Contrasting fluid evolution of granulite-facies marbles: implications for a high-T intermediate-P terrain in the Famatinian Range, San-Juan, Argentina

High-temperature, intermediate-pressure calc-silicate marbles occur in the granulite-facies terrain of the La Huerta Range in the Province of San Juan, NW-Argentina, in three bulk-compositional varieties: Type (1) dolomite-absent scapolite-wollastonite-grandite-clinopyroxene-quartz—calcite marbles; Type (2) diopside-forsterite-spinel-corundum—calcite marbles with dolomite exolution lamellae in calcite; Type (3) serpentinized forsterite-spinel-dolomite marbles. An isobaric cooling path from peak-metamorphic conditions of 860°C to 750°C at 6.5 kbar is inferred from scapolite-wollastonite-grandite reaction textures in Type (1) and is consistent with cooling after an advective heat input from related gabbroic and tonalitic intrusive bodies. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope geochemistry was used to decipher the fluid/rock evolution of the three marble types. An interpreted four-stage temperature-time-fluid flow path comprises: (1) infiltration of pre-peak-metamorphic fluids, depleted in δ¹⁸O, that caused a shift of primary sedimentary δ¹⁸O ratios to lower values (19.6–20.0); (2) syn-metamorphic fluid liberation from Type (1) marbles with evidence for processes close to batch devolatilization that caused a weak coupled ¹³C and ¹⁸O depletion during prograde metamorphism. A different devolatilization behaviour, close to Rayleigh fractionation, texturally associated with fold settings indicates that granulite-facies fluid flow was focused rather than pervasive; (3) H₂O-absent conditions were dominant when coronal grandite formed during incipient high-temperature isobaric cooling at the expense of scapolite and wollastonite in the Type (1) marbles; (4) intense post-peak- hydration of Type (2) and Type (3) marbles is the last recognizable metasomatic event. In combination, the three marble types record fluid infiltration both before and after the metamorphic peak.     

秦岭岩群中两类斜长角闪岩的性质和时代及其地质意义

在北秦岭造山带核部秦岭岩群内发育两类不同产状的斜长角闪岩.一类与秦岭岩群中的大理岩紧密共生,呈规模较大的似层状或较小块体产于大理岩内,另一类则呈密集岩墙群型式侵入于秦岭岩群南段二云母石英片岩中.不同的产出状态表明两类斜长角闪岩的成因和时代存在显著差异,也具有不同的地质构造意义.地球化学上,两类不同产状的斜长角闪岩的原岩皆为玄武岩质的.侵入秦岭岩群二云母石英片岩中的斜长角闪岩墙群形成于板内拉张环境,SHRIMP锆石U-Pb测年揭示该类斜长角闪岩形成于晚奥陶世(449±11Ma),Sr-Nd同位素特征显示其岩浆源区为亏损地幔源区,40Ar/39Ar热年代学研究显示该类斜长角闪岩的角闪岩相变质作用发生于石炭纪末期(301.3±6.4Ma).地球化学和Sr-Nd同位素特征显示与秦岭岩群大理岩共生的似层状或块状斜长角闪岩的形成环境与侵入云母石英片岩中的斜长角闪岩墙群的存在显著差异,其形成于洋岛(OIB)或海山环境.40Ar/39Ar热年代学研究显示该类斜长角闪岩于晚二叠世(258.1±5.7Ma)发生了角闪岩相变质作用.不同性质、形成和变质时代、相似的变质作用等特点表明,秦岭岩群中的两类角闪岩分属不同性质的构造块体,秦岭岩群高级变地质地体可能是一个构造拼合地体.斜长角闪岩岩墙为晚奥陶世(449±11Ma)侵入秦岭岩群云英片岩中的基性岩墙群,是北秦岭晚加里东期后造山期热收缩而致的地壳伸展或岩圈拆离减薄的产物.与秦岭岩群大理岩共生的斜长角闪岩则可能是洋隆体的基性喷出岩+碳酸盐岩帽组合,是中二叠世(312～260Ma)期间构造移置而来的外来块体.     

