K-Ar Age and Chemistry of Phengite from the Sanbagawa Schists in the Kanto Mountains, Central Japan, and their Implication for Exhumation Tectonics

EPMA analyses and K-Ar age determinations were carried out on phengite in pelitic schist from the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt of the Kanto Mountains, Central Japan.

Phengite from the Sanbagawa pelitic schist in the Kanto Mountains generally occurs as aggregates of fine-grained crystals. It is extremely fine-grained in domains adjacent to relatively rigid garnet and albite porphyroblasts. This suggests that deformation-induced grain-size reduction took place in phengite during the ductile deformation accompanying the exhumation of the host schists. EPMA analysis shows that phengite is chemically heterogeneous at the thin-section scale, suggesting that it formed during retrograde metamorphism in restricted equilibrium domains. The retrograde chemical reaction was promoted by the ductile deformation.

K-Ar ages of phengite get younger from the Southern Unit (82 Ma) to the Northern Unit (58 Ma) in the Kanto Mountains. The age range is similar to that in Central Shikoku. The older schists occur in the higher metamorphic grade zone in Central Shikoku and in the lower-grade zone in the Kanto Mountains. The thermal structures in Central Shikoku are inverted, so that the highest-grade zone occurs in the upper or middle parts of the apparent stratigraphic succession. In contrast, the Kanto Mountains have a normal thermal structure: the higher-grade zone is in the lower part of the apparent stratigraphic succession. The different tectonic features in exhumation produced the two contrasting age-temperature-structure relations at the western side of Sanbagawa belt in Central Shikoku and the eastern end of the Sanbagawa belt in the Kanto Mountains that are 800 km distant from each other. Namely, the western Sanbagawa belt in Central Shikoku underwent longer ductile deformation during the exhumation than the eastern Sanbagawa belt in the Kanto Mountains.     

Clasts of high-grade Sanbagawa schist in Middle Eocene conglomerates from the Kuma Group, central Shikoku, south-west Japan

Middle Eocene conglomerates which overlie the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks contain clasts of metamorphic rock with isotope ages of 120-85 Ma, which fall within the age range reported from the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks. They were derived from the chlorite to oligoclase zones of the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt. Clasts of garnet amphibolite and oligoclase-biotite schist show a mineral assemblage similar to the highest grade Sanbagawa schists. However, the metamorphic temperatures estimated by various mineralogical thermometers show that some of the clasts were formed at higher temperatures than the in situ Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks. Such higher grade rocks were at the surface by the Middle Eocene and for the most part they have been eroded away. Cretaceous and post-Cretaceous sediments overlie, or are in fault contact with, the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks which suggests that rocks in the belt were uplifted and eroded from the latest Cretaceous to Middle Eocene time after strike-slip movement along the Median Tectonic Line. Since the Middle Eocene, the belt has experienced relatively slow uplift which was locally around 2 km in central Shikoku.     

P-T-D Path of Eclogite from the Sambagawa Belt Deduced from Combination of Petrological and Microstructural Analyses

Both structural and petrological data can be used to constrainthe P–T path of an eclogitic schist unit (the Seba basicschist) in the Sambagawa belt of SW Japan. The relationshipsbetween these two sets of data are well defined by porphyroblasticand other microstructures. The derived P–T path for theSeba basic schist has an overall clockwise trajectory with thedecompression, or exhumation-related, path taking place undera lower P/T gradient than the burial, or subduction-related,path. The clockwise nature of the P–T path is qualitativelysupported by chemical zoning of amphibole coexisting with eclogiticminerals. The significant feature of the P–T path is thepresence of two temperature maxima, the first in the eclogitefacies and the second in the epidote-amphibolite facies. Theexistence of two temperature maxima gives a simple explanationfor the observation that metamorphic zonal boundaries postdatingthe eclogite facies metamorphism cross-cut the distributionof the main eclogite bodies in the Sambagawa belt. Estimatesof metamorphic pressure using the jadeite content of clinopyroxenein the Seba area demonstrate the existence of a tectonic discontinuitybetween the eclogitic schist and surrounding non-eclogitic schist.Structural studies show that although these two units have experiencedvery different peak metamorphic conditions, they became juxtaposedduring a single ductile deformation affecting both units. Thisdeformation is related to exhumation of the eclogitic schistand subduction of the non-eclogitic schist, indicating thatboth were formed during the same subduction event. The presenceof a major tectonic boundary between two units with a similarorigin as subducted and accreted material, but contrasting metamorphichistories, can be interpreted in terms of nappe tectonics, andthe existence of an ‘eclogite nappe’, the thirdnappe of the Sambagawa belt, is proposed. KEY WORDS: deformation stage; dual thermal maxima; eclogite; P–T–D path; Sambagawa belt     

