海南岛东部黄竹岭地区变质火山岩锆石U-Pb同位素年龄及其地质意义

海南岛东部黄竹岭地区出露一套中浅变质岩系,其中夹变质火山岩。变质火山岩中存在2组不同成因的锆石,获颗粒锆石U-Pb一致曲线上交点年龄为527Ma±48Ma,可解释为火山岩生成年龄的下限,下交点年龄为230Ma±13Ma,为岩石后期经受变质热事件的年龄。据上述颗粒锆石U-Pb年龄,结合区域地质背景分析,认为变质火山岩的形成年龄介于498.9～(527±48)Ma之间,该套地层形成时代为早古生代。     

北秦岭造山带的早古生代多期变质作用

北秦岭造山带的秦岭岩群以高级变质岩石为特征,主要包括少量榴辉岩、高压麻粒岩和区域上广泛分布的麻粒岩-角闪岩相变质岩石。年代学研究显示秦岭岩群中不同岩石记录了多期变质作用。已有的定年资料给出北秦岭官坡地区的榴辉岩的年龄为500Ma左右,代表榴辉岩相的变质时代。结合岩相学资料,对两个高压麻粒岩样品的SHRIMP和LA-ICPMS U-Pb测定分别获得504±7Ma 和506±3Ma的年龄,应代表高压麻粒岩相变质时代。这表明高压麻粒岩和相邻的榴辉岩有相近的变质时代,但形成在造山带中不同的构热造环境中。西峡地区的角闪二辉麻粒岩的U-Pb定年给出两组早古生代年龄,一组为440±2Ma,可能代表了中低压麻粒岩相的变质时代,另一组为426±1Ma,应代表区域角闪岩相的变质时代。桐柏山北部的石榴二辉麻粒岩的U-Pb定年数据给出436±1Ma的年龄,为中压麻粒岩相的变质时代。这些资料表明北秦岭造山带经历了早奥陶世的俯冲和地壳增厚作用,并在晚志留世遭受了广泛的巴罗式区域变质作用。     

张广才岭东侧英城子金矿区早古生代花岗岩锆石U-Pb年龄及地质意义

本文首次对佳木斯地块西缘、张广才岭东侧英城子金矿区出露的大面积黑云母碱长花岗岩,进行了锆石LA-ICP MS U-Pb年代学精细研究。实验共获得四组单颗粒锆石U-Pb谐和年龄,它们分别为612±4Ma、495.2±2.7Ma、476.8±5.5Ma和431±3Ma;其中612±4Ma具有指示晚元古代增生地壳过程形成的花岗岩锆石特征,495.2±2.7Ma的U-Pb年龄与区域内麻山群的变质作用时间相吻合,431±3Ma的年龄与早古生代晚期的区域变质作用时间吻合,而476.8±5.5Ma的锆石年龄则代表黑云母碱长花岗岩的真实结晶年龄。这项成果记录了该地区在中一新元古代时期曾发生过重要的地壳增生事件,增生后的地壳被打开形成大洋;至早古生代早期,两侧的地体发生拼贴,引起区域麻山群发生麻粒岩相的变质作用、形成花岗质片麻岩;在早古生代晚期,佳木斯地块西缘的陆间洋最终闭合,形成具有壳源特征同碰撞花岗岩,之后的韧性变形作用可能为金矿床的形成提供了有利条件。     

小兴安岭西北部科洛杂岩的岩石学与年代学

目前业内学者对于科洛杂岩的认识一致缺乏系统的年代学数据与之相匹配,且关于科洛杂岩原岩的物质组成和形成时代也缺少年代学资料的约束,为查明小兴安岭西北部科洛杂岩的原岩组成和变质期次,利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年方法,在系统分析锆石特征及成因的基础上,对科洛杂岩中3种变质岩（弱片麻状角闪石岩、黑云斜长片麻岩和黑云角闪斜长片麻岩）中不同成因锆石进行年代学研究.岩浆型锆石年龄数据显示,碎屑锆石可分为古-中元古代、晚泥盆世晚期-早石炭世早期和晚石炭世晚期-早二叠世早期3组,3个样品中最年轻的锆石年龄分别为286.3±3.6 Ma、284.3±3.1 Ma和345.3±4.8 Ma,而变质锆石年龄数据分为早-中三叠世（峰值年龄248.5 Ma）和早-中侏罗世（峰值年龄173.1 Ma）两期.结合区域资料和年龄数据分析,科洛杂岩中包含下二叠统和下石炭统碎屑沉积岩,物源可能分别来自于区域上的前寒武纪基底残块和石炭统-二叠统岩浆岩,且在成岩之后至少经历了两期变质作用,早期的变质作用可能是蒙古-鄂霍茨克板块南向俯冲作用的远程效应;晚期变质作用受蒙古-鄂霍茨克洋南向俯冲和古太平洋西向俯冲的叠加作用控制.      