Petrographical and geochemical investigation of the Triassic marbles associated with Menderes massif metamorphics,Kavaklıdere,Muğla,SW Turkey

Vast marble deposits occur in a cover sequence of the Menderes Massif, SW Turkey. Four major marble deposits are recognized in Mu?la province based on the stratigraphic levels. These are Permo-Carboniferous aged black marbles (1), Triassic aged marbles (2), Upper Cretaceous aged marbles (3), and Paleocene aged pelagic marbles (4). This study deals with Triassic aged marbles of the southern part of the Menderes Massif. The Triassic marbles from SW Turkey consist of two big marble horizons in the Çayboyu (ÇM) and Kestanecik (KM) regions. The characteristic samples are collected from different stratigraphic levels in marble deposits in the ÇM and KM horizons. Mineralogical and major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) analyses of marble, limestone, and schist were conducted on these samples to reveal their petrographical and geochemical characteristics. The ÇM horizon is represented by calcitic marble layers. Nickel, cobalt, manganese, and iron elements filled in fractures, fissures, and intergranular spaces of calcite crystals and these elements give the pinky colour to the marble from the ÇM horizon. KM marbles were deformed, metamorphosed, and recrystallized under greenschist facies P–T conditions. As a result of the metasomatic reaction of magnesium and manganese rich fluids with marbles, dolomite, and manganese, minerals such as rhodochrosite and pyrolusite have crystallized along vein walls and layers in the KM horizon. Dolomitization was determined in KM marbles, whereas ÇM marbles show the character of limestone. MgO, MnO, Fe₂O₃, Ni, and Zn contents of marbles from the KM horizon are higher than those of ÇM marbles due to metasomatic reactions. The Sr content in white coloured marbles ranges between 11.20 ppm and 112.20 ppm and this concentration reaches up to 272.70 ppm due to metasomatic reactions and fluid intake. The REE content of Triassic marbles is independent of the abundance of carbonate and the REE enrichment observed due to syn-metamorphic fluid flow. The significant negative Eu anomaly in REE patterns indicates that the protoliths of Triassic marbles are carbonate rocks of sedimentary origin.     

A new occurrence of garnetiferous skarn rocks in Saudi Arabia: a case study from Bahrah area, Jeddah–Makkah Al Mukaramah highway

Metacarbonate rocks (including marble and skarn deposits) at Bahrah area are confined to a Precambrian island-arc suite made up mostly of massive basalts and volcaniclastics aligned in a NE-trending belt. The marbles are either pure (almost made up of calcite) or contain considerable amounts of tremolite, actinolite, epidote, and diopside. Garnet-bearing rocks at Bahrah area are classified into garnetiferous marble and skarn calc-silicate assemblages that are described here for the first time. The calc-silicates become more abundant when the marble becomes interbedded with foliated metabasalt. Such contact is delineated by an epidote zone of variable thickness. Microscopically, the skarns are enriched in Ca-bearing minerals such as grossular garnet, epidote, titanite, diopside, and augitic salite. There are evidence that calc-silicate skarns were formed due to a thermal effect of a concealed underground shallow granitic intrusion. The basaltic rocks furnished Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ti⁴⁺, and Al³⁺ that were first concentrated in the epidote zone. This was followed by pervasive replacement of epidote by large idiomorphic garnet (grossularite) that attains up to ～1.5 cm wide. It is evident that diopside is earlier than garnet with no replacement fabrics between the two minerals. Two types of titanite (sphene) can be distinguished: The first is secondary in the metabasalt host where titanite develops after titanomagnetite during regional metamorphism (i.e., metamorphic). On the other hand, the second type of titanite is found in the garnet-bearing calc-silicate skarn where it is typically euhedral with no link to any opaque phase and it is believed to be formed due to the event of superimposed thermal metamorphism (i.e., metasomatic). There are several evidence of the thermal metamorphic effect such as distinct granoblastic and annealing textures and K-metasomatism and formation of phlogopite at the expense of tremolite in the marble, in addition to poikiloblastic hornblende in the metabasalt host with distinct recrystallization. Also, there are some evidence of shearing such as brecciation along microshear planes, microfolding, introduction of fine euhedral pyrite, and presence of injected silica postdating crystallization of garnet in the calc-silicates.     

