Phase petrology and P-T conditions of mafic blueschists from the Meliata unit, West Carpathians, Slovakia

Abstract Blueschists occurring as layers in calcite marbles of the Meliata unit occur along the so-called Roznava tectonic line situated in the southern part of the Gemericum, Slovakia. Mineral assemblages and compositions from seven blueschists localities and one occurrence of amphibolite facies rocks overprinted by blueschist metamorphism were investigated. The most common minerals in the blueschists are blue amphibole, epidote and albite. Some Fe²⁺- and Al-rich rocks also contain garnet and chloritoid, respectively. Na-pyroxene with a maximum 50% jadeite component was also found. The blue amphiboles correspond mostly to crossite and also to glaucophane and ferroglaucophane in some samples. Almandine- and spessartine-rich garnet has very low MgO content (<3 wt%). The Si content in phengite ranges between 3.3 and 3.5 pfu calculated on the basis of 11 oxygens. The zoning patterns of blue amphibole, garnet and chloritoid suggest their formation during a prograde stage of metamorphism. The P-T conditions of metamorphism are estimated to be about 380–460° C and 10–13 kbar. Pressures of 7.5–8.5 kbar and temperatures of 350–370° C were obtained for some actinolite- and aegirine-rich rocks. Apart from chlorite, other mafic minerals formed during retrograde metamorphism are biotite and occasionally also actinolite.     

The Sabzevar blueschists of the North-Central Iranian micro-continent as remnants of the Neotethys-related oceanic crust subduction

The Sabzevar ophiolites mark the Neotethys suture in east-north-central Iran. The Sabzevar metamorphic rocks, as part of the Cretaceous Sabzevar ophiolitic complex, consist of blueschist, amphibolite and greenschist. The Sabzevar blueschists contain sodic amphibole, epidote, phengite, calcite ± omphacite ± quartz. The epidote amphibolite is composed of sodic-calcic amphibole, epidote, albite, phengite, quartz ± omphacite, ilmenite and titanite. The greenschist contains chlorite, plagioclase and pyrite, as main minerals. Thermobarometry of a blueschist yields a pressure of 13–15.5 kbar at temperatures of 420–500 °C. Peak metamorphic temperature/depth ratios were low (~12 °C/km), consistent with metamorphism in a subduction zone. The presence of epidote in the blueschist shows that the rocks were metamorphosed entirely within the epidote stability field. Amphibole schist samples experienced pressures of 5–7 kbar and temperatures between 450 and 550 °C. The presence of chlorite, actinolite, biotite and titanite indicate greenschist facies metamorphism. Chlorite, albite and biotite replacing garnet or glaucophane suggests temperatures of >300 °C for greenschist facies. The formation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks is related to north-east-dipping subduction of the Neotethys oceanic crust and subsequent closure during lower Eocene between the Central Iranian Micro-continent and Eurasia (North Iran).     

Iranshahr blueschist: subduction of the inner Makran oceanic crust

The Makran accretionary prism in SE Iran and SW Pakistan is one of the most extensive subduction accretions on Earth. It is characterized by intense folding, thrust faulting and dislocation of the Cenozoic units that consist of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Rock units forming the northern Makran ophiolites are amalgamated as a mélange. Metamorphic rocks, including greenschist, amphibolite and blueschist, resulted from metamorphism of mafic rocks and serpentinites. In spite of the geodynamic significance of blueschist in this area, it has been rarely studied. Peak metamorphic phases of the northern Makran mafic blueschist in the Iranshahr area are glaucophane, phengite, quartz±omphacite+epidote. Post peak minerals are chlorite, albite and calcic amphibole. Blueschist facies metasedimentary rocks contain garnet, phengite, albite and epidote in the matrix and as inclusions in glaucophane. The calculated P–T pseudosection for a representative metabasic glaucophane schist yields peak pressure and temperature of 11.5–15 kbar at 400–510 °C. These rocks experienced retrograde metamorphism from blueschist to greenschist facies (350–450 °C and 7–8 kbar) during exhumation. A back arc basin was formed due to northward subduction of Neotethys under Eurasia (Lut block). Exhumation of the high‐pressure metamorphic rocks in northern Makran occurred contemporarily with subduction. Several reverse faults played an important role in exhumation of the ophiolitic and HP‐LT rocks. The presence of serpentinite shows the possible role of a serpentinite diapir for exhumation of the blueschist. A tectonic model is proposed here for metamorphism and exhumation of oceanic crust and accretionary sedimentary rocks of the Makran area. Vast accretion of subducted materials caused southward migration of the shore.     

