From granulites to eclogites in the Sesia zone (Italian Western Alps): a record of the opening and closure of the Piedmont ocean

The Sesia zone (Italian Western Alps) offers one of the best preserved examples of pre-Alpine basement reactivated, under eclogite facies conditions, during the Alpine orogenesis. A detailed mineralogical study of eclogitized acid and basic granulites, and related amphibolites, is presented. In these rare weak to undeformed rocks microstructural investigations allow three main metamorphic stages to be distinguished.
(a) A medium- to low- P granulite stage giving rise to the development of orthopyroxene + garnet + plagioclase + brown amphibole + ilmenite ± biotite in basic granulites and garnet + K-feldspar + plagioclase + cordierite + sillimanite + biotite + ilmenite in acid granulites.
(b) A post-granulite re-equilibration, associated with the development of shear zones, producing discrete amphibolitization of the basic granulites and widespread development of biotite + sillimanite + cordierite + spinel in the acid rocks.
(c) An eo-Alpine eclogite stage giving rise to the crystallization of high- P and low- T assemblages.
In an effort to quantify this evolution, independent well-calibrated thermobarometers were applied to basic and acid rocks. For the granulite event, P-T estimates are 7–9 kbar and 700–800° C, and for subsequent retrograde evolution, P-T was 4–5 kbar and 600° C. For the eo-Alpine eclogite metamorphism, pressure and temperature conditions were 14–16 kbar and 550° C.
The inferred P-T path is consistent with an uplift of continental crust produced by crustal thinning prior to the subduction of the continental rocks. In the light of the available geochronological constraints we propose to relate the pre-Alpine granulite and post-granulite retrograde evolution to the Permo-Jurassic extensional regime. The complex granulite-eclogite transition is thus regarded as a record of the opening and of the closure of the Piedmont ocean.     

Metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high-grade rocks from the central Mozambique Belt of Tanzania: crustal recycling of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material during the Pan-African orogeny

New data on the metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high‐grade rocks in the central Mozambique Belt (MB) of Tanzania show that this part of the orogen consists of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was structurally reworked during the Pan‐African event. The metamorphic rocks are characterized by a clockwise P–T path, followed by strong decompression, and the time of peak granulite facies metamorphism is similar to other granulite terranes in Tanzania. The predominant rock types are mafic to intermediate granulites, migmatites, granitoid orthogneisses and kyanite/sillimanite‐bearing metapelites. The meta‐granitoid rocks are of calc‐alkaline composition, range in age from late Archean to Neoproterozoic, and their protoliths were probably derived from magmatic arcs during collisional processes. Mafic to intermediate granulites consist of the mineral assemblage garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–quartz–biotite–amphibole ± K‐feldspar ± orthopyroxene ± oxides. Metapelites are composed of garnet‐biotite‐plagioclase ± K‐feldspar ± kyanite/sillimanite ± oxides. Estimated values for peak granulite facies metamorphism are 12–13 kbar and 750–800 °C. Pressures of 5–8 kbar and temperatures of 550–700 °C characterize subsequent retrogression to amphibolite facies conditions. Evidence for a clockwise P–T path is provided by late growth of sillimanite after kyanite in metapelites. Zircon ages indicate that most of the central part of the MB in Tanzania consists of reworked ancient crust as shown by Archean (c. 2970–2500 Ma) and Palaeoproterozoic (c. 2124–1837 Ma) protolith ages. Metamorphic zircon from metapelites and granitoid orthogneisses yielded ages of c. 640 Ma which are considered to date peak regional granulite facies metamorphism during the Pan‐African orogenic event. However, the available zircon ages for the entire MB in East Africa and Madagascar also document that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at different times in different places. Large parts of the MB in central Tanzania consist of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was reworked during the Pan‐African event and that may have been part of the Tanzania Craton and Usagaran domain farther to the west.     

High-pressure granulite facies metamorphism in the Pan-African belt of eastern Tanzania: P–T–t evidence against granulite formation by continent collision

To constrain the tectonic history of the Pan-African belt in Tanzania, we have studied the P–T evolution of granulites from northern and eastern Tanzania representative for a large part of the southern Pan-African belt of East Africa (e.g. Pare, Usambara, Ukaguru and Uluguru Mountains). Thermobarometry (conventional and multireaction equilibria) on enderbites and metapelites gives 9.5–11 kbar and 810±40 °C during peak metamorphism at 650–620 Ma. This is consistent with the occurrence of both sillimanite and kyanite in metapelites and of the high-P granulite facies assemblage garnet–clinopyroxene–quartz in mafic rocks. Peak metamorphic conditions are surprisingly similar over a very large area with N-S and E-W extents of about 700 and 200 km respectively. The prograde metamorphic evolution in the entire area started in the kyanite field but evolved mainly within the sillimanite stability field. The retrograde P–T evolution is characterized by late-stage kyanite in metapelites and garnet–clinopyroxene coronas around orthopyroxene in meta-igneous rocks. This is in agreement with thermobarometric results and isotopic dating, indicating a period of nearly isobaric and slow cooling prior to tectonic uplift. The anticlockwise P–T path could have resulted from magmatic underplating and loading of the lower continental crust which caused heating and thickening of the crust. Substantial postmetamorphic crustal thickening of yet unknown age (presumably after 550 Ma) led subsequently to the exhumation of high-P granulites over a large area. The results are consistent with formation of the Pan-African granulites at an active continental margin where tonalitic intrusions caused crustal growth and heating 70–100 Ma prior to continental collision. The P–T–t path contradicts recent geodynamic models which proposed tectonic crustal thickening due to continental collision between East and West Gondwana as the cause of granulite formation in the southern part of the Pan-African belt.     

