拉萨地块东南缘晚白垩世高温变质作用及其地质意义:来自石英出溶金红石的证据和锆石U-Pb定年

文中对拉萨地块东南缘林芝杂岩中的含榴斜长角闪岩进行了详细的岩相学研究和锆石U-Pb定年。岩相学观察表明,含榴斜长角闪岩经历了峰期麻粒岩相变质和角闪岩相退变质作用。峰期麻粒岩相矿物组合为石榴子石+高Ti角闪石+紫苏辉石+斜长石+石英+金红石,其中的石榴子石、石英和角闪石中含有大量金红石出溶体,说明这些矿物的初始成分具有高Ti含量。角闪岩相退变质矿物组合为低Ti角闪石+斜长石+斜黝帘石+石英+金红石。利用Ti在石英中的含量(TitaniQ)温度计计算得到峰期麻粒岩相变质温度为803～924℃,后期角闪岩相退变质温度为555～732℃。样品中的锆石具有明显的核边结构,核部为典型岩浆型锆石,具有高的Th/U值,强烈富集HREE,明显的正Ce异常和负Eu异常,206Pb/238U年龄为(89.3±0.6)Ma,代表含榴斜长角闪岩原岩结晶年龄。锆石边部呈无环带结构,同核部相比,具有低的Th/U值,低的M-HREE和弱的Eu负异常,为变质峰期生长的锆石,206Pb/238U年龄为(81.1±0.8)Ma,代表麻粒岩相峰期变质年龄。我们认为约81Ma高温麻粒岩相变质作用可能与洋中脊俯冲造成的板片窗导致的软流圈上涌有关。     

朝鲜甑山“群”变质岩中锆石-榍石-金红石U-Pb体系:古元古代-中生代构造-热事件记录

朝鲜甑山地区甑山"群"(杂岩)的主要岩石类型包括石榴云母片麻岩、石榴角闪岩,并有少量大理岩。其原岩为泥质岩为主的碎屑岩,并含有少量火山岩和碳酸盐岩,经历了角闪岩相到麻粒岩相变质作用。本文对甑山"群"2件石榴云母片麻岩和1件石榴角闪岩样品进行了锆石-榍石-金红石U-Pb体系年代学研究。石榴云母片麻岩中分选出的锆石均为变质新生锆石,Pb-Pb加权平均年龄为1850±5Ma,没有发现继承锆石组分,暗示原岩为缺乏碎屑锆石的泥质岩。石榴角闪岩中的榍石根据成因不同,可分为两期,即早期麻粒岩相变质生长的榍石和后期热事件生长榍石。早期榍石具有高U、高Th/U比值特点,U-Pb分析构成一条不一致线,上交点年龄1831±5Ma代表了早期变质热事件冷却到榍石U-Pb体系封闭温度时代,下交点年龄155±3Ma代表后期热事件造成Pb丢失时代;另一种榍石具有低U低Th/U比值特点,U-Pb年龄为单一的153±3Ma,为中生代构造热事件的新生榍石。两类样品中的金红石少量颗粒保存有早期U-Pb年龄信息,绝大多数在~155Ma发生完全重置,并直到~110Ma一直处于U-Pb体系开放状态。以上数据说明,甑山"群"在~1850Ma前发生高级变质,1850~1830Ma开始抬升出露,并成为中新元古界沉积岩物源与沉积基底,中生代受到朝鲜广泛发育的岩浆-热事件的影响。     

CCSD超高压变质金红石U-Pb定年及其约束意义

本文尝试性地对来自中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)主孔及地表的超高压(UHP)变质榴辉岩中的金红石进行了U-Pb定年研究,初步获得了211±22Ma的等时线年龄,这是苏北地区榴辉岩型金红石矿床的第一个直接的年龄结果,结合前人在大别山地区获得的首个准确的金红石U-Pb年龄:218Ma及金红石U-Pb体系大约500℃的封闭温度分析,该年龄代表的是UHP变质峰值期后板块折返过程的冷却年龄,峰值期形成的金红石在此时发生了变质重结晶作用。此年龄对整个苏鲁UHP变质地体的俯冲-折返历史及本地区榴辉岩型金红石矿床的形成过程都有重要的约束意义。     