The transition from brittle to ductile deformation in the Sambagawa metamorphic belt, Japan

The dominant deformation mechanism during the Sambagawa metamorphism changes from brittle to ductile with increasing metamorphic temperature. The magnitude of plastic strains inferred from the shapes of deformed radiolaria in metachert increases sharply across the boundary between the epidote-pumpellyite-actinolite zone and the epidote-actinolite zone. The synmetamorphic crack density of metachert is an indicator of the contemporaneous brittle strain of rocks, and it decreases sharply as the grade reaches the epidote-actinolite zone. Hence, the ratio of the ductile strain to the brittle strain of metachert decreases rapidly across the transition to the epidote-actinolite zone of the Sambagawa metamorphic belt.
The sharp change of the ductile strain magnitude also takes place at the epidote-actinolite grade in the Shimanto metamorphic belt of Japan, an example of the intermediate pressure facies series of metamorphism. It is concluded that the transition from brittle to ductile deformation takes place at about 300-400°C. and is independent of pressure of metamorphism.     

The origin of strain patterns resulting from contemporaneous deformation and metamorphism in the Sambagawa metamorphic belt

Abstract The magnitudes of plastic strains of 104 metacherts were determined from the deformed shape of initially spherical radiolarians in the Sambagawa high- P type metamorphic belt of Western Shikoku, Japan. The strain magnitude increases with increasing metamorphic temperature from several per cent to 250%. The a₂/a₃ ratio of strain ellipsoids in the higher metamorphic grades decreases with increasing metamorphic grade while the a₁/a₂ ratio increases rapidly. The long axis of the strain ellipsoid for every grade is nearly parallel to the length of the metamorphic belt, suggesting that the flow direction of the synmetamorphic deformation was uniform along the belt. A map of strain zones within the Sambagawa high- P type metamorphic belt reveals that the metamorphic belt underwent a progressive bulk inhomogeneous shear deformation and that the high-grade zones represent a deep-seated boundary shear zone on the accretionary wedge between a subducting oceanic plate and the immobile rigid continental plate.     

赣中相山新元古代变质岩的首次确定

相山地区变质岩划分为４个变质岩带，由南往北依次分布，构成典型的递增变质带。十字石的出现表明变质作用已达到低角闪岩相。获得十字石云母片岩及斜长角闪片岩ＲｂＳｒ等时年龄分别为７１９．７、７２７．６Ｍａ。首次厘定相山变质岩形成于新元古代，而非加里东期变质。其原岩的成岩时代应为前震旦纪     

Mesozoic tectonothermal development of the Sambagawa, Mikabu and Chichibu belts, south-west Japan: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar whole-rock phyllite ages

Abstract Five whole-rock ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages from low-grade sectors of the Sambagawa belt (Besshi nappe complex) range between 87 and 97 Ma. Two whole-rock phyllite samples from the Mikabu greenstone belt record well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 96 and 98 Ma. Together these ages suggest that a high-pressure metamorphism occurred in both the Sambagawa and Mikabu belts at c. 90–100 Ma. The northern Chichibu sub-belt may consist of several distinct geochronological units because metamorphic ages increase systematically from north ( c. 110 Ma) to south ( c. 215 Ma). The northern Chichibu sub-belt is correlated with the Kuma nappe complex (Sambagawa belt). Two whole-rock phyllite samples from the Kurosegawa terrane display markedly older metamorphic ages than either the Sambagawa or the Chichibu belts.
Accretion of Sambagawa-Chichibu protoliths began prior to the middle Jurrasic. Depositional ages decrease from middle Jurassic (Kuma-Chichibu nappe complex) to c. 100 Ma (Oboke nappe complex) toward lower tectonostratigraphic units. The ages of metamorphic culmination also decrease from upper to lower tectonostratigraphic units. The Kurosegawa belt and the geological units to the south belong to distinctly different terrances than the Sambagawa-Chichibu belts. These have been juxtaposed as a result of transcurrent faulting during the Cretaceous.     