东南极茹尔群岛超高温麻粒岩的研究进展

茹尔群岛(又称赖于尔群岛)位于东南极普里兹构造带的东部边缘,是一个由太古宙和中元古代岩石组成的复合高级变质地体。中元古代岩石是含有富Fe-Al的含石榴子石-矽线石的费拉副片麻岩组合,经历了格林维尔和泛非两期变质作用。太古宙正片麻岩是含有富Mg-Al的含假蓝宝石的超高温泥质麻粒岩组合(梅瑟副片麻岩组合),主要由经历超高温变质作用的含假蓝宝石的泥质麻粒岩、富Mg的石榴子石-矽线石泥质片麻岩、斜方辉石-矽线石石英岩、含石榴子石镁铁质麻粒岩和钙硅酸盐麻粒岩等组成。其中,含假蓝宝石泥质麻粒岩中石榴子石变斑晶和矽线石集合体(蓝晶石假象)周围分别发育峰期后由假蓝宝石+斜方辉石和假蓝宝石+堇青石后成合晶组成的典型减压结构。含石榴子石镁铁质麻粒岩中石榴子石变斑晶周围则发育峰期后由斜方辉石+斜长石后成合晶组成的典型白眼圈减压结构。不同研究者得出了具有不同超高温峰期条件、峰期前及峰期后演化历史、不同形式的顺时针变质P-T轨迹。对超高温变质事件发生的时间和构造背景的认识也存在较大分歧,有认为超高温变质事件发生于格林维尔期(~1000 Ma)并与碰撞造山和弧岩浆作用有关,也有研究认为发生于泛非期(~590 Ma或~530 Ma)并与普里兹造山及冈瓦纳大陆聚合有关。因此,为理清该区超高温麻粒岩的变质演化历史和构造背景,需要对其进一步进行详细深入的矿物组合-变质结构分析、P-T轨迹重建及高精度的锆石-独居石U-Pb年代学研究,并进行区域上对比。      

浙西南八都杂岩早中生代泥质麻粒岩变质作用及构造意义

遂昌-大柘泥质麻粒岩出露于华夏地块东北部的浙西南八都杂岩中,该岩石保留了典型的减压反应结构.但其变质演化特点、变质作用时代及构造意义目前尚不明确.通过系统的岩相学、矿物化学和同位素年代学分析,结果表明遂昌-大柘泥质麻粒岩记录了4个阶段的变质矿物组合,其中早期进变质阶段M₁的矿物组合为石榴石+黑云母+石英;压力峰期变质阶段M₂的矿物组合为石榴石+铝绿泥石+金红石+蓝晶石+刚玉+黑云母+石英±十字石,该矿物组合可能预示着岩石曾经历了超高压变质作用过程;峰期变质阶段M₃的矿物组合为石榴石+黑云母+夕线石+石英±钾长石±斜长石±钛铁矿;峰后近等温降压M_4-1阶段的矿物组合为石榴石+黑云母+夕线石+堇青石+石英+钛铁矿±尖晶石±斜长石±钾长石;M_4-2阶段的矿物组合为石榴石+堇青石+夕线石+斜长石+黑云母+石英±钾长石.相平衡模拟结合传统地质温压计限定其峰期变质阶段的温压条件为T=780~810 ℃、P=8.0~9.2 kbar;峰期后近等温降压的M_4-1阶段的温压条件为T=780~860 ℃和P=5.7~6.0 kbar,M_4-2阶段的温压条件为T=~700 ℃和P=~4.4 kbar,具有典型的顺时针近等温减压型P-T轨迹特征.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果表明其麻粒岩相变质作用时代为233.5~238.9 Ma.变质作用历史说明浙西南地体可能卷入了古特提斯洋域内印支-华南-华北板块之间的俯冲-碰撞过程,并经历了早中生代的麻粒岩相变质作用后快速折返至地表.      

