Vol. 337 No. 3 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/3/5042
Fluid components in cordierites from the Middle Urals (Russia) and Dolní Bory (Czech Republic) pegmatites according to pyrolysis-free gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data
Relevance. Need to obtain factual data on the composition of volatiles in cordierite formation processes in Li-Be pegmatites. The newly obtained data can be used to adjust the holistic model of rare element deposit formation, taking into account the contribution of hydrocarbons. Aim. To determine the compositional features of the fluid preserved in structural cavities and channels in fluid inclusions of cordierites. Object. Cordierite-containing veins in the pegmatites of Buzheninov Bor, Murzinskoe pegmatite field, Middle Urals (Russia) and Dolní Bory (Czech Republic). Methods. The compositions of cordierite and sekaninaite were studied by the method of micro-X-ray spectral analysis. The forms of occurrence, structural positions and orientations of the molecules of fluid components in the aluminosilicate framework were determined by the methods of IR and Raman spectroscopy. The bulk composition of the fluid was analyzed by the method of non-pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with impact destruction of the sample. Results and conclusions. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to determine the component composition and relative concentrations of volatiles localized in structural channels and cavities, fluid inclusions of natural cordierites. It was found that the fluids that formed the cordierite of the Middle Urals are essentially water-hydrocarbon with an admixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds. They contain 87.5 rel. % of H2O, 10.5 rel. % of total hydrocarbons and 1.7 rel. % of CO2. Sekaninaite from the Dolní Bory pegmatites crystallized from a water-hydrocarbon-nitrogen fluid with an admixture of carbon dioxide, sulfur- and halogen-containing compounds: H2O – 68.8 rel. %, total hydrocarbons – 16.5 rel. %, nitrogenated compounds – 11.6 rel. %, CO2 – 2.6 rel. %. In total, 191 individual components were identified in the volatiles of the Ural cordierite, and 178 in sekaninaite. Identical halogenated fluid components 1‑chlorobutane (C4H9Cl) and 2,4‑dichlorobenzylamine (C6H5Cl2N) were recorded in the volatiles. The content of 1-chlorobutane in the Ural cordierite is 0.007, and in sekaninaite 1.669 rel. %, and 2,4-dichlorobenzylamine is 0.084 and 0.066 rel. %, respectively. The Ural cordierite is characterized by the presence of esters butyltrifluoroacetate (C6H9F3O2, 0.007 rel. %), and sekaninaite is characterized by the presence of 4‑(trifluoromethyl)-benzenamine (C7H6F3N, 0.035 rel. %) and 2-fluorobenzaldehyde (C7H5FO, 0.006 rel. %). Nitrogen monoxide (NO, 0.042 rel. %) was found for the first time in the composition of sekaninaite volatiles.
For citation: Bulbak T.A., Tomilenko A.A., Zatolokina K.I., Shaparenko E.O. Fluid components in cordierites from the Middle Urals (Russia) and Dolní Bory (Czech Republic) pegmatites according to pyrolysis-free gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 3, pp. 59–73. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/3/5042
Keywords:
cordierite, sekaninaite, fluid components, hydrocarbons, pegmatite, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, GC-MS, IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy
References:
1. Kalt A., Altherr R., Ludwig T. Contact metamorphism in pelitic rocks on the island of Kos (Greece, Eastern Aegean Sea): a test for the Na-in-cordierite thermometer. Journal of Petrology, 1998, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 663–688.
2. Gerdes A., Montero P., Bea F., Fershater G., Borodina N., Osipova T., Shardakova G. Peraluminous granites frequently with mantle-like isotope compositions: the continental-type Murzinka and Dzhabyk batholiths of the eastern Urals. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2002, vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 3–19.
3. Sokol E.V., Maksimova N.V., Nigmatulina E.N., Sharygin V.V., Kalugin V.M. Pyrogenic metamorphism. Novosibirsk, SO RAN Publ., 2005. 284 p. (In Russ.)
4. Grapes R., Korzhova S., Sokol E., Seryotkin Yu. Paragenesis of unusual Fe-cordierite (sekaninaite)-bearing paralava and clinker from the Kuznetsk coal basin, Siberia, Russia. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 2011, vol. 162, no. 2, pp. 253–273.
