In situ LA–ICP-MS and EPMA trace element characterization of Fe–Ti oxides from the phoscorite–carbonatite association at Phalaborwa, South Africa

In situ laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP-MS) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) are used to characterize magnetite and ilmenite of the phoscorite–carbonatite association at Phalaborwa. We trace the behavior of the compatible elements for two different generations of magnetite related to (1) a magmatic stage, with variable Ti–V content, which pre-dates the copper mineralization, and (2) a late hydrothermal, low-Ti, low-temperature event, mostly post-dating sulfide formation. Magnetite is shown to be a robust petrogenetic indicator; no influence on its chemical composition is detected from the intergrowth with the accompanying phases, including the interaction with coexisting sulfides. High spatial resolution EPMA characterize the tiny late-stage hydrothermal magnetite veins, as well as the ilmenite granular and lamellar exsolutions mostly developed in the magnetite from the phoscorite. By combining geochemical data with geothermo-oxybarometry calculations for magnetite–ilmenite pairs, we infer that the most primitive magnetite probably formed at oxygen fugacity above the nickel nickel oxide (NNO) buffer, revealing an evolutionary trend of decreasing temperature and oxygen fugacity. Geochemical similarity exists between magnetite from phoscorite and carbonatite, thus supporting a common mantle source for the phoscorite–carbonatite association.