江西东乡—相山中生代火山岩中富铝矿物的发现和成因意义

本文讨论在江西东乡上侏罗统虎岩组凝灰岩和相山鹅湖岭组碎斑熔岩中新发现的石榴石、红柱石等富铝硅酸盐矿物。石榴石呈自形的菱形十二面体,常包裹含钛磁铁矿、针状磷灰石等矿物包裹体。电子探针分析表明,东乡产出的石榴石为铁铝榴石,相山为钙质铁铝榴石。根据石榴石—熔体成分计算石榴石形成时温度为1060℃,压力为6×10~8Pa。二长温度计计算长石形成温度为785℃。从而证实石榴石为岩浆成因,厘定了本区火山岩是S型。     

大陆俯冲带地壳深熔作用的记录:来自超高压变质岩中多相晶体包裹体的研究北大核心CSCD

大陆碰撞过程中会发生广泛的部分熔融现象,形成深熔熔体。深入认识深熔熔体的组成和演化是大陆俯冲带化学地球动力学的主要研究内容。在熔融过程中产生的熔体会被超高压岩石中的转熔矿物所捕获,最终以多相晶体包裹体(multiphase crystal inclusion,简称MCI)的形式保存下来。多相晶体包裹体通常具有典型的负晶形和爆裂纹,主要以硅酸盐和碳酸盐矿物为主含有少量的硫酸盐矿物。矿物学、岩石学和地球化学原位微区分析的研究结果表明,多相晶体包裹体是由岩石部分熔融产生的初始硅酸盐或/和碳酸盐初始熔体熔体结晶而成。在降压折返过程中,高压岩石中的含水矿物,如多硅白云母、钠云母和帘石等脱水引发部分熔融产生硅酸盐熔体,而碳酸盐熔体则由碳酸盐矿物部分熔融产生。富Na矿物如钠云母脱水熔融产生的包裹体具有相对较高的Na含量,而部分富K的包裹体主要由富K矿物如多硅白云母脱水熔融所产生。近年来随着微区原位技术的飞速发展,从矿物的形态结构到矿物地球化学组成的测定技术有了飞速发展,通过对超高压岩石中包裹的多相晶体的详细研究,可限定大陆碰撞造山过程中部分熔融的组成、时限和形成机制,对大陆深俯冲的构造热演化和折返机制有重要制约。     

大陆俯冲带地壳深熔作用的记录:来自超高压变质岩中多相晶体包裹体的研究

大陆碰撞过程中会发生广泛的部分熔融现象,形成深熔熔体。深入认识深熔熔体的组成和演化是大陆俯冲带化学地球动力学的主要研究内容。在熔融过程中产生的熔体会被超高压岩石中的转熔矿物所捕获,最终以多相晶体包裹体(multiphase crystal inclusion,简称MCI)的形式保存下来。多相晶体包裹体通常具有典型的负晶形和爆裂纹,主要以硅酸盐和碳酸盐矿物为主含有少量的硫酸盐矿物。矿物学、岩石学和地球化学原位微区分析的研究结果表明,多相晶体包裹体是由岩石部分熔融产生的初始硅酸盐或/和碳酸盐初始熔体熔体结晶而成。在降压折返过程中,高压岩石中的含水矿物,如多硅白云母、钠云母和帘石等脱水引发部分熔融产生硅酸盐熔体,而碳酸盐熔体则由碳酸盐矿物部分熔融产生。富Na矿物如钠云母脱水熔融产生的包裹体具有相对较高的Na含量,而部分富K的包裹体主要由富K矿物如多硅白云母脱水熔融所产生。近年来随着微区原位技术的飞速发展,从矿物的形态结构到矿物地球化学组成的测定技术有了飞速发展,通过对超高压岩石中包裹的多相晶体的详细研究,可限定大陆碰撞造山过程中部分熔融的组成、时限和形成机制,对大陆深俯冲的构造热演化和折返机制有重要制约。     

