The genesis of garnet and cordierite in acid volcanic rocks: Evidence from the Cerberean Cauldron,Central Victoria,Australia

In the acid volcanic rocks of the Cerberean Cauldron of Central Victoria, four almandine garnet types can be distinguished. Types 1 and 2 are the most important. Type 1 garnets, about 1 mm across, euhedral and free of inclusions, occur mainly in the Rubicon Rhyolite. Type 2 garnets, up to 1 cm across, often irregular and always with inclusions, are most abundant in the Lake Mountain Rhyodacite. Type 1 garnets are enriched in Fe and Mn and depleted in Mg and Ca with respect to Type 2 garnets. Zoning patterns in Type 1 garnets show enrichment of Fe and Mn in the cores. Conversely Type 2 garnets have Fe and Mn enriched rims, although the zoning is frequently less regular. Fe rich cordierite occurs, mainly in the Rubicon Rhyolite, as nearly euhedral sixlings, without inclusions. They are frequently altered but where fresh show zoning patterns like those of the Type 1 garnets.These characteristics are best explained if the Type 2 garnets and cordierite are residuals of high grade metamorphic assemblages in granitic liquids produced by partial melting of pelitic rocks. Type 1 garnets and biotite subsequently crystallized from the liquid and the zoning patterns of Type 2 garnets and cordierite were modified near their rims by reaction.