Glaucophane-bearing assemblage overprinted by greenschist-facies metamorphism in the Variscan Kaczawa complex, Sudetes, Poland

An Early Palaeozoic (Ordovician ?) metamudstone sequence near Wojcieszow, Kaczawa Mts, Western Sudetes, Poland, contains numerous metabasite sills, up to 50 m thick. These subvolcanic rocks are of within-plate alkali basalt type. Primary igneous phases in the metabasites, clinopyroxene (salite) and kaersutite, are veined and partly replaced by complex metamorphic mineral assemblages. Particularly, the kaersutite is corroded and rimmed by zoned sodic, sodic–calcic and calcic amphiboles. The matrix is composed of actinolite, pycnochlorite, albite (An ≤ 0.5%), epidote (Ps 27–33), titanite, calcite, opaques and, occasionally, biotite, phengite and stilpnomelane. The sodic amphiboles are glaucophane to crossite in composition with Na^B from 1.9 to 1.6. They are rimmed successively by sodic–calcic and calcic amphiboles with compositions ranging from magnesioferri-winchite to actinolite. No compositions between Na^B= 0.92 and Na^B= 1.56 have been ascertained. The textures may be interpreted as representing a greenschist facies overprint on an earlier blueschist (or blueschist–greenschist transitional) assemblage. The presence of glaucophane and no traces of a jadeitic pyroxene + quartz association indicate pressures between 6 and 12 kbar during the high-pressure episode. Temperature is difficult to assess in this metamorphic event. The replacement of glaucophane by actinolite + chlorite + albite, with associated epidote, allows restriction of the upper pressure limit of the greenschist recrystallization to <8 kbar, between 350 and 450°C. The mineral assemblage representing the greenschist episode suggests the P–T conditions of the high-pressure part of the chlorite or lower biotite zone. The latest metamorphic recrystallization, under the greenschist facies, may have taken place in the Viséan.     

Alpine metamorphism of Hercynian hornblende granodiorite beneath the blueschist facies schistes lustrés nappe of NE Corsica

Abstract The Hercynian granitic basement which forms the Tenda Massif in NE Corsica represents part of the leading edge of the European Plate during middle-to-late Cretaceous (Eoalpine) high P metamorphism. The metamorphism of this basement, induced by the overthrusting of a blueschist facies (schistes lustrés) nappe, was confined to a major ductile shear zone (c. 1000m thick) within which deformation increases upwards towards the overlying nappe. Metamorphism within the basement mostly records lower blueschist facies conditions (crossite + epidote) except near the base of the shear zone where the greenschist facies assemblage albite + actinolitic amphibole has developed instead of crossite. Study of the primary mafic phase breakdown reactions within hornblende granodiorite reveals the following metamorphic zonation. Zone 1: biotite to chlorite. Towards zone 2: biotite to phengite. Zone 2: Hornblende to actinolitic Ca-amphibole + albite + sphene, and biotite to actinolitic Ca-amphibole + albite + phengite + Ti-ore + epidote. Zone 3: Hornblende to crossite + low Ti-biotite + phengite + sphene, and biotite to crossite + low Ti-biotite + phengite + Ti-ore + sphene ± epidote. P-T conditions at the base of the shear zone are estimated to have been 390-490°C at 600-900 M Pa (6-9kbar) and the Corsican basement is therefore deduced to have been buried to 20-30 km during metamorphism. This relatively shallow metamorphism contrasts with some other areas in the Western Alps where the Eoalpine event apparently buried the European continental crust to depths of 80 km or more. As there is no evidence for a long history of blueschist facies metamorphism prior to the involvement of the European continent, it is deduced that the Eoalpine blueschists were produced during the collision of the Insubric plate with Europe, rather than during Tethyan intraoceanic subduction. Coherent blueschist terrains such as the schistes lustres probably record buovant feature collision and obduction tectonics rather than any preceding oceanic subduction.     