中央碰撞造山带中两期超高压变质作用：来自含柯石英锆石的定年证据

沿中央造山带存在一条巨大的超高压变质带,其西起阿尔金-祁连,往东经秦岭,延至大别苏鲁,全长超过4000 km.柴北缘片麻岩中含柯石英锆石的SIMS离子探针原位微区U-Pb定年获得超高压变质年龄452±1 3.8 Ma,锆石的退变质年龄419±6.7 Ma.SHRIMP U-Pb定年获得秦岭含金刚石片麻岩中锆石的下交点年龄502±45 Ma,上交点年龄1545±100Ma,认为前者代表超高压变质年龄,后者为原岩岩浆锆石年龄;获得榴辉岩锆石的上交点年龄1381±82 Ma和下交点493±170 Ma,认为上交点代表榴辉岩原岩年龄,下交点代表超高压变质年龄;获得江苏东海县青龙山榴辉岩含柯石英等超高压矿物锆石的年龄为441±9 Ma,449±9 Ma,和442±9Ma,平均444±9 Ma,核部含斜长石+磷灰石锆石年龄为761±13 Ma,认为前者代表超高压变质年龄,后者代表榴辉岩原岩结晶年龄.认为中国中部沿中央造山带中存在两期超高压变质作用,第一期为加里东期,第二期为印支期,两期超高压变质事件在时空分布方面是不同的,加里东期超高压变质事件由西部阿尔金-柴北缘延至东部大别-苏鲁,印支期超高压变质事件没有在大别以西发现.认为中央造山带应是一个多期活动的造山带,较早形成罗德尼亚大陆的格林威尔造山运动可能留下了10亿年左右的构造岩浆事件记录,如中央造山带中大量10亿年左右的花岗岩及基性超基性岩类;罗德尼亚大陆之后第一次裂解作用可能发生在8亿年左右;其后早古生代加里东期的洋盆裂开,蛇绿岩和超高压变质岩石的大量出现是一次十分强烈的板块构造事件,从东到西,沿中央造山带均有分布;加里东期造山事件之后印支期沿该造山带又有一次大的板块裂解和俯冲碰撞作用,表现在勉略蛇绿岩洋壳及大别-苏鲁印支期超高压变质带的存在.中央造山带保留和记录了多期裂解、会聚事件,通过对其解剖,不仅可以认识中国大地构造格局和演化,并由此理解全球的大陆漂移、一系列大裂解和大会聚等重大地质事件.     

大别山含柯石英榴辉岩区—一个晚太古代的超高压变质带

安徽碧溪岭岩体的锆石U-Pb年龄为2774±24Ma。它显示大别山的含柯石英榴辉岩可能形成于晚太古代。榴辉岩多硅白云母的Ar-Ar等时线年龄(662±13Ma)也同样限定其退变质作用的上界年龄在寒武纪。同位素年代学结果与该类榴辉岩严格产出在由大别群组成的太古宙地块中的地质特征一致。我们相信,大别山含柯石英榴辉岩变质地区可能是一个晚太古代的超高压变质带。大别山地区在中生代三叠纪时期处于南秦岭构造带的东延部分。大别群以及赋存其中的含柯石英榴辉岩共同遭受晚期的区域动力变质事件。作者分别测得斜长片麻岩白云母Ar-Ar等时线年龄为192.6±3.8Ma,榴辉岩中低角闪岩相普通角闪石Ar-Ar坪年龄230.7±4.6Ma。它们代表大别群片麻岩和榴辉岩两种原始变质岩的印支期改造年龄。     

北祁连山西段柳沟峡花岗质片麻岩锆石Ｕ-Ｐｂ法测年研究

柳沟峡花岗质片麻岩是在鱼儿红幅1∶5万区调过程中从北大河岩群变质杂体中解体出的古花岗质侵入体。通过对其进行单矿物锆石U-Pb法年龄测定,获得了(1463±74)Ma和(623±138)Ma两组年龄值。结合区调成果认为(1463±74)Ma代表古花岗质侵入体上侵就位时代,(623±138)Ma代表后期叠加的变形变质热事件时代。两组年龄的获得为北祁连山早期大陆裂解及碰撞造山作用的确定提供了直接证据。     