高压-超高压变质岩石中石榴石的环带和成因

在俯冲带变质过程中,石榴石是高压-超高压变质榴辉岩和片麻岩的常见变质矿物。由于石榴石具有难熔和流体中的低溶解能力的特点,通常可以很好地保存下来,并且能够保留复杂的化学成分环带,以及不同类型的矿物或流体包裹体,为解释石榴石寄主岩石经历的变质演化历史提供了重要信息。石榴子石的主微量元素成分受控于很多因素,如全岩成分、变质的温压条件、控制石榴子石形成的相关变质反应、与石榴子石共生的矿物种类和成分等。因此,在利用石榴石探讨超高压变质的演化历史时,对石榴石进行系统的主要元素、微量元素、氧同位素以及矿物包裹体分析,以及相互间的成因关系。同时,对石榴石中的锆石或独居石包裹体并进行原位U-Pb定年和微量元素分析,可以为变质石榴石的形成时代提供直接的时间制约。深入研究超高压变质岩中石榴石的生长阶段,不仅可以为含石榴石寄主岩石的变质过程提供岩石学和地球化学证据,而且对于理解石榴石的形成机制、生长规律及其变质化学动力学过程具有重要的科学意义。     

地壳深熔条件下的转熔矿物研究进展

地壳深熔作用有两种形式,即流体相缺乏的脱水熔融和流体相存在的加水熔融。由于地壳岩石中水含量的差异(岩石中含水矿物的丰度和外来水的加入量),岩石发生不同形式的部分熔融所需要的温度和压力条件有很大差异。转熔矿物是岩石发生不一致熔融的产物,在形成过程中携带了地壳深熔源区物质和熔体的大量信息,是追溯高温变质岩石经历深熔作用的最可靠依据。它们与高级变质岩中残留的变质矿物和岩浆或熔体中结晶的岩浆矿物具有明显不同的来源,分别代表了岩石曾经历的不同演化历史。通过对不同成因的矿物进行矿物结构、包裹体、主量元素、微量元素和同位素以及共生矿物组合等多方面的综合考察,可以有效识别出高级变质岩中的转熔矿物、变质残余矿物和岩浆矿物。准确识别高温-超高温变质岩以及花岗岩中不同成因的矿物相,是研究高温变质作用的前提条件,对研究混合岩和S型花岗岩的成因都起着非常重要的作用。     

内蒙古大青山地区古元古代早期榴云片麻岩(大青山表壳岩)深熔作用:地质、锆石年代学和地球化学研究

大青山位于华北克拉通西部孔兹岩带中段,古元古代晚期孔兹岩系(上乌拉山岩群)十分发育。近年来,在上乌拉山岩群中分辨出一套古元古代早期变质碎屑沉积岩(大青山表壳岩,榴云片麻岩),它们遭受强烈变质变形和深熔作用改造,形成古元古代早期石榴石花岗岩。包头哈德门沟是古元古代早期榴云片麻岩典型出露区,并有古元古代早期石榴石花岗岩(哈德门沟石榴石花岗岩)形成。由榴云片麻岩经深熔榴云片麻岩再到石榴石花岗岩,浅色体增多,石榴石增多且颗粒增大,黑云母减少,石榴石包裹黑云母、石英、斜长石等矿物。石榴石岩的锆石呈浑圆状,普遍具核-幔-边或核-边结构,碎屑锆石年龄为~2.5Ga,变质锆石年龄为~2.45Ga和~1.90Ga。锆石形态、内部结构和年龄与榴云片麻岩、深熔榴云片麻岩和石榴石花岗岩中的锆石类似,但记录了古元古代晚期变质事件年龄。石榴石花岗岩与榴云片麻岩和深熔榴云片麻岩的地球化学组成特征总体上类似,高Al2O3含量和FeO T/MgO比值,CaO含量和K2O/Na2O比值存在较大变化,富集轻稀土和大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、P和Ti。研究表明:1)浅色体和石榴石花岗岩中的石榴石是黑云母转熔的产物,并非岩浆结晶形成的;2)石榴石岩是在石榴石花岗岩岩浆形成之后进一步演化过程中石榴石不断地发生运移、分异和聚集的结果;3)尽管哈德门沟石榴石花岗岩具有一定或较大的规模,但具有深熔岩浆的性质;4)石榴石花岗岩地球化学组成变化与熔融母岩组成变化和深熔及岩浆演化过程中残余矿物相石榴石、锆石局部变化有关。     

