Low-grade regional metamorphism in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic sequences of the Central Andes

ABSTRACT All the Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Central Andes (from southern Ecuador to central Chile), except Recent ones, have been affected by episodes of regional metamorphism, without change in texture and structure. The metamorphism, which ranges from low zeolite to greenschist facies, can be classified as burial metamorphism because there is an overall increase in metamorphic grade with stratigraphic depth in the individual volcanic sequences separated by regional unconformities. Some sequences display metamorphic patterns transitional to ocean-floor and to geothermal field types, reflecting variations along and across the Andes in tectonic setting and thermal gradients. Volcanism was closely followed by metamorphism during each cycle characterizing the geological history of the Central Andes. The episodic nature of the metamorphism has led to breaks in metamorphic grade at regional unconformities and repetition of facies series, where strata of higher grade may even overlie those of lower grade. The existence of permeability-controlled distribution patterns of secondary minerals within individual flows shows that gradients of chemical activity, rate of reaction and P_fluid were acting, in addition to temperature and P,_tot overall gradients, during the regional metamorphism. The alteration is accompanied by chemical changes and disturbances of the K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotope systems. Similarities between Mesozoic facies series in the western and eastern flanks of the Andes are consistent with a mechanism of ensialic spreading-subsidence.     

Regional and local patterns of low-grade metamorphism in the North Shore Volcanic Group, Minnesota, USA

Abstract The North Shore Volcanic Group in northern Minnesota is part of the Middle Proterozoic Keweenawan sequence, one of the largest plateau lava provinces in the world. The primary geochemistry of the basalts suggests that volcanism occurred in an intracontinental rift environment. The subaerial lava flows, mainly amygdaloidal olivine tholeiites and tholeiites, have undergone low-grade metamorphism from zeolite to lower greenschist facies. On the basis of alteration phases replacing the primary magmatic minerals, infilling amygdales and veins, and replacing secondary minerals, the following zones have been distinguished: (1) thomsonite-scolecite-smectite, (2) heulandite-stilbite-smectite, (3) laumontitechlorite-albite, (4) laumontite-chlorite-albite ± prehnite ± pumpellyite and (5) epidote-chlorite-albite ± actinolite zone. In addition to the overall zonation based on mineral parageneses, zonations in the composition of the Ab content of the newly formed albite replacing primary Ca-rich plagioclase and of the newly formed mafic phyllosilicates are observed within the sequence and within single flows. Mafic phyllosilicates in the upper part of the sequence (mainly smectites and mixed-layer smectite/chlorites) display high Si and Ca + Na + K contents, whereas in the lower part of the sequence the amounts of Si and Ca + Na + K are markedly lower (mainly chlorites and mixed-layer chlorite/smectites). Similar zonations are observed within the individual flows. The albite content of the newly formed plagioclase is highest, and the Si and Ca + Na + K content of the phyllosilicates lowest in the amygdaloidal flow top while the opposite is true for the massive flow interior. The above features suggest that the overall pattern is one of burial-type metamorphism associated with extension in the rift setting. In detail, the mineral assemblages are controlled not only by the stratigraphic position but also by the flow morphology controlling permeability whose effect on the assemblages is most pronounced in the stratigraphically upper parts. This suggests that at the first stages of alteration (lowest grade) the patterns of fluid flow were important effects in controlling the assemblages. At greater burial depth, assemblages are more homogeneous, perhaps representative of a more even and pervasive flow pattern. Using the observed assemblages at face value to define grade and/or facies, different conditions would be assigned within the different morphological flow portions. Thus at low-grade metamorphic conditions it is essential to integrate assemblages from different morphological flow portions in order to define satisfactorily the overall metamorphic conditions.     

Burial metamorphism in rocks of the Western Andes of Peru

An unconformity bound, episodic pattern of burial metamorphism is preserved in marine and terrestrial volcanic and sedimentary rocks which were deposited in the West Peruvian Trough during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras. A particular metamorphic facies series is developed in each of the stratigraphic-structural units bounded by unconformities. In each unit, grade increases with stratigraphic depth and covers part or all of the range from zeolite to greenschist facies. At every unconformity a mineralogic break occurs where higher grade assemblages on top of the unconformity plane overlie lower grade assemblages. The presence of wairakite and the development of a wide range of metamorphic facies in thin sequences suggest high geothermal gradients, possibly related to generation of magma at depth.     

