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。     

中国东北黑龙江杂岩体蓝闪石片岩岩石学研究

黑龙江杂岩主要由蓝闪石片岩构成,蓝闪石片岩主要包括绿帘石、绿泥石、钠长石、钠质角闪石、多硅白云母和石英以及为数不多的榍石、钛铁矿和黑硬绿泥石。其中,钠质角闪石包括蓝闪石和镁质钠闪石。变质条件的压力（P）温度（T）评价条件为400－425℃和0.69－0.86 MPa,对应岩相为绿帘蓝闪石片岩相。黑龙江杂岩蓝闪石片岩的地球化学研究表明,其原岩是可与洋岛型（OIB）玄武岩和一些洋中脊型（E-MORB）玄武岩相对比的大洋玄武岩,这说明黑龙江杂岩蓝闪石片岩的玄武岩原岩是在海底山或者在大洋隆起条件下由富集源形成的;具有洋岛型玄武岩地球化学特征的变质玄武岩以及富锰的变质燧石、大理石、变质硬砂岩和蛇绿岩鳞片的加入证明黑龙江杂岩是消减—增生杂岩,它含有变形洋壳的碎块和在被改造的前震旦纪佳木斯岩体西边缘上形成于侏罗纪的增生楔岩石;黑龙江杂岩在原岩成分上可与活动大陆边缘许多增生的杂岩相当。     

新疆西南天山哈布腾苏河高压-超高压变质带中榴辉岩和蓝片岩的岩石学及变质演化

对西南天山哈布腾苏河一带出露的典型榴辉岩和蓝片岩进行了详细的岩相学、矿物化学和温压条件综合研究。榴辉岩可分为蓝闪石榴辉岩、钠云母榴辉岩、绿帘石榴辉岩和蓝闪石榴角闪岩(退变榴辉岩)4类,蓝片岩可分为含蓝闪石石榴白云母钠长片岩、石榴白云母蓝闪片岩和石榴白云母蓝闪石英片岩3类。新鲜榴辉岩主要矿物组合为石榴石+绿辉石+钠云母+绿帘石,退变榴辉岩则为石榴石+蓝闪石+角闪石;蓝片岩主要矿物组合为石榴石+蓝闪石+多硅白云母+钠云母+钠长石+石英。榴辉岩和蓝片岩中石榴石变斑晶均保存进变质生长环带,从核部到边部XMn和XFe降低,XMg和XCa升高,指示了升温进变质的演化过程。根据榴辉岩矿物共生组合、石榴石内部包体组合分布特征及传统地质温压计估算结果,确定榴辉岩经历了4阶段的变质演化:早期硬柱石蓝片岩相进变质阶段、峰期榴辉岩相变质阶段(t=543～579℃,p=1.5～1.6 GPa)、峰后绿帘蓝片岩相退变质阶段(t=～450℃,p1.0GPa)和晚期蓝闪绿片岩相退变质阶段(t400℃,p0.5 GPa)。利用p-T视剖面图计算的榴辉岩、蓝片岩峰期变质温压条件与传统地质温压计估算结果十分相近,其中榴辉岩的峰期变质条件t=520～550℃,p=1.7～1.9 GPa;蓝片岩峰期变质条件t=520～620℃,p=1.7～2.3 GPa。本文估算的榴辉岩峰期变质压力条件与前人根据柯石英的发现而认为研究区部分榴辉岩及其围岩曾经历超高压变质作用的认识明显相悖,原因可能如下:①后期退变质作用引起研究区榴辉岩全岩成分、矿物化学成分的调整,在采用Grt-Cpx-Phe温压计和以全岩成分为基础的相平衡模拟方法估算峰期温压条件时受到影响,从而使估算峰期压力条件普遍偏低;②西南天山的榴辉岩可能并非全都经历了超高压变质作用,高压、超高压榴辉岩可能分别代表了不同变基性岩块在不同俯冲深度变质的产物。     

