Reaction history of sapphirine granulites and a decompressional P-T path in a granulite complex from the Eastern Ghats

The sapphirine granulites from G. Madugula, Eastern Ghats preserve a variety of mineral textures and reactions. Corona and reaction textures are used in conjunction with mineral compositions to construct a sequence of metamorphic reactions describing the mineralogical evolution of sapphirine granulites. An early stage is characterized by the development of sapphirine + quartz, spinel + quartz in textural equilibrium, and possible relicts after osumilite during peak metamorphic conditions. Sapphirine/spinel crystals were later detached from quartz in the form of mineral coronas. During a subsequent sapphirine-cordierite stage, several cordierite forming reactions reflect decreasingP-T conditions. Finally during the late stage, a few samples show evidence of retrogressive hydration. Sapphirine is rather iron-rich (12.8 wt%) and the Mg number in the analysed minerals varies in the order: cordierite > phlogopite > sapphirine > orthopyroxene > spinel > garnet.P-T conditions of metamorphism have been constrained through the application of geothermobarometry and thermodynamically calibrated MAS equilibria.P-T vectors from granulite facies rocks in the G. Madugula area indicate that the rocks experienced substantial decompression (up to 3 kbar) and moderate cooling (150–200°C) subsequent to peak conditions of metamorphism (8.4 kbar, > 900°C). The decompressionalP-T history of sapphirine granulites interpreted from textural features and thermobarometric estimates suggest that they may have eventually resulted from exhumation of thickened crust.     

Sapphirine parageneses from the Caraiba complex, Bahia, Brazil: the influence of Fe2+–Fe3+ distribution on the stability of sapphirine in natural assemblages

Abstract Sapphirine-bearing rocks occur in three conformable, metre-size lenses in intrusive quartzo-feldspathic orthogneisses in the Curaçà valley of the Archaean Caraiba complex of Brazil. In the lenses there are six different sapphirine-bearing rock types, which have the following phases (each containing phlogopite in addition): A: Sapphirine, orthopyroxene; B: Sapphirine, cordierite, orthopyroxene, spinel; C: Sapphirine, cordierite; D: Sapphirine, cordierite, orthopyroxene, quartz; E: Sapphirine, cordierite, orthopyroxene, sillimanite, quartz; F: Sapphirine, cordierite, K-feldspar, quartz. Neither sapphirine and quartz nor orthopyroxene and sillimanite have been found in contact, however. During mylonitization, introduction of silica into the three quartz-free rocks (which represent relict protolith material) gave rise to the three cordierite and quartz-bearing rocks. Stable parageneses in the more magnesian rocks were sapphirine–orthopyroxene and sapphirine–cordierite. In more iron-rich rocks, sapphirine–cordierite, sapphirine-cordierite–sillimanite, cordierite–sillimanite, sapphirine–cordierite–spinel–magnetite and quartz–cordierite–orthopyroxene were stable. The iron oxide content in sapphirine of the six rocks increases from an average of 2.0 to 10.5 wt % (total Fe as FeO) in the order: C,F–A,D–B,E. With increase in Fe there is an increase in recalculated Fe₂O₃ in sapphirine. The four rock types associated with the sapphirine-bearing lenses are: I: Orthopyroxene, cordierite, biotite, quartz, feldspar tonalitic to grandioritic gneiss; II: Biotite, quartz, feldspar gneiss; III: Orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, hornblende, plagioclase meta-norite; IV: Biotite, orthopyroxene, quartz, feldspar, garnet, cordierite, sillimanite granulite gneiss. The stable parageneses in type IV are orthopyroxene–cordierite–quartz, garnet–sillimanite–quartz and garnet–cordierite–sillimanite. Geothermobarometry suggests that the associated host rocks equilibrated at 720–750°C and 5.5–6.5 kbar. Petrogenetic grids for the FMASH and FMAFSH (FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–Fe₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O) model systems indicate that sapphirine-bearing assemblages without garnet were stabilized by a high Fe³⁺ content and a high X_Mg= (Mg/ (Mg+Fe²⁺)) under these P–T conditions.     

