Genesis of the Kapuskasing (Ontario) migmatitic mafic granulites by dehydration melting of amphibolite: the importance of quartz to reaction progress

Migmatitic, granulite-grade mafic gneisses make up a significant part of the Kapuskasing Structural Zone (KSZ), Ontario. Although they contain a common mineral assemblage [hornblende (Hbl)+plagioclase (Pl)+diopside (Di)±garnet (Grt)+quartz (Qtz)±titanite (Ttn)], the mafic gneisses show wide variations in modal mineralogy from hornblende-rich to diopside+garnet-rich varieties and all gradations between. Up to 25 vol.% segregated plagioclase+quartz-rich (trondhjemitic) leucosome (Tdh) is intimately associated with the mafic gneiss, occurring in a continuum of patches, veins and transecting dykes at scales ranging from decimetres to micrometres. The texture and composition of the leucosome, combined with P-T estimates for the host rocks above the solidus, suggest it represents crystallized trondhjemitic melt. Quartz is mainly restricted to the segregated leucosomes but more rarely occurs in a variety of interstitial textures in the mafic gneiss, suggesting that it crystallized from a melt phase rather than having been present as a solid phase at peak metamorphic conditions. Modal and textural data indicate a reaction relationship of the form: Hbl+Pl(+Qtz?)=Grt+Di+Ttn+leucosome (Tdh), implying that the granulite-forming process involved dehydration melting of an amphibolite protolith. Pressure-temperature estimates from Grt+Di+Pl+Qtz geothermobarometry are 9 kbar and 685-735 °C; however, based on experimental studies of dehydration melting of amphibolite, we estimate that peak conditions were closer to 11 kbar, 850 °C. Mass balance analysis, using the technique of singular value decomposition, and reaction space analysis were used to quantify the reaction and to determine the controls on reaction progress. The following mass balance provides a model for the natural reaction:1.00 Hbl+0.92 Pl+3.76 Qtz=1.14 Grt+1.54 Di+0.21 Ttn+1.49 Tdh+0.14 ‘pg’+0.39 Fe_?1Mg+0.33 NaSiCa_?1Al_?1where ‘pg’ is a pargasite-like exchange. In all model mass balances tested, quartz is a reactant with a large coefficient. We argue that the abundance of quartz in the amphibolite protolith was the primary control on the differing extents of reaction observed. Mineral compositional variation exerted a secondary control on reaction progress, with Fe-richer layers containing An-richer plagioclase and more actinolitic amphibole reacting earliest (i.e. at lowest temperatures). Comparison of the calculated amount of melt produced in the gneisses with that now observed implies expulsion of 5–30% of the melt. These volumes are similar to those predicted from REE modelling of Archaean tonalities and trondhjemites from a garnet amphibolite source, suggesting that the KSZ mafic gneisses may be representative of partially depleted source rocks for trondhjemite-tonalite generation.     

Schlieren formation in diatexite migmatite: examples from the St Malo migmatite terrane, France

Schlieren are trains of platy or blocky minerals, typically the ferromagnesian minerals and accessory phases, that occur in granites and melt‐rich migmatites, such as diatexites. They have been considered as: (1) unmelted residue from xenoliths or the source region; (2) mineral accumulations formed during magma flow; (3) compositional layering; and (4) sites of melt loss. In order to help identify schlieren‐forming processes in the diatexites at St Malo, differences in the size, shape, orientation, distribution and composition of the biotite from schlieren and from their hosts have been investigated. Small biotite grains are much less abundant in the schlieren than in their hosts. Schlieren biotite grains are generally larger, have greater aspect ratios and have, except in hosts with low (< 10%) biotite contents, a much stronger shape preferred orientation than host biotite. The compositional ranges of host and schlieren biotite are similar, but schlieren biotite defines tighter, sharper peaks on composition‐frequency plots. Hosts show magmatic textures such as imbricated (tiled), unstrained plagioclase. Some schlieren show only magmatic textures (tiled biotite, no crystal‐plastic strain features), but many have textures indicating submagmatic and subsolidus deformation (e.g. kinked grains) and these schlieren show the most extensive evidence for recrystallization. Magmas at St Malo initially contained a significant fraction of residual biotite and plagioclase crystals; smaller biotite grains were separated from the larger plagioclase crystals during magma flow. Since plagioclase was also the major, early crystallizing phase, the plagioclase‐rich domains developed rapidly and reached the rigid percolation threshold first, forcing further magma flow to be concentrated into narrowing melt‐rich zones where the biotite had accumulated, hence increasing shear strain and the degree of shape preferred orientation in these domains. Schlieren formed in these domains as a result of grain contacts and tiling in the grain inertia‐regime. Final amalgamation of the biotite aggregates into schlieren involved volume loss as melt trapped between grains was expelled after the rigid percolation threshold was reached in the biotite‐rich layers.     

