Decoding polyphase migmatites using geochronology and phase equilibria modelling

In this study, in situ U–Pb monazite ages and Lu–Hf garnet geochronology are used to distinguish mineral parageneses developed during Devonian–Carboniferous and Cretaceous events in migmatitic paragneiss and orthogneiss from the Fosdick migmatite–granite complex in West Antarctica. SHRIMP U–Pb monazite ages define two dominant populations at 365–300 Ma (from cores of polychronic grains, dominantly from deeper structural levels in the central and western sectors of the complex) and 120–96 Ma (from rims of polychronic grains, dominantly from the central and western sectors of the complex, and from monochronic grains, mostly from shallower structural levels in the eastern sector of the complex). For five paragneisses and two orthogneisses, Lu–Hf garnet ages range from 116 to 111 Ma, c. 12–17 Ma older than published Sm–Nd garnet ages of 102–99 Ma from three of the same samples. Garnet grains in the analysed samples generally have Lu‐enriched rims relative to Lu‐depleted cores. By contrast, for three of the same samples, individual garnet grains have flat Sm concentrations consistent with high‐T diffusive resetting. Lutetium enrichment of garnet rims is interpreted to record the breakdown of a Lu‐rich accessory mineral during the final stage of garnet growth immediately prior to the metamorphic peak, and/or the preferential retention of Lu in garnet during breakdown to cordierite in the presence of melt concomitant with the initial stages of exhumation. Therefore, garnet is interpreted to be part of the Cretaceous mineral paragenesis and the Lu–Hf garnet ages are interpreted to record the timing of close‐to‐peak metamorphism for this event. For the Devonian–Carboniferous event, phase equilibria modelling of the metasedimentary protoliths to the paragneiss and a diatexite migmatite restrict the peak P–T conditions to 720–800 °C at 0.45–1.0 GPa. For the Cretaceous event, using both forward and inverse phase equilibria modelling of residual paragneiss and orthogneiss compositions, the P–T conditions after decompression are estimated to have been 850–880 °C at 0.65–0.80 GPa. These P–T conditions occurred between c. 106 and c. 96 Ma, determined from Y‐enriched rims on monazite that record the timing of garnet and biotite breakdown to cordierite in the presence of melt. The effects of this younger metamorphic event are dominant throughout the Fosdick complex.     

Geochronology in migmatites a SmNd, UPb and RbSr study from the Proterozoic Damara belt (Namibia): implications for polyphase development of migmatites in high-grade terranes

Sm–Nd (garnet), U–Pb (monazite) and Rb–Sr (biotite) ages from a composite migmatite sample (Damara orogen, Namibia) constrain the time of high‐grade regional metamorphism and the duration of regional metamorphic events. Sm–Nd garnet whole‐rock ages for a strongly restitic melanosome and an adjacent intrusive leucosome yield ages of 534±5, 528±11 and 539±8 Ma. These results provide substantial evidence for pre‐500 Ma Pan‐African regional metamorphism and melting for this segment of the orogen. Other parts of the migmatite yield younger Sm–Nd ages of 488±9 Ma for melanosome and 496±10, 492±5 and 511±16 Ma for the corresponding leucosomes. Garnet from one xenolith from the leucosomes yields an age of 497±2 Ma. Major element compostions of garnet are different in terms of absolute abundances of pyrope and spessartine components, but the flat shape of the elemental patterns suggests late‐stage retrograde equilibration. Rare earth element compositions of the garnet from the different layers are similar except for garnet from the intrusive leucosome suggesting that they grew in different environments. Monazite from the leucosomes is reversely discordant and records ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U ages between 536 and 529 Ma, indicating that this monazite represents incorporated residual material from the first melting event. Monazite from the mesosome MES 2 and the melanosome MEL 3 gives ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U ages of 523 and 526 Ma, and 529 and 531 Ma, respectively, which probably indicates another thermal event. Previously published ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U monazite data give ages between 525 and 521 Ma for composite migmatites, and 521 and 518 Ma for monazite from neosomes. Monazite from granitic to granodioritic veins indicates another thermal event at 507–505 Ma. These ages are also recorded in ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U monazite data of 508 Ma from the metasediment MET 1 from the migmatite and also in the Sm–Nd garnet ages obtained in this study. Taken together, these ages indicate that high‐grade metamorphism started at c. 535 Ma (or earlier) and was followed by thermal events at c. 520 Ma and c. 505 Ma. The latter event is probably connected with the intrusion of a large igneous body (Donkerhoek granite) for which so far only imprecise Rb–Sr whole‐rock data of 520±15 Ma are available. Rb–Sr biotite ages from the different layers of the migmatite are 488, 469 and 473 Ma. These different ages indicate late‐stage disturbance of the Rb–Sr isotopic system on the sub‐sample scale. Nevertheless, these ages are close to the youngest Sm–Nd garnet ages, indicating rapid cooling rates between 13 and 20°C Ma^?1 and fast uplift of this segment of the crust. Similar Sm–Nd garnet and U–Pb monazite ages suggest that the closure temperatures for both isotopic systems are not very different in this case and are probably similar or higher than the previously estimated peak metamorphic temperatures of 730±30°C. The preservation of restitic monazite in leucosomes indicates that dissolution of monazite in felsic water‐undersaturated peraluminous melts can be sluggish. This study shows that geochronological data from migmatites can record polymetamorphic episodes in high‐grade terranes that often contain cryptic evidence for the nature and timing of early metamorphic events.     

