高压-超高压变质岩石中不同成因的石榴石

石榴石是高压-超高压变质岩石中最重要的变质矿物之一,是研究俯冲带深部变质和熔融过程的理想研究对象.通过对俯冲带内不同条件下形成的石榴石进行详细研究,确定了岩浆成因、变质成因和转熔成因石榴石.岩浆石榴石是岩浆熔体在冷却过程中结晶形成,成分主要为锰铝榴石-铁铝榴石,通常含有石英、长石、磷灰石等晶体包裹体.变质石榴石是在亚固相条件下通过变质反应形成,包裹体为参与变质反应的矿物组合;进变质生长的石榴石通常显示核部到边部锰铝榴石降低的特征.转熔石榴石是在超固相条件下通过转熔反应形成,通常含有晶体包裹体,其中既有从转熔熔体结晶的矿物包裹体,也有转熔反应残留的矿物包裹体.对超高压变质岩石中转熔石榴石的识别,可以为深俯冲陆壳岩石的部分熔融提供重要的岩石学证据,是大陆俯冲带部分熔融研究的重要进展之一.      

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...     

变基性岩部分熔融过程中榍石的微量元素效应:以南迦巴瓦混合岩为例

南迦巴瓦地区广泛出露的中下地壳变基性岩部分熔融形成的层状混合岩和淡色花岗岩,为研究部分熔融过程中榍石的地球化学行为对熔体的微量元素组成的影响提供了良好的机会。相对于源岩或熔融残留体,淡色体亏损Ti、V、REE、Y、Nb、Ta、U等元素,与混合岩中榍石的微量元素特征互补。混合岩、淡色体和榍石微量元素特征表明南迦巴瓦角闪岩部分熔融形成的淡色体的微量元素特征主要受控于榍石的地球化学行为。角闪岩脱水部分熔融过程中,由于长英质熔体的低Ti溶解度,榍石以未熔残留体形式存在于暗色体中,导致熔体亏损Ti、REE、Nb、Ta、V、U等元素和Sr/Y比值相对升高。关键元素在榍石和熔体之间的配分系数受熔体成分影响明显。角闪岩中变质榍石D_Nb/Ta<1,因此变质榍石残留导致熔体Nb/Ta相对于源岩升高;而高Si-Al花岗质熔体中榍石D_Nb/Ta>1,因此与高Si-Al熔体平衡的榍石的分离（转熔或结晶分异）将导致熔体Nb/Ta比值相对源岩降低。榍石在部分熔融过程中的微量元素效应为理解变基性岩部分熔融产生熔体的地球化学特征提供新的认识。     

The basement complexes in Italy, with special regards to those exposed in the Alps： a review

Most of the sedimentary rocks occurring in Italy are post-Carboniferous. All what lies below is considered basement, mostly metamorphic or igneous. Understand-ing the pre-Carboniferous evolution depends on the reconstruction of the sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous evolution of the basement. In general, the base-ment sedimentary protoliths were Lower to Middle Pale-ozoic siliciclastic rocks, while the igneous protolithsbelong to an Ordovician cycle. The prevailing metamor-phism,from very-low grade to granulite facies, is Variscan. It was followed by the formation of large amounts of granitic melts.     

Formation Depth Estimation of Coesite-Bearing Eclogite in Dabie UHPM Zone, China： Constrained by Isotopic Studies