The pressure–temperature–time path of migmatites from the Sikkim Himalaya

A combined metamorphic and isotopic study of lit‐par‐lit migmatites exposed in the hanging wall of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) from Sikkim has provided a unique insight into the pressure–temperature–time path of the High Himalayan Crystalline Series of the eastern Himalaya. The petrology and geochemistry of one such migmatite indicates that the leucosome comprises a crystallized peraluminous granite coexisting with sillimanite and alkali feldspar. Large garnet crystals (2–3 mm across) are strongly zoned and grew initially within the kyanite stability field. The melanosome is a biotite–garnet pelitic gneiss, with fibrolitic sillimanite resulting from polymorphic inversion of kyanite. By combining garnet zoning profiles with the NaCaMnKFMASHTO pseudosection appropriate to the bulk composition of a migmatite retrieved from c. 1 km above the thrust zone, it has been established that early garnet formed at pressures of 10–12 kbar, and that subsequent decompression caused the rock to enter the melt field at c. 8 kbar and c. 750 °C, generating peritectic sillimanite and alkali feldspar by the incongruent melting of muscovite. Continuing exhumation resulted in resorption of garnet. Sm–Nd growth ages of garnet cores and rim, indicate pre‐decompression garnet growth at 23 ± 3 Ma and near‐peak temperatures during melting at 16 ± 2 Ma. This provides a decompression rate of 2 ± 1 mm yr^?1 that is consistent with exhumation rates inferred from mineral cooling ages from the eastern Himalaya. Simple 1D thermal modelling confirms that exhumation at this rate would result in a near‐isothermal decompression path, a result that is supported by the phase relations in both the melanosome and leucosome components of the migmatite. Results from this study suggest that anatexis of Miocene granite protoliths from the Himalaya was a consequence of rapid decompression, probably in response to movement on the MCT and on the South Tibetan detachment to the north.     

Petrology of amphibolite-facies mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Catalina Schist, southern California: metasomatism and migmatization in a subduction zone metamorphic setting

Abstract The Catalina Schist of southern California is a subduction zone metamorphic terrane. It consists of three tectonic units of amphibolite-, high- P greenschist- and blueschist-facies rocks that are structurally juxtaposed across faults, forming an apparent inverted metamorphic gradient. Migmatitic and non-migmatitic metabasite blocks surrounded by a meta-ultramafic matrix comprise the upper part of the Catalina amphibolite unit. Fluid-rock interaction at high- P , high- T conditions caused partial melting of migmatitic blocks, metasomatic exchange between metabasite blocks and ultramafic rocks, infiltration of silica into ultramafic rocks, and loss of an albitic component from nonmigmatitic, clinopyroxene-bearing metabasite blocks.
Partial melting took place at an estimated P =˜8–11 kbar and T =˜640–750°C at high H₂O activity. The melting reaction probably involved plagioclase + quartz. Trondhjemitic melts were produced and are preserved as leucocratic regions in migmatitic blocks and as pegmatitic dikes that cut ultramafic rocks.
The metasomatic and melting processes reflected in these rocks could be analogous to those proposed for fluid and melt transfer of components from a subducting slab to the mantle wedge. Aqueous fluids rather than melts seem to have accomplished the bulk of mass transfer within the mafic and ultramafic complex.     