Significance and Petrochemistry of Upper Mantle–mantle Transition Zone Metaperidotites and Oceanic Crust Metagabbros within the Kazdağı Metaophiolite: Implications for the Geological Evolution of the Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean,Northwestern Turkey

The Kazda?? metaophiolite crops out in the Kazda?? (Ida) Mountains in the Biga Peninsula in northwestern Turkey. It is in stratigraphic contact with the high–grade metamorphic rocks of the Kazda?? Massif. Metaophiolitic and high–grade metamorphic rocks are tectonically overlain by low–grade metamorphic units of the Permo‐Triassic Karakaya Complex of the Sakarya Zone. Late Oligocene‐Early Miocene granites intruded these tectonic units (Okay and Sat?r, 2000; Duru et al. 2012). In the Kazda?? metaophiolitic sequence, upper mantle peridotites are represented by metaharzburgite and metadunite, whereas the mantle transition zone metaperidotites are composed of metadunite, metapyroxenite and minor plagioclase‐bearing metalherzolite. The upper part of the metadunites in the mantle transition zone show intercalation with metagabbros. Gabbros of oceanic crust experienced amphibolite facies metamorphism and are transformed into amphibolite, garnet amphibolite and migmatitic gabbros. The metagabbros and amphibolites display MORB‐ and IAT‐like geochemical features. The Kazda?? metaophiolite is conformably overline by basal conglomerates and hemi‐pelagic carbonate rocks continuing upward into forearc‐type flysch–like detrital sedimentary rocks interspersed with mafic volcanic intervals. These cover units underwent high–grade metamorphism into gneisses, migmatites, amphibolites and marbles in a compressional regime during the Alpine orogeny. New U–Pb zircon data from the metagabbros show two crystallization peaks at ～52 Ma and ～73 Ma. This has implications for the age of subduction of the Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean, generally assumed to be northward under the Sakarya Zone. During the Triassic to Middle Eocene, progressive overthrusting of the Sakarya Zone via a N–S compresional regime created by the Alpine orogeny onto subduction–accretion‐ and forearc‐units resulted in high–grade metamorphic conditions in the Biga Peninsula.     

Metamorphic evolution of the southern part of the Hidaka belt, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract The Hidaka metamorphic terrane in the Meguro-Shoya area, Hokkaido, Japan is divided into four progressive metamorphic zones: A—biotite zone; B—cordierite zone; C—cordierite–K-feldspar zone; and, D—sillimanite–K-feldspar zone of the andalusite–sillimanite facies series type of metamorphism. The metamorphic grade ranges from the higher temperature part of the greenschist facies (zone A) through the amphibolite facies (zones B and C) to the lower temperature part of the granulite facies (zone D). The zone boundaries intersect the bedding planes at high angles. P–T conditions estimated are 450–550°C and 2 kbar for zone A, 550–600°C and 2–2.5 kbar for zone B, 600–650°C and 2.5–3 kbar for zone C and 650–750°C and 3–4 kbar for zone D. The metapelites of zone D were partially melted.
At the later stage of the regional metamorphism which is early Oligocene to early Miocene in age, cordierite tonalite and biotite tonalite intrusives associated with segments of the highest grade rocks (zone D) were emplaced into the lower temperature part of the regional metamorphic rocks, giving rise to a contact metamorphic aureole. The thermally metamorphosed terrain (zone C') belongs to the amphibolite facies and its P–T conditions are estimated to have been 550–700°C and 2 kbar.
The P–T–t paths of the Hidaka metamorphism show a thickening–heating–uplifting process. The metamorphism is inferred to have taken place beneath an active island arc accompanied by partial melting of the crust.     

