南阿尔金高压-超高温麻粒岩变质作用:大陆地壳超深俯冲与折返过程的记录

南阿尔金造山带是目前报道的具有最深俯冲记录的大陆超高压变质带,其内出露有高压-超高温麻粒岩,它们对深入理解大陆地壳岩石超深俯冲与折返过程具有重要意义.介绍了对南阿尔金巴什瓦克地区长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的岩相学、矿物化学、相平衡模拟及锆石U-Pb年代学研究成果.其中基性麻粒岩主要记录了深俯冲大陆地壳折返过程的变质演化:包括高压榴辉岩相、高压-超高温麻粒岩相、低压-超高温麻粒岩相及随后的近等压降温演化阶段;长英质麻粒岩除了记录与基性麻粒岩相似的折返过程外,还记录了从角闪岩相到超高压榴辉岩相的进变质演化过程.结合已有研究资料,确定超高压榴辉岩阶段峰期条件> 7~9 GPa和>1 000℃,可达到斯石英稳定域.锆石年代学显示两种岩石类型的原岩和变质年龄均分别在900 Ma和500 Ma左右.变质作用与年代学研究表明,南阿尔金大陆地壳岩石在早古生代发生超深俯冲至200~300 km后,折返至加厚地壳底部发生高压-超高温变质作用,随后被快速抬升至地壳浅部发生低压-超高温变质作用并经历迅速冷却.      

阿尔金清水泉花岗质片麻岩锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb定年及其地质意义

近年来,详细的岩石学研究表明,分布于阿尔金造山带中段英格利萨依地区的石榴子石二辉橄榄岩及其围岩花岗质片麻岩,以及西段江尕勒萨依地区的榴辉岩及其围岩长英质/泥质片麻岩(片岩)皆经历了超高压变质作用,是陆壳岩石俯冲到地幔深处(100～350 km)然后再返回地表的产物[1～6].     

大别山超高压变质岩的显微构造与有效黏度

超高压变质岩提供了研究大陆俯冲隧道中岩石的变形机制和流变差异性的窗口。文章使用电子背散射衍射技术分析了大别山超高压变质带的榴辉岩和长英质片麻岩的显微构造。榴辉岩中的石榴子石基本呈无序分布,绿辉石发育较强烈的晶格优选定向,[001]轴的极密平行或近平行于拉伸线理,(100)面的法线近垂直于面理,退变榴辉岩中角闪石的(100)[001]组构可能继承了绿辉石的晶格优选定向。退变榴辉岩和长英质片麻岩中的石英记录了(0001)低温底面滑移和{1010}中温 柱面滑移,反映了超高压变质岩折返到中地壳的韧性变形;而斜长石的(001)<110>和(010)[100]组构形成于折返到下地壳的角闪岩相变质条件（>600℃）。根据主要矿物的流变律计算了俯冲与折返过程中无水矿物的有效黏度变化。俯冲过程中,钠长石=硬玉+石英的分解反应以及石英-柯石英相变导致长英质片麻岩的有效黏度和密度都显著增高,有利于陆壳深俯冲。但是折返过程中由于温度较高,这两个反应带来的有效黏度变化较小。>80 km深度,石榴子石的流变强度>硬玉>绿辉 石>柯石英,俯冲上地壳的流变由柯石英和硬玉控制,下地壳的流变由绿辉石和石榴子石控制。超高压变质岩流变强度的差异有助于上—下地壳力学解耦,使相对低密度、低黏度的上地壳物质在俯冲隧道内快速折返。     

榴辉岩的两种变质演化轨迹和俯冲大陆地壳的差异折返-——以柴北缘都兰超高压地体为例

都兰榴辉岩地体位于柴北缘—南阿尔金超高压变质带的东端,是唯一确定含柯石英的超高压变质地体,约700 km,其特点是含有两个特征不同的变质亚带,并经历了不同的折返过程。柯石英假像和温压计算表明两带榴辉岩峰期变质的压力都在柯石英的稳定域（2.8~3.3 GPa）,但它们退化变质的p–T 轨迹具有明显不同的特征。北带榴辉岩经历了两个阶段的折返：早期从地幔深度快速折返到中部地壳层次,伴随岩石的等温降压,并发生角闪岩相退化变质;晚期抬升到地壳浅部。都兰南带榴辉岩折返过程中经历了高压麻粒岩相变质的改造,高压麻粒岩阶段的p–T条件为p＝1.9~2.0 GPa,T＝873~948℃, 并进一步经历了角闪岩相退化变质,说明都兰南带榴辉岩折返速率较慢,发生了壳幔过渡带（或加厚的深部地壳）层次的强烈热松弛。这种热松弛发生在许多大陆俯冲带的超高压岩石的折返过程中,并且是榴辉岩发生深熔作用的主要机制。都兰两个变质带不同的变质演化轨迹反映了俯冲的大陆地壳具有差异折返的特征。     