Lawsonite zone blueschists and a sodic amphibole producing reaction in the Tavşanli Region,Northwest Turkey

The petrology and mineralogy of lawsonite zone metabasites have been studied northeast of town of Tav?anli, NW Turkey. In the field the metabasites are characteristically green and lack foliation; the essential mineral assemblage being sodic pyroxene+ lawsonite+chlorite+quartz±sodic amphibole. Sodic pyroxene of aegirine-jadeite composition occurs as pseudomorphs after magmatic augite. Lawsonite and chlorite are the other two dominant minerals. Sodic amphibole forms progressively from a reaction between sodic pyroxene, chlorite and quartz, and an isograd representing the first abundant occurrence of sodic amphibole in basic rocks has been mapped. The widespread occurrence of sodic pyroxene pseudomorphs in other blueschist terrains indicates that the inferred sodic amphibole producing reaction is of general significance for blueschist metabasites.The conversion of greenstones with the assemblage albite+chlorite+actinolite directly into glaucophane-lawsonite blueschists without any intervening lawsonite zone illustrates the influence of the initial mineral assemblage on the reaction path.     

Polyphase and anticlockwise P-T evolution for Franciscan eclogites and blueschists from Jenner, California, USA

High-grade exotic blocks in the Franciscan Complex at Jenner, California, show evidence for polydeformation/metamorphism, with eight distinct stages. Two parallel sets of mineral assemblages [(E) eclogite, and (BS) laminated blueschist] representing different bulk chemistry were identified. Stage 1, recorded by parallel aligned inclusions (S1) of crossite + omphacite + epidote + ilmenite + titanite + quartz (E), and glaucophane + actinolite + epidote + titanite (BS) in the central parts of zoned garnets, represents the epidote blueschist facies. The onset of a second stage (stage 2) is represented by a weak crenulation of S1 and growth of garnet. This stage develops a well-defined S2 foliation of orientated barroisite + epidote + titanite (E), or subcalcic actinolite + epidote + titanite (BS) at c. 90d? to S1, with syntectonic growth of garnet, defining the (albite-)epidote-amphibolite facies. A third stage, with aligned inclusions of glaucophane + (subcalcic) actinolite + phengite parallel to S2 in the outermost rims of large garnet grains, is assigned to the transitional (albite-)epidote-amphibolite/(garnet-bearing) epidote blueschist facies. The fourth stage represents the peak metamorphism, and was identified by unorientated matrix minerals in the least retrograded samples. In this stage the mineral assemblages garnet + omphacite + glaucophane + phengite (E) and garnet + winchite + phengite + epidote (BS) both represent the eclogite facies. Stage 5 is represented by the retrogression of eclogite facies assemblages to the epidote blueschist facies assemblages crossite/glaucophane + garnet + omphacite + epidote + phengite (E), and glaucophane + actinolite + epidote + phengite (BS), with the development of an S5 foliation subparallel to S2. Stage 6 represents a crenulation of S5, with the development of a well-defined S6 crenulation cleavage wrapping around relics of the eclogite facies assemblages. This crenulation cleavage is further weakly crenulated during a D7 event. Post-D7 (stage 8) is recorded by the growth of lawsonite + chlorite ± actinolite replacing garnet, and by veins of lawsonite + pumpellyite + aragonite and phengite + apatite. The different, yet coeval, mineral parageneses observed in rock types (E) and (BS) are probably due to differences in bulk chemistry. The metamorphic evolution from stage 1 to stage 8 seems to have been broadly continuous, following an anticlockwise P-Tpath: (1) epidote blueschist (garnet-free) to (2) (albite-)epidote-amphibolite to (3) transitional epidote blueschist (garnet-bearing)/(albite-)epidote-amphibolite to (4) eclogite to (5) epidote blueschist (garnet-bearing) to (6-7) epidote blueschist (garnet-free) facies to (8) lawsonite + pumpellyite + aragonite-bearing assemblages. This anticlockwise P-T path may have resulted from a decreasing geothermal gradient with time in the Mesozoic subduction zone of California at early or pre-Franciscan metamorphism.     

