大别山超高压变质带中型花A岗岩确定及成因探讨

大别山超高压带中变质花岗岩特征：（１） 岩石组合较单一,以二长花岗岩（ 原岩） 为主,缺乏中基性岩和正长岩类;（２） 具鳞片花岗变晶结构,片麻状构造,保留残存的岩浆岩组构;（３） 与榴辉岩及其它超高压变质岩石有明显侵入接触关系,并可见有其捕虏体;（４） 岩石化学表现为富硅、富碱、贫钙、贫镁等特征,一般地ＳｉＯ２ ＞ ７６ ％ ,（ Ｎａ２ Ｏ＋ Ｋ２ Ｏ） ＞ ８ ％ ,ＣａＯ＜ ０ ．５ ％ ,ＭｇＯ ＜ ０ ．４ ％ ;（５） 痕量元素表现为Ｚｒ 、Ｙ、Ｎｂ 、ＲＥＥ 含量高,Ｓｒ 、Ｓｃ 、Ｖ、Ｎｉ 等低;（６） 变质矿物组合为斜长石＋ 石英＋ 钾长石＋ 白云母＋ 石榴石＋ 绿帘石,属于低角闪岩相。（７） 锆石Ｕ － Ｐｂ 同位素年龄值为６８５ ±４１ Ｍａ 。大别山超高压变质带中变质花岗岩为Ａ 型花岗岩,更接近Ａ２ 亚类。变质Ａ 型花岗岩的确定,对进一步认识大别山的大地构造演化、榴辉岩等超高压变质带的形成、折返机制等提供了重要地质依据。     

大别山东部超高太变质带北侧的花岗片麻岩及其构造背景

大别山东部超高压变质带北侧的花岗片麻岩有下列特征。（１）化学成分富硅、富碱,一般ＳｉＯ２＜７５％,Ｋ２Ｏ＋Ｎａ２Ｏ＞８％,且Ｋ２Ｏ＞Ｎａ２Ｏ。（２）与变质表壳岩有侵入接触关系,有异源、深源包体。（３）主要为鳞片花岗变晶结构,有残留的岩浆结构,普遍具片麻状构造,钾长石常以眼球状巨晶出现,剪切带中发育Ｌ＞Ｓ型变形组构。（４）变质作用为角闪岩相,变质矿物为黑云母、角闪石以及少量石榴石、白云母、绿帘石等。。（５）锆石的乙—Ｐ６同位素年龄值为６２９Ｍａ。上述特征与超高压变质带中的含霓石变质花岗岩有明显的区别,因此,它可能是杨子大陆板块的俯冲基底。     

大别山东段超高压变质带中变质花岗岩的矿物化学和地球化学特征

大别山东段超高压变质带中变质花岗岩富硅、贫钙、贫铝，属偏碱性花岗岩，围岩为含榴辉岩包体的超高压副片麻岩。变质花岗岩稀土元素总量多在（100－200）×10^-6，具有较大的负铕异常，其原岩应为壳源型花岗岩。元素地球化学特征表明变质花岗岩原岩与古造山作用有关。变质花岗岩中存在大量由岩浆型内核和变生型边缘构成的变质增生锆石。结合锆石U－Pb年龄资料认为，变质花岗岩应由古老花岗岩变质形成，而不是超高压变质作用之后部分地壳岩石重熔的产物。岩石中有富锰和贫锰两种石榴子石，通过富锰石榴子石－黑云母、贫锰石榴子石－多硅白云母等矿物对的温压计算可知变质花岗岩在400－500℃、0.6-0.8GPa条件下经历过变质作用。但几种间接证据反映出变质花岗岩可能经历过超高压变质作用。     

