新疆库车盆地晚三叠世-早侏罗世沉积碎屑矿物成分及其物源区示踪与构造意义

通过同构造沉积物质记录了解物源区剥蚀作用过程进而探索盆山构造相互关系,是大陆构造动力学研究的一个重要方面。砂岩骨架成分分析和重矿物及部分标型矿物分析方法,已被较多地用来探索新疆天山造山带与其南部库车盆地晚中生代以来的相互关系和构造演变过程,但是关于中生代较早时期库车盆地构造属性及北部造山带隆升剥蚀过程的认识仍存在较大分歧。本文运用电子探针微区成分分析方法,对库车盆地北缘中段晚三叠世和早侏罗世砂岩中具代表性的15个砂岩样品中的38颗碎屑长石和26颗碎屑白云母矿物进行了矿物化学成分分析。结果表明,长石主要来自变质岩物源区,25颗碎屑白云母均属多硅白云母,表明其源区岩石曾经历了高压变质作用。这些多硅白云母中Si原子含量显示它们比目前保留在天山造山带高压变质带蓝片岩和榴辉岩中的多硅白云母形成的压力要低,可能反映了源区高压变质岩的正常剥露顺序。这项研究结果表明,至少在晚三叠世-早侏罗世时期,库车盆地北部天山造山带中的高压变质岩已经剥露于地表并遭受剥蚀成为物源供给区。具体是中天山南缘早古生代高压变质带还是晚古生代南天山高压变质带作为重要物源区,尚需进一步的研究工作。     

滇西南澜沧群多硅白云母的多型和化学成分特征及其意义

从理论、实验及实际观察的结果都表明，随着压力的增加白云母中绿鳞石的含量显著地增加，可以认为在多期变质作用过程中，尤其是在变质压力不同的多期变质作用下，形成的多硅白云母，其化学成分就会打上不同的烙印。７７个多硅白云母化学成分的统计结果表明，澜沧群低级变质岩中的多硅白云母有两种成因。在Ｎａ－Ｍｇ相关图上，反映了高压和中压变质特征，高压变质的多硅白云母约占７０％。这与用多硅白云母ｂ０值鉴别的高压和中压变质是相吻合的。多硅白云母的多型为３Ｔ和２Ｍ１型，以２Ｍ１型为主     

The biotite isograd, Central Pyrenees: a deformation-controlled reaction

The biotite isograd reaction in Cambro–Ordovician pelites from the Garonne dome in the Central Pyrenees involves the production of biotite at the expense of chlorite, and the gradual reduction in the celadonite (Si) content of individual white micas. The mineral assemblages in the biotite-bearing rocks in the Melles area retain abundant evidence of chemical disequilibrium, due to the sluggish nature of major element diffusion within the white micas. The progress of the isograd reaction is strongly controlled by the progressive development of regional Variscan fabrics, and chemical exchange in the white micas in these metamorphic conditions is only possible during active deformation. Chemical resetting of the white micas takes place via the development of compositional zoning in the deforming micas; this probably occurs as a consequence of the introduction of defects and dislocations, causing more efficient diffusion within parts of individual grains. In the absence of deformation, this biotite isograd reaction would take place at significantly higher temperature and be controlled by the relatively high closure temperature of major element diffusion in white micas. Thus, assigning thermal significance to such continuous isograd reactions is impossible without independent constraints: kinetic factors such as deformation may be the dominant influence in many cases, not the thermodynamic controls.     

40Ar/39Ar dating of white micas from an Alpine high-pressure metamorphic belt on Naxos (Greece): the resetting of the argon isotopic system

Overprinting of white micas from high pressure, low to medium temperature (M ₁) metamorphic assemblages in pelitic schists on Naxos during subsequent thermal dome (M ₂) metamorphism ranges from minor in the southeast of the island to complete recrystallization in the amphibolite facies rocks near the migmatites in the centre of the dome. The original (M ₁) minerals are phengites (Si⁴⁺=6.7–7.0) and the overprinting minerals are muscovites (Si⁴⁺=6.0–6.45). ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step heating analyses of white mica separates from rocks in the area where phengite and muscovite occur together yield complex age spectra, characterized by low apparent ages in the first and the last stages of gas release and high apparent ages in between. These upward-convex age spectra are shown to be caused by mixing of two generations of micas, each of which has a different age spectrum and argon release pattern. Seemingly good plateaus in some age spectra from white micas of the area must be interpreted as providing meaningless intermediate ages. Further, the upward-convex age spectra have been used to trace the isotopic signature of phengites toward increasing M ₂ metamorphic grade, and suggest that as long as phengites can be observed in the rocks upward-convex age spectra occur. On Naxos, crystallization of muscovite at the expense of phengite appears to be the main mechanism of resetting argon isotopic ages in white micas. However, there is also good evidence for argon loss by volume diffusion from phengites. Simple diffusion calculations suggest that the M ₂ metamorphism was caused by a shortlived heat source.Now at Department of Geology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2E3, Canada     

