The Effects of Fe3? and Mn3? on Aluminum Silicate Phase Relations in North-Central New Mexico, U.S.A.

Aluminum silicate triple-point occurrences are common in metamorphicrocks of northern New Mexico. The three polymorphs show extensivesolid solution, with Fe and Mn substituting for Al. Mineraltextures, the spatial distribution of phases, and the systematicpartitioning of Fe and Mn indicate that the kyanite-andalusite-sillimaniteassemblages crystallized in equilibrium. The compositions ofminerals in the three-phase assemblage vary across the studyarea, recording regional variations in the pressures and temperaturesof metamorphism. The highest-pressure rocks, exposed at RioMora, contain kyanite at higher elevations and sillimanite atlower elevations. A sub-horizontal isograd separates the twominerals. Kyanite and sillimanite have nearly identical Fe contentwhich varies systematically with X_Fe2O3 in hematite or ilmenite.Andalusite occurs only along a single manganiferous layer, incrystals rich in MnAlSiO₅ and saturated in FeAlSiO₅. Triple-pointassemblages can be found wherever the folded manganiferous layercrosses the unfolded kyanite-sillimanite isograd. The TruchasRange, preserving slightly lower pressures of metamorphism,shows kyanite-andalusite-sillimanite in rocks with titaniferoushematite. Andalusite is enriched in Fe relative to kyanite andsillimanite, but no polymorphs contain Mn. Rocks with lowerX_Fe2O3 in hematite have kyanite and sillimanite without andalusite,whereas rocks with pure hematite contain only andalusite. Theshallowest erosional levels are preserved in the western PicurisRange where the three polymorphs occur as pure minerals in ilmenite-bearingrocks. Hematitic samples contain only andalusite which showsextensive solid solution of both Fe and Mn. The assemblage kyanite-andalusite-sillimanite is not invariant.Iron and manganese both add degrees of freedom. These transitionmetals have stabilized the three-phase assemblage, in apparentchemical equilibrium, across a P-T interval of 500-540 ?C, 3?8-4?6kb in rocks from New Mexico. The saturation level of FeAlSiO5in andalusite does not vary with Mn content but does vary withpressure and temperature. Calculations indicate that a 2-3 kbdecrease in pressure or a 25-50 ?C increase in temperature resultsin a 1 mole per cent increase in X_FeAlSiO5 in iron-saturatedandalusite.