苏鲁造山带东部荣成榴辉岩中蓝晶石及绿辉石的分解——一种可能的新成因解释

在麻粒岩相条件下，荣成含蓝晶石榴辉岩发生退变质，其中的绿辉石退变质成透辉石＋中长石组成的后成合晶，蓝晶石大部分被冠状体取代，基于详细探针分析结果的成分迁移估算显示，冠状体的形成需要从绿辉石的分解中获取CaO,MgO,FeO，绿辉石的分解包含两个反应：一个为绿辉石中的硬玉分子与石英结合形成钠长石；另一个发生在绿辉石内部各端员组分之间，后者不但形成后成合晶，而且为蓝晶石周围冠状体的形成提供CaO,MgO,FeO，蓝晶石的分解未能给后成合晶的形成提供SiO2，绿辉石与蓝晶石在分解时并冰形成一个封闭体系，它们均从周围环境中获取SiO2。     

青龙山榴辉岩的退变质显微结构及相关的物质迁移——南苏鲁榴辉岩退变质过程中流体活动的证据

对南苏鲁青龙山榴辉岩的扫描电子显微镜及光学显微镜的详细观察表明，其峰期矿物组合为石榴石 绿辉石Ⅰ 蓝晶石 金红石( 柯石英)，基本无含水矿物，并被第二期矿物(或组合)逐步替代，形成后成合晶或冠状体假像，即：绿辉石Ⅰ→绿辉石Ⅱ 钠长石 铁氧化物后成合晶，金红石→金红石 钛铁矿，蓝晶石→钠云母。第二期矿物又被第三期矿物(组合)替代：绿辉石Ⅱ( 钠长石 铁氧化物)→角闪石( 斜长石 铁氧化物)，石榴石→韭闪石 铁氧化物。绿帘石与石英是最晚期流体沿微裂隙活动的产物。详细的矿物成分分析及成分迁移估算结果显示，早期后成合晶的形成过程产生多余的Fe、Mg、Na，但消耗部分Ca、Si。产生的Mg、Fe迁移到石榴石边部，引发石榴石内部的(Mg，Fe)／Ca交换，在石榴石颗粒中形成向边部Ca降低、Mg和Fe升高的成分环带。交代产生的Ca被后成合晶消耗，而后成合晶产生的Na被替代蓝晶石的钠云母消耗。在退变质作用晚期，更多流体进入榴辉岩，引发流体渗滤交代反应，无水的早期后成合晶被含水后成合晶(角闪石 斜长石 铁氧化物)替代，同时在石榴石边部形成角闪石 少量铁氧化物反应边。成分迁移估算显示，上述两个过程的成分变化具有一定程度的耦合性。矿物反应曲线、THERMOCALC计算确定的P-T轨迹显示，青龙山榴辉岩的退变质过程主要发生在高压条件(低地温梯度)下，明显不同于北苏鲁地区榴辉岩。这种热演化特点的差异暗示南北苏鲁超高压变质块体可能具有不同的回返历史。     

大别山北部榴辉岩的退变质特征及其地质意义

研究了大别山北部榴辉岩的变质岩岩石学。结果表明，该区榴辉岩相变质作用可分为早期(超高压)和晚期(高压)两个阶段，并在折返过程中形成了一系列特征性的退变质显微构造。其中，退变质结构主要包括：(1)由于压力降低而出溶形成的一些定向针状或叶片状矿物包裹体，如钠质单斜辉石中石英及石榴子石中的金红石、单斜辉石和磷灰石等；(2)冠状体或后成合晶，特别是石榴子石外围发育两期(“双层”)后成合晶；(3)反应边或退变边，如绿辉石的透辉石退变边、透辉石的角闪石退变边和金红石的钛铁矿退变边等。这些退变质结构为本区榴辉岩高级变质岩的快速折返过程和抬升历史提供了强有力的岩石学依据；石榴子石中针状矿物出溶体进一步证明研究区榴辉岩早期经历了超高压变质作用，峰期变质压力应大干4．0GPa，甚至可能达到5～7GPa或更高。     