Phengite geobarometry based on the limiting assemblage with K-feldspar,phlogopite, and quartz

Following and extending the early work of Velde (1965) the pressure-temperature dependence of the compositions of potassic white micas coexisting with K-feldspar, quartz, and phlogopite in the model system K₂O-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O was investigated up to fluid pressures of 24 kbar by synthesis experiments. There is a strong, almost linear increase of the Si content per formula unit (p.f.u.) of phengite, ideally KAl_2–xMg_x[Al_1–xSi_3+xO₁₀] (OH)₂ with pressure, as well as a moderate decrease of Si (or x) with temperature. The most siliceous phengite with Si near 3.8 p.f.u. becomes stable near 20 kbar depending on temperature. However, contrary to Velde's assumption, these phengites coexisting with the limiting assemblage are invariably not of an ideal dioctahedral composition (as given by the above formula) but have total octahedral occupancies as high as about 2.1 p.f.u.The stability field of the critical assemblage phengite — K-feldspar — phlogopite — quartz ranges, in the presence of excess H₂O, from at least 350° C to about 700° C but has an upper pressure limit in the range 16–22 kbar, when K-feldspar and phlogopite react to form phengite and a K, Mg-rich siliceous fluid.For the purpose of using these phase relationships as a new geobarometer for natural rocks, the influence of other components in the phengite (F, Fe, Na) is evaluated on the basis of literature data. Water activities below unity shift the Si isopleths of phengite towards higher pressures and lower temperatures, but the effects are relatively small. Tests of the new geobarometer with published analytical and PT data on natural phengite-bearing rocks are handicapped by the paucity of reliable values, but also by the obvious lack of equilibration of phengite compositions in many rocks that show zonation of their phengites or even more than one generation of potassic white micas with different compositions. From natural phengites that do not coexist with the limiting assemblage studied here but still with a Mg, Fe-silicate, at least minimum pressures can be derived with the use of the data presented.     

K — Ar age determinations on phengites from the internal part of the Sesia Zone,Western Alps,Italy

K-Ar age determinations have been carried out on various, well-defined phengite populations from a small area of the internal part of the Sesia Zone, lower Aosta valley. There, the rocks have suffered high-pressure metamorphism, attributed to early Alpine subduction, in the stability field of jadeite + quartz (P15±1 kbar at T=550±50° C). Coarse-grained phengites from well-preserved high-pressure parageneses, and phengites (re)crystallized early during decompression at still elevated temperatures in the stability field of albite, yield identical ages close to 80 Ma. In the most external sample high-pressure phengites yield 72 Ma. The ages around 80 Ma are interpeted as essentially undisturbed cooling ages; they are not notably influenced by paragenesis, chemical composition, polymorphism, grain-size, deformation, and recrystallization at higher temperatures. This part of the Sesia Zone has cooled down about 80 Ma ago to below the blocking temperature for the K-Ar system of white mica. Some of the samples show pronounced retrogression of the high-pressure assemblages, especially formation of albite and fine-grained phengite at the expense of jadeite, and are affected by intense late deformation at temperatures of about 300 to 350° C, estimated from the small grain-size of dynamically recrystallized quartz. The ages obtained from extremely kinked or sheared coarse high-pressure phengites scatter considerably, being partly higher, partly lower than 80 Ma. The fine-grained phengite fractions from these samples yield lowered ages down to 70 Ma. These values are interpreted as mixed ages resulting from variable mixtures of fragmented high-pressure phengites and new phengite replacing jadeite; the K-Ar data suggest that the new phengites have crystallized between 60 and 70 Ma b.p. All phengites formed at low temperatures at the expense of jadeite reveal high Si-contents; these range up to 6.9 for the coarser-grained earlier generations, and up to 6.7 for the very fine-grained last generation. Relatively high pressures are required to stabilize phengites so high in Si. This implies that cooling had not been achieved by uplift and erosion; obviously the thermal structure of the crust was still strongly perturbed by continuing subduction and thrusting during the late Cretaceous.     

