Calculated mineral equilibria for eclogites in CaO–Na2O–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O: application to the Pouébo Terrane, Pam Peninsula, New Caledonia

The high- P , medium- T  Pouébo terrane of the Pam Peninsula, northern New Caledonia includes barroisite- and glaucophane-bearing eclogite and variably rehydrated equivalents. The metamorphic evolution of the Pouébo terrane is inferred from calculated P–T  and P–T  – X H2O pseudosections for bulk compositions appropriate to these rocks in the model system CaO–Na₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O. The eclogites experienced a clockwise P–T  path that reached P ≈19  kbar and T  ≈600  °C. The eclogitic mineral assemblages are preserved because reaction consequent upon decompression consumed the rocks' fluid. Extensive reaction occurred only in rocks with fluid influx during decompression of the Pouébo terrane.     

Experimental study of the stability of sudoite and magnesiocarpholite and calculation of a new petrogenetic grid for the system FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O

The solid-solid reaction magnesiocarpholite = sudoite + quartz has been bracketed between 350 and 500°C, 6.3 and 7.8 kbar. Because it is impossible to synthesize end-member sudoite, all experiments were carried out using natural minerals as starting materials. Although mineral compositions were very close to those of the end-members, the effect of the fluorine content in carpholite was significant. Particularly in those experiments where sudoite grows at the expense of carpholite, electron microprobe analysis of the run products shows that a more stable F-rich carpholite crystallizes too, and consumes the fluorine released in solution by the breakdown of the original carpholite.
Our experimental results are combined, through a thermodynamic analysis, with a previous data set and with previous experimental data concerning the relative stability of chlorite, talc and magnesiocarpholite with excess of quartz and water as a function of P–T and AlAl(SiMg)_-1 substitutions in phyllosilicates. This allows us to constrain the feasible thermodynamic parameters (H°_f, sud; S ° sud) and (H°_f,car; S °_car) for the Mg end-members. Using the partition coefficients calculated from natural parageneses, we have computed a petrogenetic grid for the system FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O. It demonstrates that parageneses involving sudoite and carpholite can be used as indicators of P–T conditions, up to 600° C, 8 kbar for sudoite, and at higher pressure for carpholite.     

P–T conditions for the Arendal granulites, southern Norway: implications for the roles of P, T and CO2 in deep crustal LILE-depletion

Abstract The orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene, garnet-orthopyroxene and garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometers, and the garnet-orthopyroxene-plagioclase, garnet-clinopyroxene-plagioclase and anorthite-ferrosilite-grossular-almandine-quartz geobarometers are applied to metabasites and the garnetplagioclase-sillimanite-quartz geobarometer is applied to a metapelite from the Proterozoic Arendal granulite terrain, Bamble sector, Norway. P–T conditions of metamorphism were 7.3 ± 0.5 kbar and 800 ± 60°C.
This terrain shows a regional gradation from the amphibolite facies, into normal LILE content granulite facies rocks and finally strongly LILE deficient granulite facies gneisses. Neither P nor T vary significantly across the entire transition zone. The change in 'grade'parallels the increasing dominance of CO₂ over H₂O in the fluid phase.
LILE-depletion is not a pre-condition of granulite facies metamorphism: granulites may have either 'depleted'or 'normal'chemistries. The results presented herein show that LILE-deficiency in granulite facies orthogneisses is not necessarily related to variations in either P or T . The important mechanisms in the Arendal terrain were (a) direct synmetamorphic crystallization from magma, with primary LILE-poor mineralogies imposed by the prevailing fluid regime, and (b) metamorphic depletion, involving scavenging of LILEs during flushing by mantle-derived CO₂-rich fluids. The latter process is constrained by U–Pb and Rb–Sr isotopic work to have occurred no later than 50 Ma after intrusion of the acid-intermediate gneisses, and was probably associated with contemporary basic magmatism in a tectonic environment similar to a present day cordilleran continental margin.     