The higher grade metamorphic zonation of the Sambagawa metamorphic belt in central Shikoku, Japan

The higher grade metamorphic zonation of the Sambagawa (= Sanbagawa) belt is established for the first time for the whole area of central Shikoku. As discontinuous reactions to define the isograd are absent, the metamorphic grade is primarily determined by the Mg-Fe partitioning between garnet and chlorite along representative traverses. However, for regional mapping, mineralogical features of the pelitic schists, such as using mineral assemblages of more than divariant equilibrium, the modal garnet to chlorite ratio, and the optical properties of chlorite, are employed as auxiliary criteria.
The presence of the highest grade mineral zone in the middle of the structural level is confirmed, but its spatial distribution is far more complex than hitherto accepted. Thermal axes are now confirmed at three different structural levels. A model is presented in which the stacking of thrust sheets of different grade took place while metamorphic reactions were in progress. Thermal readjustment brought a continuous metamorphic temperature gradient across and within the thrust sheets. Tectonic blocks of metagabbro and ultramafic rock were emplaced synchronously with thinning and subsequently also re-equilibrated. Local anomalies of metamorphic grade, represented by mixing of schists of different metamorphic grade, exist, but they are due to a later stage event.     

Paragenesis of sodic pyroxene-bearing quartz schists: implications for the P-T history of the Sanbagawa belt

Sodic pyroxene (jadeite content X _jd=0.1–0.3) occurs locally as small inclusions within, albite porphyroblasts and in the matrix of hematite-bearing quartz schists in the Sanbagawa (Sambagawa) metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, Japan. The sodic, pyroxene-bearing samples are characteristically free from chlorite and their typical mineral assemblage is sodic pyroxene+subcalcic (or sodic) amphibole+phengitic mica+albite+quartz+hematite+titanite±epidote. Spessartine-rich garnet occurs in Mn-rich samples. Sodic pyroxene in epidote-bearing samples tends to be poorer in acmite content (average X _Acm=0.26–0.50) than that in the epidote-free samples (X _Acm=0.45–0.47). X _Jd shows no systematic relationship to metamorphic grade, and is different among the three sampling regions [Saruta-gawa, Asemi-gawa and Bessi (Besshi)]. The average X _Jd of the Saruta-gawa samples (0.21–0.29) is higher than that of the Asemi-gawa (0.13–0.17) and Bessi (0.14–0.23). The P-T conditions of the Asemi-gawa and Bessi regions are estimated at 5.5–6.5 kbar, >360°C in the chlorite zone, 7–8.5 kbar, 440±15°C in the garnet zone and 8–9.5 kbar, 520±25°C in the albite-biotite zone. Metamorphic pressure of the Saruta-gawa region is systematically 1–1.5 kbar higher than that of the Asemi-gawa and Bessi regions, and materials of the Saruta-gawa region have been subducted to a level 3–5 km deeper than materials that underwent metamorphism at equivalent temperatures and are now exposed in the Asemi-gawa and Bessi regions. Pressure slightly increases toward the north (structurally high levels) through the Sanbagawa belt of central shikoku. Two types of zonal structure were observed in relatively coarse-grained sodic pyroxenes in the matrix. One type is characterized by increasing X _Jd from core to rim, the other type by decreasing X _Jd from core to rim. Both types of zoned pyroxenes show an increase in X _{Fe 2+}[=Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+Mg)] from core to rim. The first type of zoning was observed in a sample from the chlorite zone of lowest grade, whereas the latter occurs in the garnet and albite-biotite zones of higher grade. The contrast in zonal structure implies that dP/dT during prograde metamorphism decreased with increasing metamorphic grade and may have been negative in some samples from the higher-grade zones. The estimated dP/dT of the prograde stage of the chlorite zone is 3.2 kbar/100°C, and that of the garnet and albite-biotite zones is -1.8 to 0.9 kbar/100°C. The variation of dP/dT at shallow and deep levels of a subduction system probably reflects the difference of heating duration and/or change in thermal gradient of the subduction zone by continuous cooling of the surrounding mantle.     

Muscovite K-Ar ages of the Sanbagawa schists,Japan and argon depletion during cooling and deformation

Seventy muscovites from schists in the Sanbagawa terrain in central Shikoku were dated by the K-Ar method. The muscovite ages are consistently older with increasing metamorphic grade. Within the same zone the ages are significantly younger in schists which have been more severely deformed. These K-Ar age variations could be due to systematic argon depletion during deformation i.e., to the dynamic recrystallization of muscovites during ductile deformation that formed a large-scale recumbent fold during the uplift and cooling. Argon loss was greater in schists that were more extensively deformed and in the lower grade zone that experienced a longer period of low-temperature deformation than the higher grade zone. The relationships between age and grain size in a pelitic schist suggest that coarse-grained muscovites lost more argon than the finegrained ones. There was no significant resetting of ages in the vicinity of major strike-slip faults, such as the Median Tecotonic Line or near thrust faults. The combination of geochronological and geological data constrains the cooling rate of the Sanbagawa schists to 9–12° C/Ma in the oligoclase-biotite zone in central Shikoku, Japan.     