大别山东南部变质花岗岩中霓石的发现及其地质意义

大别山超高压变质带是华北与扬子板块俯冲碰撞作用的产物。迄今为止，报导的超高压变质岩除镁铁、超镁铁质岩石外，主要为火山－沉积岩，然而除上述岩石外，大别山南部出露大量花岗质片麻岩。作者在近期对大别山东南部变质花岗岩岩石学研究中发现：变质花岗岩中含有Ｇｔ＋Ｒｕ＋Ｐｈｅ±Ａｃｇ＋Ａｕｇ±Ｄｉ＋Ｐｌ＋Ｎａ－Ａｍｐ＋Ｏｒ＋Ｑ组合，与钠长石共生的霓石或透辉石可能是早期矿物硬玉或富硬玉质绿辉石退变的，而岩石中石榴石分带特征，即内带以铁铝榴石（４３．０６％）和钙铝榴石（４６．２８％）为主，外带则以锰铝榴石（３０．４０％）和钙铝榴石（３５．６７％）为主，这些都表明它们是由高压向低压退化变质之产物。因此，变质花岗岩可能早期存在着这样的榴辉岩相峰期矿物组合Ｊｄ／ｏｍｐ＋Ｑ／ＣＳ＋Ｐｈｅ＋Ｒｕ＋Ｇｔ＋Ｏｒ，这个组合由于后期的压力降低而退变为中低压的矿物组合。     

变质流体研究新进展

变质流体是变质过程的主要动力学因素之一。目前变质流体研究主要集中在下部地壳麻粒岩相变质流体，俯冲带高压－超高压变质流体和接触变质流体等方面。研究的主要问题是流体流动机制和元素迁移，流体－岩石相互作用和流体来源。下部地壳麻粒岩相变质流体以ＣＯ２为主，具有较低的ａＨ２Ｏ。δ１３Ｃ研究表明大约２／３ＣＯ２是深成的。富ＣＯ２流体流动是紫苏花岗岩形成和热扰动的原因之一，也是麻粒岩形成和大离子亲石元素亏损的主要因素。俯冲带是高压、超高压变质作用发生和流体活动最活跃的场所。流体富含Ｈ２Ｏ、ＣＨ４和ＣＯ２，可以诱导部分熔融反应和岛弧岩浆作用。高压变质条件下的矿物稳定性也与流体有关。同位素研究表明，在超高压变质期间没有化学上完全相同的流体大规模循环。流体－熔体系统模式能更有效地解释下插板片的元素再循环。接触变质流体研究主要集中在含有易于发生流体－岩石反应的不纯碳酸盐岩地区。硅灰石带中流体／岩石比率高达４０∶１，表明接触变质岩石中有大量流体存在。接触变质过程流体成分有较大差异，主要取决于流体来源、原岩性质和侵入体特征。流体流动和循环模式受控于构造变形，岩浆作用和变质过程的动力学条件及流体成分。     

榴辉岩退变质过程的地球化学研究--以荣成-威海岩段的榴辉岩体为例

蓉鲁超高压－变质岩带为Ａ型俯冲作用物。带内的榴辉岩体多发生退变质作用,形成退变榴辉岩 闪岩及伴长角闪岩等,与榴辉岩一起记录了－超进变质峰期经过构造回返减压、降温演化过程所发生特成分铁重要信息。本文以荣成－威海岩段具“核－壳”构造的榴辉岩体为例,依据地质、岩相学特征,进行了退变质过程元素地球化学的深入研究。该过程中主要元素Ｋ,Ｂａ,Ｒｂ等大离子亲石元素及ω（Ｋ２Ｏ）／ω（Ｎａ２Ｏ）,ω（Ｆｅ２Ｏ／３     

桐柏——大别造山带燕山晚期A型花岗岩的厘定

本文通过岩石地球化学研究和讨论,认为桐柏－大别山带燕山晚期存在过碱性（ｐｅｒａｌｋａｌｉｎｅ）和铝质（ａｌｕｍｉｎｏｕｓ）Ａ型花岗岩。过碱性花岗岩的岩石类型为碱长花岗岩和石英正长岩,其ＡＣＮＫ＝０．７２－０．９７,ＮＫＡ＝１．０２,铝质Ａ型花岗岩是本文研究的重点,岩石类型也为碱长花岗岩和石英正长岩;其ＳｉＯ２含量为６７．７３％－７７．６０％,富碱（Ｎａ２Ｏ＋Ｋ２Ｏ含量为７．９７％－９．７６％）,Ａ     

