Low temperature eclogite facies rocks discovered in the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis: Poly-cyclic metamorphic evolution and implications

We report the first occurrence of poly-cyclic high-pressure low-temperature (HP-LT) rocks from the easternmost Indus-Yarlung suture zone, formed during subduction of Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere. Petrology, mineral composition and P–T pseudosection modelling reveal two low-temperature eclogite facies metamorphic events with an initial high-pressure P–T condition of 16.4–18.7 kbar and 510–520°C, exhumation to 10.5–12.0 kbar and 580–590°C and a subsequent second high-pressure P–T condition of ~16 kbar and ~560°C and exhumation to ≤9 kbar and ≤600°C. This history implies a complex ‘yo-yo type’ P–T path. In situ monazite dating and textural relationships show that late-stage exhumation, cooling and garnet breakdown occurred at c. ~25–22 Ma. We interpret the first burial event to represent subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean at the eastern Indus-Yarlung suture zone. Initial exhumation, reburial and final exhumation represent material transport in a large-scale convective circulation system in the subduction channel. Convective overturn in the subduction channel evidently serves both as a mechanism to produce poly-cyclic metamorphism and to exhume LT eclogite facies rocks.     

鄂北高压榴辉岩相变质带的变质、变形和流体演化

大别高压超高压变质带从南到北可分成四个带,它们是绿帘蓝片岩带、高压榴辉岩带(南带)、超高压榴辉岩带和高压榴辉岩带(北带).高压榴辉岩相变质带以蓝闪石榴辉岩为代表,并出现多硅白云母、绿帘石、石英、金红石和锆石等变质矿物. 石榴石中含有前榴辉岩相变质形成的矿物包体,并具典型的进变质成分环带.高压榴辉岩中保存了其进、退变质作用全过程中的岩石学和构造信息,即在挤压体制下,表壳岩石经绿帘角闪岩相到榴辉岩相进变质作用和强烈韧性变形;在继续挤压逆冲机制下高压变质岩的大幅度折返,从壳幔边界上升到地壳中、浅层次,并发生绿帘角闪相退变质作用和多期韧性变形;在伸展体制下经滑脱、断块升降、差异抬升高压变质岩块体暴露到地表,并发生绿片岩相退变质作用和韧-脆性变形.高压变质作用过程中存在广泛的流体-岩石相互作用, 气液包裹体和高压含水矿物的稳定产出,是最有力的证据.流体的成分、含量、迁移形式控制着变质反应,是影响高压变质岩形成与保存的热力学和动力学条件.     

青藏高原拉萨地块松多榴辉岩的岩相学特征和变质演化过程

松多榴辉岩出露于拉萨地块的石英片岩中,主要由较为基性的金红石榴辉岩和较为酸性的石英榴辉岩组成。榴辉岩相矿物组合为石榴子石 绿辉石 绿帘石±多硅白云母±石英±金红石。岩石发生了较强烈的退变质作用,退变质矿物有角闪石、绿帘石、石英、钠长石及绿泥石。石榴子石变斑晶具有生长环带结构,变斑晶和基质石榴子石主要落入C类榴辉岩区,少数石榴子石变斑晶边部和基质石榴子石落入B类榴辉岩区;单斜辉石主要为绿辉石,少数Ⅰ世代和Ⅲ世代为普通辉石;角闪石均为钙质角闪石。根据石榴子石-绿辉石-多硅白云母矿物温压计计算,获得的温压范围为630～777℃和2.58～2.70GPa,峰期变质条件接近于石英-柯石英转变线。榴辉岩的原岩经历了从高绿片岩相、角闪岩相、榴辉岩相、角闪岩相到高绿片岩相的变质过程,这反映了与古特提斯洋闭合有关的俯冲进变质作用和随后的折返退变质作用。     

Metamorphic evolution of eclogite facies rocks in Northern Hubei and Southern Henan, China

Eclogite fades rocks in this area are diverse in rock type. The field occurrence and rock-chemistry reflect theirin-situ origin. Based on their regional geology and field occurrence, two groups of eclogites are divided in terms of their peak temperature of metamorphism. Medium-temperature eclogites (MT), as Group B, occur in the Dabie Group. They were formed from epidote-amphibolite facies. The metamorphism of eclogite facies has two stages: the coesite eclogite facies stage (the peak condition:T = 600 -700°C,P = 2.7-3.0 GPa) and the glaucophane eclogite facies stage (the pressure decreases, may be lower than 2.5 GPa while the temperature has little change). Low temperature eclogites (LT), as Group C, occur in the Qijiaoshan Formation. They were formed from blue schist facies (the peak condition:T = 490–560°C,P< 1.5 GPa). The appearance of hydrous minerals in the eclogites indicates the important role of water in metamorphism. Medium-temperature eclogites are different from low-temperature ones in metamorphism. At last, the evolution of the high-pressure metamorphic belt is discussed as well. This research project was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 49372100).     

