A new occurrence of fenite from the Loch Borralan Alkaline Complex, Assynt

A FENITE from a new locality from the Borralan Complex, Scotland, isdescribed. It is from the SW. part of the Complex near to the cromaltite outcrop, and it comprises a moss-covered, blue-grey boulder. In thin section the rock is seen to consist of an inhomogeneous combination of stubby, greenish pyroxene prisms, an amphibole, feebly pleochroic in shades of blue, apatite, and minor interstitial potassium feldspar. Petrographically the rock is similar to some of the fenitized quartzites from the Borralan Complex described by Woolley et al. (i972). Electron-microprobe analyses ofmicrocline, apatite, aegirine-augite, and alkaline amphibole are given. The feldspar sometimes has microcline cross-hatching and varies from Or95. 6 to Or96. 2. The pyroxenes vary from Dia7Hd7Ac46 tO Di33HdsAc62, similar to previously analysed Borralan fenite pyroxenes (Woolley et al., 1972), and a composition not found amongst igneous pyroxenes. The amphiboles are richterites according to the definition of Leake 0968). The modal composition of the rock is discussed and compared with previously described Borralan fenites. Possible parental source rocks for this fenite are considered but a quartzitic parent is preferred, principally because of similarities with unequivocally fenitized quartzites described from elsewhere at Borralan (Woolley et al., x972).