5. Heinrich E.W. Cordierite in pegmatite near Micanite, Colorado. American Mineralogist, 1950, vol. 35, no. 3–4, pp. 173–184.
6. Newton R.C. BeO in pegmatitic cordierite. Mineralogical Magazine, 1966, vol. 35, no. 275, pp. 920–927.
7. Černý P., Chapman R., Schreyer W., Ottolini L., Bottazzi P., McCammon C.A. Lithium in sekaninaite from the type locality, Dolní Bory, Czech Republic. Canadian Mineralogist, 1997, vol. 35, pp. 167–173.
8. Sokol E.V., Seryotkin Yu.V., Bul'bak T.A. Na-Li-Be-rich cordierite from the Murzinka pegmatite field, Middle Urals, Russia. European Journal of Mineralogy, 2010, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 565–575.
9. Marvin U.B., Carey J.W., Lindstrom M.M. Cordierite-spinel troctolite, a new magnesium-rich lithology from the lunar highlands. Science, 1989, vol. 243, no. 4893, pp. 925–928.
10. Fuchs L.H. Occurrence of cordierite and aluminous orthoenstatite in the Allende meteorite. American Mineralogist, 1969, vol. 54, no. 11–12, pp. 1645–1653.
11. Petaev M.I., Zaslavskaya N.I., Clarke R.S., Jr., Olsen E.J., Jarosewich E., Kononkova N.N., Holmberg B.B., Davis A.M., Ustinov V.I., Wood J.A. The Chaunskij meteorite: Mineralogical, chemical and isotope data, classification and proposed origin (abstract). Meteoritics, 1992, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 276–277.
12. Schreyer W., Yoder H.S. Cordierite–H2O system. Washington, Carnegie Inst. Washington, Ann. Rep. Dir. Geophys. Lab. 1958. 197 p.
13. Schreyer W., Schairer I.F. Compositions and structural states of anhydrous Mg-cordierites: a reinvestigation of the central part of the system MgO-Al2O3-SiO2. Journal of Petrology, 1961, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 324–406.
14. Seifert F., Schreyer W. Lower temperature stability limit of Mg cordierite in the range 1-7 kb water pressure: a redetermination. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 1970, vol. 27, pp. 225–238.
15. Seifert F. Low-temperature compatibility relations of cordierite in haplopelites of the system K2O-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O. Journal of Petrology, 1970, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 73–99.
16. Newton R.C. An experimental determination of the high-pressure stability limits of magnesian cordierite under wet and dry conditions. Journal of Geology, 1972, vol. 80, no. 4, pp. 398–420.
17. Zimmermann J-L. Petrogenetic application of the study of the release of water and carbon dioxide from cordierites. CR Acad Sci, Paris, 1972, vol. 275D, pp. 519–522. (In French)
18. Zimmermann J-L. Mass spectrometry study of the composition of fluids in some cordierites from southern Norway. Societe geologique de France: Reunion An Sci Terre, Paris, 1973. 418 p. (In French)
19. Zimmermann J-L. The release of water, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons from cordierites. Kinetics of the mechanisms. Site determination. Petrogenetic significance. Bull. Soc. Fr. Miner. Crist., 1981, vol. 104, pp. 325–338. (In French)
20. Beltrame R., Norman D., Alexander E., Savkins F. Volatiles released by step-heating a cordierite to 1200C. Transactions. American geophysical union, 1976, vol. 57, 352 p.
21. Goldman D.S., Rossman G.R., Dollase W.A. Channel constituents in cordierite. American Mineralogist, 1977, vol. 62, pp. 1144–1157.
22. Johannes W., Schreyer W. Experimental introduction of CO2 and H2O in Mg-cordierite. American Journal of Science, 1981, vol. 281, pp. 299–317.
23. Armbruster T., Bloss F.D. Orientation and effects of channel H2O and CO2 in cordierites. American Mineralogist, 1982, vol. 67, pp. 284–291.
24. Mottana A., Fusi A., Bianchi Potenza B., Crespi R., Liborio G. Hydrocarbon-bearing cordierite from Dervio-Colico road tunnel (Como, Italy). Neues Jahrbuch Miner Abh., 1983, vol. 148, pp. 181–199.
