Geochronology of the medium to high-grade metamorphic units of the Peloritani Mts., Sicily

The Peloritani Mountains are a fragment of an orogen variably attributed to the Alpine or Hercynian orogeny. On the basis of ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar, U-Pb and Rb-Sr dating, the main metamorphism of the two medium–high grade metamorphic units, the Mela and Aspromonte Units, and most of the thrusting responsible for stacking the orogenic edifice are seen to be Hercynian. The main thrusting of the Aspromonte Unit over the lower grade units took place at 301±2 Ma. Brittle deformation during Tertiary reactivation of Hercynian thrust planes did not generate any rejuvenation of white micas in the studied sector. Our dataset shows a great complexity and we propose to unravel it by considering different levels of information. To first order, the Mela and Aspromonte Units differ in their metamorphic paths and their geochronological evolution. The Mela Unit shows generally younger ages (Carboniferous) than the Aspromonte Unit and, unlike the latter, was extensively retrogressed in greenschist facies. The Aspromonte Unit is itself geochronologically heterogeneous. Proterozoic ages are preserved both in titanite and in amphibole relics of one tectonic subunit; Devonian to Carboniferous amphibole ages are found in different other subunits; tertiary overprint is minor and spatially limited. We propose to consider the chronologically heterogeneous subunits as accreted pre-Hercynian terranes amalgamated late during the Hercynian orogeny. Micas in both units give scattered Mesozoic ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar and Rb-Sr ages, with evidence for heterochemical mica generations. We interpret them as a result of widespread hydrothermal circulation event(s). Tertiary overprint is generally absent, with the exception of a small area near Messina where biotite and muscovite underwent a complex recrystallisation history in the interval between 48 and 61 Ma.An erratum to this article can be found at     

The Serra da Graciosa A-type Granites and Syenites, southern Brazil. Part 3: Magmatic evolution and post-magmatic breakdown of amphiboles of the alkaline association

Amphiboles are the main mafic minerals in most metaluminous to peralkaline alkali-feldspar granites and syenites, and they usually preserve an important record of the compositional evolution of the melts from which they crystallize. In the alkaline association of the Serra da Graciosa A-type Granites and Syenites (southern Brazil), amphibole compositions span a large range, including calcic, sodic–calcic, and sodic amphiboles. Calcic amphiboles are typically observed in the metaluminous rocks, while sodic amphiboles are characteristic of the more strongly peralkaline rocks; sodic–calcic amphiboles are found in intermediate varieties. Compositional variations record the differentiation trends within two petrographic series of the alkaline association. The overall evolution of amphibole compositions is similar in both: they reveal a progressive increase in Na and Fe³⁺ with differentiation (increase in alkalinity of the magmas), a characteristic shared by undersaturated peralkaline (or agpaitic) differentiation trends. In detail, however, the evolutions of the amphibole compositions in the two series are distinct. In Alkaline series 1, the cores of the crystals form a continuum from calcic to sodic compositions, with the exception of a small compositional gap within the sodic–calcic amphiboles. The rims, however, show compositions that diverge from this main trend; this divergence results from increasing amounts of the oxy-amphibole component, and reflects more oxidizing conditions at the final stages of magmatic crystallization. In Alkaline series 2, these oxidation trends are much more subtle and a reverse trend is observed in the sodic amphiboles. Sodic–calcic amphiboles are in several cases replaced by intergrowths of post-magmatic sodic amphibole and Al-poor (“tetrasilicic”) biotite.     

Petrologic evidence of a complex plumbing system feeding the July–August 2001 eruption of Mt. Etna,Sicily, Italy