Metamorphic and tectonic domains of China

Abstract Ten metamorphic domains can be distinguished in China, comprising four cratonic, three intracratonic and three intercratonic domains. Each domain contains one or more metamorphic belts, each of which, in turn, contains a characteristic metamorphic facies or facies series that was formed during a distinct metamorphic epoch.
The metamorphic domains reflect the tectonic domains and tectonic evolution of China. Ancient continental nucleii in the North China and Tarim–Alxa cratons were probably unified with the Yangtze craton during the Early Proterozoic to form the China Platform. Widespread greenschist facies metamorphism, during the Middle and Late Proterozoic, accompanied by glaucophane–greenschist facies metamorphism, represents a rifting and closure event in the China Platform; a second rifting and closure event in the China Platform occurred during the Caledonian. The China and Siberian platforms were closed during the Hercynian to form the Eurasian Continent. Closure of the ancient Tethys Ocean occurred in the Indosinian epoch, and subduction and collision within Xizang (Tibet) and Taiwan occurred during Mesozoic–Cenozoic time.
The distribution in time of types of metamorphism in China suggests cyclical changes of metamorphism known as the Archaean, Proterozoic and Phanerozoic megacycles. Each megacycle since the Archaean consists of a change from progressive, low- to intermediate-grade metamorphism to lower grade, greenschist metamorphism that was superimposed on a general trend in which high-grade metamorphism became progressively less important with time. The change in metamorphic megacycles shows a general secular decrease in regional heat supply during metamorphism punctuated by episodic high-grade, progressive metamorphism within orogenic belts.     

Petrochemical characterization of mafic rocks from the Ligurian ophiolites,southern Apennines

New mineralogical and chemical data for ophiolitic rocks from the southwesternmost Liguride Units are presented in order to constrain their ocean-floor origin and subsequent emplacement in an accretionary wedge. Their complete petrochemical evolution is particularly well preserved in the southern Apennine metabasites. Metadolerites show amphibolite and greenschist facies mineral assemblages of ocean-floor metamorphism. Metabasalts display greenschist facies ocean-floor metamorphism and spilitic alteration. Veins cutting the mafic rocks show mineral assemblage of the prehnite–pumpellyite metamorphic facies. HP/LT orogenic metamorphism, reflecting underplating of the ophiolitic suite at the base of the Liguride accretionary wedge during subduction of the western Tethys oceanic lithosphere produced a mineral assemblage typical of the lawsonite–glaucophane facies. Bulk-rock chemistry suggests that the mafic protoliths had a MORB-type affinity, and were affected by ocean-floor rodingitic and/or spilitic alteration. Hydrothermal alteration-induced LREE mobility and LREE enrichment may be correlated with the ocean-floor metamorphism.     

Unconformities as mineralogical breaks in the burial metamorphism of the Andes

Stratigraphical-structural units separated by regional unconformities in the Andes of Peru and Chile, display a pattern of low grade burial metamorphism. Each stratigraphical-structural unit shows a particular facies series covering part or all the range between the zeolite and the greenschist facies. These facies series were episodically generated as part of the geological evolution of each unit prior to its own folding. Mineralogical breaks are found to coincide with the regional unconformities and often cases of higher grade assemblages on top of lower grade ones occur. This pattern may be explained by a process of sealing of each unit after its particular metamorphic episode took place. Porosity and permeability conditioning P _f, as demonstrated for individual lava flows, are the significant controlling factors in the production of the metamorphic assemblages.     

Raman spectrum of carbonaceous material: a possible metamorphic grade indicator for low-grade metamorphic rocks

Raman spectral analyses of carbonaceous material (CM) extracted from pelitic samples along two sections traversing the metamorphic belt of Taiwan were carried out in the present study. The results show similar spectral variations of CM with metamorphic grade as those documented in the literature. However, continuous sampling from zeolite facies through prehnite–pumpellyite facies to greenschist facies metamorphic rocks in the present study does reveal some interesting features on the Raman spectra of CM that were not noted before. Both the Raman D (disordered-)/O (ordered-) peak area (i.e. integrated intensity) ratio and the D/O peak width (i.e. full width at half maximum, FWHM) ratio of the CM decrease with progressive metamorphism, but the most prominent change in the D/O peak area ratio occurs in samples of lower greenschist facies metamorphic grade, while the most significant decrease in the D/O peak width ratio occurs in samples near the boundary of prehnite–pumpellyite facies and greenschist facies. This phenomenon is interpreted as a result of the decoupling of the changing rates of in-plane crystallite size and degree of defects of CM with progressive metamorphism. It is postulated that the Raman spectrum of CM can serve as a metamorphic grade indicator to distinguish samples of prehnite–pumpellyite facies metamorphic grade from those of greenschist facies metamorphic grade.     