High-temperature dehydration melting and decompressive P–T path in a granulite complex from the Eastern Ghats, India

. The granulite complex of Paderu, in the south central sector of the Eastern Ghats belt, India, consists of closely related pelitic granulites and peraluminous granitoids which could be linked via dehydration melting in pelitic and greywacke-like precursors. The pelitic granulites, including high-Mg-Al sapphirine granulites with early deformation microstructures, also record a high-temperature decompression from ~10 to ~8 kbar at ~1,000 °C, preceding isobaric cooling from above 900 to ~600 °C at 8 kbar. Highly magnesian biotite in the pelitic granulites, the presence of spinel in some of the granitoids, and granitoids of two distinct compositions, namely granite and quartz-monzonite, all suggest dehydration melting in highly magnesian pelitic and greywacke-like precursors. Moreover, high-temperature melting in highly magnesian pelitic precursors is indicated by the migmatitic spinel-bearing layers which, besides having significant abundance of quartz and feldspar, also contain aluminous orthopyroxene and cordierite. These melting reactions, occurring above 9 kbar, may constrain the prograde arm of the P-T trajectory. This and the high-temperature decompression constitute a clockwise P-T path. This clockwise P-T path is consistent with the tectonic model in which crustal thickening and granulite metamorphism in the Eastern Ghats belt is interpreted as the result of homogeneous shortening in a compressional setting.     

Petrology of high-pressure granulites from the eastern Himalayan syntaxis

The eastern Himalayan syntaxis, situated at the eastern terminus of the Himalayas, is the least-known segment of the Himalayas. Recent research in this area has revealed that the syntaxis consists of the Gangdise, the Yarlung Zangbo, and the Himalayan units, each of which is bounded by faults. The Himalayan unit, the northernmost exposed part of the Indian plate, mainly contains amphibolite facies rocks, marked by the assemblages staurolite+kyanite+plagioclase+biotite+muscovite±sillimanite and garnet+amphibole+plagioclase, in the south; to the north, low- to medium-pressure granulite grade pelitic gneisses and marbles are present and are characterized by the assemblages garnet+sillimanite+K-feldspar+plagioclase or antiperthite+biotite+quartz±spinel±cordierite±orthopyroxene in gneisses, and anorthite+diopside±wollastonite and plagioclase+diopside+quartz+phlogopite+calcite in marbles. Within this unit, the Namula thrust system is a series of moderately north-dipping structures that displaced the granulite facies rocks southwards over the amphibolite facies rocks. High-pressure granulites occur as relics within these granulite facies rocks and contain garnet–kyanite granulite and garnet clinopyroxenite. The peak assemblage of the garnet–kyanite granulite includes garnet (core part)+kyanite+ternary feldspar+quartz+rutile. Sillimanite+garnet (rim part)+K-feldspar+ oligoclase+ilmenite+biotite and spinel+albite+biotite or spinel+cordierite±orthopyroxene, which are coronas around sillimanite and garnet, are retrograde products of this peak assemblage. Another peak assemblage includes very-high-Ca garnet (CaO 32–34 wt%, Alm₁₀±Grs_>80) and diopside (CaO 22–24 wt%), scapolite, meionite, quartz, and accessory Al-bearing titanite (Al₂O₃ 4–4.5 wt%). The diopside has kink bands. Partial or complete breakdown of Ca-rich garnet during post-peak metamorphism produced pseudomorphs and coronas consisting of fine-grained symplectic intergrowths of hedenbergite and anorthite. Thermobarometric estimates in combination with reaction textures, mineral compositions, and recent experimental studies indicate that these peak assemblages were formed at P=c. 1.7–1.8 GPa, T =c. 890 °C, and the retrograde assemblages experienced near-isothermal decompression to P=0.5±0.1 GPa, T =850±50 °C. The whole-rock compositions indicate that marble and pelite are plausible candidates for the protoliths. These facts suggest the following (1) sedimentary rocks were transported to upper-mantle depths and equilibrated at those conditions to form these high-pressure granulites, which were then emplaced into the crust quickly. During the rapid exhumation of these rocks, the earlier high-pressure assemblages were overprinted by the later low- to medium-pressure assemblages, that is, the high-pressure granulite belt formed in the syntaxis. (2) The Namula thrust system is an important tectonic boundary in the syntaxis, or even in the Higher Himalaya more generally.     

Petro-tectonic Imprints in the Sapphirine Granulites from Anantagiri, Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, India

Sapphirine granulite occurring as lenses in charnockite at Anantagiri,Eastern Ghat, India, displays an array of minerals which developedunder different P-T-X conditions. Reaction textures in conjunctionwith mineral chemical data attest to several Fe-Mg continuousreactions, such as

1. spinel+rutile+quartz+MgFe_–1=sapphirine+ilmenite
2. cordierite=sapphirine+quartz+MgFe_–1
3. sapphirine+quartz=orthopyroxene+sillimanite+MgFe_–1
4. orthopyroxene+sapphirine+quartz=garnet+MgFe_–1
5. orthopyroxene+sillimanite=garnet+quartz+MgFe_–1
6. orthopyroxene+sillimanite+quartz+MgFe_–1=cordierite.