After the major 1991–1993 eruption, Mt. Etna resumed flank activity in July 2001 through a complex system of eruptive fissures cutting the NE and the S flanks of the volcano and feeding effusive activity, fire fountains, Strombolian and minor phreatomagmatic explosions. Throughout the eruption, magmas with different petrography and composition were erupted. The vents higher than 2,600 m a.s.l. (hereafter Upper vents, UV) erupted porphyritic, plagioclase-rich trachybasalt, typical of present-day summit and flank activity. Differently, the vents located at 2,550 and 2,100 m a.s.l. (hereafter Lower vents, LV) produced slightly more primitive trachybasalt dominated by large clinopyroxene, olivine and uncommon minerals for Etna such as amphibole, apatite and orthopyroxene and containing siliceous and cognate xenoliths. Petrologic investigations carried out on samples collected throughout the eruption provided insights into one of the most intriguing aspects of the 2001 activity, namely the coeval occurrence of distinct magmas. We interpret this evidence as the result of a complex plumbing system. It consists in two separate magma storage systems: a shallow one feeding the activity of the UV and a deeper and more complex storage related to the activity of LV. In this deep storage zone, which is thermally and compositionally zoned, the favourable conditions allow the crystallization of amphibole and the occurrence of cognate xenoliths representing wall cumulates. Throughout 2001 eruption, UV and LV magmas remain clearly distinct and ascended following different paths, ruling out the occurrence of mixing processes between them. Furthermore, integrating the 2001 eruption in the framework of summit activity occurring since 1995, we propose that the 2001 magma feeding the vents lower than 2,600 m a.s.l. is a precursor of a refilling event, which reached its peak during the 2002–2003 Etna flank eruption.     

吉林桦甸太古代杂岩的矿物化学和变质作用温压条件

本文重点研究了桦甸杂岩的主要造岩矿物黑云母、角闪石、辉石和石榴石以及它们之间的平衡共生关系。各主要造岩矿物的化学成分及相互关系都说明桦旬杂岩的变质作用高峰达麻粒岩相。文中用斜方辉石-单斜辉石、石榴石-黑云母、石榴石-普通角闪石、石榴石-斜方辉石和石榴石-斜方辉石-斜长石-石英等矿物对和矿物组合作了变质作用温度、压力估测。桦甸杂岩的变质作用温压条件约为6.4—7.1kbar,700—750℃,桦甸杂岩变质时的埋藏深度约25km,当时的地热梯度大约30℃/km。     

Occurrence and chemical composition of amphiboles and related minerals in corundum-bearing mafic rock from the Horoman Peridotite Complex, Japan

A corundum-bearing mafic rock in the Horoman Peridotite Complex, Japan, was derived from upper mantle conditions to lower crustal conditions with surrounding peridotites. The amphiboles found in the rock are classified into 3 types: (1) as interstitial and/or poikilitic grains (Green amphibole), (2) as a constituent mineral of symplectitic mineral aggregates with aluminous spinel at grain boundary between olivine and plagioclase (Symplectite amphibole) and (3) as film-shaped thin grains, usually less than 10 μm in width, at grain boundary between olivine and clinopyroxene (Film-shaped amphibole). The Film-shaped amphibole is rarely associated with orthopyroxene extremely low in Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃ and CaO (Low-Al OPX). These minerals were formed by infiltration of SiO₂- and volatile-rich fluids along grain boundaries after the rock was recrystallized at olivine-plagioclase stability conditions, i.e. the late stage of the exhumation of the Horoman Complex.

Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns and primitive mantle-normalized trace-element patterns of the Green amphibole and clinopyroxene are characterized by LREE-depleted patterns with Eu positive and negative anomalies of Zr and Hf. These geochemical characteristics of the constituent minerals were inherited from original whole-rock compositions through a reaction involving both pre-existing clinopyroxene and plagioclase. We propose that the fluids were originally rich in a SiO₂ component but depleted in trace-elements. Dehydration of the surrounding metamorphic rocks in the Hidaka metamorphic belt, probably related to intrusion of hot peridotite body into the Hidaka crust, is a plausible origin for the fluids.     

Nb/Ta fractionation observed in eclogites from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project

