Comparison of diagenetic and low-grade metamorphic evolution of chlorite in associated metapelites and metabasites: an integrated TEM and XRD study

Chlorite is a common sheet silicate that occurs in various lithologies over a wide grade range involving diagenesis and low‐grade metamorphism. Thus, the reaction progress of chlorite offers a unique opportunity for direct correlation of zonal classification of metasedimentary rocks based on illite crystallinity with metabasite mineral facies. To provide such correlation, chlorite crystallinity indices, apparent mean crystallite sizes and lattice strains, crystallite size distributions and compositions of chlorite from coexisting metapelites and metabasites were determined by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), analytical electron microscopy (AEM) and electron microprobe (EMP) methods. Samples were from Palaeozoic and Mesozoic formations of the Bükkium (innermost Western Carpathians, Hungary) that underwent Alpine (Cretaceous) orogenic metamorphism. Metapelites range in grade from late diagenesis to epizone, whereas metabasites vary from prehnite–pumpellyite through pumpellyite–actinolite to greenschist facies. Despite significant differences in composition, mineral assemblages and textures, reaction progress, as measured in part by chlorite crystallinity, in metapelites paralleled that in metabasites. Chlorite crystallinity and mean crystallite size increase and the proportion of mixed layers in chlorite decreases, whereas the calculated lattice strain does not change significantly with increasing metamorphic grade. Similar trends, but (especially at higher grades) significant differences, were found in mean crystallite size values using various methods for XRD line profile analyses. The increase in crystallite size with increasing grade was demonstrated also by direct TEM measurements on ion‐milled whole‐rock samples, but with a larger scatter of data at higher grades. In spite of the different kinds of mixed layering in chlorite (Mg‐rich smectitic, mostly random, local corrensite‐like units in metabasites, and Fe‐rich berthierine and dioctahedral smectite in metapelites), XRD‐calculated and TEM‐measured parameters were found to be reliable tools for measuring reaction progress and metamorphic grade of the same degree in both lithotypes.     

Pressure–temperature evolution of lawsonite-bearing eclogites, Pinchi Lake, British Columbia

Abstract Blueschists and retrogressed eclogites are located along the Pinchi Fault Zone (near 54°30'N and 124°W) in central British Columbia. The Pinchi Fault separates rocks of contrasting geological histories, and the blueschists and eclogites occur with ultramafic rocks as fault-bounded blocks. The retrogressed eclogites occur as tectonic blocks, now in glacial debris, a few metres across; blueschists occur in coherent kilometre-sized tracts. Eclogites contain garnet–omphacite–rutile–quartz, with glaucophane, lawsonite and titanite. Some of the lawsonite appears to be stable with omphacite and garnet. Tectonic blocks of eclogite from two different localities have recorded different P–T histories. In one tectonic block, P–T estimates for garnet inclusions in clinopyroxene and lawsonite ( c . 565° C, >13.1 kbar) suggest that garnet and omphacite initially equilibrated outside the stability field of lawsonite. A decrease in temperature, as recorded in garnet rims and matrix clinopyroxene, resulted in crystallization of lawsonite and other retrogressive minerals. Later crystallization of stilpnomelane (locally pseudomorphing garnet), howieite, winchite and actinolite was triggered by an influx of fluid under P–T conditions outside the stability field of garnet. Lawsonite appears to have been stable, suggesting a minimum pressure of about 3 kbar. In the second tectonic block, clinopyroxene inclusions in garnet suggest temperatures near 350° C ( P > 10 kbar) and garnet rims equilibrated with matrix clinopyroxene suggest temperatures near 450° C at pressures above c . 12 kbar.     

Late Cretaceous eclogitic high-pressure relics in the Bitlis Massif

A new occurrence of eclogites was found in the Kesandere valley in the eastern most part of the Bitlis complex, SE Anatolia. These high-pressure (HP) relics were preserved in calc-arenitic metasediments within the high-grade metamorphic basement of the Bitlis complex. The eclogitic parageneses were strongly overprinted during decompression and heating. These new eclogites locality complements the evidence of blueschist-facies metamorphism documented recently in the meta-sedimentary cover sequence of this part of the Bitlis complex. Thermodynamic calculations suggest peak conditions of ca. 480–540 °C/1.9–2.4 GPa. New U/Pb dates of 84.4 ± .9 and 82.4 ± .9 Ma were obtained on zircons from two Kesandere eclogite samples. On the basis of geochemical criteria, these dates are interpreted to represent zircon crystallization during the eclogitic peak stage. Kesandere eclogites differ from those previously described in the western Bitlis complex (Mt. Gablor locality) in terms of lithologic association, protolithic origin, and peak P–T conditions (600–650 °C/1.0–2.0 GPa, respectively). On the other hand, eclogitic metamorphism of Kesandere metasediments occurred shortly before blueschist-facies metamorphism of the sedimentary cover (79–74 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar white mica). Therefore, the exhumation of Kesandere eclogites started between ca. 82 and 79 Ma, while the meta-sedimentary cover was being buried. During this short time span, Kesandere eclogite were likely uplifted from ~65 to 35 km depth, indicating a syn-subduction exhumation rate of ~4.3 mm/a. Subsequently, eclogite- and blueschist-facies rocks were likely retrogressed contemporarily during collision-type metamorphism (around 72–69 Ma). The Bitlis HP rocks thus sample a subduction zone that separated the Bitlis–Pütürge (Bistun?) block from the South-Armenian block, further north. To the south, Eocene metasediments of the Urse formation are imbricated below the Bitlis complex. They contain (post Eocene) blueschists, testifying separation from the Arabian plate and southward migration of the subduction zone. The HT overprint of Kesandere eclogites can be related to the asthenospheric flow provoked by subducting slab retreat or break off.     

