Theoretical phase relations involving cordierite and garnet revisited: the influence of oxygen fugacity on the stability of sapphirine and spinel in the system Mg-Fe-Al-Si-O

The theoreticalP-T grid for stability relations of the phases cordierite (Cd), sapphirine (Sa), hypersthene (Hy), garnet (Ga), spinel (Sp), sillimanite (Si), and quartz (Qz) of Hensen (1971), has proved useful in the interpretation of metamorphic mineral assemblages formed at low oxygen fugacity. Both experimental data and evidence from natural rocks indicate that at high oxygen fugacity compatability relations change as a result of the enlargement of the stability field of spinel, which causes a topological inversion and the stabilisation of the invariant points Sa], Ga], and Cd]. This implies the stable existence of the univariant equilibria (for buffered conditions): Sp+Qz=Ga+Hy+Si+O₂ (Sa, Cd), Cd+Sp+Qz=Hy+Si+O₂ (Sa, Ga) and Sa+Sp+Qz=Hy+Si+O₂ (Ga, Cd) and the divariant reaction: Sp+Qz=Hy+Si+O₂ (Sa, Ga, Cd). These redox equilibria are restricted to conditions of high oxygen fugacity. The proposed theoreticalP-T grids, for both low and high oxygen fugacity, satisfactorily explain all experimental data and metamorphic mineral assemblages so far found in granulites.