胶南—威海造山带研究进展及重要地质问题讨论

胶南－威海造山带基底主要由新元古代变质花岗岩组成，另有少量变质表壳岩，浅变质碎屑岩，基性－超基性岩及榴辉岩，变质花岗岩可分为同造山花岗岩及后造山花岗岩，造山带之上曾经有过古生代盖层，造山带中侵入有三叠纪闪长岩及花岗岩体，在榴辉岩及其围 中发现了许多高压，超高压变质矿物；确认高压，超高压变质作用分早期的超高压榴辉岩相变质作用和晚期的高压绿片岩相变质作用；变质地层，超镁铁质岩及部分片麻岩等围岩与榴辉岩经历了相同的超高压变质作用，大部分花岗质片麻岩是在超高压变质作用发生后或发生过程中侵入榴辉岩中的，苏鲁造山带是一条以韧性剪切带为格架，穹窿构造，褶皱构造相伴随的“无山”的造山带；造山带可分为南，北二部分，北带主体属于华北板块南缘带，而南带主体则属于扬子板块北缘带。南，北带的界线大臻与连云港－嘉山断裂及近岸断裂一致，造山带南界与响水－淮阴断裂一臻，北界位于五莲－王台－朱吴－牟平一线，西侧被郯庐断裂带切割。     

瑞典西南部戈斯塔和松斯塔花岗质岩石的源岩讨论

在１６００Ｍａ到９００Ｍａ之间瑞典西部曾有多个花岗岩体多次分入于片麻岩杂岩体中，其中包括三期富微斜长石花岗岩。已变形和变质的戈斯塔和松斯塔花岗岩体属时代最老的富微斜长石花岗岩，为中粒浅灰红色岩石。岩石中黑云母多于角闪石，褐帘石，金红石，磷灰石和锆石是重要的副矿物，成分上属偏铝质和正长－二长花岗质；ＳｉＯ２变化于７０．４％－７８．７％之间，Ｋ２Ｏ／Ｎａ２Ｏ在０．８６－３．３２之间，Ｎａ和中Ｋ与其他主     

高压超高压变质作用中的流体

文章强调了高压和超高压变质岩中流体包裹体的研究意义，重点论述了几个问题：（１）高压和超高压变质岩中流体包裹体的成分以含Ｎ２量高为特点，在大别山含柯石英榴辉岩中找到的高压榴辉岩阶段捕获的原生包裹体，其中气相组分含ＣＯ（摩尔分数）为１４％，表明流体来源于深部。原生流体包裹体的保存，要求在ｐ－Ｔ区间内的抬升轨迹与等容线近于平行。（２）在大别山高压和超高压榴辉岩中首次确认熔融包裹体的存在，由硅酸盐玻相和以ＣＯ２为主要成分的气相组成，并发现熔融包裹体中的玻相成分与主矿物相近。（３）高压和超高压变质期间的局部流体迁移可由榴辉岩中流体包裹体和矿物同位素成分（Ｈ－Ｃ－Ｏ）来显示。（４）高压和超高压变质中流体－熔体－岩石（矿物）相互作用是一个非常复杂的过程，并证实在榴辉岩相ｐ－Ｔ条件下岩石的部分熔融。（５）变质流体的成分与变质级之间存在着相关关系。     

Fluid generation and evolution during exhumation of deeply subducted UHP continental crust: Petrogenesis of composite granite–quartz veins in the Sulu belt,China

