Polymetamorphism in the NE Shackleton Range, Antarctica: Constraints from Petrology and U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr TIMS and in situ U-Pb LA-PIMMS Dating

Metapelitic rock samples from the NE Shackleton Range, Antarctica,include garnet with contrasting zonation patterns and two agespectra. Garnet porphyroblasts in K-rich kyanite–sillimanite–staurolite–garnet–muscovite–biotite schistsfrom Lord Nunatak show prograde growth zonation, and give Sm–Ndgarnet, U–Pb monazite and Rb–Sr muscovite ages of518 ± 5, 514 ± 1 and 499 ± 12 Ma, respectively.Geothermobarometry and P–T pseudo-section calculationsin the model system CaO–Na₂O–K₂O– TiO₂–MnO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂Oare consistent with garnet growth during prograde heating from540°C/7 kbar to 650°C/7·5 kbar, and partial resorptionduring a subsequent P–T decrease to <650°C at <6kbar. All data indicate that rocks from Lord Nunatak were affectedby a single orogenic cycle. In contrast, garnet porphyroblastsin K-poor kyanite–sillimanite– staurolite–garnet–cordierite–biotite-schistsfrom Meade Nunatak show two growth stages and diffusion-controlledzonation. Two distinct age groups were obtained. Laser ablationplasma ionization multicollector mass spectrometry in situ analysesof monazite, completely enclosed by a first garnet generation,yield ages of c. 1700 Ma, whereas monazite grains in open garnetfractures and in most matrix domains give c. 500 Ma. Both agegroups are also obtained by U–Pb thermal ionization massspectrometry analyses of matrix monazite and zircon, which fallon a discordia with lower and upper intercepts at 502 ±1 and 1686 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Sm–Nd garnet datingyields an age of 1571 ± 40 Ma and Rb–Sr biotiteanalyses give an age of 504 ± 1 Ma. Integrated geochronologicaland petrological data provide evidence that rocks from MeadeNunatak underwent a polymetamorphic Barrovian-type metamorphism:(1) garnet 1 growth and subsequent diffusive garnet annealingbetween 1700 and 1570 Ma; (2) garnet 2 growth during the RossOrogeny at c. 500 Ma. During the final orogenic event the rocksexperienced peak P–T conditions of about 650°C/7·0kbar and a retrograde stage at c. 575°C/4·0 kbar. KEY WORDS: garnet microtexture; P–T pseudosection; geochronology; polymetamorphism; Shackleton Range; Antarctica     

Provenance and Magmatic-Metamorphic Evolution of a Variscan Island-Arc Complex: Constraints from U-Pb Dating, Petrology, and Geospeedometry of the Kyffhauser Crystalline Complex, Central Germany

The Kyffhäuser Crystalline Complex, Central Germany, formspart of the Mid-German Crystalline Rise, which is assumed torepresent the Variscan collision zone between the East Avalonianterrane and the Armorican terrane assemblage. High-precisionU–Pb zircon and monazite dating indicates that sedimentaryrocks of the Kyffhäuser Crystalline Complex are youngerthan c. 470 Ma and were intruded by gabbros and diorites between345 ± 4 and 340 ± 1 Ma. These intrusions had magmatictemperatures between 850 and 900°C, and caused a contactmetamorphic overprint of the sediments at P–T conditionsof 690–750°C and 5–7 kbar, corresponding toan intrusion depth of 19–25 km. At 337 ± 1 Ma themagmatic–metamorphic suite was intruded by granites, syenitesand diorites at a shallow crustal level of some 7–11 km.This is inferred from a diorite, and conforms to P–T pathsobtained from the metasediments, indicating a nearly isothermaldecompression from 5–7 to 2–4 kbar at 690–750°C.Subsequently, the metamorphic–magmatic sequence underwentaccelerated cooling to below 400°C, as constrained by garnetgeospeedometry and a previously published K–Ar muscoviteage of 333 ± 7 Ma. With respect to P–T–D–tdata from surrounding units, rapid exhumation of the KCC canbe interpreted to result from NW-directed crustal shorteningduring the Viséan. KEY WORDS: contact metamorphism; U–Pb dating; hornblende; garnet; Mid-German Crystalline Rise; P–T pseudosection     

The Effect of Reaction Overstep on Garnet Microtextures in Metapelitic Rocks of the Ilesha Schist Belt, SW Nigeria