Can trace element distributions in migmatites be used as analogues in understanding petrogenesis of anatectic granites

Trace element concentrations in leucosomes of migmatites in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA, were examined to determine if their compositions are analogous to those of pelite-derived granites. Melanosomes in the migmatites are dominated by biotite, sillimanite, and quartz. Leucosomes have constant Si/Al that corresponds to a peraluminous granite; however, they have variable proportions of (sil+qtz)/alkali feldspar that are attributed to instability of feldspar relative to sillimanite due to high a_HF in partial melts. There are strong positive correlations of Sr, Ba, Rb, and Cs concentrations with the proportion of feldspar in the leucosomes. The average concentrations of Sr and Ba are higher and of Rb and Cs lower in the leucosomes than in pelite-derived leucogranites. A reaction progress method is used to demonstrate that partitioning of these trace elements between melanosomes and leucosomes represent mineral-mineral equilibrium rather than residue-melt equilibrium. This implies that leucosomes in migmatites may crystallize while maintaining equilibrium with melanosomes and the resulting trace element compositions may not be analogous to those of partial melts.     

High-temperature cordierite migmatites in the north-eastern Grenville Province

Abstract In the northeastern part of the Grenville Province, along the gulf of St Lawrence, cordierite is widespread in the migmatites of Baie Jacques Cartier (BJC) and Baie des Ha! Ha! (BHH). In the BJC area, rafts of mesosome occur in a pervasive network of leucosome consisting of cordierite-bearing pegmatite. In BHH, however, the mesosome and leucosome are well segregated and locally separated by thin biotite –hornblende melanosomes. Leucosomes in the BJC area record the highest temperatures (oxide thermometry = 900°C), whereas leucosomes of BHH and mesosomes of both areas indicate peak temperatures around 800°C (oxide thermometry; biotite–garnet thermometry with fluorine-rich biotite). Peak pressures were constrained at 720 MPa using the Ilm-Sil–Qtz–Grt–Rt (GRAIL) equilibrium. The area is thought to have undergone extensive melting under relatively modest pressures. The highest temperatures recorded in the BJC area are probably related to a pervasive impregnation of this terrane by aluminous granitic melts. Most post-peak P–T estimates for the mesosomes fall on a nearly isobaric, clockwise, P–T path (0.6 MPa/°C) with the exception of the high-temperature leucosomes of BJC, which fall about 100°C away from this path; this is additional evidence for the external origin of these leucosomes. The ultimate source of heat that generated the migmatites is thus though to be an underlying plutonic complex (anorthosite?).     

Experimental simulation of melt migration in stromatic metatexite migmatites

Melting experiments on a gneissic protolith using the diamond trap technique produced an accumulation of crystals of biotite in the boundary of the diamond trap. Several hypotheses can be inferred to explain this feature, but textural evidence and calculations of the settling and drag velocities of the crystals suggest a model of extraction of melt due to a pressure gradient inside the capsule as the most likely origin of this biotite layer. This biotite layer and the trapped melt resemble the melanosome and leucosome, respectively, of stromatic metatexite migmatites. The melt extraction model developed is similar to the “filter pressing” model for migmatite formation. The diamond trap technique is a suitable method to develop migmatites experimentally.     