Coseismic formation of eclogite facies cataclasite dykes at Yangkou in the Chinese Su‐Lu UHP metamorphic belt

Eclogite facies cataclasite is recognized at Yangkou in the Chinese Su‐Lu ultrahigh‐P metamorphic belt. The cataclasite dykes (5?15 cm wide) are bounded by mylonite/ultramylonite zones, cutting through unfoliated metagabbro and/or eclogite. The cataclasite veins (generally 2–4 cm wide) are free of mylonite boundary zones, cutting through the foliation of the high‐P host rock. The dykes and veins are dominated by eclogite fragments consisting of debris of omphacite, garnet, quartz, phengite and kyanite, in a matrix of variable amounts of a schist rich in quartz, phengite and kyanite. Garnet clasts in the fragments are welded and overgrown by more Ca‐rich garnet containing mineral inclusions different from those in the garnet cores. The micropoikilitic texture of garnet is typical of eclogitic pseudotachylytes. Crack‐sealing K‐feldspar veinlets in the cataclasite dykes also imply frictional or shock‐induced melting of K‐mica. The modal abundances in the cataclasite and the schist imply that the dykes formed by flow of the omphacite and garnet‐dominated cataclasites into the fractures during seismic faulting, while the lower density minerals (quartz, phengite and kyanite) were largely left in the ultramylonite boundary zones. The dykes have the same composition as their host rocks, except for slightly lower Si and large ion lithophile elements and higher Mg, Ca, Cr, Co and Ni. Chromite, probably spurted from the nearby ultramafic rock, is found as rare particles in the cataclasite fragments. This indicates that material exchange occurred by mechanical mixing between the dykes and the ultramafic rock during seismic faulting. The Cr‐rich eclogite minerals grown on the chromite are evidence for coseismic high‐P crystallization. Short‐lived crystal growth is implied by the fine grain sizes of the eclogite minerals and very limited element diffusion between the garnet clasts and their overgrowths. The fact that the host rocks are more hydrated implies that the dyke formation was not related to fluid infiltration. It appears, therefore, that stress was the key factor inducing the high‐P phase transformation in the dykes. Both stress and temperature were only transiently high in the dykes, which have been metastable since they were formed.     

关于大别山榴辉岩相变质作用

大别山产出的榴辉岩相岩石包括石榴橄榄岩、榴辉岩、榴云片岩、榴辉片麻岩、榴玉英岩和榴辉大理岩等不同系列,它们均分布于花岗质片麻岩中。矿物共生序列研究表明,榴辉岩相岩石经历了从绿帘角闪岩相、柯石英榴辉岩相、角闪榴辉岩相、绿帘角闪岩相到绿片岩相的演化过程。花岗质片麻岩及变质火山—沉积岩系并未经历超高压变质作用,但却与榴辉岩相岩石经历了同一期绿帘角闪岩相变质事件,证明二者在地壳范围内发生了构造合并     

Early Tertiary eclogite facies metamorphism in the Monviso Ophiolite

Although crucial for the construction of tectonic models of the Alps the timing of high pressure metamorphism is still poorly determined and controversial. It is likely to vary from one tectonic unit to another depending on when each became involved in subduction. This in turn relates to palaeogeographic position with respect to the active ocean basin. Well defined, reliable geochronological data are too few to test this hypothesis. This paper extends the database by determining Sm–Nd mineral isochrons on two samples from the Monviso Ophiolite in the Piemonte Zone, carefully selected to minimize the problems of Sm–Nd dating of eclogites encountered elsewhere in the Alps. The dated samples have eclogite facies mineral assemblages typical of the Lago Superiore unit of the ophiolite; mineral compositions are similar to previously reported samples and indicate pressures of around 2  GPa and temperatures of 400–500  °C. Sm–Nd isochron ages of 60±12 and 62±9  Ma are defined by garnet and clinopyroxene, while the Rb–Sr age on phengite which is part of the high- P assemblage is 40±1  Ma. The new data fit an emerging pattern of ages in which high- P metamorphism in the oceanic realm is Early Tertiary, with slightly older ages in the overlying Sesia Zone and younger, Oligocene ages in the underlying internal basement massifs which only became involved in subduction when closure of the Piemont ocean was complete.     