Composite granite–quartz veins occur in retrogressed ultrahigh pressure (UHP) eclogite enclosed in gneiss at General's Hill in the central Sulu belt, eastern China. The granite in the veins has a high‐pressure (HP) mineral assemblage of dominantly quartz+phengite+allanite/epidote+garnet that yields pressures of 2.5–2.1 GPa (Si‐in‐phengite barometry) and temperatures of 850–780°C (Ti‐in‐zircon thermometry) at 2.5 GPa (~20°C lower at 2.1 GPa). Zircon overgrowths on inherited cores and new grains of zircon from both components of the composite veins crystallized at c. 221 Ma. This age overlaps the timing of HP retrograde recrystallization dated at 225–215 Ma from multiple localities in the Sulu belt, consistent with the HP conditions retrieved from the granite. The ε_Hf(t) values of new zircon from both components of the composite veins and the Sr–Nd isotope compositions of the granite consistently lie between values for gneiss and eclogite, whereas δ¹⁸O values of new zircon are similar in the veins and the crustal rocks. These data are consistent with zircon growth from a blended fluid generated internally within the gneiss and the eclogite, without any ingress of fluid from an external source. However, at the peak metamorphic pressure, which could have reached 7 GPa, the rocks were likely fluid absent. During initial exhumation under UHP conditions, exsolution of H₂O from nominally anhydrous minerals generated a grain boundary supercritical fluid in both gneiss and eclogite. As exhumation progressed, the volume of fluid increased allowing it to migrate by diffusing porous flow from grain boundaries into channels and drain from the dominant gneiss through the subordinate eclogite. This produced a blended fluid intermediate in its isotope composition between the two end‐members, as recorded by the composite veins. During exhumation from UHP (coesite) eclogite to HP (quartz) eclogite facies conditions, the supercritical fluid evolved by dissolution of the silicate mineral matrix, becoming increasingly solute‐rich, more ‘granitic’ and more viscous until it became trapped. As crystallization began by diffusive loss of H₂O to the host eclogite concomitant with ongoing exhumation of the crust, the trapped supercritical fluid intersected the solvus for the granite–H₂O system, allowing phase separation and formation of the composite granite–quartz veins. Subsequently, during the transition from HP eclogite to amphibolite facies conditions, minor phengite breakdown melting is recorded in both the granite and the gneiss by K‐feldspar+plagioclase+biotite aggregates located around phengite and by K‐feldspar veinlets along grain boundaries. Phase equilibria modelling of the granite indicates that this late‐stage melting records P–T conditions towards the end of the exhumation, with the subsolidus assemblage yielding 0.7–1.1 GPa at <670°C. Thus, the composite granite–quartz veins represent a rare example of a natural system recording how the fluid phase evolved during exhumation of continental crust. The successive availability of different fluid phases attending retrograde metamorphism from UHP eclogite to amphibolite facies conditions will affect the transport of trace elements through the continental crust and the role of these fluids as metasomatic agents interacting with the mantle wedge in the subduction channel.     

New Findings in High-Pressure and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt of Tongbaishan-Dabieshan Regions, Central China

The high- pressure(HP) and ultrahigh- pressure(UHP)metamorphic rocks developed in the Tongbai- Dabie Mountainswere the products of oblique collision between the Yangtzeand Sinokorean cratons in the Triassic.Yetthere are still lotsof controversies about the present tectonic distribution of theHP and U HP metamorphic rocks and their petrogenetic rela-tionships which are crucial to the understanding of the form a-tion and exhumation of the Tongbai- Dabie collisional orogenicbelt(Cong and W…     

