Biotite and garnet compositional variation and mineral equilibria in Grenville gneisses of the Otter Lake area, Quebec

Garnet-biotite gneisses, some of which contain sillimanite or hornblende, are widespread within the Otter Lake terrain, a portion of the Grenville Province of the Canadian Shield. The metamorphic grade is upper amphibolite to, locally, lower granulite facies. The atomic ratio Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+ Fe³⁺) in biotite ranges from 0.79 to 0.89 (ferrous iron determinations in 10 highly pure separates), with a mean of 0.86. Mg and Fe²⁺ atoms occupy 67–78% of the octahedral sites, the remainder are occupied by Fe³⁺, Ti, and Al, and some are vacant. Mg/(Mg + Fe²⁺), denoted X, in the analysed samples ranges from 0.32 to 0.65. Garnet contains 1–24% grossular, 1–12% spessartine and X ranges from 0.07 to 0.34. Compositional variation in biotite and garnet is examined in relation to three mineral equilibria: (I) biotite + sillimanite + quartz = garnet + K-feldspar + H₂O; (II) pyrope + annite = almandine + phlogopite; (III) anorthite = grossular + sillimanite + quartz. Measurements of X (biotite) and X (garnet) are used to construct an illustrative model for equilibrium (I) which relates the observed variation in X to a temperature range of 70°C or a range in H₂O activity of 0.6; the latter interpretation is preferred. In sillimanite-free gneisses, the distribution of Mg and Fe²⁺ between garnet (low in Ca and Mn) and biotite is adequately described by a distribution coefficient (KD) of 4.1 (equilibrium II). The observed increase in the distribution coefficient with increasing Ca in garnet is ln K_D= 1.3 + 2.5 × 10^?2 [Ca] where [Ca] = 100 Ca/(Mg + Fe²⁺+ Mn + Ca). The distribution coefficient is apparently unaffected by the presence of up to 12% spessartine in garnet. In several specimens of garnet-sillimanite-plagioclase gneiss, the Ca contents of garnet and of plagioclase increase in unison, as required by equilibrium (III). The mean pressure calculated from these data (n= 17) is 5.9 kbar, and the 95% confidence limits are ±0.5 kbar.     

A comparison of observed and thermodynamically predicted phase equilibria and mineral compositions in mafic granulites

Recently published activity–composition (a–x) relations for minerals in upper amphibolite‐ and granulite facies intermediate and basic rocks have expanded our ability to interpret the petrological evolution of these important components of the lower continental crust. If such petrological modelling is to be reliable, the abundances and compositions of phases calculated at the interpreted conditions of metamorphic equilibration should resemble those in the sample under study. Here, petrological modelling was applied to six granulite facies rocks that formed in different tectonic environments and reached different peak metamorphic pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions. While phase assemblages matching those observed in each sample can generally be calculated at P–T conditions that approximate those of peak metamorphism, a consistent discrepancy was found between the calculated and observed compositions of amphibole and clinopyroxene. In amphibole, Si, Ca and A‐site K are underestimated by the model, while Al and A‐site Na are overestimated; comparatively, in clinopyroxene, Mg and Si are generally underestimated, while Fe²⁺ and Al are typically overestimated, compared to observed values. One consequence is a reversal in the Fe–Mg distribution coefficient (K_D) between amphibole and clinopyroxene compared to observations. Some of these mismatches are attributed to the incorrect partitioning of elements between the predicted amphibole and clinopyroxene compositions; however, other discrepancies are the result of the incorrect prediction of major substitution vectors in amphibole and clinopyroxene. These compositional irregularities affect mineral modal abundance estimates and in turn the position and size (in P–T space) of mineral assemblage fields, the effect becoming progressively more marked as the modal abundance of hornblende increases; hence, this study carries implications for estimating P–T conditions of high‐temperature metabasites using these new a–x relations.     

Geochemical constraints of the eclogite and granulite facies metamorphism as recognized in the Raobazhai complex from North Dabie Shan,China

A combined study of major and trace elements, fluid inclusions and oxygen isotopes has been carried out on garnet pyroxenite from the Raobazhai complex in the North Dabie Terrane (NDT). Well‐preserved compositional zoning with Na decreasing and Ca and Mg increasing from the core to rim of pyroxene in the garnet pyroxenite indicates eclogite facies metamorphism at the peak metamorphic stage and subsequent granulite facies metamorphism during uplift. A P–T path with substantial heating (from c. 750 to 900 °C) after the maximum pressure reveals a different uplift history compared with most other eclogites in the South Dabie Terrane (SDT). Fluid inclusion data can be correlated with the metamorphic grade: the fluid regime during the peak metamorphism (eclogite facies) was dominated by N₂‐bearing NaCl‐rich solutions, whereas it changed into CO₂‐dominated fluids during the granulite facies retrograde metamorphism. At a late retrograde metamorphic stage, probably after amphibolite facies metamorphism, some external low‐salinity fluids were involved. In situ UV‐laser oxygen isotope analysis was undertaken on a 7 mm garnet, and impure pyroxene, amphibole and plagioclase. The nearly homogeneous oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O_VSMOW = c. 6.7‰) in the garnet porphyroblast indicates closed fluid system conditions during garnet growth. However, isotopic fractionations between retrograde phases (amphibole and plagioclase) and garnet show an oxygen isotopic disequilibrium, indicating retrograde fluid–rock interactions. Unusual MORB‐like rare earth element (REE) patterns for whole rock of the garnet pyroxenite contrast with most ultra‐high‐pressure (UHP) eclogites in the Dabie‐Sulu area. However, the age‐corrected initial ε_Nd(t) is ? 2.9, which indicates that the protolith of the garnet pyroxenite was derived from an enriched mantle rather than from a MORB source. Combined with the present data of oxygen isotopic compositions and the characteristic N₂ content in the fluid inclusions, we suggest that the protolith of the garnet pyroxenite from Raobazhai formed in an enriched mantle fragment, which has been exposed to the surface prior to the Triassic metamorphism.     

