Listvenitization and carbonatization at terminal stages of Urushten igneous complex, North Caucasus

The article contains a very detailed description of the petrology, mineralogy, mineralography and alteration of basic, ultrabasic, and acidic rocks and the associated metamorphic rocks — serpentines, amphibolites and listvenites. Prevailing theory on the development of the nonserpentine metamorphic rocks is that they are contact-metamorphic; the author claims they are autometamorphic and allometamorphic and that hydrothermal alteration in the form of talcitization and listvenitization (both associated and independent of each other) play an important role. The structure of the original rocks was also important in the guiding of intrusions and of altering fluids. The addition and removal of certain elements in the various processes is discussed in some detail. — M. A. Klugman.