Origin of eclogite and garnet pyroxenite from the Moldanubian Zone of the Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic and its implication to other mafic layers embedded in orogenic peridotites

Summary The granulite terrane of the Czech part of the Gf?hl unit includes numerous small bodies of mantle derived peridotite, some of which contain layers or lenses of eclogite and garnet pyroxenite. These eclogitic rocks have generally been considered to be high-pressure crystal cumulates formed in the upper mantle. We present new analyses of whole-rock major and trace element contents for three kynanite-quartz eclogite samples taken from the Nové Dvory garnet peridotite body. Integrating these data with previously published analyses from the literature on eclogitic rocks from this terrane, we demonstrate that a magnesian group of eclogites, including these three new samples, were originally formed as cumulus gabbros, which were later transformed to eclogites in the mantle. A gabbroic origin for some mafic layers (Type II) has been advocated for other orogenic peridotites, such as Beni Bousera (Morocco), Ronda (Spain), and Horoman (Japan). By comparing these sets of data with those from the Bohemian Massif, we propose a simple method of identifying groups of metagabbros by utilizing MgO-normalization in oxide ratio plots for whole-rock major element analyses.     

Diamond in metasedimentary crustal rocks from Pohorje,Eastern Alps: a window to deep continental subduction

We report the first finding of diamond and moissanite in metasedimentary crustal rocks of Pohorje Mountains (Slovenia) in the Austroalpine ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane of the Eastern Alps. Microscopic observations and Raman spectroscopy show that diamond occurs in situ as inclusions in garnet, being heterogeneously distributed. Under the optical microscope, diamond‐bearing inclusions are of cuboidal to rounded shape and of pinkish, yellow to brownish colour. The Raman spectra of the investigated diamond show a sharp, first order peak of sp³‐bonded carbon, in most cases centred between 1332 and 1330 cm^?1, with a full width at half maximum between 3 and 5 cm^?1. Several spectra show Raman bands typical for disordered graphitic (sp²‐bonded) carbon. Detailed observations show that diamond occurs either as a monomineralic, single‐crystal inclusion or it is associated with SiC (moissanite), CO₂ and CH₄ in polyphase inclusions_. This rare record of diamond occurring with moissanite as fluid‐inclusion daughter minerals implies the crystallization of diamond and moissanite from a supercritical fluid at reducing conditions. Thermodynamic modelling suggests that diamond‐bearing gneisses attained P–T conditions of ≥3.5 GPa and 800–850 °C, similar to eclogites and garnet peridotites. We argue that diamond formed when carbonaceous sediment underwent UHP metamorphism at mantle depth exceeding 100 km during continental subduction in the Late Cretaceous (c. 95–92 Ma). The finding of diamond confirms UHP metamorphism in the Pohorje Mountains, the most deeply subducted part of Austroalpine units.     

Ultrahigh-pressure garnet lherzolite from Chijiadian, Rongcheng County, in the Su-Lu region of eastern China

Abstract Petrological studies of a serpentinized garnet lherzolite body in Rongcheng of the Su-Lu region of eastern China revealed unusually high pressure. Spinel lherzolite probably in a subducting slab was transformed to garnet lherzolite at mantle depth. During exhumation, they were subsequently subjected to the granulite and then amphibolite overprinting and a phase of serpentinization. The peak P–T conditions of the garnet lherzolite estimated after detailed analysis of the metamorphic texture are 4–5 GPa and 820°C or 5–6 GPa and 780°C, depending on the chosen geothermobarometers. The lower dP/dT of the garnet lherzolite can be interpreted as the results of subduction of an old (say 100 Ma older than the time of collision) and cold, slab underneath the margin of the Sino–Korean craton.     

Performance of dry-separation processes in the recovery of cenospheres from fly ash and their implementation in a recovery unit