The formation depth of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (UHPM) zone influences not only our understanding of formation mechanism and evolution processes of collision orogenic belt, but also the studies on earth's interior and geodynamic processes. In this study, the isotopic data of metamorphic rocks in the Dabie UHPM zone are discussed to give constraints on the formation depth in the Dabie UHPM zone. The εSr of eclogite in the Dabie UHPM zone varies from 18 to 42, and the εNd varies from -6.1 to -17, both of them show the characters of isotopic disequilibrium. The oxygen isotope studies indicate that the protoliths of these UHPM rocks have experienced oxygen isotope exchange with meteoric water (or sea water) before metamorphism and no significant changes in the processes of metamorphism on their oxygen isotope composition have been recorded in these rocks. Except for one sample from Bixiling, all samples of eclogite from Dabie UHPM zone show the 3He/4He ratios from 0.79×10-7 to 9.35×10-7, indicating the important contribution of He from continental crust. All Sr, Nd, O and He isotopic studies indicate that the UHPM rocks retain the isotopic characteristics of their protoliths of crust origin. No significant influence of mantle materials has been found in these metamorphic rocks. Trying to explain above isotopic characteristics, some researchers assume that the speeds of dipping thrust and uplifting of rocks were both very high. In this condition, there will not be enough time for isotopic exchange between crust protolith and mantle materials. Therefore, we can not see the tracer of mantle materials in these UHPM rocks. However, this assumption can not be justified with available knowledge. Firstly, it was estimated that the whole process of UHPM took at least 15 Ma. During such a long period, and at the metamorphic temperature of ≥700 ℃, the protolith of crust origin can not escape from isotopic exchange with mantle materials if the UHPM have happened in the mantle depth of ≥100 km. In contrast, all problems will be dismissed if we assume that the UHPM have happened at the depth still in crust.     

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。     

哀牢山构造带晚渐新世地壳深熔与熔/流体迁移:锆石U-Pb年龄与微量元素证据

哀牢山构造带是青藏高原东南缘重要的边界构造带,其内出露的深变质岩系一直被认为是古老的变质基底岩石。利用LA-ICP-MS原位微区分析技术对哀牢山深变质岩系锆石进行U-Pb年龄、微量元素分析。结果表明深变质岩系的原岩有728±8Ma、727±3Ma、231±4Ma的花岗质岩石和其它年龄的碎屑岩,变质时代为27.8~23.7Ma。综合野外地质特征和分析结果,我们认为哀牢山深构造带在晚渐新世27.8~23.7Ma发生了大规模的地壳深熔作用,现今所见深变质岩系是由不同时代、不同岩性的原岩在晚渐新世(27.8~23.7Ma)变质形成,不全是古老的变质基底岩石。深熔过程中熔/流体发生了明显的迁移。哀牢山变质带具有混合岩化特征的岩石很可能是峰期变质作用后减压熔融的产物。晚渐新世地壳深熔作用与左行走滑剪切是哀牢山深变质带折返过程中近似同时发生的两种不同变质表现形式,两者相互影响、相互制约。     

动力变质岩分类命名探讨及其研究的地质意义

本文根据岩石的构造和观察尺度以及其它形变特征提出了一个简明、方便的动力变质岩分类命名方案，认为所有动力变质岩可分为两大类：具有定向构造的动力变质岩和无定向构造的动力变质岩。同时介绍各动力变质岩种类并探讨动力变质岩的叠加命名法。研究动力变质岩有助于了解断裂带的力学性质及其演化过程。在对受断裂带所控制的热液矿床进行找矿勘探时，认真研究和划分动力变质岩及其分带具有重要的指导作用。     

Dating mafic–ultramafic intrusions by ion-microprobing contact-melt zircon: examples from SW Sweden

Zircons from anatectic melts of the country rocks of three Proterozoic mafic–ultramafic intrusions from the Sveconorwegian Province in SW Sweden were microanalyzed for U–Th–Pb and rare earth elements. Melting and interaction of the wall rocks with the intrusions gave rise to new magmas that crystallized zircon as new grains and overgrowths on xenocrysts. The ages of the intrusions can be determined by dating this newly crystallized zircon. The method is applied to three intrusions that present different degrees of complexity, related to age differences between intrusion and country rocks, and the effects of post-intrusive metamorphism. By careful study of cathodoluminescent images and selection of ion probe spots in zircon grains, we show that this approach is a powerful tool for obtaining accurate and precise ages. In the contact melts around the 916?±?11?Ma Hakefjorden Complex, Pb-loss occurred in some U-rich parts of xenocrystic zircon due to the heat from the intrusion. In back-veins of the 1624?±?6?Ma Olstorp intrusion we succeeded in geochemically distinguishing new magmatic from xenocrystic zircon despite small age differences. At Borås the mafic intrusion mixed with country rock granite to form a tonalite in which new zircon grew at 1674?±?8?Ma. Reworking of zircon occurred during 930+33/–34?Ma upper amphibolite facies Sveconorwegian metamorphism. Pb-loss was the result of re-equilibration with metamorphic fluids. REE-profiles show consistent differences between xenocrystic, magmatic, and metamorphic zircon in all cases. They typically differ in Lu/La_N, Ce/Ce*, and Eu/Eu*, and igneous zircon with marked positive Ce/Ce* and negative Eu/Eu* lost its anomalies during metamorphism.     

