1. Introduction
Agpaitic rocks are defined by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks as peralkaline nepheline syenites (and phonolites) characterized by complex Zr and Ti minerals, such as eudialyte and rinkite, rather than simple minerals such as zircon and ilmenite [
1,
2]. This term was first proposed by [
3] to describe rocks from Ilímaussaq complex with a peralkaline index greater than 1.2 and its definition has undergone considerable change since its first introduction [
4,
5,
6]. Recently, [
7] proposed that the term “agpaitic rocks” should be used as descriptive terms to distinguish igneous rocks according to their primary magmatic HFSE mineralogy, irrespective of their whole-rock composition.
Agpaitic and miaskitic types can be identified via mineralogy which changes from one type to another [
1,
7,
8]. On this basis, according to [
7], the miaskitic types characteristically contain zircon, baddeleyite and titanite, whereas the agpaitic types contain aenigmatite, astrophyllite, eudialyte, lamprophyllite, F-disilicates, and wadeite. In addition, a detailed distinction between “normal” miaskitic variants and low, medium and highly agpaitic up to hyperagpaitic types, depending on the presence of diagnostic minerals, was previously proposed by [
9].
This peculiar mineralogy is related to large presences of specific elements, such as Large Ion Lithophile Elements (LILE, such as Li, Na, K and Rb), halogens (F, and Cl), Rare Earth Elements (REE, the lanthanides) and High Field Strength Elements (HFSE, such as Zr, Ti, Nb and U–Th) [
8]. Examined in more mineralogical detail, these mineral assemblages correspond to different types of silicates, mainly eudialyte and F-disilicates (rinkite and wöhlerite groups), but they can also involve a wide variety of other species, such as HFSE oxides, REE–Sr-rich phosphates, carbonates, and REE–F carbonates [
8,
10,
11]. Mineral assemblages may also be characterized by the enrichment of major mafic constituents in alkali and iron and by the presence of accessory minerals with high concentrations of Na and Ca in their composition, as suggested by some F-disilicates (e.g., rosenbuschite, wöhlerite). These mineral associations, which are occasionally distinguished by a high content of volatile components (e.g., CO
2, F, Cl and H
2O), also include sodic and ferric varieties of clinopyroxene and amphibole. Late minerals are not only associated with deuteric stages of crystallization resulting from interactions among water-rich solutions during the cooling of the same magmatic body, but also with mineralizing fluids that percolate through the crystallizing body, leading to the formation of accessory fluorocarbonates and hydrate carbonates.
Agpaitic mineral assemblages are thought to originate from crystallization of residual magmatic liquids rich in very distinctive elements, such as REE, HFSE, LILE, and volatiles (F, Cl). These assemblages may preferentially form in the late-magmatic and hydrothermal/deuteric stages, as indicated by textural evidence (
Table 1).
Agpaitic assemblages commonly derive from miaskitic peralkaline igneous rocks of foid syenite composition (mainly nepheline syenites and their fine-grained varieties) formed during final magma differentiation stages [
7,
8]. The petrological evolution of agpaitic rocks, and their associated eudialyte-group minerals, F-disilicates, astrophyllite-group minerals or aenigmatite crystallization, depends upon peralkalinity, silica, chlorine, fluorine, water activities and fO
2 [
7,
10,
35]. The processes by which agpaitic mineral assemblages are formed can be also responsible for unusual and exotic suites of interstitial minerals of different classes, mostly of highly complex chemical composition. Thus, some agpaitic occurrences are marked by an unusually large number of rare minerals, such as Lovozero and Khibina with over 500 identified minerals [
9] and Mont Saint-Hilaire with approximately 250 minerals [
8].
One of the most remarkable characteristics of the Mesozoic–Cenozoic alkaline magmatism that took place in the southern portion of the Brazilian platform is the abundance of more evolved rock-types [
14,
15,
19,
20,
36,
37,
38,
39,
40,
41]. Silicate alkaline rocks, the most abundant petrographic type present, include evolved nepheline syenites and syenites and their corresponding fine-grained varieties, forming large isolated, unique or composite intrusions or even multiple plutons. Main examples of these massifs are Poços de Caldas [
14,
42] and Itatiaia [
15,
43]. A small fraction of these evolved lithologies consists of agpaitic types, such as lujavrites (melanocratic—in this case, M > 30 vol.%—agpaitic variety of nepheline syenite rich in eudialyte, arfvedsonite and/or aegirine with a laminated structure), khibinites (a variety of eudialyte–nepheline syenite with aegirine, alkali amphibole and many accessory minerals, particularly those containing Ti and Zr) and eudialyte/aenigmatite phonolites [
12,
14,
20,
26]. However, the amount of information available on the exotic accessory assemblage found in these agpaitic rocks is still limited. In this paper, we present a general overview of the main agpaitic alkaline rocks of the southern Brazilian platform and the current knowledge of their exotic accessory mineralogy.
