Petrology of ultrahigh-pressure rocks from the southern Su-Lu region, eastern China

Abstract In the Su-Lu ultrahigh- P terrane, eastern China, many coesite-bearing eclogite pods and layers within biotite gneiss occur together with interlayered metasediments now represented by garnet-quartz-jadeite rock and kyanite quartzite. In addition to garnet + omphacite + rutile + coesite, other peak-stage minerals in some eclogites include kyanite, phengite, epidote, zoisite, talc, nyböite and high-Al titanite. The garnet-quartz-jadeite rock and kyanite quartzite contain jadeite + quartz + garnet + rutile ± zoisite ± apatite and quartz + kyanite + garnet + epidote + phengite + rutile ± omphacite assemblages, respectively. Coesite and quartz pseudomorphs after coesite occur as inclusions in garnet, omphacite, jadeite, kyanite and epidote from both eclogites and metasediments. Study of major elements indicates that the protolith of the garnet-quartz jadeite rock and the kyanite quartzite was supracrustal sediments. Most eclogites have basaltic composition; some have experienced variable 'crustal'contamination or metasomatism, and others may have had a basaltic tuff or pyroclastic rock protolith.
The Su-Lu ultrahigh- P rocks have been subjected to multi-stage recrystallization and exhibit a clockwise P-T path. Inclusion assemblages within garnet record a pre-eclogite epidote amphibolite facies metamorphic event. Ultrahigh- P peak metamorphism took place at 700–890° C and P >28 kbar at c . 210–230 Ma. The symplectitic assemblage plagioclase + hornblende ± epidote ± biotite + titanite implies amphibolite facies retrogressive metamorphism during exhumation at c . 180–200 Ma. Metasedimentary and metamafic lithologies have similar P-T paths. Several lines of evidence indicate that the supracrustal rocks were subducted to mantle depths and experienced in-situ ultrahigh- P metamorphism during the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons.     

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。     

苏鲁地体超高压矿物的三维空间分布

采用激光拉曼技术,配备电子探针和阴极发光测试,确认苏鲁地体大多数花岗质片麻岩,所有类型片麻岩、斜长角闪岩、蓝晶石英岩和大理岩的锆石中均隐藏以柯石英为代表的超高压包体矿物组合。其中花岗质片麻岩典型超高压包体矿物为柯石英±多硅白云母;副片麻岩为柯石英+石榴子石+绿辉石、柯石英±石榴子石+硬玉+多硅白云母+磷灰石、柯石英+多硅白云母±磷灰石;斜长角闪岩为柯石英+石榴子石+绿辉石±金红石;蓝晶石英岩为柯石英+蓝晶石+金红石+磷灰石、柯石英+蓝晶石+多硅白云母+金红石;大理岩为柯石英+透辉石、柯石英+橄榄石。表明苏鲁地体由榴辉岩及其围岩所组成的巨量陆壳物质曾普遍发生深俯冲,并经历了超高压变质作用。锆石的矿物包体分布特征及相应的阴极发光图像研究表明,在同一样品中,锆石的成因特征存在明显差异。有的锆石显示继承性(碎屑)锆石的核(core)、超高压变质的幔(mantle)和退变质的边(rim);有的锆石则具有超高压的核、幔和退变质的边;而有的锆石却记录了深俯冲的核、超高压的幔和退变质的边。标志着苏鲁超高压变质带各类岩石副矿物锆石均具有十分复杂的结晶生长演化历史。因此,在充分研究锆石中矿物包体性质、分布特征以及相应阴极发光图像的基础上,采用SHRIMP离子探针技术,在锆石晶体的不同     

Ultra-high-pressure metamorphism of carbonate rocks in the Dabie Mountains, central China