Calculated positions of the reaction curves in P-T space, togetherwith discrete P-T points obtained through geothermobarometryin sapphirine granulite and the closely associated charnockiteand mafic granulite, define an anticlockwise P-T trajectory.This comprises a high-T/P prograde metamorphic path which culminatedin a pressure regime of 8?3 kb above 950?C, a nearly isobariccooling (IBC) path (from 950?C, 8?3 kb, to 675?C, 7?5kb) anda terminal decompressive path (from 7?5 to 4?5 kb). Spinel,quartz, high-Mg cordierite, and sapphirine were stabilized duringthe prograde high-T/P metamorphism, followed by the developmentof orthopyroxene, sillimanite, and garnet during the IBC. Retrogradelow-Mg cordierite appeared as a consequence of decompressionin the sapphirine granulite. Deformational structures, reportedfrom the Eastern Ghat granulites, and the available geochronologicaldata indicate that prograde metamorphism could have occurredat 30001?00 and 2500?100 Ma during a compressive orogeny thatwas associated with high heat influx through mafic magmatism. IBC ensued from P_max and was thus a direct consequence of progrademetamorphism. However, in the absence of sufficient study onthe spatial variation in P-T paths and the strain historiesin relation to time, the linkage between IBC and isothermaldecompression (ITD) has remained obscure. A prolonged IBC followedby ITD could be the consequence of one extensional mechanismwhich had an insufficient acceleration at the early stage, orITD separately could be caused by an unrelated extensional tectonism.The complex cooled nearly isobarically from 2500 Ma. It sufferedrapid decompression accompanied by anorthosite and alkalinemagmatism at 1400–1000 Ma.     

Ultra-high temperature overprinting of high pressure pelitic granulites in the Huai'an complex,North China Craton: Evidence from thermodynamic modeling and isotope geochronology

Paleoproterozoic granulite facies rocks are widely distributed in the North China Craton (NCC). The Huai'an terrane, located within the northern segment of the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO), a major Paleoproterozoic collisional belt in the central NCC expose mafic and pelitic granulites as well as TTG (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite) gneisses. Here we investigate the pelitic granulites from this complex and identify four distinct mineral assemblages corresponding to different metamorphic stages. The prograde metamorphism (M1) is recorded by relict biotite and the compositional profile of X_ca (grt) isopleths. The P_max (M2) is distinguished by the X_ca (grt) isopleths, which corresponds to the kyanite stable area with an inclusion mineral assemblage of Grt-c–(Ky)-Qz-Rt-Kfs-liq suggesting that the pressures were higher than 12 kbar with a temperature below 900 °C. However, kyanite is absent in thin sections suggesting its consumption during later stages. The T_max metamorphism (M3) is characterized by the assemblage: Grt-m-Qz-Pl-Rt-Kfs-Sil-liq in the garnet mantle and also reflected in the compositional profile. Two-feldspar geothermometry yields a P-T range of 940 °C–950 °C and 9.5–10.5 kbar, indicating ultra-high temperature (UHT) metamorphic overprinting. The subsequent retrograde metamorphic stage (M4) is characterized by Grt-r-Bt-Sil-Kfs-Pl-Qz ± Rt ± Ilm with symplectites of Bt-Sil-Qz in the garnet rim suggesting garnet breakdown with P-T conditions estimated as 770 °C–840 °C and 6.5–8 kbar. The pelitic granulites show a clockwise path, with P-T estimates higher than those in estimated in previous studies using conventional techniques.LA-ICP-MS U–Pb analysis of metamorphic zircon grains yield two groups of ages at 1972.9 ± 8.1 Ma and 1873.3 ± 9.9 Ma. We suggest that the protoliths of the Manjinggou HP-UHT granulites were deep subducted where they experienced HP metamorphism associated with the collision of the Ordos and Yinshan blocks at ca. 1.97 Ga. Subsequently, the UHT metamorphic overprint occurred during the assembly of the unified Western and Eastern Blocks of the NCC along the TNCO at ca. 1.87 Ga.     

Petrology and isotopic evolution of granulites from central Madurai Block (southern India): reference to Ediacaran crustal evolution

The Madurai Block, constituting part of the southern granulite terrain in southern India, has contributed significantly towards understanding the UHT (ultrahigh-temperature) granulites that serve as a window into the mid-lower continental crust. The dominant rock types are charnockites, sapphirine-bearing granulites, garnet cordierite gneisses, and quartzites. Significant textural relations reveal multiphase reactions responsible for the formation of diverse mineral parageneses during prolonged metamorphic history of the area. Prograde reaction is evident from the textural relationship where biotite/sillimanite relics are seen as inclusion in garnet/orthopyroxene, suggesting dehydration reactions. The symplectitic assemblages that formed during isothermal decompression involve a series of cordierite-forming reactions, followed by retrogression and cooling. Variety of mineral assemblages present in the rocks of this area offer a wide spectrum of P–T sensors that provide details on the physical conditions of metamorphism. For the rigorous interpretation of the P–T path in the Perumalmalai area, quantitative phase diagrams (P–T pseudosections) have been constructed and contoured for the compositional as well as modal isopleths of involved mineral phases. The rocks of Perumalmalai area document a clockwise decompression P–T trajectory, consistent with crustal thickening followed by extensional collapse. SHRIMP U–Pb ages from zircon associated with sapphirine-bearing granulite facies rocks of Perumalmalai area suggest a widespread Ediacaran tectonothermal event. The occurrence of Ediacaran UHT metamorphism followed by isothermal decompression in the Madurai Block is consistent with the timing and physical conditions associated with the formation of East African Orogen during the amalgamation of Gondwana.     