Dehydration of dioctahedral aluminous phyllosilicates: thermodynamic modelling and implications for thermobarometric estimates

We propose a solid-solution model for dioctahedral aluminous phyllosilicates accounting for the main compositional variations, including hydration, observed in natural smectites, interlayered illite/smectite, illites, and phengites from diagenetic to high-grade metamorphic conditions. The suggested formalism involves dehydrated micas and hydrated pyrophyllite-like thermodynamic end-members. With these end-members, the equilibrium conditions of quartz + water + K-bearing mica-like phyllosilicates of fixed 2:1 composition are represented by a line in P–T space along which the interlayer water content varies. The relevant thermodynamic properties required for the calculation of equilibrium conditions were derived using a set of 250 natural data of known maximal temperature and pressure conditions, which covers a range between 25°C and few MPa to 800°C and 5 GPa. The temperatures calculated at fixed pressure with our model are in fair agreement with those reported in the literature for the 250 natural data. At low temperature and pressure, the amount of interlayer water in K-deficient phengite and illite is predicted to reach 100% of the apparent vacancies, which is consistent with previous values reported in the literature. Although the amount of interlayer water is predicted to decrease with pressure and temperature, it is calculated to be significant in K-deficient phengite from LT–HP pelites metamorphosed at about 350°C, 10 kbar. The presence of molecular water in the interlayer site of such phengites has been confirmed by FTIR mapping. Its implications for P–T estimates are discussed.     

The mineral chemistry,near-infrared,and mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of phengite from the Olympic Dam IOCG deposit,South Australia

Phengite is the main potassic dioctahedral mica identified at the Olympic Dam iron oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) deposit, South Australia, where its mineral chemistry is quite variable. These differences can be explained by contrasting degrees of hydrothermal alteration. In the heavily-sericitized, ore-bearing rocks, the phengites display a lower-Si content, a higher-Al content, and a lower Mg-number than the phengites from the weakly-sericitized alteration halo that surrounds the deposit. Variations are also observed in the near- and mid-infrared reflectance spectra collected from phengite-bearing rocks. In the near-infrared, high-Al phengite produces a spectral absorption feature at 2.206 μm, and this feature is displaced to 2.213 μm for low-Al phengite. In the mid-infrared, high-Al phengite produces a strong reflectance peak at 9.59 μm, whereas this peak is observed at 9.57 μm in the spectra from low-Al phengite. Additional peaks were also identified at 10.98, 12.22, and 13.33 μm. These were most intense in the spectra from high-Al phengite. A drill core profile was produced using the results of the spectral analysis that shows the change in phengite mineral chemistry and phengite abundance as a function of depth. In general, near- and mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy can be used to characterize the aluminum content of potassic dioctahedral micas like phengite, and this information can be used to infer the degree of sericitic alteration that has occurred as a result of hydrothermal fluid flow.     

40Ar-39Ar dating of high pressure metamorphic micas from the Gran Paradiso area (Western Alps): Evidence against the blocking temperature concept

The⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar method has been applied to high pressure (HP) white micas from the Gran Paradiso crystalline massif and from the overthrust Schistes Lustrés of its western slope. Preliminary petrographic and microanalytical investigation of the phengite micas showed that their celadonite-content decreases with time (from Si_3.65 to Si_3.05), and that less foliated samples are the most suitable for the metastable persistence of the high celadonite-content of the early HP stage during subsequent metamorphic evolution.Such samples were investigated together with one where mica is a pure retrogressive product. Two groups of plateau-ages have been found: (a) 60 to 75 Ma on HP phengites and early paragonites of unretrograded HP parageneses, thus dating the early HP metamorphic stage; (b) 38–40 Ma on HP phengites (most often in slightly retrograded HP parageneses) and on the purely retrogressive mica. For the HP phengites in (b), this age is considered to reflect the end of Ar readjustement during the later lowerP and/or higherT metamorphic stage, and not their crystallization.This disparity in plateau-ages for micas sampled within the same area shows that under the sameP-T conditions some systems were open while others remained closed. This can be closely related to the mineralogical behaviour: chemically active systems are isotopically active, whereby the reverse is not necessarily true. Thus, although temperature exceeded by far the usually assumed sealing-temperature of white micas, many systems have remained unaffected during the late Eocene event. Therefore, temperature cannot be the determining parameter for the opening of a system. Chemical reactivity, starting mineralogy and, primarily, pervasive deformation and the related fluid behaviour appear to be the effective controls.This implies that thermally activated diffusion processes (volume diffusion...) cannot be geologically significant. Consequently, the blocking temperature concept which rests on the opposite assumption now appears questionable. The fact that a mica does not necessarily behave as open above its blocking temperature necessitates at least a clear distinction between opening- and sealing-temperatures.     