大别山硬玉石英岩中发现α-PbO2型TiO2超高压相

大陆深俯冲深度对于了解大陆碰撞造山带中超高压变质岩的折返动力学具有重要意义.2005年笔者在中国大别山石马地区含柯石英榴辉岩绿辉石中发现了α-PbO2型TiO2晶体,最近笔者用高分辨透射电子显微镜和能量散射X-射线谱仪测试技术在中国大别山双河地区超高压硬玉石英岩硬玉中鉴别出纳米级α-PbO2型结构的TiO2天然超高压相.α-PbO2型TiO2晶体的保存,为超高压变质作用(6~7GPa,730~870°C)提供了新的证据,同时指示陆壳物质的俯冲深度大于170~200km,也指示了俯冲陆壳到地表的抬升,虽然其速率还不能确定,但可能是相当快速的.     

CCSD超高压变质岩绿辉石中的石英出溶体及其大陆动力学意义

单斜辉石中发育石英出溶体是UHP变质作用的典型矿物学标志之一,在世界上著名UHP变质地体中屡有发现。本文利用激光Raman光谱和电子探针分析在中国大陆科学钻探先导孔(CCSD-PP1)榴辉岩岩心的绿辉石中发现了大量石英(棒)出溶现象。通过与CCSD主孔榴辉岩各种赋存形式的绿辉石成分对比,发现含石英出溶体的绿辉石具有超硅特征,这是出溶现象发生的决定性因素之一。结合高压实验岩石学资料,提出在UHP变质的峰值期部分Si进入六次配位的Si-O八面体位置,压力降低这部分Si析出,形成石英出溶体的出溶机制。结合新的矿物学研究进展,认为绿辉石中出溶石英所标志的压力应远大于前人提出的2.5GPa,意味着苏鲁超高压变质带陆壳物质的俯冲深度要大于目前一般认为的80~120km范围。     

敦煌造山带长山子地区变质演化及年代学研究

长山子地区位于敦煌造山带东北部,瓜州南部约100km处。该区主要出露一套中-高级变质表壳岩,主要岩石类型有长英质片麻岩、变泥质麻粒岩、高压基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪片麻岩。高压基性麻粒岩岩块、斜长角闪片麻岩岩块以构造透镜体或布丁(长度为0. 5~15m)的形式,被夹持于长英质片麻岩、变泥质麻粒岩组成的基质之中,呈现典型"基质夹岩块"的混杂带特征。高压基性麻粒岩、斜长角闪片麻岩、泥质麻粒岩中,普遍保留了二至三个阶段的变质矿物组合。进变质阶段矿物组合(M1)为石榴子石变斑晶中的细小矿物包裹体,变质高峰期矿物组合(M2)为石榴子石变斑晶和基质矿物,退变质阶段矿物组合(M3)主要为围绕石榴子石变斑晶边部发育的"白眼圈"状后成合晶。本区各类变质岩石均记录了顺时针型变质作用P-T轨迹,系典型俯冲-碰撞造山带变质作用特征。退变质阶段P-T轨迹属于西阿尔卑斯型,说明变质岩折返速率较快。变质高峰期(M2)属于中压变质相系,P-T条件分别为790~870℃/1.29~1.37GPa(高压基性麻粒岩)、680~685℃/0.89~0.97GPa(斜长角闪片麻岩)、860~880℃/0.90~1.14GPa(变泥质麻粒岩),它们之间存在大的差异。这说明,它们是形成于同一俯冲隧道内不同深度的变质岩石,在构造折返阶段才混杂在一起形成构造混杂岩。二次离子质谱(SIMS)锆石U-Pb定年表明,长山子地区变质杂岩记录了早泥盆世的俯冲事件(419~417Ma)。     