Amphibolites and basic metasomatites of the Belomorian belt: Similarities and differences

The paper presents a comparative mineralogical-geochemical characterization of amphibolites and basic metasomatic rocks in the Belomorian belt. The metasomatites are spread much more locally than the amphibolites. The metasomatic rocks compose bodies of very diverse morphology, some of which are similar to the morphologies of amphibolite bodies (podiform and tabular bodies and lenses). The metasomatites are characterized by a great diversity of their petrographic varieties, whereas the usual assemblage of the amphibolites is amphibole ± garnet + plagioclase + quartz. Although one of the varieties of both rock types contains the same assemblage (garnet-hornblende), the metasomatites contain no quartz, have different quantitative proportions of their minerals, their compositions, and different overall contents of amphibole and garnet. The metasomatites are more mafic and contain 85–100% mafic minerals, whereas the amphibolites contain only 60–65% mafic minerals. The rocks have different concentrations of most major and some trace elements, including REE. The basic metasomatites are poorer than the amphibolites in SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Na₂O, K₂O, LREE, and HREE but richer in MgO and Cr₂O₃. The Cr concentrations in some of the metasomatites are higher than the clarkes of this element in crustal ultrabasic rocks. The main Cr concentrator in the rocks was determined to be amphibole: some grains of this mineral contain as much as 6800 ppm Cr. The element is unevenly distributed even within single grains. Amphiboles of the amphibolites do not contain Cr at all. Another difference of amphiboles from the metasomatic rocks and amphibolites is the depletion of this mineral in the former rocks in Al and Fe, the absence of K, but high concentrations of MgO and 1.5–2.0 times higher. A remarkable feature of the compared rocks is their geneses. The amphibolites of the Belomorian belt are metamorphosed mafic Archean rocks, whereas the basic metasomatites were produced by Fe-Mg-Ca metasomatism (basification) closely related to the granitization of various rocks, first of all, amphibolites. It is important to distinguish between these rocks of various genesis and age, particularly when geological survey is conducted.     

Stratabound tungsten mineralization in regional metamorphic calc-silicate rocks from the Austroalpine Crystalline Complex,Austria

Stratabound tungsten mineralization in regional metamorphic calc-silicate rocks of probably Lower Paleozoic age is described from the polymetamorphic Austroalpine Crystalline Complex (ACC) of the Eastern Alps. Scheelite-bearing calc-silicate rocks which are often associated with marbles and tourmalinites are intercalated conformably with metaclastic rocks. Alkalipoor calc-silicate rocks with high amounts of clinozoisite/ zoisite, grossular, quartz, plagioclase, etc. are the most important host rocks for tungsten mineralization. These unusual calc-silicate rocks are products of regional metaorphism and are interpreted as reaction skarns. They have formed in the presence of a water-dominated fluid phase with very low X_CO2.In the Koralpe estimated P-T conditions are 650–700 °C at 5–7 kb. The mineralogical composition and the mineral zoning of the calc-silicate rocks is controlled by the degree of the Hercynian and Eoalpine metamorphism. There are no signs of graniteelated skarn formation. Tungsten preconcentration is thought to be syngenetic/syndiagenetic. It is genetically linked to exhalative hydrothermal processes in other Lower Paleozoic terrains of the Eastern Alps.     