Reconstructing the event stratigraphy from the complex structural – stratigraphic architecture of an Archaean volcanic – intrusive – sedimentary succession: the Boorara Domain,Eastern Goldfields Superterrane,Western Australia

Two main deformational phases are recognised in the Archaean Boorara Domain of the Kalgoorlie Terrane, Eastern Goldfields Superterrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, primarily involving south-over-north thrust faulting that repeated and thickened the stratigraphy, followed by east-northeast – west-southwest shortening that resulted in macroscale folding of the greenstone lithologies. The domain preserves mid-greenschist facies metamorphic grade, with an increase to lower amphibolite metamorphic grade towards the north of the region. As a result of the deformation and metamorphism, individual stratigraphic horizons are difficult to trace continuously throughout the entire domain. Volcanological and sedimentological textures and structures, primary lithological contacts, petrography and geochemistry have been used to correlate lithofacies between fault-bounded structural blocks. The correlated stratigraphic sequence for the Boorara Domain comprises quartzo-feldspathic turbidite packages, overlain by high-Mg tholeiitic basalt (lower basalt), coherent and clastic dacite facies, intrusive and extrusive komatiite units, an overlying komatiitic basalt unit (upper basalt), and at the stratigraphic top of the sequence, volcaniclastic quartz-rich turbidites. Reconstruction of the stratigraphy and consideration of emplacement dynamics has allowed reconstruction of the emplacement history and setting of the preserved sequence. This involves a felsic, mafic and ultramafic magmatic system emplaced as high-level intrusions, with localised emergent volcanic centres, into a submarine basin in which active sedimentation was occurring.     

大青山太古宙高级变质岩近水平顺层伸展变形——地球上早期的伸展构造

内蒙古大青山—乌拉山位于华北克拉通北缘,是我国高级区发育较好的区域之一。区内高级变质杂岩总体上呈近东西向延伸,经历多期变质变形作用改造。近水平顺层伸展变形是高级变质杂岩中最早的塑性流动变形作用,发生在下地壳麻粒岩相环境下。变形作用伴随麻粒岩相变质作用、深熔作用,形成了顺层滑动韧性变形带、穹隆构造、层内底辟褶皱和L构造岩等构造形迹组合。这期变形作用不仅导致区内的孔兹岩系和麻粒岩系以近水平构造面接触,也造成孔兹岩系中各个地层单位具有以透镜状岩片堆叠的地层结构,并且还伴随有不同类型的深熔片麻岩形成。近水平顺层伸展变形作用的确立,对研究早前寒武纪高级区地壳形成演化和高级变质地层构造格架的建立具有重要的理论意义。     

右江盆地三叠纪岩层极低级变质作用及地球动力学意义

右江盆地三叠纪槽盆相浊流沉积岩系遭受过区域极低级变质作用。依据地质观察和伊利石结晶度、绿泥石-云母堆垛集合体、标志性粘土矿物及白云母(伊利石)b0参数测定资料,阐述了泥质岩石的成岩变质作用经浅层(近)变质作用到浅变质作用的转换特征。变质温度区间为150-350℃,低压类型,具高地温梯度(40-43℃/km).变质级及亚带总体与地层时代及岩层在地层柱中的位置有耦合关系,而与区域变形强度无关。最后指出区域极低级变质作用是印支-燕山构造旋回早期及区域变形前的地质事件,属于地壳伸展构造背景下右江边缘型盆地内部的埋藏型变质作用。     

内蒙古甘珠尔庙变质核杂岩

本文讨论了出露在大兴安岭主峰穹状复背斜核部的变质核杂岩。从岩石组合、变质温压条件、变形特征角度阐明了变质核杂岩的结构。从变质核杂岩各层之间的产状关系进一步探讨了变质核杂岩隆升时间以及与大兴安岭隆升的关系。最后通过核部侵位的超镁铁-镁铁质岩探讨了变质核杂岩隆升的深部背景。     