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。     

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。     

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。     

早古生代北阿尔金HP/LT混杂岩片——一个“化石”俯冲隧道

北阿尔金高压/低温(HP/LT)变质岩呈构造岩片分布在俯冲-增生杂岩中，主要由强变形的变质沉积岩(泥质片岩、钙质片岩和石英片岩)和少量呈透镜状分布在变沉积岩中的蓝片岩和榴辉岩组成，与相邻的蛇绿混杂岩呈断层接触。榴辉岩主要矿物为绿辉石、石榴子石、多硅白云母、石英、冻蓝闪石，含少量蓝闪石、绿泥石、方解石、钠长石、榍石。蓝片岩主要矿物为蓝闪石、石榴子石、碳酸盐类矿物、阳起石、绿帘石、钠云母、绿泥石、钠长石和石英，偶见多硅白云母，其中在部分蓝片岩的石榴子石中有少量硬柱石和绿辉石包体。本文对蓝片岩(样品A06-16-7)和榴辉岩(样品A03-3-5.3)开展了岩石学和相平衡模拟研究，得到它们形成的压力峰期的温压条件分别是：T=～524℃、P=～2.1GPa和T=～527℃、P=～2.2GPa,并均经历了后期蓝片岩相的退变质叠加。结合区域上已有的研究表明，北阿尔金HP/LT混杂岩片中不同类型岩石可能经历了不同的变质演化历史，反映了古俯冲隧道的不均匀性，并在俯冲隧道的较浅部混杂在一起，共同经历了蓝片岩相或蓝片岩-绿片岩过渡相条件下的透入性变形作用。     

藏北羌塘中部戈木日榴辉岩的岩石学、矿物学及变质作用pTt轨迹

羌塘中部榴辉岩位于龙木错－双湖缝合带中段,改则县古姆乡片石山地区。榴辉岩的主要矿物成分为石榴子石、绿辉石、多硅白云母、金红石、角闪石等,围岩为石榴白云母片岩和蓝片岩,石榴白云母片岩主要由石榴子石、多硅白云母和石英构成,蓝片岩由石榴子石、角闪石（含蓝闪石）、多硅白云母等构成。岩石学和矿物学研究显示,榴辉岩主要经历了3期变质作用：①峰期榴辉岩相变质作用阶段,以石榴子石、绿辉石和多硅白云母为特征,变质温度和压力分别为500℃和2.3GPa;②绿帘角闪岩相变质作用阶段,以后期形成的冻蓝闪石、镁红闪石、绿帘石、钠长石等交代早期矿物为特征;③绿片岩相变质作用阶段,以毛发状阳起石等为特征。榴辉岩的变质演化过程代表了青藏高原北部古特提斯洋俯冲消减和冈瓦纳与劳亚大陆碰撞造山的过程。     

黑龙江依兰地区蓝片岩相变质作用及其演化

依兰地区蓝片岩作为黑龙江杂岩的重要组成部分,其变质作用演化问题一直存在较大争议。本文通过对依兰地区蓝片岩的岩相学及矿物微区化学成分的研究,并运用PERPLE_X软件,在Na_2O-CaO-K_2O-MnO-FeO-MgO-Al_2O_3-SiO_2-H_2O-TiO_2-O(Fe_2O_3)(NCKMnFMASHTO)体系下对石榴石冻蓝闪石片岩(g-brs-wnc-act-phn-chl-ep-ab-stlp)、绿泥绿帘蓝闪石片岩(gl-brs-wnc-act-chl-ep-stlp)和白云母蓝闪石片岩(gl-wnc-phn-ab-ep-chl-sph)进行了相平衡模拟,并分别获得了500~525℃/1.14~1.2GPa、480℃/1.4GPa、450~500℃/0.95~1.2GPa峰期变质作用的温压条件,其峰期变质级别都达到了绿帘-蓝片岩相。结合前人发表的地球化学和年代学数据,建立了蓝片岩相岩石的顺时针变质演化P-T轨迹。研究区蓝片岩的形成标志着新生洋壳的俯冲作用,同时代表古亚洲洋构造域的结束和环太平洋构造域的开始。相平衡模拟中,P-T轨迹记录了峰期前温压条件递增的过程,温度峰期与压力峰期同时到达,说明蓝片岩相变质作用是在俯冲过程中实现的,而不是折返过程中达到的。减压阶段的轨迹近于平行追溯进变质轨迹,揭示与进变质过程相似的地热体制下(11～14℃/km),相对缓慢的抬升过程     

新疆西南天山哈布腾苏河高压-超高压变质带中榴辉岩和蓝片岩的岩石学及变质演化

对西南天山哈布腾苏河一带出露的典型榴辉岩和蓝片岩进行了详细的岩相学、矿物化学和温压条件综合研究。榴辉岩可分为蓝闪石榴辉岩、钠云母榴辉岩、绿帘石榴辉岩和蓝闪石榴角闪岩（退变榴辉岩）4类,蓝片岩可分为含蓝闪石石榴白云母钠长片岩、石榴白云母蓝闪片岩和石榴白云母蓝闪石英片岩3类。新鲜榴辉岩主要矿物组合为石榴石+绿辉石+钠云母+绿帘石,退变榴辉岩则为石榴石+蓝闪石+角闪石;蓝片岩主要矿物组合为石榴石+蓝闪石+多硅白云母+钠云母+钠长石+石英。榴辉岩和蓝片岩中石榴石变斑晶均保存进变质生长环带,从核部到边部X_Mn和X_Fe降低,X_Mg和X_Ca升高,指示了升温进变质的演化过程。根据榴辉岩矿物共生组合、石榴石内部包体组合分布特征及传统地质温压计估算结果,确定榴辉岩经历了4阶段的变质演化：早期硬柱石蓝片岩相进变质阶段、峰期榴辉岩相变质阶段（t=543～579℃,p=1.5～1.6 GPa）、峰后绿帘蓝片岩相退变质阶段（t=～450℃,p<1.0 GPa）和晚期蓝闪绿片岩相退变质阶段（t<400℃,p<0.5 GPa）。利用p-T视剖面图计算的榴辉岩、蓝片岩峰期变质温压条件与传统地质温压计估算结果十分相近,其中榴辉岩的峰期变质条件t=520～550℃,p=1.7～1.9 GPa;蓝片岩峰期变质条件t=520～620℃,p=1.7～2.3 GPa。本文估算的榴辉岩峰期变质压力条件与前人根据柯石英的发现而认为研究区部分榴辉岩及其围岩曾经历超高压变质作用的认识明显相悖,原因可能如下：① 后期退变质作用引起研究区榴辉岩全岩成分、矿物化学成分的调整,在采用Grt-Cpx-Phe温压计和以全岩成分为基础的相平衡模拟方法估算峰期温压条件时受到影响,从而使估算峰期压力条件普遍偏低;② 西南天山的榴辉岩可能并非全都经历了超高压变质作用,高压、超高压榴辉岩可能分别代表了不同变基性岩块在不同俯冲深度变质的产物。     

Cold subduction of the Neotethys: the metamorphic record from finely banded lawsonite and epidote blueschists and associated metabasalts of the Nagaland Ophiolite Complex,India

In this study, we have deduced the thermal history of the subducting Neotethys from its eastern margin, using a suite of partially hydrated metabasalts from a segment of the Nagaland Ophiolite Complex (NOC), India. Located along the eastern extension of the Indus‐Tsangpo suture zone (ITSZ), the N–S‐trending NOC lies between the Indian and Burmese plates. The metabasalts, encased within a serpentinitic mélange, preserve a tectonically disturbed metamorphic sequence, which from west to east is greenschist (GS), pumpellyite–diopside (PD) and blueschist (BS) facies. Metabasalts in all the three metamorphic facies record prograde metamorphic overprints directly on primary igneous textures and igneous augite. In the BS facies unit, the metabasalts interbedded with marble show centimetre‐ to metre‐scale interlayering of lawsonite blueschist (LBS) and epidote blueschist (EBS). Prograde HP/LT metamorphism stabilized lawsonite + omphacite (X_Jd = 0.50–0.56 to 0.26–0.37) + jadeite (X_Jd = 0.67–0.79) + augite + ferroglaucophane + high‐Si phengite (Si = 3.6–3.65 atoms per formula unit, a.p.f.u.) + chlorite + titanite + quartz in LBS and lawsonite + glaucophane/ferroglaucophane ± epidote ± omphacite (X_Jd = 0.34) + chlorite + phengite (Si = 3.5 a.p.f.u.) + titanite + quartz in EBS at the metamorphic peak. Retrograde alteration, which was pervasive in the EBS, produced a sequence of mineral assemblages from omphacite and lawsonite‐absent, epidote + glaucophane/ferroglaucophane + chlorite + phengite + titanite + quartz through albite + chlorite + glaucophane to lawsonite + albite + high‐Si phengite (Si = 3.6–3.7 a.p.f.u.) + glaucophane + epidote + quartz. In the PD facies metabasalts, the peak mineral assemblage, pumpellyite + chlorite + titanite + phengitic white mica (Si = 3.4–3.5 a.p.f.u.) + diopside appeared in the basaltic groundmass from reacting titaniferous augite and low‐Si phengite, with prehnite additionally producing pumpellyite in early vein domains. In the GS facies metabasalts, incomplete hydration of augite produced albite + epidote + actinolite + chlorite + titanite + phengite + augite mineral assemblage. Based on calculated T–M(H₂O), T–M(O₂) (where M represents oxide mol.%) and P–T pseudosections, peak P–T conditions of LBS are estimated at ~11.5 kbar and ~340 °C, EBS at ~10 kbar, 325 °C and PD facies at ~6 kbar, 335 °C. Reconstructed metamorphic reaction pathways integrated with the results of P–T pseudosection modelling define a near‐complete, hairpin, clockwise P–T loop for the BS and a prograde P–T path with a steep dP/dT for the PD facies rocks. Apparent low thermal gradient of 8 °C km^?1 corresponding to a maximum burial depth of 40 km and the hairpin P–T trajectory together suggest a cold and mature stage of an intra‐oceanic subduction zone setting for the Nagaland blueschists. The metamorphic constraints established above when combined with petrological findings from the ophiolitic massifs along the whole ITSZ suggest that intra‐oceanic subduction systems within the Neotethys between India and the Lhasa terrane/the Karakoram microcontinent were also active towards east between Indian and Burmese plates.     

K-rich fluid metasomatism at high-pressure metamorphic conditions: Lawsonite decomposition in rodingitized ultramafite of the Maksyutovo Complex, Southern Urals (Russia)

Fine grained rodingite‐like rocks containing epidote, clinozoisite, garnet, chlorite, phengite and titanite occur within antigorite serpentinite boudins from the high‐pressure metamorphic Maksyutovo Complex in the Southern Urals. Pseudomorphs after lawsonite, resorption of garnet by chlorite and phengite and stoichiometry suggest the reaction lawsonite + garnet + K‐bearing fluid → clinozoisite + chlorite + phengite, and define a relic assemblage of lawsonite + garnet + chlorite + titanite ± epidote as well as a later post‐lawsonite assemblage of clinozoisite + phengite + chlorite + titanite. The reaction lawsonite + titanite → clinozoisite + rutile + pyrophyllite + H₂O delimits the maximum stability of former lawsonite + titanite to pressures >13 kbar. P–T conditions of 18–21 kbar/520–540 °C result, if the average chlorite, Mg‐rich garnet rim and average epidote compositions are used as equilibrium compositions of the former lawsonite assemblage. These estimates indicate a similar depth of formation but lower temperatures to those recorded in nearby eclogites. The metamorphic conditions of the lawsonite assemblage are considerably higher than previously suggested and, together with published structural data, support a model in which a normal fault within the Maksyutovo complex acted as the major transport plane of eclogite exhumation. The maximum Si content of phengite and minimum Fe content in clinozoisite constrain the metamorphic conditions of the later pseudomorph assemblage to be >4.5 kbar and <440 °C. Rb–Sr isotopic dating of the pseudomorph assemblage results in a formation age of 339 ± 6 and 338 ± 5 Ma, respectively. These results support the recent exhumation models for this complex.     

藏北羌塘中部冈玛日——桃形错蓝片岩的发现

位于藏北羌塘中部的冈玛日-桃形错地区首次发现含典型蓝闪石的蓝片岩。蓝片岩是由蓝闪石、铁蓝闪石、青铝闪石、多硅白云母、阳起石、黝帘石、绿帘石、方解石、榍石、金红石等矿物组成,变质温压条件为400℃±和7kbar±,属于高压变质作用。这是一条高压变质带,推测它可能向东与滇西的澜沧江高压变质带相连。冈玛日-桃形错地区含典型蓝闪石的蓝片岩的发现对羌塘陆块的重新认识以及冈瓦纳大陆与劳亚大陆的板块边界及晚古生代古特提斯洋的闭合,具有重要的大地构造意义。     

THE METAMORPHIC FEATURE,AGE AND MECHANISM OF AMUGANG GROUP IN NORTHERN TIBET

THE METAMORPHIC FEATURE,AGE AND MECHANISM OF AMUGANG GROUP IN NORTHERN TIBET     

Zircon U–Pb Geochronology of Baiyingaolao Formation from the Hadayingzi Region in the southern Great Xing’an Range, Northeast China