Cenospheres recovery is one of the coal fly ash beneficiations, providing economic as well as environmental benefits. Current techniques, such as lagoon or other wet-separation processes, consume large amounts of water and add to water pollution due to leaching of toxic materials from fly ash. The other possible disadvantage is the need for a wide operational area, which is unsuitable for densely populated countries. As wet-separation processes have some disadvantages, an improved and/or sustainable alternative recovery technique is required. An air classifier is one of the alternative techniques. In this study, two types of air classifiers, namely a closed-type pneumatic separator and a micron separator, have been investigated. In terms of separation efficiency, it was found that the micron separator has the potential to be applied in cenospheres recovery from coal fly ash, giving a Newton's efficiency of 0.44, as compared to a value of about 0.26 for the closed-type pneumatic separator. The cenospheres recoveries of both pieces of equipment at their optimum Newton's efficiencies were similar at over 60 wt.%. The separation performance was further assessed from the particle distributions of the overflow and underflow products obtained from both pieces of equipment, as well as from SEM images. It was found that the lower Newton's efficiency of the closed-type pneumatic separator was due to the re-concentration of fine particles in the underflow product at air-flow rates higher than 2.2 m/s (the underflow product yield was about 55 wt.%).In order to further confirm the applicability of this technique, the micron separator, which had provided higher separation efficiency and cenospheres recovery, was deployed in a cenospheres recovery unit prior to the use of a wet-separation process (float and sink tank). About 80% of the cenospheres was recovered, with an 87.8% reduction in the total mass of fly ash to be separated in the float and sink tank. Consequently, much less water was needed for the process of cenospheres recovery. Moreover, it was also confirmed that the micron separator could yield higher quality fly ashes, that is, fly ash types I and II, from lower feed quality of fly ash type IV, which is the lowest category in commercial classification of fly ash according to JIS A6201.     

Decompression P–T path of coesite eclogite to granulite from Weihai, eastern China

Granulitized coesite-bearing eclogite from Weihai, northeastern part of the Shandong peninsula, eastern China was studied in detail to reveal the modification of mineral chemistry during decompression metamorphism. Considerable modification of chemical composition is recorded in clinopyroxene that occurs both as inclusions in garnet and as a matrix mineral. Careful examination of chemical variation with the change in microstructure made it possible to estimate the equilibrium composition of minerals at the coesite eclogite and garnet granulite stages. We were able to define three reference points on the P–T path, namely, coesite eclogite (3 GPa, 660±40°C), granulite (1 GPa, 700±30°C) and amphibolite (0.9 GPa, 600±20°C). The path thus obtained is similar to those obtained by previous workers and supports nearly isothermal decompression of coesite eclogite.     

山东海阳所麻粒岩向过渡榴辉岩转化的变质动力学过程及其构造意义

在山东半岛东南端的乳山海阳所,角闪岩和长英质片麻岩呈互层产出.在某些角闪岩层的中心残留有弱变形的麻粒岩和强变形的过渡榴辉岩(斜长石榴辉岩)团块.在弱变形的麻粒岩团块中发育有窄的(<1cm)剪切条带.沿着这些剪切条带和在强变形过渡榴辉岩团块中,原麻粒岩被转化为含斜长石的过渡榴辉岩.变形和流体在这一转化过程中加速了元素扩散和迁移的速度,在变形强和有流体加入的部位麻粒岩向榴辉岩转化的程度明显增强.麻粒岩相矿物组合(Cpx-Ⅰ+Opx+Pl-Ⅰ+ Hbl-Ⅰ + Grt-Ⅰ+ Ilm)及其花岗变晶结构被完好地保存于弱变形的麻粒岩中,其矿物成分显示出0.8～0.9 GPa和780℃～830℃的麻粒岩相变质条件.榴辉岩相叠加在麻粒岩中形成了一系列的环边状矿物和结构:环边状石榴石(Grt-Ⅱ)形成于麻粒岩相斜长石(Pl-Ⅰ)和暗色矿物(如Cpx-Ⅰ、Opx和Hbl-Ⅰ)的交界处,细粒石榴石(Grt-Ⅱ)、富钠单斜辉石(Cpx-Ⅱ)和石英形成于麻粒岩相角闪石(Hbl-Ⅰ)的外缘.同时榴辉岩相叠加造成麻粒岩相单斜辉石边缘钙契尔马克组份的降低和硬玉组份的升高.但在弱变形的麻粒岩中,麻粒岩相单斜辉石(Cpx-Ⅰ)的外缘并无榴辉岩相单斜辉石形成.沿着弱变形麻粒岩中的剪切条带和在过渡榴辉岩中,榴辉岩相矿物[Grt-Ⅱ+ Omp/Di(Cpx-Ⅱ)+ Ab(Pl-Ⅱ)+ Qtz + Hbl-Ⅱ+ Ky + Zo + Rut]广泛发育,它们的定向排列形成了明显的面理.其形成的温压条件为1.0～1.4 GPa和560℃～680℃,为过渡榴辉岩相变质.虽然其中仍然残留有被拉长的麻粒岩相单斜辉石,但它们含有很高的硬玉组份,且其外缘环绕有细粒的钠质透辉石或绿辉石(Cpx-Ⅱ).海阳所榴辉岩相变质的温压条件远远低于位于海阳所东南和东北的苏鲁超高压变质带中柯石英榴辉岩变质的温压条件.因此海阳所地区代表一条不同于超高压变质带的冷榴辉岩带,它可能与大别山南部的冷榴辉岩带相当.苏鲁超高压变质带的南部边界位于海阳所以北.     