Amphibolites from Panama: anticlockwise P-T paths from a Pre-upper Cretaceous metamorphic basement in Isthmian Central America

Rocks from the metamorphic basement of the Azuero and Sona peninsulas, Panama, consist of schistose amphibolites and minor amounts of metasediment. In the Sona peninsula, strongly zoned amphiboles indicate that the amphibolites followed a progressive anticlockwsie P-T path prograde from low T /low P to medium T /high P , and are retrograded into the greenschist facies. In contrast, the amphibolites of the Azuero peninsula are affected by a low to medium T /low P metamorphism.
The metamorphic events of the Sona amphibolites occurred prior to the intra-Senonian tectonic phase which affects the Mesozoic formations along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama. The regional significance of such a basement in Isthmian Central America is discussed.     

Geochemistry and petrology of metamorphosed submarine basic ashes in the Edough Massif (Cap de Garde,Annaba, northeastern Algeria)

The study presents the first evidence of metamorphosed submarine ashes in the Edough Massif, in northeastern Algeria. It occurs below the greenschist-facies Tellian units that represent the thrusted Mesozoic to Eocene passive paleomargin of northern Africa deposited on thinned continental crust. The metamorphic complex consists of tectonically superposed units composed of gneisses (lower unit) and micaschists (upper unit). At the Cap de Garde, these units enclose an “intermediate unit” composed of micaschists and meter-thick layers of marbles, which are sometimes intercalated with amphibolites. The latter occur as discontinuous small lenses and layers. The amphibolites are parallel to the primary bedding of the marbles and the main foliation. Chemical markers and field observations indicate that they are metamorphic equivalents of basic igneous rocks. The lenticular character, low thickness and multiple intercalations with marine sediments and the unusual high lithium concentrations suggest subaqueous near-source basaltic ash-fall deposits in a marine environment.     

Contrasting Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Evolution in Metacarbonates from the Kerala Khondalite Belt,Southern India

The Kerala Khondalite belt is a Proterozoic metasupracrustal granulite facies terrain in southern India comprising garnet-biotite gneiss, garnet-sillimanite gneiss and orthopyroxene granulites as major rock types. Calc-silicate rocks and marbles, occurring as minor lithologies in the Kerala Khondalite Belt, show different mineral assemblages and reaction histories of which indicate a metamorphic P-T-fluid history dominated by internal fluid buffering during the peak metamorphism, followed by external fluid influx during decompression. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of calcite from three representative metacarbonate localities show contrasting evolutionary trends. The Ambasamudram marbles exhibit carbon and oxygen isotope ratios (δ¹³C ∼ 0‰ and δ¹⁸O ∼ 20‰) typical of middle to late Proterozoic marine carbonate sediments with minor variation ascribed to the isotopic exchange due to the devolatilization reactions. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of ∼ −9‰ and 11‰, respectively, for calcite from calc-silicate rocks at Nuliyam are considerably low and heterogeneous. The wollastonite formation here, possibly corresponds to an earlier event of fluid infiltration during prograde to peak metamorphism, which resulted in decarbonation and isotope resetting. Further, petrologic evidence supports a model of late carbonic fluid infiltration that has partially affected the calc-silicate rocks, with subsequent isotope resetting, more towards the contact between calc-silicate rock and charnockite. At Korani, only oxygen isotopes have been significantly lowered (δ¹⁸O ∼ 13‰) and the process involved might be a combination of metamorphic devolatilization accompanied by an aqueous fluid influx, supported by petrologic evidence. The stable isotope signatures obtained from the individual localities, thus indicate heterogeneous patterns of fluid evolution history within the same crustal segment.     

