Metamorphic and deformational imprint of Cambrian–Lower Ordovician rifting in the Ossa-Morena Zone (Iberian Massif, Spain)

The high-temperature metamorphism recorded in the Valuengo and Monesterio areas constitutes a rare occurrence in the Ossa-Morena Zone of Southwest Iberia, where low-grade metamorphism dominates. The metamorphism of the Valuengo area has been previously considered either Cadomian or Variscan in age, whereas that of Monesterio has been interpreted as a Cadomian imprint. However, these areas share important metamorphic and structural features that point towards a common tectonometamorphic evolution. The metamorphism of the Valuengo and Monesterio areas affects Late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian rocks, and is syn-kinematic with a top-to-the-north mylonitic foliation, which was subsequently deformed by early Variscan folds and thrusts. The U–Pb zircon age (480±7 Ma) we have obtained for an undeformed granite of the Valuengo area is consistent with our geological observations constraining the age of the metamorphism. We propose that this high-temperature metamorphic imprint along a NW–SE ductile extensional shear zone is related to the crustal extension that occurred in the Ossa-Morena Zone during the Cambro-Ordovician rifting. In the same way, the tectonothermal effect of the preorogenic rifting stage may have been wrongly attributed to orogenic processes in other regions as well as in this one.     

Thermobaric structure of the Kokchetav ultrahigh-pressure–high-pressure massif deduced from a north–south transect in the Kulet and Saldat–Kol regions, northern Kazakhstan

Abstract To investigate the regional thermobaric structure of the diamondiferous Kokchetav ultrahigh‐pressure and high‐pressure (UHP–HP) massif and adjacent units, eclogite and other metabasites in the Kulet and Saldat–Kol regions, northern Kazakhstan, were examined. The UHP–HP massif is subdivided into four units, bounded by subhorizontal faults. Unit I is situated at the lowest level of the massif and consists of garnet–amphibolite and acidic gneiss with minor pelitic schist and orthogneiss. Unit II, which structurally overlies Unit I, is composed mainly of pelitic schist and gneiss, and whiteschist locally with abundant eclogite blocks. The primary minerals observed in Kulet and Saldat–Kol eclogites are omphacite, sodic augite, garnet, quartz, rutile and minor barroisite, hornblende, zoisite, clinozoisite and phengite. Rare kyanite occurs as inclusions in garnet. Coesite inclusions occur in garnet porphyroblasts in whiteschist from Kulet, which are closely associated with eclogite masses. Unit III consists of alternating orthogneiss and amphibolite with local eclogite masses. The structurally highest unit, Unit IV, is composed of quartzitic schist with minor pelitic, calcareous, and basic schist intercalations. Mineral assemblages and compositions, and occurrences of polymorphs of SiO₂ (quartz or coesite) in metabasites and associated rocks in the Kulet and Saldat–Kol regions indicate that the metamorphic grades correspond to epidote–amphibolite, through high‐pressure amphibolite and quartz–eclogite, to coesite–eclogite facies conditions. Based on estimations by several geothermobarometers, eclogite from Unit II yielded the highest peak pressure and temperature conditions in the UHP–HP massif, with metamorphic pressure and temperature decreasing towards the upper and lower structural units. The observed thermobaric structure is subhorizontal. The UHP–HP massif is overlain by a weakly metamorphosed unit to the north and is underlain by the low‐pressure Daulet Suite to the south; boundaries are subhorizontal faults. There is a distinct pressure gap across these boundaries. These suggest that the highest grade unit, Unit II, has been selectively extruded from the greatest depths within the UHP–HP unit during the exhumation process, and that all of the UHP–HP unit has been tectonically intruded and juxtaposed into the adjacent lower grade units at shallower depths of about 10 km.     

点苍山-哀牢山杂岩带中北段嘎洒地区变沉积岩的成因矿物学与变质演化特征

点苍山-哀牢山变质杂岩带中北段嘎洒地区出露了多种典型的变沉积岩,其中夕线石榴黑云二长片麻岩和二云母片岩保存多期/多阶段矿物相转变特征,本文通过岩相学和矿物化学的综合分析,并结合传统矿物对温压计的估算结果,限定上述典型变沉积岩峰期角闪-麻粒岩相(M1)阶段、近等温减压-高温剪切变形阶段(M2)和晚期退变质(M3)阶段的矿物组合及变质温压条件。峰期角闪-麻粒岩相(M1)阶段的矿物组合为:石榴石(Grt)+板柱状夕线石(Sil1)+黑云母(Bt1)+钾长石(Kfs)+斜长石(Pl)+石英(Qtz)+钛铁矿(Ilm),变质温度压力条件为t=690~750℃,p=690~810 MPa;近等温减压-高温剪切变形阶段(M2)阶段,稳定矿物组合为:Grt+Sil2+Bt2+Kfs+Pl+Qtz+Ilm,黑云母在强烈走滑剪切作用下发生脱水熔融反应:2 Bt→Sil+6(Mg,Fe)O+K_2O+5 Qtz+2 H_2O,石榴石、黑云母和夕线石等受到剪切变形影响而发生强烈定向,形成的温度压力条件为t=650~720℃,p=450~630 MPa;晚期退变质阶段(M_3)的稳定矿物组合为:Qtz+Bt+Ms+Pl,退变的温度压力条件为t=580~640℃,p=400~500MPa。其变质演化p-T轨迹样式具有近等温减压的顺时针型式,表明点苍山-哀牢山变质杂岩带曾经历了一次明显的俯冲-碰撞造山事件,峰期变质可达到角闪-麻粒岩相;在碰撞后的构造折返过程中,上述变质岩石发生强烈的高温剪切变形作用,并伴随着黑云母等含水矿物的脱水熔融。     