Granulite facies xenoliths from the Yuhuashan complex,central Jiangxi,South China: constraints on Late Palaeozoic orogeny and middle‐lower crust components

The Cretaceous Yuhuashan igneous complex contains abundant xenoliths of high‐grade metamorphic rocks, with the assemblage garnet ± hypersthene + biotite + plagioclase + K‐feldspar + quartz. The biotite in these samples has high TiO₂ (>3.5%), indicating high‐T metamorphism (623–778 °C). P–T calculations for two felsic granulites indicate that the peak metamorphism took place at 880–887 °C and 0.64–0.70 GPa, in the low pressure/high temperature (LP‐HT) granulite facies. Phase equilibrium modelling gives equilibrium conditions for the peak assemblage of a felsic granulite of >0.6 GPa and >840 °C, consistent with the P–T calculations, and identifies an anticlockwise P–T–t path. LA‐ICPMS U–Pb dating of metamorphic and detrital zircon from one xenolith reveals that the granulite facies metamorphism took place at 273.6 ± 2.2 Ma, and the protolith was a sedimentary rock deposited later than 683 Ma. This represents the first Late Palaeozoic (Variscan) granulite facies event identified in the South China Block (SCB). Coupled with other geological observations, the LP‐HT metamorphic conditions and anticlockwise P–T–t path suggest that Variscan metamorphism probably occurred in a post‐orogenic or intraplate extensional tectonic setting associated with the input of external heat, related to the underplating of mantle‐derived magma. Based on P–T estimates and the comparison of the protolith composition with mid‐ to low‐grade metamorphic rocks in the area, it is suggested that the mid‐lower crust under the Xiangshan–Yuhuashan area consists mainly of these felsic granulites and gneisses, whose protoliths were probably subducted to these depths during the Early Palaeozoic orogeny in the SCB, and underwent two episodes of metamorphism during Early Palaeozoic and Late Palaeozoic time.     

Pressure-temperature path of Sanbagawa prograde metamorphism deduced from grossular zoning of garnet

The zonal structure of prograde garnet in pelitic schists from the medium-grade garnet zone and the higher-grade albite-biotite zone was examined to investigate the evolution of prograde P–T paths of the Sanbagawa metamorphism. The garnet studied shows a bell-shaped chemical zoning of the spessartine component, which decreases in abundance from the core towards the rim. Almandine and pyrope contents and X_Mg [=Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺)] increase monotonously outwards. The general scheme of the zonal structure for grossular content [X_Grs=Ca/(Fe²⁺+Mn+Mg+Ca)] can be summarized as: (1) X_Grs increases outwards (inner segment) and reaches a maximum at an intermediate position between the crystal core and the rim, then decreases towards the outermost rim (outer segment) (2) the inner segment of garnet in the garnet zone samples tends to have a higher X_Grs/X_Sps values for a given X_Sps than those in the albite–biotite zone samples (3) average X_Sps at the maximum X_Grs position in the albite–biotite zone samples ranges from 0.02 to 0.12 and is lower than that in the garnet zone samples (0.13–0.32) (4) the maximum X_Grs in the albite–biotite zone samples (0.34–0.39 on average) tends to be higher than that in the garnet zone samples (0.26–0.36), and (5) differences of X_Grs between the maximum and rim in the albite–biotite zone samples are between 0.10 and 0.14 and higher than those in the garnet zone samples (< 0.11). These facts imply that albite–biotite zone materials (a) were recrystallized under lower dP/dT conditions at an early stage of the prograde metamorphism (b) began their exhumation under higher P–T conditions and (c) have been continuously heated during exhumation for a longer duration than the garnet zone materials. The systematic changes of prograde P–T paths can be interpreted as documenting the evolution of the Sanbagawa subduction zone.     

P–T–t evolution and textural evidence for decompression of Pan-African high-pressure granulites, Lurio Belt, north-eastern Mozambique