What controls partial melting in migmatites?

Abstract The layers of six stromatic migmatites from Northern, Western, and Central Europe display small but systematic chemical and mineralogical differences. At least five of these migmatites do not show any signs of largescale metamorphic differentiation, metasomatism, or segregation of melts. It is concluded, therefore, that the compositional layering observed in most of the investigated migmatites is due to compositional differences inherited from the parent rocks. Almost isochemical partial melting seems to be the most probable process transforming layered paragneisses, metavolcanics, or schists into migmatites.
The formation of neosomes is believed to be caused by higher amounts of partial melts formed due to higher amounts of water moving into these layers. The neosomes have less biotite and more K-feldspar, if K-feldspar is present at all, than the adjacent mesosomes. These differences are small but systematic and seem to control the access of different amounts of water to the various rock portions. Petrographical observations, chemical data, and theoretical considerations indicate a close relationship between rock composition, rock deformation, transport of water, partial melting, and formation of layered migmatites.     

Retrograde processes in migmatites and granulites revisited

Many migmatites and granulites preserve evidence of a clockwise P–T evolution involving decompression (decrease in P) while close to the thermal peak. The extent of post‐thermal peak reaction is influenced by several factors, including: (1) the P–T path in relation to invariants in the system and the Clapeyron slopes of the equilibria; (2) the rate of cooling; and (3) the availability of fluid (H₂O‐rich volatile phase or melt) for fluid‐consuming reactions. Reaction may occur between products of a prograde (increasing T) fluid‐generating reaction as the same equilibrium is re‐crossed in the retrograde (decreasing T) sense. In general, reaction reversal or ‘back reaction’ requires the P–T path to approximate isobaric heating and cooling, without significant decompression, and evolved fluid to remain within the equilibration volume. The larger the decompression segment in the P–T evolution, the more chance there is of crossing different reactions along the retrograde segment from those crossed along the prograde segment. For common pelite compositions, we may generalize by considering three pressure regimes separated by the [Spl, Ms, H₂O] invariant in KFMASH (approximately 9 kbar) and the intersection of muscovite breakdown with the H₂O‐rich volatile phase‐saturated solidus (approximately 4 kbar). Reaction reversal cannot occur along P–T paths that traverse around one of these points, but may occur along P–T paths confined to one of the three regimes in between. Additionally, above the solidus, melt segregation and loss potentially change the composition of the equilibration volume; and, the size of the equilibration volume shrinks with decreasing T. Since the proportion of melt to residue in the equilibration volume may change with decreasing size, the composition of the equilibration volume may change throughout the supra‐solidus part of the retrograde segment of the P–T evolution. If melt has been lost from the equilibration volume, reaction reversal may not be possible or may be only partial; indeed, the common preservation of close‐to‐peak mineral assemblages in migmatite and granulite demonstrates that extensive reaction with melt is uncommon, which implies melt isolation or loss prior to crossing potential melt‐consuming reactions. Water dissolved in melt is transported through the crust to be exsolved on crystallization at the solidus appropriate to the intrinsic a(H₂O). This recycled water causes retrogression at subsolidus conditions. Consideration of the evidence for supra‐solidus decompression‐dehydration reactions, and review of microstructures that have proven controversial, such as corona and related microstructures, selvage microstructures and ‘late’ muscovite, leads to the conclusion that there is more than one way for these microstructures to form and reminds us that we should always consider multiple working hypotheses!     