江苏东海榴辉岩向斜长角闪岩转化的研究

东海榴辉岩曾被俯冲到上地幔，而后又折返回地表，经历了宽广的温度、压力、应力、流体条件等变化范围，形成了大量矿物反应结构，为研究岩石矿物反应提供了很好的素材。本文选取东海地区一个保留从初始榴辉岩到斜长角闪岩完整退变质序列的榴辉岩体作为研究对象，通过详细的显微结构观察、矿物成分分析、成分空间分析、成分迁移估算，揭示了东海榴辉岩向斜长角闪岩的转化过程。该过程可划分为两个阶段：早期为替代绿辉石的后成合晶形成阶段，通过绿辉石内部端元组分间的反应实现，反应产物之一的Fe^2 与金红石结合形成钛铁矿，Ca、Mg被排出到绿辉石体系之外。晚期退变为流体的渗滤交代作用，表现为石榴子石被角闪石部分取代、后成合晶的角闪石化，以及黝帘石、白云母的形成。退变质的最后阶段为石榴子石被绿帘石 角闪石 赤铁矿完全替代。榴辉岩转化成含帘石的斜长角闪岩。     

大别山榴辉岩的退变质过程与流体作用

根据矿物成分及其结构演变,将大别山榴辉岩的退变质过程分为三个阶段:贫流体阶段、弱流体阶段和富流体阶段。贫流体阶段发生于榴辉岩相环境中,其主要作用是柯石英-石英和文石- 方解石等同质多象转变、石榴子石和绿辉石等的重结晶,以及绿辉石中硬玉和钠长石的固溶体出溶等。弱流体阶段发生于榴辉岩相退变质的晚期,含水矿物闪石、绿帘石和云母,以及钠长石等低压矿物大量形成之前,其标志是蓝晶石变斑晶和金红石脉的形成,以及浸染状金红石的富集成矿。富流体阶段始于低级角闪岩相退变质环境,并可能一直持续到近地表处。该阶段以出现大量含水和挥发份的矿物(如闪石、绿帘石、多硅白云母、钠云母、黑云母、磷灰石和碳酸盐等)为特征。围绕石榴子石和绿辉石的闪石次变边、闪     

北大别的高温超高压变质作用与多阶段折返

近期的变质岩石学、地球化学及同位素年代学研究表明,北大别整体经历了高温超高压变质作用和多阶段折返历史,因而表现为广泛发育的多期减压结构和极少保留早期的超高压变质记录。北大别榴辉岩以高温变质作用以及折返期间因麻粒岩相和角闪岩相退变质变质作用而形成的多期后成合晶为显著特征。石榴子石中伴有放射状胀裂纹的单晶和多晶石英包体指示早期柯石英的转变结果,这已被锆石中发现的柯石英残晶所证实。结合北大别北部榴辉岩和片麻岩中发现的金刚石等超高压证据以及三叠纪变质记录,由此证明北大别整体经历过深俯冲和印支期超高压变质作用。北大别榴辉岩的多阶段高温条件主要来自石榴子石-绿辉石矿物对温度计、单斜辉石中紫苏辉石+石英针状矿物出熔体以及金红石中较高的Zr含量和变质锆石中较高的Ti含量等得出的温度证据。此外,多期后成合晶以及石榴子石和单斜辉石等矿物中成分分带的存在,证明该区榴辉岩经历了一个多阶段、快速折返过程;而不同变质阶段的温度、压力和形成时代,却反映该区榴辉岩经历了长时间的高温变质演化与缓慢冷却过程。长时间的高温变质作用与缓慢冷却过程也许正是北大别长期难以发现柯石英和有关超高压记录的重要原因。因此,这些成果为大别山三个不同超高压岩片的差异折返模型的建立提供了新的证据。     