Contrasting mineral parageneses in high-temperature calc-silicate granulites: examples from the Eastern Ghats, India

Abstract Three types of mineral associations are described from calc-silicate granulites from the Eastern Ghats, India, where geothermobarometry in associated rocks suggests extremely high P–T conditions of metamorphism ( c . 9 ± 1 kbar, 950° C). These mineral associations are: (i) calcite + quartz + scapolite + plagioclase, (ii) calcite + scapolite + wollastonite + porphyroblastic garnet + coronal garnet and (iii) calcite + quartz + wollastonite + scapolite + porphyroblastic garnet + coronal garnet, all coexisting with K-feldspar, titanite and clinopyroxene. The first two associations evolved through nearly isobaric cooling retrograde paths, whereas the third evolved through a nearly isothermal decompression path followed by an isobaric cooling retrograde path. Textural and compositional characteristics suggest the following mineral reactions in the calc-silicate granulites: calcite + quartz = wollastonite + CO₂, calcite + plagioclase = scapolite, calcite + scapolite + wollastonite = porphyroblastic garnet ± quartz + CO₂, CaTs + wollastonite = coronal garnet (association ii) and wollastonite + scapolite = coronal garnet (association iii) + quartz + CO₂. Andradite content in garnet was buffered by the redox equilibria wollastonite + hedenbergite + O₂= andradite + quartz (association iii) and wollastonite + andradite + CaTs + scapolite = hedenbergite + calcite + grossular + O₂ (association ii). The contrasting mineral parageneses have been ascribed to interplay of variables such as X _CO2, f _O2, f _HCl in the fluid, bulk Na content and the nature of the retrograde P–T–X _CO2 paths through which the rocks evolved.     

Petrogenesis of impure dolomitic marble from the Dabie Mountains, central China

Petrogeneses of impure dolomitic marble and enclosed eclogite from the Xinyan area, Dabie ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane, central China were investigated with a special focus on fluid characteristics. Identified carbonate-bearing UHP assemblages are Dol + Coe ± Arg (or Mgs) ± Ap, Dol + Omp ± Coe ± Ap ± Arg (or Mgs), Phen + Omp + Coe + Dol ± Arg and Dol + Coe + Phen + Rt ± Omp ± Arg ± Ap. Retrograde assemblages are characterized by symplectitic replacement of Tr–Ab and Di–Ab after omphacite, and Phl–Pl symplectite after phengite. The P–T conditions of UHP metamorphism were estimated to be P > 2.7 GPa and T > 670 °C by the occurrence of coesite inclusions in garnet in enclosed eclogite and garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometer. The P–T conditions of initial amphibolitization were estimated to be 620 < T < 670 °C and 1.1 < P < 1.3 GPa by calcite–dolomite solvus thermometer and mineral parageneses. Phase relations in P–T– X CO ₂ space in the systems NaAl–CMSCH and KCMASCH were calculated in order to constrain fluid compositions. Compositions and parageneses of UHP-stage minerals suggest the presence of fluid in UHP and exhumation stages. Occurrence of retrograde low-variance assemblages indicates that fluid composition during amphibolitization was buffered. A metastable persistence of magnesite and very restricted occurrence of calcite, magnesite and dolomite suggest a low fluid content in the post-amphibolitization stage.     

Microdiamonds — Frontier of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism: A review