25. Armbruster T. Ar, N2, and CO2 in the structural cavites of cordierite, an optical and x-ray single-crystal study. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 1985, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 233–245.
26. Lepezin G.G., Bul'bak T.A., Sokol E.V., Shvedenkov G.Yu. Fluid components in cordierites and their significance for metamorphic petrology. Russian Geology and Geophysics, 1999, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 99–116.
27. Khomenko V.M., Langer K. Aliphatic hydrocarbons in structural channels of cordierite: a first evidence from polarized single-crystal IR absorption spectroscopy. American Mineralogist, 1999, vol. 84, no. 7–8, pp. 1181–1185.
28. Aines R.D., Rossman G.R. The high temperature behavior of water and carbon dioxide in cordierite and beryl. American Mineralogist, 1984, vol. 69, pp. 319–327.
29. Kolesov B.A., Geiger C.A. Cordierite II: the role of CO2 and H2O. American Mineralogist, 2000, vol. 85, pp. 1265–1274.
30. Bulbak T.A., Shvedenkov G.Y., Lepezin G.G. On saturation of magnesian cordierite with alkanes at high temperatures and pressures. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 2002, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 140–154.
31. Bul’bak T.A., Shvedenkov G.Yu. Experimental study on incorporation of C-H-O-N fluid components in Mg-cordierite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 2005, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 829–838.
32. Bulbak T.A., Shvedenkova S.V. Solid solutions of (Mg, Fe2+)-cordierite: Synthesis, water content, and magnetic properties. Geochemistry International, 2011, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 391–406.
33. Harley S.L., Thompson P., Hensen B.J., Buick I.S. Cordierite as a sensor of fluid conditions in high grade metamorphism and crustal anataxis. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 2002, vol. 20, pp. 71–86.
34. Kurepin V.A. Cordierite as an indicator of thermodynamic conditions of petrogenesis. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 2010, vol. 160, pp. 391–406.
35. Ren W., Liu W., Luo X., Liu Z., Liu C., Chen Z. 3D printing of cordierite glass-ceramics. Ceramics International, 2025, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 1632–1642.
36. Bai C., Ma C., Wang X., Zheng T., Sun B., Li X., Yang K., Colombo P., Wang B. Low-temperature fabrication of porous SiC/cordierite composite ceramics from open-celled porous geopolymers. Ceramics International, 2025, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 4158–4167.
37. Yue W., Qiu H., Zhu S., Wang H., Li M., Zhu J., Shao G., Wang H., Xu H., Lu H. Novel high-entropy cordierite ceramics with both electromagnetic wave absorption and infrared radiation properties via one-step sintering. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2025, vol. 45, no. 6, p. 117203.
38. Tian H., Zhang Y., Wang R., Wu H., Shan L. Effect of Ge4+-substituted on the structure characteristics and microwave/terahertz dielectric properties of ultra-low εr, high Q•f cordierite ceramics. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2025, vol. 216, pp. 165–177.
39. Cao L., Wang Y., Yu X., Lu Z., Wang G., Mao M., Liu B., Cao L., Bafrooei H.B., Spreitzer M., Wang D., Song K. Significantly enhanced microwave-millimeterwave properties of cordierite ceramics: Roundness regulation of Si-Al hexagonal ring, analysis of far-infrared reflectance and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2025, vol. 45, no. 3, p. 117045.
40. Wang F., He Z., Wang X., Zhou S. Cordierite Ceramics with Near-zero Expansion. Journal of Ceramics, 2024, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 463–467.
41. Wu J., Wei P., Xu X., Xie G., Chen Z. Microstructure and Properties of Partial Stoichiometry Cordierite Ceramic Materials. Journal of Ceramics, 2024, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 156–165.
42. Chen S., Liu Y., Zhang X., Chen X., Gao S., Zhang C., Yu D., Yu X., Zhao Z. New method for preparation of K-OMS-2/cordierite monolithic catalysts and their excellent catalytic performance for soot combustion. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2025, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 115194.
43. Zhang S., Li W., Zhang X., Guo J. Feng J. Efficient catalytic oxidation of ethanol over Pt/Ce-Mn-Ti-O catalysts supported on cordierite honeycombs. Materials Letters, 2025, vol. 382, p. 137934.