2. Alkaline Magmatism in Southern Brazilian Platform: Background Information
The abundance of alkaline rocks in Brazilian and Paraguayan territories is attested by over two hundred occurrences [
44,
45]. Subordinately, alkaline types are also present in Bolivia and Uruguay. They are found mainly in and around sedimentary formations of the Paraná and Bauru basins, with their emplacement controlled by regional tectonic factors [
46,
47] (
Figure 1). In Brazil, alkaline centers occur predominantly dispersed over the eastern flanks of the country, but also as several individual bodies along two very distinct NE and NW trends that extend for many kilometers [
47,
48]. The first trend, which corresponds to the Serra do Mar province, consists of inland and island intrusions parallel to the coasts of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (
Figure 2). The second trend includes occurrences located in inner portions of the country, forming two distinct groups in the states of Minas Gerais (Alto Paranaíba province) and Goiás (Goiás province), respectively. Some Brazilian carbonatite complexes of the first group, such as Araxá and Tapira, are of economic importance, having been exploited for niobium and phosphate in carbonatites. Poços de Caldas, the largest alkaline massif in South America, is tectonically related to the Cabo Frio Magmatic Lineament, a curved, 1150 km long WNW-ESE-trending feature [
47]. Other Brazilian alkaline occurrences are distributed along a prominent NW-trending alignment, the Ponta Grossa arch [
49]. Only two alkaline carbonatite complexes occur in southern Brazil, to the west of Florianópolis, being tectonically related to the Anitápolis-Lages lineament in the state of Santa Catarina [
50] and the phonolitic volcanism of Piratini, which is associated with the Rio Grande structural feature [
51]. In Paraguay, alkaline magmatism is concentrated mainly in the central-eastern part of the country, where a complex NW- to EW-oriented structure, the Asunción rift, controls several such intrusions [
52]. This magmatism is also represented by occurrences within domains of the NE-trending Ponta Porã arch in the northeastern part of the country, the Amambay region [
53,
54], and, less frequently, in the southernmost areas in close relation to the NW-trending Santa Rosa lineament [
55]. At the border between Brazil and Paraguay, alkaline bodies follow a narrow NS-trending belt along both margins of the Paraguay River, forming the Alto Paraguay province [
32].
The alkaline rocks of the southern portions of the Brazilian platform correspond in age to a wide, approximately 200 Ma interval of magmatic activity pulses recorded from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic [
45]. The oldest events (241 Ma) are related to the intrusions that form the Alto Paraguay province [
32], among which are agpaitic rocks of the Cerro Boggiani and Cerro Siete Cabezas stocks (
Figure 1;
Table 1). Some alkaline occurrences are contemporary to tholeiitic lava flows of the Paraná Large Igneous Province [
56,
57], with an estimated age of about 130 Ma. However, no typical agpaitic rocks are associated with this age interval. Itapirapuã, located in the Ponta Grossa Arch province, is a small occurrence whose recent radiometric Ar/Ar results confirm its age as falling within a 100–110 Ma interval [
28] (
Table 1). The magmatic events dated ~70–90 Ma [
38,
45] are the most abundant and widespread ones, assembling all the remaining Brazilian alkaline centers. They include rock bodies of agpaitic affinity, of which the Poços de Caldas [
14,
58,
59,
60,
61], Itatiaia [
15,
40,
43], Passa Quatro [
19,
20], Bom Repouso [
21], Monte de Trigo Island [
25,
62], Lages [
63] and Búzios Island [
64,
65] suites are examples.
In general, alkaline magmatism is characterized by the large number of occurrences in a large variety of igneous forms, yet intrusive forms clearly prevail [
38,
48]. The more abundant silicate alkaline rocks with agpaitic varieties consist of evolved nepheline syenites and syenites and their fine-grained equivalent types, forming large isolated, unique or composite intrusions, or even multiple plutons. On the other hand, less evolved types are present in minor amounts, mainly as small dikes in several occurrences.
Individual alkaline evolved suites with agpaitic rocks range in area from a few m2 to hundreds of km2. In addition to Poços de Caldas, which extends over approximately 800 km2, other occurrences occupying large areas are the Itatiaia (215 km2) and Passa Quatro (148 km2) massifs. Minor intrusions are the Búzios Island (7.5 km2), Itapirapuã (4 km2), Cerro Siete Cabezas (4 km2), Cerro Boggiani (4 km2), Monte de Trigo Island (1.3 km2) and Bom Repouso (1 km2) suites. In all these intrusions, the occurrences of agpaitic rocks are very subordinated or completely minor relative to other alkaline types.
5. Rare Accessory Minerals of Agpaitic Rocks
Several rare and exotic mineral phases occur in agpaitic rocks as a result of their crystallization from highly evolved magmas that are enriched in HFSEs and other incompatible elements and halogens. In agpaitic rocks, defining the mineral assemblages is not too easy: they can be subdivided into the early magmatic (±
liquidus), late-stage, and hydrothermal/deuteric assemblages. Generally, in the compared intrusions, the early magmatic assemblages are made up of alkali feldspar, nepheline and pyroxene followed by opaque oxides ± fluorite ± sodalite. The late-stages are mainly related to the crystallization of F-disilicates (rinkite- and wöhlerite-groups) ± eudialyte ± aenigmatite ± lamprophyllite; the replacement (hydrothermal/deuteric) assemblages are pectolite, catapleiite, and so on until reaching alteration assemblages (
Table 1 and
Table 3). Among these mineral species, aenigmatite and eudialyte-, rinkite- and wöhlerite-groups are the most abundant and characteristic ones, with
Table 4,
Table 5,
Table 6 and
Table 7 showing the results of some representative analyses.
The rinkite mineral group includes several Ti-rich disilicates, such as rinkite-(Ce), and end-members, such as hainite, mosandrite-(Ce) and rosenbuschite [
88], which are commonly found in several occurrences. Chemical analyses of hainite from two localities within the Poços de Caldas massif (Bortolan and Prefeitura quarries, in nepheline syenites and phonolites) reveal a calcium silicate mineral of quite homogeneous composition bearing high amounts of TiO
2 (8.80–9.83 wt%), Na
2O (6.17–8.40 wt%) and F (5.13–7.06 wt%) and some LREE (
Table 4). Mosandrite-(Ce), a rare Ca-Ti silicate, has only been identified in the Poços de Caldas massif, Búzios Island and Cerro Boggiani rocks. Data from the Poços de Caldas massif and Búzios Island rocks indicate that the mineral contains significant amounts of Na
2O (4.27–7.35 and 8.57 wt%, respectively) and F (3.93–5.40 and 7.02 wt%, respectively), having been strongly enriched in LREE, with Ce
2O
3 concentrations reaching up to 8.88 and 10.44 wt%, respectively. Compositions of rosenbuschite exhibit small variations in major components TiO
2 (6.79–8.56 wt%), ZrO
2 (12.1–14.8 wt%), CaO (24.09–25.91 wt%), Na
2O (9.34–10.9 wt%) and F (5.04–8.16 wt%) and allow the Passa Quatro specimen to be distinguished as having the lowest Nb
2O
5 (0.58–0.97 wt%) and highest MnO (3.75–4.56 wt%) contents. Rinkite-(Ce)
ss is present in the Passa Quatro, Itatiaia and Poços de Caldas assemblages. When compared to other minerals of the same group, especially rosenbuschite, data indicate, for the first specimen, a low concentration of ZrO
2 and considerable amounts of LREE, with Ce
2O
3 clearly prevailing over La
2O
3 (
Table 4). An important Ti host mineral is lamprophyllite, described in the Poços de Caldas massif [
14,
78,
82] (
Table 4). The Poços de Caldas lamprophyllites have high average concentrations of TiO
2 (26.74–29.06 wt%), MnO (4.31–6.97 wt%), Na
2O (10.99–11.51 wt%) and SrO (13.06–16.96 wt%) along with some REE content (REE up to 2.03 wt%) and F (0–2.05 wt%). Representative mineral analysis of the Morro do Serrote rocks [
78] does not differ greatly from the previously available mean composition, with high contents of TiO
2 (27.82 wt%), MnO (6.97 wt%), Na
2O (11.51 wt%) and SrO (13.06 wt%; a second analysis showing 16 wt%).
