Sakura texture in quartz crystals from Obira mine, Oita prefecture, Japan

Sakura quartz, which shows cherry blossom-like texture on the (0001) cross-section, occurs from Obira mine in Oita prefecture, Japan. The unique texture was analyzed by using CL, EBSD, EPMA, BSE, and OPM. The texture includes numerous solid and liquid inclusions, and is composed of Brazil twin lamellae and Dauphine twin domains. The texture would be named as sakura texture after sakura-ishi (cerasite), which was a variety of cordierite. The quartz crystal with the sakura texture grew by two growth stages. At the first stage, numerous inclusions were incorporated into the milky part and the growth bands are indistinct. In contrast, growth bands were clearly observed at the second stage. The sakura texture developed at the first stage. Almost all quartz crystals from Obira mine have the sakura texture, and the texture formed on replacement process at late greisenization. The sakura texture is a characteristic feature of quartz from skarn deposit.