Impact of Urbanization on Low-Temperature Precipitation in Beijing during 1960–2008简

Daily precipitation and temperature records at 13 stations for the period 1960-2008 were analyzed to identify climatic change and possible effects of urbanization on low-temperature precipitation [LTP, precipitation of ≥ 0.1 mm d^-1 occurring under a daily minimum temperature （Tmin） of ≤ 0℃] in the greater Beijing region （B JR）, where a rapid process of urbaniza tion has taken place over the last few decades. The paper provides a climatological overview of LTP in B JR. LTP contributes 61.7% to the total amount of precipitation in B JR in the cold season （November-March）. There is a slight increasing trend [1.22 mm （10 yr）^-1] in the amount of total precipitation for the cold season during 1960-2008. In contrast, the amount of LTP decreases by 0.6 mm （10 yr）^-1. The warming rate of Train in B JR is 0.66℃ （10 yr）^-1. Correspondingly, the frequency of LTP decreases with increasing Tmin by -0.67 times per ℃. The seasonal frequency and amount of LTP in southeast B JR （mostly urban sites） are 17%-20% less than those in the northwestern （rural and montane sites）. The intensity of LTP for the urban sites and northeastern B JR exhibited significant enhancing trends [0.18 and 0.15 mm d^- 1 （10 yr）^- 1, respectively]. The frequency of slight LTP （〈0.2 mm d^-1） significantly decreased throughout B JR [by about -15.74% （10 yr）^-1 in the urban area and northeast B JR], while the contribution of the two heaviest LTP events to total LTP amount significantly increased by 3.2% （10 yr） ^-1.     

Disequilibrium in co-existing clinopyroxene and garnet from blueschist-facies Fe-rich eclogites, Voltri Group, Italy

Abstract Clinopyroxenes and garnets from 11 blueschist-facies Fe-rich eclogite samples from the Voltri Group show a wide range of chemical compositions. Detailed analyses of single pyroxene and garnet grains show wide and scattered chemical inhomogeneity, the K_D(K_D= (Fe₂₊/Mg)^Gt/(Fe²⁺/Mg)^Cpx) ranges from 20 to 87 based on rim analyses only. The data obtained indicate that the mineral pairs never attained equilibrium under uniform P-T conditions and that the compositions of the metamorphic minerals were influenced mainly by the composition of the pre-metamorphic minerals and by topotactical reactions.     

Low temperature eclogite facies metamorphism in Western Tianshan, Xinjiang

According to the field occurrences and petrological study, the low temperature eclogite facies metamorphic rocks in Western Tianshan of Xinjiang can be divided into five types: (i) massive glaucophane-epidote eclogites and glaucophane-paragonite eclogites; (ii) schistose or gneissic mica eclogites; (iii) banded calcite eclogites; (iv) pillow glaucophane eclogites; (v) garnet-omphacite quartzites. Their eclogite facies metamorphism has undergone four stages of evolution: (i) pre-peak lawsonite-blueschist facies stage,T = 350–4000°C,P = 0.7–0.9 GPa; (ii) peak eclogite facies stage,T = 530 ± 20°C,P = 1.6–1.9 GPa; (iii) retrograde epidote-blueschist facies stage, T=500–530°C,P = 0.9–1.2 GPa and (iv) retrograde blueschist-greenschist facies stage,T= 450–550°C,P= 0.7–0.8 GPa. The metamorphic PT path of Western Tianshan eclogites is characterized by clockwise ITD resulting from the subduction of Tarim plate northward to Yili-Central Tianshan plate followed by fast uplift to the surface. But there were at least two stages of blueschist facies retrograde metamorphism overprinted during their uplift.     