Dolomitic marbles and associated calc-silicates, Tandilia belt, Argentina: Geothermobarometry, metamorphic evolution, and P–T path

The metamorphic evolution of dolomitic marbles and associated calc-silicate rocks from Punta Tota (NE Tandilia belt, Buenos Aires province, Argentina) has been evaluated through petrographic, geothermobarometric, and fluid inclusion studies. Thin beds of dolomitic marble are intercalated in amphibolites and constitute the upper part of a stratified basement sequence, which starts at the base with garnet migmatites showing a great abundance of pegmatitic segregates, overlain by biotite–garnet gneisses. Peak metamorphic conditions are estimated at 750–800 °C and 5–6 kb, followed by near isobaric cooling to about 500–450 °C and 5.5–6.5 kb. Anhydrous progressive metamorphic assemblages in both marbles (Fo + Cal + Dol + Cpx + Spl) and adjacent calc-silicate rocks (Cpx + An + Cal + Qtz) strongly retrogressed to hydrous minerals (Tr, Tlc, Grs, Czo, Srp) with decreasing temperatures and increasing water activities. The intense rehydration of the rocks relates to the emplacement of volatile-rich pegmatitic bodies (Qtz + Pl + Kfs + Bt + Grt), which also resulted in the crystallization of clinochlore + phlogopite in the marble and biotite + muscovite in the adjacent calc-silicate rocks. Metamorphic reactions based on textural relations and evaluated on a suitable petrogenetic grid, combined with geothermobarometric results and fluid inclusion isochores, indicate a metamorphic evolution along a counterclockwise P–T path. Two probable geotectonic settings for the determined P–T trajectory are proposed: (1) thinning of the crust and overlying supracrustal basin in an ensialic intraplate tectonic setting and (2) development of a marginal back-arc basin, associated with an oceanic–continental convergent plate margin. In both models, the initial extensional regime is followed by a compressional stage, with overthickening of the basement and supracrustal rocks, during the climax of the Transamazonian cycle at approximately 1800 Ma ago. Continuous convergence and blockage of structures produce transition to transcurrent tectonics (transpression) with a consequent moderate uplift.     

Corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks in the Central Pamirs

The Muzkol metamorphic complex in the Central Pamirs contains widespread occurrences of corundum mineralization, sometimes with gem-quality corundum. These occurrences are spatially related to zones of metasomatic alterations in calcite and dolomite marbles and crystalline schists. The calcite marbles contain corundum together with muscovite, scapolite, and biotite; the dolomite marbles contain corundum in association with biotite; and the schists bear this mineral coexisting with biotite and chlorite. All these rocks additionally contain tourmaline, apatite, rutile, and pyrite. The biotite is typically highly aluminous (up to 1.9 f.u. Al), and the scapolite is rich in the marialite end member (60–75 mol %). The crystallization parameters of corundum were estimated using mineral assemblages at T = 600–650°C, P = 4–6 kbar, X _{CO 2} = 0.2–0.5 at elevated alkalinity of the fluid. The Sr concentration in the calcite and dolomite marbles is low (345–460 and 62–110 ppm, respectively), as is typical of recrystallized sedimentary carbonates. The variations in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in the calcite and dolomite marbles (0.70852–0.70999 and 0.70902–0.71021, respectively) were controlled by the introduction of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr during the metasomatic transformations of the rocks. The isotopic-geochemical characteristics obtained for the rocks and the results of numerical simulations of the fluid-rock interactions indicate that the corundum-bearing metasomatic rocks developed after originally sedimentary Phanerozoic carbonate rocks, with the desilication of the terrigenous material contained in them. This process was a manifestation of regional alkaline metasomatism during the closing stages of Alpine metamorphism. In the course of transformations in the carbonate reservoir, the juvenile fluid flow became undersaturated with respect to silica, which was a necessary prerequisite for the formation of corundum.     

Persistence of pre-metamorphic C and O isotopic signatures in marbles subject to Pan-African granulite-facies metamorphism and U–Th mineralization (Tranomaro, Southeast Madagascar)