Mineralogy of New Caledonian metamorphic rocks

Variations in chemistry and related physical properties of sheet silicates in the Ouégoa district with metamorphic grade are investigated. Weakly metamorphosed rocks prior to the crystallization of lawsonite contain phengite (d ₀₀₆=3.317–3.323 Å), chlorite and occasionally paragonite while interstratified basaltic sills contain chlorite, minor phengite and stilpnomelane. Pyrophyllite crystallizes before lawsonite in some metamorphosed acid tuffs and is also stable in the lawsonite zone. Paragonite, phengite and chlorite appear to be stable through the sequence from weakly metamorphosed rocks into high-grade “eclogitic” schists and gneisses. Optical, chemical and some X-ray diffraction data is given for representative sheet silicates. Electron probe analyses of 55 phengites, 21 paragonites, 57 chlorites, 12 vermiculites, 2 stilpnomelanes, and 2 chloritoids are presented in graphical form. All K-micas analysed are consistently phengitic (3.29–3.55 Si^iv ions per formula unit) and show limited solid solution with paragonite (4 to 13% Pa). The K∶Na ratio of the phengite is strongly dependant on the assemblage in which it occurs; the amount of phengite component and its Fe∶Mg ratio depends on bulk-rock composition. Phengites from acid volcanics have the highest Fe∶Mg ratio, highest phengite component and β refractive indices. Phengites from basic volcanics and metasediments of the epidote zone have the lowest Fe∶Mg ratio. Phengites from lawsonite-zone metasediments have intermediate Fe∶Mg ratios. The phengites show a small decrease in phengite component with increasing metamorphic grade. d ₀₀₆ for phengites varied from 3.302 to 3.323 Å but at least in the lawsonite and epidote zones appears to reflect composition and had little systematic variation with metamorphic grade; phengites from very low-grade rocks showed the longest values of d ₀₀₆. Paragonite shows almost no phengite-type substitution and only limited solid solution (4–12%) with muscovite. All paragonites (6) and most phengites (20) which have been examined are 2M₁ polymorphs; one Fe²⁺-phengite appears to be a 1M polymorph. The chemistry of chlorites closely reflects parent-rock chemistry. Chlorites from metasediments have distinctly higher Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios than chlorites from basic igneous rocks; chlorites from the lawsonite and lawsonite-epidote transitional zone metasediments have the highest Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios. In metabasalts Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios appear to reflect individual variations in bulk-rock chemistry and show no direct correlation with metamorphic grade. There is little difference in Al/(Si+Al) ratio between chlorites from sediments and basic igneous rocks although in both lithologies the chlorites from the epidote zone appear to be slightly more aluminous. Fe-rich chlorites of the lawsonite zone metasediments have been altered by a process involving leaching of Fe and Mg and introduction of alkalies to a brown pleochroic Fe-vermiculite. Chemical and physical data for this vermiculite are given. The decrease in Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio in chlorites and phengites on passing from the lawsonite to the epidote zone can be correlated with the crystallization of Fe-rich epidote and almandine in the epidote zone. Elemental partitioning between coexisting minerals has shown Ti to be partitioned into phengite, while Fe and Mn are strongly partitioned into chlorite. When either stilpnomelane or chloritoid coexists with phengite or chlorite, Fe and Mn are slightly enriched in the stilpnomelane or chloritoid relative to the chlorite.     

Regional distribution of white K-mica polymorphs and their phengite content in the Central Alps