Pan‐African high‐pressure granulites occur as boudins and layers in the Lurio Belt in north‐eastern Mozambique, eastern Africa. Mafic granulites contain the mineral assemblage garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + quartz ± magnesiohastingsite. Garnet porphyroblasts are zoned with increasing almandine and spessartine contents and decreasing grossular and pyrope contents from core (Alm₄₆Prp₃₂Grs₂₁Sps₂) to rim (Alm₅₂Prp₂₆Grs₁₉Sps₃). This pattern is interpreted as a retrograde diffusion zoning with the preserved core chemistry representing the peak metamorphic composition. Mineral reaction textures occur in the form of monomineralic and composite plagioclase ± orthopyroxene ± amphibole ± biotite ± magnetite coronas around garnet porphyroblasts. Thermobarometry indicates peak metamorphic conditions of up to 1.57 ± 0.14 GPa and 949 ± 92 °C (stage I), corresponding to crustal depths of ～55 km. Zircon yielded an U–Pb age of 557 ± 16 Ma, inferred to date crystallization of zircon during peak or immediately post‐peak metamorphism. Formation of plagioclase + orthopyroxene‐bearing coronas surrounding garnet indicates a near‐isothermal decompression of the high‐pressure granulites to lower pressure granulite facies conditions (stage II). Development of plagioclase + amphibole‐coronas enclosing the same garnet porphyroblasts shows subsequent cooling into amphibolite facies conditions (stage III). Symplectitic textures of the corona assemblages indicate rapid decompression. The high‐pressure granulite facies metamorphism of the Lurio Belt, followed by near‐isothermal decompression and subsequent cooling, is in accordance with a long‐lived tectonic history accompanied by high magmatic activity in the Lurio Belt during the late Neoproterozoic–early Palaeozoic East‐African–Antarctic orogeny.     

Ultra high temperature metamorphism of mafic granulites from South Altyn Orogen,West China: A result from the rapid exhumation of deeply subducted continental crust

The South Altyn orogen in West China contains ultra high pressure (UHP) terranes formed by ultra‐deep (>150–300 km) subduction of continental crust. Mafic granulites which together with ultramafic interlayers occur as blocks in massive felsic granulites in the Bashiwake UHP terrane, are mainly composed of garnet, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, amphibole, rutile/ilmenite, and quartz with or without kyanite and sapphirine. The kyanite/sapphirine‐bearing granulites are interpreted to have experienced decompression‐dominated evolution from eclogite facies conditions with peak pressures of 4–7 GPa to high pressure (HP)–ultra high temperature (UHT) granulite facies conditions and further to low pressure (LP)–UHT facies conditions based on petrographic observations, phase equilibria modelling, and thermobarometry. The HP–UHT granulite facies conditions are constrained to be 2.3–1.6 GPa/1,000–1,070°C based on the observed mineral assemblages of garnet+clinopyroxene+rutile+plagioclase+amphibole±quartz and measured mineral compositions including the core–rim increasing anorthite in plagioclase (X_An = 0.52–0.58), core–rim decreasing jadeite in clinopyroxene (X_Jd = 0.20–0.15), and TiO₂ in amphibole (Ti^M2/2 = 0.14–0.18). The LP–UHT granulite facies conditions are identified from the symplectites of sapphirine+plagioclase+spinel, formed by the metastable reaction between garnet and kyanite at <0.6–0.7 GPa/940–1,030°C based on the calculated stability of the symplectite assemblages and sapphirine–spinel thermometer results. The common granulites without kyanite/sapphirine are identified to record a similar decompression evolution, including eclogite, HP–UHT granulite, and LP–UHT granulite facies conditions, and a subsequent isobaric cooling stage. The decompression under HP–UHT granulite facies is estimated to be from 2.3 to 1.3 GPa at ~1,040°C on the basis of textural records, anorthite content in plagioclase (X_An = 0.25–0.32), and grossular content in garnet (X_Grs = 0.22–0.19). The further decompression to LP–UHT facies is defined to be >0.2–0.3 GPa based on the calculated stability for hematite‐bearing ilmenite. The isobaric cooling evolution is inferred mainly from the amphibole (Ti^M2/2 = 0.14–0.08) growth due to the crystallization of residual melts, consistent with a temperature decrease from >1,000°C to ~800°C at ~0.4 GPa. Zircon U–Pb dating for the two types of mafic granulite yields similar protolith and metamorphic ages of c. 900 Ma and c. 500 Ma respectively. However, the metamorphic age is interpreted to represent the HP–UHT granulite stage for the kyanite/sapphirine‐bearing granulites, but the isobaric cooling stage for the common granulites on the basis of phase equilibria modelling results. The two types of mafic granulite should share the same metamorphic evolution, but show contrasting features in petrography, details of metamorphic reactions in each stage, thermobarometric results, and also the meaning of zircon ages as a result of their different bulk‐rock compositions. Moreover, the UHT metamorphism in UHP terranes is revealed to represent the lower pressure overprinting over early UHP assemblages during the rapid exhumation of ultra‐deep subducted continental slabs, in contrast to the cause of traditional UHT metamorphism by voluminous heat addition from the mantle.     

Mineral chemistry of Plio-Quaternary subvolcanic rocks,southwest Yazd Province,Iran