High-pressure marble at Yangguantun,Rongcheng County,Shandong Province,eastern China

Summary Four generations of minerals have been confirmed in an eclogite-bearing impure marble located at Yangguantun, Rongcheng county, eastern Shandong province, China in the eastern part of the collision zone between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons.(1) Early stage: high-Al-P-F titanite, pure zoisite and jadeite-bearing diopside occur as rounded aggregates surrounded by main stage amphiboles and titanites. (2) The main stage assemblage is characterized by hornblende (I), titanite (II), calcite, dolomite and phlogopite; they are intergrown with each other or occur as corona around the primary diopside, zoisite or titanite. (3) Earlier retrogression stage: hornblende (I) is replaced by hornblende (II) which occurs around hornblende (I). (4) Later retrogression stage: hornblende (II) is replaced by tremolite, chlorite and albite.The early stage is correlated with the eclogitic facies, but the main, earlier retrogression and later retrogression stages reflect retrogressions of eclogitic marble at different depth during decompression. The high pressure evidence and the metamorphic evolution of the marble studied, whose precursor was of crustal sedimentary affinity, indicate that the marble was subducted from the surface to great depth and then uplifted into the country rock gneiss, together with ultra-high-pressure eclogite and ultramafic rocks.

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Hochdruck-Marmore in Yangguantun, Rongcheng, Shangdong Provinz, Ostchina

Zusammenfassung Vier Mineralgenerationen werden in unreinen, Eklogit-führenden Marmoren aus Yangguantun, Rongcheng, in der östlichen Shangdong Provinz Chinas unterschieden. Diese Gesteine sind im östlichen Teil der Kollisionszone zwischen dem Sino- koreanischen und dem Yangtze Kraton aufgeschlossen.(1) Frühes Metamorphosestadium: Hoch-Al-P-F-Titanit, reiner Zoisit und Jadeitführender Diopsid kommen als rundliche Aggregate, die von Amphibolen der Hauptphase und Titanit umwachsen werden, vor. (2) Die Paragenese der metamorphen Hauptphase ist durch Hornblende (I), Titanit (II), Calcit, Dolomit und Phlogopit charakterisiert. Diese Minerale sind eng miteinander verwachsen und bilden Koronartexturen um primären Diopsid, Zoisit und Titanit. (3) Frühes retrogrades Metamorphosestadium: Hornblende (I) wird von Hornblende (II), die sich um Hornblende (I) ausbildet, verdrängt. (4) Spätes retrogrades Metamorphosestadium: Hornblende (II) wird durch Tremolit, Chlorit und Albit verdrängt.Das frühe Stadium wird mit der Eklogitfazies, das Haupt- und die anschließenden retrograden Stadien werden mit der retrograden Metamorphose dieser eklogitischen Marmore in unterschiedlichen Tiefen infolge von Dekompression korreliert. Die hohen Drucke und die Entwicklungsgeschichte der untersuchten Marmore, die sich von krustalem sedimentären Material ableiten, belegen, daß die Subduktion dieses Materials von der Oberfläche in große Tiefen und der anschließende Uplift in die umgebenden Gneise, gemeinsam mit der Ultra-Hochdruckmetamorphose der Eklogite und ultramafischer Gesteine erfolgt sein muß.

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With 6 Figures     

Petrology of the Hujialin garnet clinopyroxenite in the Su-Lu ultrahigh-pressure province, eastern China

Abstract Garnet clinopyroxenite containing porphyroclastic clinopyroxene with garnet lamellae from the Su-Lu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) province, eastern China, records a three-stage evolutionary history. Stage A: precursor aluminous clinopyroxene associated with Mg-rich spinel was stable. Stage B: Mg-rich spinel and aluminous clinopyroxene recrystallized to form porphyroblasts of garnet and diopside with garnet lamellae, respectively. Thereafter, these porphyroblasts were granulated and recrystallized to form equigranular neoblasts in the matrix, being driven by subsolidus deformation. Stage C: the assemblage developed retrograde hornblende, epidote, spinel, chlorite, calcite, and dolomite. The estimated composition of the precursor aluminous clinopyroxene indicates that equilibrium conditions of the stage A were 900-1000°C, and 1.0-1.5 GPa. The neoblast garnet-clinopyroxene pairs, not conjectural, give 740 ± 50°C and higher than 2.5 GPa for the climax conditions of stage B. This implies that the Hujialin garnet clinopyroxenite was transported from a low dP/dT setting to a high dP/dT setting, probably related to subduction during stage B. The Hujialin garnet clinopyroxenite as well as adjacent UHP eclogite which records 700°C and 3.0 GPa as the maximum physical conditions, experienced amphibolite facies retrogression, suggesting that they shared a common P-T history during exhumation.     