This paper reports detailed analyses of Nb and Ta concentrations of 19 eclogite samples and their principal mineral constituents from the main drill hole of the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling Project (CCSD) and nearby outcrops. We observe highly fractionated and overall suprachondritic Nb/Ta values in minerals, e.g., rutile (4.8–87), titanite (12–62) and amphibole (2.0–67). Amphiboles in amphibolites (retrograded from eclogite) can be classified into two groups: a low Nb/Ta group that bears higher Al contents and is thus of higher pressure origin, and a high Nb/Ta, lower pressure group. The former group was likely formed during subduction; the latter may have formed during exhumation in the presence of rutile and titanite. The significant Nb/Ta fractionation in rutile and other minerals may reflect early dehydration of the subducted slab at shallow depths before the formation of rutile, which occurs at depths ≥50 km. The dehydration, with amphiboles existing as the main Nb–Ta-bearing phase, would lead to Nb/Ta fractionation, i.e., forming subchondritic Nb/Ta ratios in the released fluids and, complementarily, suprachondritic Nb/Ta ratios in the residual phases. While a large proportion of the fluids may escape from the slab to the mantle wedge, considerable amounts of the fluids can be retained in hydrous minerals within the descending slab, thus forming hydrated cold eclogites with subchondritic Nb/Ta characteristics. As subduction continues to depths over 50 km, rutile appears and consequently controls the Nb–Ta budget. In the presence of rutile, melting of the hydrated cold eclogites with very low Nb/Ta ratios would form magmas with negative Nb, Ta anomalies and subchondritic Nb/Ta. Further dehydration of the continuously descending slab results in even more fractionated Nb/Ta ratios in subsequently released fluids and residues, providing a feasible explanation for the large Nb/Ta variation observed in the modern arc magmas and residual eclogites.     

班公湖-怒江缝合带西段洞错石榴石麻粒岩岩石学特征及其构造意义

班公湖-怒江缝合带是青藏高原中部一条重要的构造边界,将北部的羌塘地块与南部的拉萨地块分隔开,当前对班公湖-怒江洋壳的俯冲过程知之甚少,本文报道班公湖-怒江缝合带西段洞错地区的石榴石麻粒岩,将有助于提升班公湖-怒江缝合带构造演化过程的认识。石榴石麻粒岩呈5.0~_10mm的透镜体产出于斜长角闪岩内,后者呈构造岩片产出于班公湖-怒江缝合带内,与超基性岩片呈断层接触。石榴石麻粒岩的石榴石呈变斑晶产出,具有不规则的成分环带,石榴石核部成分较均匀,以富Ca和Mg,贫Fe和Mn为特征,石榴石边缘及内部裂隙成分则与之相反,富Fe和Mn,与绿泥石和黝帘石组成的细脉共生,反映了石榴石遭受后期流体的交代作用。单斜辉石为透辉石,在其内部发现早期进变质阶段的细小石榴石与角闪石颗粒,石榴石粒径_10μm,该石榴石相对富Fe和Mn,贫Ca和Mg。角闪石均为钙质系列的角闪石,早期角闪石以相对富Na和Fe~(3+),含有微量Ba,而与晚期角闪石区分开。早期角闪石常产出于石榴石和透辉石变斑晶内部,脱水熔融生成富Ca、贫Fe~(3+)和Na的透辉石和以钠长石为主的熔融囊体,囊体内部发育斜长石和富Ba冰长石的包体/出溶体。晚期角闪石常与斜长石呈细小的后成合晶产出于石榴石边部或呈变斑晶产出于基质之中,表明斜长角闪岩系石榴石麻粒岩退变质的产物。此外,金红石斑晶常变成细粒、不规则的贫Al榍石和钛铁矿,基质中有相对富Al榍石产出。因此该麻粒岩进变质阶段矿物组合由早期石榴石(Grt__1)、早期角闪石(Amp_1)、相对富Al的榍石(Spn_1)等矿物组成。峰期矿物组合包括:核部石榴石(Grt2)+透辉石+斜长石(Pl_1)+石英+金红石+富Na和Ba的熔体,采用传统温/压计估算此峰期矿物组合形成条件为870℃、11.7kbar。退变质矿物组合有:边部石榴石(Grt3)+晚期贫Na和Fe~(3+)的角闪石(Amp_1)+黝帘石+绿泥石+斜长石(Pl_2)+白云母+贫Al榍石(Spn2)+钛铁矿。岩相学观察与地球化学示踪、变质温压估计表明洞错石榴石麻粒岩系热洋壳俯冲的产物,为前人提出的"班公-怒江洋盆包含次级小洋盆"之观点提供了变质岩石学的证据。从峰期到退变质阶段,角闪石的Fe~(3+)含量明显下降,铁铝榴石含量明显升高,指示该麻粒岩经历了还原反应,早期角闪石脱水熔融时被还原,生成了高氧逸度的埃达克质岩浆,促进了Cu、Au等成矿元素从俯冲热洋壳的活化与迁移至弧岩浆之中,因此本文的研究提供了一个探讨俯冲热洋壳与上覆地幔楔之间化学反应的研究案例,这有助于理解班公-怒江成矿带内众多斑岩型铜、金矿床的形成。     