Temporal and compositional differences between subsolidus and anatectic migmatite leucosomes from the Quetico metasedimentary belt, Canada

Abstract Migmatites in the Quetico Metasedimentary Belt contain two types of leucosome: (1) Layer-parallel leucosomes that grew during deformation and prograde metamorphism. These are enriched in SiO₂, Sr, and Eu, but depleted in TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, MgO, Cs, Rb, REE, Sc, Th, Zr, and Hf relative to the Quetico metasediments. (2) Discordant leucosomes that formed after the regional folding events when metamorphic temperatures were at their peak. These are enriched in Rb, Ba, Sr and Eu, but display a wide range of LREE, Th, Zr, and Hf contents relative to the Quetico metasediments.
Layer-parallel leucosomes formed by a subsolidus process termed tectonic segregation. This stress-induced mass transfer process began when the Quetico sediments were deformed during burial, and continued whilst the rocks were both stressed and heterogeneous. Subsolidus leucosome compositions are consistent with the mobilization of quartz and feldspar from the host rocks by pressure solution. The discordant leucosomes formed by partial melting of the Quetico metasediments, possibly during uplift of the belt. The range of composition displayed by the anatectic leucosomes arises from crystal fractionation during leucosome emplacement. Some anatectic leucosomes preserve primary melt compositions and have smooth REE patterns, but those with negative Eu anomalies represent fractionated melts, and others with positive Eu anomalies represent accumulations of feldspar plus trapped melt.     

Syn-deformational migmatites and magmatic-arc metamorphism in the Xolapa Complex, southern Mexico

The Xolapa Complex (XC) is the largest plutonic and metamorphic mid‐crustal basement unit in Mexico and represents an ancient continental magmatic‐arc. A complete range from metatexite to diatexite migmatitic structures has been produced during a single high‐grade metamorphic event. However, structural relics reveal the existence of early Cpx + Pl + Qtz ± Opx and Grt + Opx + Pl + Qtz ± Cpx pre‐migmatitic metamorphic assemblages. Field relationships and microstructural observations allow us to constrain five pre‐, syn‐ and post‐migmatitic deformational phases. It is argued that migmatitic structures and minor anatectic granites were developed during ductile recumbent folding and shear structures related to the D2–D3 phases. Late post‐migmatitic ductile‐brittle deformation is evidenced by the development of NNE trending transpressional thrusting (D4), and E–W left‐lateral mylonitic shear zones (D5). Biotite‐breakdown melting in felsic rocks and amphibole‐breakdown melting in mafic rocks, as well as geothermobarometric results, indicate that metamorphism took place at temperatures from 830 to 900 °C and pressures ranging from ≥6.3 to 9.5 kbar. Late migmatitic assemblages equilibrated in the highest temperature range along a clockwise P–T path. The relationships between the large diversity of migmatitic structures and the progressive production of melt suggest that feedback relations prevailed as a time‐marker during a contractional regime. Deformation, metamorphism, and plutonism of the XC show that this terrane evolved as a north‐east‐verging thrust system with synkinematic metamorphism and partial melting, during the Late Cretaceous – Palaeogene. The tectonothermal history of XC is analogous to a Cordilleran metamorphic magmatic‐arc formed in an accretionary tectonic framework. This new model provides constraints on the exhumation mechanism and thermal evolution of southern Mexico.     

Granitoid rocks of Naxos,Greece: regional geology and petrology

Granitic gneiss in a Miocene extensional core complex on Naxos locally preserves primary igneous textures. On an outcrop scale, these include mafic enclaves; in thin section, feldspar phenocrysts contain unoriented accessory mineral inclusions. The gneiss is interpreted as having a Hercynian granite protolith. Contrary to previous accounts, migmatites are rare in the gneiss. The granite is geochemically similar to post-collisional extension-related granites and differs from the predominant granodiorites found in the Hercynian basement of northwestern Greece. An I-type hornblende–biotite granite pluton was emplaced during Miocene extension in western Naxos. It is a typical subduction-related pluton emplaced under conditions of back-arc extension. The pluton is cut by later leucogranite that geochemically resembles the granite dykes that cut the migmatites. In northern Naxos, minor leucogranite intrusions are of two geochemical types. One is everywhere deformed and geochemically resembles the leucogranite that cuts the Western pluton. The other is variably deformed and new geochronology shows that it has an age of 10 Ma. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