Abstract Widespread ultra-high-P assemblages including coesite, quartz pseudomorphs after coesite, aragonite, and calcite pseudomorphs after aragonite in marble, gneiss and phengite schist are present in the Dabie Mountains eclogite terrane. These assemblages indicate that the ultra-high-P metamorphic event occurred on a regional scale during Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. Marble in the Dabie Mountains is interlayered with coesite-bearing eclogite and gneiss and as blocks of various size within gneiss. Discontinuous boudins of eclogite occur within marble layers. Marble contains an ultra-high-P assemblage of calcite/aragonite, dolomite, clinopyroxene, garnet, phengite, epidote, rutile and quartz/coesite. Coesite, quartz pseudomorphs after coesite, aragonite and calcite pseudomorphs after aragonite occur as fine-grained inclusions in garnet and omphacite. Phengites contain about 3.6 Si atoms per formula unit (based on 11 oxygens). Similar to the coesite-bearing eclogite, marble exhibits retrograde recrystallization under amphibolite–greenschist facies conditions generated during uplift of the ultra-high-P metamorphic terrane. Retrograde minerals are fine grained and replace coarse-grained peak metamorphic phases. The most typical replacements are: symplectic pargasitic hornblende + epidote after garnet, diopside + plagioclase (An₁₈) after omphacite, and fibrous phlogopite after phengite. Ferroan pargasite + plagioclase, and actinolite formed along grain boundaries between garnet and calcite, and calcite and quartz, respectively. The estimated peak P–T conditions for marble are comparable to those for eclogite: garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometry yields temperatures of 630–760°C; the garnet–phengite thermometer gives somewhat lower temperatures. The minimum pressure of peak metamorphism is 27 kbar based on the occurrence of coesite. Such estimates of ultra-high-P conditions are consistent with the coexistence of grossular-rich garnet + rutile, and the high jadeite content of omphacite in marble. The fluid for the peak metamorphism was calculated to have a very low X_CO2 (<0.03). The P–T conditions for retrograde metamorphism were estimated to be 475–550°C at <7 kbar.     

High-and Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphism and Retrogressive Textures of Gneiss in the Donghai Area--Evidence from gneisses in drillhole ZK2304

In the gneisses from the drillhole ZK2304 of the Donghai area, there have been preserved high- and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic mineral assemblages, a series of complicated retrogressive textures and relevant metamorphic reactions. In addition to garnet, jadeititic-clinopyroxene and rutile, other peak stage (M2) minerals in some gneisses include phengite, aragonite and coesite or quartz pseudomorphs after coesite. The typical peak-stage mineral assemblages in gneisses are characterized by garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + rutile + coesite, garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + phengite + rutile ± coesite and garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + aragonite + rutile ± coesite. The grossular content (Gro) in garnet is high and may reach 50.1 mol%. The SiO2 content of phengite ranges from 54.37% to 54.84% with 3.54- 3.57 p.f.u. Quartz pseudomorphs after coesite occur as inclusions in garnet.The gneisses of the Donghai area have been subjected to multistage recrystallization and exhibit a closewise P-T evolutional path characterized by the near-isothermal decompression. The inclusion assemblage (Hb+Ep+Bi+Pl+Qz) within garnet and other minerals has recorded a pre-peak stage (M1) epidote amphibole facies metamorphic event. High- and ultrahigh-pressure peak metamorphism (M2) took place at T=750- 860° C and P>2.7 GPa. The symplectitic assemblages after garnet, jadeitic-clinopyroxene and rutile imply a near-isothermal decompression metamorphism (M3, M4) during the rapid exhumation. Several lines of evidence of petrography and metamorphic reactions indicate that both gneisses and eclogites have experienced ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the Donghai area. This research may be of great significance for an in-depth study of the metamorphism and tectonic evolution in the Su-Lu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt.     

Ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project: I. Petrology and geochemistry of the main hole (0–2,050 m)

The main hole (MH) of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD) in southern Sulu has penetrated into an ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rock slice which consists of orthogneiss, paragneiss, eclogite, ultramafic rock and minor schist. Recovered eclogites have a UHP metamorphic mineral assemblage of garnet + omphacite + rutile ± phengite ± kyanite ± coesite ± epidote. Ultramafic rocks contain garnet + olivine + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene ± Ti-clinohumite ± phlogopite. Gneisses and schists contain an amphibolite-facies paragenesis, but their zircons have coesite, garnet, omphacite (or jadeite) and phengite inclusions, indicating that eclogites and gneisses have been subjected to in situ UHP metamorphism. Using available geothermobarometers, P–T estimates of 3.1–4.4 GPa and 678–816°C for eclogites were obtained. If surface outcrops and neighboring shallow drill holes are considered together, we suggest that a huge supracrustal rock slab (> 50 km long × 100 km wide × 5 km deep) was subducted to a depth > 100 km and then exhumed to the surface. The depth interval (0–2,050 m) of the CCSD-MH can be divided into six lithological units. Unit 1 consists of alternating layers of quartz-rich and rutile-rich eclogites, with thin interlayers of gneiss and schist. Eclogites of unit 1 are characterized by Nb, Ta, Sr and Ti depletions, low Mg number and general LREE enrichment. Unit 2 comprises rutile- and ilmenite-rich eclogite and minor “normal” eclogite and is characterized by high TiO₂, total Fe, V, Co and Sr, and very low SiO₂, alkali, Zr, Ba, Nb, Ta and total REE contents, and LREE-depleted REE patterns with slightly positive Eu anomalies. Unit 3 contains ultramafic rock and minor MgO-rich eclogite. Protoliths of UHP rocks from units 1, 2 and 3 represent a layered mafic to ultramafic intrusion at crustal depth. Units 4 and 6 consist of interlayered eclogite and paragneiss; the eclogites are characterized by Th, U, Nb, Ta and Ti depletion and K enrichment and LREE-enriched REE patterns. Paragneisses show Nb, Ta, Sr and Ti depletions and LREE-enriched REE patterns occasionally with slightly negative Eu anomalies, indicating that their protoliths represent metamorphic supracrustal series. Unit 5 consists mainly of orthogneisses, showing distinct Nb, Ta, Sr and Ti depletions, and LREE-enriched REE patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies, suggesting granitic protoliths. In conclusion it is proposed that the southern Sulu UHP belt consists of a series of meta-supracrustal rocks, a layered mafic–ultramafic complex and granites.     

关于大别山榴辉岩相变质作用

大别山产出的榴辉岩相岩石包括石榴橄榄岩、榴辉岩、榴云片岩、榴辉片麻岩、榴玉英岩和榴辉大理岩等不同系列,它们均分布于花岗质片麻岩中。矿物共生序列研究表明,榴辉岩相岩石经历了从绿帘角闪岩相、柯石英榴辉岩相、角闪榴辉岩相、绿帘角闪岩相到绿片岩相的演化过程。花岗质片麻岩及变质火山—沉积岩系并未经历超高压变质作用,但却与榴辉岩相岩石经历了同一期绿帘角闪岩相变质事件,证明二者在地壳范围内发生了构造合并     

High- and Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphism and Retrogressive Textures of Gneiss in the Donghai Area

In the gneisses from the drillhole ZK2304 of the Donghai area, there have been preserved high- and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic mineral assemblages, a series of complicated retrogressive textures and relevant metamorphic reactions. In addition to garnet, jadeititic-clinopyroxene and rutile, other peak stage (M₂) minerals in some gneisses include phengite, aragonite and coesite or quartz pseudomorphs after coesite. The typical peak-stage mineral assemblages in gneisses are characterized by garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + rutile + coesite, garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + phengite + rutile ± coesite and garnet + jadeitic-clinopyroxene + aragonite + rutile ± coesite. The grossular content (Gro) in garnet is high and may reach 50.1 mol%. The SiO₂ content of phengite ranges from 54.37% to 54.84% with 3.54–3.57 p.f.u. Quartz pseudomorphs after coesite occur as inclusions in garnet. The gneisses of the Donghai area have been subjected to multistage recrystallization and exhibit a closewise P-T evolutional path characterized by the near-isothermal decompression. The inclusion assemblage (Hb+Ep+Bi+Pl+Qz) within garnet and other minerals has recorded a pre-peak stage (M₁) epidote amphibole fades metamorphic event. High- and ultrahigh-pressure peak metamorphism (M₂) took place at T=750–860°C and P>2.7 GPa. The symplectitic assemblages after garnet, jadeitic-clinopyroxene and rutile imply a near-isothermal decompression metamorphism (M₃, M₄) during the rapid exhumation. Several lines of evidence of petrography and metamorphic reactions indicate that both gneisses and eclogites have experienced ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in the Donghai area. This research may be of great significance for an in-depth study of the metamorphism and tectonic evolution in the Su-Lu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt.     

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.     

High-pressure relics in meta-sediments intercalated with the Weissenstein eclogite,Münchberg gneiss complex,Bavaria

The mineral assemblages in the eclogites and meta-sediments of the Münchberg gneiss complex suggest minimum pressures of about 15 kbar, and temperatures of 600±30° C for the eclogite-facies metamorphism. Both rock types underwent a subsequent amphibolite-facies metamorphism at almost the same temperature range. In the Weissenstein borehole the eclogites and meta-sediments show an intimate interlayering on a centimetre scale. Contacts between the two rock types are often sharp and untectonized suggesting in-situ metamorphism of the eclogites. The following features indicate that the gneisses were subjected to eclogite-facies metamorphism:

1. Phengite relics and phengite inclusions in garnet contain up to 3.45 Si per formula unit while amphibolite facies phengites have considerably lower Si-contents (3.0–3.25 p.f.u.).
2. Omphacite relics occur in the form of Na-augite (6–9 mol% jadeite)-oligoclase symplectites.
3. Garnets with up to 40 mol% of the pyrope component occur.

The geological and mineral-chemical data indicate that large volumes of crustal material have been buried to depths possibly exceeding 70 km. The preservation of primary eclogitic textures as well as symplectitic textures in the presence of a fluid phase, are indicative of a rapid decompression. This would suggest a tectonic uplift (e.g. underthrusting) as is also indicated by the virtually constant temperature range during the uplift.     

Partial melting of metapelites at ultrahigh-pressure conditions, Greenland Caledonides

Eclogite, orthogneiss and, by association, metapelite from an island at 78°N in North‐East Greenland experienced ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphism at approximately 970 °C and 3.6 GPa, at the end of the Caledonian collision, 360–350 Ma. Hydrous metapelites contain abundant leucocratic layers and lenses composed of medium‐grained, anhedral, equigranular quartz, antiperthitic plagioclase and K‐feldspar with minor small garnet and kyanite crystals. Leucosomes are generally parallel to the matrix foliation, are interlayered with residual quartz bands, anastomose around residual garnet and commonly cross‐cut micaceous segregations. Textures suggest that the leucosomes crystallized from a syntectonic melt, but crystallized at the end of local high‐grade deformation. The metapelite outcrop is < 1.5 km from kyanite eclogites with confirmed coesite, but the metapelites lack coesite and palisade textures diagnostic of coesite pseudomorphs. They do contain highly fractured garnet megacrysts with polycrystalline quartz inclusions (some surrounded by radial fractures) and Ti‐rich phengite inclusions that suggest the former presence of coesite. Polyphase inclusions in garnet contain reactants and products of the inferred dehydration melting reaction: Phe + Qtz = Ky + Kfs + Rt + melt. The reactants are thought to have been early inclusions of hydrous phases within garnet that melted and then crystallized new phases. Garnet surrounding these inclusions has patchy zoning with elevated Ca, consistent with experiments that produced similar patchy microstructures in garnet around inclusions with an unequivocal melt origin. The peak UHP metamorphic assemblage in these rocks is inferred to have been phengite, coesite, garnet, kyanite, rutile, fluid ± omphacite ± epidote. Phase diagrams indicate that dehydration melting of phengite in this assemblage would have occurred after decompression from peak pressure, but still above the coesite to quartz transition. Unusual crown‐ and moat‐like textures in garnet around some polycrystalline quartz inclusions are also consistent with the inference that melting took place at UHP conditions.     

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.     

Source of coesite inclusions within inherited magmatic zircon from Sulu UHP rocks, eastern China, and their bearing for fluid–rock interaction and SHRIMP dating

The 5-km deep Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Main Hole penetrated a sequence of ultrahigh pressure (UHP)-metamorphic rocks consisting mainly of eclogite, gneiss and garnet-peridotite with minor schist and quartzite. Zircon separates taken from thin layers of schist and gneiss within eclogite were investigated. Cathodoluminescence images of zircon grains show that they have oscillatory zoned magmatic cores and unzoned to patchy zoned metamorphic rims. Zircon rims contain rare coesite and calcite inclusions whereas cores contain inclusions of both low- P minerals (e.g. feldspar, biotite and quartz) and coesite and other eclogite-facies minerals such as phengite and jadeite. The zircon cores give highly variable ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages ranging from 760 to 431 Ma for schist and from 698 to 285 Ma for gneiss, and relatively high but variable Th/U ratios (0.16–1.91). We suggest that the coesite and other eclogite facies mineral inclusions in zircon cores were not magmatic but formed through metasomatic processes caused by fluids during UHP metamorphism, and that the fluids contain components of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, K₂O, FeO, MgO, Na₂O and H₂O. Metasomatism of the Sulu UHP rocks during continental subduction to mantle depths has partly altered magmatic zircon cores and reset isotopic systems. This study provides key evidence that mineral inclusions within magmatic zircon domains are not unequivocal indicators of the formation conditions of the respective domain. This finding leads us to conclude that the routine procedure for dating of metamorphic events solely based on the occurrence of mineral inclusions in zoned zircon could be misleading and the data should be treated with caution.     

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

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

Mineral and fluid inclusions in zircon of UHP metamorphic rocks from the CCSD-main drill hole: A record of metamorphism and fluid activity

The Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) main drill hole (0–3000 m) in Donghai, southern Sulu orogen, consists of eclogite, paragneiss, orthogneiss, schist and garnet peridotite. Detailed investigations of Raman, cathodoluminescence, and microprobe analyses show that zircons from most eclogites, gneisses and schists have oscillatory zoned magmatic cores with low-pressure mineral inclusions of Qtz, Pl, Kf and Ap, and a metamorphic rim with relatively uniform luminescence and eclogite-facies mineral inclusions of Grt, Omp, Phn, Coe and Rt. The chemical compositions of the UHP metamorphic mineral inclusions in zircon are similar to those from the matrix of the host rocks. Similar UHP metamorphic P–T conditions of about 770 °C and 32 kbar were estimated from coexisting minerals in zircon and in the matrix. These observations suggest that all investigated lithologies experienced a joint in situ UHP metamorphism during continental deep subduction. In rare cases, magmatic cores of zircon contain coesite and omphacite inclusions and show patchy and irregular luminescence, implying that the cores have been largely altered possibly by fluid–mineral interaction during UHP metamorphism.

Abundant H₂O–CO₂, H₂O- or CO₂-dominated fluid inclusions with low to medium salinities occur isolated or clustered in the magmatic cores of some zircons, coexisting with low-P mineral inclusions. These fluid inclusions should have been trapped during magmatic crystallization and thus as primary. Only few H₂O- and/or CO₂-dominated fluid inclusions were found to occur together with UHP mineral inclusions in zircons of metamorphic origin, indicating that UHP metamorphism occurred under relatively dry conditions. The diversity in fluid inclusion populations in UHP rocks from different depths suggests a closed fluid system, without large-scale fluid migration during subduction and exhumation.     

Eclogites preserved as pebbles in Jurassic conglomerate, Dabie Mountains, China

Two types of eclogite pebbles were discovered in Middle to Upper Jurassic conglomerates from the Hefei Basin north of the Dabie ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrain, China. Type A eclogite pebbles are characterized by idioblastic garnet with well preserved chemical zonation. Si content in phengite is lower than 3.5 per formula unit (pfu). The maximum metamorphic pressure is lower than 2.5 GPa, and the temperature is below 600 °C. Type B eclogite pebbles contain coesite pseudomorphs in xenoblastic garnet. Si content in phengite is higher than 3.5 pfu. The maximum metamorphic pressure is 2.8–4.0 GPa at 700 °C indicating UHP metamorphism.

Types A and B eclogite pebbles are comparable with eclogites occurring in the southern portion of the Dabie UHP terrain. Based on the petrologic similarities and northeastwards directed paleocurrents, we infer that the eclogite pebbles were eroded from the Dabie UHP terrain. Sandstones containing detrital phengite with Si content higher than 3.5 pfu are also derived from UHP rocks. These petrologic and stratigraphic data place time constraints on exhumation and erosion history of the Dabie UHP terrain.     

Current mercury ore formation on Mendeleyev

The Maksyutov metamorphic complex is the first locality where coesite pseudomorphs in garnet were described. The importance of this discovery was not understood until ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism was independently recognized in the Dora Maira Massif of the western Alps and the Western Gneiss Region of Norway. The coesite pseudomorphs are significant because they suggest that the lower unit of the Maksyutov complex probably underwent UHP metamorphism at depths greater than 80 km in a paleosubduction zone.

The Maksyutov complex, situated in the southern Ural Mountains of Russia, forms an elongate N-S belt along the boundary between the European and Russian plates. The complex contains two superimposed tectonic unitsa lower eclogite-bearing schist unit that underwent high-pressure (HP) to UHP metamorphism and an upper meta-ophiolite unit subjected to blueschist/greenschist-facies metamorphism. The lower unit lithologies range from quartzofeldspathic, to graphite-rich, to mafic-ultramafic compositions. Mineral assemblages of the metamorphosed mafic rocks include: (1) coesite (as pseudomorphs) + garnet + omphacite + rutile + zoisite; (2) jadeite + quartz (coesite) + garnet + kyanite ± paragonite; (3) garnet + omphacite + barroisite + rutile; and (4) garnet + glaucophane + lawsonite. The upper unit is characterized by sheets of serpentinite that contain lawsonite-bearing metarodingite and rare calcium-rich eclogite. A metamorphosed melange containing blocks of ultramafic, eclogite, and quartz-jadeite rocks is situated between the two units.

The UHP metamorphic event that affected the lower unit is characterized by recumbent folding and shear zones. Subsequent large-scale, left-lateral strike-slip movements deformed both tectonic units. These deep-crustal metamorphic structures are oriented at high angles relative to the younger, N-S-trending Main Uralian thrust and the left-lateral strike-slip movement that displaced the Maksyutov block.     