Petrology of Granulites from Anakapalle--Evidence for Proterozoic Decompression in the Eastern Ghats, India

The granulite complex at Anakapalle, which was metamorphosedat 1000 Ma, comprises orthopyroxene granulites, leptynite, khondalite,mafic granulites, calc-silicate rock, spinel granulites, andtwo types of sapphirine granulites—one quartz-bearingand migmatitic and the other devoid of quartz and massive. Reactiontextures in conjunction with mineral-chemical data suggest severalcontinuous and discontinuous equilibria in these rocks. In orthopyroxenegranulites, dehydration-melting of biotite in the presence ofquartz occurred according to the reaction biotite+quartz= garnet (Py₃₇)+K-feldspar+orthopyroxene + liquid. Later, this garnet broke down by the reaction garnet (Py₃₇)+quartz= orthopyroxene + plagioclase. Subsequently, coronal garnet (Py₃₀) and quartz were producedby the same reaction but proceeding in the opposite direction.In spinel granulites, garnet (Py₄₂) and sillimanite were producedby the breakdown of spinel in the presence of quartz. In thetwo types of sapphirine granulites, garnet with variable pyropecontent broke down according to the reaction garnet = sapphirine + sillimanite + orthopyroxene. The highest pyrope content (59 mol %) was noted in garnets fromquartz-free sapphirine granulites compared with the quartz-bearingone (53 mol % pyrope). The calculated positions of the mineralreactions and diserete P-T points obtained by thermobarometrydefine a retrograde P-T trajectory during which a steep decompressionof 1.5 kbar from P-T_max of 8 kbar and 900C was followed bynear-isobaric cooling of 300C. During this decompression, garnetwith variable pyrope contents in different rocks broke downon intersection with various divariant equilibria. Near-isobariccooling resulted in the formation of coronal garnet around second-generationorthopyroxene and plagioclase replacing earlier porphyroblasticgarnet in orthopyroxene granulites. It has been argued thatthe deduced P-T trajectory originated in an extensional regimeinvolving either a crust of near-normal thickness of a slightlyoverthickened crust owing to magmatic underaccretion.     

Silica-undersaturated sapphirine, spinel and kornerupine granulite facies rocks, NE Strangways Range, Central Australia

Small pods of silica-undersaturated Al-rich and Mg-rich granulite facies rocks containing sapphirine, pleonastic spinel, kornerupine, cordierite, orthopyroxene, corundum, sillimanite and gedrite are scattered throughout the NE Strangways Range, Central Australia. These are divided into four distinct rock types, namely orthopyroxene-rich aluminous granofels and metapelitic gneisses containing sapphirine, spinel or kornerupine. Two granulite facies metamorphic events are recognized, of which only the first (M1) is considered in this paper. Peak metamorphic mineral parageneses indicate that the M1 thermal maximum occurred at approximately 900–950 °C and 8–9 kbar. All samples are characterized by profuse and diverse coronitic and symplectic reaction textures. These are interpreted as evidence for the sequential crossing of the following reactions in the system FMAS: cordierite + spinel + corundum = sapphirine + sillimanite, cordierite + spinel = orthopyroxene + sapphirine + sillimanite, sapphirine + spinel + sillimanite = orthopyroxene + corundum, sapphirine + sillimanite = cordierite + orthopyroxene + corundum. Phase stability relationships in FMAS and MASH indicate an anticlockwise P–T path terminated by isobaric cooling. Such a path is exemplified by early low-P mineral parageneses containing spinel, corundum and gedrite and the occurrence of both prograde and retrograde corundum. Reaction textures preserve evidence for an increase in aH₂O and aB₂O₃ with progressive isobaric cooling. This hydrous retrogression resulted from crystallization of intimately associated M1 partial melt segregations. There is no evidence for voluminous magmatic accretion giving rise to the high M1 thermal gradient. The M1 P–T path may be the result of either lithospheric thinning after both crustal thickening and burial of the supracrustal terrane, or concomitant crustal thickening and mantle lithosphere thinning.     

Petro-tectonic Imprints in the Sapphirine Granulites from Anantagiri, Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, India

Sapphirine granulite occurring as lenses in charnockite at Anantagiri,Eastern Ghat, India, displays an array of minerals which developedunder different P-T-X conditions. Reaction textures in conjunctionwith mineral chemical data attest to several Fe-Mg continuousreactions, such as

1. spinel+rutile+quartz+MgFe_–1=sapphirine+ilmenite
2. cordierite=sapphirine+quartz+MgFe_–1
3. sapphirine+quartz=orthopyroxene+sillimanite+MgFe_–1
4. orthopyroxene+sapphirine+quartz=garnet+MgFe_–1
5. orthopyroxene+sillimanite=garnet+quartz+MgFe_–1
6. orthopyroxene+sillimanite+quartz+MgFe_–1=cordierite.