CCSD主孔超高压榴辉岩金红石中的矿物包裹体研究

金红石是榴辉岩中的主要含钛副矿物。中国大陆科学钻探工程（CCSD）主孔100～2000m岩心样品中，金红石榴辉岩、多硅白云母榴辉岩和蓝晶石榴辉岩中都程度不等地含有金红石。金红石既可以与其他矿物一起被石榴石、绿辉石等主要变质矿物包裹，也可以包裹其他矿物。本文利用电子探针技术，对CCSD所揭示的超高压榴辉岩的金红石中的矿物包裹体进行了鉴定和分析。结果显示，绿辉石、富铪锆石、高铝榍石、韭闪石和红闪石、斜黝帘石等矿物包裹体形成于榴辉岩相进变质至峰期变质阶段；随着超高压变质带快速折返，榴辉岩经受强烈的退变质作用，包括金红石、绿辉石在内的多种矿物都经受了退变质作用，与金红石共生的钛铁矿完全或者部分退变成含铁金红石和钛铁晶石。在退变的金红石中，还发现了透辉石＋斜长石后成合晶、低铝榍石、镁绿闪石等退变质矿物组合。     

中国大陆科学钻探主孔0~2000 m榴辉岩的退变质过程

中国大陆科学钻探主孔位于大别-苏鲁这条典型的超高压变质带上，孔内0-2000m的岩心中，各种榴辉岩占到50％以上。榴辉岩大多经历了不同程度的退变质。依据榴辉岩中主要矿物绿辉石和石榴石的退变质程度，0-2000m榴辉岩的退变质过程可分为2个大阶段，4个亚阶段：第一大阶段(又分为轻微退变质、部分退变质)、第二大阶段(又分为退变质和强退变质)。总的退变质趋势是：石榴石逐渐被韭角闪石或黑云母 绿帘石替代；绿辉石逐渐被角闪石 钠长石后成合晶替代，硬玉(1d)含量逐渐减少，并部分转化为霓辉石。榴辉岩在退变质过程中所经历的温压条件为：峰期变质温度为697-831℃，压力3．0Gpa左右；部分退变质阶段温度为629-776℃，压力1．2-1．6Gpa；退变质阶段温度为550-650℃，压力O．5-0．7Gpa；强退变质阶段温度为300-400℃，压力0．30-0．35Gpa。综合岩石、矿物及形成温压条件等特征，推断榴辉岩的折返过程经历了两个大阶段：第一大阶段是近等温降压的快速折返(榴辉岩在此期间经历了第一大阶段的退变质)，第二大阶段是降温降压的缓慢抬升(榴辉岩继而经历了第二大阶段的退变质)。绿辉石的完全退变质，既是划分榴辉岩两大退变质阶段的标志，同时也是区分两大折返阶段的标志。     