大别山超高压变质岩的显微构造与有效黏度

超高压变质岩提供了研究大陆俯冲隧道中岩石的变形机制和流变差异性的窗口。文章使用电子背散射衍射技术分析了大别山超高压变质带的榴辉岩和长英质片麻岩的显微构造。榴辉岩中的石榴子石基本呈无序分布,绿辉石发育较强烈的晶格优选定向,[001]轴的极密平行或近平行于拉伸线理,(100)面的法线近垂直于面理,退变榴辉岩中角闪石的(100)[001]组构可能继承了绿辉石的晶格优选定向。退变榴辉岩和长英质片麻岩中的石英记录了(0001)低温底面滑移和{1010}中温 柱面滑移,反映了超高压变质岩折返到中地壳的韧性变形;而斜长石的(001)<110>和(010)[100]组构形成于折返到下地壳的角闪岩相变质条件（>600℃）。根据主要矿物的流变律计算了俯冲与折返过程中无水矿物的有效黏度变化。俯冲过程中,钠长石=硬玉+石英的分解反应以及石英-柯石英相变导致长英质片麻岩的有效黏度和密度都显著增高,有利于陆壳深俯冲。但是折返过程中由于温度较高,这两个反应带来的有效黏度变化较小。>80 km深度,石榴子石的流变强度>硬玉>绿辉 石>柯石英,俯冲上地壳的流变由柯石英和硬玉控制,下地壳的流变由绿辉石和石榴子石控制。超高压变质岩流变强度的差异有助于上—下地壳力学解耦,使相对低密度、低黏度的上地壳物质在俯冲隧道内快速折返。     

Cretaceous isochron ages from K–Ar and Ar / Ar dating of eclogitic rocks in the Tso Morari Complex, western Himalaya, India

The Tso Morari Complex, which is thought to be originally the margin of the Indian continent, is composed of pelitic gneisses and schists including mafic rock lenses (eclogites and basic schists). Eclogites studied here have the mineral assemblage Grt + Omp + Ca-Amp + Zo + Phn + Pg + Qtz + Rt. They also have coesite pseudomorph in garnet and quartz rods in omphacite, suggesting a record of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. They occur only in the cores of meter-scale mafic rock lenses intercalated with the pelitic schists. Small mafic lenses and the rim parts of large lenses have been strongly deformed to form the foliation parallel to that of the pelitic schists and show the mineral assemblages of upper greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism. The garnet–omphacite thermometry and the univariant reaction relations for jadeite formation give 13–21 kbar at 600 °C and 16–18 kbar at 750 °C for the eclogite formation using the jadeite content of clinopyroxene (X_Jd = 0.48).

Phengites in pelitic schists show variable Si / Al and Na / K ratios among grains as well as within single grains, and give K–Ar ages of 50–87 Ma. The pelitic schist with paragonite and phengite yielded K–Ar ages of 83.5 Ma (K = 4.9 wt.%) for paragonite–phengite mixture and 85.3 Ma (K = 7.8 wt.%) for phengite and an isochron age of 91 ± 13 Ma from the two dataset. The eclogite gives a plateau age of 132 Ma in Ar/Ar step-heating analyses using single phengite grain and an inverse isochron age of 130 ± 39 Ma with an initial ⁴⁰Ar / ³⁶Ar ratio of 434 ± 90 in Ar/Ar spot analyses of phengites and paragonites. The Cretaceous isochron ages are interpreted to represent the timing of early stage of exhumation of the eclogitic rocks assuming revised high closure temperature (500 °C) for phengite K–Ar system. The phengites in pelitic schists have experienced retrograde reaction which modified their chemistry during intense deformation associated with the exhumation of these rocks with the release of significant radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar from the crystals. The argon release took place in the schists that experienced the retrogression to upper greenschist facies metamorphisms from the eclogite facies conditions.     

山东诸城榴辉岩相长英质岩石变质特征

通过变质矿物及岩石学的特征确定出山东诸城地区含有榴辉岩块体的片麻岩经历了榴辉岩相到绿帘角闪岩相、绿片岩相的退变质过程。证据有:(1)在榴辉岩块体的边缘片麻岩与榴辉岩呈1-2cm宽的条带状相间排列;(2)硅质片岩中出现Ky-Zo-Q的高压矿物组合;(3)钠长石的矿物晶体内出现硬玉质辉石的残留体;(4)出现高度富Si的多硅白云母(Si=3.55);(5)镁钠闪石及与其共生的暗硬玉(Jd=21)的出现。