Titanite: A potential solidus barometer for granitic magma systems

Constraining crystallization pressure and thus intrusion depth of granites in various geodynamic settings remains challenging, yet important to further our understanding of magma system and crustal evolution. We propose that titanite, which is a common accessory in metaluminous and weakly peraluminous granites, can be used as a barometer if it crystallized in magmatic, near-solidus conditions and in equilibrium with amphibole, plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz, biotite, and magnetite ± ilmenite. Titanite Al₂O₃ increases with pressure (P) according to: P (in MPa) = 101.66 × Al₂O₃ in titanite (in wt%) + 59.013 (R² = 0.83) with estimated uncertainties of ~±60 to ~±100 MPa for crystallization between ~150 and 400 MPa. We highlight that the current calibration dataset is limited, and that systematic experimental studies are needed to rigorously quantify the relation. The most important use of this empirical barometer will be for rocks in which amphibole is present but significantly altered, or in combination with amphibole barometry, as titanite can be easily dated by LA-ICP-MS.     

The P21/m↔ C2/m phase transition in synthetic amphibole Na NaMg Mg5 Si8 O22 (OH)2: thermodynamic and crystal-chemical evaluation

The P2₁/mC2/m displacive phase transition in the synthetic end-member amphibole Na NaMg Mg₅ Si₈ O₂₂ (OH)₂ has been studied by monitoring changes in unit-cell parameters and the intensities of superlattice reflections at 25–400 °C. This amphibole allows investigation of the effects of compositional variations at the A- and B-group sites upon the transition. Polynomial fitting of a 24 Landau potential to the evolution of the order parameter with T yielded a T _c of 257 ± 3 °C, and Landau coefficients compatible with a second-order transition. Structure refinement of single-crystal data collected at 25, 140, 270 and 370 °C allowed modelling of the structural changes as a function of T and symmetry. Crystal-chemical analysis suggests that differences in T _c in cummingtonites and in the crystal of this work depend mainly upon the relations between the aggregate ionic radii of the B- and C-group cations. Electronic Supplementary Material: of Table 5 is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00269-003-0348-9     

Important role of hornblende fractionation in generating the adakitic magmas in Tongling,Eastern China: evidence from amphibole megacryst and cumulate xenoliths and host gabbros

ABSTRACT

Tongling, in eastern China, is an area well-known for intra-plate adakites. Here, we present the mineral chemistry and zircon U–Pb ages for amphibole cumulate xenoliths, the mineral chemistry of amphibole megacrysts, and the whole–rock chemistry, zircon U–Pb age and Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of host gabbros from Tongling. Zircon U–Pb dating yields a crystallization age of 120.6 ± 1.2 Ma (MSWD = 4.2) for the host gabbros, which are characteristically depleted in high field strength elements (Nb, Ta, and Ti) and enriched in large ion lithophile elements (Ba and Sr), with εNd (t) of ?3.00 to ?4.52 and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7068–0.7072, suggesting an enriched mantle source. Parental melts, as estimated from average amphibole megacryst and cumulate compositions, have Mg# values of 26–33, are enriched in Ba, Th, U, and Nd, and depleted in Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Ti, similar to 136 Ma mafic magmas in Tongling. Zircon U–Pb dating yields a crystallization age of 135.4 ± 1.0 Ma (MSWD = 1.6) for the amphibole cumulates. It is concluded that the Tongling adakitic rocks were formed by polybaric crystallization involving early high-pressure intracrustal fractional crystallization of cumulates comprising hornblende and clinopyroxene, and late low-pressure fractional crystallization of hornblende and plagioclase phenocrysts. The flat subduction of Pacific plate and its subsequent foundering during the Cretaceous may have triggered the generation of extensive adakitic magmas and lithospheric thinning in the Lower Yangtze Region.