右江盆地三叠纪岩层极低级变质作用及地球动力学意义

 右江盆地三叠纪槽盆相浊流沉积岩系遭受过区域极低级变质作用。依据地质观察和伊利石结晶度、绿泥石-云母堆垛集合体、标志性粘土矿物及白云母(伊利石)b0参数测定资料,阐述了泥质岩石的成岩变质作用经浅层(近)变质作用到浅变质作用的转换特征。变质温度区间为150-350℃,低压类型,具高地温梯度(40-43℃/km).变质级及亚带总体与地层时代及岩层在地层柱中的位置有耦合关系,而与区域变形强度无关。最后指出区域极低级变质作用是印支-燕山构造旋回早期及区域变形前的地质事件,属于地壳伸展构造背景下右江边缘型盆地内部的埋藏型变质作用。     

Metamorphic zones and physical conditions of metamorphism in Leros Island,Greece

On the basis of the systematic variation and the appearance and disappearance of some metamorphic minerals in metapelitic assemblages, the metamorphic terrain of Leros can be divided into chlorite, biotite, garnet and staurolite-kyanite zones of progressive regional metamorphism. The matapelites are interbedded with blueschists containing magnesioriebeckite in Fe³⁺-rich mafic assemblages in the chlorite zone and more normal greenschist and amphibolite facies in higher grade zones. Combining the observed mineral assemblages in pelitic and mafic schists with the available experimental or calculated relevant phase equilibria, one can deduce temperature conditions of metamorphism ranging from about 350° C up to about 700° C and pressures ranging between a minimum value defined by the pressure of the triple point of the Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs and a possible minimum around 7 kb.The observed metamorphic sequence may be interpreted as the result of progressive transportation of the original sediments and the interbedded mafic rocks from a regime typified by low temperatures and relatively high pressures, to regimes characterized by higher temperature and medium pressures.     

Compositional variations in mafic phyllosilicates from regional low-grade metabasites and application of the chlorite geothermometer

Abstract Mafic phyllosilicates in metabasites affected by low-grade regional metamorphism from Wales and eastern North Greenland show variations in their structure and chemistry. These variations are related to four mineral zones in these metabasites, which are recognized on the presence/absence of various key calc-silicate minerals and also actinolite. Zones 1 and 2 equate with the zeolite facies, zone 3 with the prehnite–pumpellyite facies (or prehnite–actinolite facies in rocks with appropriate bulk rock composition) and zone 4 with the greenschist facies. Whilst variations in Fe/(Fe + Mg) in chlorite correlate closely with Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios in the whole-rock, other chemical variations are clearly unrelated to whole-rock compositions. Contents of Al^iv are seen to increase systematically in samples from zone 1 through to zone 4, which relate to an increase in temperature. Calibration of alteration temperatures, calculated using the chlorite geothermometer (based on Al^iv contents) developed for meta-andesites in the Los Azufres geothermal system (Mexico), against x values (an estimate of the proportion of chlorite to swelling component in the mafic phyllosilicates) shows a decrease in the swelling component in passing from zone 1 to zone 4, i.e. with an increase in temperature. Calculated temperatures compare favourably with published stability estimates for the various key calc-silicates and actinolite. These data indicate that the chlorite geothermometer, although developed for meta-andesites from a hydrothermal system, does show a correlation with temperatures estimated from calc-silicate assemblages in metabasites affected by low-grade metamorphism developed on a regional scale.     

成岩-极低级变质作用及油气勘探意义

采用粘土矿物学、成岩变质矿物组合、镜质体反射率及流体包裹体数据等指标,综合讨论了准噶尔盆地西北缘晚古生代地层成岩极低级变质作用的特征和油气勘探意义。变质指示矿物和古地温梯度研究确认,西北缘玛湖坳陷北段下二叠统火山岩存在极低级变质作用,具水热变质特征,变质相为葡萄石阳起石相,温度为２２０～３２０℃,压力ｐ＜２００ＭＰａ,表明极低级变质事件发生于早二叠世,未对上二叠统地层产生影响;下二叠统风城组和上二叠统地层于侏罗纪（１５０Ｍａ）达到最大古地温,为１３０～１８０℃,压力ｐ为１００～２００ＭＰａ,处于晚成岩Ａ,Ｂ期。与西准噶尔界山上古生界相比,盆地西北缘变质程度较低。因此,盆地深部上古生界仍是寻找油气、尤其是天然气的有利地带     