大别造山带北部石竹河片麻岩的锆石U—Pb年龄及其地质意义

大别造山带北部石竹河二长片麻岩的锆石U-Pb年龄测定结果表明,其原岩形成时代为707±42Ma,在229±18Ma曾受到高温变质作用。这一结果表明印支期变质作用不仅反映在大别造山带南部的变质岩中,而且造山带北部的部分变质岩也保存了这一重要记录。大别造山带北部存在印支期变质年龄的片麻岩、榴辉岩或残留相表明,该地块与造山带南部一样是印支期板块俯冲碰撞中俯冲板块的一部分。华北和扬子板块的碰撞缝合线可能位于大别造山带的北侧。     

柴北缘绿梁山高压基性麻粒岩的变质演化历史：岩石学及锆石SHRIMP年代学证据

高压基性麻粒岩出露在柴北缘HP/UHP变质带的绿梁山地区,它主要呈透镜体状分布在石榴蓝晶(夕线)黑云片麻岩中。岩石学和矿物学数据显示高压基性麻粒岩经历了多阶段变质历史,早期可能经历了榴辉岩相变质作用(p>15kbar),以石榴子石中保留的少量绿辉石为特征;高压麻粒岩组合(Grt-Cpx-Pl-Qtz±Amp±Rt-Ilm)为退变质作用产物,其形成的变质条件为p=9.6~13.5kbar,T=730~870℃。晚期的变质反应以围绕石榴子石和后成合晶生成斜方辉石的为特征,形成的p-T条件为6.2~8.5kbar和720~860℃。高压基性麻粒岩中的锆石SHRIMP测定共获得两组年龄,分别为(448±3)Ma和(421±5)Ma。结合锆石阴极发光和矿物包体研究,前者代表高压麻粒岩阶段的变质年龄,后者代表晚期与斜方辉石形成有关的中低压麻粒岩阶段的变质年龄。这些年龄结果显示麻粒岩相变质作用持续了大约27Ma,这可能与早古生代祁连地块与柴达木地块碰撞作用所引起的地壳加厚和后来的热松驰有关。     

塔里木克拉通北缘的前寒武纪构造热事件——新疆库尔勒铁门关高级变质岩的锆石U-Pb年代学限定

本文对位于塔里木盆地北缘库尔勒铁门关地区高级变质岩中的锆石进行了U-Pb年代学研究。研究结果表明,铁门关地区的变质岩由片麻岩、片岩、角闪岩和钙硅酸盐组成,普遍经历了角闪岩相变质作用,矿物组合为斜长石+钾长石+石英+黑云母±白云母±角闪石±石榴石。锆石U-Pb定年分析揭示出三期构造热事件:古元古代早期(~2370Ma)的岩浆事件、古元古代晚期(1890~1850Ma)的变质事件,和新元古代早期(980~910Ma)变质事件。这些结果为塔里木克拉通的前寒武纪构造演化提供了新的限定。     

变质作用分类的历史回顾和新的试行分类雏议

根据变质作用分类研究的历史回顾和最新进展,本文介绍了一个试行的、较系统的变质作用分类方案,可分为局部性的变质作用和区域性的变质作用两个大类9个类型.局部性的变质作用包括以下5个类型:(1)接触变质作用,包括热变质作用、接触交代变质作用和高热变质作用3个亚类;(2)低-中-高温动力变质作用,包括低-中-高温韧性剪切带变质作用和温压递进逆冲断层变质作用2个亚类;(3)冲击变质作用;(4)水热变质作用;(5)燃烧变质作用.区域性的变质作用可分为以下4个类型:(6)早前寒武纪克拉通基底变质作用-低中压-中高温区域变质作用,可分为5个亚类,分别是低-中压角闪岩相变质作用、低-中压麻粒岩相变质作用、低-中压角闪岩相-麻粒岩相变质作用、低-中压绿片岩相-角闪岩相递增的变质作用和区域超高温麻粒岩相变质作用;(7)造山带变质作用,可分为3个亚类,分别是低温-低压区域动力变质作用、碰撞造山变质作用和深俯冲高压-超高压区域变质作用;(8)埋深变质作用;(9)洋底变质作用.     

Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism in the Jeori-Wangtu Gneissic Complex (JWGC), western Himalayas

The Jeori-Wangtu Gneissic Complex (JWGC) exposed as a tectonic window in the Lesser Himalayas represents one of the oldest Gneissic Complex of the Himalayas. Foliated granite and the metapelite constitute the dominant lithologies of the JWGC. The western margin of the JWGC is bounded by a brittle shear while in the east, the tectonic surface is a ductile shear zone.Kyanite schist, chloritoid schist, staurolite schist (St-1), garnet schist and staurolite schist (St-2) are present in a west to east sequence beginning from near to the Jhakhri thrust and up to the contact with the JWGC granite. Mica schist is intermittently present and is the dominant metapelite. Low to medium grade regional metamorphic conditions has been inferred for these rocks.Calc silicate enclaves within the JWGC granite preserve the contact metamorphic effects. These are reflected in development of narrow zones of disequilibrium assemblages of calcareous garnet (grs₅₃), clinopyroxene, K feldspar, calcic plagioclase (An₈₆), quartz, zoned sphene, zoned allanite, amphiboles, calcite and epidote.Recording of contact metamorphic assemblage of 1.80 Ga granite witin the enclave calc silicates and in the host metapelites over an earlier, relict low to medium grade assemblage indicates that the JWGC preserves palaeoproterozoic metamorphic imprints.     

新疆阜康大黄山煤矿煤变质作用探讨

新疆阜康大黄山煤矿位于准噶尔盆地南缘乌鲁木齐山前坳陷东段，多项煤变质指标分析结果表明：该区煤变质程度沿煤层走向分带较为明显，沿煤层倾向上煤变质程度虽未突变，但挥发份却随深度加深明显减少．结合煤矿区域构造特征，煤层的变质以深成变质作用为主，动力变质作用为辅．同时推测深大断裂有利于隐伏热异常形成，它的多期次活动可为地下水从地壳内部获得热量提供通道，并为煤层变质提供热源．     

相山铀矿田基底变质岩中角闪石榴(斜)黝帘石角岩的发现

在相山铀矿田变质岩区的云母片岩中，发现有脉状岩石产出，定名为角闪石榴（斜）黝帘石角岩。其原岩是基性脉岩。形成该角岩的热变质温度约为640℃，属于低压相系，与本区早一中元古代变质岩的形成条件相当。该热变质作用使早一中元古代变质岩叠加了一次热变质作用，形成了第2期的十字石、铁铝榴石和黑云母等变质矿物。它们依第1期变质矿物的晶格发生连生，也使第1期变质矿物发生了重结晶和自净作用，并趋于自形。这一角岩化基性脉岩的发现，揭示在古生代相山铀矿田变质基底仍然遭受着断裂活动、岩浆活动和变质作用三者相伴随的较为强烈的地质构造作用。     

Structure and metamorphism of the Karakorum gneisses in the Braldu-Baltoro Valley (North Pakistan)

Abstract

The Karakorum gneisses outcrop north of the complex suture separating the Indian-Pakistan plate from the Europe-Asia block; they grade to deformed earlier members of the Karakorum batholith ranging in age from Cretaceous to Miocene and are cross-cut by its later members. The main interest of the region lies in the fact that very young high-grade gneisses (Miocene), outline the southern edge of the Europe-Asia Plate. The tectonic and metamorpic evolution of the Braldu-Baltoro region is interpreted here as resulting from a poly phased history. The following structural sequence has been defined : - (1) A Dl isoclinal folding was accompanied by subparallel healed shear zones and by intense boudinage, and cross-cut by a dense net of post-Dl hetero-geneous leucogranitic veins and stocks; - (2) a major phase of EW trending recumbent folds (D2), is followed by (3) large open D3 folds generating EW trending domai structures (Dassu and Panmah domes); and (4) a late set of brittle to locally more ductile structures such as the southern thrust contact of the Karakorum gneisses with the Shyok suture zone. The sequence proposed here differs from other interpretations (Rex et al. 1988). We consider that the Dl event only may be attributed to the main India-Asia collision and that the D2-D3 events, interpreted as having occurred in a continuum, correspond to a late reactivation of the major thrusts and sutures related to continuing continental subduction.