Some 150 white K-micas from the Central Alps were analysed for their polymorph and phengite content. Pre-Alpine white K-micas and those belonging to the Meso-Alpine Lepontine Metamorphic “High” show exclusively the 2M₁ polymorph. The 3T structural form, on the other hand, has been found in one third of the white K-micas formed during the Alpine regional metamorphism. In most cases this trigonal structure coexists with varying amounts of the 2M₁ form. The 3T distribution pattern suggests that this polymorph originated during the Eo-Alpine high-pressure/“low temperature” metamorphism. Provided this interpretation is correct, the sporadic occurrence of this polymorph within the Meso-Alpine staurolite zone may be used as a tracer for the Eo-Alpine metamorphism. The following improved correlation between the (060, 331) reflections of 2M₁ white K-micas and the RM-content (= 2Fe₂O₃+FeO+MgO in molar proportions), based on 24 micas from granitoid rocks, is presented: d(060, 331)= 1.498+0.082 RM. The phengite content of Alpine white K-micas belonging to the assemblage muscovite-biotite-K-feldspar-quartz was estimated from RM values or derived from chemical analyses and was found to be clearly related to metamorphic grade. Phengite-rich micas were formed during the Eo-Alpine high-P/“ low-T” metamorphism while aluminous muscovite was found within the Meso-Alpine thermal high of the Lepontine gneiss area. White K-micas from areas which underwent both the Eo-Alpine and the Meso-Alpine metamorphism display variable phengite contents. Although these micas show Tertiary Rb-Sr and K-Ar ages, the variable phengite content presumably reflects conditions during the Eo-Alpine high-P/“low-T” metamorphism. This interpretation implies that the cations occupying the interlayer positions are more easily equilibrated than those in octahedral and tetrahedral structural sites. A compilation of 3T white K-mica occurrences described in the literature is given in the appendix.     

Excess Ar-free phengite in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from the Lago di Cignana area, Western Alps

Ar/Ar analyses of phengites and paragonites from the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks (zoisite–clinozoisite schist, garnet–phengite schist and piemontite schist) in the Lago di Cignana area, Western Alps were carried out with a laser probe step-heating method using single crystals and a spot dating method on thin sections. Eight phengite and two paragonite crystals give the plateau ages of 37–42 Ma with 96–100% of ³⁹Ar released. Each rock type also contains mica crystals showing discordant age spectra with age fractions (20–35 Ma) significantly younger than the plateau ages. Phengite inclusions in garnet give ages of 43.2 ± 1.1 Ma and 44.4 ± 1.5 Ma, which are significantly older than the spot age (36.4 ± 1.4 Ma) from the matrix phengites, and the plateau ages from the step-heating analyses. Inclusion ages (43 and 44 Ma) are consistent with a zircon SHRIMP age (44 ± 1 Ma) in this area. These results suggest that the oceanic materials that underwent a simple subduction related UHPM, form excess ⁴⁰Ar-free phengite and that the peak metamorphism is ca. 44 Ma or little older. We suggest that matrix phengites experienced a retrogression reaction changing their chemistry contemporaneously with deformation related to the exhumation of rocks releasing significant radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar from the crystals. This has lead to the apparent ages of the matrix phengites that are significantly younger than the inclusion age.     

The influence of crystallography and kinetics on phengite breakdown reactions in a low-pressure metamorphic aureole

A natural example of phengite that had undergone partial thermal decomposition at a pressure of about 0.5 kbar and a temperature of about 680° C in a contact aureole was exmined in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Partially pseudomorphed phengites were found to consist of combinations of phengite, biotite, K-feldspar, mullite, sillimanite, spinel and cordierite. Different areas within individual, partially pseudomorphed, phengite grains show various degrees of reaction and different reaction products; the cores are the least reacted and the margins have reacted most. In the cores the assemblage Al-, Mg-enriched phengite+biotite +K-feldspar+mullite±spinel has formed, whereas the assemblage K-feldspar+mullite+sillimanite+spinel +biotite+cordierite has formed at the edges. According to our thermodynamic calculations, the breakdown of phengite should have produced cordierite+spinel +corundum+K-feldspar in regions isolated from the influx of SiO₂ and cordierite+andalusite+quartz+K-feldspar in regions near the edge of the grains that were essentially saturated with SiO₂. Chemical equilibrium was not achieved in any part of the partially pseudomorphed phengites on a micron scale or larger. Breakdown theoretically should have been complete by about 550° C; the reaction temperature was overstepped by at least 130° C for 20–25 years. The variations in the degree and type of reaction are probably due partly to the availability of suitable nucleation sites in different regions, partly to the need to remove H₂O from reaction sites and partly to the influence of SiO₂, which diffused into the grains during metamorphism. The presence of SiO₂ lowers the equilibrium temperatures. Thus there is a higher driving force for breakdown near the grain boundaries than in the cores. Most of the products show an orientation relationship with the parent phengite and have consistent habit planes; they have their closest-packed planes and closest-packed directions parallel to one another and to those of phengite. Such relationships minimize the strain and surface energies at nucleation and favour most rapid nucleation and growth of the reaction products. The great structural similarity of biotite to phengite resulted in its having the highest rate of nucleation and growth of any product and it occurred in all areas of the phengite pseudomorphs studied. Mullite and sillimanite were produced metastably. Mullite has more rapid nucleation kinetics than other aluminosilicates because it is structurally disordered. Sillimanite formed rather than andalusite in regions of the partially pseudomorphed phengites where the reaction reached an advanced stage, because the reaction from phengite to andalusite requires an energetically unfavourable change in aluminium co-ordination state.     