P–T path of high-pressure/low-temperature rocks and tectonic implications in the western Tianshan Mountains, NW China

The Chinese western Tianshan high-pressure/low-temperature (HP–LT) metamorphic belt, which extends for about 200 km along the South Central Tianshan suture zone, is composed of mainly metabasic blueschists, eclogites and greenschist facies rocks. The metabasic blueschists occur as small discrete blocks, lenses, bands, laminae or thick beds in meta-sedimentary greenschist facies country rocks. Eclogites are intercalated within blueschist layers as lenses, laminae, thick beds or large massive blocks (up to 2 km² in plan view). Metabasic blueschists consist of mainly garnet, sodic amphibole, phengite, paragonite, clinozoisite, epidote, chlorite, albite, accessory titanite and ilmenite. Eclogites are predominantly composed of garnet, omphacite, sodic–calcic amphibole, clinozoisite, phengite, paragonite, quartz with accessory minerals such as rutile, titanite, ilmenite, calcite and apatite. Garnet in eclogite has a composition of 53–79 mol% almandine, 8.5–30 mol% grossular, 5–24 mol% pyrope and 0.6–13 mol% spessartine. Garnet in blueschists shows similar composition. Sodic amphiboles include glaucophane, ferro-glaucophane and crossite, whereas the sodic–calcic amphiboles mainly comprise barroisite and winchite. The jadeite content of omphacite varies from 35–54 mol%. Peak eclogite facies temperatures are estimated as 480–580 °C for a pressure range of 14–21 kbar. The conditions of pre-peak, epidote–blueschist facies metamorphism are estimated to be 350–450 °C and 8–12 kbar. All rock types have experienced a clockwise P–T path through pre-peak lawsonite/epidote-blueschist to eclogite facies conditions. The retrograde part of the P–T path is represented by the transition of epidote-blueschist to greenschist facies conditions. The P–T path indicates that the high-pressure rocks formed in a B-type subduction zone along the northern margin of the Palaeozoic South Tianshan ocean between the Tarim and Yili-central Tianshan plates.     

Pressure–temperature conditions and retrograde paths of eclogites, garnet–glaucophane rocks and schists from South Sulawesi, Indonesia

High-pressure metamorphic rocks exposed in the Bantimala area, c . 40  km north-east of Ujung Pandang, were formed as a Cretaceous subduction complex with fault-bounded slices of melange, chert, basalt, turbidite, shallow-marine sedimentary rocks and ultrabasic rocks. Eclogites, garnet–glaucophane rocks and schists of the Bantimala complex have estimated peak temperatures of T  =580–630 °C at 18  kbar and T  =590–640 °C at 24  kbar, using the garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometer. The garnet–omphacite–phengite equilibrium is used to estimate pressures. The distribution coefficient K _D1=[( X _pyr)³( X _grs)⁶/( X _di)⁶]/[(Al/Mg)_M2,wm (Al/Si)_T2,wm]³ among omphacite, garnet and phengite is a good index for metamorphic pressures. The K _D1values of the Bantimala eclogites were compared with those of eclogites with reliable P–T  estimates. This comparison suggests that peak pressures of the Bantimala eclogites were P =18–24  kbar at T  =580–640 °C. These results are consistent with the P–T  range calculated using garnet–rutile–epidote–quartz and lawsonite–omphacite–glaucophane–epidote equilibria.     