喜马拉雅造山带新生代花岗岩中两类石榴石的地球化学特征及其在地壳深熔作用中的意义

在喜马拉雅碰撞造山带中,石榴石是变泥质岩的主要造岩矿物,也是花岗岩或淡色体的重要副矿物,保存了有关地壳深熔作用的关键信息,是揭示大型碰撞造山带中-下地壳物质的物理和化学行为的重要载体。在喜马拉雅造山带内,新生代花岗质岩石(淡色花岗岩和混合岩中的淡色体)含两类石榴石,大多数为岩浆型石榴石,自形-半自形,不含包裹体,但淡色体中含有港湾状的混合型石榴石。岩浆型石榴石具有以下地球化学特征:(1)从核部到边部,显示了典型的"振荡型"生长环带;(2)富集HREE,亏损LREE,从核部到边部,Hf、Y和HREE含量降低;(3)显著的Eu负异常;(4)相对于源岩中变质石榴石,Mn和Zn的含量显著增高。岩相学和地球化学特征都表明:变泥质岩熔融形成的熔体(淡色体)捕获了源岩的变质石榴石,熔体与石榴石反应导致大部分元素的特征被改变,只在核部保留了源岩的部分信息。同时,在花岗质熔体结晶过程中,形成少量的岩浆型石榴石。这些石榴石摄取了熔体中大量的Zn,浓度显著升高,在斜长石和锆石同步分离结晶作用的共同影响下,石榴石中Eu为明显负异常,Hf、Y和HREE浓度从核部到边部逐渐降低。上述数据和结果表明,花岗岩中石榴石的矿物化学特征记录了精细的有关花岗岩岩浆演化的重要信息。     

华南大容山-十万大山花岗岩体中石榴石成因以及麻粒岩包体变质作用研究

根据石榴石不同的结构和化学特征,在大容山-十万大山岩套旧州岩体中共识别出四种不同成因类型的石榴石:岩浆型、转熔型、变质型和由于上升岩浆中溶解-再沉淀机制导致的从转熔型向岩浆型转变的过渡型石榴石.由于含不同的微域矿物组合,麻粒岩包体被分为两类.根据微区矿物组合识别,变质期次确定和变质反应分析,结合矿物化学和相平衡模拟计算,得到了两类麻粒岩包体内不同矿物组合的温压条件.麻粒岩包体源区的温压条件为800 ～ 830℃和7.2～8.0kbar,以含石榴石的矿物组合为代表,反映了源区部分熔融作用的晚期阶段.岩浆上升过程中石榴石或黑云母首先反应形成了Opx+ Crd反应边组合,温压条件为810～860℃和4.6～5.2kbar.花岗岩中岩浆型堇青石的形成也可能基本与此同期.进一步减压在850℃和3.1～3.8kbar时形成了Spl+ Crd组合.综合这些数据可以确定一条顺时针的P-T轨迹以减压为主但伴随轻微的升温,随后为一个近等压冷却过程.这是由寄主花岗质岩浆上升和侵位造成的.本研究与有效的年代学资料相结合,暗示了花岗质岩浆和麻粒岩包体是下地壳源区部分熔融的结果,形成时代为250～ 260Ma,可能受到了同期峨眉山地幔柱的热影响.     

西岭矿区酸性熔岩中石榴石斑晶的特征、成因与成岩意义

西岭矿区酸性熔岩中石榴石斑晶属铁铝榴石,是在20-30 kbar压力下较早从岩浆中品出的斑晶矿物;由于斜长石斑晶发生不一致熔融结晶作用,故具有斜长石反应边。酸性熔岩中含有铁铝榴石高压斑晶及铁铝榴石中含有14.42-21.40％的镁铝榴石分子,是岩浆物质来自深源的标志。石榴石是重稀土选择型矿物。西华山黑云母花岗岩中的铁铝榴石是铁铝榴石-锰铝榴石,其特征与成岩成矿意义均不同于西岭矿区铁铝榴石斑晶。     

