Experimental study of the stability of cordierite and garnet in pelitic compositions at high pressures and temperatures

The stability of cordierite and garnet relative to their anhydrous breakdown products, i.e. hypersthene, sapphirine, olivine, spinel, sillimanite and quartz, has been studied experimentally in model pelitic compositions (system MgO-FeO-Al₂O₃-CaO-K₂O-SiO₂). Below 1000° C cordierite breaks down according to the divariant reaction cordierite garnet+sillimanite+quartz (1) for most values of the MgO/MgO + FeO ratio (X). At very high values of X (ca. X0.9) garnet in reaction (1) is replaced by hypersthene. The position and width of the divariant field (in terms of pressure and temperature) in which cordierite and garnet coexist, is a function of the MgO/MgO + FeO ratio. If this ratio is increased then the stability field of garnet is reduced and that of cordierite extended towards higher pressure. Compositions of coexisting cordierite and garnet in divariant equilibrium have been analysed by electron probe micro-analyser. These compositions are unique functions of pressure and temperature. Above ca. 1000° C the breakdown of cordierite involves the phases sapphirine and hercynite-rich spinel in Mg-rich and Fe-rich compositions respectively.