Petrology of pelitic schists in the oligoclase-biotite zone of the Sanbagawa metamorphic terrain, Japan: phase equilibria in the highest grade zone of a high-pressure intermediate type of metamorphic belt

The oligoclase-biotite zone of the Bessi area, central Shikoku is characterized by sodic plagioclase (X_Ca= 0.10–0.28)-bearing assemblages in pelitic schists, and represents the highest-grade zone of the Sanbagawa metamorphic terrain. Mineral assemblages in pelitic schists of this zone, all with quartz, sodic plagioclase, muscovite and clinozoisite (or zoisite), are garnet + biotite + chlorite + paragonite, garnet + biotite + hornblende + chlorite, and partial assemblages of these two types. Correlations between mineral compositions, mineral assemblages and mineral stability data assuming PH₂O = P_solid suggests that metamorphic conditions of this zone are about 610 ± 25°C and 10 ± 1 kbar.
Based upon a comparative study of mineralogy and chemistry of pelitic schists in the oligoclase-biotite zone of the Sanbagawa terrain with those in the New Caledonia omphacite zone as an example of a typical high-pressure type of metamorphic belt and with those in a generalized'upper staurolite zone'as an example of a medium-pressure type of metamorphic belt, progressive assemblages within these three zones can be related by reactions such as:     

Jadeite–garnet glaucophane schists in the Bizan area,Sambagawa metamorphic belt,eastern Shikoku,Japan: significance and extent of eclogite facies metamorphism

Eclogite facies metamorphic rocks have been discovered from the Bizan area of eastern Shikoku, Sambagawa metamorphic belt. The eclogitic jadeite–garnet glaucophane schists occur as lenticular or sheet‐like bodies in the pelitic schist matrix, with the peak mineral assemblage of garnet + glaucophane + jadeite + phengite + quartz. The jadeitic clinopyroxene (X_Jd 0.46–0.75) is found exclusively as inclusions in porphyroblastic garnet. The eclogite metamorphism is characterized by prograde development from epidote–blueschist to eclogite facies. Metamorphic P–T conditions estimated using pseudosection modelling are 580–600 °C and 18–20 kbar for eclogite facies. Compared with common mafic eclogites, the jadeite–garnet glaucophane schists have low CaO (4.4–4.5 wt%) and MgO (2.1–2.3 wt%) bulk‐rock compositions. The P–T– pseudosections show that low X_Ca bulk‐rock compositions favour the appearance of jadeite instead of omphacite under eclogite facies conditions. This is a unique example of low X_Ca bulk‐rock composition triggered to form jadeite at eclogite facies conditions. Two significant types of eclogitic metamorphism have been distinguished in the Sambagawa metamorphic belt, that is, a low‐T type and subsequent high‐T type eclogitic metamorphic events. The jadeite–garnet glaucophane schists experienced low‐T type eclogite facies metamorphism, and the P–T path is similar to lawsonite‐bearing eclogites recently reported from the Kotsu area in eastern Shikoku. During subduction of the oceanic plate (Izanagi plate), the hangingwall cooled gradually, and the geothermal gradient along the subduction zone progressively decreased and formed low‐T type eclogitic metamorphic rocks. A subsequent warm subduction event associated with an approaching spreading ridge caused the high‐T type eclogitic metamorphism within a single subduction zone.     

Tectonometamorphic evolution of the Sebadani eclogitic metagabbro and the Sambagawa schists, central Shikoku, Japan: 40Ar/39Ar mineral age constraints