The status of fluid regimes during the Pan-African granulite-facies metamorphism in Southern Madagascar was examined by means of a mineralogical and stable isotope study of marble lithologies. In the granulitic Tranomaro area, which is made up of metasedimentary rocks (metapelitic, leptynitic (felsic) and calc–silicate metasediments) and intruded by syn-granulitic granitic bodies, syn-granulitic mineralization (Th–U) and metasomatic transformations (marbles→pyroxenites) demonstrate that fluid circulation has occurred. The Tranomaro marbles can be subdivided into two compositional groups, either Mg-poor or Mg-rich. This division reflects pre-metamorphic compositional differences rather than different histories. On a regional scale, the marbles display a large variation in (from +19 to +6.5‰ relative to SMOW) but have a more restricted range (from +1.4 to −2.5‰ relative to PDB). The lowest values are observed in magnesian marbles, whereas calcic ones do not have values lower than +13.5‰. Both initially low and high marbles may have locally been infiltrated by the syn-metamorphic fluid flow which gave rise to pyroxenites and Th–U ores (thorianite). values of carbonate in Mg-rich marbles evolve from +7 up to 8.5‰ towards the contact with a metasomatic pyroxenite in a meter-scale profile across an infiltration zone. The mineralogy, as well as the large and small-scale isotopic results argue for: (i) a pre-metamorphic origin for the isotopic variations, probably related to pre-granulitic dolomitization, (ii) a lack of pervasive fluid infiltration capable of erasing pre-metamorphic isotopic compositional differences, (iii) an absence of mantle-derived C-bearing fluids in the infiltrated zones. For the area as a whole, the present data are consistent with the decarbonation of impure siliceous limestones and dolostones coupled with fluid release from syn-metamorphic granitic intrusions.     

Metamorphism of the variegated sequence at Kallithea,Samos, Greece

Summary The variegated sequence at Kallithea, westernmost part of the island of Samos, consists of pure dolomitic marbles, siliceous marbles, calc-silicate rocks and amphibolites. It was formed from a volcano-sedimentary series by a regional metamorphism under amphibolite facies conditions. Assuming a total fluid pressure of 5 kb, temperature may have reached 700°C. In the siliceous marbles, a retrogressive evolution is documented. The intrusion of the Kallithea igneous suite which took place about 10 Ma ago hardly affected the regional metamorphic sequence. The only exception are small veins of wollastonite in a silicate marble. In contrast to the other tectonic units which form the major part of Samos, no traces of high pressure minerals could be detected in the Kallithea metamorphics, suggesting a different geological history. The age and geotectonic position of the variegated sequence is unknown so far.

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Zusammenfassung Die bunte Serie von Kallithea (westlichster Teil der Insel Samos), bestehend aus reinen Dolomitmarmoren, Silikatmarmoren, Kalksilikatfelsen und Amphiboliten, geht auf eine vuikano-sedimentäre Folge zurück, die durch eine Regionalmetamorphose unter amphibolitfaziellen Bedingungen geprägt wurde. Hierbei dürften Temperaturen um 700°C erreicht worden sein, wenn man einen Gesamtdruck (P _fl ) von 5 kb annimmt. In den Silikatmarmoren ist eine Abfolge retrograder Mineralreaktionen dokumentiert. Vor etwa 10 Millionen Jahren intrudierten in die regionalmetamorphe Serie dioritische bis granitische Magmen ohne das Nebengestein kontaktmetamorph zu überprägen. Eine Ausnahme bilden kleine Wollastonitäderchen in einem Silikatmarmor. Im Gegensatz zu den übrigen tektonischen Einheiten, die den größten Teil der Insel aufbauen, lassen sich in den Metamorphiten von Kallithea keine Anzeichen einer Hochdruckmetamorphose nachweisen, was auf eine abweichende geologische Geschichte hindeutet. Alter und geotektonische Stellung der bunten Serie von Kallithea sind bislang noch unbekannt.

