Journal of Metamorphic Geology最新文献

Melt migration through Earth's crust drives well-documented melt–rock reactions, locally changing rock assemblage and geochemistry. However, melt–zircon interaction remains understudied. We report on three zircon-melt interaction events from the Pembroke Granulite, New Zealand. Primary zircon from gabbroic gneiss which was subject to minor post-emplacement melt migration and primary zircon from younger dykes exhibit straightforward microstructures, microchemistry, and age data. In contrast, zircon from melt-mediated reaction halos adjacent to the dykes and from melt-fluxed high-strain zones display dissolution modification of grains, micro-porosity and blurred or truncated internal zoning typical of replacement by coupled dissolution-precipitation. Replaced zircon domains show changed rare earth element patterns and redistributed or lost radiogenic Pb that generates ambiguous apparent spot date arrays, smeared over tens of millions of years. We conclude that the metamorphism and three melt–rock interaction events were brief, and the arrays misrepresent the true age and duration of the metamorphism. Pb-loss persisted beyond the metamorphism, with porosity and inclusions formed during coupled dissolution-precipitation making replaced zircon domains more susceptible to subsequent Pb-loss compared to the structurally intact, primary magmatic zircon in the host gabbroic gneiss or dykes. We recommend conducting high-resolution microstructural investigations upon recognition of spot date arrays observed in single samples to rule out the possibility of spurious arrays resulting from coupled dissolution-precipitation.

A quartz-rich paragneiss from the Variscan Erzgebirge Crystalline Complex (ECC) was studied in detail because of abundant millimetre-sized and clearly oriented pseudomorphs after a sodic mineral interpreted to have been jadeite. This mineral, or pseudomorphs after it, is rarely found in extensive high-pressure (HP)–ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terranes worldwide despite reported pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions suitable for the formation of jadeite in common paragneisses and orthogneisses. In the studied rock, which contains abundant large and oriented potassic white mica flakes and minor millimetre-sized garnet grains, the pseudomorphs consist of clusters of small albite grains with thin phengitic muscovite flakes in between. X-ray maps for Ca and Mg in garnet demonstrate that an early generation of this mineral (Gt1) was corroded and subsequently overgrown by a Ca-richer generation (Gt2). White mica is phengite with maximum Si contents of 3.42 atoms per formula unit. P–T conditions of 0.85 GPa and 650°C and 1.7 GPa and 660°C were derived for the formation of Gt1 and Gt2 rim + Si-rich phengite, respectively, using pseudosection modelling. The latter conditions representing the pressure peak experienced by the paragneiss are compatible with the original presence of jadeite and possibly paragonite as well. This metamorphic peak occurred at 338.4 ± 2.3 (2σ) Ma based on in situ dating of monazite grains with the electron microprobe. A single monazite age of 386.4 ± 10.5 (2σ) Ma is related to the formation of Gt1. Thus, a Late Devonian metamorphism is suggested here for the first time to have occurred in ECC gneisses before the major HP event in the Early Carboniferous. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the eclogite-facies gneisses of the Gneiss-Eclogite Unit of the ECC experienced peak pressures of not more than 2 GPa in contrast to recent proposals of an extensive UHP area in this unit. In addition, it is suggested that the localized occurrence of UHP rocks surrounded by other lithologies otherwise lacking evidence for UHP conditions should be interpreted with caution with respect to their regional extent and significance.

Zircon geochronology provides critical information on the rates and durations of geological processes and enables researchers to explore deep time. However, some zircon datasets show a continuum of concordant ages (‘smear’) without well-defined age populations. These age smears are typically interpreted to represent variable loss of radiogenic Pb or protracted geological events lasting tens of millions of years. Coupled dissolution-precipitation replacement of zircon has been suggested as one process that may produce these complex age datasets. Here, we react fragments of the well characterised Mud Tank zircon standard with natural intermediate and mafic melts (0.9 GPa, 1100–1180°C) to test if short-term exposure to a melt can modify the geochronological patterns of zircon. Our observations show that within a short duration (18 h to 3.5 days), most Mud Tank zircon fragments display microstructural and/or chemical evidence for modification by dissolution at fragment boundaries along with partial replacement by coupled dissolution-precipitation processes. The replaced zircon domains have U–Pb ages that smear over one hundred million years, between 764–647 Ma, illustrating variable mobility and redistribution of the U and Pb isotopes. Our experiments demonstrate that zircon modified by coupled dissolution-precipitation replacement may not faithfully record the age or duration of geological events and that investigation of zircon microstructure in high-resolution backscattered electron, cathodoluminescence imaging and/or Raman mapping is needed to better understand complex zircon geochronological datasets.