Abstract The Sambagawa metamorphic belt exposed in central Shikoku records a high-P–T metamorphic event. It is represented by the Oboke nappe and structurally overlying, internally imbricated, Besshi nappe complex. These major structural units are in ductile thrust contact. A melange is developed along a ductile internal tectonic contact within the Besshi nappe complex. Tectonic emplacement of a high-T enclave (Sebadani eclogite) in the melange zone resulted in the development of a contact metamorphic aureole within the host Sambagawa rocks. ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar versus ³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar isotope correlation ages recorded by hornblende from the Sambagawa basic schists which surround the Sebadani enclave are 83.4 ± 0.3 Ma (within contact aureole) and 83.6 ± 0.5 Ma (outside aureole). ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages recorded by muscovite from the same samples are 87.9 ± 0.3 and 89.3 ± 0.4 Ma. Amphibole from the amphibolite within the Sebadani enclave records isotope correlation ages of 93.7 ± 1.1 and 96.5 ± 0.7 Ma (massive interior) and 84.6 ± 1.2 Ma (marginal shear zone). Amphibole within the massive amphibolite is significantly higher in X_Mg than that within the host Sambagawa basic schists. The older ages recorded by amphibole within the Sebadani enclave are interpreted to date cooling through somewhat higher closure temperatures than which characterize the more Fe-rich amphibole in surrounding schists. The younger amphibole age recorded within the marginal shear zone probably indicates that crystallization of amphibole continued until cooling through the relatively lower amphibole closure temperatures. These results, together with the previously published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of the Sambagawa schists, suggest: (i) metamorphic culmination occurred in the Besshi nappe complex at c. 100–90 Ma; (ii) at c. 95 Ma the Besshi nappe complex was internally imbricated and tectonic enclaves were emplaced; (iii) at c. 85 Ma, the composite Besshi nappe was rapidly exhumed and tectonically emplaced over the Oboke nappe (which attained peak metamorphic conditions at c. 75 Ma); (iv) the Besshi and Oboke nappe complexes were further exhumed as a coherent tectonic unit and unconformably overlain by the Eocene Kuma Group at c. 50 Ma.     

柴北缘鱼卡地区达肯大坂岩群的地质特征与构造环境

柴达木北缘鱼卡河地区的达肯大坂岩群可划分为斜长角闪岩岩组和片岩岩组。斜长角闪岩岩组主要由变质基性火山岩和碎屑岩组成,火山岩的地球化学特征指示为岛弧环境构造;片岩岩组分布在柴达木山西南侧,为一套陆源碎屑岩建造。该岩群遭受了三幕构造变形,前两幕褶皱变形是造山作用的产物,具有近似的北西-南东向或北北西向的褶皱枢纽,近共轴褶皱叠加的构造样式指示了北东-南西向挤压收缩的动力学背景。达肯大坂岩群遭受中压高绿片岩相-角闪岩相的变质,变质程度往北东方向递减,可与其南柴达木盆地一侧的高压-超高压变质带构成双变质带。结合最近从达肯大坂岩群中获得的锆石年龄,推断该岩群形成于大陆边缘的弧后盆地,时代为新元古代晚期-早古生代,是柴北缘早古生代造山带的重要组成部分。     

Microboudin structures of piemontite along the Sambagawa metamorphic belt, Japan: implications for lateral variation of differential stress during regional metamorphism

Evidence is presented of a lateral variation in differential stress during metamorphism along a regional metamorphic belt on the basis of the proportion of microboudinaged piemontite grains (p) in a quartz matrix in metacherts. It is proposed that p is a practical indicator of relative differential stress. Analysis of 123 metacherts from the 800 km long Sambagawa metamorphic belt, Japan, reveals that p‐values range from < 0.01 to 0.7 in this region. Most samples from Wakayama in the mid‐belt area have p‐values of 0.4–0.6, whereas those from western Shikoku have p‐values of < 0.1. This difference cannot be explained by variations in metamorphic temperature, and is instead attributed to a regional, lateral variation in differential stress during metamorphism.     

Prograde amphiboles in hematite-bearing basic and quartz schists in the Sanbagawa belt, central Shikoku: relationship between metamorphic field gradient and P-T paths of individual rocks

The prograde amphibole that coexists with chlorite, epidote, muscovite, albite, quartz and hematite in Sanbagawa schists was examined to investigate the relationship between the prograde P-T paths of individual rocks and the metamorphic field gradient in the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt, central Shikoku. The amphibole changes from actinolite, through ferri-winchite and crossite, to barroisite and hornblende with increasing grade along the metamorphic field gradient. However, the sequence of prograde amphibole compositions in each sample varies in different mineral zones. The general scheme can be summarized as: magnesioriebeckite-riebeckite crossite in the upper chlorite zone of lower-grade rocks; crossite or glaucophane barroisite in the garnet zone of medium-grade rocks; and actinolite or winchite barroisite hornblende in the albite-biotite zone of higher-grade rocks. Changes of amphibole composition indicate that the prograde P-T path recorded in the higher-grade rocks was situated on the higher-temperature side of that of the lower-grade rocks and on the lower-pressure side of the metamorphic field gradient. The systematic change of P-T paths implies an increasing d P /d T during continuous subduction. These features can be interpreted as documenting prograde metamorphism within a young subduction zone that has a non-steady-state geotherm.     