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。     

鲁西隆起北侧博兴洼陷新生界碎屑重矿物的物源示踪分析

利用碎屑重矿物对鲁西隆起北侧博兴洼陷的新生界沉积岩开展了碎屑物源示踪分析。通过研究区重矿物聚类分析、源区岩石类型分析并结合薄片和探针分析结果,发现研究区源岩类型多样,既有以绿帘石为代表的亲鲁西变质岩,也有以富含石榴石为代表的亲苏鲁变质岩,同时也有火山岩和沉积岩;从古近纪沙河街组三段沉积期开始源岩中亲苏鲁变质岩不断减少,亲鲁西变质岩和基性火成岩不断增加,至新近纪明化镇组沉积期洼陷内几乎无富含石榴石类型源岩,表明博兴洼陷自古近纪以来一直存在来自鲁西、胶东(超高压带)的物源记录,从古近纪沙河街组三段沉积期开始,胶东的物源供给逐渐减少,而到明化镇组沉积时由于鲁西的快速隆升,胶东与博兴洼陷的物源联系被切断。     

大别山超高压变质岩形成深度的同位素限制

大别山超高压变质岩形成深度是各国地质学家十分关心的问题。它不仅影响对碰撞造山带形成机制和演化过程的认识,而且影响对地球深部状况及地球动力学的研究。该文对大别山超高压变质岩已有同位素资料进行了分析与讨论。大别山榴辉岩的ε_Nd为-6.2~-17,ε_Sr为18~42,且显示明显的Nd同位素的不平衡现象。大别山榴辉岩的氧同位素组成研究表明,这些榴辉岩的原岩在超高压变质前,不同程度地与贫18O的大气降水(或海水)发生过氧同位素交换,且在超高压变质过程中依然保留了这些痕迹。除一个样品外,大别-苏鲁地区的榴辉岩的3He/4He比值都落在0.79×10-7~9.35×10-7范围内,显示陆壳岩石来源He的重要贡献。所有Sr-Nd、O和He同位素研究均表明:超高压变质岩保存着表壳岩石原岩的同位素特征,而未显示变质时受到地幔物质的明显影响。对于超高压变质岩的上述同位素特征,有人认为是由于大别山造山带俯冲和折返的速度太快造成的。由于造山带俯冲和折返的速度太快,表壳岩石原岩变质时来不及与地幔物质发生交换,故没有留下地幔物质参与的痕迹。该研究认为这种解释有些勉强,因为大别造山带俯冲和折返时间至少需要15Ma.在如此长的时间内,在100多公里地幔深处高于700℃的高温下发生超高压变质作用,表壳岩石原岩不可能不与地幔物质发生同位素交换。相反,如果认为大别山超高压变质岩就在地壳内形成,则大别山超高压变质岩同位素的所有特征就很好解释了。      

Influence of stretching and density contrasts on the chemical evolution of continental magmas: an example from the Ivrea-Verbano Zone

 The southern Ivrea-Verbano Zone of the Italian Western Alps contains a huge mafic complex that intruded high-grade metamorphic rocks while they were resident in the lower crust. Geologic mapping and chemical variations of the igneous body were used to study the evolution of underplated crust. Slivers of crustal rocks (septa) interlayered with igneous mafic rocks are concentrated in a narrow zone deep in the complex (Paragneiss-bearing Belt) and show evidence of advanced degrees of partial melting. Variations of rare-earth-element patterns and Sr isotope composition of the igneous rocks across the sequence are consistent with increasing crustal contamination approaching the septa. Therefore, the Paragneiss-bearing Belt is considered representative of an “assimilation region” where in-situ interaction between mantle- and crust-derived magmas resulted in production of hybrid melts. Buoyancy caused upwards migration of the hybrid melts that incorporated the last septa and were stored at higher levels, feeding the Upper Mafic Complex. Synmagmatic stretching of the assimilation region facilitated mixing and homogenization of melts. Chemical variations of granitoids extracted from the septa show that deep septa are more depleted than shallow ones. This suggests that the first incorporated septa were denser than the later ones, as required by the high density of the first-injected mafic magmas. It is inferred that density contrasts between mafic melts and crustal rocks play a crucial role for the processes of contamination of continental magmas. In thick under plated crust, the extraction of early felsic/hybrid melts from the lower crust may be required to increase the density of the lower crust and to allow the later mafic magmas to penetrate higher crustal levels. Received: 2 May 1995 / Accepted: 1 November 1995     