大别山-苏鲁超高压变质带的矿物学和岩石学研究进展

本文总结了近年来大别山 苏鲁超高压变质带的矿物学和岩石学进展。针对大别山 苏鲁超高压变质带中的区域片麻岩围岩是否经历超高压变质的问题 ,研究者在常规岩石学和矿物学手段不能奏效的情况下 ,引入显微喇曼光谱测试 ,最终在各种类片麻岩的锆石中发现柯石英、硬玉和雯石等高压和超高压矿物包裹体 ,证明大别山 苏鲁超高压变质带中的大多数岩石曾与榴辉岩一起被俯冲到地幔深度 ,后又一起回返到地表。在喇曼光谱的测试过程中 ,发现锆石中的柯石英包裹体有 0～ 2 3 0 0MPa不等的现时晶内超压 ,并证明这种晶内超压是超高压变质岩回返过程中 ,柯石英向石英转化而导致的体积膨胀造成的。研究者在产于青岛仰口榴辉岩的石榴子石中发现大量单斜辉石、金红石和磷灰石出熔 ,精细的晶体化学和岩石学研究证明出熔前的石榴子石形成于大于 70 0 0MPa的压力条件 ,说明苏鲁地区的部分陆壳岩石可能曾被俯冲到大于 2 0 0km深的地幔。岩石学研究发现产于桃行地区的榴辉岩在角闪岩相区域退变质之前 ,在 4 0～ 5 0km的浅部地幔深度发育有一期高压麻粒岩相 过渡榴辉岩相变质。进一步研究发现这期变质是由于峰期的多硅白云母在回返到 4 0～5 0km深的浅部地幔时脱水熔融导致的     

雅鲁藏布江缝合带白朗县白岗尖晶石—石榴子石相二辉橄榄岩的相界反应及其意义

西藏白朗县白岗村蛇绿混杂岩中有一罕见的尖晶石石榴子石二辉橄榄岩小岩块,被松软的蛇纹岩化尖晶石二辉橄榄岩包裹其中。岩块中发育有碎基单斜辉石、斜方辉石中出溶单斜辉石、切过出溶单斜辉石的贯入单斜辉石和外来碎粒单斜辉石及钙质辉石+铬尖晶石→钙铁石榴子石相界反应。同时,在岩块和包壳岩石的橄榄石中出现针状硅镁石出溶物。计算这些矿物的温度压力表明,它们的温度压力都处于>800℃,>1.8GPa以上的地幔石榴子石域超高压环境,而且,经历过一个上升→俯冲→上升的"N"字形历程。     

茫崖二长花岗岩、石英闪长岩的年代学、地球化学及岩石成因:对阿尔金南缘早古生代构造-岩浆演化的启示

阿尔金南缘茫崖地区出露着早古生代二长花岗岩体和石英闪长岩体,测得其LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为472.1±1.1Ma和458.3±6.2Ma。地球化学特征显示,前者属于钾玄质过铝质S型花岗岩,具高的(La/Yb)N和Sr/Y比值,低的HREE、Yb和Y值;后者为高钾钙碱性准铝质-过铝质I型花岗岩,具低的(La/Yb)N和Sr/Y值,高的Yb和Y含量。通过岩石成因和构造背景分析,二长花岗岩是陆壳深俯冲作用下,上地壳沉积岩(杂砂岩和少量泥质岩)被俯冲带入到50~80km深处,在高压(1.5GPa)低温(779.8~792.9℃)条件下主要由云母分解脱水而发生部分熔融,残留相为石榴石+金红石(无角闪石),在岩浆演化过程中发生了以斜长石为主(无角闪石)的强烈分离结晶作用;石英闪长岩是在陆壳深俯冲后的折返抬升作用下,上地壳变质玄武岩被抬升至30km处,在低压(0.8GPa)高温(811.0~821.0℃)条件下发生部分熔融,残留相为角闪石+斜长石(无石榴石),在岩浆演化过程中发生了以辉石、金红石和磷灰石为主(无角闪石和斜长石)的分离结晶作用。结合前人研究成果,分析了阿尔金南缘早古生代岩浆活动特征及其形成机制,将该地区早古生代构造-岩浆演化分为三个阶段:1)505~472Ma陆-陆碰撞阶段,以高压环境下岩浆活动为特征,在陆壳深俯冲的同时,存在俯冲陆壳的初步熔融拆离作用;2)467~450Ma板片拆离阶段,由于俯冲板片的完全断离,强大的浮力主要使上地壳发生抬升折返,以低压高温环境下上地壳岩浆活动为特征,同时存在幔源岩浆的底垫作用,具同折返双峰式岩浆活动的特征;3)424~385.2Ma后碰撞伸展拉张阶段,持续的应力释放松弛使构造应力从前期的垂向抬升转换为侧向伸展,存在地幔岩浆的底侵上涌作用,以低压高温环境下A型花岗岩岩浆活动为特征。     