Early Cretaceous exhumation of high‐pressure metamorphic rocks of the Sistan Suture Zone,eastern Iran

The Sistan Suture Zone (SSZ) of eastern Iran is part of the Neo‐Tethyan orogenic system and formed by convergence of the Central Iranian and Afghan microcontinents. Ar Ar ages of ca. 125 Ma have been obtained from white micas and amphibole from variably overprinted high‐pressure metabasites within the Ratuk Complex of the SSZ. The metabasites, which occur as fault‐bounded lenses within a subduction mélange, document peak‐metamorphic conditions in eclogite or blueschist facies followed by near‐isothermal decompression resulting in an epidote–amphibolite‐facies overprint. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step heating experiments were performed on a phengite + paragonite mixture from an eclogite, phengites from two amphibolites, and paragonite from a blueschist; ‘best‐fit’ ages from these micas are, respectively, 122.8 ± 2.2, 124 ± 13, 116 ± 19 and 139 ± 19 Ma (2σ error). Barroisite from an amphibolite yielded an age of 124 ± 10 Ma. The ages are interpreted as cooling ages that record the post‐epidote–amphibolite stage in the exhumation of the rocks. Our results imply that both the high‐pressure metamorphism and the epidote–amphibolite‐facies overprint occurred prior to 125 Ma. Subduction of oceanic lithosphere along the eastern margin of the Sistan Ocean had therefore begun by Barremian (Early Cretaceous) times. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal evolution of the Lesser Himalaya, central Nepal: Insights from K-white micas compositional variation

The Lesser Himalayan low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks in central Nepal are rich in K-white micas occurring as porphyroclasts and in matrix defining S₁ and S₂. Porphyroclasts are usually zoned with celadonite-poor cores and celadonite-rich rims. The cores are the relics of igneous or high grade metamorphic muscovites, and the rims were re-equilibrated or overgrown under lower T metamorphic conditions. The matrix K-white micas defining S₁, pre-dating the Main Central Thrust activity, are generally celadonite-rich. They show heterogeneous compositional zoning with celadonite-rich cores and celadonite-poor rims. They were recrystallized at lower T condition prior to the Main Central Thrust activity, most probably prior to the India–Asia collision (pre-Himalayan metamorphism). The matrix K-white micas along S₂, synchronous to the Main Central Thrust activity (Neohimalayan metamorphism), are relatively celadonite-poor and were recrystallized under relatively higher T condition. K-white micas defining S₁ also were partially re-equilibrated during the Neohimalayan metamorphism. The average compositions of recrystallized K-white micas defining both S₁ and S₂ become gradually poor in (Fe + Mg)- and Si-contents and rich in Al- and Ti-contents from south to north showing an increase of metamorphic grade from structurally lower to higher parts in the Lesser Himalaya. This shows that the metamorphism is inverted throughout the inner Lesser Himalaya. The tectono-metamorphic significance of the published K–Ar and ⁴⁰Ar / ³⁹Ar K-white micas ages from the Lesser Himalaya need re-evaluation in the context of observed intrasample compositional variation and zoning, and possible higher closure temperature (500 °C) for K–Ar system.     

Metamorphic evolution, mineral chemistry and thermobarometry of schists and orthogneisses hosting ultra-high pressure eclogites in the Dabieshan of central China

