Baddefeyite (ZrO,) _in Gabbroic Rocks from Axel Heiberg lsland,Canadian Arctic Archipelago

• Main Authors: Kr Eus Kur, Prren E. Fnrcxenl
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Axel Heiberg Island; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; Heiberg; Arctic Archipelago
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.502.6278; http://rruff.info/doclib/am/vol59/AM59_249.pdf

Baddeleyite (ZrO,) is an unusual accessory mineral in two gabbros from Axel Heiberg Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. One of the rocks also contains zircon (ZrSiOn). Origin of baddeleyite by impact heating and breakdown of zircon or, alternatively, of breakdown of metamict zircon trapped in the gabbroic melt from the sandstone country rocks, is rejected. In analogy to its occurrence as a late stage differentiation product in lunar basaltic rocks, baddeleyite in gabbroic rocks from Axel Heiberg is also interpreted as a primary late stage magmatic differentiate of the gabbroic melt. fnfuoduction During a study of mafic igneous rocks from the northern part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, baddeleyite (ZrOz) was found in two gabbros. Both samples were collected from the western part of Axel Heiberg Island at latitude 79"27'15,,, longi-tude 9O'42'W (rock no. A 394'), and latitude