Lawsonite zone blueschists and a sodic amphibole producing reaction in the Tavşanli Region,Northwest Turkey

The petrology and mineralogy of lawsonite zone metabasites have been studied northeast of town of Tavanli, NW Turkey. In the field the metabasites are characteristically green and lack foliation; the essential mineral assemblage being sodic pyroxene+ lawsonite+chlorite+quartz±sodic amphibole. Sodic pyroxene of aegirine-jadeite composition occurs as pseudomorphs after magmatic augite. Lawsonite and chlorite are the other two dominant minerals. Sodic amphibole forms progressively from a reaction between sodic pyroxene, chlorite and quartz, and an isograd representing the first abundant occurrence of sodic amphibole in basic rocks has been mapped. The widespread occurrence of sodic pyroxene pseudomorphs in other blueschist terrains indicates that the inferred sodic amphibole producing reaction is of general significance for blueschist metabasites.The conversion of greenstones with the assemblage albite+chlorite+actinolite directly into glaucophane-lawsonite blueschists without any intervening lawsonite zone illustrates the influence of the initial mineral assemblage on the reaction path.     

Parageneses and compositions of amphiboles from Franciscan jadeite–glaucophane type facies series metabasites at Cazadero, California

Abstract Sodic amphiboles are common in Franciscan type II and type III metabasites from Cazadero, California. They occur as (1) vein-fillings, (2) overgrowths on relict augites, (3) discrete tiny crystals in the groundmass, and (4) composite crystals with metamorphic Ca–Na pyroxenes in low-grade rocks. They become coarse-grained and show strong preferred orientation in schistose high-grade rocks. In the lowest grade, only riebeckite to crossite appears; with increasing grade, sodic amphibole becomes, first, enriched in glaucophane component, later coexists with actinolite, and finally, at even higher grade, becomes winchite. Actinolite first appears in foliated blueschists of the upper pumpellyite zone. It occurs (1) interlayered on a millimetre scale with glaucophane prisms and (2) as segments of composite amphibole crystals. Actinolite is considered to be in equilibrium with other high-pressure phases on the basis of its restricted occurrence in higher grade rocks, textural and compositional characteristics, and Fe/Mg distribution coefficient between actinolite and chlorite. Detailed analyses delineate a compositional gap for coexisting sodic and calcic amphiboles. At the highest grade, winchite appears at the expense of the actinolite–glaucophane pair. Compositional characteristics of Franciscan amphiboles from Ward Creek are compared with those of other high P/T facies series. The amphibole trend in terms of major components is very sensitive to the metamorphic field gradient. Na-amphibole appears at lower grade than actinolite along the higher P/T facies series (e.g. Franciscan and New Caledonia), whereas reverse relations occur in the lower P/T facies series (e.g. Sanbagawa and New Zealand). Available data also indicate that at low-temperature conditions, such as those of the blueschist and pumpellyite–actinolite facies, large compositional gaps exist between Ca- and Na-amphiboles, and between actinolite and hornblende, whereas at higher temperatures such as in the epidote–amphibolite, greenschist and eclogite facies, the gaps become very restricted. Common occurrence of both sodic and calcic amphiboles and Ca–Na pyroxene together with albite + quartz in the Ward Creek metabasites and their compositional trends are characteristic of the jadeite–glaucophane type facies series. In New Caledonia blueschists, Ca–Na pyroxenes are also common; Na-amphiboles do not appear alone at low grade in metabasites, instead, Na-amphiboles coexist with Ca-amphiboles throughout the progressive sequence. However, for metabasites of the intermediate pressure facies series, such as those of the Sanbagawa belt, Japan and South Island, New Zealand, Ca–Na pyroxene and glaucophane are not common; sodic amphiboles are restricted to crossite and riebeckite in composition and clinopyroxenes to acmite and sodic augite, and occur only in Fe₂O₃-rich metabasites. The glaucophane component of Na-amphibole systematically decreases from Ward Creek, New Caledonia, through Sanbagawa to New Zealand. This relation is consistent with estimated pressure decrease employing the geobarometer of Maruyama et al. (1986). Similarly, the decrease in tschermakite content and increase in NaM₄ of Ca-amphiboles from New Zealand, through Sanbagawa to New Caledonia is consistent with the geobarometry of Brown (1977b). Therefore, the difference in compositional trends of amphiboles can be used as a guide for P–T detail within the metamorphic facies series.     

