The high pressure experimental crystallization of staurolite in hydrous mafic compositions

The experimental crystallization of staurolite in two mafic compositions at high pressures (24–26 kb) and temperatures (740 °–760 ° C) is reported. This, together with a recent report of staurolite from metamorphosed basic igneous rocks from Fiordland, New Zealand, leads to the conclusion that Staurolite may be an important subordinate phase in the subducted lithosphere. The synthesized staurolites are more magnesian than those occuring in natural metapelitic assemblages and are characterized by relatively high Si, Ti, Mg, Ca, and low Al, Fe.