44. Khobragade R., Saravanan G., Shukla P.C., Gupta T., Agarwal A., Labhsetwar N. Manganese-substituted strontium ferrite catalyst on honeycomb structured cordierite support for oxidation of diesel particulate matter. Catalysis Today, 2024, vol. 440, p. 114840.
45. Zatolokina K.I., Tomilenko A.A., Bul’bak Т.А., Lepezin G.G. Volatile Components in Cordierite and Coexisting Tourmaline and Quartz from Pegmatites of the Kuhilal Deposit (Pamir, Tajikistan). Russian Geology and Geophysics, 2021, vol. 62, no. 10, pp. 1157–1174.
46. Zatolokina K.I., Tomilenko A.A., Bul’bak T.A. Fluid components in cordierite from the rocks of epidote-amphibole facies of the Muzkol Metamorphic Complex, Tajikistan: pyrolysis-free GC-MS DAta. Minerals, 2023, vol. 13, p. 323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030323
47. Bertoldi C., Proyer A., Garbe-Schönberg D., Behrens H., Dachs E. Comprehensive chemical analyses of natural cordierites: implications for exchange mechanisms. Lithos, 2004, vol. 78, no. 4, pp. 389–409.
48. Hreus S., Kocáb J., Novák M., Vašinová Galiová M., Gadas P. Compositional evolution (Li, Be) in cordierite-group minerals from metamorphic and magmatic rocks of the Bory Granulite Massif, Moldanubian Zone, Czech Republic and its implications for origin of related granitic pegmatites. Chemical Geology, 2025, p. 122668. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.122668
49. Tomilenko A.A., Chepurov A.I., Sonin V.M., Bul’bak T.A., Zhimulev E.I., Chepurov A.A., Timina T.Yu., Pokhilenko N.P. The synthesis of methane and heavier hydrocarbons in the system graphite-iron-serpentine at 2 and 4 GPa and 1200°C. High Temperatures-High Pressures, 2015, vol. 44, no. 6, P. 451–465.
50. Sobolev N.V., Logvinova A.M., Tomilenko A.A., Wirth R., Bul'bak T.A., Luk'yanova L.I., Fedorova E.N., Reutsky V.N., Efimova E.S. Mineral and fluid inclusions in diamonds from the Urals placers, Russia: Evidence for solid molecular N-2 and hydrocarbons in fluid inclusions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2019, vol. 266, pp. 197–219.
51. Bul’bak T.А., Tomilenko А.А., Gibsher N.А., Sazonov А.M., Shaparenko E.O., Ryabukha M.А., Khomenko M.O., Sil’yanov S.A., Nekrasova N.A. Hydrocarbons in Fluid Inclusions from Native Gold, Pyrite, and Quartz of the Sovetskoe Deposit (Yenisei Ridge, Russia) According to Pyrolysis-Free Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Data. Russian Geology and Geophysics, 2020, vol. 61, no. 11, pp. 1260–1282.
52. Gibbs G.V. The polymorphism of cordierite I: The crystal structure of low cordierite. American Mineralogist, 1966, vol. 51, pp.1068–1087.
53. Herms P., Schenk V. Fluid inclusions in granulite-facies metapelites of the Hercynian ancient lower crust of the Serre, Calabria, Southern Italy. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 1992, vol. 112, no. 2, pp. 393–404.
54. Santosh M., Jackson D.H., Harris N.B.W. The significance of channel and fluid inclusion CO2 in cordierite: evidence from carbon isotopes. Journal of Petrology, 1993, vol. 34, no. 2, p. 233–258.
55. Cesare B., Maineri C., Baron Toaldo A., Pedron D., Acosta Vigil A. Immiscibility between carbonic fluids and granitic melts during crustal anatexis: a fluid and melt inclusion study in the enclaves of the Neogene Volcanic Province of SE Spain. Chemical Geology, 2007, vol. 237, pp. 433–449.
56. Dharmapriya P.L., Disanayaka D.W.M., Pitawala H.M.T.G.A., Malaviarachchi S.P.K., Subasinghe N.D. Genesis, Classification, Tectonic Setting and Economic Potential of Global Granitic Pegmatites: A Review. Evolving Earth, 2025, p. 100059. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eve.2025.100059