俯冲带变质过程中的含碳流体

俯冲带含碳岩石通过俯冲过程的变质反应生成了含碳水流体、富硅酸盐的超临界流体和含碳熔体。不同类型流体的形成与岩石成分和岩石经历的温压条件相关。岩石中碳酸盐矿物脱碳反应的温压条件取决于岩石起初的流体成分：有水存在时,反应发生在低温条件下。在高压条件下,碳酸盐矿物在水或含盐水流体的溶解是生成含碳流体重要的机制,其导致的碳迁移作用可能超过脱碳变质反应的作用。高温条件下,含碳岩石的部分熔融可以生成含碳的熔体,这在热俯冲环境和俯冲带岩石底辟到上覆地幔的情况下是碳迁移重要载体。富硅酸盐的超临界流体可能是在第二临界端点上形成的超临界流体,目前在超高压岩石中观察到的非花岗质成分的多相固体包裹体被认为是这种流体结晶的产物,然而对其理解尚存在很多问题,需要进一步的实验研究。地表含碳岩石在俯冲带被带到深部,俯冲带地温特征的不同导致了不同类型含碳流体的形成,这些流体运移至上覆地幔引起岩石部分熔融产生含碳的岛弧岩浆,岩浆喷出到地表释放了其中的碳,这构成了俯冲带-岛弧系统的碳循环。

     

超高压变质矿物中的多相固体包裹体研究进展

大陆碰撞过程中熔/流体的组成和演化是研究大陆深俯冲动力学的重要内容,而超高压岩石记录了大陆俯冲和折返过程中的熔/流体-岩石相互作用,因而是研究大陆碰撞过程中熔/流体组成和演化的天然实验室。大陆俯冲带高压/超高压变质矿物中多相固体包裹体作为熔/流体活动的直接记录,为我们提供了揭示超高压变质过程中熔/流体演化的重要制约。近年来,围绕超高压岩石中多相固体包裹体的形成时间、演化过程及其所反映的俯冲带超高压变质熔/流体的组成和性质,进行了大量的研究工作。超高压岩石中多相固体包裹体的发现,为理解峰期超高压变质流体的组成和演化提供了重要制约,同时也为研究俯冲板片-地幔楔界面的熔/流体交代作用提供了新的途径。本文从多相固体包裹体形成机制、结构形态特征、矿物化学成分及其地质地球化学意义等方面,对于超高压变质岩中多相固体包裹体的研究现状和存在的问题进行系统地总结和探讨,以期促进多相固体包裹体的岩石学和地球化学研究。     

Mineral and fluid inclusions in zircon of UHP metamorphic rocks from the CCSD-main drill hole: A record of metamorphism and fluid activity

The Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) main drill hole (0–3000 m) in Donghai, southern Sulu orogen, consists of eclogite, paragneiss, orthogneiss, schist and garnet peridotite. Detailed investigations of Raman, cathodoluminescence, and microprobe analyses show that zircons from most eclogites, gneisses and schists have oscillatory zoned magmatic cores with low-pressure mineral inclusions of Qtz, Pl, Kf and Ap, and a metamorphic rim with relatively uniform luminescence and eclogite-facies mineral inclusions of Grt, Omp, Phn, Coe and Rt. The chemical compositions of the UHP metamorphic mineral inclusions in zircon are similar to those from the matrix of the host rocks. Similar UHP metamorphic P–T conditions of about 770 °C and 32 kbar were estimated from coexisting minerals in zircon and in the matrix. These observations suggest that all investigated lithologies experienced a joint in situ UHP metamorphism during continental deep subduction. In rare cases, magmatic cores of zircon contain coesite and omphacite inclusions and show patchy and irregular luminescence, implying that the cores have been largely altered possibly by fluid–mineral interaction during UHP metamorphism.

Abundant H₂O–CO₂, H₂O- or CO₂-dominated fluid inclusions with low to medium salinities occur isolated or clustered in the magmatic cores of some zircons, coexisting with low-P mineral inclusions. These fluid inclusions should have been trapped during magmatic crystallization and thus as primary. Only few H₂O- and/or CO₂-dominated fluid inclusions were found to occur together with UHP mineral inclusions in zircons of metamorphic origin, indicating that UHP metamorphism occurred under relatively dry conditions. The diversity in fluid inclusion populations in UHP rocks from different depths suggests a closed fluid system, without large-scale fluid migration during subduction and exhumation.     

