Ultrahigh-temperature Metamorphism (1150{degrees}C, 12 kbar) and Multistage Evolution of Mg-, Al-rich Granulites from the Central Highland Complex, Sri Lanka

Mg- and Al-rich granulites of the central Highland Complex,Sri Lanka preserve a range of reaction textures indicative ofa multistage P–T history following an ultrahigh-temperaturemetamorphic peak. The granulites contain a near-peak assemblageof sapphirine–garnet–orthopyroxene–sillimanite–quartz–K-feldspar,which was later overprinted by intergrowth, symplectite andcorona textures involving orthopyroxene, sapphirine, cordieriteand spinel. Biotite-rims, kornerupine and orthopyroxene-rimson biotite are considered to be late assemblages. Thermobarometriccalculations yield an estimated P–T of at least 1100°Cand 12 kbar for the near-peak metamorphism. Isopleths of Al₂O₃in orthopyroxene are consistent with a peak temperature above1150°C. The P–T path consists of four segments. Initialisobaric cooling after peak metamorphism (Segment A), whichproduced the garnet–sapphirine–quartz assemblage,was followed by near-isothermal decompression at ultrahigh temperature(Segment B), which produced the multiphase symplectites. Furtherisobaric cooling (Segment C) resulted in the formation of biotiteand kornerupine, and late isothermal decompression (SegmentD) formed orthopyroxene rims on biotite. This evolution canbe correlated with similar P–T paths elsewhere, but thereare not yet sufficient geochronological and structural dataavailable from the Highland Complex to allow the tectonic implicationsto be fully assessed. KEY WORDS: central Highland Complex; granulites; multistage evolution; Sri Lanka; UHT metamorphism