The NW–SE-trendingLate Cretaceous–Cenozoic Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (UDMA) in southwest Iran hosts numerous Plio-Quaternary subvolcanic porphyritic andesitic to rhyodacitic domes intruded into a variety of rock sequences. Bulk-rock geochemical data show that the calc-alkaline dacitic to rhyodacitic subvolcanic rocks share compositional affinities with high-silica adakites, including high ratios of Na₂O/K₂O >1, Sr/Y (most >70), and La/Yb (>35), high Al₂O₃ (>15 wt.%), low Yb (<1.8 ppm) and Y (<18 ppm) contents, no significant Eu anomalies, and flat to gently upward-sloping chondrite-normalized heavy rare-earth element (HREE) patterns. All analysed rocks are characterized by enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs). They also display typical features of subduction-related calc-alkaline magmas. In chondrite-normalized rare-earth element patterns, the light rare-earth elements (LREEs) are enriched ((La/Sm) _N = 3.49–7.89) in comparison to those of the HREE ((Gd/Yb) _N = 1.52–2.38). Except for the G-Aliabad Dome, plagioclase crystals in the Shamsabad, Ostaj, Abdollah, and Bouragh Domes are mostly oligoclase to andesine (An_19–49). Amphibole and biotite are abundant ferromagnesian minerals in the subvolcanic rocks. Calcic amphiboles are dominantly magnesiohornblende, magnesiohastingsite, and tschermakite with Mg/(Mg + Fe_tot) ratios ranging from 0.58 to 0.78. In all the studied domes, amphiboles are typically ferric iron-rich, but that those the Shamsabad Dome have the highest Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) ratios, between 0.69 and 0.98. Amphiboles from the Ostaj and Shamsabad Domes are relatively rich in F (0.39–1.01 wt.%) in comparison to the other studied domes. This phase commonly shows pargasitic and hastingsitic substitutions with a combination of tschermakitic and edenitic types.

Temperature-corrected Al-in-hornblende data show that amphibole phenocrysts from the Ostaj, Abdollah, and G-Aliabad Domes crystallized at pressures ranging from 2.14 to 3.42 kbar, 3.49 to 3.96 kbar, and 2.02 to 3.47 kbar, respectively. Temperatures of crystallization calculated with the amphibole–plagioclase thermometer for the Ostaj, Abdollah, and G-Aliabad subvolcanic domes range from 735°C to 826°C (mean = 786 ± 29), 778°C to 808°C (mean = 791 ± 13), and 866°C to 908°C (mean = 885 ± 12), respectively. In the annite–siderophyllite–phlogopite–eastonite quadrilateral, biotite from the G-Aliabad, Bouragh, and Ostaj Domes are characterized by relatively low total Al contents with variable Fe_tot/(Fe_tot + Mg) values from 0.26 to 0.43. All biotite analyses define a nearly straight line in the X _Mg versus Fe_tot plot, with r = –0.96 correlation coefficient. In comparison to other domes, the F content of biotite from the G-Aliabad Dome shows high concentrations in the range of 1.80–2.57 wt.% (mean = 2.20). Inferred pre-eruptive conditions based on the calcic amphibole thermobarometric calculations for the Shamsabad, Abdollah, and Ostaj Domes show that the calc-alkaline subvolcanic magma chamber, on average, was characterized by a water content of 6.10 wt.%, a relatively high oxygen fugacity of 10^–10.66 (ΔNNO + 1.28), a temperature of 896°C, and a pressure of 2.75 kbar.     

Coexisting garnets and biotites from Precambrian gneisses of the south coast of Western Australia

Garnet-biotite (-cordierite) phase relations in high-grade gneisses of the south coast of Western Australia reflect at least two metamorphic episodes. Chemical uniformity of the interiors of garnet and cordierite grains suggest thorough equilibration during a major phase of metamorphism. Narrow Mg-depleted rims on garnet grain boundaries in contact with biotite or cordierite, and complementary Mg-enriched rims on contiguous cordierites are the result of subsequent retrograde re-equilibration. The absence of reaction zoning in biotites suggests more complete retrograde modification of this mineral.Comparison between granulite and amphibolite facies garnet-biotite pairs shows that Mn contents of both minerals are higher, and Ti contents of the biotites are lower, in the lower-grade rocks. These differences, although not entirely unrelated to grade, are more directly controlled by variations in host rock chemistry and modal amounts of garnet and biotite.Partitioning of Mg, Fe²⁺ and Mn between garnet and biotite is fairly uniform, with no clear differences between granulite and amphibolite facies pairs. Application of the Mg-Fe²⁺ distributions to the geothermometers devised by Perchuk, Thompson, and Goldman & Albee yields variable T estimates of 600–680°C, 580–780°C, and 475–715°C respectively, for the main metamorphism. These estimates are low compared with the T indicated for the granulite facies rocks by other evidence (i.e. > 750°C at 5 kb P_T). The Mg-Fe²⁺ distributions between contiguous garnet-biotite rims suggest that retrograde re-equilibration occurred at least 20–140°C below the T of the main metamorphism.     

P–T–X controls on phase stability and composition in LTMP metabasite rocks – a thermodynamic evaluation

The stability of pumpellyite + actinolite or riebeckite + epidote + hematite (with chlorite, albite, titanite, quartz and H₂O in excess) mineral assemblages in LTMP metabasite rocks is strongly dependent on bulk composition. By using a thermodynamic approach (THERMOCALC), the importance of CaO and Fe₂O₃ bulk contents on the stability of these phases is illustrated using P–T and P–X phase diagrams. This approach allowed P–T conditions of ～4.0 kbar and ～260 °C to be calculated for the growth of pumpellyite + actinolite or riebeckite + epidote + hematite assemblages in rocks containing variable bulk CaO and Fe₂O₃ contents. These rocks form part of an accretionary wedge that developed along the east Australian margin during the Carboniferous–Triassic New England Orogen. P–T and P–X diagrams show that sodic amphibole, epidote and hematite will grow at these conditions in Fe₂O₃‐saturated (6.16 wt%) metabasic rocks, whereas actinolite and pumpellyite will be stable in CaO‐rich (10.30 wt%) rocks. With intermediate Fe₂O₃ (～3.50 wt%) and CaO (～8.30 wt%) contents, sodic amphibole, actinolite and epidote can coexist at these P–T conditions. For Fe₂O₃‐saturated rocks, compositional isopleths for sodic amphibole (Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the M2 site), epidote (Fe³⁺/Fe³⁺ + Al³⁺) and chlorite (Fe²⁺/Fe²⁺ + Mg) were calculated to evaluate the efficiency of these cation exchanges as thermobarometers in LTMP metabasic rocks. Based on these calculations, it is shown that Al³⁺ in sodic amphibole and epidote is an excellent barometer in chlorite, albite, hematite, quartz and titanite buffered assemblages. The effectiveness of these barometers decreases with the breakdown of albite. In higher‐P stability fields where albite is absent, Fe²⁺‐Mg ratios in chlorite may be dependent on pressure. The Fe³⁺/Al and Fe²⁺/Mg ratios in epidote and chlorite are reliable thermometers in actinolite, epidote, chlorite, albite, quartz, hematite and titanite buffered assemblages.     