The timing of stabilisation and the exhumation rate for ultra-high pressure rocks in the Western Gneiss Region of Norway

New petrographic evidence and a review of the latest radiometric age data are taken to indicate that formation of the ultra‐high pressure (UHP) eclogites within the Western Gneiss Region of Norway probably occurred within the 400–410 Ma time frame. Thus, this event took place significantly later than the previous, widely accepted age of c. 425 Ma for the timing of the high pressure metamorphism in this part of the Scandinavian Caledonides. Garnet growth under UHP (coesite‐stable) conditions is recognised as a discrete, younger event following on from earlier garnet formed under firstly amphibolite facies then quartz‐stable, eclogite facies conditions. Currently, the best constrained and most precise age, specifically for UHP mineral growth, is the 402 ± 2 Ma U–Pb age for metamorphic zircon (some of which retain coesite inclusions) from the Hareidland eclogite. Exhumation must have followed shortly thereafter and, based on synoptic pressure–temperature and depth–time curves, must have been very fast. Our data and those of others indicate an initial fast exhumation to about 35 km depth by about 395 Ma at a mean rate of about 10 mm a^?1. This rapid exhumation rate may have been driven by the appreciable residual buoyancy of the deeply subducted continental crustal slab due to incomplete eclogitization of the dominant Proterozoic orthogneisses during the short‐lived UHP event. Subsequent exhumation to 8–10 km depth by about 375 Ma occurred at a much slower mean rate of about 1.3 mm a^?1 with the late‐stage extensional collapse of the Caledonian orogen playing an increasingly important role, especially in the final unroofing of the Western Gneiss Region with some remarkably preserved UHP rocks.     

Constraints on the duration of high-pressure metamorphism in the Tauern Window from diffusion modelling of discontinuous growth zones in eclogite garnet

An eclogite sample from the Grossgockner region of the Hohe Tauern, Austria contains garnet with a pronounced compositional discontinuity between a Mn‐rich core and an Fe‐rich rim. This jump in composition was caused by a garnet‐consuming reaction followed by growth of the garnet rim + omphacite and marks the prograde transition from epidote–amphibolite to eclogite facies metamorphism. Garnet growth ended at peak metamorphic conditions of 570 °C, 17 kbar, but intracrystalline diffusion continued until about 450 °C, 4 kbar on the retrograde path. This garnet overgrowth texture represents a natural diffusion couple and a time span of 1 Myr was calculated from the diffusion profile developing out of the original sharp compositional step. For typical crustal densities, this time corresponds to a minimum average velocity in the range 4.6–7.4 cm yr^?1 (for vertical movement), which is one of the fastest exhumation rates reported. The diffusion of all divalent cations of four profiles was modelled, both analytically and numerically. Both approaches gave comparable results, but the times computed for each element were always discrepant up to a factor of 2. Variations of diffusion coefficients within 2 in analytical calculations remedied this and gave consistent upper time limits. Numerical modelling does not require the simplifications introduced in the analytical approach. On the other hand, error propagation was computationally unfeasible with this method.     

Isotopic Geochronological Evidence for the Caledonian Xiongdian Eclogite in the Northwestern Dabie Mountains,China

A typical HP/MT (high pressure/medium temperature) eclogite from Xiongdian, northwestern Dabie Mountains, has been geochronologically studied using the single-zircon U-Pb, 40Ar-39Ar and Sm-Nd methods. Prismatic zircons occurring as inclusions within garnets define a minimum crystallization age of 399.5±1.6 Ma. 40Ar-39Ar dating on amphibole gives a plateau age.of 399.2 ± 4 Ma, which is interpreted as a retrogression age of amphibolite facies. This integrated study enables us to conclude that the age of high-pressure metamorphism is older than 399.5 ± 1.6 Ma, suggesting Caledonian collision between the North China and Yangtze plates. Round zircon within the aggregate of quartz and muscovite gives a concordant age of 301± 2 Ma, reflecting a later retrogression event. An age profile of post-eclogite metamorphism is documented, including amphibolite facies metamorphism at 399.2 Ma shortly after eclogitization and later retrogressive metamorphism at 301 Ma. Sm-Nd mineral isochron of garnet+omphacite gives     

中低温含硫、氯水溶液对地层中金、锑、汞、砷的淋滤实验研究

本文针对湘西低温矿化集中区的地质实际,在100-300℃,40MPa压力条件下,进行了含硫、氯中-低温溶液对地层岩石中金、锑、汞、砷等的多元素淋滤实验研究。实验结果表明,温度、配合物的种类和浓度是控制元素活化能力的重要因素。实验得出了Hg-Sb-Au-As的活化序列,认为200-250℃的富硫低氯热液是金、锑矿化的有利条件,低温低硫富氯热液有利于汞矿化。据实验结果并结合含矿建造及包裹体地球化学的综合研究,认为成矿流体性质的差异是控制湘西低温矿化集中区中金、锑、汞矿化分带的主要地球化学机制。