Calculated positions of the reaction curves in P-T space, togetherwith discrete P-T points obtained through geothermobarometryin sapphirine granulite and the closely associated charnockiteand mafic granulite, define an anticlockwise P-T trajectory.This comprises a high-T/P prograde metamorphic path which culminatedin a pressure regime of 8?3 kb above 950?C, a nearly isobariccooling (IBC) path (from 950?C, 8?3 kb, to 675?C, 7?5kb) anda terminal decompressive path (from 7?5 to 4?5 kb). Spinel,quartz, high-Mg cordierite, and sapphirine were stabilized duringthe prograde high-T/P metamorphism, followed by the developmentof orthopyroxene, sillimanite, and garnet during the IBC. Retrogradelow-Mg cordierite appeared as a consequence of decompressionin the sapphirine granulite. Deformational structures, reportedfrom the Eastern Ghat granulites, and the available geochronologicaldata indicate that prograde metamorphism could have occurredat 30001?00 and 2500?100 Ma during a compressive orogeny thatwas associated with high heat influx through mafic magmatism. IBC ensued from P_max and was thus a direct consequence of progrademetamorphism. However, in the absence of sufficient study onthe spatial variation in P-T paths and the strain historiesin relation to time, the linkage between IBC and isothermaldecompression (ITD) has remained obscure. A prolonged IBC followedby ITD could be the consequence of one extensional mechanismwhich had an insufficient acceleration at the early stage, orITD separately could be caused by an unrelated extensional tectonism.The complex cooled nearly isobarically from 2500 Ma. It sufferedrapid decompression accompanied by anorthosite and alkalinemagmatism at 1400–1000 Ma.     

Metamorphic History of Sapphirine-bearing and Related Magnesian Gneisses from Namaqualand, South Africa

Sapphirine occurs with cordierite, phlogopite, spinel, sillimanite,corundum, orthopyroxene, and gedrite in granulite facies Mg-and Al-rich paragneisses within the low P, high T NamaqualandMetamorphic Complex. The gneisses reveal a three-stage texturalhistory. Sapphirine appeared during a second stage of progrademineral growth which produced nodular structures and intergrowthsinvolving spinel, corundum, and sillimanite, pseudomorphingan earlier generation of coarse, amphibolite facies minerals.A third generation of coarse, cross-cutting, mainly hydrousminerals (gedrite, kornerupine, phlogopite) is sporadicallydeveloped. The wide variety of cofacial mineral assemblages allows thedelineation of the stable mineral associations of sapphirinein the system K₂O-MgO-FeO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O under P-T conditionsindependently estimated at about 5 kb, 750–800 °C.The natural assemblages provide constraints which, taken togetherwith existing thermodynamic and experimental data, allow theestimation of P-T slopes of sapphirine equilibria. The mineraltextures thus indicate sapphirine growth under increasing T,decreasing a(H₂O), and constant or slightly increasing P. The preservation of prograde reaction textures during fine-grainedmineral growth probably results from the reduced importanceand/or more CO₂-rich composition of the metamorphic fluid undergranulite facies conditions in these refractory rocks. Aqueousfluids were locally reintroduced after the metamorphic peak.     

Theoretical phase relations involving cordierite and garnet revisited: the influence of oxygen fugacity on the stability of sapphirine and spinel in the system Mg-Fe-Al-Si-O

The theoreticalP-T grid for stability relations of the phases cordierite (Cd), sapphirine (Sa), hypersthene (Hy), garnet (Ga), spinel (Sp), sillimanite (Si), and quartz (Qz) of Hensen (1971), has proved useful in the interpretation of metamorphic mineral assemblages formed at low oxygen fugacity. Both experimental data and evidence from natural rocks indicate that at high oxygen fugacity compatability relations change as a result of the enlargement of the stability field of spinel, which causes a topological inversion and the stabilisation of the invariant points [Sa], [Ga], and [Cd]. This implies the stable existence of the univariant equilibria (for buffered conditions): Sp+Qz=Ga+Hy+Si+O₂ (Sa, Cd), Cd+Sp+Qz=Hy+Si+O₂ (Sa, Ga) and Sa+Sp+Qz=Hy+Si+O₂ (Ga, Cd) and the divariant reaction: Sp+Qz=Hy+Si+O₂ (Sa, Ga, Cd). These redox equilibria are restricted to conditions of high oxygen fugacity. The proposed theoreticalP-T grids, for both low and high oxygen fugacity, satisfactorily explain all experimental data and metamorphic mineral assemblages so far found in granulites.     