青海省河南县三叠系伊利石结晶度与极低级变质作用

在开展“青海省河南县托叶玛地区I47E007023、I47E008023、I47E009023、1I47E009024四幅1:5万区域地质矿产调查”时,为验证该地区三叠系变质情况,针对三叠系中泥岩(页岩)的伊利石结晶度做了分析测试。30件样品的实验结果表明: 北部宗务隆—泽库地层分区三叠系泥岩(页岩)伊利石Kübler结晶度指数为0.312~0.537,晶胞参数b₀为0.898 0~0.903 2 nm,判断其变质温度小于350 ℃,具葡萄石-绿纤石和沸石相; 南部西倾山地层分区三叠系泥岩(页岩)的伊利石Kübler结晶度指数为0.21~0.318,b₀为0.898 1~0.901 4 nm,变质温度主要分布在200~350 ℃,局部>350 ℃,具葡萄石-绿纤石和绿片岩相。研究认为青海省河南县地区区域变质程度较低,为极低级变质作用或者未发生区域变质作用,且南部西倾山地层分区的变质程度略高于北部宗务隆—泽库地层分区变质程度。这一变质相带研究结论与前人认为的“区域低温动力变质作用及低绿片岩相变质带”不一致,变质程度相对更低。该研究证实了在青海省河南县地区三叠系地层中不存在大面积区域变质作用,仅存在极低级区域变质作用。     

Crystallinity and metamorphism of illite from Triassic strata in Henan County of Qinghai Province

In order to verify the Triassic stratum metamorphism in this area, the crystallinity of illite in mudstone (shale) of Triassic stratum was analyzed and tested during the 1:50 000 regional mineral geological survey (I47E007023, I47E008023, I47E009023,1I47E009024)in Tuoyema area of Henan Mongolian Autonomous County in Qinghai Province. According to the experimental results of 30 samples, the crystallinity index of Triassic mudstone (shale) illite Kübler in Zongwulong-Zeku stratigraphic division in the north is 0.312-0.537, and the cell parameter b₀ is 0.898-0.903 2 nm. The metamorphic temperature is less than 350 ℃, with the grape-chlorite and zeolite facies. The crystallinity index of Triassic mudstone (shale) illite Kübler in the western inclined mountain stratigraphic division in the south is 0.21-0.318, and the b₀ value is 0.898 1-0.901 4 nm. The metamorphic temperature is mainly between 200 and 350 ℃, with the local temperature above 350 ℃ and grape-chlorite and greenschist facies. It is considered that the regional metamorphism grade in this area is very low or has no regional metamorphism. The metamorphism degree of the western dipping mountain stratum in the south is slightly higher than that of Zongwulong-Zeku stratum in the north. The measured metamorphic facies belts are not consistent with the previous thought, that is "regional low temperature dynamic metamorphism and low greenschist facies metamorphic belts", and the degree of metamorphism is relatively lower. It is confirmed that there is no large area regional metamorphism in the Triassic strata of Henan County in Qinghai Province, but only very low-level regional metamorphism.     

Static recrystallization and preferred orientation of phyllosilicates: Michigamme Formation,northern Michigan,USA

The Michigamme Formation of the Marquette District in Michigan's Upper Peninsula comprises a sequence of cleaved rocks of increasing metamorphic grade. Because metamorphism in the area occurred after cleavage formation, the rocks provide an opportunity to study preferred orientation development of phyllosilicates under conditions of static recrystallization.X-ray texture goniometry on samples from the greenschist-facies zone that were collected at varying distances from the bounding biotite-in and garnet-in isograds, shows that: (1) the preferred orientation of phyllosilicates is always parallel to the mesoscopic cleavage, and (2) the degree of preferred orientation of phyllosilicates improves as a function of increasing metamorphic grade (from <4 to >9 m.r.d.). Scanning electron microscopy on these samples shows that: (1) the length/width ratio increases with increasing grade, and (2) grain shapes are better defined with increasing grade.Previous work on slates showed mechanical processes dominate at very low-grade metamorphism, whereas chemical processes are favored at higher grades. The Michigamme samples show that improvement of preferred orientation occurrred by grain dissolution and crystallization. Noncleavage-parallel phyllosilicate grains were preferentially dissolved, probably facilitated by internal strain energy from mineral defects, aided by chemical energy, whereas cleavage-parallel phyllosilicates were hosts for new growth along their basal planes. These results show that significant fabric strengthening can be achieved by grain dissolution and crystallization in the absence of tectonic stress.