内蒙古头道桥地区蓝闪石片岩和相关变质岩石岩石学特征及其构造意义

内蒙古头道桥地区出露了一套经高压变质形成的岩石组合。本次研究通过岩相学和矿物化学分析,根据矿物组合的不同,识别出蓝片岩、绿片岩两种不同类型的岩石类型。其中,蓝片岩的矿物组合为角闪石（蓝闪石、蓝透闪石）+绿帘石+钠长石+绿泥石+石英+赤铁矿±多硅白云母±方解石±榍石;绿片岩的矿物组合为绿泥石+钠长石+石英±绿帘石±角闪石（阳起石、镁角闪石、蓝透闪石、冻蓝闪石等）±多硅白云母±赤铁矿。确定了蓝片岩的峰期变质级别为绿帘-蓝闪片岩相,峰期变质温度为400~600℃,压力为1.2~1.4 GPa。绿片岩的峰期变质级别为绿帘-角闪岩相。结合前人研究成果,认为蓝片岩和绿片岩的形成与额尔古纳地块和兴安地块的碰撞拼合有关。     

Ultrahigh Pressure Metamorphism and Tectonic Evolution of Southwestern Tianshan Orogenic Belt,China: A Comprehensive Review

Recently, a huge ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt of oceanic‐type has been recognized in southwestern (SW) Tianshan, China. Petrological studies show that the UHP metamorphic rocks of SW Tianshan orogenic belt include mafic eclogites and blueschists, felsic garnet phengite schists, marbles and serpentinites. The well‐preserved coesite inclusions were commonly found in eclogites, garnet phengite schists and marbles. Ti‐clinohumite and Ti‐chondrodite have been identified in UHP metamorphic serpentinites. Based on the PT pseudosection calculation and combined U‐Pb zircon dating, the P‐T‐t path has been outlined as four stages: cold subduction to UHP conditions before ～320 Ma whose peak ultrahigh pressure is about 30 kbar at 500oC, heating decompression from the Pmax to the Tmax stage before 305 Ma whose peak temperature is about 600oC at 22kbar, then the early cold exhumation from amphibolite eclogite facies to epidote‐amphibolite facies metamorphism characterized by ITD PT path before 220 Ma and the last tectonic exhumation from epidote amphibolite facies to greenschist facies metamorphism. Combining with the syn‐subduction arc‐like 333‐326 Ma granitic rocks and 280‐260 Ma S‐type granites in the coeval low‐pressure and high‐temperature (LP‐HT) metamorphic belt, the tectonic evolution of Tianshan UHP metamorphic belt during late Cambrian to early Triassic has been proposed.     

甘肃玉门昌马地区的蓝闪片岩

蓝闪片岩产于一套含放射虫硅质岩、硅质大理岩、板岩、变质基性火山岩中,与此相伴的超基性岩块,以一系列向南逆冲的断片产出。蓝闪片岩中的蓝闪石往往和黑硬绿泥石、钠长石、绿泥石以及钠钙闪石(蓝透闪石、冻蓝闪石等)、钙闪石(阳起石等)共存。据钠角闪石、绿泥石计算的生成压力是0.65GPa至0.8GPa,略大于美国佛兰西斯科的瓦尔德溪蓝片岩中该矿物对生成的压力。稀土元素分析证明蓝片岩的原岩是典型洋底(中脊)玄武岩和岛弧玄武岩,这是蓝片岩沟-弧俯冲-碰撞的证据之一。     

High-pressure/low-temperature metamorphism in northern Hubei Province, central China