Petrological and zircon evidence for anatexis of UHP quartzite during continental collision in the Sulu orogen

Petrological evidence is provided for anatexis of ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic quartzite in the Sulu orogen. Some feldspar grains exhibit elongated, highly cuspate shapes or occur as interstitial, cuspate phases constituting interconnected networks along grain boundaries. Elongated veinlets composed of plagioclase + quartz ± K‐feldspar also occur in grain boundaries. These features provide compelling evidence for anatexis of the UHP quartzite. Zircon grains from impure quartzite are all metamorphic growth with highly irregular shape. They contain inclusions of coesite, jadeite, rutile and lower pressure minerals, including multiphase solid inclusions that are composed of two or more phases of muscovite, quartz, K‐feldspar and plagioclase. All zircon grains exhibit steep REE patterns, similar U–Pb ages and Hf isotope compositions with a weighted mean of 218 ± 2 Ma. Most grains have similar δ¹⁸O values of ?0.6 to 0.1‰, but a few fall in the range ?5.2 to ?4.3‰. Thus, these grains would have grown from anatectic melts at various pressures. Zircon O isotope differences indicate that anatectic melts were derived from different sources with contrasting O isotopes, but similar Hf isotopes, that is, one from the quartzite itself and the other probably from the country‐rock granitic gneiss. Zircon grains from pure quartzite contain relict magmatic cores and significant metamorphic overgrowths. Domains that contain eclogite facies minerals exhibit flat HREE patterns, no Eu anomalies and concordant U–Pb ages of c. 220 Ma. Similar U–Pb ages are also obtained for domains that contain lower pressure minerals and exhibit steep REE patterns and marked negative Eu anomalies. These observations indicate that zircon records subsolidus overgrowth at eclogite facies conditions but suprasolidus growth at lower pressures. Zircon enclosed by garnet gave consistent U–Pb ages of c. 214 Ma. Such garnet is interpreted as a peritectic product of the anatectic reaction that involves felsic minerals and possibly amphibole and titanite. The REE patterns of epidote and titanite also record multistage growth and metasomatism by anatectic melts. Therefore, the anatexis of UHP metamorphic rocks is evident during continental collision in the Triassic.     

Multiple zircon growth during fast exhumation of diamondiferous, deeply subducted continental crust (Kokchetav Massif, Kazakhstan)

Diamondiferous rocks from the Kokchetav Massif, Kazakhstan, represent deeply subducted continental crust. In order to constrain the age of ultra high pressure (UHP) metamorphism and subsequent retrogression during exhumation, zircons from diamondiferous gneisses and metacarbonates have been investigated by a combined petrological and isotopic study. Four different zircon domains were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. Mineral inclusions and trace element characteristics of the zircon domains permit us to relate zircon growth to metamorphic conditions. Domain 1 consists of rounded cores and lacks evidence of UHP metamorphism. Domain 2 contains diamond, coesite, omphacite and titanian phengite inclusions providing evidence that it formed at UHP metamorphic conditions (P>43 kbar; T~950 °C). Domain 3 is characterised by low-pressure mineral inclusions such as garnet, biotite and plagioclase, which are common minerals in the granulite-facies overprint of the gneisses (P~10 kbar; T~800 °C). This multi-stage zircon growth during cooling and exhumation of the diamondiferous rocks can be best explained by zircon growth from Zr-saturated partial melts present in the gneisses. Domain 4 forms idiomorphic overgrowths and the rare earth element pattern indicates that it formed without coexisting garnet, most probably at amphibolite-facies conditions (P~5 kbar; T~600 °C). The metamorphic zircon domains were dated by SHRIMP ion microprobe and yielded ages of 527LJ, 528NJ and 526LJ Ma for domains 2, 3 and 4 respectively. These indistinguishable ages provide evidence for a fast exhumation beyond the resolution of SHRIMP dating. The mean age of all zircons formed between UHP metamorphic conditions and granulite-facies metamorphism is 528Dž Ma, indicating that decompression took place in less than 6 Ma. Hence, the deeply subducted continental crust was exhumed from mantle depth to the base of the crust at rates higher than 1.8 cm/year. We propose a two-stage exhumation model to explain the obtained P-T-t path. Fast exhumation on top of the subducted slab from depth >140 to ~35 km was driven by buoyancy and facilitated by the presence of partial melts. A period of near isobaric cooling was followed by a second decompression event probably related to extension in a late stage of continental collision.     

大陆俯冲带超高压变质岩部分熔融与壳幔相互作用研究进展

自20世纪80年代在大陆地壳岩石中发现柯石英和金刚石等超高压变质矿物以来,大陆深俯冲和超高压变质作用就成为了固体地球科学研究的前沿和热点领域之一.经过三十余年的研究,已经在大陆地壳的俯冲深度、深俯冲岩石变质P-T-t轨迹、俯冲地壳岩石的折返机制、深俯冲岩石的原岩性质、大陆碰撞过程中的熔/流体活动与元素活动性、俯冲隧道内...     