Quartz paramorphs after former stishovite in UHP eclogite from the South Altyn Tagh,Western China and its Significance

The long prism/needle‐shaped polycrystalline quartz aggregates and square/parallelogram‐shaped singlephase quartz inclusions in omphacite and garnet of ultrahigh pressure eclogite were first discovered from the Jiangalesayi area, South Altyn UHP belt. Based on their morphology, these quartz inclusions are quartz paramorphs after stishovite. The minimum peak pressure of the eclogite is estimated to be >8–9 GPa at 800– 1000 °C based on the stability field of stishovite. This new evidence, together with previous stishovite exsolution microstructure in the gneiss from the same region, suggests an ultra‐deep subduction and exhumation of the South Altyn continental rocks to/from mantle depths in stishovite stability field. Evidence of ultra‐deep subduction of continental materials might be more common and diverse than previous thought. Exhumation of subducted continental rocks from≥300 km has been considered impossible because they are denser than mantle at these depths. How did the stishovite bearing continental rocks of the South Altyn exhumated? As we all know, the densities of stishovite (4.3 g/cm³) are much higher than coesite (2.9 g/cm³), and stishovite transforms into coesite with temperature increases. Density calculations were performed for subducted continental rocks along phase transition of stishovite to coesite, using the third‐order Birch‐Murnaghan equation of state based on mineral fractions obtained from experiments and Perple_X. The results show that the density of Siliceous rocks decrease remarkably, lower than the surrounding mantle in coesite stability field, whereas the density of Oligosiliceous and Silicon unsaturated rocks is higher than surrounding mantle. Thus, we propose that the thermal induced transformation could provide an initial driven force for the exhumation of ultra‐deep subducted silica‐enriched felsic continental rocks. Temperature increase could be derived from an increased geothermal gradient from convective mantle or mantle plume. Mafic to ultra‐mafic rocks and silica‐deficient rocks may be captured by the upwelling subducted continental rocks and exhumated together.     

南阿尔金-柴北缘高压-超高压变质带研究进展、问题及挑战

南阿尔金—柴北缘高压-超高压(HP/UHP)变质带为近10年来所新厘定,它分布在青藏高原北缘,延伸近1000km,被阿尔金断裂分成南阿尔金和柴北缘两部分,以含少量榴辉岩、石榴橄榄岩和含柯石英的片麻岩为特征。根据野外地质观察、岩石组合分析及其岩石学特征,可把南阿尔金—柴北缘HP/UHP变质带划分为6个HP/UHP变质单元,从西向东分别是:江尕勒萨依榴辉岩-片麻岩单元(JSU);巴什瓦克石榴橄榄岩-高压麻粒岩单元(BWU);鱼卡—落凤坡榴辉岩-片麻岩(片岩)单元(YLU);绿粱山石榴橄榄岩-高压麻粒岩单元(LLU);锡铁山榴辉岩-片麻岩单元(XTU);都兰榴辉岩-片麻岩单元(DLU)。研究显示,6个HP/UHP变质单元在岩石组合、形成的温度压力条件及变质演化历史等方面存在明显差异;榴辉岩相变质时代变化在420～500Ma之间,可能反映了早古生代沿南阿尔金—柴北缘HP/UHP变质带的多阶段或穿时性的俯冲作用。     