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With 5 Figures

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Herrn Professor Dr. Siegfried Matthes zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Genesis and composition of endogenous borates in the skarns of the Eastern and Central Pyrenees

This paper addresses the genesis and composition of endogenous borates and other minerals from the magnesian-skarn aureoles at the contacts between dolomites and Hercynian granitoid intrusions of the Eastern and Central Pyrenees (Querigut and Costabonne peak massifs in France, and the Monchi deposit in Spain). It was shown that these occurrences and other magnesian skarns in the Sierra Morena Range, Spain, genetically belong to the periclase depth facies: zoned metasomatic aureoles of dolomites of primitive structure complicated by the development of periclase marble zones. The near-contact zones of the intrusions are represented by the granitoids of increasing basicity and alkalinity, which indicates the assimilation of host rocks by overheated granitic magmas. The postmagmatic stage was marked by the formation of magnesium and magnesium-iron borates of diverse composition in calciphyres and marbles, replacement of forsterite by humites in the calciphyres, and the development of silicates of decreasing Mg mole fraction after pyroxene skarns; the latter is accompanied by magnesium migration into the outer zones of the aureole. It was determined that the studied deposits of France contain boron minerals (kotoite, suanite, and pertsevite) previously unknown for this region in association with fluoborite and late szaibelyite. In skarns of Spain, the high-Fe borates are represented by monomineral aggregates of fine-prismatic parallel oriented crystals of vonsenite or its coarse-grained masses. It is conceivable that sulfide-bearing magnesian skarns and calciphyres of the studied deposits contain magnesium hydroxysulfides: tochilinite (after pyrrhotite) and valleriite (after chalcopyrite).     

Field and geochemical characteristics of the Mesoarchean ( 3075 Ma) Ivisaartoq greenstone belt, southern West Greenland: Evidence for seafloor hydrothermal alteration in supra-subduction oceanic crust

The Mesoarchean (ca. 3075 Ma) Ivisaartoq greenstone belt in southern West Greenland includes variably deformed and metamorphosed pillow basalts, ultramafic flows (picrites), serpentinized ultramafic rocks, gabbros, sulphide-rich siliceous layers, and minor siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. Primary magmatic features such as concentric cooling-cracks and drainage cavities in pillows, volcanic breccia, ocelli interpreted as liquid immiscibility textures in pillows and gabbros, magmatic layering in gabbros, and clinopyroxene cumulates in ultramafic flows are well preserved in low-strain domains. The belt underwent at least two stages of calc-silicate metasomatic alteration and polyphase deformation between 2963 and 3075 Ma. The stage I metasomatic assemblage is composed predominantly of epidote (now mostly diopside) + quartz + plagioclase ± hornblende ± scapolite, and occurs mainly in pillow cores, pillow interstitials, and along pillow basalt-gabbro contacts. The origin of this metasomatic assemblage is attributed to seafloor hydrothermal alteration. On the basis of the common presence of epidote inclusions in diopside and the local occurrence of epidote-rich aggregates, the stage I metasomatic assemblage is interpreted as relict epidosite. The stage II metasomatic assemblage occurs as concordant discontinuous layered calc-silicate bodies to discordant calc-silicate veins commonly associated with shear zones. The stage II metasomatic assemblage consists mainly of diopside + garnet + amphibole + plagioclase + quartz ± vesuvianite ± scapolite ± epidote ± titanite ± calcite ± scheelite. Given that the second stage of metasomatism is closely associated with shear zones and replaced rocks with an early metamorphic fabric, its origin is attributed to regional dynamothermal metamorphism. The least altered pillow basalts, picrites, gabbros, and diorites are characterized by LREE-enriched, near-flat HREE, and HFSE (especially Nb)-depleted trace element patterns, indicating a subduction zone geochemical signature. Ultramafic pillows and cumulates display large positive initial ε_Nd values of + 1.3 to + 5.0, consistent with a strongly depleted mantle source. Given the geological similarities between the Ivisaartoq greenstone belt and Phanerozoic forearc ophiolites, we suggest that the Ivisaartoq greenstone belt represents Mesoarchean supra-subduction zone oceanic crust.     