超高压变质流体的组成与演化：中国大陆科学钻探工程主孔岩心的流体包裹体研究

中国大陆科学钻探工程主孔位于大别-苏鲁超高压变质带东段的江苏东海县,孔深为5100m,其上部2050m钻遇的岩石主要为榴辉岩,其次是正、副片麻岩、石榴橄榄(辉石)岩以及少量片岩和石英岩。它们经历了超高压变质作用和随后的角闪岩相退变质作用。通过对上述各种岩石的详细流体包体观察和RAMAN光谱分析,发现了五种不同成分的流体包裹体:(1)中-低盐度水溶液包裹体(Ⅰ型),呈原生的孤立和小群存在于榴辉岩和片麻岩锆石的岩浆核和超高压变质边缘,或存在于绿辉石、黝帘石和被绿辉石包裹的方解石和石英中,偶尔呈出溶包裹体产于磷灰石中,而主要沿绿辉石、石榴石、蓝晶石、黝帘石和石英等矿物的穿颗粒裂隙分布;也呈孤立和小群产于切穿榴辉岩的方解石脉和片麻岩重结晶石榴石和绿帘石中;(2)CO2(±CH4)-H2O包裹体(Ⅱ型),存在于锆石的岩浆核和变质边缘,或沿石英裂隙分布;(3)含石盐±SiO2±CaCO3的复杂盐水包裹体(Ⅲ型),呈原生流体包裹体产在榴辉岩的绿辉石中,与石英出溶棒一起平行于绿辉石的C轴分布,或产在石榴辉石岩透辉石的晶内裂隙中;(4)富CO2包裹体(Ⅳ型),在榴辉岩的石英中随机分布;(5)单气相包裹体(Ⅴ型),沿各种矿物穿颗粒裂隙分布。流体包裹体产状及其与捕获时代关系表明,Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型包裹体可以出现在超高压变质岩原岩、峰期变质和退变质各阶段。Ⅲ型包裹体出现在超高压变质岩的早期减压退变质阶段。而Ⅳ型和Ⅴ型包裹体主要形成于角闪岩相及更晚的退变质阶段。本研究的主要认识是:(1)低盐度H2O和CO2流体在进变质、超高压变质和退变质作用各阶段均有存在,这表明在整个超高压变质演化过程中流体具有继承性。(2)超高压变质岩原岩和角闪岩相退变质岩中存在较丰富的流体包裹体,但在超高压峰期捕获的流体包裹体却很少见,这表明丰富的原岩流体或在超高压进变质过程中被排出岩石体系,或进入含水超高压矿物和结合进名义无水矿物。(3)复杂成分原生流体包裹体的发现证明在超高压变质峰期后的早期减压退变质阶段存在一种高盐度似熔体流体,名义上的无水矿物在超高压条件下可以保存相当量的流体,并在退变质过程中分离出来,产生流体-岩石相互作用。(4)角闪岩阶段的流体包裹体具有各种不同的化学组成,且在局部富集,推测可能有部分外部加入的流体。(5)流体包裹体类型、丰度和成分在不同岩石类型中和不同钻孔深度都存在明显差异,表明超高压变质作用过程中没有大规模的透入性流体活动。(6)根据超高压变质峰期包裹体等容线得到的压力值大大低于根据矿物温压计获得的近峰期变质压力,这表明包裹体的密度在捕获后发生了改变。这些改变是由于流体渗漏、部分爆裂和流体-岩石相互作用所引起。     

中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)主孔岩芯榴辉岩中的重晶石副矿物研究

中国大陆科学钻探主孔岩芯190～320m榴辉岩中的富锶重晶石作为副矿物存在于超高压变质和退变质阶段,其中大部分的重晶石发现于绿辉石的退变质后成合晶中。具有不同Sr含量的重晶石在榴辉岩中至少具有3种产出状态,形成于3个变质阶段:Ⅰ超高压榴辉岩相阶段,存于石榴石包裹体中,SrSO4含量约在45mol%;Ⅱ早期退变质阶段,存于后成合晶(单斜辉石+钠长石)中,SrSO4含量变化范围很大,在0mol%～21mol%之间;Ⅲ晚期角闪岩相阶段,作为黄铁矿的氧化边存在,SrSO4占2mol%～5mol%。重晶石的形成与流体作用相关,富锶重晶石能反映原赋存流体的Sr/Ba值比较高。重晶石与其伴生矿物尤其硫化物的结构关系对岩体的相对氧化还原环境具有重要指示意义。本文通过榴辉岩中重晶石副矿物学研究,确定了榴辉岩曾经历超高压变质阶段的氧化环境、早期退变质阶段的还原环境和角闪岩相阶段的氧化环境。     

从榴辉岩与围岩的关系论苏鲁榴辉岩的形成与折返

位于华北和扬子两板块碰撞带中的苏鲁榴辉岩形成的温压条件不但是超高压，而且是高温。榴辉岩的PTt轨迹表明其为陆-陆磁撞俯冲带的产物。榴辉岩的区域性围岩花岗质片麻岩为新元古代同碰撞期花岗岩，榴辉岩及其他直接围岩皆呈包体存在于其中，并见新元古代花岗岩呈脉状侵入榴辉岩包体中。区域性围岩新元古代花岗岩的锆石中发现有柯石英、绿辉石等包裹体，表明新元古代花岗岩的组成物质也经受过超高压变质作用，且榴辉岩与围岩新元古代花岗岩的锆石U-Pb体系同位素年龄基本相同。但新元古代花岗岩所记录的变质作用和变形作用期次（或阶段）却少于榴辉岩。椐上述可得如下推断：超高压榴辉岩与新元古代花岗岩岩浆是同时在碰撞带底部（俯冲板块前部）形成的；榴辉岩的第一折返阶段是由新元古代花岗岩岩浆携带上升的，其第二折返阶段是和新元古代花岗岩一起由逆冲及区域性隆起而上升，遭受剥蚀。     

