Recalibration of the Garnet-Muscovite (GM) Geothermometer and the Garnet-Muscovite-Plagioclase-Quartz (GMPQ) Geobarometer for Metapelitic Assemblages

The garnet–muscovite (GM) geothermometer and the garnet–muscovite–plagioclase–quartz(GMPQ) geobarometer have been simultaneously calibrated underconditions of T = 450–760°C and P = 0·8–11·1kbar, using a large number of metapelitic samples in the compositionalranges = 0·53–0·81, = 0·05–0·24, = 0·03–0·23 in garnet, = 0·17–0·74 in plagioclase, and Fe = 0·04–0·16, Mg =0·04–0·13, Al^VI = 1·74–1·96in muscovite on the basis of 11 oxygens. The resulting GM thermometeryielded similar temperature estimates (mostly within ±50°C)to that of the garnet–biotite thermometer, and successfullydiscerned the expected systematic temperature change of progradesequences, thermal contact zones and an inverted metamorphiczone. The resulting GMPQ barometer yielded similar pressureestimates (mostly within ±1·0 kbar) to the garnet–aluminumsilicate–plagioclase–quartz (GASP) barometer andplaced the aluminosilicate-bearing samples in the appropriatealuminosilicate stability fields. Application of the GMPQ barometerto thermal contact aureoles or rocks within limited geographicalareas confirmed the expected constant pressures that shouldexist in these settings. The random errors of the GM thermometerand the GMPQ barometer are estimated to be ±16°Cand ±1·5 kbar, respectively. When biotite or aluminosilicateis absent in metapelites, metamorphic P–T conditions maybe determined by simultaneously applying the GM thermometerand the GMPQ barometer. KEY WORDS: application; calibration; geobarometer; geothermometer; metapelite     

Empirical Garnet-Biotite-Plagioclase-Quartz (GBPQ) Geobarometry in Medium- to High-Grade Metapelites

On the basis of the net transfer reactions among garnet, biotite,plagioclase and quartz (for both Mg and Fe end-member models),the garnet–biotite–plagioclase–quartz (GBPQ)geobarometer was empirically calibrated under physical conditionsof P = 1·0–11·4 kbar and T = 515–878°C,based on the input garnet–biotite temperatures and garnet–aluminosilicate–plagioclase–quartz(GASP) pressures of 224 natural aluminosilicate-bearing metapeliticsamples collated from the literature. The calibrations are internallyconsistent with the asymmetric quaternary solid solution modelof garnet, the symmetric quaternary solid solution model ofbiotite, and the Al-avoidance ternary solid solution model ofplagioclase in calibrating the garnet–biotite geothermometerand the GASP geobarometer. The resulting two GBPQ barometerformulae reproduce the input GASP pressures well within ±1·0kbar (mostly within ±0·5 kbar). For both aluminosilicate-bearingand aluminosilicate-absent metapelites, the two GBPQ barometryformulae yielded identical pressures, whether the sample wasincluded or not included in calibrating the GBPQ barometry.The random error of the GBPQ barometry may be expected as ±1·2kbar. The dP/dT slopes of these two GBPQ formulae are closeto that of the GASP barometer in P–T space. Applicationsof the GBPQ barometry of aluminosilicate-absent metapelitesto the rocks within a thermal contact aureole, or rocks withina limited geographical area without post-metamorphic structuraldiscontinuity, show no obvious pressure change. It may be concludedthat the two GBPQ barometry formulae derived in this study maybe used as practical tools for metamorphic pelites under theconditions of 515–878°C and 1·0–11·4kbar, in the composition range of X_gros >3% in garnet, X_an>17% in plagioclase, and