Metamorphic evolution of eclogite and associated garnet-mica schist in the high-pressure metamorphic Maksyutov complex, Ural, Russia

Metasedimentary garnet-mica schists are interlayered with metabasic garnet–omphacite schists and enclose eclogite boudins in the high-pressure metamorphic Maksyutov complex in the Southern Urals, Russia. These three rock types were investigated in one outcrop and compared chemographically and thermobarometrically. The Fe/Mg distributions between garnet rim–omphacite and garnet rim–phengite pairs indicate different equilibration temperatures for the three samples, with the lowest temperature (500°C, >1.5 GPa) for the eclogite boudin, an intermediate temperature (630°C, >1.7 GPa) for the foliated eclogite and the highest temperature (650°C, >1.7 GPa) for the garnet-mica schist. The garnets in garnet-mica schist enclose abundant chloritoid relics and the Fe/Mg distribution between chloritoid and garnet records an earlier high-temperature stage (650°C, >2.0 GPa) before the garnet rim–phengite temperatures were reached. Together with some minimum- and maximum-pressure estimates three different prograde pressure–temperature paths and a common retrograde metamorphic evolution are interpreted from the chemographic and thermobarometric data. The different early metamorphic evolutions and conditions confirm the variability of protoliths, which are also indicated by different U/Pb zircon and rutile ages.     

Calculated phase equilibria for MORB compositions: a reappraisal of the metamorphic evolution of lawsonite eclogite

Pseudosections calculated with thermocalc predict that lawsonite‐bearing assemblages, including lawsonite eclogite, will be common for subducted oceanic crust that experiences cool, fluid‐saturated conditions. For glaucophane–lawsonite eclogite facies conditions (500–600 °C and 18–28 kbar), MORB compositions are predicted in the NCKMnFMASHO system to contain glaucophane, garnet, omphacite, lawsonite, phengite and quartz, with chlorite at lower temperature and talc at higher temperature. In these assemblages, the pyrope content in garnet is mostly controlled by variations in temperature, and grossular content is strongly controlled by pressure. The silica content in phengite increases linearly with pressure. As the P–T conditions for these given isopleths are only subtly affected by common variations in bulk‐rock compositions, the P–T pseudosections potentially present a robust geothermobarometric method for natural glaucophane‐bearing eclogites. Thermobarometric results recovered both by isopleth and conventional approaches indicate that most natural glaucophane–lawsonite eclogites (Type‐L) and glaucophane–epidote eclogites (Type‐E) record similar peak P–T conditions within the lawsonite stability field. Decompression from conditions appropriate for lawsonite stability should result in epidote‐bearing assemblages through dehydration reactions controlled by lawsonite + omphacite = glaucophane + epidote + H₂O. Lawsonite and omphacite breakdown will be accompanied by the release of a large amount of bound fluid, such that eclogite assemblages are variably recrystallized to glaucophane‐rich blueschist. Calculated pseudosections indicate that eclogite assemblages form most readily in Ca‐rich rocks and blueschist assemblages most readily in Ca‐poor rocks. This distinction in bulk‐rock composition can account for the co‐existence of low‐T eclogite and blueschist in high‐pressure terranes.     

俄罗斯白海活动带Uzkaya Salma地区含绿纤石榴辉岩的岩石学特征及其变质演化

俄罗斯白海活动带Uzkaya Salma地区榴辉岩中发现的绿纤石形成于榴辉岩化早期亚绿片岩相阶段。该绿纤石多以包体形式存在于退变榴辉岩的变斑晶石榴石矿物中,并与榍石、金红石、单斜辉石、绿泥石、绿帘石、石英等矿物伴生,极少量单颗粒绿纤石包裹在基质单斜辉石(透辉石)矿物中,呈浑圆状。绿纤石成分上属于铝绿纤石和铁绿纤石,其中以铝绿纤石为主。在详细的岩相学研究基础上,通过相平衡计算,结合矿物温压计计算结果,发现含绿纤石榴辉岩共经历了4阶段的变质演化:Ⅰ早期进变质阶段,以石榴石中的绿纤石+绿泥石+绿帘石+石英等矿物包裹体为特征,依据实验岩石学研究的矿物组合绿纤石+绿泥石+石英和铁绿纤石+绿帘石稳定域,估算该变质阶段温压条件t=160~320℃,p=0.2~0.8 GPa;Ⅱ峰期榴辉岩相阶段,矿物组合为石榴石+Di-Pl后成合晶推测的绿辉石+金红石±角闪石+石英,石榴石核部镁等值线和绿辉石硬玉分子等值线限定其峰期温压条件为t=725~740℃,p=1.4~1.5 GPa;Ⅲ高压麻粒岩相退变质阶段,矿物组合为石榴石+透辉石+角闪石+斜长石+石英,石榴石-单斜辉石温度计和后成合晶中斜长石钙等值线限定该阶段的温压条件t=725~750℃,p=1.1~1.3 GPa;Ⅳ晚期角闪岩相退变质阶段,矿物组合角闪石+斜长石±黑云母+石英,相平衡计算和角闪石-斜长石温度计限定温压条件为t=670~700℃,p=0.7~0.9 GPa。综上,确定了俄罗斯白海活动带Uzkaya Salma地区含绿纤石榴辉岩具有顺时针的p-T演化轨迹,峰期对应的地温梯度为15℃/km,俯冲进变质阶段经历了绿纤石-绿帘石相变质,由峰期榴辉岩相到退变质高压麻粒岩相具近等温降压的特征。研究表明,板块的"冷"俯冲作用在地球演化早期太古宙时期就可能出现了。     