震击高压变质作用:观察与启示

近六十多年来,关于造山带高压变质作用发生的原因一直存在争议。当前的主流观点认为高压变质岩形成于俯冲带深部以后折返到地壳。虽然早就认识到蓝片岩相变质作用总是与逆冲断裂相伴并且变质压力朝着冲断面增高,而标志地震的榴辉岩相假玄武玻璃也已经发现了二十多年,但是一般认为断裂或剪切带的作用只是引进流体促进深部岩石的变质反应。几年前,苏文辉等人(Su et al.,2006)通过实验演示了石英经过非晶化可以在柯石英稳定的压力下迅速转变为柯石英,提出无需深俯冲,浅源地震即可形成柯石英。本文介绍笔者等人对中国苏鲁超高压变质带仰口榴辉岩的部分工作结果,从地质观察角度为这一论点提供证据。例如,粒间柯石英仅出现在榴辉岩相角砾岩的角砾而非胶结物中,它必须在相当于地震的时间尺度快速降压冷却才能得以保存。变辉长岩中的榴辉岩相碎裂岩脉也记录了应力导致的瞬时高压和高温。角砾岩和碎裂岩中包含大量高压矿物的石榴石和针状蓝晶石以及局部出现的"显微花岗岩"都是类似地震熔体淬火的结果。它们指示震后高压矿物没有再生长。而如果地震发生在深部,流体浸入后矿物应当在高压下持续结晶,从而消除淬火结构。碎裂岩脉中星散的铬铁矿微粒极可能是附近超镁铁岩通过断裂迸溅进入基性岩的,是地震中不同岩石机械混合的证据;环绕它们的富铬榴辉岩矿物记录着一次无可争议的瞬时高压结晶事件。碎裂岩脉相对围岩更缺乏流体的事实反映应力而非流体在高压相变中的关键作用。榴辉岩相角砾岩和碎裂岩脉形成的时间尺度太小,来不及完成俯冲和折返过程。它们更可能是辉长岩在地壳原地因地震波引起的高压发生了榴辉岩化作用。目前的地震力学模型不能导出高压相变所需要的压力,只是因为建立模型时没有考虑涉及高压相变的地震。需要强调的是,假说或理论需要观察事实的检验而不是相反。已有资料显示,瞬时熔融和非晶化可能是震击高压相变的路径。     

中国云南哀牢山含海蓝宝石伟晶岩的起源和成岩模拟实验研究

The Ailaoshan aquamarine-bearing pegmatites are associated with Proterozoic metamorphic rocks in the southern portion of the Ailaoshan fault-folded complex.The gem-bearing pegmatite mineralization zones of the region occur in areas generally consistent with the regional tectonic trend.The pegmatites are found in metamorphic rocks,migmatites and in the inner/outer contact zones of gneissoid granites. The Rb-Sr isochron drawn for the pegmatites is 26～31 Ma,(i.e.in Himalayan).The homogenization temperatures of melt and liquid inclusions in minerals vary from 185 to 920℃,which are comparable to the inclusions observed in banded migmatites and ptygmatic quartz veins in the surrounding metamorphic rocks. The mineralization fluids of the pegmatite were rich in HCO_3 and CO_2,and their compositional assemblages are comparable to metamorphic fluids.Results of H,O,C,Si etc.isotopic analyses and REE,and Be analyses indicates that the sources of mineralization components that formed the pegmatites are closely associated with metamorphic fluids and the enclosing metamorphic rocks. A pegmatite structure simulation experiment was conducted at high temperature and pressure(840℃and 1,500×105Pa.),with various metamorphic rock samples in a water-rich and volatile-rich environment.When the liquidus was reached,the temperature was gradually decreased at the rate of 5～10℃/day over a time period of three months.SEM energy-dispersive spectrum analyses were performed on the experimental products.A series of pegmatoid textures were observed including zonal texture,megacryst texture,drusy cavities,crystal druses,and vesicular texture along with more than ten types of minerals including plagioclase,microcline,quartz and biotite.Different metamorphic rock melts generated different mineral assemblages.Experiment results revealed that the partial melting of metamorphic rocks could form melts similar to pegmatite magmas. Based upon the geological characteristics,geochemistry,and pegmatite texture simulation experimental results,it is concluded that the mineralization components of Ailaoshan aquamarine-bearing pegmatites came from metamorphic rocks.The petrogenetic model for the origin of pegmatites is related to ultrametamorphism and metamorphic anatexis.     