Conditions of metamorphism in an early Paleozoic blueschist,schist of Skookum Gulch,northern California

The Late Ordovician schist of Skookum Gulch, northern California, is one of only a few pre-Mesozoic blueschist localities in North America. Among these, the Skookum Gulch occurrence is noteworthy because it contains lawsonite and has had a relatively simple metamorphic and structural history.Numerous assemblages and a wide variation in the modal proportion of minerals are present due to a spectrum of bulk compositions. This is reflected in the composition of Na-amphibole, which varies from ferro-glaucophane, glaucophane, and crossite (±magnetite) to magnesio-riebeckite (+hematite). Application of the available experiments and empirically calibrated equilibria to the assemblages glaucophane+lawsonite+chlorite+quartz+albite and glaucophane+actinolite+epidote+chlorite+quartz+albite yield estimates of temperature and pressure near T= 275° C and P=7.0 kbar. Estimates of uncertainty are difficult to assess, but are no more than ±100° C and ±3.0 kbar, and are probably considerably smaller. Calcite +quartz+sphene and calcite+quartz+actinolite indicate an extremely H₂O-rich fluid (X(CO₂)<0.003).The absence of a greenschist facies overprint indicates that the schist of Skookum Gulch was uplifted soon after metamorphism. However, it was not exposed until the recent geologic past, having resided at shallow crustal levels for approximately 400 Ma.     

中国的蓝片岩

<正> 蓝片岩作为板块构造的岩石学证据,近十多年来,随着对其成因解释的日趋明朗,已成为当前地学研究中的一个重要课题。 1983年9月,美国地质学会在华盛顿贝林哈姆和西雅图举行国际性蓝片岩和有关榴辉岩研究讨论会。会议期间除了讨论当前对遭受蓝片岩变质作用的造山带的认识现状之外,还从七个专题方面分别讨论:蓝片岩的相变实验,蓝片岩地体的温度压力测定,重结晶作用与构造的关系,高压变质作用后的减压、侵位和推覆构造模式,蓝片岩岩石及矿物年龄随时间演化的关系等问题。     

Metamorphic P–T Paths from pelitic schists and greenstones from the south-west Tauern Window, Eastern Alps

Abstract Petrological data from intercalated pelitic schists and greenstones are used to construct a pressure–temperature path followed by the Upper Schieferhülle (USH) series during progressive metamorphism and uplift in the south-west Tauern Window, Italy. Pseudomorphs of Al–epidote + Fe-epidote + albite + oligoclase + chlorite after lawsonite and data on amphibole crystal chemistry indicate early metamorphism in the lawsonite-albite-chlorite subfacies of the blueschist facies at P ± 7–8 kbar. Geothermometry and geobarometry yield conditions of final equilibration of the matrix assemblage of 475±25°C, 5–6 kbar; calculations with plagioclase and phengite inclusions in garnet indicate early garnet growth at pressures of ∼ 7.5 kbar. Garnet zoning patterns are complex and reversals in zoning can be correlated between samples. Thermodynamic modelling of these zoning profiles implies garnet growth in response to four distinct phases of tectonic activity. Fluid inclusion data from coexisting immiscible H₂O–CO₂–NaCl fluids constrain the uplift path to have passed through temperatures of 380 + 30°C at 1.3 + 0.2 kbar.
There is no evidence for metamorphism of USH at pressures greater than ∼ 7.5 kbar in this area of the Tauern Window. This is in contrast to pressures of ± 10 kbar recorded in the Lower Schieferhülle only 2–3 km across strike. A history of differential uplift and thinning of the intervening section during metamorphism is necessary to reconcile the P–T data obtained from these adjacent tectonic units.     