Pan-African decompressional P-T path recorded by granulites from central Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

A high-grade metamorphic complex is exposed in Filchnerfjella (6–8°E), central Dronning Maud Land. The metamorphic evolution of the complex has been recovered through a study of textural relationships, conventional geothermobarometry and pseudosection modelling. Relicts of an early, high-P assemblage are preserved within low-strain mafic pods. Subsequent granulite facies metamorphism resulted in formation of orthopyroxene in rocks of mafic, intermediate to felsic compositions, whereas spinel + quartz were part of the peak assemblage in pelitic gneisses. Peak conditions were attained at temperatures between 850–885 °C and 0.55–0.70 GPa. Reaction textures, including the replacement of amphibole and garnet by symplectites of orthopyroxene + plagioclase and partial replacement of garnet + sillimanite + spinel bearing assemblages by cordierite, indicate that the granulite facies metamorphism was accompanied and followed by decompression. The observed assemblages define a clock-wise P-T path including near-isothermal decompression. During decompression, localized melting led to formation of post-kinematic cordierite-melt assemblages, whereas mafic rocks contain melt patches with euhedral orthopyroxene. The granulite facies metamorphism, decompression and partial crustal melting occurred during the Cambrian Pan-African tectonothermal event.     

Pressure-temperature Evolution of the Metapelites in the Motuo Area,the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis

The Motuo area is located in the east of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis. There outcrops a sequence of high-grade metamorphic rocks, such as metapelites. Petrology and mineralogy data suggest that these rocks have experienced three stages of metamorphism. The prograde metamorphic mineral assemblages(M1) are mineral inclusions(biotite + plagioclase + quartz ± sillimanite ± Fe-Ti oxides) preserved in garnet porphyroblasts, and the peak metamorphic assemblages(M2) are represented by garnet with the lowest XSps values and the lowest XFe# ratios and the matrix minerals(plagioclase + quartz ± Kfeldspar + biotite + muscovite + kyanite ± sillimanite), whereas the retrograde assemblages(M3) are composed of biotite + plagioclase + quartz symplectites rimming the garnet porphyroblasts. Thermobarometric computation shows that the metamorphic conditions are 562–714°C at 7.3–7.4 kbar for the M1 stage, 661–800°C at 9.4–11.6 kbar for the M2 stage, and 579–713°C at 5.5–6.6 kbar for the M3 stage. These rocks are deciphered to have undergone metamorphism characterized by clockwise P-T paths involving nearly isothermal decompression(ITD) segments, which is inferred to be related to the collision of the India and Eurasia plates.     

豫西秦岭杂岩变质带的分布及主期变质时代的限定

豫西秦岭杂岩中变质分级可呈与造山带大致平行的带状分布,从两侧向中心变质级别升高,尤其南侧分带明显:由南向北,依次为黑云母带-石榴子石带-蓝晶石带-夕线石带,直至斜方辉石带,而不是整体上经历了麻粒岩相变质作用。局部发生的麻粒岩相变质未见明显向角闪岩相变质转化的退变结构。通过几种岩石的锆石LA-MC-ICPMS测年研究,多数样品中的锆石经受了后期强烈的改造,同位素体系或多或少被重置。尽管如此,侵位花岗岩和伟晶岩年龄限定了主期变质作用的时代应老于484±3Ma,并可能与早期的榴辉岩相变质作用在演化上有联系。主期变质(不包括榴辉岩相变质)性质与经典的巴罗式变质带可以对比;此外,研究区未经历明显的地壳增厚,与高喜马拉雅结晶岩系类似,秦岭杂岩可能经历了中、下地壳物质沿隧道流上升过程。     

Sapphirine-bearing orthopyroxene-kyanite/sillimanite granulites from South Harris, NW Scotland: evidence for Proterozoic UHT metamorphism in the Lewisian