Wöhlerite, hiortdahlite, låvenite and normandite, Na-, Ca- and Zr-rich disilicates of the cuspidine–wöhlerite group [
89], are known to be present in most of the compiled occurrences (
Table 3). Hiortdahlite, a rich calcium-silicate phase (27.48–31.24 wt%), had its composition determined at four occurrences, where it was characterized by high proportions of Zr
2O (16.0–17.76 wt%), Na
2O (6.80–9.41 wt%) and F (6.33–8.36 wt%). A sample collected from the Itatiaia massif is noteworthy for its unusual concentration of TiO
2 (6.98 wt%). Låvenite is a common constituent of the group, analyses having been performed for five occurrences indicating heterogeneous composition and large differences regarding TiO
2 (2.94–8.43 wt%), ZrO
2 (16.5–27.76 wt%), MnO (4.23–9.66 wt%), CaO (8.09–14.89 wt%) and F (2.97–5.76 wt%). SiO
2 and Na
2O variations lie within a narrow interval (
Table 4). Analyses for normandite derive from Poços de Caldas and Passa Quatro syenitic rocks, showing significant differences in the average values. Compared to those of Passa Quatro, Poços de Caldas samples are higher in TiO
2 and poor in ZrO
2 and tend to be slightly enriched in FeO and CaO. Na
2O and F remain constant, whereas MnO is higher in Passa Quatro than in Poços de Caldas analyses (
Table 4). Wöhlerite is a Ca–Zr–Nb silicate whose composition remains, to a great extent, constant regarding major elements of different occurrences: ZrO
2 (14.0–15.91 wt%), Nb
2O
5 (9.25–13.43 wt%), CaO (25.7–28.98 wt%), Na
2O (7.40–8.23 wt%) and F (3.29–4.67 wt%). MnO concentrations are higher in Passa Quatro mineral specimens (
Table 4).
Eudialyte-group minerals are one of the major Zr-hosts in agpaitic rocks and include several Na- and Ca-rich cyclosilicates with variable amounts of Fe, Mn, Nb, and REE, among other cations [
7,
90,
91]. Minerals of this group occur in various localities (
Table 3) and eudialyte
ss have been analyzed in most of the investigated occurrences. They are compositionally variable in SiO
2 (47.60–51.80 wt%), CaO (8.17–12.51 wt%), MnO (4.97–5.38 wt%), and Na
2O (8.11–13.05 wt%). ZrO
2 and FeO concentrations are practically constant (11.94–13.35 wt% and 3.33–5.09 wt%, respectively). A Mn-rich variety, the manganoeudialyte, is found at the locality of Pedra Balão in the Poços de Caldas massif, and also as single crystal in the Poços de Caldas nepheline syenites. The manganoeudialytes show lower SiO
2 and ZrO
2 (42.76–44.01 wt% and 10.32–10.99 wt%, respectively) and higher MnO (6.04–9.56 wt%) and SrO (4.68–6.54 wt%) contents. Nb
2O
5 reaches up to 3.97 wt% (
Table 5). Kentbrooksite is restricted to the Passa Quatro massif with the mineral presenting high proportions of ZrO
2 (10.8 wt%) and MnO (6.29 wt%) and significant amounts of LREE. Other analyzed minerals include catapleiite and Ca-catapleiite, Zr-rich silicates represented by two chemically distinct varieties. The first is from Poços de Caldas and is rich in Na
2O (9.09 wt%); the second is from Cerro Boggiani and contains high CaO (13.82 wt%) (
Table 5).
