APPLICATION OF AUTOMATED MINERALOGY AND EPMA FOR QUANTIFICATION OF METASOMATIC PROCESSES: CASE STUDY OF SECONDARY SCANDIUM MINERALS FROM PEGMATITE

摘要

Metasomatic processes – the interaction of minerals with fluids leading to dissolutionreprecipitationand chemical changes to rocks – are widely studied because of their role in theformation of interesting minerals and rocks, as well as important mineral deposits. Quantitativeassessment of element behaviour during the process is quite challenging because it is necessary toknow the chemical composition, density and volume abundance of all the minerals involved.