As is typical of ultra-high pressure (UHP) terrains, the regional extent of the UHP terrain in the Dabieshan of central China is highly speculative, since the volume of eclogites and paragneisses preserving unequivocal evidence of coesite and/or diamond stability is very small. By contrast, the common garnet (X_Mn=0.18–0.45)–phengite (Si=3.2–3.35)–zoned epidote (Ps_38–97)–biotite–titanite–two feldspars–quartz assemblages in the more extensive orthogneisses have been previously thought to have formed under low P–T conditions of ca. 400±50°C at 4 kbar. However, certain orthogneiss samples preserve garnets with X_Ca up to 0.50, rutile inclusions within titanite or epidote and relict phengite inclusions within epidote with Si contents p.f.u. of up to 3.49 — overlapping with the highest values (3.49–3.62) recorded for phengites in samples of undoubted UHP schists. These and other mineral composition features (such as A-site deficiencies in the highest Si phengites, Na in garnets linked to Y+Yb substitution and Al F Ti₋₁ O₋₁ substitution in titanites) are taken to be pointers towards the orthogneisses having experienced a similar metamorphic evolution to the associated UHP schists and eclogites. Re-evaluated garnet–phengite and garnet–biotite Fe/Mg exchange thermometry and calculated 5 rutile+3 grossular+2SiO₂+H₂O=5 titanite+2 zoisite equilibria indicate that the orthogneisses may indeed have followed a common subduction-related clockwise P–T path with the UHP paragneisses and eclogites through conditions of P_max at ca. 690°C–715°C and 36 kbar to T_max at ca. 710°C–755°C and 18 kbar, prior to extensive re-crystallisation and re-equilibration of these ductile orthogneisses at ca. 400°C–450°C and 6 kbar. The consequential conclusion, that it is no longer necessary to resort to models of tectonic juxtapositioning to explain the spatial association of these Dabieshan orthogneisses with undoubted UHP lithologies, has far-reaching implications for the interpretation of controversial gneiss–eclogite relationships in other UHP metamorphic terrains.     

Synthetic high-pressure micas compositionally intermediate between the dioctahedral and trioctahedral mica series

Intermediate-composition micas with octahedral occupancy 2.5 have been crystallized experimentally from natural phengite, 50% phengite+50% biotite, and synthetic basalt compositions in the pressure range 20–35 kb and temperatures of 800–1,000° C. Their compositions suggest a complete range of micas with octahedral occupancy between 3.0 and 2.5, but a very restricted range between 2.0 and 2.5. These 2.5-octahedral micas lie close to the new mica series proposed by Seifert and Schreyer (1965, 1971), with one end-member composition of K Mg_2.5 (Si₄O₁₀) (OH₂) which is extended by the present results into alumina-bearing members of the series (e. g. K Mg_1.5 Al_1.0 (Si₃Al_1.0O₁₀) (OH)₂). However, the possibility of interlayering of dioctahedral and trioctahedral micas to give an apparently intermediate composition cannot be ruled out. X-ray powder diffraction data on the critical 060 reflection for the phengite mix suggest a transitional change from a single phengite field, through a 2-phase phengite — 2.5-octahedral mica field to a single phase 2.5-octahedral mica field.Natural micas of similar composition have not so far been identified, due probably to the unlikelihood of obtaining a mineralogical record of an appropriate composition at the restricted pressure and temperature conditions apparently needed to stabilize the 2.5-octahedral mica phase. Nevertheless, such a phase may have an important role in mineral assemblages and melting reactions in the deep continental crust, subducted oceanic crust and in the upper mantle; evidence of its existence may be removed by later, lower-pressure reactions.     

Coexisting phengite,paragonite and margarite in metasediments of the mittlere Hohe Tauern,Austria

The assemblages phengite-paragonite, phengite-margarite and phengite-paragonitemargarite are very common in metasediments of a N-S profile in the middle sector of the Hohe Tauern. The Si⁴⁺-content of phengite shows no regular change with increasing temperature from north to south along the profile. The variations in the d ₀₀₂ basal spacings of phengite coexisting with paragonite are not only dependent on the Na⁺ content of phengite but also on the Mg²⁺+Fe²⁺ content of the micas. Neither the sodium content in phengite nor the potassium content in paragonite shows any dependence on temperature. Chemical analyses of coexisting phengite, paragonite and margarite give the extent of the three-phase-region which is characterized by a small amount of margarite in paragonite (4 Mol%), by a large quantity of Na⁺ in margarite (28 Mol% paragonite), and limited miscibility between phengite and paragonite.     