深熔成因伟晶岩初始岩浆中稀有金属富集特征

本文以新疆阿尔泰切木尔切克地区的混合岩和伟晶岩为例,开展区内混合岩、伟晶岩与周围的变沉积岩（二云母片岩）的野外地质、全岩地球化学以及云母类矿物化学组成研究,目的在于揭示深熔作用形成的熔体中稀有金属富集特征。研究结果显示,阿尔泰切木尔切克地区的伟晶岩与混合岩中浅色体有相似的矿物组合和主要化学组成,且伟晶岩与暗色体呈互补的微量元素组成,表明切木尔切克伟晶岩为变沉积岩深熔成因。从二云母片岩到混合岩中浅色体和伟晶岩,白云母中Li、Be、Nb、Ta、Rb、Cs显示增加趋势,表明深熔作用形成浅色体及其汇聚成伟晶岩脉过程中可促进稀有金属的富集,尤其是Be和Ta,富集程度达3倍以上。低温条件下白云母脱水熔融,导致黑云母作为残留相,明显制约Li、Rb、Cs等稀有金属在熔体中的富集,但对Be的影响非常有限。结合阿尔泰伟晶岩广泛的Be成矿作用,推断阿尔泰伟晶岩很可能是深熔成因的。     

Geological and Geochemical Evidence for Discriminating Anatectic and Subsolidus Migmatites in the Dabieshan Complex,Northeastern Hubei Province

Based on the geological and geochemical information about migmatites,the following lines of evidence have been proposed for discriminating the anatectic leucosome in the Dabieshan Complex:(1)its width is larger than that derived from the subsolidus genesis,cutting across regional foliation,thus giving rise to complicated folds and wider selvages;(2)it is composed of melanic and accessory minerals in addition to quartz and feldspars;(3)the significant dfference in anorthites of plagioclase between paleosome and leucosome;(4)temperature and pressure(P/T) conditions revealed by the mineral compositions and assemblages are over those for the onset of anatexis;and (5)it is enriched in the major elements(e.g.Al2O3.Fe2O3and TiO2)and immobile and incompatible elements(e.g.LREE,Th,Hf and Zr).Finally,by combining the geological and geochemical features with the statistical data for the spatial distribution of minerals and mass-balance in the migatites,it is concluded that anatexis is the cardinal mechanism of migmatization in the Dabieshan Complex.     

Evolution of the Bhandara-Balaghat granulite belt along the southern margin of the Sausar Mobile Belt of central India

The Bhandara-Balaghat granulite (BBG) belt occurs as a 190 km long, detached narrow, linear, NE-SW to ENE-WSW trending belt that is in tectonic contact on its northern margin with the Sausar Group of rocks and is bordered by the Sakoli fold belt in the south. The Bhandara part of the BBG belt is quite restricted, comprising a medium to coarse grained two-pyroxene granulite body that is of gabbroic composition and preserves relic igneous fabric. The main part of the belt in Arjuni-Balaghat section includes metasedimentary (quartzite, BIF, Al- and Mg-Al metapelites) and metaigneous (metaultramafic, amphibolite and two-pyroxene granulite) protoliths interbanded with charnockite and charnockitic gneiss. These rocks, occurring as small bands and enclaves within migmatitic and granitic gneisses, show polyphase deformation and metamorphism. Geochemically, basic compositions show tholeiitic trend without Fe-enrichment, non-komatitic nature, continental affinity and show evolved nature. Mineral parageneses and reaction textures in different rock compositions indicate early prograde, dehydration melt forming reactions followed by orthopyroxene stability with or without melt. Coronitic and symplectitic garnets have formed over earlier minerals indicating onset of retrograde IBC path. Evidences for high temperature ductile shearing are preserved at places. Retrogressive hydration events clearly post-date the above paths. The present study has shown that the BBG belt may form a part of the Bastar Craton and does not represent exhumed oceanic crust of the Bundelkhand Craton. It is further shown that rocks of the BBG belt have undergone an earlier high-grade granulite metamorphism at 2672 ± 54 Ma (Sm-Nd age) and a post-peak granulite metamorphism at 1416 ± 59Ma (Sm-Nd age, 1380 ± 28Ma Rb-Sr age). These events were followed by deposition of the Sausar supracrustals and Neoproterozoic Sausar orogeny between 973 ± 63Ma and 800 ± 16Ma (Rb-Sr ages).