苏北青龙山超高压变质榴辉岩流体包裹体特征与流体演化

根据青龙山超高压变质榴辉岩中流体包裹体的化学成分、矿物中的分布特征将岩石中的流体包裹体分为五类,即富N2包裹体、高盐度(22.4-略大于23.2wt%NaCl)的NaCl CaCl2 H2O体系流体包裹体、中高盐度(12.6-16.0wt%NaCl)的含Mg2 或Fe2 的NaCl H2O体系流体包裹体、中等盐度(6.4-10.5wt%NaCl)水溶液包裹体和低盐度(3.3-0.2wt%NaCl)的水溶液包裹体。富N2包裹体形成于超高压变质峰期阶段,高盐度的流体包裹体形成于超高压变质岩折返早期固体出溶体出溶阶段,中高盐度的流体包裹体形成于高压变质重结晶作用阶段,中等盐度的流体包裹体形成于角闪岩相变质重结晶作用阶段,低盐度的流体包裹体形成于折返晚期的绿片岩退变质作用阶段。超高压变质峰期阶段和折返早期的高盐度流体和中高盐度的流体主要来自继承原岩中的流体(如含NH4 矿物分解或片麻岩原岩中的有机质分解,名义上无水矿物中羧基水的出溶),晚期角闪岩相退变质阶段的中等盐度的流体除名义上无水矿物中羟基水的出溶外还有外来流体的加入,绿片岩相退变质作用阶段的流体主要为外来流体。     

Precambrian metamorphic conditions and crustal evolution,northeastern Alberta,Canada

A complex of Precambrian polymetamorphic gneisses and granitoids of the Churchill structural province, northeastern Alberta, Canada has been examined structurally, petrographically, chemically and geochronologically. An Archean basement gneiss complex is indicated by Rb-Sr dating of pegmatites which cut both gneisses and granitoids (2470 ± 26 Ma with an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7030 ± 0.0008). A high-pressure granulite facies (M₁) mineral assemblage and older structures (D₁) are assigned to the Archean. A moderate-pressure granulite facies (M_2.1), a low-pressure amphibolite facies (M_2.2), a greenschist facies (M_2.3), and younger structures (D₂) are of Aphebian age. Formation of granitoids by anatexis of the pre-existing Archean basement complex during M_2.1 is indicated by their Aphebian ages (ca. 1900 Ma) and high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7100 ± 0.0018). The path of retrograde metamorphism is linked with relatively slow rates of uplift and cooling. Late Aphebian sediments attained low-grade greenschist facies metamorphism only and are younger than the other metamorphic rocks. The tectonic evolution of this Precambrian mobile belt during the Aphebian contrasts with the stable Archean cratonic block in the Slave province to the north.     

Amphibole zonation in metabasites as a guide to the evolution of metamorphic conditions

In low grade metabasites the amphibole components tremolite, glaucophane, edenite and tschermakite have their activities controlled by interactions with the excess components albite, clinozoisite, chlorite, quartz and H₂O vapor. Three types of reaction are involved, (i) Those in which only components of condensed phases take part: isopleths of equilibrium constant are straight lines in the P-T plane. (ii) Dehydration reactions in which entropy change due to change in Al coordination is of the same sign as that due to dehydration: isopleths of constant K are positive at low pressure and negative at high pressure. (iii) Dehydration reactions in which entropy change due to Al coordination change is opposite in sign to that of dehydration: isopleths of constant K loop in the P-T plane with positive slopes at low and at high pressure. Zonation in naturally occurring amphiboles records the evolution of metamorphic conditions in particular rocks. In an example from the eastern Alps (Austria) early conditions calculated as 15 kb, 200 ° C evolve upgrade to 6 kb, 525 ° C implying concurrent heating and erosion. The record of evolving conditions may span some 30 Ma of geological history.     