Geothermobarometry in metasediments of the southern Grossvenediger area (Tauern Window, Austria)

Metasediments in the southern Grossvenediger area (Tauern Window, Austria) were studied along a cross-section through rocks of increasing metamorphic grade from the margin of the Tauern Window in the south to the base of the Upper Schieferhülle, including the Eclogite Zone, in the north. In the southern part of the cross-section there is no evidence for a pre-late Alpine metamorphic history in the form of high-pressure relics or pseudomorphs. Mineral assemblages are characterized by the stability of tremolite + calcite, biotite + calcite and biotite + chlorite + calcite. In the northern part a more complete Alpine metamorphic evolution is preserved. Primary high-pressure assemblages are dolomite + quartz, tremolite + zoisite, zoisite + dolomite + quartz + phengite I and probably tremolite + dolomite + phengite I. Secondary, post-kinematic assemblages [tremolite + calcite, talc + calcite, phengite II + chlorite + calcite (+ quartz), biotite + chlorite + calcite, biotite + zoisite + calcite] formed as a result of the dominant late Alpine metamorphic overprint. The occurrence of biotite + zoisite + calcite is confined to the northernmost area and defines a biotite–zoisite–calcite isograd. P–T estimates based on standard thermobarometric techniques and on stability relationships of tremolite + calcite + dolomite + quartz and zoisite give consistent results. P–T conditions of the main Tertiary metamorphic overprint were 525° C, P= 7.5 ± 1 kbar in the northern part of the cross-section. The southern part was metamorphosed at lower temperatures of 430–470° C. The Si-content of phengites from this area is almost as high as that of phengites from the Eclogite Zone (Si^max= 3.4 pfu). Pressures > 10 kbar at 420° C are suggested by phengite barometry according to Massone & Schreyer (1987). In the absence of high-pressure relics or pseudomorphs, these phengites, which lack late Alpine re-equilibration, are the only record that rocks of the southern part probably also experienced an early non-eclogitic high-pressure metamorphism.     

Succession de subfacies métamorphiques en Vanoise méridionale (Savoie)

The Southern Vanoise is localized in the internal part of the Western Alps, in the Briançonnais zone. In Vanoise the following units can be distinguished (Fig. 1): a pre-hercynian basement (micaschists, glaucophanites, basic rocks), a permian cover (micaschists) and a mesozoic-paleocene cover (carbonate rocks). This area has been affected by the alpine metamorphic event characterized here by high and intermediate pressure facies. The rocks paragenesis are often unbalanced.The paleozoic rocks (Table 1) contain mainly: quartz, albite, paragonite, phengite, blue amphibole, chlorite, green biotite, garnet (Table 2). These minerals were analysed by an electron microprobe (Tables 3, 4 and 5). Mineral composition is highly variable: glaucophane is zoned (Table 5), white micas are more or less substituted with phengite (3.22O₃/FeO + MgO)<0.53] whereas the Al rich chlorites [(Al₂O₃/FeO + MgO)>0.6] are associated with the less substituted white micas (Si=3.2) (Tables 3 and 4). The phengites with a Si content 3.2 occur in rocks where the retromorphic evolution is the most pronounced and penetrative. A metamorphic evolution is characterized by the disappearance of glaucophane which corresponds to the appearance of Al rich chlorite and to the decrease of phengitic substitution.The samples analysis are plotted in the tetraedric diagram: K₂O-Al₂O₃-Na₂O, Al₂O₃-FeO, MgO, on which a special mathematical treatment was applied. This method calculates the location of rocks composition in the four minerals space. This location is internal when the per cent amounts of all four relevant minerals are positive, if any of them is negative, the point is external (Tables 6–9).In Southern Vanoise micaschists, 2 subfacies are successively present (Fig. 3):Subfacies I: glaucophane-chlorite-phengite (Si⁴⁺ 3.5)-paragonite. Then subfacies II: chlorite-albite-phengite (Si⁴⁺ 3.2)-paragonite.In basic rocks is found essentially: Subfacies III: glaucophane-garnet-phengite-paragonite or IV: glaucophane-garnet-phengite-albite. Then subfacies V: green biotite-chlorite-albite-paragonite.The assemblages I and II proceed through reaction: 2 glaucophane +1 paragonite+2 H₂O4.2 albite + 1 chlorite.The assemblage V appears with reactions: 1.8 glaucophane +2 phengite0.4 chlorite+2 green biotite + 3.6 albite +0.4 H₂O or 2 glaucophane +2 phengite +0.5 garnet+ 6 H₂O2 green biotite +1 chlorite+4 albiteThese reactions are controlled by hydratation: the composition variation of phengite and associated chlorite during the metamorphic evolution determines the stability of some minerals (particularly the glaucophane in Na₂O poor rocks).In same rocks the results of mathematical treatment is not consistent with the data (Tables 2, 6–9). This discrepancy corresponds to a desequilibrium between chlorite and phengite.These results imply a continuous metamorphic evolution between two stages (Fig. 6): a first stage (1) at 8 kb, 350 ° C; a second stage (2) at 2 to 3 kb, 400–450 ° C.