Petrology of amphibolite-facies mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Catalina Schist, southern California: metasomatism and migmatization in a subduction zone metamorphic setting

Abstract The Catalina Schist of southern California is a subduction zone metamorphic terrane. It consists of three tectonic units of amphibolite-, high- P greenschist- and blueschist-facies rocks that are structurally juxtaposed across faults, forming an apparent inverted metamorphic gradient. Migmatitic and non-migmatitic metabasite blocks surrounded by a meta-ultramafic matrix comprise the upper part of the Catalina amphibolite unit. Fluid-rock interaction at high- P , high- T conditions caused partial melting of migmatitic blocks, metasomatic exchange between metabasite blocks and ultramafic rocks, infiltration of silica into ultramafic rocks, and loss of an albitic component from nonmigmatitic, clinopyroxene-bearing metabasite blocks.
Partial melting took place at an estimated P =˜8–11 kbar and T =˜640–750°C at high H₂O activity. The melting reaction probably involved plagioclase + quartz. Trondhjemitic melts were produced and are preserved as leucocratic regions in migmatitic blocks and as pegmatitic dikes that cut ultramafic rocks.
The metasomatic and melting processes reflected in these rocks could be analogous to those proposed for fluid and melt transfer of components from a subducting slab to the mantle wedge. Aqueous fluids rather than melts seem to have accomplished the bulk of mass transfer within the mafic and ultramafic complex.     

Aqueous fluids and hydrous melts in high-pressure and ultra-high pressure rocks: Implications for element transfer in subduction zones

High-pressure (HP) and ultra-high pressure (UHP) terranes are excellent natural laboratories to study subduction-zone processes. In this paper we give a brief theoretical background and we review experimental data and observations in natural rocks that constrain the nature and composition of the fluid phase present in HP and UHP rocks. We argue that a fluid buffered by a solid residue is compositionally well defined and is either an aqueous fluid (total amount of dissolved solids < 30 wt.%) or a hydrous melt (H₂O < 35 wt.%). There is only a small temperature range of approximately 50–100 °C, where transitional solute-rich fluids exist. A review of available experimental data suggest that in felsic rocks the second critical endpoint is situated at 25–35 kbar and  700 °C and hence must be considered in the study of UHP rocks. Despite this, the nature of the fluid phase can be constrained by relating the peak metamorphic conditions of rocks to the position of the wet solidus even if the peak pressure exceeds the pressure where the wet solidus terminates at the second critical endpoint. Transitional solute-rich fluids are expected in UHP terrains (P > 30 kbar) with peak temperatures of about 700 ± 50 °C. At higher temperatures, hydrous granitic melts occur whereas at lower temperatures aqueous fluids coexists with eclogite-facies minerals. This argument is complemented by evidence on the nature of the fluid phase from high-pressure terrains. We show that in the diamond-bearing, high-temperature UHP rocks from the Kokchetav Massif there are not only hydrous felsic melts, but probably also carbonate and sulfide melts present.

Hydrous quartzo-feldspathic melts are mainly produced in high temperature UHP rocks and their composition is relatively well constrained from experiments and natural rocks. In contrast, constraining the composition of aqueous fluids is more problematic. The combined evidence from experiments and natural rocks indicates that aqueous fluids liberated at the blueschist to eclogite facies transition are dilute. They contain only moderate amounts of LILE, Sr and Pb and do not transport significant amounts of key trace elements such as LREE, U and Th. This indicates that there is a decoupling of water and trace element release in subducted oceanic crust and that aqueous fluids are unable to enrich the mantle wedge significantly. Instead we propose that fluid-present melting in the sediments on top of the slab is required to transfer significant amounts of trace elements from the slab to the mantle wedge. For such a process to be efficient, top slab temperature must be at least 700–750 °C at sub-arc depth. Slab melting is likely to be triggered by fluids that derive from dehydration of mafic and ultramafic rocks in colder (deeper) portions of the slab.     