Sapphirine-bearing orthopyroxene-kyanite (Opx-Ky) and -sillimanite (Opx-Sil) granulites have been found in the Lewisian complex of South Harris in northwest Scotland. In the Opx-Ky granulites, orthopyroxene and kyanite are intergrown in a stable mineral assemblage, which indicates metamorphic condition at 800–900 °C >12 kbar. Sillimanite inclusions within orthopyroxene suggest that sillimanite formed earlier; conditions are estimated at 950 ± 30 °C at 10 kbar from orthopyroxene isopleths for aluminous orthopyroxene (<9.7 wt%). In the Opx-Sil granulite, the orthopyroxene + sillimanite + garnet + sapphirine assemblage is stable at the peak metamorphic stages, indicating P-T condition of 930–950 °C, >8 kbar according to the FMAS petrogenetic grid, and similar conditions were obtained by using orthopyroxene-garnet geothermobarometers. The two types of orthopyroxene-aluminosilicate granulites indicate that the peak metamorphic conditions were over 900 °C, compatible with ultra-high temperature metamorphism. As accessory sapphirine occurs in several assemblages and with different compositions; it is interpreted to be formed at different stages of the metamorphism. These granulites were formed during Early Proterozoic high-grade metamorphism due to the emplacement of the South Harris Igneous Complex at c. 2170–1870 Ma, and are not related to the major metamorphic episode of the Badcallian/Inverian metamorphism at c. 2700–2500 Ma in the mainland Lewisian. Received: 17 July 1998 / Accepted 8 March 1999     

Metamorphic Evolution of High‐pressure Politic Granulite from the Ailaoshan Orogenic Belt,Northeastern Margin of Indochina Block,West Yunnan,China

Ailaoshan orogenic belt located at the northeastern margin of the Indochina block, southeastern Tibet, was formed by subduction and collision between the Indochina and South China blocks in Triassic and slip shearing resulted from the extrusion of the Indochina block in Cenozoic. The high‐pressure pelitic granulite is located at the southeastern margin of the Ailaoshan metamorphic belt, occurs as a slice of about 500～700m in thickness, consists of garnet, sillimanite, feldspar, biotite and quartz with accessory of kyanite, sapphirine, spinel, rutile, ilmenite, zircon and apatite. The petrography and mineral chemistry show that the high‐pressure pelitic granulite had suffered three stages of metamorphism: 1) the prograde metamorphism recorded by the mineral assemblage of garnet, kyanite, feldspar, biotite and rutile; 2) the peak metamorphism shown by the mineral assemblage of garnet, sillimanite, sapphirine, ternary feldspar, K‐feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, spinel, quartz, rutile and zircon mantle; 3) the retrograde metamorphism recorded by the mineral assemblage of biotite, muscovite, plagioclase, quartz and zircon rim. Zircon SHRIMP U‐Pb dating indicates that the protolith of the pelite granulite was deposited before 336 Ma, the prograde to peak metamorphism occurred at P‐T conditions of ≥10.4 kbar at 850～919 °C in 235 Ma, and the retrograde metamorphism occurred at the P‐T condition of 3.5～3.9 kbar at 572～576 °C until to 33 Ma. They are consistent with the times of Indochina separated from Gondwanaland during late Paleozoic, the amalgamation of the south China and Indochina blocks during the Triassic, and the sinistral slip‐shearing since the Early Cenozoic respectively. It is inferred that that the sedimentary rock was subducted to the lower continental crust (30 km) and suffered granulite‐facies metamorphism due to the collision during Indosinian, then exhumed quickly to middle‐upper crust (10–12km) and superimposed retrograde metamorphism since the Cenozoic.     

胶北地体多期变质事件的P-T-t轨迹及其对胶-辽-吉带形成与演化的制约

胶北地体位于华北克拉通东部陆块胶-辽-吉带南端,主要由闪长质-TTG-花岗质片麻岩、变质表壳岩系和变质镁铁-超镁铁质岩所组成。本文通过对胶北早前寒武纪变质岩系的岩石学、矿物化学、变质反应结构和序列、变质温度和压力估算与同位素年代学资料的综合研究和总结,得出以下重要结论:(1)与华北克拉通东部陆块其它地区太古宙变质基底类似,本区也存在~2500Ma区域性新太古代变质事件,且与本区2550~2500Ma岩浆作用在时间上非常接近,其变质作用发生的时间比岩浆作用要晚10~50Myr,指示本区~2500Ma区域性变质事件可能与大规模的幔源岩浆底侵作用存在密切的成因关系。(2)胶北还存在1950~1850Ma区域性古元古代变质事件,并导致了大量高压基性和泥质麻粒岩的形成,高压基性麻粒岩主要以不规则透镜体、变形岩墙群或岩脉群的形式赋存于闪长质-TTG-花岗质片麻岩之中,并集中分布在安丘-平度-莱西-莱阳-栖霞一带,大致沿北东-南西向断续带状分布,构成了一条长约300km的古元古代高压麻粒岩相变质带。(3)本区古元古代高压麻粒岩以记录近等温减压(ITD)及随后近等压降温(IBC)的顺时针P-T-t轨迹为特征,指示本区变质杂岩在古元古代晚期曾强烈地卷入了与俯冲-拼贴-碰撞造山有关的构造过程,并可能经历了如下复杂的构造演化:(I)在古元古代晚期2000~1950Ma,随着有限大洋地壳的持续俯冲作用,本区各类变质岩的原岩开始经历一次构造增厚事件,并导致了它们的原岩经历了早期绿片岩相-角闪岩相进变质作用;(II)1950~1870Ma,大洋地壳俯冲作用结束,本区开始发生弧-陆拼贴和陆-陆碰撞作用,大陆地壳持续缩短和加厚,在加厚下地壳或岛弧根部带约50km的深度,发生了区域性高压麻粒岩相变质作用,并导致了本区变基性岩和变泥质岩分别形成了石榴石+单斜辉石+斜长石±角闪石±石英±铁-钛氧化物和石榴石+蓝晶石+钾长石+斜长石+黑云母+石英+铁-钛氧化物+熔体的高压麻粒岩相矿物组合。(III)1870~1800Ma,在同碰撞峰期变质结束之后,本区造山作用进入了后碰撞构造折返-伸展演化阶段,先后经历了早期快速构造折返和晚期缓慢冷却降温两个构造热演化阶段。其中,在早期快速构造折返阶段,高压麻粒岩经历了峰后近等温或略微增温减压退变质作用的叠加,高压基性麻粒岩表现为沿石榴石边部形成了含斜方辉石的后成合晶。与此同时,早期快速构造折返阶段还伴随着热松弛和伸展作用,出现一系列的幔源基性岩浆活动,不仅导致了本区大量未经历高压麻粒岩相变质的变基性岩群的形成,同时也诱发了区内大规模的地壳深熔作用的发生。自温度高峰期之后,本区地壳岩石还经历了一个近等压冷却降温过程,并发生了区域性角闪岩相退变质作用,高压基性麻粒岩表现为石榴石和斜方辉石边部常出现含角闪石的退变边或后成合晶。最终,在1800Ma左右,本区含电气石花岗伟晶质岩脉的大量出现,则标志着胶北地体古元古代晚期(2000~1800Ma)俯冲-拼贴-碰撞造山作用的最终结束。     