Petrological evolution of a suite of spinel granulites from Vizianagram, Eastern Ghats Belt, India, and genesis of sapphirine-bearing assemblages

A suite of spinel–cordierite granulites from Viziangram, Eastern Ghats Belt, India preserve mineral assemblages and reaction textures indicative of peak metamorphic conditions of >1000 °C, >8<10 kbar, followed successively by near isobaric cooling (down to 750–800 °C), near isothermal decompression (to 4–5 kbar), and late hydration. P–T conditions of each stage are evaluated through a combination of petrogenetic grid approach and thermobarometry. Sapphirine is developed in sillimanite‐bearing acid pegmatite veins that intruded the spinel–cordierite granulite close to peak metamorphic conditions, and also in the host rock in immediate contact with the pegmatite. Both sillimanite and sapphirine in the pegmatite are considered to be magmatic phases. Field observations and textural characteristics suggest that Al‐metasomatism of the spinel–cordierite granulite due to the intrusion of pegmatite was responsible for sapphirine formation in the spinel granulite.     

Kornerupine in Mg-Al-rich gneisses from Namaqualand,South Africa: mineralogy and evidence for late-metamorphic fluid activity

Three kornerupine occurrences are reported in distinctive SiO₂-poor, MgO- and Al₂O₃-rich paragneisses from the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex in South Africa. Kornerupine coexists stably with phlogopite, cordierite, orthopyroxene, gedrite, sapphirine, sillimanite and plagioclase and, in sapphirine-free rocks, with spinel and corundum. Tourmaline of a texturally older generation than kornerupine is commonly present in the same samples.Ten analysed kornerupines show a variation in total Fe as FeO from 1.8 to 10.9 weight per cent. B₂O₃ contents are estimated from x-ray data and a few spectrochemical analyses to range from 0.9 to 3.5 weight per cent. There is a strong inverse correlation between B³⁺ and Al³⁺. Total iron content has a strong and systematic effect on refractive index, colour and dispersion. Fe and Mg are systematically partitioned with the other minerals, and Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios increase as follows: spinel 相似文献   

Reaction Textures in a Suite of Spinel Granulites from the Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Evidence for Polymetamorphism, a Partial Petrogenetic Grid in the System KFMASH and the Roles of ZnO and Fe2O3

Spinel granulites, with or without sapphirine, occur as lensesin garnetiferous quartzofeldspathic gneisses (leptynites) nearGokavaram in the Eastern Ghats Belt, India. Spinel granulitesare mineralogically heterogeneous and six mineral associationsoccur in closely spaced domains. These are (I) spinel–quartz–cordierite,(II) spinel–quartz–cordierite–garnet–orthopyroxene–sillimanite,(III) spinel–cordierite–orthopyroxene–sillimanite,(IV) spinel–quartz–sapphirine–sillimanite–garnet,(V) spinel–quartz-sapphirine–garnet and (IV) rhombohedral(Fe–Ti) oxide–cordierite–orthopyroxene–sillimanite.Common to all the associations are a porphyroblastic garnet(containing an internal schistosify defined by biotite, sillimaniteand quartz), perthite and plagioclase. Spinel contains variableamounts of exsolved magnetite and is distinctly Zn rich in thesapphirine-absent associations. X_Mg in the coexisting phasesdecreases in the order cordierite–biotite–sapphirine–orthopyroxene–spinel–garnet–(Fe–Ti)oxides. Textural criteria and compositional characteristicsof the phases document several retrograde mineral reactionswhich occurred subsequent to prograde dehydration melting reactionsinvolving biotite, sillimanite, quartz, plagioclase and spinel.The following retrograde mineral reactions are deduced: (1)spinel + quartz cordierite, (2) spinel + quartz garnet + sillimanite,(3) garnet + quartz cordierite + orthopyroxene, (4) garnet+ quartz + sillimanite cordierite, (5) spinel + cordierite orthopyroxene + sillimanite, (6) spinel + sillimanite + quartz sapphirine, (7) spinel + sapphirine + quartz garnet + sillimanite,and (8) spinel + quartz sapphirine + garnet. A partial petrogeneticgrid for the system FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–K₂O–H₂Oat high fo₂, has been constructed and the effects of ZnO andFe₂O₃ on this grid have been explored Combining available experimentaland natural occurrence data, the high fo₂ invariant points inthe partial grid have been located in P–T space. Geothermobarometricdata and consideration of the deduced mineral reactions in thepetrogenetic grid show that the spinel granulites evolved throughan anticlockwise P–T trajectory reaching peak metamorphicconditions >9 kbar and 950C, followed by near-isobaric cooling(dT/dP = 150C/kbar). This was superimposed by an event of near-isothermaldecompression (dT/dP = 15C/kbar). The studied spinel granulites,therefore, preserve relic prograde mineral associations andreaction textures despite being metamorphosed at very high temperatures,and bear evidence of polymetamorphism. KEY WORDS: spinel granulite; Eastern Ghats; India; polymetamorphism; geothermometry; geobarometry Corresponding author     