Compositions for aenigmatite, a Ca–Ti–Na mineral bearing high amounts of FeO (35.01–39.80 wt%), are available from Búzios Island, Cerro Boggiani and Poços de Caldas rocks, whereas analysis for lorenzenite, a silicate with abundant TiO
2 (43.46 wt%) and Na
2O (17.4 wt%), is available for Poços de Caldas samples (
Table 6). Pectolite and serandite are described in Lages and Poços de Caldas occurrences, with chemical analyses given in the last table. Pectolite is richer in CaO (20.41–30.63 wt%) while serandite is higher in MnO (19.63–21.70 wt%). Analysis of pectolite from Poços de Caldas samples [
82] also shows high MnO content (14.08 wt%). Na
2O remains practically constant in both minerals (pectolite: 8.92–9.77 wt%; serandite: 7.89–8.40 wt%). Chemical compositions of astrophyllite are determined from three occurrences, indicating a FeO-rich (20.66–26.79 wt%) silicate mineral with some variation in TiO
2 (8.87–10.90 wt%) and MnO (8.28–13.3 wt%). A specimen from Passa Quatro is enriched in ZrO
2 (3.75 wt%). Kupletskite, a mineral present in Passa Quatro rocks, is abundant in MnO (25.8 wt%) and contains significant amounts of TiO
2 (8.71 wt%), ZrO
2 (5.00 wt%), FeO (10.3 wt%) and K
2O (6.05 wt%).
The hydrate mineral neptunite (5.38 wt% H
2O) is characterized by high TiO
2 (17.39 wt%), FeO (14.66 wt%) and K
2O (6.67 wt%) concentrations. It is described in the Bortolan quarry within the Poços de Caldas massif [
78]. Another hydrate mineral (12.63 wt% H
2O), tuperssuatsite, is a rare accessory identified at the same quarry [
79], being characterized by rich Fe
2O
3 (25.45 wt%) content and the significant presence of Na
2O (4.26 wt%) (
Table 7).
In addition to the above constituents, Itatiaia, Passa Quatro and Cerro Boggiani rocks carry a very extensive list of highly diversified minerals formed under varied conditions, mostly late-stage magmatic and hydrothermal/deuteric. Some even derived from metasomatic fluids. The Poços de Caldas massif is especially marked by the outstanding amount of poorly known accessory phases, mostly found in outcrops of the decommissioned Bortolan quarry. In total, 28 different species are preliminarily discussed upon investigating major and accessory minerals of local lithotypes [
78]. Some minerals, such as belovite-(Ce) NaCeSr
3(PO
4)
3F, chlobartonite K
6Fe
24S
26(Cl), götzenite Ca
4NaCa
2Ti(Si
2O
7)
2(OF)F
2, polezhaevaite-(Ce), polezhaevaite-(La) NaSr(Ce,La)F
6, stronadelphite Sr
5(PO
4)
3F, strontiofluorite SrF
2, and vishnevite Na
8(Al
6Si
6)O
24(SO
4)·2H
2O, mostly analyzed through EDS, have been described and reported for the first time in Brazilian rocks [
78]. Recently, the presence of fluorcaphite SrCaCa
3(PO
4)
3F, strontium apatite (Ca,Sr)
5(PO
4)
3F, and georgechaoite NaKZr(Si
3O
9)·2H
2O, together with stronadelphite Sr
5(PO
4)
3F and strontiofluorite SrF
2, both already identified, were also reported for the first time in this massif [
14].
A great number of rare accessory minerals occur in association with agpaitic and miaskitic rocks (
Table 8). Pyrochlore is the most significant Nb-bearing oxide, being represented by three different species: plumbopyrochlore, uranopyrochlore and yttropyrochlore. Uraninite and thorianite correspond to the main U and Th oxides, respectively, whereas thorite, a rare Th-rich silicate, is also present. Other oxide phases include baddeleyite, perovskite and zirconolite. REE-rich minerals are represented by numerous crystalline phases consisting of phosphates, silicates and fluorocarbonates. Monazite-(Ce) and -(La) is one of the most common phosphate minerals. In some occurrences britholite-(Ce), a basic phosphate/silicate phase containing high amounts of SiO
2, La
2O
3, Ce
2O
3 and CaO and low amounts of P
2O
5, is found coexisting or inter-grown with apatite. Rare LREE–HFSE-bearing silicates have chevkinite-(Ce) and perrierite-(Ce) as their principal members, showing a significant compositional range that indicates inverse correlation of FeO and CaO, as observed in Itatiaia rocks [
40]. Carbonates and fluorocarbonates, mostly REE-bearing phases, are frequent and include various constituents that are largely present in e.g., Cerro Boggiani peralkaline nepheline syenites and phonolites [
34,
69]. In such occurrences, the minerals present are burbankite and remondite-(Ce), rare Sr and Ce carbonates; fluorocarbonates of the bastnäsite–parisite–synchysite series forming fine-scale complex intergrowths fibroradial to plumose aggregates; cordylite-(Ce), a Ba- fluorocarbonate; and hydrate carbonates containing ancylite-(Ce) and galgenbergite-(La) as main phases.
6. Petrological Considerations
A few studies addressing petrogenetic aspects of the agpaitic occurrences discussed are available in the literature, the most recent and complete ones being the contributions on Itatiaia [
40] and Passa Quatro [
20] massifs and, most recently, a paper on the mineralogy and geochemistry of Poços de Caldas agpaitic rocks [
14]. In general, however, these and other alkaline occurrences in southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay have been interpreted by various authors [
20,
32,
42,
62,
65] as formed by extensive long-term fractional crystallization processes operating at shallow surface levels (approximately <5 km) from alkaline mafic to ultramafic parental magmas. The occurrences are also believed to have originated from low-degree partial melting of geochemically enriched mantle lithologies. Thus, an episode of mantellic metasomatic pre-enrichment is commonly suggested in order to explain particularities such as the enrichment in halogens, HFSEs, REEs, and incompatible elements [
7,
8]. A basanitic (plagioclase-bearing) and/or nephelinitic (feldspar-free) composition is preferentially proposed as the primary magma. Small dikes of basanite rocks are commonly known in many places, either directly associated with evolved (miaskitic and agpaitic) peralkaline rocks in the field (e.g., the Búzios and Monte de Trigo coastal islands [
25,
65]) or emplaced close to alkaline intrusions over distinct areas along the Serra da Mantiqueira [
36,
41,
59].
Numerous studies suggest that both compositions are likely to represent the most important types of parental melts for agpaitic rocks [
7]. The distinction of the parental melts of each locality can also be suggested based on the distribution of Sr and REE in eudialyte-group minerals [
26,
91]. Agpaitic rocks derived from alkali basaltic or basanite magmas are normally low in Sr and have pronounced negative Eu anomalies, due to the extensive plagioclase fractionation that occurred during magmatic evolution. The composition of the eudialyte-group minerals reflects this geochemical signature.
Figure 4 exhibits the low Sr content of eudialyte from the Monte de Trigo, Passa Quatro and Búzios massifs, supporting the interpretation of a basanite/alkali basalt parental magma for the whole suite of rocks [
20,
26,
65]. Moreover, no Sr-bearing mineral occurs in these localities. In contrast, when derived from more SiO
2-undersaturated magmas, the Sr content is high, and no marked spikes are noticed for Eu. The parental mafic magma of the agpaitic rocks of the Poços de Caldas massif is interpreted as a more SiO
2-undersaturated parental magma that evolved without plagioclase fractionation [
14,
42], and where the eudialyte-group minerals have very high Sr content (
Figure 4), together with the occurrence of lamprophyllite, a Sr-rich disilicate, among several other Sr-rich minerals (
Table 3 and
Table 8).
In the model proposed for the evolution of the Passa Quatro massif [
20], differentiation starts from mafic to ultramafic parental magmas, with generation of phonolites in the first stages being followed by generation of peralkaline phonolites in subsequent stages and, finally, late and post-magmatic phases. Removal of diopside-alkali feldspar–plagioclase would promote generation of alkali syenites, whereas removal of nepheline–aegirine–titanite would lead to generation of nepheline syenites. Removal of many different accessories, e.g., zircon, fluorite, F-disilicates, eudialyte, etc., would originate eudialyte-bearing nepheline syenites and phonolites.
Suppression of such phases is responsible for the enrichment of the residual magmatic liquids with incompatible elements, which onsets the crystallization of HFSE- and REE-F-rich minerals. At the end of this crystallization path, phases containing CO2 and H2O in their composition form as REE-carbonates and REE-fluorocarbonates. Therefore, according to the abovementioned authors, the magma that originated the Passa Quatro agpaitic rocks is characterized by geochemical traits such as enrichment in incompatible elements (HFSEs, REEs), high F, and minor CO2 and H2O under low oxygen fugacity and water activity conditions.
Based on textural relationships and overall accessory mineral chemistry, the Cerro Boggiani nepheline syenites and phonolites are characterized as a sequence of different minerals that usually crystallize under magmatic, late-stage magmatic and hydrothermal conditions [
32,
34,
69,
70,
71]. Among the hydrothermal fluids affecting those rocks, it is suggested that a distinction be made between deuteric (H
2O-rich) and metasomatic of carbonatitic origin (CO
2-rich) stage ones. Included in the magmatic stages are U–Th minerals (uraninite–thorianite and thorite), thorianite being more frequently generated under hydrothermal/deuteric conditions. Nb-bearing minerals with pyrochlore as their main phase (oxide) originate in the magmatic field, advancing progressively into the hydrothermal field. Zr-rich silicate phases (eudialyte and lorite), ks, ions, and minor compatible elements, however data for the first mineral is more consistent. Rosenbuschite is restricted to the hydrothermal stage. It is inferred that carbonatitic fluids rich in F, Na and REE percolated through the subvolcanic system and metasomatically interacted with the peralkaline and agpaitic silicate melts during and after their late-stage magmatic crystallization and hydrothermal/deuteric alteration. As a result, a highly diverse mineral assemblage consisting of silicates (Ca-catapleiite), phosphates (monazite), phosphates/silicates (britholite) and especially of different types of carbonates (hydrate carbonates: ancylite, galgenbergite; REE-carbonates: burbankite; REE-fluorocarbonates: cordylite, bastnäsite–parisite–synchisite) was generated from REE–Ca–Sr–Ba-rich carbonatitic fluids of dominantly metasomatic origin under hydrothermal conditions, at relatively low temperatures.
The agpaitic occurrence of Monte de Trigo Island is associated with small nepheline microsyenite dikes that are genetically related to a miaskitic nepheline syenite stock, which occupies mainly the central parts of the intrusion. Compositionally, these dikes consist of alkali feldspar, nepheline, mafic minerals (clinopyroxene, amphibole, biotite) and varied accessories including magnetite, titanite, apatite, zircon, perovskite, pyrochlore, baddeleyite, and zirconolite, which impart a miaskitic character to the rocks. The evolution of the nepheline-bearing alkali feldspar syenite from fractional crystallization led to the formation, as final differentiates, of agpaitic synplutonic nepheline microsyenite dikes, with a high concentration of volatiles and pronounced enrichment in incompatible elements [
62]. The rock may be classified as transitional agpaitic [
7,
8]. The major characteristic of the assemblage is the abundance of late-crystallized calcic minerals. Britholite-(Ce) and Zr–Nb-silicates of the cuspidine–wöhlerite series showing high Ca and Na contents are relatively common. The eudialyte-group minerals are marked by a significant enrichment in Ca, a moderate enrichment in Nb and REE, and a somewhat low Na content when compared to their counterparts in other Brazilian alkaline occurrences [
26]. REE and Y concentrate preferentially in britholite-(Ce) (30.9–58.5 wt%) and perovskite (33 wt%), but they are also found in significant amounts in zirconolite (7.7–14.2 wt%), pyrochlore (3.2–13.3 wt%), eudialyte (2.4–4.1 wt%), and in minerals of the cuspidine–wöhlerite group (<3 wt%) [
62]. Instead of contributing to the origin of Zr–Nb-bearing silicates, Ti tends to form titanite. At the borders of the dike, accessory minerals are represented exclusively by låvenite and eudialyte-group forms.
Itatiaia rocks are defined as forming a continuous spectrum from nepheline to quartz syenite and granite fields across the SiO
2-saturation boundary [
15,
40]. In the petrogenetic residual diagram, the nepheline syenites clearly trend towards the phonolitic minimum, while the silica-oversaturated syenites trend towards the rhyolitic minimum without reaching it. The dikes that cut the intrusions are mainly phonolitic in composition. The accessory minerals vary widely in composition, being identified, in addition to the widespread phases (e.g., titanite, Fe–Ti oxides, apatite, zircon), as other, less common ones of complex composition (e.g., REE-HFSE silicates, Zr and Nb oxides, phosphates). Secondary phases comprise Fe-carbonates, fluorocarbonates and hydrate phases (catapleiite). Additionally, variations in major- and trace-element compositions of Itatiaia rocks are directly related to the amount of accessory phases present, as suggested by the enriched chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns of least- and most-evolved nepheline syenites [
40]. The presence of chevknite/perrierite (±allanite) and the abundance of pseudobrookite in quartz syenites and the presence of Ca–F-disilicates, britholite, and pyrophanite-rich compositions in nepheline syenites are among the most striking differences in the accessory phase assemblages. Fluorapatite, an early crystallizing phosphate phase, is typical of silica-oversaturated rocks in contrast to britholite, which frequently joins the apatite in the nepheline syenite. The britholite present is characterized by a remarkable concentration of REE that reaches up to 62 wt%, with La
2O
3 prevailing over Ce
2O
3. The latest crystallized phases in Itatiaia rocks are found as interstitial material, consisting of pectolite, hydrate catapleiite and REE-F carbonates. Two main mineral reactions, both recognized on thin sections, are considered very characteristic of the Itatiaia rocks [
40]: (1) the corrosion of early formed titanite crystals and (2) the instability of zircon + fluorite, which react to form F-disilicates due to the remaining concentration of fluorine and other elements in interstitial liquids after the predominant crystallization of felsic phases.