A 3.1 billion year old marble and the 87Sr/86Sr of late-Archean seawater

A marble band in the ≈ 2.75 Gyr old Ramagiri schist belt in the Dharwar craton of south India gave a Pb–Pb age of 3.075 ± 0.095 Gyr. The geochemical data, including high Sr and low Ba and Mn indicate seawater origin for the parent rock, and that there was insignificant geochemical exchange between the marble and the surrounding rocks. The calculated initial Nd isotopic composition and μ₁ indicate an older continental crustal source for the Nd and Pb. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of the marble is 0.70128, which is higher than the calculated mantle value at ≈ 3 Ga. Although pre-3 Gyr old marine carbonate rocks are thought to be buffered by mantle Sr, the Ramagiri marble contains evolved, crustal Sr. Despite this, the marble has the lowest measured ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr among carbonates and represents one of the least radiogenic periods in seawater Sr isotope composition.     

Behaviour of zircon in high-grade metamorphic rocks: evidence from Hf isotopes,trace elements and textural studies

Hf isotopic data of minerals in a mafic pyroxene granulite from the southern Bohemian Massif, together with their major and trace element composition and petrological observations were used to decipher the metamorphic history and behaviour of zircon in the granulite. The Hf isotopic composition in the minerals was used to estimate whether the decompression reaction, namely the consumption of garnet and rutile, could have provided Zr for the formation of newly grown metamorphic zircon. The age of the decompression reaction indicated by the evolution of Hf isotopes in garnet and orthopyroxene is between 333 and 331 Ma, i.e. ca. 7 Ma younger than the available U–Pb zircon ages from the Moldanubian granulites and than the newly obtained 343 ± 2 Ma laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb age of zircons. The combination of bulk and in-situ Hf isotopic data, major and trace element composition and petrological modeling of P–T evolution revealed that the formation of zircons can not be related to the decompression phase of the evolution of the mafic granulites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Exhumation of the Central Alps: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar laserprobe dating of detrital white micas from the Swiss Molasse Basin

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar single-grain laserprobe dating of detrital white micas from early Oligocene to middle Miocene (31–14 Ma) sedimentary rocks of the central Swiss Molasse basin reveals three distinct clusters of cooling ages for the hinterland. Two Palaeozoic age clusters reflect cooling after the Variscan orogeny with only limited reheating during the Alpine orogeny. The third Tertiary age cluster reflecting late Alpine cooling is restricted to sediments younger than 20 Myr old. Micas with cooling ages < 30 Myr are interpreted to originate from the footwall of the Simplon detachment fault, thus representing formerly exposed upper levels of the present-day Lepontine metamorphic dome. Erosion of these levels is reflected by an increase of low-grade metamorphic lithic grains in the sandstones. This interpretation puts constraints on the timing of exhumation as well as on the evolution of the drainage pattern of the Central Alps.     

The Use of Multiple Reference Samples for the Monitoring of Ion Microprobe Performance During Zircon 207Pb/206Pb Age Determinations

Data from a series of extended analytical sessions using a range of different zircon reference samples have been used to investigate the periodic derivation of abnormal ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages during microbeam analysis%For the Canberra SHRIMP II, this phenomenon probably results from the presence of a signal at mass 204 that is alien to the Pb spectrum; isotopic fractionation is unlikely to be a significant contributor. In contrast, abnormal ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages obtained from SHRIMP I at the same research centre require a different, but as yet unknown explanation. Assessment of the reasons for atypical ^207Pb/²⁰⁶Pb measurements and the means of correcting for them should therefore be independently assessed for individual analytical instruments. The use of reference samples with very different ages is an effective way of doing this, because older reference samples are more useful for documenting isotopic fractionation, whereas younger ones are more sensitive indicators of isobaric interference.     

Staurolite as an isotopic U–Pb geochronometer

A new approach is suggested for measuring the real U–Pb and Pb–Pb ages of rock-forming metamorphic staurolite. Previously, two approaches have been used for this purpose: (1) measurement of the lead isotopic compositions, uranium and lead contents in leach substance as a product of the step-leaching technique; age is calculated by plotting the Pb–Pb leaching isochron; and (2) lead and uranium isotopic compositions are measured in completely dissolved mineral material without leaching. In both cases, it is assumed a priori that inclusions, overgrowths, secondary phases, and the host mineral are cogenetic. This assumption may lead to errors in the measured age. The technique suggested in this paper uses various reagents (acids) to purify staurolite from the above-mentioned secondary phases while obtaining a staurolite “pure culture,” its subsequent disolution, introduction of the mixed spike, separation of lead and uranium compounds, and, finally, estimation of a real staurolite age using several samples to plot the monomineralic Pb–Pb isochron or by plotting measured Pb/U ratios in the diagram with concordia. The data can be used then to reconstruct the P–T–t evolution of metamorphism.     