云南澜沧地区南角河银多金属矿床的地质特征及成因

南角河银多金属矿是在地质调查过程中发现并评价的一个具有大型找矿远景的矿床。矿床产于临沧-勐海复式花岗岩基南段西侧与新元古界澜沧群变质岩的接触断裂破碎带(白章断裂)中,矿体呈脉状,形态单一。同位素及成矿流体分析结果表明,成矿物质主要来源于花岗岩和澜沧群地层,成矿流体以大气降水下渗加热上升回返并混合少量岩浆热液为特征,以花岗岩和澜沧群变质岩为矿源层,以断裂破碎带为赋存空间,为具有明显垂向分带特征的低温热液矿床。     

The copper-bearing basic rocks of Namaqualand,South Africa

Copper mineralisation is associated with rocks of basic/intermediate composition which occur as a widespread swarm of relatively small irregularly-shaped bodies within the gneissic terrain of the Okiep District. These basic rocks comprise the so-called Koperberg noritoid suite of Namaqualand and constitute one of the three major copper producers in South Africa. While a metasomatic origin was briefly favoured for the noritoids, most researchers have emphasized the cross-cutting nature of the noritoids relative to their host rocks and prefer an origin involving magmatic injection. High noritoid ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio values indicated to some workers that mobilisation of suitable crustal materials was more attractive than intrusion of mantle-derived melts to account for the origin of the noritoid suite. The present study has shown that the structure, texture and mineralogy of the noritoids do not lend themselves to interpretation of the noritoids as pristine intrusive rocks, and indicate that the noritoids have undergone high-grade metamorphism after emplacement. The geochemistry of the noritoid suite reveals a pronounced alkaline affinity and mineralogical control of the chemistry characterises the rocks as cumulates. The dimensions of the noritoids appear unfavourable for development of cumulate rocks and it is considered possible that the present configuration of the noritoids results from dismemberment of larger intrusive bodies as a result of shear deformation during high-grade metamorphism. It has not been possible to identify a magma parent to the noritoid suite, but we believe the parent to have been an alkaline mantle-derived magma which suffered contamination by granitic anatects in the lower crust. Recognition of the metamorphic history of the Namaqualand noritoids renders a comparison between them and the Caraiba noritoids of interest.     

Sapphirine-kornerupine rocks from the Reynolds Range,central Australia: constraints on the uplift history of a Proterozoic low pressure terrain

Sapphirine-kornerupine-bearing rocks from the Reynolds Range, Northern Territory, Australia preserve spectacular metamorphic reaction textures that provide valuable insights into the regional metamorphic uplift history. The rocks occur in pods that are several meters in diameter within high-temperature, low-pressure (750 to 800°C and 4 to 5 kbar) granulite facies exposures of the early Proterozoic Lander Rock beds, a laterally extensive sequence of folded pelitic and quartzose metasediments. The pods are not associated with large volumes of partial melts and are likely to have formed by metasomatism near the peak of M₂ metamorphism. The rocks in the pods consist of high-temperature Mg- and Al-rich minerals such as boron-free korneurpine, and are coarse-grained (0.5 to >15 cm), non-foliated, and locally nearly monomineralic. The growth of the coarse minerals in the pods largely post-dated the high-grade regional metamorphic D₂ fabric and completely reconstructed the precursor rocks. The retrograde metamorphic reaction textures show that the early retrogression from the M₂ granulite facies conditions was characterized not by isobaric cooling as previously proposed, but by nearly isthermal decompression. These data imply that the Reynolds Range did not follow a simple anticlockwise P-T-t path. Because rocks such as these preserve information from a only restricted portion of the metamorphic history and can preserve evidence of decompression reactions more clearly than many more ordinary lithologies, they can be especially important for discerning metamorphic P-T-t paths.This paper is a contribution to IGCP Project 304, Lower Crustal Processes.