Pressure solution as a metamorphic process in deformed terrigenous sedimentary rocks

The most widespread record that terrigenous sedimentary rocks have deformed by a pressure solution mechanism is seen in the development of spaced cleavages and transposition structures under conditions of low grade metamorphism. Such structures are most common in immature sandstones and siltstones. Mineral reactions, involving modification of detrital grains and diagenetic minerals, and forming a logical extension to diagenetic processes, are an integral part of the deformation mechanism, and the cleavage stripes represent accumulations not just of inert particles, but mostly of newly crystallized micas, the products of these reactions. The mechanism of deformation by pressure solution is now seen to involve mmetamorphic reactions, change in volume of solid phases during reaction, removal of some silica from the rock, rearrangement of reaction products to produce fabrics, solution of some detrital grains in cleavage stripes.Formal reactions have been written to describe the alteration of detrital felspar and epidote to white mica, the modification of greywacke matrix to white mica, and the transformation of diagenetic chlorite to white mica, all of which are observed to occur during formation of the pressure solution cleavages. These reactions emphasize the importance of metamorphic processes during pressure solution deformation, suggest that pressure solution may involve removal of silica released as a product of the reactions, indicate that the pH of the aqueous phase may be buffered to a level that silica solubility is increased, involve a volume reduction that contributes to the overall shortening during deformation, and also involve dehydration, the large scale circulation of released water possibly being important to the removal and redistribution of silica during pressure solution.     

Mass-balance and mass-transfer in migmatites from the Colorado Front Range

Metasomatic exchanges between the infiltrating fluids and wall rocks most likely initiated the formation of nine leucosomes in two large samples of the Precambrian biotite-quartz-feldspar migmatites from the east-central Colorado Front Range. The leucosomes, 2 to 20 mm thick and enclosed in mafic salvages 1 to 10 mm thick, are granitic to tonalitic in composition. Mass-balance calculations suggest that each leucosome formed by local introduction of mass. The net gains and losses calculated assuming that all such gains and losses were contained within the leucosome show that, in general, neither the gains nor the losses fit the composition of any silicate melt. It is more likely that the components were transported in a fluid. Recalculated on constant Al basis, the most significant relative mass transfers were gain of K and losses of Na and Mg by the rocks. The metasomatic reactions calculated are those for replacement of plagioclase by microcline and breakdown of biotite. The reactions must have been the cause of incipient migmatization. A mafic selvage formed from the paleosome by the loss of material whose composition is tonalitic to granodioritic varying systematically with the paleosome composition.It is proposed that an infiltrating fluid caused metasomatism and partial melting along its path and that the melt, segregated from the mafic residues, combined with the introduced material to form a leucosome. The degree of melting was controlled by the paleosome composition and by the net amount (but not the composition) of the introduced material. The cause of melting of the paleosome was most likely an increased due to the influx of H₂O from the water-rich fluid.The compositional range of the metamorphic solution in equilibrium with these rocks was calculated from available experimental data. The sample calculations show that such fluid could have been responsible for the reactions and mass transfers observed.     

Orthophosphate and biotite chemistry from orthopyroxene-bearing migmatites from California and South India: The role of a fluid-phase in the evolution of granulite-facies migmatites

Migmatites from Cone Peak, California, USA and the Satnur-Sangam road, Southern Karnataka, India contain coarser grained orthopyroxene-bearing leucosomes with subordinate biotite in finer grained hornblende-biotite-pyroxene-bearing hosts. At both localities the leucosomes are enriched in quartz and feldspar and have a higher ratio of pyroxene to hornblende + biotite compared to the host rocks. Biotite grains in leucosomes along the Satnur-Sangam road are concentrated at the margins of orthopyroxene grains and have lower abundances of Ti, Fe, and Cl and a higher abundance of F than biotite grains from the host rock. Fluorapatite grains in all rocks from both localities contain monazite inclusions similar to those produced experimentally by metasomatically induced dissolution and reprecipitation. Some fluorapatite grains at both localities are partially rimmed by allanite. The only compositional differences found between fluorapatite grains in the leucosomes and host rocks were higher concentrations of Cl in grains in leucosomes from Cone Peak. The mineralogies of the rocks suggest that the leucosomes formed by dehydration melting reactions that consumed feldspar, quartz, hornblende, and biotite and produced orthopyroxene. Allanite rims at the margins of fluorapatite grains may have formed by the later retrogression of monazite rims formed by incongruent dissolution of fluorapatite in the melt. Biotite grains at the margins of orthopyroxene crystals in the leucosomes from the Satnur-Sangam road apparently formed by retrogression of orthopyroxene upon the solidification of the anatectic melt. A similar high-grade retrogression did not affect orthopyroxene crystals at Cone Peak, indicating that H₂O was removed from the crystallizing leucosomes probably in a low H₂O activity fluid. Compositional differences between the paleosome and neosomes at Cone Peak are best explained by metasomatic interaction with concentrated brines while elevated Cl concentrations in fluorapatites in the leucosome suggest interaction with a Cl-bearing fluid. Brines may have been responsible for an exchange of elements between the host rock along the Satnur-Sangam road and zones of melt generation now marked by leucosomes, but fluid flow appears to have been less vigorous than at Cone Peak.     