藏北羌塘中部高压变质带中石榴子石白云母片岩的岩石学和变质特征

羌塘中部的高压变质带位于龙木错-双湖-澜沧江板块缝合带之上,由榴辉岩、蓝片岩和石榴子石白云母片岩组成,其形成过程对探讨板块缝合带的构造演化具有重要意义。以其中的石榴子石白云母片岩为研究对象,通过岩相学研究并结合电子探针成分分析,认为石榴子石白云母片岩中的石榴子石具有多期次变质结晶的特征,保留了岩石多期次变质的信息。结合岩石组构特征,最终确定石榴子石白云母片岩至少经历了3期次的变质作用。第一、二期均为绿片岩相,当时岩石不具定向构造且未达到高压;第三期为低温高压蓝片岩相变质作用,与区域上蓝片岩的形成及榴辉岩的蓝片岩相退变质作用大体同时,该期变质变形作用形成了岩石的片理,最终成为石榴子石白云母片岩,变质作用时代为218Ma左右。     

羌塘中部高压变质带的退变质作用及其构造侵位

羌塘中部的高压变质带主要由榴辉岩、石榴石白云母片岩和蓝片岩等组成,它们在遭受高压变质作用之后折返,构造侵位于晚古生代展金组地层中,二者以韧性变形带为接触边界.本文以高压变质带中的榴辉岩和韧性变形带为研究对象,讨论了高压变质带折返过程中的退变质作用特征及折返时代.研究表明,榴辉岩在高峰期变质作用之后的折返过程中经历了由榴辉岩相→蓝片岩相→绿帘角闪岩相的退变质作用演化过程;在高压变质带构造侵位过程形成的韧性变形带中,白云母石英片岩的白云母40Ar-39Ar坪年龄为219±2Ma.高压变质带在219Ma左右构造侵位于展金组地层中,并于214Ma之前最终抬升出露地表.     

Himalayan main central thrust and its implications for Himalayan inverted metamorphism

Within the scheme of south-directed orogenic polarity in the Himalayan region, the Main Central Thrust (MCT) developed at an intermediate stage between the collisional tectonics at the Indus-Tsangpo suture in the north and the latest underthrusting at the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in the south. The proposition that the MCT marks the base of the High Himalayan Central Crystalline zone against the Inner sedimentary belt of the Lower Himalayas creates confusion in its definition, and its location in Kashmir and especially in the Eastern Himalayas. The problem can be resolved by defining the MCT as the basal thrust of the crystalline nappe sequences either rooted at or detached as klippe from the Central Crystalline zone.Characteristically, the nappe sequences show inverted metamorphism which generally starts at the basal thrust, the redefined MCT, from the chlorite-biotite grades and reaches the kyanite-sillimanite grades with migmatites and anatectic granites in the highest tectonic levels. The metamorphic rank of both the substrate and the overthrust rock units in the vicinity of the MCT is generally low. The inverted metamorphism may be explained by intracontinental underthrusting and resultant downbowing of the isotherms. The redefined MCT does not appear to represent the thrust zone along which the continental underthrusting was initiated. It developed to the south of this zone as a possible sole thrust of the nappe stack of the crystalline rocks that overrode the parautochthonous sedimentary sequences of the Lower Himalayas.The sequence of events associated with the MCT would probably be repeated in the MBT.     

A Microstructural sequence of quartz schists in central Shikoku, south-west Japan

This paper describes a microstructural sequence of quartz schists (metamorphosed chert) in the Asemi river region of the Sambagawa metamorphic terrain in central Shikoku, southwest Japan. The Asemi river region is divided into three areas on the basis of characteristics of microstructures of quartz schists observed under the optical microscope: areas I, II and III, in ascending order of metamorphic grade. Microstructures in area I consist of finer, equant, equidimensional and polygonal quartz grains free from internal deformation features. Microstructures in area II are characterized by oblate or elliptical grains with remarkable undulatory extinction surrounded by serrated grain boundaries. Microstructures in area III consist mainly of coarser and equant grains without distinct internal deformation features.The formation conditions of these microstructures are discussed in the light of recent experimental results.