苏鲁造山带大规模岩浆活动的证据:新元古代多成因花岗质片麻岩

花岗质片麻岩是苏鲁超高压变质带中分布最为广泛的岩石单元,其岩石形成于新元古代。苏鲁超高压变质带中段——山东胶—莒南地区的花岗质片麻岩主要由以细粒白云母二长花岗质片麻岩为代表的荣成片麻岩套、以粗粒含角闪二长花岗质片麻岩为代表的月季山片麻岩套和以含霓石碱长花岗质片麻岩为代表的岚山头片麻岩套等组成。花岗片麻岩主体属于高K钙碱性系列。相比而言,荣成片麻岩套碱质较低、贫钠,月季山片麻岩套相对富碱质、富钠、富铁镁、低硅,岚山头片麻岩套则富硅钾、贫铝铁镁。荣成岩套具有S型花岗岩的特点,月季山岩套具有I型花岗岩的特点,岚山头岩套具有A型花岗岩的特点。苏鲁超高压变质带新元古代花岗质片麻岩构成了较完整的碰撞造山型花岗岩系列:陆陆碰撞主造山期,形成同碰撞双花岗岩,其中荣成岩套形成时间略早,深俯冲到地幔中遭受了超高压变质作用,而月季山岩套是在超高压岩片快速折返过程中形成的;碰撞造山后期地壳伸展,形成岚山头片麻岩套。     

Interpretation of aeromagnetic anomalies of the Sulu region, eastern China and implications for deep geology

By using data on the 1:100 000 aeromagnetic anomalies of the Sulu orogenic belt, we designed three simulated geotraverses, in which deep seismic reflection and other geophysical investigations have been completed. Based on the features of magnetism of the three profiles, and under the constraints of deep seismic reflection data, together with the magnetism of the core petrology at the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) pilot-hole and areal geology, the three inversions of magnetic anomalies are carried out. The characteristics of terrane structure are presented: the rocks are mostly composed of eclogite, marble, and gneiss at the depth of 5 km. At the depth between 5 and 7 km under the surface, inverse magnetic bodies are mainly the ultra high pressure metamorphic (UHPM) rock slices containing a lot of coesite-bearing eclogite. At the depth between 7 km and the bottom of upper crust are the rocks of the gneiss, granite and granite diorite that underwent ultra high pressure metamorphic process. Middle crust (10–19 km) is mostly composed of UHPM gneiss and granite that intruded later. The rocks of acid and basic granulite dominate the lower crust. Based on the inversed results of the three simulated geotraverses, we know that the UHPM rock slices of the three profiles are dipping north, stacking each other and being uplifted to the earth’s surface, which may be the result of the North China craton’s subduction and exhumation in the Triassic. Translated from Geological Science and Technology Information, 2007, 26(2): 107–112 [译自: 地质科技情报]     

大陆俯冲隧道中的应变不均一分布：来自大别山超高压变质岩的记录

俯冲隧道是俯冲板片与上覆板块之间的剪切带,也是高压—超高压变质岩折返和深部流/熔体活动的通道。大别山超高压变质岩分布广泛,变形程度差异很大,是研究大陆俯冲隧道中岩石变质- 变形过程的理想地区。本文系统总结了前人对中大别双河地区超高压变质岩的岩石学和年代学研究成果,在双河地区开展了地质填图、应变分析和三维构造重建。通过将超高压变质岩的变形特征与P- T- t轨迹结合,识别出超高压变质岩折返过程中的三期韧性变形。在双河北部发现了一个上盘向NW剪切的千米尺度的榴辉岩相鞘褶皱,枢纽向SE倾伏,倾伏角约20°,与榴辉岩、片岩和长英质片麻岩的拉伸线理平行,表明超高压变质岩初始折返阶段的流体活动使榴辉岩的强度显著降低,榴辉岩与围岩一起发生韧性变形。该期变形被角闪岩相退变质阶段上盘向NW的剪切叠加,此时应变集中于片麻岩、片岩、大理岩等非能干层,强度较高的榴辉岩成为构造透镜体。而绿片岩相变质阶段上盘向SE方向的剪切与早白垩世北大别花岗片麻岩穹隆的形成有关。对双河南部弱变形花岗片麻岩的锆石U- Pb定年揭示了757±14 Ma的原岩年龄和 240~216 Ma的变质年龄,与双河北部含柯石英强变形花岗片麻岩类似,暗示其也经历了三叠纪超高压变质作用及随后的角闪岩相退变质作用。通过计算长英质片麻岩的有效黏度,发现无水碱长花岗片麻岩的有效黏度高于黑云斜长片麻岩,折返阶段的流体活动使超高压变质岩的强度显著降低,当局部的流体活动不足以弱化碱长花岗岩体时,应变集中于黑云斜长片麻岩。因此,大陆俯冲隧道中的应变分布受矿物组成、流体活动和岩体规模的共同影响。     

