ELEMENT PARTITIONING AMONG COEXISTING PHOSPHATES AND OTHER PHASES

ELEMENT PARTITIONING AMONG COEXISTING PHOSPHATES AND OTHER PHASES 

The study of partitioning of elements between and among metamorphic phases has two useful objectives. First, it ascertains whether the compositions are consistent with the phases having achieved chemical equilibrium. Second, the partitioning may be sensitive to temperature and/or pressure, and thus be useful for thermobarometry. 

Several studies have reported on the partitioning of various elements between coexisting metamorphic phosphates and between phosphates and other metamorphic phases, and are summarized here. 

Observed textural and/or compositional criteria Assumption Relatiye rank 

Physical contact of monazite and xenotime grains Both grains in compositional equilibrium 1 

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