Hydrothermal mobility of Ti, Zr and REE: examples from the Bergell and Adamello contact aureoles (Italy)

Contact metamorphic marbles, affected by metasomatic fluids at the contact to the Bergell and Adamello Intrusives, contain various accessory minerals (zirconolite, allanite, titanite, rutile, geikielite, hoegbomite), which provide new evidence for the hydrothermal mobility of Ti and Zr. In both examples, Ti and Zr migrated along with U, Th, Y and REE in a metasomatic fluid rich in potassium. The composition of the main minerals (fluorine-rich phlogopite, pargasite and titanian clinohumite) and the abundance of fluor-apatite demonstrate that fluorine and phosphorus were important components of the fluid. The textural relationships indicate that the formation of the accessory phases is linked to the crystallization of the hydrous minerals.     

Age and geochemistry of zircons from the ancient granitoids of the Vyg River,Southeastern Karelia

The structure and composition of accessory zircons from the tonalites of the Vyg River, southeastern Karelia, were investigated. Their local U-Pb SHRIMP dating yielded ages between 3127±15 and 3146±25 Ma. It was shown that the zircons consist of three zones, a central part containing solid and melt inclusions and zoned magmatic and metasomatic shells. The obtained ages correspond to the magmatic and metasomatic stages of zircon crystallization. In general, the zircons have elevated contents of LREE (up to 867 ppm La), which were mainly accumulated in the outer metasomatic shell. Apatite and CO₂ inclusions are widespread. Orthoclase, orthopyroxene, ilmenite, galena, quartz, and bastnaesite were identified in a solid inclusion in one zircon core using a CAMSCAN MX 2500 electron microscope. The presence of bastnaesite accentuates the relation of LREE with a CO₂-rich fluid. It was shown that REE content is not correlated with U, Th, and U/Th ratio.     

Amphibolitization of calc-silicate metasedimentary rocks

Diopside granofels layers are associated with other metasedimentary rocks and gneisses near McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Disrupted diopside granofels layers form tectonic inclusions which may have reaction rims of amphibolite. This amphibolite may either be a typical hornblende-plagioclase amphiholite or a hornblende-quartz amphibolite according to the initial composition of the diopside granofels. Chemical analyses of the reaction rims show that some of the amphibolites have major element compositions near tholeiitic basalt but that a sedimentary origin could be recognized for others that are high in silica. During amphibolitization, the diopside granofels loses Ca and gains Fe and Mg by mutual exchange of material with the surrounding rock over short distances. The metasomatic amphibolites fall on the igneous differentiation trend in a Niggli mg-c plot. At least small volumes of metasedimentary rock can attain the composition of basalt by amphibolitization in a metasomatic reaction rim.     

The stable isotopic evolution of a metamorphic complex,Naxos, Greece

A detailed study of the stable isotope composition of pelites, amphibolites and marbles from the M2 metamorphic complex on Naxos is presented. The low grade rocks of this metamorphic complex have isotopic compositions typical of metasedimentary rocks whilst those at high grades have values typical of igneous rocks. The isotopic compositions of rocks at intermediate grades vary smoothly between these two end-members. This variation is shown to result from the superimposition of at least two fluid flow events on a pre-existing isotopic gradient. The contrast between the observed seemingly simple mixing trend and the complexity of the isotopic history of these rocks has important implications for quantitative studies of fluidrock interactions.     

Carbonate-orthopyroxenites (sagvandites) from Troms, northern Norway

Massive carbonate-orthopyroxenites occur in tectonic lenses within narrow zones of high-grade regional metamorphism of the Caledonian mountain belt. Typical country rocks are garnet-kyanite-biotite gneisses, amphibolites, or lime silicate marbles. Some of the pelitic country rocks exhibit water-deficient mineral assemblages, others have endured partial melting. Original peridotites (dunites and, possibly, saxonites) are believed to have reacted with highly CO₂-bearing, SiO₂-enriched gas phases emanating from neighbouring silicate marbles, essentially according to the equations forsterite + CO₂ →estatite + magnesite, and forsterite SiO₂ →estatite. This metasomatism as well as the high-grade metamorphism of the country rocks may have taken place under essentially the same pressure temperature conditions, i.e. under at least 6 kb and 630°C.