Despite being the occurrence that carries the highest diversity of accessory and exotic phases in the entire agpaitic suite, the mineralogy of Poços de Caldas has not been yet investigated systematically in detail. The only such study available [
78] identified, using various analytical techniques, 28 different mineral species, all collected at the Bortolan quarry. These minerals were described and classified mainly based on chemical (WDS and EDS analyses) and crystallographic data; no petrological information on them is presented in the study mentioned, nor is there any other descriptive contribution focusing specifically on tuperssuatsiaite [
79], hainite [
80], eudialyte [
81] and lamprophyllite–normandite [
82]. New major oxide, trace element and Sr–Nd isotope analyses coupled with detailed petrographic and mineralogical descriptions, supported by microprobe analyses and LA–ICP–MS mineral chemical study, of the main accessory phases for the Poços de Caldas were carried out by [
14]. The eudialyte-group minerals are associated with main to late-stage crystallization assemblages and have colorless to slightly pinkish large anhedral/poikilitic or anhedral aspects. They are especially abundant in lujavrites and khibinites, totaling between 5% and 15% of the modal composition. Lamprophyllite is a phase of late stage of crystallization, commonly forming aggregates, sometimes radiated, and intergrowths with aegirine crystals. Normandite and rinkite occur mainly as single crystals, sometimes as aggregates.
The agpaitic massifs of the Brazilian platform also present distinctive Ti- and Zr-bearing complex silicate assemblages (
Table 3 and references therein). Zr- and F-rich disilicates, such as hiortdahlite, wöhlerite and låvenite, prevail in agpaitic rocks from Monte de Trigo Island, in addition to eudialyte. There are no complex Ti-rich silicates, as this element preferentially appears in titanite. The agpaitic rocks from Búzios Island, Passa Quatro, Cerro Boggiani and Itatiaia massifs have somewhat similar paragenesis, with the presence of complex Ti- and Zr-rich silicates. They contain the same Zr- and F-rich disilicates that occur in the Monte de Trigo Island, in addition to rosenbuschite and Ti- and F-rich disilicates, such as hainite, normadite, rinkite-(Ce), and mosandrite-(Ce). In these localities, Ti also occurs in aenigmatite and astrophyllite-group minerals. Eudialyte occurs in all of them except Itatiaia. Thus, the increasing fluorine trend identified by [
10] in agpaitic rocks from the Oslo Rift is the main trend of magmatic evolution that led to the formation of the agpaitic rocks from Monte de Trigo Island, Búzios Island, Passa Quatro, Cerro Boggiani and Itatiaia, although locally some samples also show trends of increasing alkali and water.
On the other hand, the Poços de Caldas agpaitic rocks have practically no Zr- and F-rich disilicates, but have several complex Ti-rich silicates, such as hainite, normandite, rinkite-(Ce), lamprophyllite, aenigmatite, and astrophyllite-group minerals. The eudialyte-group minerals, which are quite abundant in this massif, are the major carrier of Zr, along with hydrated zirconosilicates and some Zr that is incorporated in aegirine. It seems that in this case the increasing alkali trend [
10] is the main trend that led to the formation of the agpaitic rocks from Poços de Caldas. Moreover, Poços de Caldas has villiaumite, an almost pure NaF mineral that occurs in rocks with extreme alkali enrichment, often associated with hyperagpaitic rocks [
7,
8].