Phosphorus-rich topaz from fractionated granites (Podlesi, Czech Republic)

A detailed electron microprobe study of P, F, Ge and Ga-contents in rock-forming topaz was performed on a suite of Variscan granites at Podlesi in the western Krusne Hory Mts., Czech Republic. Topaz crystals from the relatively less evolved biotite- and protolithionite granites display homogeneous cathodo-luminescence (CL) intensities, whereas topaz from the marginal pegmatite, highly fractionated zinnwaldite granite and greisens show intense oscillatory zoning. Phosphorus contents reach 1.15 wt% P2O5 in topaz from the zinnwaldite granite. Many topaz crystals are distinctly zoned with a maximum P content in the transition zone between core and rim. Phosphorus is incorporated into the topaz lattice by berlinite substitution: Al3+ + P5+ = Si4+ + Si4+. The majority of analysed topazes are highly saturated in F, reaching 90-97% of the theoretical maximum saturation. Topaz from the marginal pegmatite only reaches 87-90% of F-saturation. There is a positive correlation between P-topaz and P-whole rock, but no correlation between F-topaz and F-whole rock. No difference has been found in P and F contents between magmatic and the hydrothermal (=greisen stage) topaz. Contents of Ge and Ga vary from around the detection limit (similar to50 ppm) up to 200 ppm Ge and 100 ppm Ga, respectively.