The (Na–Ca)amphibole–albite–chlorite–epidote–quartz geothermobarometer in the system S–A–F–M–C–N–H2O. 1. An empirical calibration

The proposed geothermobarometer is based on an empirical calibration which takes account of two equilibria involving the tremolite, edenite, pargasite and hastingsite components in amphiboles. It has applications to assemblages found in metabasic rocks of widely different chemical compositions (magnesian to Fe-rich metabasalts), and for metamorphism ranging from lower greenschist to highest amphibolite facies. Knowing the Si_(T1), Al^iv, Al^vi, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Mg, Ca, Na_M4, Na_A and A vacancy in an amphibole, and the Al³⁺ and X _Mg in coexisting epidote and chlorite, it is possible to calculate two values of In K _d for this assemblage. These equilibria involve edenite-tremolite and (pargasite/hastingsite)-tremolite end-members in amphibole (the calculation program is given). For these equilibria, the isopleths (iso-values of K _d) have been calculated for 0.27 < X _Mg < 0.75 and 0 < X _Fe3+= Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺+ Al^vi) < 0.8. It is then possible to determine pressure and temperature directly when X _Mg, X _Fe3+, In K _d for tremoliteedenite and In K _d for (pargasite/hastingsite)-tremolite are known. Application of this geothermobarometer is limited to Ca-free plagioclase assemblages, and complete P–T paths can be drawn only if all the minerals are considered together. Phase relations at successive stages of crystallization can be constrained by studying the relationships between the coexisting minerals, their zoning and the metamorphic fabrics.     

Late Proterozoic tectonic events in southern Finland, constrained by 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating and single spot fusion experiments on K-feldspars

The post-Svecofennian tectonic development of southern Finland is controlled by intrusion of rapakivi granites (and associated rocks), reactivation of Svecofennian wrench zones, formation of sedimentary basins and successive intrusion of olivine dolerite dykes and sills. Relative age determinations have revealed that fault reactivation acted before, simultaneously and after intrusion of the rapakivi granites. Results of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronometry of the Porkkala–Mäntsälä fault (30 km west of Helsinki) reveal ages predominantly in the range 950–1300 Myr. These ages are all significantly younger than the intrusion age of the rapakivi granites. It is suggested that these ages represent tectonic events related to the intrusion of olivine dolerite dykes and sills in SW Finland and the Sveconorwegian Orogeny active further west. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of a sample taken from the Obbnäs granite (U–Pb zircon ages of 1645 ± 5 Myr) show ages predom-inantly in the range of 1400–1550 Myr. These ages are suggested to represent either cooling ages of the granite or ages associated with the formation of the sedimentary grabens.     

Mesozoic tectonothermal development of the Sambagawa, Mikabu and Chichibu belts, south-west Japan: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar whole-rock phyllite ages

Abstract Five whole-rock ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages from low-grade sectors of the Sambagawa belt (Besshi nappe complex) range between 87 and 97 Ma. Two whole-rock phyllite samples from the Mikabu greenstone belt record well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 96 and 98 Ma. Together these ages suggest that a high-pressure metamorphism occurred in both the Sambagawa and Mikabu belts at c. 90–100 Ma. The northern Chichibu sub-belt may consist of several distinct geochronological units because metamorphic ages increase systematically from north ( c. 110 Ma) to south ( c. 215 Ma). The northern Chichibu sub-belt is correlated with the Kuma nappe complex (Sambagawa belt). Two whole-rock phyllite samples from the Kurosegawa terrane display markedly older metamorphic ages than either the Sambagawa or the Chichibu belts.
Accretion of Sambagawa-Chichibu protoliths began prior to the middle Jurrasic. Depositional ages decrease from middle Jurassic (Kuma-Chichibu nappe complex) to c. 100 Ma (Oboke nappe complex) toward lower tectonostratigraphic units. The ages of metamorphic culmination also decrease from upper to lower tectonostratigraphic units. The Kurosegawa belt and the geological units to the south belong to distinctly different terrances than the Sambagawa-Chichibu belts. These have been juxtaposed as a result of transcurrent faulting during the Cretaceous.     

