Ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and tectonics

Abstract Recognition of several ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terranes in continental collision belts has revolutionized the concept of geodynamic processes. In order to facilitate better communication and focus among active investigators, the Task Group III-6 of the International Lithosphere Program'Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphism and Geodynamics in Collision-type Orogenic Belts'held the first two day workshop at Stanford University in December, 1994. Petrotectonic settings, mineral paragenesis, geochronoldgy, and geochemical characteristics of UHP rocks from several recognized and suspected UHP terranes were addressed. This special issue presents 11 papers from the more than 50 contributions from the 88 participants representing 15 countries. Many challenging petrotectonic and petrochemical problems remain to be investigated. These include detailed P-T time paths for both the UHP unit and adjacent units, the role of fluids at mantle depths, deep seismic profiles and mechanisms and rate of exhumation of the UHP unit.     

Cosmic-ray-produced 59Ni in marine sediments

⁵⁹Ni in 0.4 g of nickel from deep-sea sediments was measured with an extremely low-level X-ray spectrometer. The obtained specific activity was (5.9 ± 1.8) × 10^?2 dpm/kg sediments. The⁵⁹Ni activity induced by proton and alpha particle irradiation in outer space can be estimated as 300 dpm/kg dust. Hence, the content of extraterrestrial dust in deep-sea sediments was not more than 200 ppm.     

Isotopic compositions of potassium and calcium in magnetic spherules from marine sediments

Isotopic compositions of potassium and calcium in individual magnetic spherules were determined. No significant anomaly was observed for potassium within twice the statistical error (2σ), although for calcium isotopes enrichments of⁴⁶Ca,⁴⁴Ca and⁴²Ca were observed in one spherule. The relative excess of⁴⁶Ca,⁴⁴Ca and⁴²Ca in the spherule agrees with the relative yield of spallogenic calcium isotopes observed in iron meteorites. This fact indicates that the enrichment in the calcium isotopes was caused by cosmic ray irradiation of the spherule in outer space.     

Intermediate high-pressure exhumation of the northern segment of the Sanbagawa belt, Saruta-gawa area, central Shikoku, Japan

The retrograde chemical zonal structure of amphibole in hematite-bearing basic and quartz schists from the higher grade zone in the Saruta-gawa area of the Sanbagawa belt was studied to investigate the relationships between the prograde and retrograde P–T paths of the Sanbagawa metamorphism. This amphibole coexists with chlorite, epidote, muscovite, albite, quartz and hematite, and is composed of Al-rich core and Al-poor mantle. The core is fairly homogeneous and has a barroisitic composition. In the mantle part, ^[B]Na increases with decreasing ^[4]Al towards the margins, which have winchite–magnesioriebeckite compositions. The barroisite–winchite–magnesioriebeckite composite crystal is sometimes rimmed by actinolite and/or winchite with low ^[4]Al and ^[B]Na. The Al-rich core and Al-poor mantle are regarded as prograde and retrograde products, respectively. The retrograde mantle in the Saruta-gawa area: (1) is systematically richer in ^[B]Na [0.40–1.73 per formula unit (pfu; for O=23)] than that from the same grade zone in the Asemi-gawa area (0.19–0.78 pfu), about 8 km south of the studied area; (2) tends to be ^[B]Na-poorer (less than 1.73 pfu) than prograde sodic amphibole (up to 1.93 ^[B]Na pfu) produced in the peak temperature stage from the lower grade zone in the same and other areas; and (3) extends its compositional range towards higher ^[B]Na and lower ^[4]Al than prograde-formed amphibole from the same grade zone in the same area. These zonal characteristics imply that (1) the Saruta-gawa samples experienced retrograde metamorphism under higher P/T conditions than the Asemi-gawa samples, (2) the retrograde P–T path of the Saruta-gawa area passes on the lower pressure side of the metamorphic field gradient, and (3) the Saruta-gawa samples underwent retrograde metamorphism under higher P/T conditions than the prograde metamorphism. The higher P/T conditions of the retrograde metamorphism suggests an increasing dP/dT of the geotherm during exhumation. Retrograde P–T conditions during the formation of magnesioriebeckite can be roughly estimated at 7–8 kbar, 400–450°C based on semi-quantitative phase relations of actinolite–winchite–magnesioriebeckite–barroisite series associated with chlorite, epidote, muscovite, albite, quartz and hematite.     

Petrology of peridotite and garnet clinopyroxenite of the Mt. Higasi-Akaisi mass,central Sikoku,Japan — Subsolidus relation of anhydrous phases

The mineralogy of anhydrous minerals of peridotite and garnet clinopyroxenite of the Mt. Higasi-Akaisi peridotite mass, Japan, is described. The subsolidus equilibria among garnet, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and olivine are discussed in terms of composition range of solid solutions and of Fe-Mg partition. It is concluded that the anydrous minerals of this mass equilibrated at lower temperatures than any of well studied peridotite-garnet clinopyroxenite association. The tentative estimation gives 5–600° C and 7–13 Kb as the physical conditions of equilibration. Comparison with similar associations from other occurrences and geological implications are briefly discussed.     

Non-stoichiometry of interlayer cations in micas from low- to middle-grade metamorphic rocks in the Ryoke and the Sanbagawa belts,Japan

Micas in 17 pelitic (K-feldspar-free) and 8 psammitic (K-feldspar-bearing) rocks from the Wazuka and the Asemi-gawa areas in the Ryoke and the Sanbagawa metamorphic terrains, respectively, were analyzed on an electron-probe microanalyzer. The deficiency of alkali cations in the low- to middle-grade metamorphic micas is ascribed to the illite substitution, K^XII+Al^IV=^XII (vacancy)+Si^IV.At the same metamorphic grade, the deficiency of interlayer cations in micas from the pelitic rocks is greater than that from the psammitic rocks. However, it decreases with rising temperature in both rock-types, irrespective of the pressure of metamorphism.K-feldspar and biotite buffer the illite substitution. Two reactions are proposed to explain the decrease of the alkali-cation deficiency in both muscovite and biotite.     

Significance of shape factor on permeability anisotropy of sand: representative elementary volume study for pore-scale analysis

Acta Geotechnica - This paper is a study of determination of representative elementary volume (REV) size suitable for pore-scale flow simulation (PFS) and evaluation of permeability anisotropy for...     

Kurosegawa zone and its bearing on the development of the Japanese Islands

The Kurosegawa zone in southwest Japan is a 600 km long serpentinite mélange in the Chichibu terrains. It runs generally E-W but is slightly oblique to the subparallel arrangement of the Ryoke, Sanbagawa and Chichibu belts of Southwest Japan. A variety of geological units occurs in the Kurosegawa zone:

1. (1) granodiorite, gneiss and amphibolite of ca. 400 Ma,

2. (2) Siluro-Devonian formations,

3. (3) Upper Carboniferous to Jurassic formations,

4. (4) Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous formations,

5. (5) serpentinite and

6. (6) low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks of various baric types (ages, 220, 320, 360 and 420 Ma by K-Ar).

The most widespread is a high-pressure intermediate group of metamorphic rocks. Serpentinite is emplaced along the faults between and within the constituent units.Rocks of the Kurosegawa zone represent a mature orogenic belt along a continental margin or an island arc. Its original site as constrained by paleomagnetism was near the equatorial area. Here, 400 Ma old paired metamorphism and related magmatism took place. The island arc or microcontinent migrated northward to collide with the Eurasia plate during Late Jurassic, thus consuming the intervening ocean.