华北地台北缘集宁地区古元古代片麻状石榴花岗岩的深熔成因及地质意义

本文对华北克拉通北缘集宁地区空间上密切共生的片麻状石榴花岗岩和孔兹岩系富铝片麻岩的岩相学、地球化学及年代学特征进行了对比研究。SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年方面,在富铝片麻岩中获得了1910±10Ma和1839±13Ma变质锆石年龄,在片麻状石榴花岗岩中获得了1919±17Ma的变质重结晶锆石年龄。在石榴花岗岩的石榴石包裹体中识别出与富铝片麻岩相对应的进变质阶段(M1)和峰期阶段(M2)的矿物组合,由此确认富铝片麻岩的变质作用和导致石榴花岗岩形成的深熔作用是同一构造热事件的产物。通过对二者变质作用演化及特征变质矿物的对比,认为深熔作用主要发生在峰期后等温降压阶段(M3),石榴花岗岩中的石榴石为深熔作用过程中的残留矿物相或转熔矿物相,而石榴花岗岩则是混合有大量残留矿物相的熔体结晶的产物。对片麻状石榴花岗岩和富铝片麻岩的地球化学组成特征进行了对比分析,片麻状石榴花岗岩既有一定的继承性,又有十分明显的变异性。变异性表现为:1)石榴花岗岩主量和微量元素含量分布极不均匀,微量元素含量普遍低于源岩(Cs、Rb、Th、U、Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等);2)大离子亲石元素Cs和生热元素U、Th亏损明显,Sr相对富集;3)高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Ti的明显亏损;4)铕异常变化大,存在铕富集型、铕平坦型和铕亏损型共存的稀土配分曲线的岩石,这是深熔成因石榴花岗岩最突出的表现,也可能是原地-半原地深熔花岗岩的主要地球化学标志。综合区域上的地质资料,认为深熔作用与碰撞后伸展构造背景下基性岩浆底侵事件有关。     

Zircon U–Pb and Hf evidence for coupled subduction of oceanic and continental crust during the Carboniferous in the Huwan shear zone,western Dabie orogen,central China

Both oceanic and continental HP rocks are juxtaposed in the Huwan shear zone in the western Dabie orogen, and thus provide a window for testing the buoyancy‐driven exhumation of dense oceanic HP rocks. The HP metamorphic age of the continental rocks in this zone has not been well constrained, and hence it is not known if they are of the same age as the exhumation of the HP oceanic rocks. In situ laser ablation (multiple collector) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐(MC‐)ICP‐MS), U–Pb, trace element and Hf isotope analyses were made on zircon in a granitic gneiss and two eclogites from the Huwan shear zone. U–Pb age and trace element analysis of residual magmatic zircon in an eclogite constrain its protolith formation at 411 ± 4 Ma. The zircon in this sample displays ε_Hf (t) values of +6.1 to +14.4. The positive ε_Hf (t) values up to +14.4 suggest that the protolith was derived from a relatively depleted mantle source, most likely Palaeotethyan oceanic crust. A granitic gneiss and the other eclogite yield protolith U–Pb ages of 738 ± 6 and 700 ± 14 Ma, respectively, which are both the Neoproterozoic basement rocks of the Yangtze Block. The zircon in the granitic gneiss has low ε_Hf (t) values of ?14.2 to ?10.5 and old T_DM2 ages of 2528–2298 Ma, suggesting reworking of Palaeoproterozoic crust during the Neoproterozoic. The zircon in the eclogite has ε_Hf (t) values of ?1.0 to +7.4 and T_DM1 ages of 1294–966 Ma, implying prompt reworking of juvenile crust during its protolith formation. Metamorphic zircon in both eclogite samples displays low Th/U ratios, trace element concentrations, relatively flat heavy rare earth element patterns, weak negative Eu anomalies and low ¹⁷⁶Lu/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios. All these features suggest that the metamorphic zircon formed in the presence of garnet but in the absence of feldspar, and thus under eclogite facies conditions. The metamorphic zircon yields U–Pb ages of 310 ± 3 and 306 ± 7 Ma. Therefore, both the oceanic‐ and continental‐type eclogites share the same episode of Carboniferous eclogite facies metamorphism. This suggests that high‐pressure continental‐type metamorphic rocks might have played a key role in the exhumation and preservation of oceanic‐type eclogites through buoyancy‐driven uplift.     

