Relationship between growth of albite porphyroblasts and deformation in a sambagawa schist, Central Shikoku, Japan

Albite porphyroblasts in a basic schist of the Sambagawa metamorphic belt (Besshi—Bashi, Central Shikoku) show zonal variation of inclusions defined by inclusion-free mantles and inclusion-rich cores, though matrix minerals are partly incorporated in the outer zones of the mantles. From comparison of the crystallographic and dimensional fabrics of inclusion and matrix epidote, it has been concluded that the orientation of the principal axes of strain was different for the deformation of matrix fabrics and inclusion fabrics (fabrics produced before formation of cores). Inclusion amphibole in the cores belongs to the actinolite—common hornblende group, with Si content more than 7.0, whereas amphibole in the matrix and outer zones of mantles belongs to the common hornblende group, with Si content less than 7.1. This shows that the metamorphic temperature was higher during the phase of formation of the outer zones of the mantles than during that of the cores. The average direction of maximum growth of the mantles, which has been estimated from differences between the average shapes of porphyroblasts and those of cores, is parallel to the linear orientation of amphibole and epidote in the matrix. The average direction of minimum growth of the mantles coincides with the normal to the schistosity of the matrix. The mantles appear to be of the same generation as the matrix fabrics.