Graphite in the Borrowdale (Cumbria, UK) deposit occurs as large masses within mineralized pipe-like bodies, in late graphite–chlorite
veins, and disseminated through the volcanic host rocks. This occurrence shows the greatest variety of crystalline graphite
morphologies recognized to date from a single deposit. These morphologies described herein include flakes, cryptocrystalline
and spherulitic aggregates, and dish-like forms. Colloform textures, displayed by many of the cryptocrystalline aggregates,
are reported here for the first time from any graphite deposit worldwide. Textural relationships indicate that spherulitic
aggregates and colloform graphite formed earlier than flaky crystals. This sequence of crystallization is in agreement with
the precipitation of graphite from fluids with progressively decreasing supersaturation. The structural characterization carried
out by means of Raman spectroscopy shows that, with the exception of colloform graphite around silicate grains and pyrite
within the host rocks, all graphite morphologies display very high crystallinity. The microscale SIMS study reveals light
stable carbon isotope ratios for graphite (
δ
13C = −34.5 to −30.2‰), which are compatible with the assimilation of carbon-bearing metapelites in the Borrowdale Volcanic
Group magmas. Within the main mineralized breccia pipe-like bodies, the isotopic signatures (with cryptocrystalline graphite
being lighter than flaky graphite) are consistent with the composition and evolution of the mineralizing fluids inferred from
fluid inclusion data which indicate a progressive loss of CO
2. Late graphite–chlorite veins contain isotopically heavier spherulitic graphite than flaky graphite. This agrees with CH
4-enriched fluids at this stage of the mineralizing event, resulting in the successive precipitation of isotopically heavier
graphite morphologies. The isotopic variations of the different graphite morphologies can be attributed therefore, to changes
in the speciation of carbon in the fluids coupled with concomitant changes in the XH
2O during precipitation of graphite and associated hydrous minerals (mainly epidote and chlorite).
Keywords Graphite - Morphology - Raman - Carbon isotopes - Borrowdale
Communicated by J. L. R. Touret.