A Dl-related intermediate pressure assemblage is preserved (Grt-St-Ky) in the upper levels of the tectonic pile; the estimated PT conditions determined are 10-4 Kb and 700°--525°C. In the core of the large D3 domes, late granoblastic recrystallization is widespread together with almost complete S1-S2 transposition, incipient melting and development of a low-pressure sillimanite-bearing assemblage where relicts of higher pressure minerals are locally preserved. Corresponding PT conditions are 650°-550°C and a lower pressure (5.5 to 2.5 Kb). As most of the observed structures at the lower levels (mineral lineations, boudinage) are clearly associated with (or reworked by) D2 and accentuated by D3 which was accompagnied by partial melting, D2 and D3 are interpreted as representing a continuum developed in the same PT field. It can be assumed also that the Baltoro granite was emplaced by the end of this combined D2-D3 event. From the Miocene ages published for the Baltoro granite (20 Ma to 8 Ma), the low-pressure evolution of the Karakorum gneisses may represent a very young high-grade assemblage. The age of Dl is less defined but at least older than 36 Ma old leucogranites.

The sharp contact along the Shyok Suture zone, interpreted as a large thrust (Main Karakorum Thrust - MKT) of this young high-grade metamorphic terrene against the older (older than 30-45 Ma from late undeformed intrusives) Kohistan-Ladakh island-arc domain, is interpreted, following Mattauer (1985), as resulting from the interaction between the still-ongoing northward movement of the Indo-Pakistan plate and an opposite southward continental subduction, seismically active, operating in Pamir.     

Insights into chondrule formation process and shock-thermal history of the Dergaon chondrite (H4-5)

The Dergaon fall represents a shock-melted H4-5(S5) ordinary chondrite which includes at least ten textural varieties of chondrules and belongs to the high chondrule-matrix ratio type.Our study reveals that the chondrules are of diverse mineralogy with variable olivine-pyroxene ratios(Type Ⅱ),igneous melt textures developed under variable cooling rates and formed through melt fractionations from two different melt reservoirs.Based on the experimental analogues,mineralogical associations and phase compositions,it is suggested that the Dergaon chondrules reflect two contrasting environments:a hot,dust-enriched and highly oxidized nebular environment through melting,without significant evaporation,and an arrested reducing environment concomitant with major evaporation loss of alkali and highly volatile trace elements.Coexistence of chlorapatite and merrillite suggests formation of the Dergaon matrix in an acidic accretionary environment.Textural integration and chemical homogenization occurred at ~ 1 atmospheric pressure and a mean temperature of 765 C mark the radiogenic thermal event.Equilibrated shock features(olivine mosaicism,diaplectic plagioclase,polycrystalline troilite) due to an impact-induced thermal event reflect a shock pressure 45 GPa and temperature of 600 C.By contrast,the local disequilibrium shock features(silicate melt veins comprising of olivine crystallites,troilite melt veins and metal droplets) correspond to a shock pressure up to 75 GPa and temperature950 ℃.     

Contact metamorphism around the Stawell granite, Victoria, Australia

The contact metamorphosed metapelitic and metapsammitic rocks surrounding the Stawell granite, western Victoria, Australia, are divided into three zones: the low-grade zone, the medium-grade zone and the high-grade zone. Detailed petrological study shows consistency of element distributions, implying that equilibrium was widely attained in the rocks, although equilibrium volumes are generally small (millimetre scale) and considerable mineral chemical variations exist between adjacent domains. The metamorphic mineral assemblages are generally of high variance (KFMASH variance ≤ 2). Consequently, the chemical evolution of assemblages is controlled largely by bulk composition and metamorphic temperature, the former factor being more important in most rocks. The chemographic relations of mineral assemblages in low- and medium- to high-grade zones are presented in compatibility diagrams projected from biotite, quartz and H₂O, and biotite, K-feldspar and H₂O, respectively. These compatibility diagrams have the advantage of showing both quartz-bearing and quartz-absent assemblages. The metamorphic reactions are modelled successfully by a calculated petrogenetic grid that combines both KFASH and KMASH equilibria. Based on petrographic observations and with constraints from the calculated petrogenetic grid, the following KFMASH reactions, in the order of increasing metamorphic grade, are responsible for producing the various mineral assemblages in the Stawell rocks: chl + mu + q = bi + cd + V, chl + q + cd = g + V, mu + bi + q = ksp + cd + V, mu + q = ksp + and + cd + V (or KASH mu + q = ksp + and + V), mu + cd = ksp + and + bi + V, mu + bi + and = ksp + sp + V, and + bi = ksp + sp + cd + V, mu + bi = ksp + cor + sp + V, mu = ksp + cor + and + sp + V (or KASH mu = ksp + cor + V), bi + cd + q = g + ksp + V. The combined KFASH and KMASH grid provides constraints on reaction coefficients in the above sequence of reactions and on temperature and pressure of metamorphism.     