Blueschists in the Yilan area, Heilongjiang Province, are known as important parts of the Heilongjiang Complex. However, their metamorphic evolution history is still unclear. Petrographical, and mineral chemical investigations on the blueschists from the Yilan area are carried out in this study. P‐T pseudosections are calculated in the system Na₂O‐CaO‐K₂O‐MnO‐FeO‐MgO‐Al₂O₃‐SiO₂‐H₂O‐TiO₂‐O (Fe₂O₃) (NCKMnFMASHTO) with the PERPLE_X software for three blueschist samples. Peak metamorphic conditions are estimated to be 500‐525°C, 1.14‐1.2 GPa for garnet‐barroisite schist (g‐brs‐wnc‐act‐phn‐chl‐ep‐ab‐stlp); 480°C, 1.4 GPa for chlorite‐epidote glaucophane schist (gl‐brs‐wnc‐act‐chl‐ep‐stlp) and 450‐500°C, 0.95‐1.2 GPa for phengite‐glaucophane schist (gl‐wnc‐phn‐ab‐ep‐chl‐sph), which indicate that they all underwent peak metamorphism in the limit epidote‐blueschist facies conditions. Combined with the previously reported geochemical and geochronological data, the clockwise P‐T paths of the blueschists are constructed. The formation of blueschists in the study area marks the young oceanic crust subduction, and represents the final closure of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean and the beginning of the Paleo‐Pacific tectonic system. The P‐T pseudosection recorded the P‐T increasing process before the metamorphic peak and that the maximum temperature was coincident with the maximum pressure in the process, which indicates that the epidote‐blueschist facies conditions implemented in the process of subduction, rather than exhumation. The retrograde trajectory nearly coincidently retraced the prograde trajectory, which represents the similar geothermal gradient (11‐14°C/km) in the subduction and the relatively slow exhumation process.     

Lawsonite growth in the epidote blueschists from the Ile de Groix (Armorican Massif, France): a potential geobarometer

Abstract The garnet blueschists from the Ile de Groix (Armorican Massif, France) contain millimetre‐ to centimetre‐sized pseudomorphs consisting of an aggregate of chlorite, epidote and paragonite. The pseudomorphed phase developed at a late stage of the deformation history, because it overgrows a glaucophane–epidote–titanite foliation. Garnet growth occurred earlier than the beginning of the ductile deformation, and thus garnet is also included in the pseudomorphs. Microprobe analyses show that garnet is strongly zoned, with decreasing spessartine and increasing almandine and pyrope contents from core to rim. Grossular content is higher in garnet cores (about 35 mole%) compared to garnet rims (about 30 mole%). Blue amphibole has glaucophane compositions with a low Fe³⁺ content and become more magnesian when inclusions in garnet (X_Mg = 0.62–0.65) are compared with matrix grains (X_Mg = 0.67–0.70). Matrix epidote has a pistacite content of about 50 mole%. On the basis of their shape and the nature of the breakdown products, the pseudomorphs are attributed to lawsonite. A numerical model (using Thermocalc ) has been developed in order to understand the reactions controlling both the growth and the breakdown of lawsonite. Lawsonite growth could have taken place through the continuous hydration reaction Chl + Ep + Pg + Qtz + Vap = Gln + Lws, followed by the fluid‐absent reaction Chl + Ep + Pg = Grt + Gln + Lws. Peak P–T conditions are estimated at about 18–20 kbar, 450 °C. This indicates that lawsonite growth took place at increasing P and T, hence can be used as a geobarometer in the buffering assemblage garnet–glaucophane–epidote. The final part of the history is recorded by lawsonite breakdown, after cessation of the ductile deformation, and recording the earliest stages of the exhumation.     

Structural history of high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the southern vanoise massif,french alps,and their relation to alpine tectonic events

A nappe of amphibolite-facies metamorphic rocks of pre-Permian age in the southern Vanoise massif (the Arpont schist) has been affected by an Alpine HP/LT metamorphism. The first mesoscopically recognizable deformation (D₁) post-dated the high-pressure peak (jadeitic pyroxene + quartz, glaucophane + ?lawsonite), and was associated with glaucophane + epidote. D₁ produced a flat-lying schistosity and a NW-trending glaucophane lineation, and was probably associated with nappe displacement involving NW-directed subhorizontal shear. D₂ formed small-scale folds and a foliation associated with chlorite + albite. The changing parageneses during the period pre-D₁ to D₁ to D₂ suggest decreasing pressure, so that the deformation appears to have been related to the uplift history, rather than to the process of tectonic burial. D₂ was followed by a static metamorphism (green biotite + chlorite + albite), possibly of Lepontine age. SE-directed backthrusting and folding (D₃), and later differential uplift along steep faults, took place under low-grade conditions.