Archaean Kuru-Vaara eclogites in the northern Belomorian Province,Fennoscandian Shield: crustal architecture,timing, and tectonic implications

This paper addresses the relationships between relic amphibole-eclogite facies (AE) eclogites and their host units, Archaean amphibolites, enveloped by Archaean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) gneisses, in the Kuru-Vaara study area in the northern Belomorian Province. According to observational constraints, the crystallization of the relic peak omphacite + Mg-garnet ± kyanite assemblage and the subsequent replacement of omphacite by clinopyroxene–plagioclase symplectite occurred before the earliest deformational, metamorphic, and migmatization events that are recorded in the amphibolites. The amphibolites and their TTG hosts have a shared deformational and metamorphic history that is composed of the Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic periods. This history favours the conclusion that the AE metamorphism recorded in the relic eclogites within the amphibolites occurred during the Mesoarchaean to Neoarchaean periods. The deformation and metamorphism of the amphibolite facies of the second period resulted from the Lapland–Kola collisional orogeny at 1.91–1.93 Ga, which led to eclogite–high-pressure granulite (E–HPG) facies conditions in the lowermost portions of the over-thickened crust in Belomorian Province (the southwestern foreland of the Lapland–Kola collisional orogen). The Palaeoproterozoic E–HPG overprint was reported from the Palaeoproterozoic Gridino mafic dikes. Although the ages of the oldest low Th/U zircons are close to the time of the Lapland–Kola collision, the low Th/U 1.9–1.8 Ga zircons reflect a zircon response to regional fluid infiltration in the eclogites during slow exhumation following the Lapland–Kola orogeny and do not record any metamorphic event. Contrary to the Palaeoproterozoic E–HPG overprint, the areal occurrence of the 2.7–2.8 Ga AE eclogites with mid-ocean ridge basalt-like chemistry and their paragenetic link with the TTG gneisses suggest a tectonic regime that involves subduction. This research favours concepts suggesting that the modern-style plate tectonics has operated in some places, at least since the late Mesoarchaean.     

Mechanisms of exsolution in omphacites from high temperature,type B,eclogites

The microstructural development during the transformation of omphacite into pyroxene-plagioclase symplectites has been studied in some eclogites from the Seve nappe, Central Scandinavian Caledonides. The omphacite transformation can be described as a discontinuous precipitation reaction that occurred in two clearly defined stages to produce a coarser type A, followed by a finer, type B symplectite. Each type has its distinctive chemistry. The combination of microstructural and chemical characteristics of the transformation is used to reconstruct the early stages of the cooling history of the eclogites. In addition, based on a classification of phase transformations according to growth processes, the continuous exsolution reaction reported in high-temperature omphacites is combined with the discontinuous reaction in a time-temperature transformation (TTT) diagram to produce a more unified view of the exsolution in the omphacites.     

Retrogressive Microstructures of the Eclogites from the Northern Dabie Mountains, Central China： Evidence for Rapid Exhumation

The ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from the northern Dabie Mountains in central China occurred as tectonic lens or blocks within granitic gneisses or meta-peridotites. Petrologic studies suggest that the studied eclogites experienced strongly retrogressive metamorphism and produced a series of characteristic retrogressive microstructures. The retrograde structures mainly include: (1) oriented needle mineral exsolution, e. g. , quartz needles in Na-clinopyroxene and rotile, clinopyroxene and apatite exsolution in garnet formed under decreasing pressure conditions during exhumation; (2) symplectite, especially, two generations of symplectites developed outside the garnet grains, which are called ““double symplectite““ here; (3) compositional zoning of minerals such as garnet and clinopyroxene; (4) minerals with a reaction rim or retrograde rim, e.g. , omphacite with a diopside rim, diopside with an amphibole rim and rutile with a rim of ilmenite. These retrograde textures, especially mineral zoning and symplectite, provide important petrologic evidence for the exhumation process and uplift of high-grade metamorphic rocks such as eclogite in the northern Dabie Mountains, indicating a rapid exhumation process.     