Subduction infancy corresponds to the first few million years of the start of subduction following heat transfer from the incipient mantle wedge towards the slab-top, as witnessed by metamorphic soles which represent slivers of oceanic crust metamorphosed up to granulite facies conditions welded beneath obducted ophiolites. In this study, integrated petrological, geochemical, mineralogical, geochronological, and thermodynamic studies were carried out on samples from the Yushugou high-temperature metamorphic ophiolitic complex (YHTM) in the South Tianshan Accretionary Complex (STAC), where a massive exposure of coherent granulite accompanied by a thick peridotite body is preserved. Bulk-rock compositions and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes demonstrate the petrogenesis of meta-basalts with oceanic island basalt (OIB)-like and mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like affinities, with little infiltration by subduction-derived melts and/or fluids (e.g., no negative Nb–Ta anomalies). Thermodynamic modelling and U–Pb chronology reveal that the YHTM meta-basalts experienced granulite facies metamorphism of ~840–940°C and ~0.92–1.02 GPa at c. 392 Ma and then possibly reheating and zircon alteration in the Carboniferous. In addition, detrital zircons in sedimentary host rocks of the YHTM show limited Precambrian records and offer maximum depositional ages of c. 410–400 Ma together with the oldest Palaeozoic cluster around c. 470–450 Ma. It is suggested that the YHTM granulites could be of Ordovician–Silurian protolith and such an age pattern significantly deviates from those of adjacent terranes (the Central Tianshan, STAC, and North Tarim Craton). Combined with the compilation of pressure–temperature–time estimates of the YHTM and ages of regional ophiolites, arc intermediate-mafic rocks, A-type granites, and deformation, a model of induced, temporarily northward, intra-oceanic subduction initiation is proposed, which probably occurred along the previously existing weak zone close to a seamount or oceanic plateau in the earliest middle Devonian during the northward subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean (STO). Anomalously high geothermal gradients could be triggered by asthenosphere upwellings, further facilitating the formation of OIB-type metamorphic soles. The YHTM, which represents the remnant of metamorphic soles and associated ophiolites, was finally emplaced to the north margin of the STAC during the relatively long-term (c. 160 million years) accretion and continuous subduction of the STO before its closure. This finding also presents a new natural example of OIB-type metamorphic soles as a snapshot of fossil intra-oceanic subduction infancy during the complex evolutionary history of the STO.

The formation of most jadeitites and other jadeite-rich rocks (jadeitoids) during subduction is thought to occur by precipitation (P-type) or metasomatism (R-type) by infiltration of Na-Al-Si-rich aqueous fluids because of the compositional similarity of the rocks to inferred subduction fluids. Whether these rocks can form by isochemical metamorphism (I-type) during subduction is still hotly debated. A characteristic of I-type jadeitoid is that it exhibits a similar prograde metamorphic record as associated eclogite, in contrast to P- and R-type jadeitite and jadeitoids that are typically enclosed in serpentinite derived from the mantle wedge and either lack a prograde metamorphic history (R-type and P-type) or probably experience a prograde history (R-type) that is difficult to discern owing to the high variance of the jadeite-dominated assemblages and alteration by subduction fluids. The recently discovered Baqing (eastern-central Tibet) jadeitoid is enclosed by quartzo-feldspathic schist and has a peak metamorphic assemblage of almandine + jadeite/omphacite + phengite/paragonite + rutile + quartz, similar to eclogite. Abundant mineral inclusions in almandine, especially rutile inclusions with increasing Zr contents from the core to rim of almandine, provide an opportunity to further decode the jadeitoid-forming processes. In this study, pseudosections and Zr-in-rutile thermometry, together with conventional geothermobarometers, were employed to decipher the metamorphic history of Baqing jadeitoids. Two analysed Baqing jadeitoids exhibit a similar clockwise P–T path, starting from early metamorphic conditions of 5–7 kbar, 350–440°C, to different peak conditions (27–29 kbar, 730–760°C, or 20–23 kbar, 670–710°C), followed by relatively consistent retrograde metamorphic conditions of 6–7 kbar, 530–600°C. This result indicates a similar subduction history to the Baqing eclogite. In addition, the Baqing jadeitoids show similar geochemical characteristics to some Na-rich, K-depleted and Ca-depleted sedimentary rocks or plagiogranite. Therefore, we propose an isochemical genesis for the Baqing jadeitoid, rather than a metasomatic origin.