Chlorine,titanium and barium-rich biotites: factors controlling biotite composition and the implications for garnet-biotite geothermometry

Barium-, Cl- and Ti-rich biotite occurs together with garnet, plagioclase and amphibole within narrow shear zones in 1800 Ma old noritic granulites in the Flakstadøy Basic Complex, Lofoten, north Norway. The granulite facies assemblage, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, biotite and ilmenite, was replaced by an amphibolite facies mineral assemblage including Ba-, Cl- and Ti-rich biotite during ductile deformation. Biotite shows complex compositional variations with respect to the contents of Ba, K, Cl, Ti, Al, Fe, Mg and Si. There are correlations between Si, Al^IV, K, Ba and Cl and between Al^VI and Ti. Titanium and Cl are uncorrelated. The Fe and Mg are correlated to both Cl and Ti. Multivariate analysis shows that most of the compositional variation of biotite can be described by two exchange reactions. This indicates that most of the variation in biotite composition was controlled by two chemical variables of the system. The content of the first exchange component (Ti_1.0 Fe_0.6 Al _-1.1 ^VI Mg_-0.8) in biotite can be related to the original distribution of Ti-bearing minerals in the igneous protolith. The content of the second exchange component (Al _0.4 ^IV Fe_0.8 Ba_0.5 Cl_1.0 Si_-0.4 Mg_-1.0 K_-0.5 OH_-1.0) is related to compositional variations of an externally derived Ba- and Cl-bearing fluid in equilibrium with biotite.The initially low Cl-content of the externally derived fluid was increasing during bioite forming reactions, because OH was preferentially incorporated, relative to Cl, into biotite. Continued hydration/chloridisation reactions resulted in a gradual consumption of the free fluid phase, resulting in local fluid-absent conditions. The composition of biotite reflects the composition of the last fluid in equilibrium with the mineral, i.e. the composition of the fluid immediately before the grain boundaries were fluid-undersaturated. Thus, the variations in biotite composition reflect how the fluid was gradually consumed throughout the shear zone rock. The correlations between Fe, Mg, Ba, K and Cl can be attributed to differences between the structure of the crystal lattices and the sizes of the cation sites of OH-phlogopite and Cl-annite. The dependency of the Fe/Mg ratios of biotite on the Cl-and Ti-content has a strong effect on the Fe–Mg partitioning between biotite and garnet. The relationship between lnK_D, X _Ti ^Bt and X _Cl ^Bt can be expressed by the regression equation: lnK _D =-1.82+2.60X _Ti ^Bt +5.67X _Cl ^Bt     

Quantitative P–T–X constraints on orthopyroxene-bearing high-pressure granulites in felsic–metapelitic rocks: evidence from the Huangtuling granulite, Dabieshan Orogen

High‐pressure granulites are generally characterized by the absence of orthopyroxene. However, orthopyroxene is reported in a few high‐pressure, felsic–metapelitic granulites, such as the Huangtuling felsic high‐pressure granulite in the North Dabie metamorphic core complex in east‐central China, which rarely preserves the high‐pressure granulite facies assemblage of garnet + orthopyroxene + biotite + plagioclase + K‐feldspar + quartz. To investigate the effects of bulk‐rock composition on the stability of orthopyroxene‐bearing, high‐pressure granulite facies assemblages in the NCKFMASHTO (Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–TiO₂–Fe₂O₃) system, a series of P–T–X pseudosections based on the melt‐reintegrated composition of the Huangtuling felsic high‐pressure granulite were constructed. Calculations demonstrate that the orthopyroxene‐bearing, high‐pressure granulite facies assemblages are restricted to low X_Al [Al₂O₃/(Na₂O + CaO + K₂O + FeO + MgO + Al₂O₃) < 0.35, mole proportion] or high X_Mg [MgO/(MgO + FeO) > 0.85] felsic–metapelitic rock types. This study also reveals that the X_Al values in the residual felsic–metapelitic, high‐pressure granulites could be significantly reduced by a high proportion of melt loss. We suggest that orthopyroxene‐bearing, high‐pressure granulites occur in residual overthickened crustal basement under continental subduction–collision zones and arc–continent collision belts.     

