Abstract: |
Beryl mineralization in the Nugrus-Sikait domain in the South Eastern Desert (SED) of
Egypt occurs as disseminated crystals in granitic pegmatite and quartz, as well as pegmatite veins
crosscutting mélange schist and ophiolitic rocks. When granitic pegmatite comes into contact with the
ophiolitic rocks, phlogopite and amphibole schists are formed due to K metasomatism. The ophiolitic
mélange is intruded by leucogranite and related pegmatite along the NNW to NW Nugrus shear
zone. Beryl samples have been collected from Um Sleimat, Madinat Nugrus, Wadi Abu Rusheid, and
Wadi Sikait. Major oxides and in situ trace and rare earth elements (REEs) of beryl and associated
minerals were analyzed through EPMA and LA-ICP-MS, respectively. The investigated beryl, based
on its color and chemical compositions, can be classified into the two following types: pegmatitic
beryl (type I) and schist-related beryl (type II). The former is colorless to pale green, and is mainly
restricted in pegmatite veins; it is poor in Cr2O3 (up to 0.03 wt%) and MgO (Nil). The latter, deep
green in color, is rich in Cr2O3 (up to 0.27 wt%) and MgO (up to 2.71 wt%), and occurs within quartz
veins, phlogopite schists, and tremolite schists. The abundant beryl mineralization in phlogopite
schists and their related quartz veins suggests that granite and associated pegmatite are the source
rocks for the Be-bearing fluids that migrate along theNW-SE trending deep-seated tectonic zone, such
as the Nugrus shear zone. Therefore, the formation of beryl in schists is attributed to the interaction
of granitic/pegmatitic-derived Be-bearing fluids with serpentinite and gabbro interlayered with
mélange schists. Variations in the trace and REE contents of both beryl types (I and II) indicate
their two-stage formation from different compositions of Be-rich fluids, where light REEs, Zr, Nb,
Ba, and Th decrease from type I beryl to type II. These two phases of beryl could be attributed to
the magmatic/hydrothermal fluids associated with the pegmatite emplacement. The early phase
of the late-stage magmatic-derived fluids was closely related to magma evolution and pegmatite
formation, forming euhedral type I beryl. The late phase of pegmatite-derived fluids was mixed with
serpentinite/schist-derived fluids that cause high V and Cr content in type II beryl. The composition
of parent magmas of felsic rocks, the high degree of magma fractionation or the late stage melts,
fluid compositions (rich in Be, Li, Cs, Rb, K), and alkali metasomatism, as well as the linear NW-SE
trending deep-seated shear zone, are all factors possibly influencing beryl mineralization in the SED
of Egypt
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