Serpentinized ultramafic rocks and Sangun metamorphic rocks occur in the Sasaguri area, Fukuoka Prefecture. Lizardite and antigorite are the most abundant rock-forming minerals in the Sasaguri ultramafic rocks and are accompanied by lesser amounts of chrysotile (2
Mcl and 2
Orcl), magnetite, chromite, pyrite, pentlandite, millerite, forsterite, chlorite, talc, tremolite, anthophyllite, calcite, dolomite, magnesite, aragonite, hydromagnesite, artinite, brucite, pyroaurite, coalingite, szaiberyite, sepiolite, and deweylite, Serpentinites can be divided into following four types by the assemblage and grain size of serpentine minerals:
(1) lizardite serpentinite,
(2) lizardite-antigorite serpentinite,
(3) fine-grained antigorite serpentinite,
(4) coarse-grained antigorite serpentinite.
The representative rock-forming serpentine minerals (five antigorites and one lizardite) and the two vein-forming fibrous chrysotiles in lizardite serpentinite were examined by X-ray, chemical, electron optical, thermal, and infrared absorption analyses.
The significant differences in chemical composition and structural properties of antigorties are found. Fine-grained antigorites have low Fe contents (total FeO=1.6-2.5 wt%) and long supercell parameters (
A=41.8-42.5 Å), and coarse-grained antigorites have high Fe contents (toal FeO=4.9-6.0 wt%) and short supercell parameters (
A=35.4-40.5 Å).
Lizardite and chrysotile show low Fe contents (total FeO=1-3 wt%). Many lizardite serpentinites in this area contain chrysotile 2
Mcl. Its proportion is approximately 20 to 30 wt%.
Povlen-type chrysotile is found in the vein-forming chrysotile specimen by electron microscope examinations.
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