This is a comprehensive review paper devoted to microdiamonds from ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) terranes incorporated in orogenic belts formed at convergent plate boundaries in Paleozoic-Mesozoic-Alpine time. When in 1980 the first small diamonds were discovered within “amphibolite-granulate facies” metamorphic rocks, it came as a great surprise that buoyant continental crust could be subducted to depths of hundreds of kilometers and then subsequently exhumed. Since then, much progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of these diamonds' formation, and the number of new diamond-bearing UHPM terranes was significantly increased, especially within European orogenes. Moreover, new variations in tectonic settings in which UHP rocks can be formed and exhumed came to the attention of geologists simply due to the finding of diamonds in places previously “forbidden” for their formation—e.g., oceanic islands, ophiolites, and forearc environments. Over the past decade, the rapidly moving technological advancement has made it possible to examine microdiamonds in detail and to learn that part of them has a polycrystalline nature; that they contain nanometric, multiphase inclusions of crystalline and fluid phases; and that they keep a “crustal” signature of carbon isotopes. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, focused-ion-beam techniques, synchrotron infrared spectroscopy, micro X-ray diffraction, and nano-secondary ion mass spectrometry studies of these diamonds provide evidence that they keep traces of fluid originated from both crustal and mantle reservoirs, and that they probably interacted with deep mantle plumes. Hypotheses proposed for diamond formation in subduction zones founded on both analytical and experimental studies are discussed. The paper also emphasizes that the discovery of these microdiamonds (as well as coesite) triggered a major revision in the understanding of deep subduction processes, leading to a clear realization of how continental materials can be recycled into the Earth's mantle and geochemically rejuvenate it.     

High-Pressure and Ultrahigh-Pressure Metamorphic Belt in Tongbai-Dabie Mountains,Central China

There are four units of high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism extending from south to north across the Tongbai-Dabie Mountains: the epidote-blueschist-facies unit, the low-temperature eclogite facies unit , the ultrahigh-pressure eclngite facies unit and the medium-temperature eclogite facies unit . The later two units were formed during the Caledonian subduction between the Tongbai-Dabie microplate and the North China plate ,the former two units are the products of Indosinian continental-continental subduction and collision between the Yangtze and the North China plates.     

大别山双河超高压变质岩的稳定同位素研究

大别山双河地区片麻岩的δ18O值与共生榴辉岩同步变化，为（-4.7—+10.3）‰，这些片麻岩的18O亏损与榴辉岩一样是在遭受超高压变质作用之前原岩与大气降水交换的结果。榴辉岩及其围岩片麻岩在板块俯冲、超高压变质和岩片折返过程中可能为一个构造上的整体，两者为“原地”接触关系。     

中阿尔金南缘志留纪高压泥质片麻岩的发现及其构造地质意义

在中阿尔金南缘西段尤努斯萨依北部原划长城系巴什库尔干岩群中首次发现一套高压泥质片麻岩。根据岩相学观察和矿物化学成分可识别出其四期矿物共生组合:早期为石榴子石+多硅白云母+单斜辉石(?)+斜长石+黑云母+石英+金红石+钛铁矿;第二期为石榴子石+蓝晶石+钾长石+斜长石+黑云母+石英+金红石+钛铁矿;第三期为石榴子石+夕线石+钾长石+斜长石+黑云母+石英+金红石+钛铁矿;晚期为石榴子石+夕线石+斜长石+黑云母+石英+钛铁矿。依据矿物内部一致性热力学数据,基于THERMOCALC 3. 40程序平台,计算出P-T视剖面图,并结合矿物等值线、矿物对温压计等计算,依次确定四期变质温压条件为15. 8～18. 3kbar/646～729℃、10. 30～12. 30kbar/781～821℃、8. 50～9. 60kbar/812～838℃和4. 65～5. 70kbar/698～725℃。上述四期变质阶段共同构成一个早期降压升温后降压降温的顺时针型演化的P-T轨迹,指示出与陆壳俯冲-折返相关的变质地质事件。利用LA-ICP-MS进行的锆石原位微区U-Pb定年和微量元素分析结果表明,该岩石记录了432. 0±2. 7Ma、401. 4±2. 5Ma和381. 1±2. 4Ma三期变质年龄,可能分别代表了该岩石早期高压、中期高压麻粒岩相-麻粒岩相和后期角闪岩相变质阶段的时代。该高压岩石出露于中阿尔金地块西段南缘长城系巴什库尔干岩群之中,与南侧以断裂带分隔的赋存于阿尔金岩群之中的南阿尔金高压-超高压岩石出露的构造位置明显不同,其峰期变质时代(～432Ma)亦明显不同于南阿尔金高压-超高压岩石的峰期变质时代(～500Ma)。因此,该高压岩石与南阿尔金高压-超高压岩石显然不能构成同一条变质岩带。结合区域地质背景和前人关于柴北缘陆壳属性高压-超高压岩石峰期变质时代(～430Ma)的研究成果综合分析,本文初步认为该高压岩石可能是柴北缘高压-超高压变质岩带的西延或是被中新生代以来阿尔金复杂多期次走滑断裂系迁移而就位于中阿尔金南缘的部分柴北缘高压-超高压变质岩片/岩块。     

贵州瓮安玉山煤矿煤质特征及其影响因素

玉山煤矿含煤地层为吴家坪组,可采煤层2层,具有中灰、中等挥发分、高硫分、低磷分、特低—低氯,低砷、高氟,中高发热量的煤质特征,煤类丰富,呈条带状分布。通过对区内沉积环境和煤的变质作用2个方面的分析,阐述了形成煤层高硫、中灰特征的影响因素,解释了煤类分带现象,并指出了主要煤质指标的变化规律。