Omphacite breakdown reactions and relation to eclogite exhumation rates

Clinopyroxene + plagioclase (±Hbl ± Qtz) symplectites after omphacite are widely cited as evidence for prior eclogite-facies or high-pressure (HP) metamorphism. Precursor omphacite compositions of retrograde eclogites, used for reconstructing retrograde P–T paths, are commonly estimated by reintegrating symplectite phases with the assumption that the symplectite-forming reactions were isochemical. Comparisons of broadbeam symplectite compositions to adjacent unreacted pyroxene from various symplectites after clinopyroxene from the Appalachian Blue Ridge (ABR) and Western Gneiss Region (WGR) suggest that the symplectite forming reactions are largely isochemical. Endmember calculations based on reintegrated symplectite compositions from the ABR and WGR suggest that a minor Ca-Eskola (CaEs) component (X_CaEs = 0.04–0.15) was present in precursor HP clinopyroxene. WGR symplectites consist of fine-grained (∼1 μm-scale), vermicular intergrowths of Pl + Cpx II ± Hbl that occur at grain boundaries or internally. ABR symplectites contain coarser (∼10 μm-scale) planar lamellae and rods of Pl + Cpx II + Qtz + Hbl within clinopyroxene cores. The contrasting textures correlate with decompression and cooling rate, and degree of overstepping of the retrograde reaction (lamellar: slow, erosionally controlled exhumation with slow/low overstepping; fine-grained, grainboundary symplectite: rapid, tectonic exhumation with rapid/high overstepping). Variations in X_CaEs, X_jd, and X_CaTs of precursor HP omphacite are related to the symplectic mineral assemblages that result from decompression. Quartz-normative symplectities indicate quartz-producing retrograde reactions (e.g., breakdown of precursor CaEs); quartz-free symplectities (e.g., diopside + plagioclase after omphacite) indicate quartz-consuming reactions (jd, CaTs breakdown) outpaced quartz-producing reactions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Deformation inside a paleosubduction channel – Insights from microstructures and crystallographic preferred orientations of eclogites and metasediments from the Tauern Window,Austria

The Eclogite Zone, of the Tauern Window is an exhumed subduction channel comprising eclogites with different grades of retrogression in a matrix of high-pressure metasediments. The rocks were exposed to 600 °C and 20–25 kbars, and then retrogressed during their exhumation, first under blueschist facies and later under amphibolite facies metamorphism. To gain insights into the deformation within the subduction channel during subduction and exhumation, both fresh and retrogressed eclogites, as well as the surrounding metasediments were investigated with respect to their deformation microstructures and crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs). Pristine and retrogressed eclogites show grain boundary migration and subgrain rotation recrystallization microstructures in omphacite. A misorientation axes analysis reveals the activity of complementary deformation mechanisms including grain boundary sliding and dislocation creep. The omphacite CPOs of the eclogites correspond to dominant SL-fabrics characteristic of plane strain deformation, though there are local variations towards flattening or constriction within the paleosubduction channel. The glaucophane CPOs in retrogressed eclogites match those of omphacite, suggesting that a constant strain geometry persisted during exhumation at blueschist facies conditions. Plastic deformation of the host high-pressure metasediments outlasted that of the eclogites, as indicated by white mica fabrics and quartz CPO. The latter is consistently asymmetric, pointing to the operation of non-coaxial deformation. The microstructures and CPO data indicate a continuous plastic deformation cycle with eclogite and blueschist facies metamorphism related to subduction and exhumation of the different rock units.     