大陆碰撞造山带的两类橄榄岩——以柴北缘超高压变质带为例

论述了大陆俯冲碰撞带中地幔橄榄岩的基本特征和成岩类型,并重点讨论柴北缘超高压变质带中不同性质的橄榄岩及其成因。根据岩石学特征,我们确定柴北缘超高压带中发育有两种类型的橄榄岩:(1)石榴橄榄岩,岩石类型包括石榴二辉橄榄岩、石榴方辉橄榄岩、纯橄岩和石榴辉石岩,是大陆型俯冲带的标志性岩石。金刚石包裹体、石榴石和橄榄石的出溶结构、温压计算等均反映其来源深度大于200km。地球化学特征表明该橄榄岩的原岩是岛弧环境下高镁岩浆在地幔环境下堆晶的产物。(2)大洋蛇绿岩型地幔橄榄岩,与变质的堆晶杂岩(包括石榴辉石岩、蓝晶石榴辉岩)和具有大洋玄武岩特征的榴辉岩构成典型的蛇绿岩剖面,代表大洋岩石圈残片。这两类橄榄岩的确定对了解柴北缘超高压变质带的性质和构造演化过程有重要意义。     

Metamorphic Evolution of High‐pressure Politic Granulite from the Ailaoshan Orogenic Belt,Northeastern Margin of Indochina Block,West Yunnan,China

Ailaoshan orogenic belt located at the northeastern margin of the Indochina block, southeastern Tibet, was formed by subduction and collision between the Indochina and South China blocks in Triassic and slip shearing resulted from the extrusion of the Indochina block in Cenozoic. The high‐pressure pelitic granulite is located at the southeastern margin of the Ailaoshan metamorphic belt, occurs as a slice of about 500～700m in thickness, consists of garnet, sillimanite, feldspar, biotite and quartz with accessory of kyanite, sapphirine, spinel, rutile, ilmenite, zircon and apatite. The petrography and mineral chemistry show that the high‐pressure pelitic granulite had suffered three stages of metamorphism: 1) the prograde metamorphism recorded by the mineral assemblage of garnet, kyanite, feldspar, biotite and rutile; 2) the peak metamorphism shown by the mineral assemblage of garnet, sillimanite, sapphirine, ternary feldspar, K‐feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, spinel, quartz, rutile and zircon mantle; 3) the retrograde metamorphism recorded by the mineral assemblage of biotite, muscovite, plagioclase, quartz and zircon rim. Zircon SHRIMP U‐Pb dating indicates that the protolith of the pelite granulite was deposited before 336 Ma, the prograde to peak metamorphism occurred at P‐T conditions of ≥10.4 kbar at 850～919 °C in 235 Ma, and the retrograde metamorphism occurred at the P‐T condition of 3.5～3.9 kbar at 572～576 °C until to 33 Ma. They are consistent with the times of Indochina separated from Gondwanaland during late Paleozoic, the amalgamation of the south China and Indochina blocks during the Triassic, and the sinistral slip‐shearing since the Early Cenozoic respectively. It is inferred that that the sedimentary rock was subducted to the lower continental crust (30 km) and suffered granulite‐facies metamorphism due to the collision during Indosinian, then exhumed quickly to middle‐upper crust (10–12km) and superimposed retrograde metamorphism since the Cenozoic.     

Early Palaeozoic North Qaidam UHP metamorphic belt on the north-eastern Tibetan plateau and a paired subduction model

ABSTRACT An Early Palaeozoic UHP metamorphic belt was recently discovered in the North Qaidam Mountains in the north-eastern part of the Tibet Plateau. The belt contains abundant eclogite with lesser amounts of garnet peridotite and gneiss. The paragneiss contains abundant zircon with coesite inclusions whereas the eclogite has garnet with coesite pseudomorphs and omphacite with exsolved quartz. The calculated peak metamorphic conditions for the eclogite are T  = 730 °C and P  = 2.8 GPa. The garnet peridotites are magnesium-rich with Mg#s [100 × Mg/(Mg + Fe)] up to 92. Olivine in the peridotites is highly magnesian (Fo > 91.5) and TiO₂-poor and is typical of low- T garnet peridotites. Calculated peak metamorphic conditions for the peridotites are T  = 837 °C and P  = 2.5 GPa. U–Pb and Sm–Nd isotope dating indicate that continental subduction started during the early Ordovician (∼ 495 Ma). The North Qaidam UHP, together with the North Qilian HP belt about 300 km to the north, constitute a pair of genetically related early Palaeozoic subduction zones along the northern margin of the Tibet Plateau.     

Ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and exhumation of garnet peridotite in Pohorje, Eastern Alps

New evidence for ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphism (UHPM) in the Eastern Alps is reported from garnet‐bearing ultramafic rocks from the Pohorje Mountains in Slovenia. The garnet peridotites are closely associated with UHP kyanite eclogites. These rocks belong to the Lower Central Austroalpine basement unit of the Eastern Alps, exposed in the proximity of the Periadriatic fault. Ultramafic rocks have experienced a complex metamorphic history. On the basis of petrochemical data, garnet peridotites could have been derived from depleted mantle rocks that were subsequently metasomatized by melts and/or fluids either in the plagioclase‐peridotite or the spinel‐peridotite field. At least four stages of recrystallization have been identified in the garnet peridotites based on an analysis of reaction textures and mineral compositions. Stage I was most probably a spinel peridotite stage, as inferred from the presence of chromian spinel and aluminous pyroxenes. Stage II is a UHPM stage defined by the assemblage garnet + olivine + low‐Al orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + Cr‐spinel. Garnet formed as exsolutions from clinopyroxene, coronas around Cr‐spinel, and porphyroblasts. Stage III is a decompression stage, manifested by the formation of kelyphitic rims of high‐Al orthopyroxene, aluminous spinel, diopside and pargasitic hornblende replacing garnet. Stage IV is represented by the formation of tremolitic amphibole, chlorite, serpentine and talc. Geothermobarometric calculations using (i) garnet‐olivine and garnet‐orthopyroxene Fe‐Mg exchange thermometers and (ii) the Al‐in‐orthopyroxene barometer indicate that the peak of metamorphism (stage II) occurred at conditions of around 900 °C and 4 GPa. These results suggest that garnet peridotites in the Pohorje Mountains experienced UHPM during the Cretaceous orogeny. We propose that UHPM resulted from deep subduction of continental crust, which incorporated mantle peridotites from the upper plate, in an intracontinental subduction zone. Sinking of the overlying mantle and lower crustal wedge into the asthenosphere (slab extraction) caused the main stage of unroofing of the UHP rocks during the Upper Cretaceous. Final exhumation was achieved by Miocene extensional core complex formation.     

柴北缘都兰高压麻粒岩的变质演化及形成的动力学背景

在柴北缘-阿尔金HP/UHP变质带东端,新识别出一个高压麻粒岩单元.高压基性麻粒岩是高压麻粒岩单元的主体,还包括少量高压中酸性麻粒岩.高压基性麻粒岩主要由平衡共生的石榴子石、单斜辉石、斜长石组成,还含有不等量的蓝晶石、角闪石、石英、金红石、黝帘石/斜黝帘石、钛铁矿、方柱石等矿物.高压长英质麻粒岩主要包括石榴子石、蓝晶石、钾长石、斜长石、石英等矿物,并具有少量的单斜辉石和角闪石.岩石学和矿物学数据显示高压麻粒岩经历了多阶段的变质演化,温压计算获得峰期高压麻粒岩相的变质条件为1.40～1.85GPa和800～925℃.退变质高角闪岩相的变质条件为P=0.80～1.05GPa和T=580～695℃：进一步的退变质作用发生在低角闪岩相/绿片岩相条件下(<0.8GPa和<550℃).岩石学、矿物学及年代学资料研究表明都兰地区的高压麻粒岩具有与相邻榴辉岩不同的变质演化历史,而不是榴辉岩在抬升过程中热松弛作用所致.高压麻粒岩可能形成于与陆壳俯冲相关的造山带增厚的陆壳根部环境,形成的深度为50～70km.     

Subduction of Continental Crust in the Early Palaeozoic North Qaidam Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt, NW China:Evidence from the Discovery of Coesite in the Belt

Coesite was discovered as inclusions in zircon separates from pelitic gneiss associated with a large eclogite body in the North Qaidam ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane. Some graphite inclusions were also found. This finding suggested the occurrence of in-situ UHP metamorphism and that the terrane was most likely recrystallized at pressures below the diamond stability field. It supported other previous indirect UHP evidence, such as polycrystalline quartz inclusions in eclogitic garnet, quartz lamellae in omphacite and P-T estimates for both eclogite and garnet peridotite. The U-Pb and Sm-Nd ages of the North Qaidam eclogite indicated that subduction of continental crust occurred in the Early Palaeozoic, which probably recorded a collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze plates.     

