Staurolite Stability in a Part of the System Fe-Al-Si-O-H

The following reactions, believed to be analogous to those whichdefine the maximum extent of staurolite-quartz compatibilityat moderate oxygen fugacity in metamorphic rocks, have beendetermined in terms of hydrous fluid pressure and temperature.The O: H composition ratio of the fluid was controlled withthe quartz-fayalite-magnetite (QFM) buffer assemblage. (I) Fe-staurolitequartz almandine+sillimanite+water. (II) Fe-staurolitequartz Fe-cordierite+sillimanite+water. (III) Fe-chloritoid+sillimanite Fe-staurolite+quartz+water. In addition, two reactions which delineate part of the stabilitylimits of Fe-cordierite have been investigated: (IV) Fe-cordierite almandine+sillimanite+quartz. (V) Fe-cordierite hercynite+sillimanite+quartz. The experimental information has been used to predict boundariesto the PT fields of all quartz and QFM-buffered fluid-bearingassemblages involving Fe-staurolite, Fe-cordierite, Fe-chloritoid,almandine, and sillimanite. Using information from this andother studies, three mineral assemblages are recognized whichare stable at similar temperatures but different fluid pressures.In order of decreasing pressure they are: (a) Above 5 kb: staurolite, quartz, kyanite, fluid; (b) Between 1.5 and 8.5 kb (outer limits; in natural rocks thisfield will have a much narrower pressure range) staurolite,quartz, cordierite, fluid. (c) Below 3.5 kb: Fe-cordierite, andalusite, fluid of oxygenfugacity equivalent to the quartz-fayalite-magnetite assemblage. These phase assemblages may be the equivalents of naturallyoccurring mineral facies, but this must be proven in the field.In addition the absence of cordierite from rocks of appropriatecomposition and temperature of formation betokens total pressuresgreater than 3–5 kb. ¹Present address: Grant Institute of Geology, West Mains Road, Edinburgh 9, Scotland.