苏鲁地体超高压和退变质时代的厘定:来自片麻岩锆石微区SHRIMP U-Pb定年的证据

锆石微区矿物包体的激光拉曼和阴极发光测试以及相应的SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果表明,苏鲁地体片麻岩锆石微区记录了十分复杂的年代学信息。其中副片麻岩锆石核部记录了345～743 Ma的继承性锆石年龄,标志着原岩碎屑锆石来源的复杂性;含柯石英的锆石微区记录了220～234 Ma的超高压变质年龄;而含石英包体的边部则记录了202～219 Ma的退变质年龄。正片麻岩继承性锆石核部所记录的年龄为574～680 Ma,表明原岩锆石曾经历了部分Pb丢失,原岩的形成年龄应大于680 Ma;含柯石英锆石微区所记录的超高压变质年龄为224～242 Ma;而锆石边部所记录的退变质年龄为209～219 Ma。两类片麻岩锆石微区所隐藏的超高压变质和退变质年龄信息十分相近,平均值分别为229±4Ma和211±4Ma,标志着苏鲁地体超高压变质时代应为印支期,相应的构造抬升速率约5.6 km/Ma。该项成果不仅确定了苏鲁地体超高压变质和退变质时代,而且对于深入探讨苏鲁地体快速折返过程中的动力学机制有着重要的科学意义。     

拉萨地体东南缘始新世早期变质作用及其构造意义

本文对位于青藏高原拉萨地体东南缘林芝杂岩中的片麻岩进行了岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究.所研究的样品包括正片麻岩和副片麻岩,它们经历了中压角闪岩相变质作用.岩石地球化学分析结果表明,所研究的正片麻岩的原岩具有钙碱性岛弧岩浆岩的特征.锆石U-Pb年代学分析结果表明,副片麻岩中的碎屑锆石核部为岩浆成因,它们给出的206Pb/238U年龄范围为3012～ 522Ma,其锆石的增生边给出了～51Ma的变质年龄.在正片麻岩中,黑云母片麻岩给出了～67Ma的原岩结晶年龄和～ 55 Ma的变质年龄;石榴石角闪黑云斜长片麻岩给出了～58Ma的原岩结晶年龄和～54Ma的变质年龄.因此,所研究的林芝杂岩并不能代表拉萨地体中的前寒武纪变质基底,而是古生代的沉积岩和晚白垩纪至早新生代的岩浆岩在始新世早期变质而成.这一时期,表壳岩和侵入岩一起经历的中压角闪岩相变质作用很可能跟新特提斯洋俯冲导致的地壳增生、加厚有关.     

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。     

内蒙古黄土窑孔兹岩系的锆石与金红石年龄研究

内蒙古黄土窑及其毗邻地区孔兹岩系已有一些１８００￣１９００Ｍａ的锆石Ｕ－Ｐｂ年龄数据,但因孔兹岩是高级变质的沉积岩,其锆石Ｕ－Ｐｂ年龄往往代表峰期变质年龄而不是原岩沉积年龄,因此孔兹岩系属太古宙还是古元古代长期未决。内蒙古黄土窑是晋蒙孔兹岩系的经典产地之一,对其锆石和金红石研究和年龄测试,得到孔兹岩系的碎屑锆石年龄为２３１０Ｍａ,变质成因锆石年龄为１８７３Ｍａ,金红石代表的冷却年龄为１７９３Ｍａ。     