Petrological and Geochemical Characteristics of Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Rocks from the Dabie-Sulu Terrane,East-Central China

The Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane is the largest in the world. Mafic-ultramafic rocks occur as ubiquitous minor components in it, and preserve UHP index minerals such as coesite and microdiamond. Eclogites and garnet peridotites together with their country rocks including quartzofeldspathic, pelitic, psammatic, and carbonate rocks were subjected to coeval UHP meta-morphism during the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. This review summarizes petrological and geochemical characteristics of eclogites, garnet peridotites, and UHP metasediments from published data and ongoing research in the Dabie-Sulu belt of east-central China.

Parageneses of minerals from coesite-bearing eclogites encased in gneiss, garnet peridotite, and marble delineate clockwise P-T paths characterized by nearly isothermal decompression. Many eclogites have been overprinted by Barrovian-zone amphibolite- to granulite-facies assemblages, whereas others preserve primary igneous minerals and textures in the cores of coesite-bearing eclogitic blocks. In addition, eclogites contain UHP hydrous and carbonate phases including talc, epidote, zoisite, magnesite, and dolomite; these together with Ti-clinohumite, phlogopite, amphibole, chlorite, and possible talc in garnet peridotites and OH-topaz in kyanite quartzites document the role of hydrous mineral transport to the deep mantle in fluid-deficient UHP metamorphic regions. Both crustal- and mantle-derived garnet peridotites from the Dabie-Sulu region were recrystallized within the diamond stability field, with the Earth's lowest recorded geothermal gradient. <5°C/km, suggesting that UHP metamorphic recrystallization took place in a previously unrecognized, forbidden P-T region.

Geochemical and isotopic data indicate that Dabie-Sulu mafic-ultramafic rocks have diverse origins; their compositions in some cases have been complicated by metamorphic recrystallization, crustal contamination, and fluid metasomatism. Nevertheless, REE geochemical and Nd isotope data clearly indicate that they have “continental” affinities and cannot represent a subducted Tethyan oceanic slab. Garnet peridotites and their enclosing eclogites display variable isotopic compositions; mantle-derived fragments preserve a mantle signature, whereas crust-hosted mafic-ultramafics display distinct crustal contamination and metasomatism. Among the many outstanding projects remaining to be investigated, geochemical and isotopic constraints of mantle-derived garnet peridotites and eclogites should provide an additional window to our understanding of mantle heterogeneity, metasomatism, slab/mantle interactions, and lithospheric evolution of the Sino-Korean craton.     

Proterozoic anticlockwise P–T path of the Lewisian Complex of South Harris, Outer Hebrides, NW Scotland

The Leverburgh Belt and South Harris Igneous Complex in South Harris (northwest Scotland) experienced high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism during the Palaeoproterozoic. The metamorphic history has been determined from the following mineral textures and compositions observed in samples of pelitic, quartzofeldspathic and mafic gneisses, especially in pelitic gneisses from the Leverburgh Belt: (1) some coarse-grained garnet in the pelitic gneiss includes biotite and quartz in the inner core, sillimanite in the outer core, and is overgrown by kyanite at the rims; (2) garnet in the pelitic gneiss shows a progressive increase in grossular content from outer core to rims; (3) the Al^VI/Al^IV ratio of clinopyroxene from mafic gneiss increases from core to rim; (4) retrograde reaction coronas of cordierite and hercynite+cordierite are formed between garnet and kyanite, and orthopyroxene+cordierite and orthopyroxene+plagioclase reaction coronas develop between garnet and quartz; (5) a P–T path is deduced from inclusion assemblages in garnet and from staurolite breakdown reactions to produce garnet+sillimanite and garnet+sillimanite+hercynite with increasing temperature; and (6) in sheared and foliated rocks, hydrous minerals such as biotite, muscovite and hornblende form a foliation, modifying pre-existing textures. The inferred metamorphic history of the Leverburgh Belt is divided into four stages, as follows: (M1) prograde metamorphism with increasing temperature; (M2) prograde metamorphism with increasing pressure; (M3) retrograde decompressional metamorphism with decreasing pressure and temperature; and (M4) retrograde metamorphism accompanied by shearing. Peak P–T conditions of the M2 stage are 800±30 °C, 13–14 kbar. Pressure increasing from M1 to M2 suggests thrusting of continental crust over the South Harris belt during continent–continent collision. The inferred P–T path and tectonic history of the South Harris belt are different from those of the Lewisian of the mainland.