Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

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

Matchinskii

stripes

Occurrence number: 
086-00-022
Country: 
Kyrgyzstan
Location: 
Longitude: 70.78, Latitude: 39.53
Carbonatite: 
Yes

The 30 km2 Matchinskii intrusion is in contact with Silurian psammites and comprises three phases. These are (1) aegirine-augite and biotite-nepheline syenites, (2) peralkaline pyroxenite and quartz syenites and (3) leucocratic granites. The nepheline syenites, which occupy the western part of the intrusion, are represented by huge xenoliths within the alkaline syenites. The aegirine-augite syenites are concentrated in the central part of the intrusion and grade into quartz syenites towards the margins, the contacts with biotite syenites indicating that there was remelting of the latter. The alkaline syenites vary from mesocratic to leucocratic varieties. There are areas of quartz-tourmaline rock within the quartz syenites, in which the tourmaline may form distinct layers, while there has been extensive albitisation and carbonatisation of the alkaline syenites. The leucocratic granites form veins in the syenites. The intrusion is cut by dykes of biotite and nepheline syenite and granite. The country rocks are intensively altered with the production of alkali amphibole, pyroxene and tourmaline. Rocks referred to as carbonatites have been produced at the eastern end of the intrusion as a result of carbonatisation.

Economic: 
Rare-earth minerals occur in carbonatite veins cutting schists close to the margins of the intrusion.
References: 

KAYUMOV, A.K. and KARABAEV, K.K. 1981. Alkaline magmatism and ore-formation of the south Tyan-Shan. Uzbek Academy of Science Publishers, Tashkent. 135 pp.

Map: 
Fig. 2_99. Matchinskii (after Gavrilin, 1963, Fig. 1).
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith