Regression Modelling of Metamorphic Reactions in Metapelites, Snow Peak, Northern Idaho

The second of two periods of regional metamorphism that affectedpelitic rocks near Snow Peak caused complete re-equilibrationof mineral assemblages and resulted in a consistent set of metamorphicisograds. Metamorphic chlorite and biotite occur in the lowestgrade rocks. With increasing grade, garnet, staurolite, andkyanite join the assemblage, resulting in a transition zonecontaining all the above phases. At higher grade, chlorite,and finally staurolite disappear. Mass balance relations at isograds and among minerals of low-varianceassemblages have been modelled by a non-linear least-squaresregression technique. The progressive sequence can be describedin terms of schematic T-X_H2O relations among chlorite, biotite,garnet, staurolite, and kyanite at P_total above the KFMASH invariantpoint involving those phases. The first appearance of garnetwas the result of an Fe-Mg-Mn continuous reaction. As temperaturerose, the garnet zone assemblage encountered the stauroliteisograd reaction, approximated by the model reaction: 3?0 chlorite + 1?5 garnet + 3?3 muscovite + 05 ilmenite = 1?0staurolite + 3?1 biotite + 1?5 plagioclase + 3?3 quartz + 10?3H₂O. The staurolite zone corresponds to buffering along this reactionto the intersection where chlorite, biotite, garnet, staurolite,and kyanite coexist. The transition zone assemblage formed byreaction at this T–X _H2O intersection which migrates towardmore H2O-rich fluid composition with progressive reaction. Thenet reaction at the intersection is approximated by the transitionzone reaction: 1?0 chlorite +1?1 muscovite + 0?2 ilmenite = 2?7 kyanite + 1?0biotite + 0?4 albite + 4?2 H₂O. Chlorite was commonly the first phase to have been exhaustedand the remaining assemblage was buffered along a staurolite-outreaction, represented by the model reaction: 1?0 staurolite + 3?4 quartz + 0?4 anorthite + 1?4 garnet + 0?1ilmenite + 7?9 kyanite + 2?0 H₂O. Consumption of staurolite by this reaction resulted in the highestgrade assemblage, which contains kyanite, garnet, biotite, muscovite,quartz, plagioclase, ilmenite, and graphite.