Eclogites of the Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician North Kokchetav tectonic zone (northern Kazakhstan): structural position and petrology

We consider the structural position and petrology of eclogites in the North Kokchetav accretion-collision zone located north of the Kokchetav metamorphic belt formed by high- and ultrahigh-pressure rocks. In the Early Ordovician North Kokchetav tectonic zone, thin sheets of mylonite and diaphthoric gneisses with eclogites are tectonically conjugate with the volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Stepnyak paleoisland-arc zone. Eclogites have been revealed at two sites of the North Kokchetav tectonic zone—Chaikino and Borovoe. The Chaikino eclogites formed at 800–850 °C and 18–20 kbar, and the Borovoe eclogites, at 750–800 °C and 17–18 kbar. Study of pyroxene-plagioclase symplectite replacing omphacite of the eclogites at both sites has recognized three stages of regressive magmatism: (1) formation of coarse-grained clinopyroxene-plagioclase symplectite at 760–790 °C and 11–12 kbar, (2) formation of fine-grained clinopyroxene-plagioclase symplectite at 700–730 °C and 7–8 kbar, and (3) amphibolization of pyroxene at 570–600 °C and 5–6 kbar. The Ar-Ar age of muscovite from the Borovoe mica schists hosting eclogites is 493 ± 5 Ma, which corresponds to the time of cooling of metamorphic rocks to <370 °C. Hence, the peak of high-pressure metamorphism and all recognized stages of retrograde changes are dated to the Cambrian. The geological data evidence that eclogite-schist-gneiss sheets were localized in the accretion-collision zone and became conjugate with sedimentary and volcanic rocks no later than in the Middle Ordovician.     

Omphacite in Californian metamorphic rocks

Omphacite is a common mineral in greenstones, metasediments and related Franciscan rocks of the glaucophane schist facies. It also occurs in late veins cutting amphibolites, glaucophane schists, eclogites, greenstones, and occasionally metagraywackes. It is apparent that this mineral is stable under glaucophane schist facies conditions in rocks of a suitable bulk composition, and is not restricted to the eclogite facies. Association with albite, quartz and lawsonite, and late veining of omphacite veins by aragonite indicates that pressures necessary to form omphacite are reasonably close to those calculated from an ideal solution model.     

Petrology of ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from the ZK703 drillhole in the Donghai, eastern China

The 558-m-deep ZK703 drillhole located near Donghai in the southern part of the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, eastern China, penetrates alternating layers of eclogites, gneisses, jadeite quartzites, garnet peridotites, phengite–quartz schists, and kyanite quartzites. The preservation of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic minerals and their relics, together with the contact relationship and protolith types of the various rocks indicates that these are metamorphic supracrustal rocks and mafic-ultramafic rock assemblages that have experienced in-situ ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. The eclogites can be divided into five types based on accessory minerals: rutile eclogite, phengite eclogite, kyanite–phengite eclogite, quartz eclogite, and common eclogite with rare minor minerals. Rutile eclogite forms a thick layer in the drillhole that contains sufficient rutile for potential mining. Two retrograde assemblages are observed in the eclogites: the first stage is characterized by the formation of sodic plagioclase+amphibole symplectite or symplectitic coronas after omphacite and garnet, plagioclase+biotite after garnet or phengite, and plagioclase coronas after kyanite; the second stage involved total replacement of omphacite and garnet by amphibole+albite+epidote+quartz. Peak metamorphic P–T conditions of the eclogites were around 32 to 40 kbar and 720°C to 880°C. The retrograde P–T path of the eclogites is characterized by rapidly decreasing pressure with slightly decreasing temperature. Micro-textures and compositional variations in symplectitic minerals suggest that the decompression breakdown of ultrahigh-pressure minerals is a domainal equilibrium reaction or disequilibrium reaction. The composition of the original minerals and the diffusion rate of elements involved in these reactions controlled the symplectitic mineral compositions.