Recalibration of the Garnet-Muscovite (GM) Geothermometer and the Garnet-Muscovite-Plagioclase-Quartz (GMPQ) Geobarometer for Metapelitic Assemblages

The garnet–muscovite (GM) geothermometer and the garnet–muscovite–plagioclase–quartz(GMPQ) geobarometer have been simultaneously calibrated underconditions of T = 450–760°C and P = 0·8–11·1kbar, using a large number of metapelitic samples in the compositionalranges = 0·53–0·81, = 0·05–0·24, = 0·03–0·23 in garnet, = 0·17–0·74 in plagioclase, and Fe = 0·04–0·16, Mg =0·04–0·13, Al^VI = 1·74–1·96in muscovite on the basis of 11 oxygens. The resulting GM thermometeryielded similar temperature estimates (mostly within ±50°C)to that of the garnet–biotite thermometer, and successfullydiscerned the expected systematic temperature change of progradesequences, thermal contact zones and an inverted metamorphiczone. The resulting GMPQ barometer yielded similar pressureestimates (mostly within ±1·0 kbar) to the garnet–aluminumsilicate–plagioclase–quartz (GASP) barometer andplaced the aluminosilicate-bearing samples in the appropriatealuminosilicate stability fields. Application of the GMPQ barometerto thermal contact aureoles or rocks within limited geographicalareas confirmed the expected constant pressures that shouldexist in these settings. The random errors of the GM thermometerand the GMPQ barometer are estimated to be ±16°Cand ±1·5 kbar, respectively. When biotite or aluminosilicateis absent in metapelites, metamorphic P–T conditions maybe determined by simultaneously applying the GM thermometerand the GMPQ barometer. KEY WORDS: application; calibration; geobarometer; geothermometer; metapelite     

High-Pressure Granulites (Retrograded Eclogites) from the Hengshan Complex, North China Craton: Petrology and Tectonic Implications

Both high- and medium-pressure granulites have been found asenclaves and boudins in tonalitic–trondhjemitic–granodioriticgneisses in the Hengshan Complex. Petrological evidence fromthese rocks indicates four distinct metamorphic assemblages.The early prograde assemblage (M₁) is preserved only in thehigh-pressure granulites and represented by quartz and rutileinclusions within the cores of garnet porphyroblasts, and omphacitepseudomorphs that are indicated by clinopyroxene + sodic plagioclasesymplectic intergrowths. The peak assemblage (M₂) consists ofclinopyroxene + garnet + sodic plagioclase + quartz ±hornblende in the high-pressure granulites and orthopyroxene+ clinopyroxene + garnet + plagioclase + quartz in the medium-pressuregranulites. Peak metamorphism was followed by near-isothermaldecompression (M₃), which resulted in the development of orthopyroxene+ clinopyroxene + plagioclase symplectites and coronas surroundingembayed garnet grains, and decompression-cooling (M₄), representedby hornblende + plagioclase symplectites on garnet. The THERMOCALCprogram yielded peak (M₂) P–T conditions of 13·4–15·5kbar and 770–840°C for the high-pressure granulitesand 9–11 kbar and 820–870°C for the medium-pressuregranulites, based on the core compositions of garnet, matrixpyroxene and plagioclase. The P–T conditions of pyroxene+ plagioclase symplectite and corona (M₃) were estimated at