Tectonothermal chronology within a blueschist-eclogite complex, west-central Spitsbergen, Svalbard: Evidence from Ar/Ar and Rb---Sr mineral ages

A high-pressure, relatively low-temperature metamorphic complex is exposed at Motalafjella, Spitsbergen. White mica concentrates from the complex record variably discordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra in which apparent ages systematically increase throughout low-temperature portions of the analyses and define intermediate- and high-temperature plateaux. Phengitic concentrates record plateau ages of c. 470 Ma whereas paragonitic concentrates yield c. 460 Ma plateaux. These ages are interpreted to date diachronous cooling through different argon closure temperatures following the high-pressure metamorphism. The slight discordance displayed in low-temperature portions of the experiments is interpreted to reflect a partial rejuvenation of intracrystalline argon systems during an c. 400–425 Ma thermal overprint associated with late Caledonian tectonothermal activity. White mica concentrates and associated whole-rocks yield Rb---Sr mineral + whole-rock ages from 457 ± 11 Ma to 474 ± 11 Ma. These are interpreted to date post-metamorphic cooling through Sr blocking temperatures. Because similar ages are recorded by both K---Ar and Rb---Sr isotopic systems, relatively rapid post-metamorphic cooling is implied. This and relatively rapid depressurization during uplift indicate that the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and Rb---Sr mineral ages likely closely date the peak metamorphism.

The high pressure complex is unconformably overlain by variably cleaved, Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian flysch which was deformed into regional recumbent folds prior to deposition of unconformably overlying Early Devonian molasse. Two penetratively cleaved slate samples display internally discordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar whole-rock age spectra with ages increasing from c. 100 Ma to c. 470 Ma. The spectral discordance is interpreted to reflect the combined effects of: (1) a polymineralic character: (2) a detrital source similar in age to the Motalafjella complex; and (3) a partial, post-Paleozoic thermal rejuvenation of the detrital mica argon systems. No thermal overprint associated with Late Silurian cleavage formation appears to be recorded. This agrees with textural characteristics which suggest that the cleavage largely developed through pressure-solution assisted, grain-boundary sliding.     

Experimental evaluation of garnet–clinopyroxene geothermometry as applied to eclogites

This study performed equilibrium experiments in order to evaluate previously proposed formulations of the garnet (Grt)–clinopyroxene (Cpx) thermometer as applied to eclogites. The starting material is fine-grained powder of natural eclogite (<10 μm), whose main constituents are Grt (Fe:Mg:Ca∼44:28:28), Cpx (Na pfu∼0.55–0.60), phengite, quartz and rutile. Experimental conditions are 1,100–1,250°C at 2.5 GPa, and the run duration is 193–334 h. The experimental run products mainly consist of Grt, Cpx, and glass. In a preliminary experiment at 1,000°C for 144 h, Cpx grains are clearly zoned and most Grt grains maintain primary compositions. In the higher T (≥1,100°C) and longer run (≥193 h) experiments, Cpx in the run products becomes poorer in Na and higher in Fe/Mg compared with the starting material, and each grain does not show clear chemical zoning. Garnet compositions become poorer in Ca [Ca/(Fe+Mn+Mg+Ca)∼0.2–0.25] and lower in Fe/Mg compared with the starting material. The average composition of Cpx and the average of Ca-poor Grt compositions in each run product were used to evaluate previously proposed formulations of the Grt–Cpx thermometer. Temperatures calculated with formulations by Pattison and Newton (1989) and Berman et al. (1995) are much lower than the experimental temperatures, even though these formulations are based on the compositional bracketing-type experiment. One of the reasons for this discrepancy might be uncertainty of solid-solution properties of Al in Cpx, because the value of the excess interaction parameter for Al in the generally low-Al Cpx modeled by Berman et al. (1995) is much higher than those proposed by independent experiments, resulting in the estimated temperatures being significantly lower than the experimental temperatures.