Garnet growth at high- and ultra-high pressure conditions and the effect of element fractionation on mineral modes and composition

In this paper we show that thermodynamic forward modelling, using Gibbs energy minimisation with consideration of element fractionation into refractory phases and/or liberated fluids, is able to extract information about the complex physical and chemical evolution of a deeply subducted rock volume. By comparing complex compositional growth zonations in garnets from high-and ultra-high pressure samples with those derived from thermodynamic forward modelling, we yield an insight into the effects of element fractionation on composition and modes of the co-genetic metamorphic phase assemblage. Our results demonstrate that fractionation effects cause discontinuous growth and re-crystallisation of metamorphic minerals in high pressure rocks. Reduced or hindered mineral growth at UHP conditions can control the inclusion and preservation of minerals indicative for UHP metamorphism, such as coesite, thus masking peak pressure conditions reached in subducted rocks.Further, our results demonstrate that fractional garnet crystallisation leads to strong compositional gradients and step-like zonation patterns in garnet, a feature often observed in high-and ultra-high pressure rocks. Thermodynamic forward modelling allows the interpretation of commonly observed garnet growth zonation patterns in terms of garnet forming reactions and the relative timing of garnet growth with respect to the rock's pressure–temperature path. Such a correlation is essential for the determination of tectonic and metamorphic rates in subduction zones as well as for the understanding of trace element signatures in subduction related rocks. It therefore should be commonplace in the investigation of metamorphic processes in subduction zones.     

Trace element composition of continentally subducted slab‐derived melt: insight from multiphase solid inclusions in ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite in the Dabie orogen

The ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) eclogite in the Dabie orogen preserves petrological evidence for the existence of hydrous silicate melts that formed during continental subduction‐zone metamorphism. This is indicated by occurrence of multiphase solid (MS) inclusions in garnet that primarily consist of K‐feldspar + quartz ± epidote/allanite. All the MS inclusions are euhedral to subhedral in morphology and surrounded with radial cracks in the host garnet. Their trace element compositions were analysed by two different approaches of laser sampling. The mass budget method was used to estimate the trace element abundances of MS inclusions from their mixtures with the host garnet. The results are compared with the direct sampling of MS inclusions, providing a first‐order approximation to the trace element composition of MS inclusions. The MS inclusions exhibit consistent enrichment of LILE, Sr and Pb, but depletion of HFSE in the primitive mantle‐normalized spidergram. Such arc‐like patterns of trace element distribution are common for continental crustal rocks. The melts have variably high K, Rb and Sr abundances, suggesting that breakdown of phengite is a basic cause for partial melting of the UHP eclogite. These MS inclusions also exhibit consistently low HFSE and Y contents, suggesting partial melting of the eclogite in the stability fields of rutile and garnet. Consequently, the trace element composition of MS inclusions provides a proxy for that of hydrous silicate melts derived from dehydration melting of the UHP eclogite during continental collision.     

Ultrahigh-pressure eclogite transformed from mafic granulite in the Dabie orogen, east-central China

Although ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks are present in many collisional orogenic belts, almost all exposed UHP metamorphic rocks are subducted upper or felsic lower continental crust with minor mafic boudins. Eclogites formed by subduction of mafic lower continental crust have not been identified yet. Here an eclogite occurrence that formed during subduction of the mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, east‐central China is reported. At least four generations of metamorphic mineral assemblages can be discerned: (i) hypersthene + plagioclase ± garnet; (ii) omphacite + garnet + rutile + quartz; (iii) symplectite stage of garnet + diopside + hypersthene + ilmenite + plagioclase; (iv) amphibole + plagioclase + magnetite, which correspond to four metamorphic stages: (a) an early granulite facies, (b) eclogite facies, (c) retrograde metamorphism of high‐pressure granulite facies and (d) retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusion assemblages and cathodoluminescence images show that zircon is characterized by distinctive domains of core and a thin overgrowth rim. The zircon core domains are classified into two types: the first is igneous with clear oscillatory zonation ± apatite and quartz inclusions; and the second is metamorphic containing a granulite facies mineral assemblage of garnet, hypersthene and plagioclase (andesine). The zircon rims contain garnet, omphacite and rutile inclusions, indicating a metamorphic overgrowth at eclogite facies. The almost identical ages of the two types of core domains (magmatic = 791 ± 9 Ma and granulite facies metamorphic zircon = 794 ± 10 Ma), and the Triassic age (212 ± 10 Ma) of eclogitic facies metamorphic overgrowth zircon rim are interpreted as indicating that the protolith of the eclogite is mafic granulite that originated from underplating of mantle‐derived magma onto the base of continental crust during the Neoproterozoic (c. 800 Ma) and then subducted during the Triassic, experiencing UHP eclogite facies metamorphism at mantle depths. The new finding has two‐fold significance: (i) voluminous mafic lower continental crust can increase the average density of subducted continental lithosphere, thus promoting its deep subduction; (ii) because of the current absence of mafic lower continental crust in the Dabie orogen, delamination or recycling of subducted mafic lower continental crust can be inferred as the geochemical cause for the mantle heterogeneity and the unusually evolved crustal composition.     