Abstract The Qinling–Dabie accretionary fold belt in east-central China represents the E–W trending suture zone between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. A portion of the accretionary complex exposed in northern Hubei Province contains a high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphic sequence progressively metamorphosed from the blueschist through greenschist to epidote–amphibolite/eclogite facies. The 'Hongan metamorphic belt'can be divided into three metamorphic zones, based on progressive changes in mineral assemblages: Zone I, in the south, is characterized by transitional blueschist–greenschist facies; Zone II is characterized by greenschist facies; Zone III, in the northernmost portion of the belt, is characterized by eclogite and epidote–amphibolite facies sequences. Changes in amphibole compositions from south to north as well as the appearance of increasingly higher pressure mineral assemblages toward the north document differences in metamorphic P–T conditions during formation of this belt. Preliminary P–T estimates for Zone I metamorphism are 5–7 kbar, 350–450°C; estimates for Zone III eclogites are 10–22 kbar, 500 ± 50°C.
The petrographic, chemical and structural characteristics of this metamorphic belt indicate its evolution in a northward-dipping subduction zone and subsequent uplift prior to and during the final collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons.     

Petrology and metamorphism of glaucophane eclogites in Changning-Menglian suture zone,Bangbing area,southeast Tibetan Plateau: An evidence for Paleo-Tethyan subduction

High/ultrahigh-pressure (HP/UHP) metamorphic complexes, such as eclogite and blueschist, are generally regarded as significant signature of paleo-subduction zones and paleo-suture zones. Glaucophane eclogites have been recently identified within the Lancang Group characterized by accretionary mélange in the Changning-Menglian suture zone, at Bangbing in the Shuangjiang area of southeastern Tibetan Plateau. The authors report the result of petrological, mineralogical and metamorphism investigations of these rocks, and discuss their tectonic implications. The eclogites are located within the Suyi blueschist belt and occur as tectonic lenses in coarse-grained garnet muscovite schists. The major mineral assemblage of the eclogites includes garnet, omphacite, glaucophane, phengite, clinozoisite and rutile. Eclogitic garnet contains numerous inclusions, such as omphacite, glaucophane, rutile, and quartz with radial cracks around. Glaucophane and clinozoisite in the matrix have apparent optical and compositional zonation. Four stages of metamorphic evolution can be determined: The prograde blueschist facies (M₁), the peak eclogite facies (M₂), the decompression blueschist facies (M₃) and retrograde greenschist facies (M₄). Using the Grt-Omp-Phn geothermobarometer, a peak eclogite facies metamorphic P-T condition of 3000–3270 MPa and 617–658°C was determined, which is typical of low-temperature ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. The comparison of the geological characteristics of the Bangbing glaucophane eclogites and the Mengku lawsonite-bearing retrograde eclogites indicates that two suites of eclogites may have formed from significantly different depths or localities to create the tectonic mélange in a subduction channel during subduction of the Triassic Changning-Menglian Ocean. The discovery of the Bangbing glaucophane eclogites may represent a new oceanic HP/UHP metamorphic belt in the Changning-Menglian suture zone.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Pressure–temperature evolution of lawsonite-bearing eclogites, Pinchi Lake, British Columbia

Abstract Blueschists and retrogressed eclogites are located along the Pinchi Fault Zone (near 54°30'N and 124°W) in central British Columbia. The Pinchi Fault separates rocks of contrasting geological histories, and the blueschists and eclogites occur with ultramafic rocks as fault-bounded blocks. The retrogressed eclogites occur as tectonic blocks, now in glacial debris, a few metres across; blueschists occur in coherent kilometre-sized tracts. Eclogites contain garnet–omphacite–rutile–quartz, with glaucophane, lawsonite and titanite. Some of the lawsonite appears to be stable with omphacite and garnet. Tectonic blocks of eclogite from two different localities have recorded different P–T histories. In one tectonic block, P–T estimates for garnet inclusions in clinopyroxene and lawsonite ( c . 565° C, >13.1 kbar) suggest that garnet and omphacite initially equilibrated outside the stability field of lawsonite. A decrease in temperature, as recorded in garnet rims and matrix clinopyroxene, resulted in crystallization of lawsonite and other retrogressive minerals. Later crystallization of stilpnomelane (locally pseudomorphing garnet), howieite, winchite and actinolite was triggered by an influx of fluid under P–T conditions outside the stability field of garnet. Lawsonite appears to have been stable, suggesting a minimum pressure of about 3 kbar. In the second tectonic block, clinopyroxene inclusions in garnet suggest temperatures near 350° C ( P > 10 kbar) and garnet rims equilibrated with matrix clinopyroxene suggest temperatures near 450° C at pressures above c . 12 kbar.     