Petrological and geochronological constraints on high pressure, high temperature metamorphism in the Snowbird tectonic zone, Canada

The upper deck of the East Athabasca mylonite triangle (EAmt), northern Saskatchewan, Canada, contains mafic granulites that have undergone high P–T metamorphism at conditions ranging from 1.3 to 1.9 GPa, 890–960 °C. Coronitic textures in these mafic granulites indicate a near‐isothermal decompression path to 0.9 GPa, 800 °C. The Godfrey granite occurs to the north adjacent to the upper deck high P–T domain. Well‐preserved corona textures in the Godfrey granite constrain igneous crystallization and early metamorphism in the intermediate‐pressure granulite field (Opx + Pl) at 1.0 GPa, 775 °C followed by metamorphism in the high pressure granulite field (Grt + Cpx + Pl) at 1.2 GPa, 860 °C. U–Pb geochronology of zircon in upper deck mafic granulite yields evidence for events at both c. 2.5 Ga and c. 1.9 Ga. The oldest zircon dates are interpreted to constrain a minimum age for crystallization or early metamorphism of the protolith. A population of 1.9 Ga zircon in one mafic granulite is interpreted to constrain the timing of high P–T metamorphism. Titanite from the mafic granulites yields dates ranging from 1900 to 1894 Ma, and is interpreted to have grown along the decompression path, but still above its closure temperature, indicating cooling following the high P–T metamorphism from c. 960–650 °C in 4–10 Myr. Zircon dates from the Godfrey granite indicate a minimum crystallization age of 2.61 Ga, without any evidence for 1.9 Ga overgrowths. The data indicate that an early granulite facies event occurred at c. 2.55–2.52 Ga in the lower crust (c. 1.0 GPa), but at 1.9 Ga the upper deck underwent high P–T metamorphism, then decompressed to 0.9–1.0 GPa. Juxtaposition of the upper deck and Godfrey granite would have occurred after or been related to this decompression. In this model, the high P–T rocks are exhumed quickly following the high pressure metamorphism. This type of metamorphism is typically associated with collisional orogenesis, which has important implications for the Snowbird tectonic zone as a fundamental boundary in the Canadian Shield.     

Metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high-grade rocks from the central Mozambique Belt of Tanzania: crustal recycling of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material during the Pan-African orogeny

New data on the metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high‐grade rocks in the central Mozambique Belt (MB) of Tanzania show that this part of the orogen consists of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was structurally reworked during the Pan‐African event. The metamorphic rocks are characterized by a clockwise P–T path, followed by strong decompression, and the time of peak granulite facies metamorphism is similar to other granulite terranes in Tanzania. The predominant rock types are mafic to intermediate granulites, migmatites, granitoid orthogneisses and kyanite/sillimanite‐bearing metapelites. The meta‐granitoid rocks are of calc‐alkaline composition, range in age from late Archean to Neoproterozoic, and their protoliths were probably derived from magmatic arcs during collisional processes. Mafic to intermediate granulites consist of the mineral assemblage garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–quartz–biotite–amphibole ± K‐feldspar ± orthopyroxene ± oxides. Metapelites are composed of garnet‐biotite‐plagioclase ± K‐feldspar ± kyanite/sillimanite ± oxides. Estimated values for peak granulite facies metamorphism are 12–13 kbar and 750–800 °C. Pressures of 5–8 kbar and temperatures of 550–700 °C characterize subsequent retrogression to amphibolite facies conditions. Evidence for a clockwise P–T path is provided by late growth of sillimanite after kyanite in metapelites. Zircon ages indicate that most of the central part of the MB in Tanzania consists of reworked ancient crust as shown by Archean (c. 2970–2500 Ma) and Palaeoproterozoic (c. 2124–1837 Ma) protolith ages. Metamorphic zircon from metapelites and granitoid orthogneisses yielded ages of c. 640 Ma which are considered to date peak regional granulite facies metamorphism during the Pan‐African orogenic event. However, the available zircon ages for the entire MB in East Africa and Madagascar also document that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at different times in different places. Large parts of the MB in central Tanzania consist of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was reworked during the Pan‐African event and that may have been part of the Tanzania Craton and Usagaran domain farther to the west.     

Thermal gradients in the Sri Lankan granulite terrane: a garnet–biotite thermometric approach

Thermal zoning of the Highland Complex, Sri Lanka has been delineated using the Fe²⁺–Mg distribution coefficient between garnet and biotite from garnet–biotite gneiss samples collected with wide geographical distribution. In order to minimize the potential for retrograde Fe–Mg exchange and maximize the potential for retaining peak equilibrium K_D (garnet–biotite) and temperature, garnet and biotite included within feldspar and quartz without other mineral inclusions have been selected. The calculated results indicate four distinct temperature contours with K_D values varying from 1.84 to 6.38 and temperature varying from 996 to 591 °C. From the present results, it is possible to divide the Highland Complex into two major metamorphic zones: a high‐temperature area in the central region and a low‐temperature area in the south‐western and north‐eastern region. In conjunction with the metamorphic pressure variations estimated from the granulites of the Highland Complex in previous studies, it is shown that the high‐ and low‐temperature areas are complemented by a high‐pressure region towards the eastern side and a low‐pressure region towards the western side of this complex. This thermal dome is interpreted to be an artifact of the different crustal levels exhumed following Pan‐African metamorphism.     