Sapphirine bearing granulites from the Sipiwesk Lake area of the late Archean Pikwitonei granulite terrain,Manitoba, Canada

Sapphirine occurs in the orthopyroxene-cordierite and feldspar-sillimanite granulites in the Sipiwesk Lake area of the Pikwitonei granulite terrain, Manitoba (97°40W, 55°05N). The orthopyroxene-cordierite granulites have extremely high Al₂O₃ (24.5 wt%) and MgO (24.6 wt%) contents and contain sapphirine (up to 69.2 wt% Al₂O₃), aluminous orthopyroxene (up to 8.93 wt% Al₂O₃), cordierite, spinel, phlogopite, and corundum. Sapphirine forms coronas mantling spinel and corundum. Corona sapphirine is zoned and its composition varies through the substitution (Mg, Fe, Mn) Si=2 Al as a function of the phases with which it is in contact. Textural and chemical relationships of sapphirine with coexisting phases indicate that spinel + cordierite reacted to form orthopyroxene + sapphirine under conditions of increasing pressure. Moreover, decreasing core to rim variation of Al₂O₃ in orthopyroxene porphyroblasts suggests decreasing temperature during sapphirine formation. On the basis of experimentally determined P-T stability of the assemblage enstatite + sapphirine + cordierite, and the Al content of hypothetical Fe²⁺-free orthopyroxene associated with sapphirine and cordierite, metamorphic temperatures and pressures are estimated to be 860–890° C and 3.0–11.2 kbar.In the feldspar-sillimanite granulites, sapphirine occurs as a relict phase mantled by sillimanite and/or by successive coronas of sillimanite and garnet. These textural relations suggest the reaction sapphirine + garnet + quartz = orthopyroxene + sillimanite with decreasing temperature. Compositions of minerals in the assemblage garnet-orthopyroxene-sillimanite-plagioclase-quartz, indicate metamorphic P-T conditions of 780–880° C and 9±1 kb.The metamorphic conditions estimated in this study suggest that the sapphirine bearing granulites in the Sipiwesk Lake area represent Archean lower crustal rocks. Their formation might be related to the crustal thickening processes in this area as suggested by Hubregtse (1980) and Weber (1983).     

华北东南缘五河杂岩中镁铁质麻粒岩的变质演化

华北东南缘五河杂岩的变质演化过程研究有助于揭示研究区前寒武纪变质基底的形成与演化历史.基于对五河杂岩中镁铁质麻粒岩进行的详细岩相学观察、矿物电子探针及锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年和微量元素分析,识别出古元古代变质演化的3个阶段,重建了峰期后近等温减压及降压冷却的顺时针P-T-t轨迹.峰期高压麻粒岩相变质阶段的代表性矿物组合为石榴子石（富Ca核部）+单斜辉石（富Al）+斜长石+石英+金红石±角闪石（富Ti）,所记录的峰期温压条件为850~900 ℃、1.5 GPa;峰期后近等温减压麻粒岩相变质阶段,富Ti角闪石分解在周围形成石榴子石+斜方辉石+斜长石±单斜辉石的矿物组合,所记录的温压条件为~900 ℃、1.1~1.2 GPa;晚期角闪岩相退变质阶段,石榴子石分解产生角闪石+斜长石±石英,所记录的温压条件为600~680 ℃、0.65~0.75 GPa.锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,高压麻粒岩相、中压麻粒岩相和角闪岩相变质时代分别为~1.90 Ga、~1.85 Ga和~1.78 Ga.因此,研究区镁铁质麻粒岩的变质演化过程与胶北地体可以对比,结合已有的2.1 Ga花岗质岩石的成因和锆石年代学等方面研究成果,进一步证明五河杂岩属于胶-辽-吉带的西延,二者共同构成了华北克拉通东部一条古元古代碰撞造山带.      