Isotopic constraints on age and duration of fluid-assisted high-pressure eclogite-facies recrystallization during exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust in the Sulu orogen

Fluid availability during high‐grade metamorphism is a critical factor in dictating petrological, geochemical and isotopic reequilibration between metamorphic minerals, with fluid‐absent metamorphism commonly resulting in neither zircon growth/recrystallization for U‐Pb dating nor Sm‐Nd isotopic resetting for isochron dating. While peak ultra‐high pressure (UHP) metamorphism is characterized by fluid immobility, high‐pressure (HP) eclogite‐facies recrystallization during exhumation is expected to take place in the presence of fluid. A multichronological study of UHP eclogite from the Sulu orogen of China indicates zircon growth at 216 ± 3 Ma as well as mineral Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr reequilibration at 216 ± 5 Ma, which are uniformly younger than UHP metamorphic ages of 231 ± 4 to 227 ± 2 Ma as dated by the SHRIMP U‐Pb method for coesite‐bearing domains of zircon. O isotope reequilibration was achieved between the Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr isochron minerals, but Hf isotopes were not homogenized between different grains of zircon. The HP eclogite‐facies recrystallization is also evident from petrography. Thus this process occurred during exhumation with fluid availability from decompression dehydration of hydrous minerals and the exsolution of hydroxyl from nominally anhydrous minerals. This provides significant amounts of internally derived fluid for extensive retrogression within the UHP metamorphosed slabs. Based on available experimental diffusion data, the consistent reequilibration of U‐Pb, Sm‐Nd, Rb‐Sr and O isotope systems in the eclogite minerals demonstrates that time‐scale for the HP eclogite‐facies recrystallization is c. 1.9–9.3 Myr or less. This provides a maximum estimate for duration of the fluid‐facilitated process in the HP eclogite‐facies regime during the exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust.     

Timing of UHP exhumation and rock fabric development in gneiss domes containing the world's youngest eclogite Facies rocks,southeastern Papua New Guinea