Formation of garnet clusters during polyphase metamorphism

Pre‐Alpine garnets of Variscan age from metapelitic basement units in Northern Italy were strongly retrogressed at near‐surface conditions prior to Alpine contact metamorphism. The replacement by sheet silicates caused a significant volume increase during retrogression, producing pervasive fracturing. Up to several hundreds of angular fragments formed from each crystal. Electron backscatter diffraction analysis documents a maximum misorientation of ~22° of some fragments as a result of local rotation during fracturing. New garnet growth is observed on the garnet fragments during contact metamorphic overprinting, resulting in garnet clusters. Fragments can be identified due to calcium‐rich domains. Fragment orientations were inherited, and only minor new nucleation occurred. These garnets develop features typically associated with multiple nucleation models, but here they reflect multiple metamorphic events. We propose that clusters can be indicative of multiple metamorphic events, which were separated by a period of intense retrograde alteration.     

Tectonically deformed pillow lava as an indicator of bedding and way-up

Often the outlines of tectonically deformed lava pillows cannot be used to give directly the true bedding and way-up directions. Where the pillows are strained homogeneously, with moderate total strains, certain procedures allow the determination of the true bedding and way-up directions. Where the strain history has been coaxial, these are: the use of pillows fortuitously parallel with a principal extension direction and graphical restoration of pre-tectonic pillow shapes to fix true bedding directions. Furthermore, use may be made of special pillow shapes with flat bases or multiple cusps, even where the strain history has been noncoaxial. With total strain ratios > 4.5, heterogeneous strain often occurs and it may not be possible to determine the true bedding and way-up directions.     

REE distribution in some layered migmatites: constraints on their petrogenesis

The REE distributions in mesosomes, neosomes, leucosomes and melanosomes of four layered migmatites have been investigated. In one example (Arvika migmatites) the REE patterns in adjacent paragneisses, the presumed parent rock of the migmatites, were also determined. REE patterns of neosomes and mesosomes of Arvika migmatites are similar to the finegrained layers and coarse-grained layers, respectively, observed in the adjacent paragneiss. This is in agreement with the layer-by-layer paragneiss-migmatite transformation model.

The REE patterns of mesosomes and neosomes indicate that these lithologies may have been closed systems (for REE) during the formation of the migmatites. No indication of metasomatic reactions, melt segregation or injection could be detected. Within the neosomes, leucosomes are depleted and melanosomes enriched in REE contents. This is interpreted to be due to separation and concentration of accessory minerals (monazite, epidote, allanite, zircon, sphene, apatite, garnet) into the melanosomes. The behaviour of accessory minerals during migmatite formation is closely allied to that of biotite, which is also concentrated in the melanosomes.     