Tectonic setting, petrology and geochronology of jadeite + glaucophane and chloritoid + glaucophane schists from north-west Turkey

The north-west Turkish blueschists represent a subducted passive continental margin sequence dominated by metaclastic rocks and marble. The depositional age of the blueschist protoliths are probably Palaeozoic to Mesozoic, while the age of the high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphism is Late Cretaceous. Blueschists are tectonically overlain by a volcanosedimentary sequence made up of accreted oceanic crustal material that locally shows incipient blueschist metamorphism and by spinel peridotite slices. The metaclastic rocks with regional jadeite and glaucophane, which comprise the lower part of the blueschist unit, make up an over 1000-m-thick coherent sequence in the Kocasu region of north-west Turkey. Rare metabasic horizons in the upper parts of the metaclastic sequence with sodic amphibole + Iawsonite but no garnet indicate lawsonite blueschist facies metamorphism. The blueschist metaclastics in the Kocasu region are practically free of calcium and ferric iron and closely approximate the NFMASH system in bulk composition. Two low-variance mineral assemblages (with quartz and phengite) are jadeite + glaucophane + chlorite + paragonite and chloritoid + glaucophane + paragonite. The metaclastics comprise up to several-metres-thick layers of jadeite schist with quartz, phengite and nearly 100 mol% jadeite. Phase relations in the metaclastics show that the chloritoid + glaucophane assemblage, even in Fe²⁺-rich compositions, is stable in the jadeite stability field. In the NFASH system the above assemblage without the accompanying garnet has a narrow thermal stability field. Mineral equilibria in the metaclastics involving chloritoid, glaucophane, jadeite, paragonite and chlorite indicate metamorphic P-T conditions of 20 ± 2 kbar and 430 ± 30 d? C, yielding geothermal gradients close to 5d? C km^-1, one of the lowest geotherms recorded. Blueschists in the Kocasu region, which have been buried to 70 km depth, are tectonically overlain by the volcanosedimentary sequence and by peridotite buried not deeper than 30 km. Phengites from two jadeite schists were dated by Ar/Ar laser probe; they give an age of 88.5 ± 0.5 Ma, interpreted as the age of metamorphism. Blueschists and the overlying peridotite bodies are intruded by 48-53-Ma-old granodiorite bodies that were emplaced at 10 km depth. This suggests that the exhumation of blueschists by underplating of cold continental crust, and normal faulting at the blueschist-peridotite, interface occurred during the Late Cretaceous to Palaeocene (88-53 Ma).     

黑龙江依兰地区黑硬绿泥石片岩岩石学与P-T条件研究

依兰地区黑龙江杂岩中黑硬绿泥石片岩矿物组合为黑硬绿泥+绿泥石+多硅白云母+钠长石+透闪石+钾长石±黑云母.岩石矿物学研究表明黑硬绿泥石片岩形成于250～400℃,6～9kbar的变质条件下.黄褐色黑硬绿泥石呈束状、放射状集合体.黑硬绿泥石片岩形成于佳木斯地块向西与松嫩地块俯冲拼贴过程中蓝片岩变质作用的后期,压力稍有降低而温度略有升高的变质变形环境,是蓝片岩向绿片岩转变的蓝闪绿片岩相变质条件下的产物.     