Sapphirine/kornenipine-bearing rocks and crustal uplift history of the Limpopo belt,Southern Africa

Sapphirine/kornerupine-bearing rocks occur within the anorthosites of the Messina layered intrusion in the Limpopo mobile belt of Zimbabwe. The X_Mg range of the major minerals is as follows: cordierite (0.98-0.93); enstatite (0.97-0.86); chlorite (0.98-0.92); phlogopite (0.98-0.90); sapphirine (0.98-0.86); kornerupine (0.94-0.88); gedrite (0.96-0.85); spinel (0.92-0.78). There are four rock types, the constituent minerals of which have different values, which decrease in the above mineral order; other minerals are corundum, sillimanite and relict kyanite. We recognise twenty reactions without phlogopite and nine reactions involving phlogopite. The textural relations and the plots of the microprobe data of coexisting minerals in the MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-(H₂O) system are consistent with the following sequence of main reactions: (1) enstatite+corundum cordierite+sapphirine; (4) sapphirine+sillimanite cordierite+corundum; (8) kornerupine+corundum cordierite+sapphirine; (13) kornerupine cordierite+sapphirine+enstatite; (15) enstatite+spinel chlorite+sapphirine; (18) cordierite+sapphirine chlorite+corundum; (20) sapphirine chlorite+corundum+spinel. The early reactions are shown by coarse-grained reaction intergrowths, kornerupine and gedrite breakdown is shown by finer-grained symplectites, and the latest reactions by very fine-grained products in micro-fractures. These selected reactions illustrate a remarkably steep trajectory from thePT peak close to 10 kbar and 800° C to the minimum observable at 3.5–4.5 kbar and 700° C as indicated by the pure MASH system. Very rapid uplift took place under nearly isothermal conditions. The protolith of this material was possibly sedimentary, derived from altered volcanic rocks. The bulk composition is close to the composition of kornerupine or to a mixture of alunite, chlorite and pyrophyllite. These texturally and mineralogically complex rocks contain a wealth of relevant data for documenting crustal uplift history.     

Modelling of mineral equilibria in ultrahigh-temperature metamorphic rocks from the Anápolis–Itauçu Complex, central Brazil

A new quantitative approach to constraining mineral equilibria in sapphirine‐bearing ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) granulites through the use of pseudosections and compatibility diagrams is presented, using a recently published thermodynamic model for sapphirine. The approach is illustrated with an example from an UHT locality in the Anápolis–Itauçu Complex, central Brazil, where modelling of mineral equilibria indicates peak metamorphic conditions of about 9 kbar and 1000 °C. The early formed, coarse‐grained assemblage is garnet–orthopyroxene–sillimanite–quartz, which was subsequently modified following peak conditions. The retrograde pressure–temperature (P–T) path of this locality involves decompression across the FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ (FMAS) univariant reaction orthopyroxene + sillimanite = garnet + sapphirine + quartz, resulting in the growth of sapphirine–quartz, followed by cooling and recrossing of this reaction. The resulting microstructures are modelled using compatibility diagrams, and pseudosections calculated for specific grain boundaries considered as chemical domains. The sequence of microstructures preserved in the rocks constrains a two‐stage isothermal decompression–isobaric cooling path. The stability of cordierite along the retrograde path is examined using a domainal approach and pseudosections for orthopyroxene–quartz and garnet–quartz grain boundaries. This analysis indicates that the presence or absence of cordierite may be explained by local variation in a_H2O. This study has important implications for thermobarometric studies of UHT granulites, mainly through showing that traditional FMAS petrogenetic grids based on experiments alone may overestimate P–T conditions. Such grids are effectively constant a_H2O sections in FMAS‐H₂O (FMASH), for which the corresponding a_H2O is commonly higher than that experienced by UHT granulites. A corollary of this dependence of mineral equilibria on a_H2O is that local variations in a_H2O may explain the formation of cordierite without significant changes in P–T conditions, particularly without marked decompression.     