Coexisting garnet and cordierite in migmatites from the Scottish Caledonides

Cordierite and garnet are common in migmatites adjoining Caldeonian (sensu lato) synorogenic intrusions in the Highlands of Scotland. Migmatitic hornfelses of the Huntly-Portsoy area, of particular interest in being closely associated with the regional andalusite/kyanite boundary, contain both of the pressure-sensitive sub-assemblages (cordierite-garnet-sillimanite) and (cordierite-garnet-ortho-pyroxene). In other areas regional metamorphism was of higher-pressure (kyanite-sillimanite) type, the metamorphic patterns having been subsequently modified at lower pressures. The subassemblage cordierite-garnet-sillimanite is found in pelites occurring near contacts of the Strontian Granodiorite and the nearby, but probably earlier, Glen Scaddle basic complex, where andalusite also occurs in the contact zone. The sub-assemblage cordierite-garnet-orthopyroxene is studied in migmatitic hornfelses of the Lochnagar aureole. Zoning of cordierite and garnet is found in all specimens, and results largely from retrograde diffusive reactions.The calibrations of the garnet-cordierite-sillimanite geobarometer by Thompson (1976) and by Holdaway and Lee (1977) are used to estimate pressures of migmatization. These calibrations give results 2–3 kbar lower than that of Hensen and Green (1973). In the Huntly-Portsoy area, where the pressure must have been close to that of the Al₂SiO₅ triple point, the Thompson result is 5.5 ±0.1 kbar. The calibration by Holdaway and Lee (1977), in which the H₂O content of cordierite is treated, gives a maximum pressure estimate (for P _{H 2 O}=P) of 6.1 ±0.2 kbar. Rough calculations in which is also estimated, using a simplified biotite-sillimanite-quartz dehydration reaction, give P=4.9±0.1 kbar with 0.6P.The Glen Scaddle area gives P = 5.6–5.9 kbar, P by this method, compared with P=5.2–5.3 kbar by the Thompson calibration. The Strontian area gives lower values (<5kbar) despite being structurally below the Glen Scaddle area; this would indicate late origin of the cordierite-bearing migmatites and is consistent with their interpretation in terms of the thermal effects of the Strontian Granodiorite. The Lochnagar aureole is also relatively low-pressure.Estimates of maximum temperatures are 700–740 °C for the Strontian and Huntly-Portsoy areas, and 780–820 °C for the higher grade localities in the Glen Scaddle and Lochnagar areas, where orthopyroxene coexists with potash felspar and cordierite (but not sillimanite). It is likely that cordierite in all the rocks studied was produced as a result of melting reactions that are also responsible for migmatization.     

Genesis of metapelitic migmatites in the Adirondack Mountains, New York

Oxygen isotope ratios and rare earth element (REE) concentrations provide independent tests of competing models of injection v. anatexis for the origin of migmatites from amphibolite and granulite facies metasedimentary rocks of the Adirondack Mountains, New York. Values of δ¹⁸O and REE profiles were measured by ion microprobe in garnet–zircon pairs from 10 sample localities. Prior U–Pb SIMS dating of zircon grains indicates that inherited cores (1.7–1.2 Ga) are surrounded by overgrowths crystallized during the Grenville orogenic cycle (～1.2–1.0 Ga). Cathodoluminescence imaging records three populations of zircon: (i) featureless rounded ‘whole grains’ (interpreted as metamorphic or anatectic), and rhythmically zoned (igneous) cores truncated by rims that are either (ii) discordant rhythmically zoned (igneous) or (iii) unzoned (metamorphic or anatectic). These textural interpretations are supported by geochronology and oxygen isotope analysis. In both the amphibolite facies NW Adirondacks and the granulite facies SE Adirondacks, δ¹⁸O_(Zrc) values in overgrowths and whole zircon are highly variable for metamorphic zircon (6.1–13.4‰; n = 95, 10 μm spot). In contrast, garnet is typically unzoned and δ¹⁸O_(Grt) values are constant at each locality, differing only between leucosomes and corresponding melanosomes. None of the analysed metamorphic zircon–garnet pairs attained oxygen isotope equilibrium, indicating that zircon rims and garnet are not coeval. Furthermore, REE profiles from zircon rims indicate zircon growth in all regions was prior to significant garnet growth. Thus, petrological estimates from garnet equilibria (e.g. P–T) cannot be associated uncritically with ages determined from zircon. The unusually high δ¹⁸O values (>10‰) in zircon overgrowths from leucocratic layers are distinctly different from associated metaigneous rocks (δ¹⁸O_(Zrc) < 10‰) indicating that these leucosomes are not injected magmas derived from known igneous rocks. Surrounding melanosomes have similarly high δ¹⁸O_(Zrc) values, suggesting that leucosomes are related to surrounding melanosomes, and that these migmatites formed by anatexis of high δ¹⁸O metasedimentary rocks.     