Element mobility during continental collision: insights from polymineralic metamorphic vein within UHP eclogite in the Dabie orogen

Metamorphic dehydration and partial melting are two important processes during continental collision. They have significant bearing on element transport at the slab interface under subduction‐zone P–T conditions. Petrological and geochemical insights into the two processes are provided by a comprehensive study of leucocratic veins in ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks. This is exemplified by this study of a polymineralic vein within phengite‐bearing UHP eclogite in the Dabie orogen. The vein is primarily composed of quartz, kyanite, epidote and phengite, with minor accessory minerals such as garnet, rutile and zircon. Primary multiphase solid inclusions occur in garnet and epidote from the both vein and host eclogite. They are composed of quartz ± K‐feldspar ± plagioclase ± K‐bearing glass and exhibit irregular to negative crystal shapes that are surrounded by weak radial cracks. This suggests their precipitation from solute‐rich metamorphic fluid/melt that involved the reaction of phengite breakdown. Zircon U–Pb dating for the vein gave two groups of concordant ages at 217 ± 2 and 210 ± 2 Ma, indicating two episodes of zircon growth in the Late Triassic. The same minerals from the two rocks give consistent δ¹⁸O and δD values, suggesting that the vein‐forming fluid was directly derived from the host UHP eclogite. The vein is much richer in phengite and epidote than the host eclogite, suggesting that the fluid is associated with remarkable concentration of such water‐soluble elements as LILE and LREE migration. Garnet and rutile in the vein exhibit much higher contents of HREE (2.2–5.7 times) and Nb–Ta (1.8–2.0 times) than those in the eclogite, indicating that these normally water‐insoluble elements became mobile and then were sunken in the vein minerals. Thus, the vein‐forming agent would be primarily composed of the UHP aqueous fluid with minor amounts of the hydrous melt, which may even become a supercritical fluid to have a capacity to transport not only LILE and LREE but also HREE and HFSE at subduction‐zone metamorphic conditions. Taken together, significant amounts of trace elements were transported by the vein‐forming fluid due to the phengite breakdown inside the UHP eclogite during exhumation of the deeply subducted continental crust.     

Dehydration melting of ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite in the Dabie orogen: evidence from multiphase solid inclusions in garnet

Several types of multiphase solid (MS) inclusions are identified in garnet from ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) eclogite in the Dabie orogen. The mineralogy of MS inclusions ranges from pure K‐feldspar to pure quartz, with predominance of intermediate types consisting of K‐feldspar + quartz ± silicate (plagioclase or epidote) ± barite. The typical MS inclusions are usually surrounded with radial cracks in the host garnet, similar to where garnet contains relict coesite. Barite aggregates display significant heterogeneity in major element composition, with total contents of only 57–73% and highly variable SiO₂ contents of 0.32–25.85% that are positively correlated with BaO and SO₃ contents. The occurrence of MS inclusions provides petrographic evidence for partial melting in the UHP metamorphic rock. The occurrence of barite aggregates with variably high SiO₂ contents suggests the coexistence of aqueous fluid with hydrous melt under HP eclogite facies conditions. Thus, local dehydration melting is inferred to take place inside the UHP metamorphic slice during continental collision. This is ascribed to phengite breakdown during ‘hot’ exhumation of the deeply subducted continental crust. As a consequence, the aqueous fluid is internally buffered in chemical composition and its local sink is a basic trigger to the partial melting during the continental subduction‐zone metamorphism.