The role of brines in high-temperature metamorphism and granitization

The paper discusses petrological effects related to interaction between rocks and concentrated aqueous salt fluids (brines) at lower crustal metamorphism. These effects arise mainly from the low H₂O activity typical of brines, while preserving and even increasing transport properties relative to pure H₂O or H₂O–nonpolar gas fluids. The paper presents thermodynamic properties of the halogen-bearing end members of the biotite solid solution based on experimental data, and examples illustrating how they can be employed to calculate the activities (concentrations) of alkali halides in the fluid. Action of brines significantly changes conventional views on the solubility of several minerals and on the distribution of elements (including trace elements) between minerals, melts, and fluids. The specific role of brines is also in bringing to interaction zones not only water but also alkali metals and Ca, which results in numerous metasomatic net-transfer reactions involving mafic minerals and/or exchange reactions with feldspars that produce new mineral assemblages with lower melting temperature, i.e., cause granitization of rocks as defined by D.S. Korzhinskii. Brines also exert fine “tuning” of metasomatic and melting processes: even at equal pressure, temperature, and water activity values metasomatism may or may not trigger melting depending on the Na/K/Ca ratio in the fluid phase.