High‐grade metamorphism and partial melting of basic and intermediate rocks

Rocks of basic and intermediate bulk composition occur in orogenic terranes from all geological time periods and are thought to represent significant petrological components of the middle and lower continental crust. However, the former lack of appropriate thermodynamic models for silicate melt, amphibole and clinopyroxene that can be applied to such lithologies at high temperature has inhibited effective phase equilibrium modelling of their petrological evolution during amphibolite‐ and granulite facies metamorphism. In this work, we present phase diagrams calculated in the Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–TiO₂–O₂ (NCKFMASHTO) compositional system for a range of natural basic and intermediate bulk compositions for conditions of 2–12 kbar and 600–1050 ^°C using newly parameterized activity–composition relationships detailed in a companion paper by Green et al. in this issue. Particular attention is given to mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and diorite protolith bulk compositions. Calculated subsolidus mineral assemblages in all basic and intermediate rock types are modally dominated by hornblende and plagioclase, with variable proportions of epidote, clinopyroxene, garnet, biotite, muscovite, quartz, titanite or ilmenite present at different pressures. The H₂O‐saturated (wet) solidus has a negative P?T slope and occurs between ～620–690 ^°C at mid‐ to lower‐crustal pressures of 5–10 kbar. The lowest‐T melts generated close to the wet solidus are calculated to have granitic major‐element oxide compositions. Melting at higher temperature is attributed primarily to multivariate hydrate‐breakdown reactions involving biotite and/or hornblende. Partial melt compositions calculated at 800–1050 ^°C for MORB show good correlation with analysed compositions of experimental glasses produced via hydrate‐breakdown melting of natural and synthetic basic protoliths, with Niggli norms indicating that they would crystallize to trondhjemite or tonalite. Diorite is shown to be significantly more fertile than MORB and is calculated to produce high‐T melts (>800 ^°C) of granodioritic composition. Subsolidus and suprasolidus mineral assemblages show no significant variation between different members of the basalt family, although the P?T conditions at which orthopyroxene stabilizes, thus defining the prograde amphibolite–granulite transition, is strongly dependent on bulk‐rock oxidation state and water content. The petrological effects of open‐ and closed‐system processes on the mineral assemblages produced during prograde metamorphism and preserved during retrograde metamorphism are also examined via a case‐study analysis of a natural Archean amphibolite from the Lewisian Complex, northwest Scotland.     

Origin,age, and significance of deep‐seated granulite‐facies migmatites in the Barrow zones of Scotland,Cairn Leuchan,Glen Muick area

Petrological modelling of granulite‐facies mafic and semipelitic migmatites from Cairn Leuchan, northeast Scotland, has provided new constraints on the pressure (P) and temperature (T) conditions of high‐grade metamorphism in the type‐locality Barrow zones. Phase diagrams constructed in the Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–TiO₂–O₂ system have constrained the P?T conditions of peak metamorphism in the Glen Muick region of the upper sillimanite zone (Sill+Kfs) to have been at least ～840°C at ～9 kbar (high‐P granulite facies). These conditions are ～120°C and ～3 kbar higher than those recorded by lower sillimanite zone (Sill+Ms) units located only a few kilometres away to the southeast at Glen Girnock, indicating the presence of a significant thermal and barometric high exposed within the Scottish Dalradian, and supporting previous suppositions of a potential tectonic break between the two regions. U–Pb zircon geochronology performed on these mafic migmatites produced ages of c. 540–470 Ma from grains with both igneous and metamorphic morphological characteristics. Their basaltic protoliths likely formed during a period of volcanism dated at c. 570 Ma, associated with passive‐margin extension prior to the onset of Iapetus Ocean closure, and high‐grade metamorphism and partial melting is interpreted to have taken place at c. 470 Ma, synchronous with sillimanite‐grade metamorphism recorded elsewhere in the Dalradian. These high‐grade Cairn Leuchan lithologies are interpreted as representing a fragment of Grampian Terrane lower crust that was exhumed via displacement along a steeply dipping tectonic discontinuity related to the Portsoy–Duchray Hill Lineament, and are not pre‐Caledonian Mesoproterozoic basement, as suggested by some previous studies. Veins within some mafic migmatites in the Cairn Leuchan area, composed almost entirely (>80%) of garnet, with minor quartz, plagioclase, amphibole, and clinopyroxene, are interconnected with leucosomes and are interpreted to represent former garnet‐bearing melt segregations that have been locally drained of almost all melt. Thus, mafic components of the lower crust, currently underlying relatively lower grade metasediments exposed to the southeast, may represent a potential source rock for widely documented, post‐orogenic felsic plutons, sills, and dykes that occur throughout the Grampian Terrane.     

P–T evolution of kyanite eclogite from the Pirin Mountains (SW Bulgaria): implications for the Rhodope UHP Metamorphic Complex