Phase equilibria among pumpellyite,lawsonite, epidote and associated minerals in low grade metamorphic rocks

Phase relations of pumpellyite, epidote, lawsonite, CaCO₃, paragonite, actinolite, crossite and iron oxide are analysed on an Al-Ca-Fe³⁺ diagram in which all minerals are projected from quartz, albite or Jadeite, chlorite and fluid. Fe²⁺ and Mg are treated as a single component because variation in Fe²⁺/Mg has little effect on the stability of phases on the diagram. Comparison of assemblages in the Franciscan, Shuksan, Sanbagawa, New Caledonia, Southern Italian, and Otago metamorphic terranes reveals several reactions, useful for construction of a petrogenetic grid:

1. lawsonite+crossite + paragonite = epidote+chlorite + albite + quartz + H₂O
2. lawsonite + crossite = pumpellyite + epidote + chlorite + albite+ quartz + H₂O
3. crossite + pumpellyite + quartz = epidote + actinolite + albite + chlorite + H₂O
4. crossite + epidote + quartz = actinolite + hematite + albite + chlorite + H₂O
5. calcite + epidote + chlorite + quartz = pumpellyite + actinolite + H₂O + CO₂
6. pumpellyite + chlorite + quartz = epidote + actinolite + H₂O

     

Paragenetic Relationships in an Amphibolitic Tectonic Block in the Franciscan Terrain, Panoche Pass, California

Two tectonic inclusions within the Franciscan mélangeof California display a relict epidoteamphibolitic assemblagethat has been modified by rather continuous degrees of retrogressivereplacement to blueschist facies minerals. The relict assemblageconsists of plagioclase +hornblende+epidote+sphene±rutile±calcicpyroxene±garnet; superimposed during later blueschistmetamorphism is the asemblage sodic amphibole+lawsonite±sodicpyroxene±pumpellyite±phengitic mica ±albite+sphene±Ca-carbonate.In an attempt to evaluate chemical redistribution accompanyingblueschist metamorphism, electron microprobe analyses have beendetermined for all major minerals from both assemblages. Hornblende commonly exhibits replacement by crossite aroundgrain boundaries and replacement patches of more riebeckiticamphibole adjacent to mafic grains or inclusions; actinoliticamphibole occurs in veins cross-cutting hornblende and in somecases these veins are zoned to include a central core of sodicamphibole. Omphacitic pyroxene occurs in veinlets and replacescalcic pyroxene in some cases; a more aluminous omphacite varietyis commonly associated with the breakdown of epidote. Garnetis highly retrogressed to chlorite. In general, relict Ca-Alsilicates are in various stages of breakdown, being largelyconverted to lawsonite and pumpellyite; concurrently Na-Al silicatesformed by replacement where early calcic minerals participatedin blueschist reactions. Reactants and products may be separatedby phases not participating in the reactions. Whole rock compositionspoint strongly to a closed system with respect to all majorcations, and the principal source for Na participating in replacementreactions appears to be from the breakdown of albite. The mechanismfor replacement of the older assemblage is primarily attributedto a contemporaneous series of coupled reactions among nearlyall the early minerals and a fluid phase. Sea-floor spreading models may explain the tectonic emplacementof the amphibolite from a relatively high temperature-high pressureregime into a comparatively low temperature-high pressure environmentleading to the observed mineralogical re-adjustments.     