Alpine metamorphism of Hercynian hornblende granodiorite beneath the blueschist facies schistes lustrés nappe of NE Corsica

Abstract The Hercynian granitic basement which forms the Tenda Massif in NE Corsica represents part of the leading edge of the European Plate during middle-to-late Cretaceous (Eoalpine) high P metamorphism. The metamorphism of this basement, induced by the overthrusting of a blueschist facies (schistes lustrés) nappe, was confined to a major ductile shear zone (c. 1000m thick) within which deformation increases upwards towards the overlying nappe. Metamorphism within the basement mostly records lower blueschist facies conditions (crossite + epidote) except near the base of the shear zone where the greenschist facies assemblage albite + actinolitic amphibole has developed instead of crossite. Study of the primary mafic phase breakdown reactions within hornblende granodiorite reveals the following metamorphic zonation. Zone 1: biotite to chlorite. Towards zone 2: biotite to phengite. Zone 2: Hornblende to actinolitic Ca-amphibole + albite + sphene, and biotite to actinolitic Ca-amphibole + albite + phengite + Ti-ore + epidote. Zone 3: Hornblende to crossite + low Ti-biotite + phengite + sphene, and biotite to crossite + low Ti-biotite + phengite + Ti-ore + sphene ± epidote. P-T conditions at the base of the shear zone are estimated to have been 390-490°C at 600-900 M Pa (6-9kbar) and the Corsican basement is therefore deduced to have been buried to 20-30 km during metamorphism. This relatively shallow metamorphism contrasts with some other areas in the Western Alps where the Eoalpine event apparently buried the European continental crust to depths of 80 km or more. As there is no evidence for a long history of blueschist facies metamorphism prior to the involvement of the European continent, it is deduced that the Eoalpine blueschists were produced during the collision of the Insubric plate with Europe, rather than during Tethyan intraoceanic subduction. Coherent blueschist terrains such as the schistes lustres probably record buovant feature collision and obduction tectonics rather than any preceding oceanic subduction.     

Metamorphic petrology of a high-pressure, low-temperature subduction complex in west-central Baja California, Mexico

Abstract The Western Baja terrane (WBt) of west-central Baja California is an uplifted subduction complex that is divided into smaller 'subterranes'on the basis of bounding faults and petrological differences. Each subterrane contains coherent Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sedimentary and mafic volcanic rocks (not melange) that have been metamorphosed under blueschist facies conditions. Key phases in metabasites and metaturbidites include jadeitic to acmitic clinopyroxene, sodic amphibole, lawsonite, aragonite, chlorite, titanite and white mica. Pressure indicators include the jadeite content of clinopyroxene and the presence of aragonite. Temperature indicators include the presence of lawsonite, the absence of greenschist facies minerals and results from vitrinite reflectance studies. Conditions at the peak of metamorphism were >8 kbar, 225–325°C for subterrane 1, 7–8 kbar, 170–220°C for subterrane 2, and 5–6 kbar, 175–200°C for subterrane 3; these correspond to cold geothermal gradients (6–9/km). Vein assemblages that include aegerine–jadeite and aegerine, albite, aragonite, lawsonite and sodic amphibole indicate uplift during continued cold conditions, probably during steady-state subduction.     

Metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Lancang paired metamorphic belts, south-western China

Abstract The Lancang metamorphic terrane consists of an eastern low- P/T belt and a western high- P/T belt divided by a N–S-trending fault. Protoliths of both units are mid–late Proterozoic basement and its cover. The low- P/T belt includes the Permian Lincang batholith, related amphibolite facies rocks of the Damenglong and Chongshan groups, and Permo-Triassic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Most whole-rock Rb–Sr isochron and U–Pb zircon ages of the Lincang batholith are in the range 290–279 and 254–212 Ma, respectively. Metamorphism of the low- P/T belt reaches upper amphibolite with local granulite facies (735°C at 5 kbar), subsequently retrogressed at 450–500°C during post-Triassic time. The high- P/T rocks grade from west to east from blueschist through transitional blueschist/greenschist to epidote amphibolite facies. Estimated P–T conditions follow the high- P intermediate facies series up to about 550–600°C, at which oligoclase is stable. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of sodic amphibole in blueschist is 279 Ma.
The paired metamorphic belts combined with the spatial and temporal distribution of other blueschist belts lead us to propose a tentative tectonic history of south-east Asia since the latest Precambrian. Tectonic juxtaposition of paired belts with contrasting P–T conditions, perhaps during collision of the Baoshan block with south-east Asia, suggests that an intervening oceanic zone existed that has been removed. The Baoshan block is a microcontinent rifted from the northern periphery of Gondwana. Successive collision and amalgamation of microcontinents from either Gondwana or the Panthalassan ocean resulted in rapid southward continental growth of c. 500 km during the last 200 Ma. Hence, the Lancang region in south-east Asia represents a suture zone between two contrasting microcontinents.     

