DISCOVERY OF A CARBONATITE INCLUSION IN A CAMPTONITE FROM THE TAOURIRT AREA (MOROCCO) - GEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

A calcite carbonatite inclusion has been found in a camptonite from Ta ourirt (Morocco). Major phases are SrO-rich (2.8 wt%) calcite, pyrochl ore (66-67 wt% Nb2O5) in large zoned crystals and in small MnO-rich (2 .3 wt%) grains, SrO-rich (1.7 wt%) fluorapatite (3.5 wt% F) and rare s alite. The carbonatite composition shows high contents of Sr, Nb, Ta a nd LREE. The carbonatite and the camptonites have similar REE patterns which suggests a common parental magma. The Taourirt carbonatite and lamprophyres show chemical characteristics similar to those of the kno wn Tamazert carbonatite complex situated 300 km to the South. The Taou rirt lamprophyres contain numerous pyroxenite and syenite inclusions w hich could indicate the presence of an underlying alkaline complex.