Ilmenite as a Source for Zirconium during High-grade Metamorphism? Textural Evidence from the Caledonides of Western Norway and Implications for Zircon Geochronology

The Proterozoic Lindås Nappe, part of the Caledonidesof western Norway, was affected by penetrative Sveconorwegiangranulite-facies metamorphism, followed by a fluid-driven eclogite-and amphibolite-facies Caledonian overprint, spatially restrictedalong fractures and shear zones. In mafic granulites and amphibolites,a luminescent anhedral zircon overgrowth, which gives an averageage of 924 ± 58 Ma (Th/U = 0·52; secondary ionmass spectrometry data), surrounds a magmatic zoned core withan age of 952 ± 32 Ma (Th/U = 1·27). In the granulites,a continuous rim of zircon or a discontinuous corona of     

P–T–t evolution and textural evidence for decompression of Pan-African high-pressure granulites, Lurio Belt, north-eastern Mozambique

Pan‐African high‐pressure granulites occur as boudins and layers in the Lurio Belt in north‐eastern Mozambique, eastern Africa. Mafic granulites contain the mineral assemblage garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + quartz ± magnesiohastingsite. Garnet porphyroblasts are zoned with increasing almandine and spessartine contents and decreasing grossular and pyrope contents from core (Alm₄₆Prp₃₂Grs₂₁Sps₂) to rim (Alm₅₂Prp₂₆Grs₁₉Sps₃). This pattern is interpreted as a retrograde diffusion zoning with the preserved core chemistry representing the peak metamorphic composition. Mineral reaction textures occur in the form of monomineralic and composite plagioclase ± orthopyroxene ± amphibole ± biotite ± magnetite coronas around garnet porphyroblasts. Thermobarometry indicates peak metamorphic conditions of up to 1.57 ± 0.14 GPa and 949 ± 92 °C (stage I), corresponding to crustal depths of ～55 km. Zircon yielded an U–Pb age of 557 ± 16 Ma, inferred to date crystallization of zircon during peak or immediately post‐peak metamorphism. Formation of plagioclase + orthopyroxene‐bearing coronas surrounding garnet indicates a near‐isothermal decompression of the high‐pressure granulites to lower pressure granulite facies conditions (stage II). Development of plagioclase + amphibole‐coronas enclosing the same garnet porphyroblasts shows subsequent cooling into amphibolite facies conditions (stage III). Symplectitic textures of the corona assemblages indicate rapid decompression. The high‐pressure granulite facies metamorphism of the Lurio Belt, followed by near‐isothermal decompression and subsequent cooling, is in accordance with a long‐lived tectonic history accompanied by high magmatic activity in the Lurio Belt during the late Neoproterozoic–early Palaeozoic East‐African–Antarctic orogeny.     

Metasomatism of gabbro – mineral replacement and element mobilization during the Sveconorwegian metamorphic event

Widespread metasomatism affected the 100 km long and 25 km wide Proterozoic Bamble and Modum‐Kongsberg sectors, South Norway, resulting in the chemical and mineralogical transformation of wide segments of continental crust. Scapolitization was associated with veining, and was followed by albitization, transforming metagabbros pervasively over large areas. Fluids played an active role in these reactions, forming H₂O‐, CO₂‐ and Cl‐bearing phases at the expense of the primary volatile‐free minerals, causing depletion in Fe and infiltration of K, Mg, Na, B and P. The transformation of gabbro to scapolite metagabbro is observed as a fluid front replacing the primary magmatic mineral assemblage in three stages: during an incipient amphibolitization stage, the primary mafic minerals were replaced by anthophyllite or hastingsite, followed by pargasitic and edenitic Ca‐amphibole. Magnetite was dissolved, while rutile formed by the breakdown of ilmenite. Plagioclase was replaced by Cl‐rich scapolite (Me_19‐42) reflecting Cl‐saturation, while K‐ and Mg‐saturation produced phlogopite, enstatite, sapphirine and rare corundum. The high modal contents of chlorapatite and tourmaline in the scapolite metagabbro imply infiltration of B and P. The albitites consist dominantly of albite (Ab_95‐98) with varying, generally small, amounts of chlorite, calcite, rutile, epidote and pumpellyite. They formed from a H₂O–CO₂‐fluid rich in Na. The gabbro yields a zircon U–Pb age of 1149 ± 7 Ma and tonalite 1294 ± 38 Ma, whereas rutile from scapolite metagabbro and albitite has U–Pb ages of 1090–1084 Ma, and phlogopite produced during scapolitization Rb–Sr ages of 1070–1040 Ma. Temperature conditions for the scapolitization are inferred to have been 600–700 °C. The reported ages, combined with mineralogical and petrographic observations and inferred P–T conditions, indicate that the metasomatism was a part of the regional Sveconorwegian amphibolite facies metamorphic phase. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of the scapolite ranges from 0.704 to 0.709. The Sr‐signature, the Cl‐ and B‐rich environment and regional distribution of lithologies suggest that the fluid may have originated from evaporites that were mobilized during the regional metamorphism.     

Aluminous Granulites of the Archean Craton of Kasai (Zaire): Petrology and P-T Conditions

Aluminous granulites of the Archean (2?8 Ga) Kasai craton (Zaire)consist of two main mineral assemblages: Grt-Opx and Sil?Grt?Crdrocks. The high-grade metamorphic conditions as deduced from Grt-Opxand Grt-Opx-Pl-Qtz equilibria are 720?C-6?7 kb. Consideringthe zoning of the same minerals, the slope of the P-T path isestimated at 15 b/?C. Thermobarometry involving Crd is consistentwith those P-T conditions. Three cordierite-forming reactions have been observed petrographically: These equilibria are continuous reactions; end-member reactionshave slopes less than 15 b/?C; they are decompression reactionsoccurring after the metamorphic climax. Using available thermodynamic data, (R3) fixes the oxygen fugacityto a value below the QFM buffer (log₁₀f_O2 = – 17?6 at720?C, 6?7 kb and in the graphite stability field. The absence of graphite in the rocks showsthat the end of the granulite facies metamorphism did not occurunder important CO₂ streaming. The polymetamorphic history of this Archean craton is considered.