北祁连山硬柱石蓝片岩p-T条件相平衡计算及其岩石学意义

北祁连硬柱石蓝片岩主要分布在甘肃省肃南县九个泉一带,是目前中国唯一报道的、确切地含有硬柱石的蓝片岩。文中在详细的岩石学和矿物学研究基础上,根据矿物共生组合的不同,将北祁连低温蓝片岩进一步划分为绿纤石蓝片岩、硬柱石蓝片岩和绿帘石蓝片岩。绿纤石蓝片岩的特征变质矿物组合为蓝闪石(>40%)+绿纤石(30%)+绿泥石(10%)+钠长石(8%)+石英(5%)+硬柱石(<3%)±方解石/文石(<1%)。硬柱石蓝片岩的矿物组合为蓝闪石(35%~40%)+硬柱石(35%~40%)+绿泥石(10%)+钠长石(10%)+石榴石(1%~2%)+黝帘石/斜黝帘石(<2%)+石英(<1%),副矿物有磷灰石和榍石,总含量小于2%。绿帘石蓝片岩的矿物组合为蓝闪石(30%~35%)+黝帘石/斜黝帘石/绿帘石(~30%)+绿泥石(15%)+钠长石(15%)+石榴石(2%)+石英(<2%),副矿物有金红石、磷灰石和磁铁矿,总含量小于2%。利用矿物内部一致性热力学数据和Domino/Theriak软件计算了这三种类型的蓝片岩形成的峰期温压条件,它们分别是绿纤石蓝片岩为320~350℃,0.75~0.85GPa;硬柱石蓝片岩为335~355℃,0.8~0.95GPa;绿帘石蓝片岩为345~375℃;0.75~0.85GPa。北祁连低温蓝片岩带由硬柱石蓝片岩相到绿帘石蓝片岩相的转化代表了俯冲变质过程中的递进变质过程。     

SOME TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF CARBONATE SEDIMENTS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

A stratigraphically coherent blueschist terrane near Aksu in northwestern China is unconformably overlain by unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks of Sinian age (～600 to 800 Ma). The pre-Sinian metamorphic rocks, termed the Aksu Group, were derived from shales, sandstones, basaltic volcanic rocks, and minor cherty sediments. They have undergone multi-stage deformation and transitional blueschist/greenschist-facies metamorphism, and consist of strongly foliated chlorite-stilpnomelane-graphite schist, stilpnomelane-phengite psammitic schist, greenschist, blueschist, and minor quartzite, metachert, and meta-ironstone. Metamorphic minerals of basaltic blueschists include crossitic amphibole, epidote, chlorite, albite, quartz, and actinolite. Mineral parageneses and compositions of sodic amphibole suggest blueschist facies recrystallization at about 4 to 6 kbar and 300 to 400° C. Many thin diabasic dikes cut the Aksu Group; they are characterized by high alkali, TiO₂, and P₂O₅ contents and possess geochemical characteristics of within-plate basalts; some of these diabasic rocks contain sodic clinopyroxene and amphibole as primary phases and have minor pumpellyite, albite, epidote, chlorite, and calcite as the prehnite/pumpellyite-facies metamorphic assemblage. This prehnite/pumpellyite-facies overprint did not affect the host rocks of the blueschist-facies lithologies.