Ultrahigh temperature granulite metamorphism (1050 °C, 12 kbar) and decompression in garnet (Mg70)–orthopyroxene–sillimanite gneisses from the Rauer Group, East Antarctica

Highly magnesian and aluminous migmatitic gneisses from Mather Peninsula in the Rauer Group, Eastern Antarctica, preserve ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metamorphic assemblages that include orthopyroxene+sillimanite±quartz, garnet+sillimanite±quartz and garnet+orthopyroxene±sillimanite. Garnet that ranges up to X_Mg of 71.5 coexists with aluminous orthopyroxene that shows zoning from cores with 7.5–8.5 wt% Al₂O₃ to rims with up to 10.6 wt% Al₂O₃ adjacent to garnet. Peak P–T conditions of 1050 °C and 12 kbar are retrieved from Fe–Mg–Al thermobarometry involving garnet and orthopyroxene, in very good agreement with independent constraints from petrogenetic grids in FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ and related chemical systems. Sapphirine, orthopyroxene and cordierite form extensive symplectites and coronas on the early phases. The specific reaction textures and assemblages involving these secondary phases correlate with initial garnet X_Mg , with apparent higher-pressure reaction products occurring on the more magnesian garnet, and are interpreted to result from an initial phase of ultrahigh temperature near-isothermal decompression (UHT-ITD) from 12 to 8 kbar at temperatures in excess of 950 °C. Later textures that involved biotite formation and then partial breakdown, along with garnet relics, to symplectites of orthopyroxene+cordierite or cordierite+spinel may reflect hydration through back-reaction with crystallizing melts on cooling below 900–850 °C, followed by ITD from 7 to 8 kbar to c. 5 kbar at temperatures of 750–850 °C. The tectonic significance of this P–T history is ambiguous as the Rauer Group records the effects of Archean tectonothermal events as well as high-grade events at 1000 and 530 Ma. Late-stage biotite formation and subsequent ITD can be correlated with the P–T history preserved in the Proterozoic components of the Rauer Group and hence with either 1000 or 530 Ma collisional orogenesis. However, whether the preceding UHT-ITD history reflects a temporally unrelated event (e.g. Archean) or is simply an early stage of either the late-Proterozoic or Pan-African tectonism, as recently deduced for similar UHT rocks from other areas of the East Antarctica, remains uncertain.     

Al zoning in orthopyroxene in a sapphirine quartzite: evidence for >1120 °C UHT metamorphism in the Napier Complex, Antarctica, and implications for the entropy of sapphirine

A unique sapphirine + orthopyroxene + quartz granulite from Mt. Riiser-Larsen in the Tula Mountains of Enderby Land, East Antarctica, preserves two generations of coarse and texturally equilibrated orthopyroxene and sapphirine coexisting with quartz. Initial subhedral orthopyroxene porphyroblasts retain core compositions enriched in Al₂O₃ (12.2 ± 0.5 wt%) compared with their rims and finer orthopyroxene (9.6 ± 0.5 wt% Al₂O₃) that forms granoblastic textures with sapphirine. Sapphirine and quartz also form symplectites on and along cleavage planes within orthopyroxene. These compositional and textural features are consistent with the reaction [2MgAl₂SiO₆=Mg₂Al₄ SiO₁₀ + SiO₂] leading to the formation of sapphirine + quartz at the expense of aluminous orthopyroxene. Calculations in the MAS and FMAS systems and theoretical considerations involving the phases enstatite, sapphirine, sillimanite, quartz and cordierite indicate that the reaction above progresses from left to right with decreasing temperature in the orthopyroxene + sapphirine + quartz field, at pressures of ca. 8–10 kbar. The temperature difference required to account for the ca. 2.5–3 wt% decrease in Al₂O₃ in orthopyroxene is at least 60–80 °C, and implies peak temperatures for the initial assemblage of at least 1120 °C if the second granoblastic assemblage equilibrated at 1040 °C, the P–T conditions required by the sapphirine + quartz association and other P–T-sensitive assemblage indicators in the Napier Complex. It is not possible to distinguish whether the two assemblages are simply related by cooling and re-equilibration or reflect a polyphase evolution involving the superposition of a second UHT event on an earlier, even higher temperature, UHT metamorphism. Preliminary thermodynamic modelling of the reaction above incorporating the observed range in orthopyroxene Al₂O₃ zoning indicates that present estimates for the entropy of high-temperature sapphirine are potentially too high by 15–18% compared with sapphirine entropy estimates that are consistent with MAS system experiments. The Mt. Riiser-Larsen sapphirine–quartz rocks preserve the first definitive record of regional metamorphic temperatures in excess of 1120 °C in the Napier Complex, or indeed any UHT granulite terrain worldwide. Similarly high peak temperatures may be retrieved from detailed studies of sapphirine–quartz granulites from other regions, further expanding the thermal realm of crustal metamorphism, but progress will critically depend on the experimental acquisition of new entropy data for sapphirine. Received: 3 September 1998 / Accepted: 8 November 1999     

Experimental study of the stability of cordierite and garnet in pelitic compositions at high pressures and temperatures