Metamorphism and tectonic evolution of the Lancang paired metamorphic belts, south-western China

Abstract The Lancang metamorphic terrane consists of an eastern low- P/T belt and a western high- P/T belt divided by a N–S-trending fault. Protoliths of both units are mid–late Proterozoic basement and its cover. The low- P/T belt includes the Permian Lincang batholith, related amphibolite facies rocks of the Damenglong and Chongshan groups, and Permo-Triassic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Most whole-rock Rb–Sr isochron and U–Pb zircon ages of the Lincang batholith are in the range 290–279 and 254–212 Ma, respectively. Metamorphism of the low- P/T belt reaches upper amphibolite with local granulite facies (735°C at 5 kbar), subsequently retrogressed at 450–500°C during post-Triassic time. The high- P/T rocks grade from west to east from blueschist through transitional blueschist/greenschist to epidote amphibolite facies. Estimated P–T conditions follow the high- P intermediate facies series up to about 550–600°C, at which oligoclase is stable. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of sodic amphibole in blueschist is 279 Ma.
The paired metamorphic belts combined with the spatial and temporal distribution of other blueschist belts lead us to propose a tentative tectonic history of south-east Asia since the latest Precambrian. Tectonic juxtaposition of paired belts with contrasting P–T conditions, perhaps during collision of the Baoshan block with south-east Asia, suggests that an intervening oceanic zone existed that has been removed. The Baoshan block is a microcontinent rifted from the northern periphery of Gondwana. Successive collision and amalgamation of microcontinents from either Gondwana or the Panthalassan ocean resulted in rapid southward continental growth of c. 500 km during the last 200 Ma. Hence, the Lancang region in south-east Asia represents a suture zone between two contrasting microcontinents.     

Evidence from U–Pb zircon and 40Ar/39Ar muscovite detrital mineral ages in metasandstones for movement of the Torlesse suspect terrane around the eastern margin of Gondwanaland

New U–Pb detrital zircon ages from Triassic metasandstones of the Torlesse Terrane in New Zealand are compared with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar muscovite data and together, reveal four main source components: (i) major, Triassic–Permian (210–270 Myr old) and (ii) minor, Permian–Carboniferous (280–350 Myr old) granitoids (recorded in zircon and muscovite data); (iii) minor, early middle Palaeozoic, metamorphic rocks, recorded mainly by muscovite, 420–460 Myr old, and (iv) minor, Late Precambrian–Cambrian igneous and metamorphic complexes, 480–570 Myr old, recorded by zircon only. There are also Proterozoic zircon ages with no clear grouping (580–1270 Myr). The relative absence of late Palaeozoic (350–420 Myr old) components excludes granitoid terranes in the southern Lachlan Fold Belt (Australia) and its continuation into North Victoria Land (East Antarctica) and Marie Byrd Land (West Antarctica) as a potential source for the Torlesse. The age data are compatible with derivation from granitoid terranes of the northern New England Orogen (and hinterland) in NE Australia. This confirms that the Torlesse Terrane of New Zealand is a suspect terrane, that probably originated at the NE Australian, Permian–Triassic, Gondwanaland margin and then (200–120 Ma) moved 2500 km southwards to its present New Zealand position by the Late Cretaceous (90 Ma). This sense of movement is analogous to that suggested for Palaeozoic Mesozoic terranes at the North American Pacific margin.     

Hydration of eclogite, Pam Peninsula, New Caledonia

Garnet glaucophanite and greenschist facies assemblages were formed by the recrystallization of barroisite-bearing eclogite facies metabasites in northern New Caledonia. The mineralogical evolution can be modelled by calculated P–T and P–X _H2O diagrams for appropriate bulk rock compositions in the model system CaO–Na₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O. The eclogites, having developed in a clockwise P–T path that reached P ≈19 kbar and T  ≈590 °C, underwent decompression with the consumption of free H₂O as the volume of hydrous minerals increased. Eclogite is preserved in domains that experienced no fluid influx following the loss of this fluid. Garnet glaucophanite formed at P ≈16 kbar during semi-pervasive fluid influx. Fluid influx, after further isothermal decompression, was focused in shear zones, and resulted in chlorite–albite-bearing greenschist facies mineral assemblages that reflect P ≈9 kbar.     

Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios, geochemical compositions, and 40Ar/39Ar data of lavas from San Felix Island (Southeast Pacific): Implications for magma genesis and sources

We present the first trace element and age data combined with new Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios on lavas from San Felix Island in the Southeast Pacific. A ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 421 ± 18 ka implies young intraplate volcanic activity in this region relative to the ∼22 Ma old volcanism on the neighbouring Easter seamount chain (ESC). The incompatible element compositions of the San Felix magmas are similar to those of EM1-type basalts from Gough, although the isotopic compositions differ. San Felix formed some 20 Ma after the ESC plume affected the plate in this region but no chemical signature of the ESC material is observed in the young volcanic rocks. The composition of the San Felix basalts indicates a mantle source containing old continental lithospheric material from either metasomatized mantle or recycled sediments, which ascends in a weak mantle plume.     

40Ar/39Ar and oxygen isotope studies of polymetamorphism from Tinos Island, Cycladic blueschist belt, Greece

Abstract Petrological, oxygen isotope and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar studies were used to constrain the Tertiary metamorphic evolution of the lower tectonic unit of the Cyclades on Tinos. Polyphase high-pressure metamorphism reached pressures in excess of 15 kbar, based on measurements of the Si content in potassic white mica. Temperatures of 450–500° C at the thermal peak of high-pressure metamorphism were estimated from critical metamorphic assemblages, the validity of which is confirmed by a quartz–magnetite oxygen isotope temperature of 470° C. Some ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar spectra of white mica give plateau ages of 44–40 Ma that are considered to represent dynamic recrystallization under peak or slightly post-peak high-pressure metamorphic conditions. Early stages in the prograde high-pressure evolution may be documented by older apparent ages in the high-temperature steps of some spectra. Eclogite to epidote blueschist facies mineralogies were partially or totally replaced by retrograde greenschist facies assemblages during exhumation. Oxygen isotope thermometry of four quartz–magnetite pairs from greenschist samples gives temperatures of 440–470° C which cannot be distinguished from those deduced for the high-pressure event. The exhumation and overprint is documented by decreasing ages of 32–28 Ma in some greenschists and late-stage blueschist rocks, and ages of 30–20 Ma in the lower temperature steps of the Ar release patterns of blueschist micas. Almost flat parts of Ar–Ar release spectra of some greenschist micas gave ages of 23–21 Ma which are assumed to represent incomplete resetting caused by a renewed prograde phase of greenschist metamorphism. Oxygen isotope compositions of blueschist and greenschist facies minerals show no evidence for the infiltration of a δ¹⁸O-enriched fluid. Rather, the compositions indicate that fluid to rock ratios were very low, the isotopic compositions being primarily controlled by those of the protolith rocks. We assume that the fundamental control catalysing the transformation of blueschists into greenschists and the associated resetting of their isotopic systems was the selective infiltration of metamorphic fluid. A quartz–magnetite sample from a contact metamorphic skarn, taken near the Miocene monzogranite of Tinos, gave an oxygen isotope temperature of 555° C and calculated water composition of 9.1%. The value of δ¹⁸O obtained from this water is consistent with a primary magmatic fluid, but is lower than that of fluids associated with the greenschist overprint, which indicates that the latter event cannot be directly related to the monozogranite intrusion.     

Continuous reactions between biotite, garnet, staurolite, kyanite-sillimanite-andalusite and P-T-time-deformation path in micaschists from the estuary of the river Vilaine, South Brittany, France

Abstract Microprobe analysis of the continuous chemical evolution of coexisting biotite-garnet and biotite-garnet-staurolite has been undertaken from interbedded micaschists of the volcanodetrital group of the Vilaine. A thermobarometric study using pertinent mineralogical equilibria reveals a complex P-T evolution, continuous throughout time, from high pressure, medium temperature (kyanite zone) to medium pressure, high temperature (sillimanite zone), then low pressure, medium temperature (andalusite zone). The T, P, f_H2o and X_H2o variations have been calculated from coexisting biotite-garnet pairs, and from the equilibria: paragonite (in white mica) + quartz ± albite (in plagioclase) + Al silicate + H₂O; and, 3 anorthite ± grossular + 2 Alsilicate + quartz. The P-T evolution is correlated with the continuous change in composition of minerals (using P–X_Mg and T–X_Mg diagrams) and with the evolution of assemblages. This continuous P-T-time evolution, correlated with the successive formation of S₁-S₂ foliations, allows us to propose a P-T-time-deformation path for the micaschists and to relate the growth of its mineral components to tectonic processes.     

