A mineralogia do solo constitui uma excelente ferramenta para o conhecimento e a avaliação da gênese do solo e do seu comportamento físico e químico, além de ser um dos parâmetros utilizados na distinção de classes do Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos e um indicativo da reserva potencial mineral de nutrientes para as plantas. Nesse contexto, este trabalho apresenta a caracterização mineralógica das frações cascalho, areia grossa e areia fina (sob lupa binocular e microscópio petrográfico) e das frações silte e argila (difratometria de raios X) de todos os horizontes do solo, e o estudo petrográfico da rocha matriz, a partir dos quais estabelece considerações sobre a evolução mineralógica de um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo, típico da Zona Úmida Costeira do Estado de Pernambuco. As frações grossas ao longo de todo o Argissolo estudado são constituídas, essencialmente, por quartzo (> 95 %) anguloso a muito anguloso, o que denota a ausência de transporte de material na formação desse tipo de solo. Foram observados fragmentos de rocha (constituídos por quartzo, feldspatos e minerais opacos), feldspatos e biotita que apresentam alteração intempérica mais evidente nos horizontes mais superficiais, além de minerais opacos, como magnetita e hematita, e traços de clorita, zircão, epidotos e apatita, todos de mineralogia compatível com a rocha matriz. A fração silte é constituída por minerais do grupo das micas, dos feldspatos, do quartzo e da caulinita, além da clorita observada apenas nos horizontes mais inferiores. A fração argila mostrou a mesma mineralogia da fração silte, sendo ainda detectados minerais interestratificados nos horizontes mais inferiores. A petrografia da rocha matriz mostrou que esta é um biotita-gnaisse de granulometria média, constituído por feldspatos (plagioclásio, pertita e microclina), quartzo, biotita e, como acessórios, epidotos, zircão e minerais opacos. A análise dos resultados permite concluir que o Argissolo estudado é autóctone, bem desenvolvido e altamente intemperizado devido às condições de clima, relevo e vegetação, apresentando baixa reserva potencial mineral de nutrientes para as plantas.

Soil mineralogy is an important tool to study and understand soil genesis and soil physical and chemical behavior. Furthermore, soil mineralogy is used as diagnostic criterion to define soil classes in the Brazilian System of Soil Classification and provides information on the potential soil mineral reserve of plant nutrients. In this context, this study presents the mineralogical characterization of gravel, fine and coarse sand fractions (under a binocular lens and petrographic microscope), and of the silt and clay fractions (by X ray diffraction) of all soil horizons, and the petrographic study of the parent rock, aiming to understand the mineralogical evolution of a typical Ultisol of the Coastal Humid Zone of Pernambuco State. The coarse fractions of the studied Ultisol are formed, essentially, by angular shaped quartz (> 95 %), demonstrating the absence of transported materials during soil formation. Rock fragments (formed by quartz, feldspars and opaque minerals), feldspars and biotite, with more evident weathering in the surface horizons, were also observed and are mineralogically compatible with the parent rock. The silt fraction is composed by micas, feldspars, quartz and kaolinite. Chlorite is only observed in the deeper horizons. The clay fraction has the same mineralogy as observed for the silt fraction, and still there are interstratified minerals in the bottom horizons. The parent rock is biotite-gneiss of medium granulometry, formed by feldspars (plagioclase, perthite and microcline), quartz and biotite, with epidotes, zircon and opaque minerals as accessory minerals. The results showed that the studied Ultisol is autochthonous and highly weathered, due to the humid tropical climatic conditions, and has a very low potential mineral reserve of plant nutrients.