Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

Setup during HiTech AlkCarb: an online database of alkaline rock and carbonatite occurrences

Python Island

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Occurrence number: 
103-00-030
Country: 
Malawi
Region: 
Chilwa Province
Location: 
Longitude: 35.6, Latitude: -15.28
Carbonatite: 
Yes

Python Island, in the northern part of Lake Chilwa, contains a vent filled with blocks of gneiss and small areas of breccia consisting of angular fragments of slightly fenitized granulite and syenitic gneiss in a sparse comminuted matrix containing siderite and goethite. Florencite has been identified. Garson (1965a) classified this as a ‘carbonatite and agglomerate vent’.

References: 

GARSON, M.S. 1965a. Carbonatites in southern Malawi. Bulletin, Geological Survey of Malawi. 15: 1-128.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith