H2O contents and D/H ratios of nominally anhydrous minerals from ultrahigh-pressure eclogites of the Dabie orogen, eastern China

Garnet and omphacite from ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from the Dabie orogen, eastern China were investigated by Micro-FTIR. The results show that all garnet and omphacite grains contain structural water occurring as hydroxyl (OH), with H₂O contents varying from 14 to 1915 ppm (H₂O wt) and from 105 to 695 ppm, respectively. Within the same sample, the water contents are either homogeneous at the grain scale or vary systematically from higher in the core to lower in the rim. Low water contents at crystal rims possibly result from hydroxyl exsolution after pressure decrease upon rock exhumation. The δD values of omphacites are between −108.4‰ and −114.2‰, and independent of water contents. Heterogeneous water contents of garnet occur at the centimeter scale and fluid mobility during UHP metamorphism was very limited. The estimated whole-rock water content based on mineral H₂O contents is between 260 and 750 ppm, thereby implying that eclogitic rocks formed during continental subduction have the potential to recycle (at least) several hundreds ppm water to mantle depths. The preserved chemical differences likely indicate that the eclogitic rocks resided at mantle conditions for a limited time span, and imply that they were exhumed shortly after subduction. The water released during decompression might represent the early-stage retrograde fluid.     

Mineral oxygen isotope and hydroxyl content changes in ultrahigh-pressure eclogite–gneiss contacts from Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project cores

A combined study of mineral O isotopes and hydroxyl contents was carried out for the contacts between ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite and gneiss from main hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project in the Sulu orogen. While there is a large δ¹⁸O variation from ?8.3 to 7.3‰ for all minerals, different styles of mineral‐pair fractionation occur at the boundaries of different lithologies. Both equilibrium and disequilibrium O isotope fractionations are observed between quartz and the other minerals, with reversed fractionations between omphacite and garnet in some samples of eclogite. This suggests that both eclogite and gneiss acquired their negative δ¹⁸O values by meteoric‐hydrothermal alteration of their protoliths at high temperatures before subduction, and that fluid‐assisted O isotope exchange did take place across the boundary of different lithologies at local scales during amphibolite‐facies retrogression. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis yielded H₂O concentrations of 50 to 1144 p.p.m. (by weight) for garnet and 139 to 751 p.p.m. for omphacite. The state of equilibrium or disequilibrium O isotope fractionations between omphacite and garnet are correlated with variations in their water content at local scales, indicating that the internally derived fluid plays a critical role in retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. The retrograde metamorphism results in mineral reactions and O isotope disequilibria between some of the minerals, but the fluid for retrogression was derived from the decompression exsolution of structural hydroxyl and thus internally buffered in the O isotope composition. A quantitative estimate suggests that a hand specimen (3 × 6 × 9 cm) of eclogite composed of 70% garnet and 30% omphacite can release 0.316 g water by the decompression exsolution of structural hydroxyl, which can form 14.4 g amphibole during exhumation. This provides sufficient amounts of water for the amphibolite‐facies retrogression.     

CCSD主孔100-1100m榴辉岩中单矿物的原位微区微量元素地球化学研究

本文通过对CCSD主孔100～1100m范围内榴辉岩中单矿物的LA-ICP-MS分析，探讨了榴辉岩中单矿物之间的微量元素分配，发现超高压变质作用中石榴石和绿辉石之间Ti和C0的分配显著受Mg控制（如DCo^Grt/Omp=3．43DMg^Grt/Omp-0．34），而REE、Sr和Y的分配则受Ca分配所控制。绿辉石中REE、Pb和Th的含量则明显受超高压副矿物磷灰石的出现与否所控制。结合岩石学特征，对角闪石和绿辉石中微量元素的研究表明角闪石主要是绿辉石退变质的产物。但退变质矿物的微量元素组成不仅受原矿物控制，而且受退变质矿物组合类型影响。绿帘石的出现会显著降低共生角闪石中LREE和Sr的含量，而多硅白云母的分解则会增加角闪石中的Rb、Ba含量。另外，退变质过程中的流体活动也会影响退变质矿物中的LREE、Sr和Pb等。结合REE在榴辉岩各主要矿物间分配系数随温度、压力的变化，我们推测部分石榴石边部MREE的富集特征可能反映榴辉岩在折返过程中经历了短时增温作用，这可能是引起苏鲁地区榴辉岩相向麻粒岩相转变叠加现象以及超高压岩石经历部分熔融作用的重要原因。此外，榴辉岩中金红石Nb和Ta组成的高度不均一性为金红石形成于超高压变质阶段富Ti磁铁矿相变作用的成因机制提供了佐证。     

中国大陆科学钻探主孔0～4500米变质岩石锆石中保存的超高压矿物包体

中国大陆科学钻探主孔0-4500米的岩心主要由榴辉岩、斜长角闪岩、副片麻岩、正片麻岩以及少量的超基性岩所组成。岩相学研究结果表明,榴辉岩的围岩普遍经历了强烈角闪岩相退变质作用的改造,峰期超高压变质的矿物组合已完全被后期退变质过程中角闪岩相矿物组合所替代。采用激光拉曼技术,配备电子探针和阴极发光测试,发现主孔224件岩心中有121件(包括榴辉岩、斜长角闪岩、副片麻岩和正片麻岩)样品的锆石中普遍隐藏以柯石英为代表的超高压矿物包体,且不同岩石类型锆石中所保存的超高压矿物包体组合存在明显差异。(含多硅白云母)金红石石英榴辉岩锆石中保存的典型超高压包体矿物组合为柯石英 石榴石、柯石英 石榴石 绿辉石 金红石和柯石英 多硅白云母 磷灰石。黑云绿帘斜长角闪岩锆石中保存的超高压矿物组合为柯石英 石榴石 绿辉石、柯石英 石榴石 多硅白云母和柯石英 绿辉石 金红石,与榴辉岩所保存的超高压矿物组合十分相似,表明该类斜长角闪岩是由超高压榴辉岩在构造折返过程中退变质而成。在副片麻岩类岩石,如石榴绿帘黑云二长片麻岩锆石中,代表性的超高压包体矿物组合为柯石英 多硅白云母和柯石英 石榴石等;而在石榴黑云角闪钠长片麻岩锆石中,则保存柯石英 硬玉 石榴石 磷灰石、柯石英 硬玉 多硅白云母 磷灰石和柯石英 石榴石 磷灰石等超高压矿物包体。在正片麻岩锆石中,标志性的超高压矿物包体为柯石英、柯石英 多硅白云母、柯石英 蓝晶石 磷灰石和柯石英 蓝晶石 榍石等。此外,在南苏鲁东海至临沭一带的地表露头以及一系列卫星孔岩心的锆石中,也普遍发现以柯石英为代表的标志性超高压矿物包体,表明在南苏鲁地区由榴辉岩及其围岩的原岩所组成的巨量陆壳物质(方圆>5000km2,厚度超过4.5km)曾整体发生深俯冲,并经历了超高压变质作用。该项研究对于重塑苏鲁-大别超高压变质带俯冲-折返的动力学模式有着重要的科学意义。     

Heterogeneity of water in garnets from UHP eclogites, eastern Dabieshan, China

Garnets in UHP eclogites from Bixiling in Dabieshan were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicate that all garnets contain structural water that occurs as hydroxyl (OH⁻) and non-structural molecular water (H₂O) possibly in the form of sub-microscopic fluid inclusions. The structural hydroxyl contents range from 92 to 1735 ppm (H₂O wt.) and most are between 200 and 1000 ppm. Therefore, garnet in eclogite can recycle surface water into the mantle. Various water contents were observed among different samples of the same outcrop (∼150 m) and in different domains of the same sample (∼1 cm). This variability in structural H₂O contents suggests that the mobility of fluids during UHP metamorphism was very limited, and that both subduction and exhumation processes of UHP rocks occurred in a short time interval.     

大别山双河超高压榴辉岩中的水: 微区红外光谱分析

大陆深俯冲板块到一定深度后(约90~110km), 几乎没有含水矿物存在, 超高压岩石中名义上无水矿物(NAMs) 成为俯冲板块中水的主要载体, 是示踪超高压变质流体的重要途径.对大别山双河地区超高压榴辉岩中的石榴石和绿辉石进行了详细的微区傅立叶变换红外光谱(MicroFTIR) 分析.FTIR结果显示所有石榴石和绿辉石颗粒都含有结构水, 以OH的形式存在, 其含量范围分别为(30~1860)×10-6和(360~620)×10-6.榴辉岩全岩水含量为(300~750)×10-6, 表明即使是在超高压变质作用的温压条件下, 榴辉岩也可以至少携带数百10-6的水进入深部地球.对石榴石颗粒内部的多点观察发现, 结构水含量的分布出现2种情况: (1) 颗粒内部的均一分布; (2) 核部水含量高而边部低.石榴石颗粒边部的低水含量可能是抬升过程中由于压力降低引起的H扩散所致, 扩散出来的H可能构成了早期退变质流体的重要来源.对于同一样品来说, 结构水含量在绿辉石和石榴石之间的比值为0.5~3.5.      

喜马拉雅造山带两种不同类型榴辉岩与印度大陆差异性俯冲

印度与亚洲大陆新生代碰撞-俯冲形成的喜马拉雅造山带核部由高压和超高压变质岩组成.超高压榴辉岩分布在喜马拉雅造山带西段,由石榴石、绿辉石、柯石英、多硅白云母、帘石、蓝晶石和金红石组成.超高压榴辉岩的峰期变质条件为2.6～2.8GPa和600～620℃,其经历了角闪岩相退变质作用和低程度熔融.超高压榴辉岩的进变质、峰期和退变质年龄分别为～50Ma、45～47Ma和35～40Ma,指示一个快速俯冲与快速折返过程.高压榴辉岩产出在喜马拉雅造山带中-东段,由石榴石、绿辉石、多硅白云母、石英和金红石组成.高压榴辉岩的峰期变质条件为>2.1GPa和>750℃,叠加了高温麻粒岩相退变质作用与强烈部分熔融.高压榴辉岩的峰期和退变质年龄可能分别是～38 Ma和14～17 Ma,很可能经历了一个缓慢俯冲与缓慢折返过程.喜马拉雅造山带两种不同类型榴辉岩的存在表明,印度与亚洲大陆约在51～53Ma碰撞后,印度大陆地壳的西北缘陡俯冲到了地幔深度,导致表壳岩石经历了超高压变质作用,而印度大陆地壳的东北缘平缓俯冲到亚洲大陆之下,导致表壳岩石经历了高压变质作用.     

Magnetic susceptibility of ultrahigh pressure eclogite: The role of retrogression

Retrograde metamorphism played the dominant role in changing the low-field rock magnetic properties and density of 198 specimens of variably retrograded eclogites from the main borehole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD) and from surface outcrops in the Donghai area in the southern part of the Sulu UHP belt, China. Bulk magnetic susceptibility (κ) of unretrogressed UHP eclogite is controlled by whole-rock chemical composition and ranges from 397 to 2312 μSI with principal magnetic susceptibility carrying minerals paramagnetic garnet, omphacite, rutile and phengite. Partially retrograded eclogites show large variations in magnetic susceptibility between 804 and 24,277 μSI, with high mean magnetic susceptibility values of 4372 ± 4149 μSI caused by appreciable amounts of Fe-Ti oxide minerals such as magnetite, ilmenite and/or titanohematite produced by retrograde metamorphic reactions. Completely retrograded eclogites have lower susceptibilities of 1094 ± 600 μSI and amphibolite facies mineral assemblages lacking high magnetic susceptibility minerals. Jelínek's corrected anisotropy (P_j) of eclogites ranges from 1.001 to 1.540, and shows a positive correlation with low-field magnetic susceptibility (κ). Arithmetic mean bulk density (ρ) shows a steady decrease from 3.54 ± 0.11 g/cm³ (fresh eclogite) to 2.98 ± 0.06 g/cm³ (completely retrograded eclogite). Retrograde metamorphic changes in mineral composition during exhumation appear to be the major factor causing variations in low field magnetic susceptibility and anisotropy. Retrograde processes must be taken into account when interpreting magnetic surveys and geophysical well logs in UHP metamorphic terranes, and petrophysical properties such as density and low-field magnetic susceptibility could provide a means for semi-quantifying the degree of retrogression of eclogite during exhumation.     

Low-T eclogite in the Dabie terrane of China: petrological and isotopic constraints on fluid activity and radiometric dating

While extensive studies have demonstrated fluid release during subduction of oceanic crust, little attention has been paid to fluid activity during subduction and exhumation of continental crust. Abundant occurrence of quartz veins within eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt of China provides us with an opportunity to study the origin and role of vein-forming fluids with respect to heat and mass transfer during ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism and its relevant processes. This study focuses on kyanite-quartz vein that occurs as polycrystalline aggregates within the low-T eclogite in the Dabie terrane, which are interpreted as pseudomorphs after former porphyroblasts of lawsonite. Coesite pseudomorphs were found for the first time in eclogite garnet, resulting in a revised estimate of peak P–T conditions at 670°C and 3.3 GPa for the eclogite and thus upgrading the high-P unit to an UHP unit. On the basis of the relationship between calculated P–T path and metamorphic reactions as well as the absence of foliation texture, and undulose extinction of quartzes in the vein, we conclude that lawsonite breakdown into kyanite–quartz–zoisite assemblage took place at the onset of exhumation subsequent to peak pressure. Retrograde metamorphism caused O and H isotope disequilibria between some of the minerals, but the fluid for retrograde reactions was internally buffered in stable isotope compositions. Zircon U–Pb dating and whole-rock Nd–Sr isotope analyses indicate that eclogite protolith is the paleoceanic basalt that was derived from the depleted mantle by magmatism at about 1.8 to 1.9 Ga but experienced hydrothermal alteration by surface waters. The altered basalt underwent UHP metamorphism in the Triassic that caused fluid release for zircon growth/overgrowth not only at about 242±3 Ma prior to the onset of peak pressure but also at about 222±4 Ma during decompression dehydration by lawsonite breakdown and hydroxyl exsolution in the low-T/UHP eclogite. Consistent ages of 236.1±4.2 Ma and 230±7 Ma were obtained from mineral Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isochron dating, respectively, indicating attainment and preservation of Nd and Sr isotope equilibria during the Triassic UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism. Ar–Ar dating on paragonite from the eclogite gave consistent plateau and isochron ages of 241.3±3.1 Ma and 245.5±9.8 Ma, respectively, which are interpreted to date paragonite crystallization during the prograde eclogite-facies metamorphism. The timing of peak UHP metamorphism for the low-T eclogite is constrained at sometime prior to 236.1±4.2 Ma. Thus the termination age of peak UHP metamorphism may be different in different slices of deep-subducted slab.     

Ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project: II Oxygen isotope and fluid inclusion distributions through vertical sections

In order to reconstruct the formation and exhumation mechanisms of UHP metamorphic terrains, the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Program (CCSD) has been carried out in Donghai of the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, East China. Eclogite, gneiss, amphibolite (retrograded from eclogite), ultramafic rocks, and minor schist and quartzite have been drilled. Aiming to reveal the fluid behaviour in a vertical sequence of an UHP slab, we investigated fluid inclusion and oxygen isotope characteristics of selected drillcores from the main hole and the pilot-holes PP2 and ZK 703 of the CCSD. More than 540 laser-ablation oxygen isotope analyses on garnet, omphacite, quartz, kyanite, amphibole, phengite, rutile, epidote, amphibole, plagioclase, and biotite from various rocks in the depth range of 0–3,000 m (mainly eclogite and gneiss) show that the investigated rocks can be divided into two groups: ¹⁸O-depleted rocks (as low as δ¹⁸O = −7.4‰ for garnet) indicate interaction with cold climate meteoric waters, whereas ¹⁸O-normal rocks (with bulk δ¹⁸O > +5.6‰) have preserved the O-isotopic compositions of their protoliths. Meteoric water/rock interaction has reached depths of at least 2,700 m. Oxygen isotope equilibrium has generally been achieved. Isotopic compositions of mineral phases are homogeneous on a mm to cm scale regardless of lithology, but heterogeneous on the scale of a few metres. Oxygen isotope distributions in the vertical sections favour an “in situ” origin of the UHP metamorphic rocks. The very negative δ¹⁸O eclogites usually have higher hydroxyl-mineral contents than the normal δ¹⁸O rocks, indicating higher water content during UHP metamorphism. Fluid inclusion data suggest that rocks with depleted ¹⁸O compositions have had different fluid histories compared to those with normal δ¹⁸O values. Rocks with depleted ¹⁸O mainly have primary medium-to-high salinity inclusions in omphacite, kyanite and quartz, and abundant secondary low-salinity or pure water inclusions in quartz, indicating a high-salinity-brine-dominated fluid system during peak UHP metamorphism; no carbonic inclusions have been identified in these rocks. By contrast, primary very high-density CO₂ inclusions are commonly found in the rocks with normal δ¹⁸O values. These observations suggest that fluid and oxygen isotope composition of minerals are related and reflect variable degrees of alterations of the Dabie-Sulu UHP metamorphic rocks.     

大别山双河地区超高压变质岩矿物超微构造的HRTEM研究

报道了大别山双河地区超高压榴辉岩和硬玉石英岩矿物超微构造及缺陷结构的高分辨透射电镜研究结果。在天然变形绿辉石晶内的自由位错、位错倾斜壁、位错环、位错网、亚晶界、堆垛层错等亚构造中 ,发现了纳米级水分子团 ,这种球形状水分子团包体的存在是导致绿辉石晶体水解弱化和塑性变形的重要因素。在榴辉岩矿物中广泛发育的层错、(10 0 )变形双晶、晶畴结构、界面与晶面的交叉滑移、晶格畸变等变形构造及缺陷结构 ,指示超高压岩石经历了快速折返。在硬玉单晶大约 5 0 0nm的微晶畴内 ,发现了C2 /c和P2 1/n两种结构 ,C2 /c结构的晶体学参数对应于硬玉 ,而P2 1/n结构的晶体学参数对应于绿辉石 ,纳米级P2 1/n出溶结构的存在 ,表明在退变质过程中 ,硬玉在纳米尺度上部分转变为绿辉石 ,并且未能达到平衡。也说明在主体岩石的抬升过程中 ,硬玉晶体伴随有复杂的非平衡退变质作用。对于大别山超高压变质岩的p T轨迹描述及其构造解释具有重要意义。     

大别山金河桥榴辉岩矿物O—Nd—Pb同位素体系及其对扩散速率的制约

对大别山太湖金河桥超高压榴辉岩作了矿物Sm-Nd内部等时线定年研究和激光氧同位素分析。石榴石+绿辉石Sm-Nd等时线给出了较低年龄210±3Ma,石榴石+金红石Sm-Nd等时线给出了较高年龄237±4Ma。岩相学观察发现,绿辉石具有角闪石退变质边。氧同位素分析表明,石榴石与绿辉石之间的氧同位素体系处于不平衡状态。据此,石榴石+绿辉石Sm-Nd同位素体系因退变质作用导致Nd同位素不平衡而给出不合理偏低年龄。较老的石榴石+金红石Sm-Nd年龄有可能指示了榴辉岩相前期阶段的时代,且在温度变质峰期没有使它们之间的Nd同位素再次均一化,它指示Nd在金红石中的扩散速率较慢,可能与石榴石相当。矿物对氧同位素测温得到,石英—石榴石对温度为695±35℃,石英—金红石对为460±15℃,与根据金红石U—Pb内部等时线估计的Pb扩散封闭温度470±50℃一致。对比表明,O在石榴石中的扩散速率与Nd相当或略低,而O和Pb在金红石中的扩散速率相近,且均比Nd快。     

Fluid generation and evolution during exhumation of deeply subducted UHP continental crust: Petrogenesis of composite granite–quartz veins in the Sulu belt,China

Composite granite–quartz veins occur in retrogressed ultrahigh pressure (UHP) eclogite enclosed in gneiss at General's Hill in the central Sulu belt, eastern China. The granite in the veins has a high‐pressure (HP) mineral assemblage of dominantly quartz+phengite+allanite/epidote+garnet that yields pressures of 2.5–2.1 GPa (Si‐in‐phengite barometry) and temperatures of 850–780°C (Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry) at 2.5 GPa (~20°C lower at 2.1 GPa). Zircon overgrowths on inherited cores and new grains of zircon from both components of the composite veins crystallized at c. 221 Ma. This age overlaps the timing of HP retrograde recrystallization dated at 225–215 Ma from multiple localities in the Sulu belt, consistent with the HP conditions retrieved from the granite. The ε_Hf(t) values of new zircon from both components of the composite veins and the Sr–Nd isotope compositions of the granite consistently lie between values for gneiss and eclogite, whereas δ¹⁸O values of new zircon are similar in the veins and the crustal rocks. These data are consistent with zircon growth from a blended fluid generated internally within the gneiss and the eclogite, without any ingress of fluid from an external source. However, at the peak metamorphic pressure, which could have reached 7 GPa, the rocks were likely fluid absent. During initial exhumation under UHP conditions, exsolution of H₂O from nominally anhydrous minerals generated a grain boundary supercritical fluid in both gneiss and eclogite. As exhumation progressed, the volume of fluid increased allowing it to migrate by diffusing porous flow from grain boundaries into channels and drain from the dominant gneiss through the subordinate eclogite. This produced a blended fluid intermediate in its isotope composition between the two end‐members, as recorded by the composite veins. During exhumation from UHP (coesite) eclogite to HP (quartz) eclogite facies conditions, the supercritical fluid evolved by dissolution of the silicate mineral matrix, becoming increasingly solute‐rich, more ‘granitic’ and more viscous until it became trapped. As crystallization began by diffusive loss of H₂O to the host eclogite concomitant with ongoing exhumation of the crust, the trapped supercritical fluid intersected the solvus for the granite–H₂O system, allowing phase separation and formation of the composite granite–quartz veins. Subsequently, during the transition from HP eclogite to amphibolite facies conditions, minor phengite breakdown melting is recorded in both the granite and the gneiss by K‐feldspar+plagioclase+biotite aggregates located around phengite and by K‐feldspar veinlets along grain boundaries. Phase equilibria modelling of the granite indicates that this late‐stage melting records P–T conditions towards the end of the exhumation, with the subsolidus assemblage yielding 0.7–1.1 GPa at <670°C. Thus, the composite granite–quartz veins represent a rare example of a natural system recording how the fluid phase evolved during exhumation of continental crust. The successive availability of different fluid phases attending retrograde metamorphism from UHP eclogite to amphibolite facies conditions will affect the transport of trace elements through the continental crust and the role of these fluids as metasomatic agents interacting with the mantle wedge in the subduction channel.     

Genesis of garnet peridotites in the Sulu UHP belt: Examples from the Chinese continental scientific drilling project-main hole, PP1 and PP3 drillholes

The main hole (MH), and pre-pilot holes PP1, and PP3 of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD) penetrated three different garnet peridotite bodies in the Sulu ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, which are 80 m, 120 m, and 430 m thick, respectively. The bodies occur as tectonic blocks hosted in eclogite (MH peridotite) and gneisses (PP1 and PP3 peridotites). The peridotites in the MH are garnet wehrlites, whose protoliths were ultramafic cumulates based on olivine compositions (Fo_79-89) and other geochemical features. Zoned garnet and omphacite (with 4-5 wt.% Na₂O) are typical metamorphic minerals in these rocks, and, along with P-T estimates based on mineral pairs, suggest that the rocks have undergone UHP metamorphism. SHRIMP U-Pb isotope dating of zircon from the garnet wehrlite yielded a Paleozoic protolith age (ca. 346-461 Ma), and a Mesozoic UHP metamorphic age (ca. 220-240 Ma). The peridotites in PP1 consist of interlayered garnet (Grt)-bearing and garnet-free (GF) peridotite. Both types of peridotite have depleted mantle compositions (Mg# = 90-92) and they display transitional geochemical features. The intercalated layers probably reflect variations in partial melting rather than pressure variations during metamorphism, and the garnets may have been formed by exsolution from orthopyroxene during exhumation. These peridotites were probably part of the mantle wedge above the subduction zone that produced the UHP metamorphism and thus belonged to the North China Block before its tectonic emplacement. The exhumation of the subducted Yangtze Block brought these mantle fragments to shallow crustal levels. The ultramafic rocks in PP3 are dominantly dunite with minor garnet dunite. Their high Mg# (92-93) and relatively uniform chemical compositions indicate that they are part of a depleted mantle sequence. The presence of garnet replacing spinel and enclosing pre-metamorphic minerals such as olivine, clinopyroxene and spinel suggests that these rocks have undergone progressive metamorphism. SHRIMP U-Pb isotope dating of zircon from these rocks yielded two age groups: 726 ± 56 Ma for relic magmatic zircon grains and 240 ± 2.7 Ma for the newly formed metamorphic zircon. The older group is similar in age to granitic intrusions within the Dabie-Sulu belt, suggesting that the PP3 garnet peridotite may record the early emplacement of the peridotite into the crust. The younger dates coincide with the age of UHP metamorphism during continent-continent collision between the Yangtze and North China Blocks, suggesting that these peridotites were subducted to depths equivalent to the coesite facies and later exhumed. Thus, the garnet peridotites in the CCSD cores include both ultramafic rocks that existed originally in the subducted plate and rocks from the mantle wedge above the subducted plate, i.e., part of the North China Block.     

北秦岭榴辉岩及相关岩石年代学的进一步确定及其对板片俯冲属性的约束

在岩相学观察和锆石CL图像研究的基础上,利用LA ICP MS原位分析方法,对北秦岭官坡超高压榴辉岩和伴生的石榴石角闪岩(榴闪岩)进行了详细的锆石微区微量元素和U Th Pb同位素分析,在榴辉岩样品中得到变质年龄为(502±11)Ma,原岩结晶年龄>(657±18)Ma;在榴闪岩样品中得到原岩结晶年龄为(791±6)Ma,变质年龄为487~503 Ma,角闪岩相退变质年龄为(366±4)Ma。岩石地球化学研究显示,北秦岭官坡地区的榴闪岩具有低Si(SiO2质量分数为4916%~5078%),高Ti(TiO2质量分数为228%~283%)、富集LREE、LILE和大部分的HFSE元素,不显Nb、Ta负异常的板内玄武岩特征,与北秦岭超高压榴辉岩地球化学特征一致。结合两者的野外产状、岩相学特征、锆石形貌和年代学研究结果,表明本文研究的官坡地区的榴闪岩是超高压榴辉岩在抬升过程中在角闪岩相条件下退变质的产物。综合两者的年代学研究结果,得到北秦岭地区超高压榴辉岩的变质年龄为(502±11)Ma,原岩结晶年龄为(791±6)Ma,角闪岩相退变质年龄为(366±4)Ma。研究得到的(502±11)Ma的榴辉岩相变质年龄与前人得到的该榴辉岩围岩超高压泥质片麻岩的变质年龄(507±38)Ma以及北秦岭松树沟地区的超高压长英质片麻岩的变质年龄485~514 Ma一致,表明它们经历了同期超高压变质作用。而且,榴辉岩(502±11)Ma的变质年龄与其原岩的结晶年龄(791±6)Ma存在近300 Ma的时间间隔,表明原岩具有板内玄武岩性质的北秦岭官坡超高压榴辉岩不可能是秦岭古生代大洋板块深俯冲的产物,而可能是已构造就位的古洋壳或裂谷火山岩在古生代随陆壳一起发生大陆深俯冲作用的产物。     

Chemical geodynamics of continental subduction-zone metamorphism: Insights from studies of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) core samples

The Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt of east-central China has long been a type location for the study of geodynamic processes associated with ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) tectonics. Much of our understanding of the world's most enigmatic processes in continental deep-subduction zones has been deduced from various records in this belt. By taking advantage of having depth profiles from core samples of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) project in the Sulu orogen, a series of combined studies were carried out for UHP metamorphic rocks from the main hole (MH) at continuous depths of 100 to 5000 m. The results provide new insights into the chemical geodynamics of continental subduction-zone metamorphism, especially on the issues that are not able to be resolved from the surface outcrops. Available results from our geochemical studies of CCSD-MH core samples can be outlined as follows. (1) An O isotope profile of 100 to 5000 m is established for the UHP metamorphic minerals, with finding of ¹⁸O depletion as deep as 3300 m. Along with areal ¹⁸O depletion of over 30,000 km² along the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt, three-dimensional ¹⁸O depletion of over 100,000 km³ occurs along the northern margin of the South China Block. (2) Changes in mineral O isotope, H isotope and water content occur in eclogite-gneiss transitions, concordant with petrographic changes. The contact between different lithologies is thus the most favorable place for fluid action; fluid for retrogression of the eclogites away from the eclogite-gneiss boundary was derived from the decompression exsolution. For the eclogites adjacent to gneiss, in contrast, the retrograde metamorphism was principally caused by aqueous fluid from the gneiss that is relatively rich in water. Inspection of the relationship between the distance, petrography and δ¹⁸O values of adjacent samples shows O isotope heterogeneities between the different and same lithologies on scales of 20 to 50 cm, corresponding to the maximum scales of fluid mobility during the continental collision. (3) Studies of major and trace elements in the two continuous core segments indicate high mobility of LILE and LREE but immobility of HFSE and HREE. Some eclogites have andesitic compositions with high SiO₂, alkalis, LREE and LILE but low CaO, MgO and FeO contents. These features likely result from chemical exchange with gneisses, possibly due to the metasomatism of felsic melt produced by partial melting of the associated gneisses during the exhumation. On the other hand, some eclogites appear to have geochemical affinity to refractory rocks formed by melt extraction as evidence by strong LREE and LILE depletion and the absence of hydrous minerals. These results provide evidence for melt-induced element mobility in the UHP metamorphic rocks, and thus the possible presence of supercritical fluid during exhumation. In particular, large variations in the abundance of such elements as SiO₂, LREE and LILE occur at the contact between eclogite and gneiss. This indicates their mobility between different slab components, although it only occurs on small scales and is thus limited in local open-systems. (4) Despite the widespread retrogression, retrograde fluid was internally buffered in stable isotope compositions, and the retrograde fluid was of deuteric origin and thus was derived from the decompression exsolution of structural hydroxyl and molecular water in nominally anhydrous minerals. (5) A combined study of petrography and geochronology reveals the episode of HP eclogite-facies recrystallization at 216 ± 3 Ma, with timescale of 1.9 to 9.3 Myr or less. Collectively, the Dabie–Sulu UHP terrenes underwent the protracted exhumation (2–3 mm/yr) in the HP-UHP regime. (6) Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopes indicate that mid-Neoproterozoic protoliths of bimodal UHP metaigneous rocks formed during supercontinental rifting along preexisting arc-continent collision orogen, corresponding to dual bimodal magmatism in response to the attempted breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia at about 780 Ma. The first type of bimodal magmatism was formed by reworking of juvenile Late Mesoproterozoic crust, whereas the second type of bimodal magmatism was principally generated by rifting anatexis of ancient Middle Paleoproterozoic crust. In conclusion, the geochemical studies of CCSD-MH core samples have placed important constraints on the nature and scale of fluid action and element mobility during the continental subduction and UHP metamorphism.     

On the survival of intergranular coesite in UHP eclogite

Coesite is typically found as inclusions in rock‐forming or accessory minerals in ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks. Thus, the survival of intergranular coesite in UHP eclogite at Yangkou Bay (Sulu belt, eastern China) is surprising and implies locally “dry” conditions throughout exhumation. The dominant structures in the eclogites at Yangkou are a strong D₂ foliation associated with tight‐to‐isoclinal F₂ folds that are overprinted by close‐to‐tight F₃ folds. The coesite‐bearing eclogites occur as rootless intrafolial isoclinal F₁ fold noses wrapped by a composite S₁–S₂ foliation in interlayered phengite‐bearing quartz‐rich schists. To evaluate controls on the survival of intergranular coesite, we determined the number density of intergranular coesite grains per cm² in thin section in two samples of coesite eclogite (phengite absent) and three samples of phengite‐bearing coesite eclogite (2–3 vol.% phengite), and measured the amount of water in garnet and omphacite in these samples, and also in two samples of phengite‐bearing quartz eclogite (6–7 vol.% phengite, coesite absent). As coesite decreases in the mode, the amount of primary structural water stored in the whole rock, based on the nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs), increases from 107/197 ppm H₂O in the coesite eclogite to 157–253 ppm H₂O in the phengite‐bearing coesite eclogite to 391/444 ppm H₂O in the quartz eclogite. In addition, there is molecular water in the NAMs and modal water in phengite. If the primary concentrations reflect differences in water sequestered during the late prograde evolution, the amount of fluid stored in the NAMs at the metamorphic peak was higher outside of the F₁ fold noses. During exhumation from UHP conditions, where NAMs became H₂O saturated, dehydroxylation would have generated a free fluid phase. Interstitial fluid in a garnet–clinopyroxene matrix at UHP conditions has dihedral angles >60°, so at equilibrium fluid will be trapped in isolated pores. However, outside the F₁ fold noses strong D₂ deformation likely promoted interconnection of fluid and migration along the developing S₂ foliation, enabling conversion of some or all of the intergranular coesite into quartz. By contrast, the eclogite forming the F₁ fold noses behaved as independent rigid bodies within the composite S₁–S₂ foliation of the surrounding phengite‐bearing quartz‐rich schists. Primary structural water concentrations in the coesite eclogite are so low that H₂O saturation of the NAMs is unlikely to have occurred. This inherited drier environment in the F₁ fold noses was maintained during exhumation by deformation partitioning and strain localization in the schists, and the fold noses remained immune to grain‐scale fluid infiltration from outside allowing coesite to survive. The amount of inherited primary structural water and the effects of strain partitioning are important variables in the survival of coesite during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust. Evidence of UHP metamorphism may be preserved in similar isolated structural settings in other collisional orogens.     

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.     

Comment on “Paleozoic ages and excess Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: New insights from Ar/Ar dating by stepwise crushing” by Qiu and Wijbrans (2006)

Qiu and Wijbrans [Qiu H.-N. and Wijbrans J. R. (2006) Paleozoic ages and excess ⁴⁰Ar in garnets from the Bixiling eclogite in Dabieshan, China: new insights from ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating by stepwise crushing. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta70, 2354-2370] present three Ar-Ar age spectra for fluid inclusions in garnet from eclogite at Bixiling in the Dabie orogen, east-central China. These Paleozoic ages of 427 ± 20 to 444 ± 10 Ma are interpreted to represent the first formation of Dabie ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogite and thus require subduction of Yangtze crust to have started much earlier than previously accepted. However, no petrographic evidence, such as mineral inclusions in the garnet relating to the particular metamorphic conditions, is presented to substantiate the proposed UHP metamorphic event. Because garnet growth is not uniquely responsible for UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism, a distinction between UHP and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic events must be made in the interpretation of geochronological results. Available data from mineral Sm-Nd and zircon U-Pb dating of eclogites from the same area have firmly established that the UHP eclogite-facies metamorphism took place at Triassic. Neither the age of UHP metamorphism nor the timing of continental collision is reliably constrained by their presented data; the fluid inclusions in garnet must contain inherited ⁴⁰Ar from UHP eclogite precursor, without considerable resetting of the Ar-Ar isotopic system during Triassic UHP metamorphism. Therefore, their data are either meaningless, or at best viewed as the age of garnet growth by low-T/HP blueschist/eclogite-facies metamorphism of the UHP eclogite precursor during arc-continent collision in the early Paleozoic. Furthermore, it is critical for metamorphic geochronology to substantiate the timing of UHP metamorphic event by means of zircon U-Pb in situ dating on coesite-bearing domains of metamorphically grown zircon.     

Integrating X‐ray mapping and microtomography of garnet with thermobarometry to define the P–T evolution of the (near) UHP Międzygórze eclogite,Sudetes, SW Poland

Detailed X‐ray compositional mapping and microtomography have revealed the complex zoning and growth history of garnet in a kyanite‐bearing eclogite. The garnet occurs as clusters of coalesced grains with cores revealing slightly higher Ca and lower Mg than the rims forming the coalescence zones between the grains. Core regions of the garnet host inclusions of omphacite with the highest jadeite, and phengite with the highest Si, similar to values in the cores of omphacite and phengite located in the matrix. Therefore, the core compositions of garnet, omphacite, and phengite have been chosen for the peak pressure estimate. Coupled conventional thermobarometry, average P–T, and phase equilibrium modelling in the NCKFMMnASHT system yields P–T conditions of 26–30 kbar at 800–930°C. Although coesite is not preserved, these P–T conditions partially overlap the coesite stability field, suggesting near ultra‐high–pressure (UHP) conditions during the formation of this eclogite. Therefore, the peak pressure assemblage is suggested to have been garnet–omphacite–kyanite–phengite–coesite/quartz–rutile. Additional lines of evidence for the possible UHP origin of the Mi?dzygórze eclogite are the presence of rod‐shaped inclusions of quartz parallel to the c‐axis in omphacite as well as relatively high values of Ca‐Tschermak and Ca‐Eskola components. Late zoisite, rare diopside–plagioclase symplectites rimming omphacite, and minor phlogopite–plagioclase symplectites replacing phengite formed during retrogression together with later amphibole. These retrograde assemblages lack minerals typical of granulite facies, which suggests simultaneous decompression and cooling during exhumation before the crustal‐scale folding that was responsible for final exhumation of the eclogite.