Metamorphic History of a High-Grade Blueschist Exotic Block from the Franciscan Complex, California

A high-grade blueschist tectonic block from the Franciscan Complexof the northeast Diablo Range shows evidence of three episodesof retrograde blueschist facies metamorphism ± deformationdeveloped under progressively declining P-T conditions. Thefirst retrograde metamorphism involved formation of an outerrind of actinolite + chlorite + rutile ± phengite, andthe growth of coarse-grained chlorite + pumpellyite within theblock. During the second event the rind and outer edge of theblueschist were folded, sheared and fractured, and primary glaucophanewithin the blueschist was replaced by albite, medium-grainedchlorite, and glaucophane-crossite. The third retrograde metamorphismwas marked by the pseudomorphic replacement of rind actinoliteby aragonite and quartz. Aragonite also crystallized extensivelywithin th block, accompanied by lawsonite, chlorite, jadeiticpyroxene, and crossite; this last mineral assemblage is identicalto that of the surrounding Franciscan metasedimentary rocks.Features characteristic of the first and second retrograde metamorphicevents are readily observed in other high-grade tectonic blocksof the Franciscan Complex and the correlative Otter Point Formationof Oregon. In contrast, evidence of a third retrograde metamorphism,matching that of presently associated Franciscan and Otter Pointrocks, has been found in some but not all blocks examined sofar. The high P/T conditions of prograde metamorphism and the availablemetamorphic age determinations suggest that the tectonic blocksoriginally formed in a pre-Franciscan subduction zone setting.Fragments of blueschist and eclogite from this metamorphic terrainwere tectonically incorporated in a serpentinite diapir, andthey developed alteration rinds through interaction with theenclosing ultramafic rock. The available data suggest that theexamined exotic block and at least some others were transferredto the Franciscan as detritus from a body of serpentinite thatreached the earth's surface. Such blocks were then resubductedand metamorphosed along with their presently associated sedimentarysequences.     

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.     

SOME TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF CARBONATE SEDIMENTS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

A stratigraphically coherent blueschist terrane near Aksu in northwestern China is unconformably overlain by unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks of Sinian age (～600 to 800 Ma). The pre-Sinian metamorphic rocks, termed the Aksu Group, were derived from shales, sandstones, basaltic volcanic rocks, and minor cherty sediments. They have undergone multi-stage deformation and transitional blueschist/greenschist-facies metamorphism, and consist of strongly foliated chlorite-stilpnomelane-graphite schist, stilpnomelane-phengite psammitic schist, greenschist, blueschist, and minor quartzite, metachert, and meta-ironstone. Metamorphic minerals of basaltic blueschists include crossitic amphibole, epidote, chlorite, albite, quartz, and actinolite. Mineral parageneses and compositions of sodic amphibole suggest blueschist facies recrystallization at about 4 to 6 kbar and 300 to 400° C. Many thin diabasic dikes cut the Aksu Group; they are characterized by high alkali, TiO₂, and P₂O₅ contents and possess geochemical characteristics of within-plate basalts; some of these diabasic rocks contain sodic clinopyroxene and amphibole as primary phases and have minor pumpellyite, albite, epidote, chlorite, and calcite as the prehnite/pumpellyite-facies metamorphic assemblage. This prehnite/pumpellyite-facies overprint did not affect the host rocks of the blueschist-facies lithologies.

K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages of phengite and whole rocks from pelitic schists are ～690 to 728 Ma, and a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of crossite from the blueschist is 754 Ma. The basal conglomerate of the overlying Sinian to Eocambrian sedimentary succession contains clasts of both the blueschist and cross-cutting dike rocks, clearly demonstrating that conditions required for blueschist-facies metamorphism were attained and ceased at least 700 Ma. The northward-increasing metamorphic grade of the small blueschist terrane may reflect northward subduction of an accretionary complex beyond the northern edge of the Tarim craton. Abundant subparallel diabasic dikes indicate a subsequent period of Pre-Sinian rifting and diabasic intrusion along the northern margin of Tarim; a Sinian siliciclastic and carbonate sequence was deposited unconformably atop the Aksu Group and associated diabase dikes.     

