New data about mineral composition of Latvian beach placers

The chrome-pyropes (pyropes) are found among the garnets distributed in Latvian beach placers, which spread both on the Kurzeme Coast of the Baltic Sea and on the Vidzeme Coast of the Gulf of Riga. All garnets observed by authors have been studied in detail. The chrome-pyropes contain high amount of pyrope molecule - 64.8-71.7 mol. %, and the content of unvarovite molecule is 6.7-9.7 mol. %. In all cases this mineral is highly magnesian and poor in iron. The pyrope-almandines (pyrope molecule 25.7-29.8 mol. %) are present among garnets also. The garnets occurring inthe placers are mainly represented by almandines of different types. According to chemical composition chrome-pyropes from beach placers of Latvia are obviously similar to those known from kimperlites of Canadian Arctic and other districts, as well as to the pyropes from terrigenous Devonian deposits of Northern Timan.