胶北粉子山群和荆山群三叠纪变质变形记录:金红石U-Pb年代学证据

胶北地块粉子山群和荆山群是华北克拉通的重要组成部分,其变质变形作用过程是全面认识华北克拉通性质与演化的关键。前人对粉子山群和荆山群变质变形年代研究的测试对象主要为锆石,报道的年代学数据多集中于1.8~1.9Ga,认为变质变形作用的时代为古元古代。本文通过对采集自胶北粉子山群和荆山群的2个石榴云母片岩和2个云母片岩样品中独居石及金红石的U-Pb同位素年代测定,揭示了胶北粉子山群和荆山群不仅经历了古元古代(1869±16~1864±14 Ma)变质事件的改造,而且还经历了三叠纪(215.1±4.2~217.8±6.3Ma)变质变形事件的叠加。通过金红石中Zr温度计计算得出215.1±4.2 Ma,217.7±2.7 Ma和217.8±6.3 Ma的U-Pb年龄对应温度分别为:658℃,667℃和680℃。表明胶北地块部分卷入了三叠纪苏鲁-大别超高压变质带的俯冲-碰撞造山过程,并遭受了角闪岩相变质作用叠加。     

金红石和榍石Zr温度计在新疆西南天山榴辉岩中的应用

应用LA-ICP-MS方法对新疆西南天山高压-超高压变质带中的榴辉岩及其高压脉体中的金红石和榍石进行了Zr含量的检测和Zr温度计的计算。榴辉岩中位于石榴石幔部且与绿辉石共生的金红石包体Zr含量都集中于10~20μg/g;而基质金红石的Zr含量为30~50μg/g,高于包体金红石。榍石均为金红石退变质的产物,且各样品间的榍石Zr含量较均一,都集中在3~5μg/g之间。脉体金红石Zr含量则与榴辉岩中基质金红石的Zr含量相当甚至偏高一些,为30~60μg/g。金红石和榍石的Zr温度计研究也表明,榴辉岩石榴石中的金红石包体生长于压力峰期阶段,温压条件为480~540℃、2.7~3.0 GPa;基质金红石随温度增加达到退变质再平衡,记录了温度峰期的条件,约530~590℃、2.4~2.7 GPa;榴辉岩中高压脉体中的金红石则生长于退变质榴辉岩相阶段,金红石Zr温度计给出结果为540~580℃、1.5~2.1 GPa,记录了近等温降压的过程;榴辉岩中的榍石在1.0 GPa左右达到平衡,榍石Zr温度计给出的温度为540~560℃,记录了进一步的近等温降压的过程。根据以上4个阶段的分析结果,得出一个较完整的顺时针p-T轨迹,且与相平衡模拟所限定的p-T轨迹相一致。金红石的Zr含量可以作为压力的指示,表明压力校正在金红石Zr温度计中起到了重要作用。在对金红石和榍石Zr温度计进行应用时,要结合细致的岩相学观察,综合考虑压力、活度、扩散速率、退变质作用和流体影响等方面的因素,才能得到比较精确的温压估算结果和pT轨迹。     

金红石Zr和锆石Ti含量地质温度计

作为近年来新提出的两种单矿物微量元素温度计(金红石Zr含量温度计和锆石Ti含量温度计),由于其简单实用,一经提出便引起了广泛注意,许多研究者尝试将温度计应用于各种不同类型的岩石中。到目前为止每种温度计都存在几个不同的计算公式、这些公式的适用范围和适用的地质情况目前已有统一认识,但是对于所测定温度的地质意义还存在争议。在对变质岩中金红石Zr含量温度计的应用研究中,一部分研究者发现这个温度计所得到的温度与造岩矿物阳离子配分温度计相吻合,因此可以指示峰期变质温度。然而,在对大别-苏鲁造山带超高压变质岩的研究中发现,金红石Zr含量温度计得到的温度比峰期变质温度明显偏低。通过对比国内外的研究分析,认识到不仅压力、活度、元素扩散、流体作用的参与导致的退变反应可能致使微量元素温度计所记录的温度偏低,而且矿物的不同生长世代或生长介质的不同都可能致使微量元素温度偏低。因此,在应用地质温度计时,要结合样品的岩相学、矿物包裹体和微量元素、U-Pb体系定年等方面予以综合考虑,并对矿物的形成环境和形成世代加以限定,从而为合理解释矿物中微量元素的分配及其记录的温度信息提供有效制约。     