Multi-stage metamorphic evolution of retrograde eclogite with a granulite-facies overprint in the Zhaigen area of the North Qinling Belt,China

Retrograde eclogite from the central part of the Qinling Complex, Zhaigen area of the North Qinling Belt, was studied using integrated petrology, mineral chemistry, pseudosection modeling, and geochronology. Microstructures and mineral relationships reveal five metamorphic stages and associated mineral assemblages as follows: (1) pre-peak stage M₁, which is recorded by the inner cores of garnets together with mineral inclusions of clinopyroxene (Cpx₁) + amphibole (Am₁) + plagioclase (Pl₁) ± quartz ± rutile, occurred under conditions of 760–770 °C and 11.4–14.0 kbar; (2) eclogite-facies stage M₂, recorded by garnet cores + relic omphacite (with a high jadeite content up to 31%) + rutile + quartz under conditions of > 16.7 kbar and 679–765 °C; (3) high-pressure granulite-facies stage M₃, characterized by clinopyroxene (Cpx₂) + plagioclase (Pl₂) symplectites under conditions of 14.5–15.6 kbar and 800–850 °C; (4) medium-pressure granulite-facies stage M₄, characterized by the growth of plagioclase + orthopyroxene coronas around garnet under conditions of 8.3–10 kbar and 795–855 °C; and (5) retrogressive amphibolite-facies stage M₅, which is represented by amphibole (Am₃) + plagioclase (Pl₃) kelyphitic rims around garnet at conditions of < 4 kbar and < 620 °C. Based on Laser Raman analysis of mineral inclusions, cathodoluminescence images, in situ trace element concentrations from different domains within zircon grains, and LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP U–Pb dating, the protolith age of the Zhaigen retrograde eclogite is suggested at 786 ± 10 Ma and the eclogite-facies metamorphic age recorded by metamorphic zircon cores is limited within 501–497 Ma. The retrograde zircon rims display ages of 476–447 Ma and 425 Ma that probably reflect the timing of two stages of retrograde metamorphism, respectively. The mineral assemblages, P–T conditions, and zircon U–Pb data define a clockwise P–T–t path for the retrograde eclogite, suggesting that the Neoproterozoic protolith of the retrograde eclogite might evolved into continental subduction and eclogite-facies metamorphism during 501–497 Ma before undergoing retrograde metamorphism during an initial stage of exhumation to middle–upper crust level at 474–447 Ma and subsequent exhumation to shallow upper crust at ~ 420 Ma.     

大别山太湖地区榴辉岩峰期变质条件与构造意义

大别山太湖地区曾被作为“冷”、“热”榴辉岩带的交界处所在,我们对大别山太湖地区的进行了1：10000地质填图,并详细研究了该地区榴辉岩的岩相学和矿物成分变化,以及KD值、峰期变质P-T条件。研究表明榴辉岩自南向北可分为三类：①朱家冲型榴辉岩;②大坝型榴辉岩;③金河桥型榴辉岩。其中朱家冲型榴辉岩和金河桥型榴辉岩显示出明显的温度、压力差异,它们形成的P-T条件分别为：P=2．14GPa、T=563℃和P=3．76GPa、T=791℃。大坝型榴辉岩的峰期变质P-T条件差别较大,在柯石英-石英相变线附近徘徊,变质环境相当于高压一超高压过渡环境。朱家冲型榴辉岩与大坝型榴辉岩分别对应于前人所划分的“冷”、“热”榴辉岩,并且两者在峰期,变质温、压条件上是连续变化的,没有明显的温、压间断。因此,我们认为本区所谓的“冷”、“热”榴辉岩带界线是不存在的。     

西藏羌塘中部荣玛地区含石榴石蓝片岩变质特征及其构造意义

荣玛地区含石榴石蓝片岩产出于西藏尼玛县荣玛乡北蓝岭一带.含石榴石蓝片岩中的石榴石具有核部富锰,边部富铁、镁的特点,蓝闪石具有环带结构,以此推断,本区的含石榴石蓝片岩先期经历了硬柱石榴辉岩相的变质,后期经历了退变质的蓝片岩相的叠加变质.根据温压估算,含石榴石蓝片岩的变质压力为0.69 ~ 0.75 GPa,变质温度为420 ~ 460 ℃.含石榴石蓝片岩的40Ar/9Ar测年年龄在221±6 Ma,证明此区的含石榴子石蓝片岩形成于二叠-晚三叠时期南北羌塘陆块之间的洋壳俯冲过程中,这一俯冲最终使得古特提斯洋闭合、南北羌塘陆块成为统一.     

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

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