In situ age and trace element determinations of monazite, rutile and zircon grains from an ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metapelite-hosted leucosome from the Napier Complex using laser split-stream analysis reveal highly variable behaviour in both the U–Pb and trace element systematics that can be directly linked to the microstructural setting of individual grains. Monazite grains armoured by garnet and quartz retain two concordant ages 2.48 and 2.43 Ga that are consistent with the previously determined ages for peak UHT metamorphism in the Napier Complex. Yttrium in the armoured grains is unzoned with contents of ~700 ppm for the garnet-hosted monazite and in the range 400–1,600 ppm for the monazite enclosed within quartz. A monazite grain hosted within mesoperthite records a spread of ages from 2.43 to 2.20 Ga and Y contents ranging between 400 and 1,700 ppm. This grain exhibits core to rim zoning in both Y and age, with the cores enriched in Y relative to the rim and younger ages in the core relative to the rim. A monazite grain that sits on a grain boundary between mesoperthite and garnet records the largest spread in ages—from 2.42 to 2.05 Ga. The youngest ages in this grain are within a linear feature that reaches the core and is connected to the grain boundary between the garnet and mesoperthite; the oldest ages are observed where monazite is in contact with garnet. Yttrium in the grain is enriched in the core and depleted at the rim with the strongest depletions where monazite is adjacent to grain boundaries between the silicate minerals or in contact with garnet. The unarmoured monazite grains have lower intercept ages of 1.85 Ga, which overlaps with the bulk of ages determined from the rutile and is coincident with a previously reported zircon age obtained through depth profiling from the Napier Complex. The age and chemical relationships outlined above illustrate decoupling between the geochemical and geochronological systems in monazite. Individual grains are suggestive of a range of processes that modify these systems, including volume diffusion, flux-limited diffusion and fluid-enhanced recrystallization, all operating at the scale of a single thin section and primarily controlled by host mineral microstructural setting. These findings illustrate how the development of simple partitioning coefficients (cf. garnet/zircon) and geospeedometry based on experimentally determined diffusion coefficients on grain separates may not be achievable. However, it highlights the utility of combining age and trace element concentrations from multiple accessory minerals with microstructural information when trying to build a complete history of tectonothermal events experienced by an ancient rock system that has undergone a prolonged history of thermal, deformational and fluid flow events.

Recent studies of the Cretaceous lower arc crust exposed in Fiordland, New Zealand, conclude that shear zones are sites of melt migration and mass transfer through the deep crust. Here, we investigate the 4–10 km-wide George Sound Shear Zone, which cuts the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss, comprising two main rock types: two-pyroxene gneiss and hornblende gneiss. Previous studies infer a predominantly igneous origin for the two types of gneiss. However, this study finds that melt-rock interaction within the George Sound Shear Zone formed the hornblende gneiss from the precursor two-pyroxene gneiss. Petrographic analyses of samples collected in transects across the shear zone show hydration reaction textures ranging from rims of hornblende + quartz around pyroxene grains to complete replacement of pyroxene grains. Plagioclase is recrystallized and partially replaced by clinozoisite. Additionally, biotite mode increases towards the higher strain rocks in the shear zone. Backscatter images and polarized light microscopy show microstructures indicative of former melt-present deformation, including (a) interconnected mineral films of quartz and K-feldspar along grain boundaries, (b) grains that terminate with low apparent dihedral angles, (c) interstitial grains, with some (d) undulose extinction in plagioclase and (e) serrated grain boundaries. In addition, zircon microstructures are consistent with Zr mobility, further supporting the former presence of melt; geochemical data show enrichment of Zr in the hornblende gneiss as compared to the two-pyroxene gneiss. From the above observations, it is inferred that a felsic to intermediate hydrous melt migrated through the George Sound Shear Zone reacting with the host two-pyroxene gneiss of the Western Fiordland Orthogneiss. Melt migration along grain boundaries was deformation assisted, (i) causing hydration of pyroxene to hornblende + quartz, and plagioclase to clinozoisite, (ii) increasing proportions of biotite within the shear zone and (iii) causing depletion of Cr + Ni and Zr enrichment in the hydrated rock. Our interpretation is supported by published observations of pegmatite dyke swarms that intruded into the George Sound Shear Zone, the P-T conditions of deformation and characterization of microstructures that contrast sharply with those typically found in mylonitic rocks formed under solid-state metamorphic conditions. Our results confirm that hydrous shear zones within otherwise anhydrous country rock are retrogressive and may represent evidence of melt migration through zones of deformation.