Calcite–graphite isotope thermometry: a test for polymetamorphism in marble, Tudor gabbro aureole, Ontario, Canada

Graphitization and coarsening of organic material in carbonate-bearing metasedimentary rocks is accompanied by carbon isotope exchange which is the basis of a refractory, pressure-independent geothermometer. Comparison of observed isotopic fractionations between calcite and graphite (δ¹³C_Cal–Gr) with independent petrological thermometers provides the following empirical calibration over the range 400–800°C: δ¹³C_Cal–Gr= 5.81 times 10⁶×T^–2(K) - 2.61. This system has its greatest potential in marbles where calcite + graphite is a common assemblage and other geothermometers are often unavailable. The temperature dependency of this empirical calibration differs from theoretical calibrations; reasons for this are unclear but the new empirical calibration yields temperature estimates in better agreement with independent thermometry from several terranes and is preferred for geological applications. Both calcite-graphite isotopic thermometry and calcite-dolomite solvus thermometry are applied to marble adjacent to the Tudor gabbro in the Grenville Province of Ontario, Canada. The marble has undergone two metamorphic episodes, early contact metamorphism and later regional metamorphism. Values of δ¹³C_Cal–Gr decrease regularly from c. 8‰ in samples over 2 km from the pluton to values of 3–4‰ within 200 m of the contact. These samples appear to preserve fractionations from the early thermal aureole with the empirical geothermometer, and indicate temperatures of 450–500° C away from the intrusion and 700–750°C near the gabbro. This thermal profile around the gabbro is consistent with conductive heat flow models. In contrast, the distribution of Mg between calcite and dolomite has been completely reset during later regional metamorphism and yields uniform temperatures of c. 500°C, even at the contact. Graphite textures are important for interpreting the results of the calcite–graphite thermometer. Coarsening of graphite approaching the Tudor gabbro correlates with the decrease in isotopic fractionations and provides textural evidence that graphite crystallization took place at the time of intrusion. In contrast to isotopic exchange during prograde metamorphism, which is facilitated by graphitization, retrogressive carbon isotopic exchange appears to require recrystallization of graphite which is sluggish and easily recognized texturally. Resistance of the calcite–graphite system to resetting permits thermometry in polymetamorphic settings to see through later events that have disturbed other systems.     

Cathodoluminescence imaging and titanium thermometry in metamorphic quartz

Cathodoluminescence (CL) of quartz from metamorphic rocks representing a range of conditions from the garnet grade to the migmatite grade reveals a variety of textures, that is, a function of metamorphic grade and deformation history. Ti concentrations, determined by electron microprobe and ion microprobe, generally correlate with CL intensity (blue wavelengths), and application of the Ti‐in‐quartz thermometer (TitaniQ) reflects the temperature of quartz growth or recrystallization, and, in some settings, modification by diffusion. Quartz from garnet grade samples is not visibly zoned, records temperatures of 425–475 °C, and is interpreted to have recrystallized during fabric formation. Quartz grains from staurolite grade samples are zoned in CL with markedly darker cores and brighter rims, some of which are interpreted to have been produced by the dominant staurolite‐producing reaction, whereas others are interpreted as having formed by diffusion of Ti into quartz rims. Quartz from the matrix of kyanite and sillimanite grade samples are generally unzoned, although locally displays slightly brighter rims (higher Ti); quartz inclusions within garnet and staurolite have distinctly brighter rims, which are interpreted as having been produced by diffusive exchange with the host mineral. Quartz from migmatite grade samples displays highly variable CL intensity, which is dependent on the location of the grain. Matrix grains in melanosomes are largely unzoned or rarely zoned with darker cores. Leucosome quartz is strongly zoned with bright cores and dark rims and is interpreted as having formed during crystallization of the melt. Locally within the leucosome is observed oscillatory‐zoned quartz, which is interpreted as a subsolidus recrystallization to achieve strain relaxation. Quartz inclusions within garnet or plagioclase crystals often show bright domains separated by zones of dark CL. These enigmatic textures possibly reflect local melting fluxed by fluid inclusions. Temperatures calculated from the Ti–in–quartz thermometer are a function of the metamorphic grade of the sample, the textural setting of the quartz, the reaction history and the deformation history of the rock. The TitaniQ temperatures can be used to constrain the conditions at which various metamorphic processes have occurred.     