Controls on the first appearance of jadeitic pyroxene, northern Diablo Range, California

A reaction producing jadeitic pyroxene in metagreywackes of the northern Diablo Range has been identified on the basis of mineral distribution, isograd patterns and composition of coexisting minerals. The appearance of jadeitic pyroxene (∼Jd₈₀) is closely followed by the disappearance of pumpellyite, which indicates that pumpellyite plays a major role in the pyroxene-producing reaction. A new projection from hematite, lawsonite, chlorite, quartz and H₂O on to the NaAlO₂-FeO-MgO ternary confirms the role of pumpellyite in pyroxene production and suggests a reaction of the form: 1.00 pumpellyite + 0.31 chlorite + 8.71 albite + 0.70 hematite + 2.00 H₂O = 8.54 jadeite + 0.57 glaucophane + 3.09 lawsonite + 5.26 quartz. Metagreywackes of the northern Diablo Range were metamorphosed under conditions of P _H2O= P _total at 200-300 °C and 7.5-10.0 kbar. Despite the low temperatures attained during metamorphism, the assumption of equilibrium yields results consistent with field observations and phase relations.     

Pumpellyite–actinolite facies of the Sanbagawa metamorphism

The pumpellyite–actinolite facies proposed by Hashimoto is defined by the common occurrence of the pumpellyite–actinolite assemblage in basic schists. It can help characterize the paragenesis of basic and intermediate bulk compositions, which are common constituents of various low-grade metamorphic areas. The dataset of mutually consistent thermodynamic properties of minerals gives a positive slope for the boundary between the pumpellyite–actinolite and prehnite–pumpellyite facies in P–T space. In the Sanbagawa belt in Japan, the mineral parageneses of hematite-bearing and -free basic schists, as well as pelitic schists have been well documented. The higher temperature limit of this facies is defined by the disappearance of the pumpellyite+epidote+actinolite+chlorite assemblage in hematite-free basic schists with X_Fe3+ of epidote around 0.20–0.25 and the appearance of epidote+actinolite+chlorite assemblage with X^Ep_Fe3+≤0.20. In hematite-bearing basic schists, there is a continuous change of paragenesis to higher grade, epidote–glaucophane or epidote–blueschist facies. In pelitic schists, the albite+lawsonite+chlorite assemblage does occur but only rarely, and its assemblage cannot be used to determine the regional thermal structure. The lower temperature equivalence of the pumpellyite–actinolite assemblage is not observed in the field. The Mikabu Greenstone complex and the northern margin of the Chichibu complex, which are located to the south of the Sanbagawa belt, are characterized by clinopyroxene+chlorite or lawsonite+actinolite assemblages, which are lower temperature assemblages than the pumpellyite+actinolite assemblage. These three metamorphic complexes belong to the same subduction-metamorphic complex. The pumpellyite–actinolite facies or subfacies can be useful to help reveal the field thermal structure of metamorphic complexes     

Triassic blueschists and eclogites from northwest Turkey: vestiges of the Paleo-Tethyan subduction

Triassic eclogite and blueschist facies rocks occur as a thrust sheet, 25-km long and over 2-km thick, in an Eocene fold-and-thrust belt in northwest Turkey along the zmir–Ankara suture. The thrust sheet consists mainly of metabasites with minor marble, phyllite and metachert, and rare lenses of serpentinite. The common blueschist facies mineral assemblage in the metabasites is sodic amphibole+epidote+albite+chlorite+phengite±garnet. Sodic amphibole commonly shows replacement by barroisite, and there is continuous petrographic transition from blueschist–metabasites to barroisite-bearing epidote–amphibolites. Eclogite with the mineral assemblage of garnet+sodic pyroxene+sodic–calcic amphibole+epidote is found only in one locality. P–T conditions of the epidote–blueschist facies metamorphism are estimated as 450±50 °C and 11±2 kbar. The blueschist formation was followed by a decrease in pressure and increase in temperature, leading to the development of barroisite-bearing epidote–amphibolites. Phengite, sodic amphibole and barroisite Ar/Ar ages from three metabasic rocks range between 215 and 205 Ma, and indicate Late Triassic high-pressure metamorphism. The Triassic blueschists in northwest Turkey constitute part of a much larger allochthonous tectonic unit of Triassic mafic volcanic rocks. They probably represent the upper layers of a Triassic oceanic plateau, which was accreted to the Laurasian margin during the latest Triassic. The close spatial association of the Triassic and Cretaceous blueschists along the zmir–Ankara suture suggests that the suture represents a long-lived plate boundary of Late Palaeozoic to early Tertiary age.     

