Chemical variation in metabasites from a proterozoic amphibolite-granulite transition zone,South Norway

The metabasites were originally minor intrusions which are now characterised by wholly metamorphic textures and mineral assemblages diagnostic of an amphibolite-granulite facies transition. Two forms of chemical variation can be distinguished: (1) an igneous-type differentiation, involving tholeiitic iron enrichment accompanied by increases in some incompatible elements, and decreases in the transition trace elements; (2) metamorphic fractionation effects resulting in deficiencies in K, Rb, Sr, Ba, Zr, and enhancement in Na in the highest grade rocks. These distributions closely parallel those in the host acid-intermediate charnockitic gneisses. The data preclude the possibility that the deficiencies were caused by removal of melts from the granulites. The metamorphism closely followed intrusion, and it is unlikely that the fractionations were caused by secondary dehydration of once hydrous assemblages. The preferred model involves intrusion and crystallisation directly under high-grade conditions, possibly with CO₂-rich fluids playing an important role in suppressing the formation of hydrous minerals.