Empirical tests of carbon isotope thermometry in granulites from southern California

Abstract ‘Peak’metamorphic carbon isotope fractionations between calcite and graphite (Δ_Cal–Gr) in marbles and calc-silicates from the Cucamonga granulite terrane (San Gabriel Mountains, California) range from 3.48 to 2.90%. The data are used to test three previously published calibrations of the calcite–graphite carbon isotope thermometer. An empirical calibration of the calcite–graphite carbon isotope thermometer gives temperatures of 700–750°C; a theoretical–experimental calibration of the system gives temperatures of 760°–870°C; an experimental calibration gives temperatures of 870–1300°C. Temperatures calculated using the empirical calibration are in agreement with those calculated from garnet-based cation exchange thermometry when uncertainty is considered. Temperatures calculated using the theoretical–experimental calibration overlap the upper range of cation exchange thermometry temperatures and range to 50°C higher. The experimental calibration yields temperatures from 50 to 480°C higher than those from cation exchange thermometry. Moreover, temperatures from the experimental calibration are also inconsistent with mineral and melt equilibria in the granulite phase assemblage. Despite the better agreement between cation exchange thermometry and the empirical calibration of the calcite–graphite system, temperatures calculated using the theoretical–experimental calibration may be real peak metamorphic temperatures. If retrograde diffusion partially reset garnet-based cation exchange thermometers by c. 50°C, then the cation exchange temperatures are consistent with those from the theoretical–empirical calibration. Thermometric evidence from biotite dehydration melting equilibria is consistent with either the empirical calibration if melting was fluid-present, or the theoretical–experimental calibration if melting was fluid-absent.     

Trace element systematics in granulite facies rutile: implications for Zr geothermometry and provenance studies

Metamorphic rutile from granulite facies metapelitic rocks of the Archean Pikwitonei Granulite Domain (PGD; Manitoba, Canada) provides constraints on the systematics of trace elements in rutile during high‐temperature conditions and subsequent slow cooling. Compositional profiles and maps of the Zr concentrations in rutile grains (120–600 μm) from three metapelitic gneisses were acquired by electron probe micro‐analysis, using a spatial resolution of down to 2 μm. Simultaneously, profiles were analysed for Nb, Cr and V, which have significantly different diffusion characteristics in rutile. The profiles of all elements show relatively homogeneous concentrations within most grains, but significant inter‐grain differences even within a single thin section. Some rutile grains display a slight concentration decrease from a neighbouring garnet towards the matrix for all measured elements. The lack of diffusion profiles for all analysed elements shows that these are highly immobile in rutile and that distributions of these elements are primary and preserve prograde information. The Nb and Cr concentrations overlap with ranges that are ascribed to different provenances indicating that source discrimination based on these elements is not possible in all cases. High retentiveness for Zr implies that the Zr‐in‐rutile geothermometer is highly robust to diffusive re‐equilibration, even during very slow cooling (<2 °C Ma^?1) from granulite facies conditions. Most grains have high Zr contents (3000–4600 ppm). Differences between high Zr contents suggest that during growth under vapour‐absent conditions there may not be saturation of Zr in rutile, even if zircon is present. Therefore, several rutile grains need to be analysed in a sample to obtain a useful minimum peak temperature. The highest Zr concentrations correspond to ～900 °C. This is significantly higher than previous peak temperature estimates of 820 °C based on two‐feldspar thermometry. On a regional scale this implies that part of the PGD was affected by ultra‐high temperature (UHT) metamorphism. It also implies that rutile is able to preserve primary compositions even to UHT conditions. This study shows that, if combined with textural information, Zr‐in‐rutile has the potential to be a very useful tool for estimating rutile crystallization temperatures and peak metamorphic conditions. For granulite facies rocks, Zr‐in‐rutile yields more reliable peak metamorphic temperatures than most other exchange geothermometers, which tend to partially re‐equilibrate by diffusion during cooling.     