The youngest known ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) rocks in the world occur in the Woodlark Rift of southeastern Papua New Guinea. Since their crystallization in the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene, these eclogite facies rocks have been rapidly exhumed from mantle depths to the surface and today they remain in the still‐active geodynamic setting that caused this exhumation. For this reason, the rocks provide an excellent opportunity to study rates and processes of (U)HP exhumation. We present New Rb–Sr results from 12 rock samples from eclogite‐bearing gneiss domes in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, and use those results to examine the time lag between (U)HP metamorphism and later ductile thinning, penetrative fabric development and accompanying metamorphic retrogression at amphibolite facies conditions during their exhumation. A Rb–Sr age for a sample of mafic eclogite (with no preserved coesite) from the core zone of the Mailolo gneiss dome (Fergusson Island) provides a new estimate of the timing of HP metamorphism (5.6 ± 1.6 Ma). The strongly deformed quartzofeldspathic and granitic gneisses (90–95% by volume) that enclose variably retrogressed relict blocks of mafic eclogite (5–10% by volume) yield Rb–Sr isochron ages from 4.4 to 2.4 Ma. For the UHP‐bearing gneisses of Mailolo dome, previously published U–Pb ages on zircon and our Rb–Sr isochron ages are consistent with a mean time lag of 2.2 ± 1.5 Ma (~95% c.i.) for passage of the rock between eclogite and amphibolite facies conditions. New thermobarometric data indicate that the main syn‐exhumational foliation developed at amphibolite facies conditions of 630–665 °C and 12.1–14.4 kbar. These pressure estimates indicate that the lower crust of the Woodlark Rift was unusually thick (>40 km) at the time of the amphibolite facies overprint, possibly as a result of accumulation and underplating of UHP‐derived material from below. Our data imply a minimum unroofing rate of 10 ± 7 mm year^?1 (~95% c.i.) for the (U)HP body from minimum HP depths (73 ± 7 km) to lower crustal depths. This minimum unroofing rate reinforces previous inferences that the exhumation from the mantle to the surface of the gneiss domes in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands took place at plate tectonic rates. On the basis of previous structural studies and the new thermobarometry, we attribute the high (cm year^?1) exhumation to diapiric ascent of the partially molten terrane from mantle depths, with a secondary contribution from pure shear thinning of the terrane after its arrival in the crust.     

Zeolites in fissures of granites and gneisses of the Central Alps

Six different Ca‐zeolite minerals are widespread in various assemblages in late fissures and fractures in granites and gneisses of the Swiss Alps. The zeolites formed as a result of water–rock interaction at relatively low temperatures (<250 °C) in the continental upper crust. The zeolites typically overgrow earlier minerals of the fissure assemblages, but zeolites also occur as monomineralic fissure fillings. They represent the youngest fissure minerals formed during uplift and exhumation of the Alpine orogen. A systematic study of zeolite samples showed that the majority of finds originate from three regions particularity rich in zeolite‐bearing fissures: (i) in the central and eastern part of the Aar‐ and Gotthard Massifs; (2) Gibelsbach/Fiesch, in a fissure breccia located at the boundary of Aar Massif and Permian sedimentary rocks; and (3) in Penninic gneisses of the Simano nappe at Arvigo (Val Calanca). Rail and road tunnel construction across the Aar‐ and Gotthard Massif provided excellent data on zeolite frequency in Alpine fissures. It was found that 32% (Gotthard NEAT rail base tunnel, Amsteg section) and 18% (Gotthard road tunnel) of all studied fissures are filled with zeolites. The number of different zeolites is limited to six species: laumontite, stilbite and scolecite are abundant and common, whereas heulandite, chabazite and epistilbite occur occasionally. Calcium is the dominant extra‐framework cation, with minor K and Na. Heulandite and chabazite contain Sr up to 29 and 10 mol.% extra‐framework cations respectively. Na and K contents in zeolites tend to increase during growth as a result of changes in fluid composition and/or temperature. The K enrichment of stilbite found in surface outcrops compared to subsurface samples may indicate late stage cation exchange with surface water. Texture data, relative age sequences derived from fissure assemblages and equilibrium calculations show that the Ca‐dominated zeolites precipitated from fluid with decreasing temperature in the order (old to young = hot to cold): scolecite, laumontite, heulandite, chabazite and stilbite. The necessary components for zeolite formation are derived from dissolving primary granite and gneiss minerals. The nature of these minerals depends, among other factors, on the metamorphic history of the host rock. Zeolites in the Aar Massif derived from the dissolution of epidote, secondary calcite and albite that were originally formed during Alpine greenschist metamorphism from primary granite and gneiss assemblages. Zeolite fissures occur in areas of H₂O‐dominated fluids. This is consistent with equilibrium calculations that predict a low CO₂ tolerance of zeolite assemblages, particularly at low temperature.