A new occurrence of kyanite eclogite in the Pirin Mountains of southwestern Bulgaria within the rocks belonging to the Obidim Unit of the Rhodope Metamorphic Complex is presented. This eclogite provides important information about the peak–pressure conditions despite strong thermal overprint at low pressure. Textural relationships, phase equilibrium modelling and conventional geothermobarometry were used to constrain the metamorphic evolution. Garnet porphyroblasts with inclusions of omphacite (up to 43 mol.% Jd), phengite (up to 3.5 Si p.f.u.), kyanite, polycrystalline quartz, pargasitic amphibole, zoisite and rutile in the Mg‐rich cores (X_Mg = 0.44–0.46) record a prograde increase in P–T conditions from ～2.5 GPa and 650 °C to ～3 GPa and 700–750 °C. Maximum pressure values fall within the stability field of coesite. During exhumation, the peak–pressure assemblage garnet + omphacite + phengite + kyanite was variably overprinted by a lower pressure one forming symplectitic textures, such as diopside + plagioclase after omphacite and biotite + plagioclase after phengite. The development of spinel (X_Mg = 0.4–0.45) + corundum + anorthite assemblage in the kyanite‐bearing domains at ～1.1 GPa and 800–850 °C suggests a thermal overprint in the high‐pressure granulite facies stability field. This thermal event was followed by cooling at ～0.8 GPa under amphibolite facies conditions; retrograde kelyphite texture involving plagioclase and amphibole was developed around garnet. Our results add to the already existing evidence for ultra high pressure (UHP) metamorphism in the Upper Allochthon of the Rhodope Metamorphic Complex as in the Kimi Unit and show that it is more widespread than previously known. Published age data and field structural relations suggest that the Obidim Unit represents Variscan continental crust involved into the Alpine nappe edifice of the Rhodopes and that eclogite facies metamorphism was Palaeozoic, in contrast to the Kimi Unit where age determinations suggest a Jurassic or Cretaceous age for UHP metamorphism. This implies that UHP metamorphism in the Upper Allochthon of the Rhodopes may have occurred twice, during Alpine and pre‐Alpine orogenic events, and that two independent HP/UHP provinces of different age overlap in this area.     

The garnet–clinopyroxene Fe2+–Mg geothermometer: an updated calibration

Multiple regression analysis on an extended dataset has been performed to refine the relationship between temperature, pressure, composition and the Fe–Mg distribution between garnet and clinopyroxene. In addition to a significant dependence between the distribution coefficient K_D and X ^Grt_Ca and X ^Grt_Mg#, as shown by the experimental data, the effect of X ^Grt_Mn has also been incorporated using data from natural Mn‐rich garnet–clinopyroxene pairs. Multiple regression of data (n=360) covering a large span in pressure, temperature and composition from 27 experimental datasets, combined with 49 natural high‐Mn granulites from Ruby Range, Montana, USA, and Karnataka, India, yields the P–T –compositional relationship (r²=0.98): where K_D=(Fe²⁺/Mg)^Grt/(Fe²⁺/Mg)^Cpx, X ^Grt_Ca=Ca/(Ca+Mn+Fe²⁺+Mg) in garnet, X ^Grt_Mn= Mn/(Ca+Mn+Fe²⁺+Mg) in garnet, and X ^Grt_Mg#=Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺) in garnet. The Fe²⁺–Mg equilibrium between garnet and clinopyroxene does not seem to be affected by variations in the sodic content of the co‐existing clinopyroxene in the range X ^Cpx_Na=0–0.51. Comparisons between the new and former calibrations of the garnet–clinopyroxene Fe²⁺–Mg geothermometer clearly demonstrate how the various parameters in each case affect the calculated temperatures. Application of the new expression gives reasonable results for natural garnet–clinopyroxene pairs from various rock types and settings, and should be preferred to previous formulations. Using the new calibration to the self‐consistent dataset of Pattison & Newton (Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 1989, 101, 87–103) suggests a systematic deviation with regard to both temperature and composition between their dataset and the datasets used in the present calibration.     

Olivine‐bearing symplectites in fractured garnet from eclogite,Moldanubian Zone (Bohemian Massif) – a short‐lived,granulite facies event

Recent petrological studies on high‐pressure (HP)–ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in the Moldanubian Zone, mainly utilizing compositional zoning and solid phase inclusions in garnet from a variety of lithologies, have established a prograde history involving subduction and subsequent granulite facies metamorphism during the Variscan Orogeny. Two temporally separate metamorphic events are developed rather than a single P–T loop for the HP–UHP metamorphism and amphibolite–granulite facies overprint in the Moldanubian Zone. Here further evidence is presented that the granulite facies metamorphism occurred after the HP–UHP rocks had been exhumed to different levels of the middle or upper crust. A medium‐temperature eclogite that is part of a series of tectonic blocks and lenses within migmatites contains a well‐preserved eclogite facies assemblage with omphacite and prograde zoned garnet. Omphacite is partly replaced by a symplectite of diopside + plagioclase + amphibole. Garnet and omphacite equilibria and pseudosection calculations indicate that the HP metamorphism occurred at relatively low temperature conditions of ~600 °C at 2.0–2.2 GPa. The striking feature of the rocks is the presence of garnet porphyroblasts with veins filled by a granulite facies assemblage of olivine, spinel and Ca‐rich plagioclase. These minerals occur as a symplectite forming symmetric zones, a central zone rich in olivine that is separated from the host garnet by two marginal zones consisting of plagioclase with small amounts of spinel. Mineral textures in the veins show that they were first filled mostly by calcic amphibole, which was later transformed into granulite facies assemblages. The olivine‐spinel equilibria and pseudosection calculations indicate temperatures of ~850–900 °C at pressure below 0.7 GPa. The preservation of eclogite facies assemblages implies that the granulite facies overprint was a short‐lived process. The new results point to a geodynamic model where HP–UHP rocks are exhumed to amphibolite facies conditions with subsequent granulite facies heating by mantle‐derived magma in the middle and upper crust.