Oxygen and hydrogen isotope study of minerals from metapelitic rocks, staurolite to sillimanite zones, Mica Creek, British Columbia

Abstract Oxygen and hydrogen isotope analyses have been made of coexisting quartz, ilmenite, muscovite, and biotite from Late Precambrian metapelitic rocks, staurolite-kyanite to K-feldspar-muscovite-sillimanite zones, from Mica Creek, British Columbia. The δ¹⁸O and †D values of these minerals are generally uniform and do not decrease significantly with increasing metamorphic grade. This implies that there has not been significant infiltration of deep crustal, possibly magmatic, fluids into the metapelites that has been suggested for other high-grade metamorphic terranes. The uniformity of oxygen isotope compositions of the Mica Creek metapelite rocks may reflect isotopic uniformity in the sedimentary protolith rather than widespread exchange with an isotopically homogeneous metamorphic pore fluid.
Temperature estimates based upon ¹⁸O exchange thermometry for samples below the sillimanite zone are in reasonable agreement with the results of garnet-biotite Fe–Mg exchange thermometry. In the higher grade rocks, the oxygen isotope and garnet-biotite thermometry yield results which disagree by about 100°C. The highest temperatures recorded by oxygen isotope thermometry, 595°C, are at least 60°C below the minimum temperatures required by phase equilibria. These discrepancies appear to result from pervasive equilibrium retrograde exchange of oxygen isotopes between coexisting minerals. In addition, there are problems with calibration of garnet-biotite thermometry at higher temperatures. Retrograde oxygen isotope exchange may be a general characteristic of high-grade metamorphic rocks and oxygen isotope thermometry may not usually record peak metamorphic temperatures if they significantly exceed 600°C.     

Application of the titanium-in-quartz thermometer to pelitic migmatites from the Adirondack Highlands, New York

The 'TitaniQ' (Ti-in-quartz) solubility thermometer was applied to migmatitic metapelites from the southern and western Adirondack Highlands, New York, to examine the effect of granulite facies metamorphism on the distribution of Ti in quartz. Both cathodoluminescence imaging and quantitative traverses revealed that individual grains of Adirondack quartz are highly zoned with respect to Ti, and that core-to-rim decreases of Ti are common. Large ranges in calculated temperature were observed within each sample. One sample, not considered to be saturated with respect to TiO₂, gave maximum temperatures more than 100 °C lower than previously estimated peak temperatures. Rutile-saturated southern and western Adirondack samples yielded peak estimates of ≥803 ± 11 °C and ∼860–870 °C, respectively, which are similar to previous estimates from major phase thermometry. Minimum Ti-in-quartz matrix temperatures from rutile-saturated samples are 630 °C, which is interpreted as the closure temperature for Ti diffusion in quartz in these samples. This study demonstrates that Ti-in-quartz thermometry can yield details of rock evolution if the textural setting and reaction history of the quartz is clear, and can yield near-peak metamorphic temperatures in some cases, if care is taken to test for post-peak diffusional resetting.     