The stability of cordierite and garnet relative to their anhydrous breakdown products, i.e. hypersthene, sapphirine, olivine, spinel, sillimanite and quartz, has been studied experimentally in model pelitic compositions (system MgO-FeO-Al₂O₃-CaO-K₂O-SiO₂). Below 1000° C cordierite breaks down according to the divariant reaction cordierite garnet+sillimanite+quartz (1) for most values of the MgO/MgO + FeO ratio (X). At very high values of X (ca. X0.9) garnet in reaction (1) is replaced by hypersthene. The position and width of the divariant field (in terms of pressure and temperature) in which cordierite and garnet coexist, is a function of the MgO/MgO + FeO ratio. If this ratio is increased then the stability field of garnet is reduced and that of cordierite extended towards higher pressure. Compositions of coexisting cordierite and garnet in divariant equilibrium have been analysed by electron probe micro-analyser. These compositions are unique functions of pressure and temperature. Above ca. 1000° C the breakdown of cordierite involves the phases sapphirine and hercynite-rich spinel in Mg-rich and Fe-rich compositions respectively.     

A sapphirine-cordierite-garnet-sillimanite granulite from Enderby Land,Antarctica: implications for FMAS petrogenetic grids in the granulite facies

A quartz-absent magnesian paragneiss layer from Mount Sones, in the Archaean Napier complex of Enderby Land, Antarctica, contains the stable divariant FMAS assemblage sapphirine (X _Mg=78) — cordierite (X _Mg=87) — garnet (X _Mg=51) — sillimanite. Rare green spinel (X _Mg=53.5, ZnO=2.65wt%) occurs as inclusions mainly within sapphirine, but also within sillimanite and garnet. Late thin coronas of cordierite (X _Mg=90.5) mantle sapphirine in contact with extensively exsolved anorthoclase. The mineral textures are interpreted to indicate the former stability of a hypersthene-quartz absent assemblage followed by the development of the FMAS equilibrium assemblage sapphirine-cordierite-garnet-sillimanite (sp, hy, qz) and further divariant reaction involving the consumption of sapphirine. The (sp, hy, qz) assemblage uniquely defines the stable P-T reaction topology appropriate to granulites from the Napier Complex, as this paragenesis is allowed in the grids of Hensen (1971, 1986) but is not possible in other grids which assume the stability of a sapphirine-absent ([sa]) FMAS invariant point involving the phases spinel, garnet, hypersthene, cordierite, sillimanite and quartz. The observed mineral assemblages and textures are consistent with peak metamorphism between the [sp] and [hy] invariant points of Hensen (1971), at temperatures of 930–990° C, followed by cooling on a lower dP/dT trajectory towards the (sp, qz) univariant line. The initial spinel-bearing assemblage was stabilized by Zn and to a lesser extent by Ni and Cr, and hence does not require a marked decrease in temperature and increase in pressure to produce the (sp, hy, qz) assemblage. It is inferred that fO ₂ conditions substantially lower than those used in the experiments of Annersten and Seifert (1981) prevailed in the high-grade metamorphism in the Napier Complex.     

Orthopyroxene–sillimanite–sapphirine granulites from the Bamble granulite terrane, southern Norway

Silica-deficient sapphirine-bearing rocks occur as an enclave within granulite facies Proterozoic gneisses and migmatites near Grimstad in the Bamble sector of south-east Norway (Hasleholmen locality). The rocks contain peraluminous sapphirine, orthopyroxene, gedrite, anthophyllite, sillimanite, sapphirine, corundum, cordierite, spinel, quartz and biotite in a variety of assemblages. Feldspar is absent.
Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+ Mg) in the analysed minerals varies in the order: spinel > gedrite ≥ anthophyllite ≥ biotite > sapphirine>orthopyroxene > cordierite.
Characteristic pseudomorph textures indicate coexistence of orthopyroxene and sillimanite during early stages of the reaction history. Assemblages containing orthopyroxene-sillimanite-sapphirine-cordierite-corundum developed during a high-pressure phase of metamorphism and are consistent with equilibration pressures of about 9 kbar at temperatures of 750–800°C. Decompression towards medium-pressure granulite facies generated various sapphirine-bearing assemblages. The diagnostic assemblage of this stage is sapphirine-cordierite. Sapphirine occurs in characteristic symplectite textures. The major mineralogical changes can be described by the discontinuous FMAS reaction: orthopyroxene + sillimanite → sapphirine + cordierite + corundum.
The disequilibrium textures found in the Hasleholmen rocks are characteristic for reactions which have been in progress but then ceased before they run to completion. Textures such as reaction rims, symplectites, partial replacement, corrosion and dissolution of earlier minerals are characteristic of granulite facies rocks. They indicate that, despite relatively high temperatures (700–800° C), equilibrium domains were small and chemical communication and transport was hampered as a result of dry or H₂O-poor conditions.     