Geologic and metamorphic evolution of the basement complexes in the Kontum Massif, central Vietnam

This paper presents a regional scale observation of metamorphic geology and mineral assemblage variations of Kontum Massif, central Vietnam, supplemented by pressure–temperature estimates and reconnaissance geochronological results. The mineral assemblage variations and thermobarometric results classify the massif into a low- to medium-temperature and relatively high-pressure northern part characterised by kyanite-bearing rocks (570–700 °C at 0.79–0.86 GPa) and a more complex southern part. The southern part can be subdivided into western and eastern regions. The western region shows very high-temperature (> 900 °C) and -pressure conditions characterised by the presence of garnet and orthopyroxene in both mafic and pelitic granulites (900–980 °C at 1.0–1.5 GPa). The eastern region contains widespread medium- to high-temperature and low-pressure rocks, with metamorphic grade increasing from north to south; epidote- or muscovite-bearing gneisses in the north (< 700–740 °C at < 0.50 GPa) to garnet-free mafic and orthopyroxene-free pelitic granulites in the south (790–920 °C at 0.63–0.84 GPa). The Permo-Triassic Sm–Nd ages (247–240 Ma) from high-temperature and -pressure granulites and recent geochronological studies suggest that the south-eastern part of Kontum Massif is composed of a Siluro-Ordovician continental fragment probably showing a low-pressure/temperature continental geothermal gradient derived from the Gondwana era with subsequent Permo-Triassic collision-related high-pressure reactivation zones.     

The smectite to chlorite transition in a fossil seamount hydrothermal system: the Basement Complex of La Palma, Canary Islands

Abstract The hydrothermal metamorphism of a sequence of Pliocene-aged seamount extrusive and volcanoclastic rocks on La Palma includes a relatively complete low-P-T facies series encompassing the zeolite, prehnite-pumpellyite, and greenschist facies. The observed mineral zonations imply metamorphic gradients of 200–300° C km^-1. The transition from smectite to chlorite in the La Palma seamount series is characterized by discontinuous steps between discrete smectite, corrensite and chlorite, which occur ubiquitously as vesicles and, to a much lesser extent, vein in-fillings. Trioctahedral smectites [(Mg/(Fe + Mg) = 0.4–0.75] occur with palagonite and Na-Ca zeolites such as analcime and a thompsonite/natrolite solid solution. Corrensite [(Mg/(Fe + Mg) = 0.5–0.65] first appears at stratigraphic depths closely corresponding to the disappearance of analcime and first appearance of pumpellyite. Discrete chlorite [(Mg/(Fe + Mg) = 0.4–0.6] becomes the dominant layer silicate mineral coincident with the appearance of epidote and andraditic garnet. Within the stratigraphic section there is some overlap in the distribution of the three discrete layer silicate phases, although random interstratifications of these phases have not been observed. Although smectite occurs as both low- and high-charge forms, the La Palma corrensite is a compositionally restricted, 1:1 mixture of low-charge, trioctahedral smectite and chlorite. Electron microprobe analyses of coarse-grained corrensite yield structural formulae close to ideal values based on 50 negative charge recalculations. Calcium (average 0.20 cations/formula unit) is the dominant interlayer cation, with lesser Mg, K and Na. The absence of randomly interlayered chlorite/smectite in the La Palma seamount series may reflect high, time-integrated fluid fluxes through the seamount sequence. This is consistent with the ubiquity of high-variance metamorphic mineral assemblages and the general absence of relict igneous minerals in these samples.     

High pressure-low temperature metamorphism in the Gran Paradiso basement, Western Alps

The Gran Paradiso basement complex of the French and Italian Alps is composed of metasediments, termed the gneiss minuti, and metabasic rocks, both of which are intruded by a late Hercynian granite. The Bonneval gneiss, which crops out at the western edge of the complex, is composed of highly deformed metasediments, volcanics and volcaniclastic rocks. Eclogites, now highly altered, occur in the metabasic rocks. Kyanite and blue-green amphibole are locally present in the gneiss minuti and aegirine plus riebeckite occur in the Bonneval gneiss. A moderately high pressure - low temperature metamorphic event of probable Alpine age occurred in the basement complex. This metamorphic event differs from that in the overlying Sesia unit and ophiolites of the Schistes lustrés nappe in being at lower pressures (below the ab = jd₁₀₀+ qz transition) and post-dating the major (D2_A) deformation. The origin of the metamorphism is discussed and interpreted as a probable consequence of the overlying nappe pile which was emplaced during the D2_A event. Subsequent greenschist facies metamorphism in the basement complex is a consequence of thermal relaxation during uplift.