Equilibration and disequilibration between monazite and garnet: indication from phase‐composition and quantitative texture analysis

The integration of information which can be gained from accessory [i.e. age (t)] and rock‐forming minerals [i.e. temperature (T) and pressure (P)] requires a more profound understanding of the equilibration kinetics during metamorphic processes. This paper presents an approach comparing conventional P–T estimate from equilibrated assemblages of rock‐forming minerals with temperature data derived from yttrium‐garnet‐monazite (YGM) and yttrium‐garnet‐xenotime (YGX) geothermometry. Such a comparison provides an initial indication on differences between equilibration of major and trace elements. Regarding this purpose, two migmatites, two polycyclic and one monocyclic gneiss from the Central Alps (Switzerland, northern Italy) were investigated. While the polycyclic samples exhibit trace‐element equilibration between monazite and garnet grains assigned to the same metamorphic event, there are relics of monazite and garnet obviously surviving independent of their textural position. These observations suggest that surface processes dominate transport processes during equilibration of those samples. The monocyclic gneiss, on the contrary, displays rare isolated monazite with equilibration of all elements, despite comparably large transport distances. With a nearly linear crystal‐size distribution of the garnet grain population, growth kinetics, related to the major elements, were likely surface‐controlled in this sample. In contrast to these completely equilibrated examples, the migmatites indicate disequilibrium between garnet and monazite with a change in REE patterns on garnet transects. The cause for this disequilibrium may be related to a potential disequilibrium initiated by a changing bulk chemistry during melt segregation. While migmatite environments are expected to support high transport rates (i.e. high temperatures and melt presence), the evolution of equilibration in migmatites is additionaly related to change in chemistry. As a key finding, surface‐controlled equilibration kinetics seem to dominate transport‐controlled processes in the investigated samples. This may be decisive information towards the understanding of age data derived from monazite.     

Calibration of oxygen isotope fractionation and calcite-corundum thermometry in emery at Naxos,Greece

Corundum (Crn), including sapphire, occurs in emery pods surrounded by marble on the island of Naxos, Greece. The emery formed from bauxite deposited in karst that was metamorphosed to 400–700°C at 20–15 Ma. Many of these rocks initially appeared well suited for refractory accessory mineral (RAM) thermometry, which uses oxygen isotope fractionation between a RAM – corundum – and a modally dominant phase with faster diffusion of oxygen – calcite (Cc) – to determine peak metamorphic temperatures. However, previous attempts at oxygen isotope thermometry were confounded by highly variable fractionations (Δ¹⁸O) measured at mm-scale and the uncertain calibration of Δ¹⁸O(Cc-Crn) versus temperature. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) permits in situ analysis of δ¹⁸O in corundum and calcite at the 10-μm scale in adjacent grains where textures suggest peak metamorphic equilibrium was attained. SIMS analyses of adjacent mineral pairs in eight rocks yield values of Δ(Cc-Crn) that systematically decrease from 7.2 to 2.9‰ at higher metamorphic grade. Pairing these data with independent temperature estimates from mineral isograds yields an empirical calibration of 1,000 lnα(Cc-Crn) = 2.72 ± 0.3 × 10⁶/T² (T in K). The new fractionations (2.7‰ at 1,000 K) are significantly smaller than those calculated from the modified increment method (6.5‰ at 1,000 K; Zheng, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1991, 55:2299–2307; Zheng, Mineral Mag, 1994, 58A:1000–1001), which yield unreasonably high temperatures of 630 to 1,140°C when applied to the new Naxos data. The new calibration of Δ(Cc-Crn) can be combined with published fractionations to calculate A-factors for corundum versus a range of 14 other minerals. These new fractionation factors can be used for thermometry or to constrain the genesis of corundum. A compilation of gem corundum δ¹⁸O values shows that many igneous sapphires, including important deposits of basalt-associated sapphire, are mildly elevated in δ¹⁸O relative to the calculated range in equilibrium with mantle values (4.4–5.7‰) and formed from evolved magmas.     