Garnet-bearing assemblages of K-rich and K-poor metapelitesfrom the Ilesha Schist belt, SW Nigeria, are investigated. K-richsamples contain the assemblages (A) garnet–staurolite–muscovite–chlorite–magnetite,(B) andalusite–garnet–staurolite–muscovite–chlorite–magnetiteand (C) sillimanite–andalusite–garnet–muscovite–chlorite–magnetite.K-poor samples contain the assemblages (D) garnet–staurolite–cordierite–chloriteand (E) garnet–cordierite–chlorite ± staurolite.All assemblages contain quartz, plagioclase, biotite and ilmenite.P–T pseudosections calculated in the system CaO–Na₂O–K₂O–TiO₂–MnO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ –H₂O ± O₂ suggest peak metamorphismat 590 ± 20°C at 5 ± 0·5 kbar, followedby retrogression to 550°C at 3·0 kbar, in agreementwith field evidence, domain assemblages, mineral compositions,modes and geothermobarometry. The absence of compositional zonationshows that garnet in all investigated rocks nucleated and grewat constant P–T–X in equilibrium with associatedminerals on the thin-section scale. However, the garnet-in reactiondid not begin until the establishment of a significant temperatureoverstep of     

Metamorphic Evolution of Garnet-Epidote-Biotite Gneiss from the Moine Supergroup, Scotland, and Geotectonic Implications

Metapelitic gneisses from the Glenfinnan Group of the MoineSupergroup, Scotland, contain sparse large and numerous smallgarnets, associated with complex zoned epidote and plagioclasein a biotite matrix. The large garnets show four zones (AI–AIV),whereas the small garnets show three or fewer zones, indicatingsuccessive garnet nucleation with increasing nucleation densities.Garnet zones AI and AIV grew under static conditions, whereasthe formation of AII and AIII was accompanied by deformation.Garnet zones AI and AII were formed in the assemblage (all +biotite + epidote + plagioclase + quartz + fluid + apatite)garnet + chlorite + muscovite ± ilmenite ± sphene± magnetite; zone AIII in the assemblage garnet + muscovite+ sphene ± magnetite; and zone AIV in the assemblagegarnet + sphene ± ilmenite. The chemical zonation andmicrostructures of garnet A indicate two important discontinuities;one at the transition between garnet zones AI and AII, and asecond between zones AII and AIII, which correlate with complexzonation shown by epidote and plagioclase. These discontinuitiesmay result from polymetamorphic garnet growth during differentorogenic cycles affecting the Moine Supergroup. Geothermobarometriccalculations and Gibbs method modelling provide evidence thatgarnet zone AI grew rapidly during heating from about 550 to560°C at pressures of about 4–6 kbar. In contrast,the formation of zone AII was accompanied by nearly isothermalcompression from 6 to 8·5 kbar (560 575°C), indicatingcrustal stacking. After a certain period of cooling, garnetzone AIII grew during renewed heating at P–T conditionsof about 640°C and pressures between 5 and 9 kbar. Growthof garnet AIV was accompanied by further temperature rise, reachingmaximum conditions of about 670°C at 5 kbar. KEY WORDS: epidote; garnet; Gibbs method; Moine Supergroup; P–T path     

Crystal Size Distribution (CSD) and Textural Evolution of Accessory Apatite, Titanite and Allanite during Four Stages of Metamorphism: an Example from the Moine Supergroup, Scotland