Mineral isograds and metamorphic zones of the Anglesey blueschist belt, UK: implications for the metamorphic development of a Neoproterozoic subduction–accretion complex

The 560–550 Ma blueschists and associated rocks in Anglesey, UK were derived from a subduction–accretion complex. The blueschist unit is divided into three mineral zones by two newly mapped metamorphic isograds; zone I sub-greenschist facies, (crossite isograd), zone II blueschist facies, (barroisite isograd), zone III epidote-amphibolite facies. The zones and isograds dip gently to the east, and decrease in metamorphic grade from the central high-pressure zone III to lower grade zones II and I to the west and east. The P – T conditions estimated from zoned amphibole indicate an anticlockwise P – T path following adjustment to a cold geotherm. This path is well preserved in the compositional zoning of Na–Ca amphibole that have a core of barroisite surrounded by a rim of crossite, although this is only locally developed. The sense of subduction was to the east and exhumation to the west, as indicated by the metamorphic isograds. The symmetrical arrangement of the metamorphic zones with the deepest high-pressure rocks in the middle suggests an isoclinal antiformal structure that formed by wedge extrusion during exhumation in the subduction zone.     

Phase petrology and P-T conditions of mafic blueschists from the Meliata unit, West Carpathians, Slovakia

Abstract Blueschists occurring as layers in calcite marbles of the Meliata unit occur along the so-called Roznava tectonic line situated in the southern part of the Gemericum, Slovakia. Mineral assemblages and compositions from seven blueschists localities and one occurrence of amphibolite facies rocks overprinted by blueschist metamorphism were investigated. The most common minerals in the blueschists are blue amphibole, epidote and albite. Some Fe²⁺- and Al-rich rocks also contain garnet and chloritoid, respectively. Na-pyroxene with a maximum 50% jadeite component was also found. The blue amphiboles correspond mostly to crossite and also to glaucophane and ferroglaucophane in some samples. Almandine- and spessartine-rich garnet has very low MgO content (<3 wt%). The Si content in phengite ranges between 3.3 and 3.5 pfu calculated on the basis of 11 oxygens. The zoning patterns of blue amphibole, garnet and chloritoid suggest their formation during a prograde stage of metamorphism. The P-T conditions of metamorphism are estimated to be about 380–460° C and 10–13 kbar. Pressures of 7.5–8.5 kbar and temperatures of 350–370° C were obtained for some actinolite- and aegirine-rich rocks. Apart from chlorite, other mafic minerals formed during retrograde metamorphism are biotite and occasionally also actinolite.     

苏北连云港地区蓝闪绿片岩相岩块的发现

在苏北连云港地区(红石咀、东西连岛及蟹脐沟)发现以岩块、岩片形式出现的蓝闪绿片岩相岩石，其由石榴石、蓝透闪石、冻蓝闪石、阳起石、钠长石、多硅白云母、榍石及文石等矿物组成。石榴石变斑晶作为低扩散的刚性矿物，经历了多期变质变形作用，变质反应证据保存在石榴石的成分环带及包体矿物组合中。蓝透闪石、冻蓝闪石及文石包体的存在表明，本区出露的绿片岩相岩系属早期经历低温高压变质作用、晚期又叠加绿片岩相变质作用的高压变质地体。这一发现为苏鲁高压地体的构造单元划分提供了重要依据。