Experimental study of the stability of cordierite and garnet in pelitic compositions at high pressures and temperatures

In pelitic rocks, under conditions of low f _{O 2} and low f _{H 2 O}, the stability of the mineral pair cordierite-garnet is limited by five univariant reactions. In sequence from high pressure and low temperature to high temperature and low pressure these are: cordierite+garnet hypersthene+sillimanite+quartz, cordierite+garnet hypersthene+sapphirine+quartz, cordierite+garnet hypersthene+spinel+quartz and cordierite+garnet olivine+spinel +quartz. In this sequence of reactions the Mg/Mg+Fe²⁺ ratio of all ferro-magnesian minerals involved decreases continuously from the first reaction to the fifth. The five univariant boundaries delimit a wide P-T range over which cordierite and garnet may coexist.Two divariant equilibria in which the Mg/Mg+ Fe²⁺ ratio of the coexisting phases are uniquely determined by pressure and temperature have been studied in detail. P-T-X grids for the reactions cordierite garnet+sillimanite+quartz and cordierite+hypersthene garnet+quartz are used to obtain pressure-temperature estimates for several high grade metamorphic areas. The results suggest temperatures of formation of 700–850° C and load pressures of 5–10 kb. In rare occasions temperatures of 950–1000° C appear to have been reached during granulite metamorphism.On the basis of melting experiments in pelitic compositions it is suggested that Ca-poor garnet xenocrysts found in calc-alkaline magmas derive from admixed pelitic rocks and did not equilibrate with the calc-alkaline magma.     

Mg-Al Sapphirine- and Ca-Al Hibonite-bearing Granulite Xenoliths from the Chyulu Hills Volcanic Field, Kenya

Basanites of the Chyulu Hills (Kenya Rift) contain mafic Mg–Aland Ca–Al granulite xenoliths. Their protoliths are interpretedas troctolitic cumulates; however, the original mineral assemblageswere almost completely transformed by subsolidus reactions.Mg–Al granulites contain the minerals spinel, sapphirine,sillimanite, plagioclase, corundum, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxeneand garnet, whereas Ca–Al granulites are characterizedby hibonite, spinel, sapphirine, mullite, sillimanite, plagioclase,quartz, clinopyroxene, corundum, and garnet. In the Mg–Algranulites, the first generation of orthopyroxene and some spinelmay be of igneous origin. In the Ca–Al granulites, hibonite(and possibly some spinel) are the earliest, possibly igneous,minerals in the crystallization sequence. Most pyroxene, spineland corundum in Mg–Al and Ca–Al granulites formedby subsolidus reactions. The qualitative P–T path derivedfrom metamorphic reactions corresponds to subsolidus cooling,probably accompanied, or followed by, compression. Final equilibrationwas achieved at T 600–740°C and P <8 kbar, inthe stability field of sillimanite. The early coexistence ofcorundum and pyroxenes (± spinel), as well as the associationof sillimanite and sapphirine with clinopyroxene and the presenceof hibonite, makes both types of granulite rare. The Ca–Alhibonite-bearing granulites are unique. Both types enlarge thespectrum of known Ca–Al–Mg-rich granulites worldwide. KEY WORDS: granulite xenoliths; corundum; sapphirine; hibonite; Kenya Rift     

Metastable growth of corundum adjacent to quartz in a spinel-bearing quartzite from the Archaean Napier Complex, Antarctica

In a granulite-facies spinel-bearing quartzite, corundum, orthopyroxene and sapphirine (and rarely cordierite and sillimanite) form partial rims separating spinel from quartz. Textures indicate the reactions:
spinel + quartz = orthopyroxene + corundum, and
spinel + quartz = orthopyroxene + sapphirine.
Thus, corundum and sapphirine are produced by reactions involving quartz. The low Al-content of the orthopyroxene (0.5–2.8 wt %) and low values for Mg–Fe distribution coefficient for spinel–sapphirine and spinel–orthopyroxene reflect low-temperature conditions during formation of the reaction products. Absence of zoning in spinel and a constant Mg–Fe distribution coefficient for spinel–sapphirine and spinel–orthopyroxene, over a compositional range, indicate Mg–Fe equilibration. It is suggested that stable reactions such as spinel + quartz = cordierite or spinel + quartz = garnet + sillimanite were over-stepped and that metastable reactions give rise to the anomalous juxtaposition of corundum + quartz.