Kimberlite AT-56: a mantle sample from the north central Superior craton, Canada

Kimberlite AT-56, discovered in February 2001, represents the most recent addition to the Attawapiskat kimberlite cluster, located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, Canada. AT-56 is a small kimberlite body with a surface diameter of approximately 40 m and a steep southeastern plunge. It consists of a medium to coarse-grained matrix supported kimberlite with abundant olivine, clinopyroxene, garnet, ilmenite and mica macrocrysts in a green-black to orange-black matrix. The kimberlite is classified as a hypabyssal facies sparsely macrocrystic calcite kimberlite. Heavy mineral concentrates from two representative samples of AT-56 have been analyzed to characterize the mantle sampled by the kimberlite. Both samples yielded large heavy mineral concentrates comprised of roughly equal proportions of Mg-ilmenite, Cr-diopside, high-Cr garnet and low-Cr garnet. Mg-chromite is also present in quantities an order of magnitude less than the other constituents.

The high-Cr peridotitic garnet macrocrysts are only slightly more abundant than the low-Cr varieties, the population being dominated by G9 (lherzolitic) types with only a few (less than 10%) weakly sub-calcic G10 (probable harzburgitic) garnets present. Ni thermometry results for a representative selection of G9 and G10 garnets indicate that the majority equilibrated at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1250 °C. A significant proportion of the low-Cr garnet population derived from AT-56 is characterized by relatively low-Ti (0.2 to 0.4 wt.% TiO₂) and elevated Na (0.07 to 0.13 wt.% Na₂O) contents characteristic of Group 1, diamond inclusion type eclogite garnets. These sodic garnets have elevated Cr₂O₃ contents (typically 1 to 2 wt.% Cr₂O₃), suggesting they may be websteritic in origin rather than eclogitic. Comparison of AT-56 garnet compositions with published data available for other Attawapiskat kimberlites suggests websteritic mantle has also been sampled by kimberlite bodies elsewhere in the Attawapiskat cluster and it may be an important diamond reservoir in this area.     

P–T conditions of mineralization in the Jonnagiri granitoid-hosted gold deposit, eastern Dharwar Craton, southern India: Constraints from fluid inclusions and chlorite thermometry

Gold mineralization at Jonnagiri, Dharwar Craton, southern India, is hosted in laminated quartz veins within sheared granodiorite that occur with other rock units, typical of Archean greenstone–granite ensembles. The proximal alteration assemblage comprises of muscovite, plagioclase, and chlorite with minor biotite (and carbonate), which is distinctive of low- to mid-greenschist facies. The laminated quartz veins that constitute the inner alteration zone, contain muscovite, chlorite, albite and calcite. Using various calibrations, chlorite compositions in the inner and proximal zones yielded comparable temperature ranges of 263 to 323 °C and 268 to 324 °C, respectively. Gold occurs in the laminated quartz veins both as free-milling native metal and enclosed within sulfides. Fluid inclusion microthermometry and Raman spectroscopy in quartz veins within the sheared granodiorite in the proximal zone and laminated auriferous quartz veins in inner zone reveal the existence of a metamorphogenic aqueous–gaseous (H₂O–CO₂–CH₄ + salt) fluid that underwent phase separation and gave rise to gaseous (CO₂–CH₄), low saline (~ 5 wt.% NaCl equiv.) aqueous fluids. Quartz veins within the mylonitized granodiorites and the laminated veins show broad similarity in fluid compositions and P–T regime. Although the estimated P–T range (1.39 to 2.57 kbar at 263 to 323 °C) compare well with the published P–T values of other orogenic gold deposits in general, considerable pressure fluctuation characterize gold mineralization at Jonnagiri. Factors such as fluid phase separation and fluid–rock interaction, along with a decrease in f(O₂), were collectively responsible for gold precipitation, from an initial low-saline metamorphogenic fluid. Comparison of the Jonnagiri ore fluid with other lode gold deposits in the Dharwar Craton and major granitoid-hosted gold deposits in Australia and Canada confirms that fluids of low saline aqueous–carbonic composition with metamorphic parentage played the most dominant role in the formation of the Archean lode gold systems.