K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages of phengite and whole rocks from pelitic schists are ～690 to 728 Ma, and a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of crossite from the blueschist is 754 Ma. The basal conglomerate of the overlying Sinian to Eocambrian sedimentary succession contains clasts of both the blueschist and cross-cutting dike rocks, clearly demonstrating that conditions required for blueschist-facies metamorphism were attained and ceased at least 700 Ma. The northward-increasing metamorphic grade of the small blueschist terrane may reflect northward subduction of an accretionary complex beyond the northern edge of the Tarim craton. Abundant subparallel diabasic dikes indicate a subsequent period of Pre-Sinian rifting and diabasic intrusion along the northern margin of Tarim; a Sinian siliciclastic and carbonate sequence was deposited unconformably atop the Aksu Group and associated diabase dikes.     

P–T evolution and tectonic significance of lawsonite-bearing schists from the eastern segment of the southwestern Tianshan,China

Robust quantification of pressure (P)–temperature (T) paths for subduction-related HP/UHP metamorphic rocks is fundamental in recognizing spatial changes in both the depth of detachment from the down-going plate and the thermal evolution of convergent margin sutures in orogenic belts. Although the Chinese southwestern (SW) Tianshan is a well-known example of an accretionary metamorphic belt in which HP/UHP metabasites occur in voluminous host metasedimentary schists, information about the P–T evolution of these rocks in the eastern segment is limited, precluding a full understanding of the development of the belt as a whole. In this study at Kekesu in the eastern segment of the SW Tianshan, we use microstructural evidence and phase equilibrium modelling to quantify the peak and retrograde P–T conditions from two lawsonite-bearing micaschists and an enclosed garnet–epidote blueschist; for two of the samples we also constrain the late prograde P–T path. In the two micaschist samples, relics of prograde lawsonite are preserved in quartz inclusions in garnet, whereas in the metabasite, polymineralic aggregates included in garnet are interpreted as pseudomorphs after lawsonite. For garnet micaschist TK21, which is mainly composed of garnet, phengite/paragonite, albite, chlorite, quartz and relict lawsonite, with accessary rutile, titanite and ilmenite, the maximum P–T conditions for the peak stage are 18.0–19.0 kbar at 480–485°C. During initial exhumation, the retrograde P–T path passed through metamorphic conditions of 15.0–17.0 kbar at 460–500°C. For garnet–glaucophane micaschist TK33, which is mainly composed of garnet, glaucophane, phengite/paragonite, albite, chlorite, quartz, relict lawsonite and minor epidote, with accessary titanite, apatite, ilmenite and zircon, the maximum P conditions for the peak stage are >24.0 kbar at 400–500°C. During exhumation, the P–T path passed through metamorphic conditions of 17.5–18.5 kbar at 485–495°C and 14.0–17.5 kbar at 460–500°C. For garnet–epidote blueschist TK37, which is mainly composed of garnet, glaucophane, epidote, phengite, chlorite, albite and quartz, with accessary titanite, apatite, ilmenite, zircon and calcite, the prograde evolution passed through metamorphic conditions of ~20.0 kbar at ~445°C to P_max conditions of ~21.5 kbar at 450–460°C and T_max conditions of 19.5–21.0 kbar at 490–520°C. During exhumation, the rock passed through metamorphic conditions of 17.5–19.0 kbar at 475–500°C, before recording P–T conditions of <17.5 kbar at <500°C. These results demonstrate that maximum recorded pressures for individual samples vary by as much as 6 kbar in the eastern segment of the SW Tianshan, which may suggest exhumation from different depths in the subduction channel. Furthermore, the three samples record similar P–T paths from ~17.0 to 15.0 kbar, which suggests they were juxtaposed at a similar depth along the subduction interface. We compare our new results with published information from eclogites in the same area before considering the wider implications of these data for the orogenic development of the belt as a whole.