Shape of pinch and swell structures as a viscosity indicator: Application to lower crustal polyphase rocks

Pinch and swell structures occur where a more competent layer in a weaker matrix is subjected to layer-parallel extension. In this contribution, we use numerical models to explore the use of pinch and swell structure shape symmetry and asymmetry as a determinant of relative viscosity between layers. Maximum asymmetry is attained when the matrix viscosity on one side is subtly weaker than the competent layer, while the other side is significantly weaker.Our numerical results are directly applied to asymmetrically developed pinch and swell structures in exposed lower continental crust. Here, shape geometries observed in a shear zone comprised of plagioclase-dominated, garnet-dominated and mixed amphibole-plagioclase-dominated bands, reveals that the plagioclase-dominated band is the most competent band and is marginally stronger (2×) and significantly stronger (10–40×) than the fine grained garnet-dominated and mixed amphibole-plagioclase-dominated band, respectively. Based on the experimentally determined viscosity of a plagioclase-dominated material and quantitative microstructural analysis, the viscosity range of the natural rock bands is 2.8 × 10¹⁵ to 1.1 × 10¹⁷ Pa s. Consequently, the assumption that the experimentally-derived plagioclase flow law is an appropriate proxy for the middle to lower continental crust may lead to a viscosity over-estimation by up to forty times.     

Experimental anatexis and genesis of migmatites: A reply

Recentlyvon Platen applied the results of his laboratory experiments to a migmatite studied byHärme. Some comments are presented upon that re-interpretation.     

Retention of uranium in complexly altered zircon: An example from Bancroft,Ontario

Mesoproterozoic (~ 1050 Ma; Stenian) zircon crystals from the Saranac Prospect, Bancroft, Ontario, contain up to ~ 1 wt.% U and ~ 0.15 wt.% Th and, correspondingly, they are for the most part extensively radiation-damaged (calculated total α-doses 2.3?35.3 × 10¹⁸/g). The crystals show textures of complex, intense chemical alteration that is attributed to multiple, low-T replacement events along fluid-controlled reaction fronts. Centers of crystals appear totally replaced; the primary zoning is virtually erased and the material has high porosity and numerous inclusions. Interior regions surrounding the central reworked areas still exhibit primary igneous-type zoning; in those regions the alteration emanates from fractures and then follows the more radiation-damaged growth zones. Altered areas are typically recognized by their high porosity, low BSE intensity, and deficient analytical totals. Those regions often have lost a significant fraction of their radiogenic Pb. They are in general somewhat depleted in Zr, Si, and U, and are notably enriched in Ca and Fe. Element maps reveal elevated concentrations of Al and Y within filled fractures. Our observations indicate that the fluid-driven ion exchange is mainly controlled by the accessibility of micro-areas with elevated levels of radiation damage to transporting fluids via “fast pathways”. Most importantly, there is apparent Zr?Si?U equilibrium between initially existing and newly formed zircon. The retention of U after the chemical replacement (94 ± 14% relative to the original U content in the respective zones) does not significantly fall below the retention of two major cations Zr (95 ± 4%) and Si (95 ± 2%). In spite of the partially extreme hydrothermal alteration overprinting, the original U zoning in the crystals is well preserved. These observations suggest that preferential chemical leaching of U from zircon is clearly not a general feature of this mineral. This in turn seems to question the general validity of hydrothermal experiments to low-T, fluid-driven alteration of zircon in geological environments. The observed apparent immobility of U may affect the interpretation of U?Pb discordance in zircon, and the performance assessment of this mineral as potential waste form for actinides.     

Paleomagnetism in the Neoarchean polyphase Panozero intrusion in the Fennoscandian Shield

Paleomagnetic research of the Neoarchean polyphase Panozero sanukitoid massif of the Fennoscandian Shield was performed. Paleomagnetic studies of three rock associations of the massif was used to obtain the paleomagnetic pole Φ = −10.2°C Λ = 226.1°C, dp = 4.9°, dm = 3.5° ϕm = − 36.1°. Positive tests of the contact zone between rocks of the sanukitoid massif and the country Mesoarchean metavolcanics, as well as overlying Jatulian amygdaloid basalts and diabases of the Segozero structural feature testify to the primary origin of the high-temperature component of rock magnetization obtained. The paleomagnetic pole obtained indicates that during the period from 2.74 to 2.73 Ga the Karelian Craton was located in tropical moderate latitudes of the South Hemisphere and it possibly moved to the tropical latitudes during the Neoarchean.