Tertiary deep crustal ultrametamorphism in the Hidaka metamorphic belt, northern Japan

The Main Zone of the Hidaka metamorphic belt is an imbricate stack of crustal material derived from an island arc in which a sequence of units with increasing metamorphic grade from low to high structural levels is exposed. The basal part of the metamorphic sequence underwent granulite facies metamorphism with peak P–T conditions of 7kbar, 870°C. In this zone pelitic granulite includes leucosomes which consist mainly of orthopyroxene-plagioclase-quartz.
To test whether the leucosome was derived by partial melting of the surrounding pelite, melting experiments of the pelitic granulite were carried out for water-saturated and dry systems at 7 kbar and 850°C. The chemical composition of the leucosome produced during these runs shows a peraluminous S-type tonalitic affinity and is located very close to the tie-line between the average melts produced in water-saturated systems and the average composition of the residual orthopyroxene + plagioclase. This therefore suggests that the lecosome in pelitic granulite was formed by incipient anatexis at close to the highest P–T condition of the Main Zone.
The age of the crustal anatexis is determined by the Rb-Sr whole rock isochron method for garnet-cordierite-biotite gneiss (host rock), garnet-orthopyroxene-cordierite gneiss (restite) and S-type tonalite (melt). This gives an age of 56.0 Ma with an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.705711. The S-type tonalite magmas that form large intrusive masses in the Main Zone were probably generated by crustal anatexis in deeper parts of the crust at the same time (late Palaeocene).     

Metamorphic phase relations in orthopyroxene-bearing granitoids: implication for high-pressure metamorphism and prograde melting in the continental crust

In this work, the factors controlling the formation and preservation of high-pressure mineral assemblages in the metamorphosed orthopyroxene-bearing metagranitoids of the Sandmata Complex, Aravalli-Delhi Mobile Belt (ADMB), northwestern India have been modelled. The rocks range in composition from farsundite through quartz mangerite to opdalite, and with varying K₂O, Ca/(Ca + Na)_rock and FeO_tot + MgO contents. A two stage metamorphic evolution has been recorded in these rocks.
An early hydration event stabilized biotite with or without epidote at the expense of magmatic orthopyroxene and plagioclase. Subsequent high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism (∼15 kbar, ∼800 °C) of these hydrated rocks produced two rock types with contrasting mineralogy and textures. In the non-migmatitic metagranitoids, spectacular garnet ± K-feldspar ± quartz corona was formed around reacting biotite, plagioclase, quartz and/or pyroxene. In contrast, biotite ± epidote melting produced migmatites, containing porphyroblastic garnet incongruent solids and leucosomes.
Applying NCKFMASHTO T–M (H₂O) and P–T pseudosection modelling techniques, it is demonstrated that the differential response of these magmatic rocks to high-pressure metamorphism is primarily controlled by the scale of initial hydration. Rocks, which were pervasively hydrated, produced garnetiferous migmatites, while for limited hydration, the same metamorphism formed sub-solidus garnet-bearing coronae. Based on the sequence of mineral assemblage evolution and the mineral compositional zoning features in the two metagranitoids, a clockwise metamorphic P–T path is constrained for the high-pressure metamorphic event. The finding has major implications in formulating geodynamic model of crustal amalgamation in the ADMB.     

Reconsideration of the age of blueschist facies metamorphism on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, based on phengite 40Ar/39Ar results

Abstract ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar step-heating and single-grain laser fusion ages from phengites from the polydeformed and polymetamorphosed blueschist-greenschist facies Nome Group fall into two groups. Samples from the upper part of the structural section that have experienced a relatively weak metamorphic and deformational post-blueschist facies overprint and one sample from the Cape Nome orthogneiss yield plateau ages of 116-125 Ma. More intensely overprinted samples yield hump-shaped spectra with minimum ages of 123 Ma and maximum ages of 334 Ma. Samples with hump-shaped spectra are derived from a greater structural depth than most samples with plateau ages. Unreasonably old maximum ages from some of the disturbed spectra suggest that the hump-shaped spectra result from the incorporation of excess ⁴⁰Ar. This interpretation conflicts with previous interpretations of similarly disturbed spectra from the Brooks Range, which have been argued to provide minimum ages for blueschist facies metamorphism. Since the maximum temperatures achieved by all samples were probably above the blocking temperature of Ar in phengite, the 116-125 Ma plateau ages are a minimum age for blueschist facies metamorphism on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.