Ecandrewsite (ZnTiO3) and other ilmenite-group minerals have been found in amphibolites of the Sierras de Córdoba basement, Argentina, in an area where zinc is a relatively widespread element in the associated metasedimentary and metaigneous sequences. Ilmenite group minerals occur as anhedral to subhedral, tens to a hundred micrometer-sized relic inclusions in titanite. Electron microprobe analyses reveal compositions along a discontinuous solid-solution trend ranging from manganoan ferroan ecandrewsite toward ilmenite s.s., passing through intermediate members such as ferroan manganoan ecandrewsite, zincian manganoan ilmenite, and manganoan ilmenite. Considering that thermodynamic constraints do exist for the solubility of ZnTiO3 in ilmenite under mid- to high-grade regional metamorphic conditions, we believe that ecandrewsite and Zn-rich ilmenite compositions were attained by metasomatic fluid–mineral reactions during retrograde regional metamorphism, i.e., after the centripetal replacement of protolithic Zn-bearing ilmenite group species by titanite. The original composition of the ilmenite group species might have been Zn-poor ilmenite; however, the attainment of ecandrewsite compositions possibly needed an external supply of zinc provided by the fluid. The variations of the zinc contents were controlled by the substitution of Fe by Zn + Mn in the absence of any type of regular zonation. This is the first worldwide report of ecandrewsite in amphibolites, which has so far been described in quartz-rich metasediments, quartz-gahnite exhalites, kyanitic schists, nepheline syenites, metamorphosed volcanic hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) mineralizations, and albitites. The presence of ecandrewsite in amphibolite, as has been proved for zincian ilmenite and gahnite in other metasedimentary sequences elsewhere in the world, could become another pathfinder or indicator mineral for Zn-enriched portions of the crust.

Geochemical and petrological characteristics of lamprophyre dykes at Kalagalla intruded into the auriferous schistose rocks of the Ramagiri-Penakacherla Schist Belt, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India are presented here. The Kalagalla lamprophyre (KGL) is a melanocratic rock exhibiting typical knobby or pustular texture on the surface. The microtextures and mineralogy typical of lamprophyres are obscured by metamorphism; however, it exhibits porphyritic, nemato-granoblastic texture representative of greenschist facies of metamorphism. The rock is sheared and possesses several globules formed by polycrystalline aggregates of calcite rimmed by coronitic subhedral plagioclase and biotite, evidencing its mantle-magmatic origin. The mineral assemblages noticed in thin-sections include amphibole, plagioclase, biotite, phlogopite and calcite ocelli as essential while apatite, zircon, magnetite, ilmenite, Ni-bearing chalcopyrite and pyrite as accessory phases. The SEM-EDS investigation on the accessory minerals revealed accessory sulphide and silicate phases like As-free pyrite, haematitised Ni-bearing chalcopyrite and Ni-As-Co-minerals indicative of sulphidation associated with greenstone auriferous lodes, along with silicates like LREE-bearing titanite partially transformed into leucoxene and oxide phases like magnetite altered to goethite at places. Based on mineral chemistry, whole rock geochemistry, presence of amphibole and dominance of plagioclase, the KGL is classified as a calc-alkaline variety in general and as spessartite in particular possessing shoshonitic affinity. No anomalous chemical composition is noticed in the ocellar calcite. The LREE-bearing titanite appears to be the contributor of LREE enrichment. The high Mg# (77-79), Ni (153-162 ppm) and Cr (380-470 ppm) support a mantle source. The absence of Eu anomaly reflects lack of plagioclase fractionation. The high Zr/Hf ratio (163-202) indicates absence of crustal contamination and contribution of magmatic carbonate at the source to form ocelli as product of late-stage liquid silicate-carbonate immiscibility of segregation mechanism. The trace and REE patterns (ƩREE: 326-343 ppm, LREE>HREE) indicate involvement of residual garnet at the source presumably enriched in phlogopite in a 'subduction-related' environment.

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