造山带中成对出现的高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩及其地球动力学意义

在一些典型碰撞造山带中,高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩在空间和时间上密切相关,它们之间的关系对揭示碰撞造山带的造山过程和造山机制具有重要意义.本文以中国西部的南阿尔金、柴北缘及中部的北秦岭造山带为例,详细陈述了这3个地区榴辉岩和相关的高压麻粒岩的野外关系、变质演化和形成时代,目的是要建立大陆碰撞造山带中榴辉岩和相关高压麻粒岩形成的地球动力学背景模式.南阿尔金榴辉岩呈近东西向分布在江尕勒萨依,玉石矿沟一带,与含夕线石副片麻岩、花岗质片麻岩和少量大理岩构成榴辉岩一片麻岩单元,榴辉岩中含有柯石英假象,其峰期变质条件为P=2.8～3.0GPa,T=730～850℃,并在抬升过程中经历了角闪岩-麻粒岩相的叠加;大量年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～500Ma.南阿尔金高压麻粒岩分布在巴什瓦克地区,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,它们与超基性岩构成了一个大约5km宽的构造岩石单元,与周围角闪岩相的片麻岩为韧性剪切带接触.长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的峰期组合均具有蓝晶石和三元长石(已变成条纹长石),形成的温压条件为T=930～1020℃,P=1.8～2.5GPa,并在退变质过程中经历了中压麻粒岩相变质作用叠加.锆石SHRIMP测定显示巴什瓦克高压麻粒岩的峰期变质时代为493～497Ma.都兰地区的榴辉岩分布柴北缘HP-UHP变质带的东端,在榴辉岩和围岩副片麻岩中均发现有柯石英保存,形成的峰期温压条件为T=670～730℃和P=2.7～3.25GPa,退变质阶段经过了角闪岩相的叠加;榴辉岩相变质时代为420～450Mao都兰地区的高压麻粒岩分布在阿尔茨托山西部,高压麻粒岩包括基性麻粒岩长英质麻粒岩,基性麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为Grt+Cpx+Pl±Ky±Zo+Rt±Qtz,长英质麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为：Grt+Kf+Ky+Pl+Qtz.峰期变质条件为T=800～925℃,P=1.4～1.85GPa,退变质阶段经历了角闪岩-绿片岩的改造,高压麻粒岩的变质时代为420～450Ma.北秦岭榴辉岩分布在官坡-双槐树一带,榴辉岩的峰期变质组合为Grt+Omp±Phe+Qtz+Rt,所计算的峰期温压条件为T=680～770℃和P=2.25～2.65GPa,年代学数据显示榴辉岩的变质时代为500Ma左右.北秦岭高压麻粒岩分布在含榴辉岩单元的南侧松树沟一带,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,与超基性岩在空间上密切伴生,高压麻粒岩的峰期温压条件为T=850～925℃,P=1.45～1.80GPa,锆石U-Pb年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～507Ma.以上三个实例显示,出现在同一造山带、在空间上伴生的高压麻粒岩和榴辉岩有各自不同的变质演化历史,但榴辉岩中的榴辉岩相变质时代和相邻的高压麻粒岩中的高压麻粒岩相变质作用时代相同或相近,这种成对出现的榴辉岩和高压麻粒岩代表了它们同时形成在造山带中不同的构造环境中,即榴辉岩的形成于大陆俯冲带中,而高压麻粒岩可能形成在俯冲带之上增厚的大陆地壳根部.     

Gedrite–garnet–sillimanite-bearing granulites from Amessmessa area, south In Ouzzal, Hoggar, Algeria

Some granulites from the Amessmessa area (south In Ouzzal unit, Hoggar) contain the peak assemblage gedrite+garnet+sillimanite+quartz that was used to estimate the P–T conditions of metamorphism. The rocks developed symplectites and corona textures by the breakdown of the primary paragenesis to orthopyroxene, cordierite and spinel. The successive parageneses formed in separate microdomains according to a clockwise P–T path. Geothermometry, geobarometry and phase diagram calculations indicate that the textures formed by decompression and cooling from 7–9 kbar and 850–900°C to 3.5–4.5 kbar and 700–800°C. This P–T evolution is consistent with low to medium a_H2O, between 0.4 and 0.7, and is similar to the metamorphic conditions deduced in Al–Mg granulites from the north of In Ouzzal.