Crystal size distributions (CSD) and shapes of accessory apatite,titanite and allanite are investigated in three texturally distinctgarnet zones (Z1–Z3) and in the matrix (Z4) of a garnet–epidote–biotitegneiss from the Moine Supergroup. Additionally, textural relationshipsand interactions between the accessory minerals and surroundingrock-forming minerals are considered, results of numerical CSDmodelling are presented, and geochronological and geologicalconsequences of the inferred CSD evolutions are discussed. Texturesand CSDs indicate that the accessory minerals were in, or near,a stage of nucleation and initial growth immediately prior togarnet Z1 overgrowth, and formed within less than 20 000 years,either by a size-independent or size-dependent growth mechanism.Subsequently, the CSDs were modified by different growth mechanisms,as supported by several parameters including CSDs, grain numbers,grain sizes, specific volumes and others. The apatite CSD evolutionfrom Z1 to Z4 is consistent with open-system LPE (Law of ProportionateEffects) growth accompanied and followed by supply controlledrandom ripening, whereas transformation of the original titaniteCSD is more consistent with Ostwald ripening, temporarily accompaniedby positive or negative McCabe growth. The allanite CSDs alsopoint to Ostwald ripening between Z3 and Z4. The textural observationsindicate that the growth evolution of the accessory phases wasinfluenced by mineral reactions with surrounding rock-formingminerals, as well as by deformation and matrix coarsening, ina manner similar to that found in more simple ceramic systems.The observed textures require a successive temperature risethroughout the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the investigatedrock, in agreement with existing P–T data. Fast nucleationand initial growth of the accessory minerals during Z1 was perhapsinitiated by contact metamorphism, whereas subsequent growthand annealing (Z2–Z4) result from regional metamorphicevents. KEY WORDS: apatite; titanite; allanite; CSD; Moine Supergroup; textures; kinetics     

Phase relationships in grunerite–garnet-bearing amphibolites in the system CFMASH, with applications to metamorphic rocks from the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt, South Africa

A petrogenetic grid in the model system CaO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O is presented, illustrating the phase relationships among the minerals grunerite, hornblende, garnet, clinopyroxene, chlorite, olivine, anorthite, zoisite and aluminosilicates, with quartz and H₂O in excess. The grid was calculated with the computer software thermocalc , using an upgraded version of the internally consistent thermodynamic dataset HP98 and non‐ideal mixing activity models for all solid solutions. From this grid, quantitative phase diagrams (P–T pseudosections) are derived and employed to infer a P–T path for grunerite–garnet‐bearing amphibolites from the Endora Klippe, part of the Venetia Klippen Complex within the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt. Agreement between calculated and observed mineral assemblages and garnet zonation indicates that this part of the Central Zone underwent a prograde temperature and pressure increase from c. 540 °C/4.5 kbar to 650 °C/6.5 kbar, followed by a post‐peak metamorphic pressure decrease. The inferred P–T path supports a geotectonic model suggesting that the area surrounding the Venetia kimberlite pipes represents the amphibolite‐facies roof zone of migmatitic gneisses and granulites that occur widely within the Central Zone. In addition, the P–T path conforms to an interpretation that the Proterozoic evolution of the Central Zone was controlled by horizontal tectonics, causing stacking and differential heating at c. 2.0 Ga.     

Calculation of Garnet Fractionation in Metamorphic Rocks, with Application to a Flat-Top, Y-rich Garnet Population from the Ruhla Crystalline Complex, Central Germany

A mathematical approach is presented for the calculation ofthe major and trace element fractionation that is caused bygrowth of zoned garnet in metamorphic rocks. This approach isbased on textural and compositional parameters directly obtainedfrom natural examples. It takes into account the mode and compositionof all unzoned minerals, as well as the mode, crystal size distributionand zonation patterns of garnet grains of different sizes withina certain rock volume. These parameters can be used to fit functionsfrom which the amount of garnet fractionation at each step ofa garnet growth history can be calculated. The approach is testedfor two compositionally distinct domains within a single garnet–biotitegneiss sample from the Ruhla Crystalline Complex. This samplecontains unusual flat-top garnet grains with Y₂O₃-rich cores.It is shown that MnO, FeO and Y₂O₃ are extremely fractionatedduring garnet growth, but in different ways, and that MnO fractionationdoes not obey a Rayleigh function. To demonstrate the influenceof garnet fractionation on P–T path estimates, quantitativephase diagrams in the model system Na₂O–K₂O–CaO–MnO–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–TiO₂–SiO₂–H₂Oare constructed by means of the computer software THERMOCALC.The good agreement between calculated and observed mineral assemblagesand garnet compositions for all fractionation steps indicatesthat the new approach can be used to infer detailed P–Tpaths, even for rocks that contain complexly zoned garnet grains.The results indicate that garnet growth in the metapelite underinvestigation occurred along a linear P–T path from 470°Cand 2·7 kbar to 580°C and 8·5 kbar. The resultsalso show that garnet cores with high Y₂O₃ contents of about1 wt % nucleated over a temperature interval of c. 90°C,indicating that Y in garnet is relatively insensitive to temperaturechanges. KEY WORDS: garnet; fractionation; pseudosection; yttrium; THERMOCALC