Journal of Metamorphic Geology最新文献

The trace-element composition of rutile is commonly used to constrain P–T–t conditions for a wide range of metamorphic systems. However, recent studies have demonstrated the redistribution of trace elements in rutile via high-diffusivity pathways and dislocation-impurity associations related to the formation and evolution of microstructures. Here, we investigate trace-element migration in low-angle boundaries formed by dislocation creep in rutile within an omphacite vein of the Lago di Cignana unit (Western Alps, Italy). Zr-in-rutile thermometry and inclusions of quartz in rutile and of coesite in omphacite constrain the conditions of rutile deformation to around the prograde boundary from high pressure to ultra-high pressure (~2.7 GPa) at temperatures of 500–565°C. Crystal-plastic deformation of a large rutile grain results in low-angle boundaries that generate a total misorientation of ~25°. Dislocations constituting one of these low-angle boundaries are enriched in common and uncommon trace elements, including Fe and Ca, providing evidence for the diffusion and trapping of trace elements along the dislocation cores. The role of dislocation microstructures as fast-diffusion pathways must be evaluated when applying high-resolution analytical procedures as compositional disturbances might lead to erroneous interpretations for Ca and Fe. In contrast, our results indicate a trapping mechanism for Zr.

Massif-type anorthosite and comagmatic associations of rutile-bearing ilmenitite (RBI) and oxide-apatite-rich amphibolite (OARA) from the Chiapas Massif Complex (CMC) in southeastern Mexico display a protracted billion-year accessory mineral record encompassing magmatic crystallization at c. 1.0 Ga to recent ductile shear deformation at c. 3.0 Ma. Multiple discrete zircon populations between these age end-members resulted from neoformation/recrystallization during local to regional metamorphism that affected the southeastern portion of the CMC. The ubiquitous presence of relict baddeleyite (ZrO₂), along with various zircon generations spatially associated with pristine to partly retrogressed Zr-bearing igneous and metamorphic minerals (e.g., ilmenite, rutile, högbomite and garnet), suggests significant Zr diffusive re-equilibration (exsolution) during slow cooling and mineral breakdown followed by crystallization of baddeleyite. The subsequent transformation of baddeleyite into zircon was likely driven by reaction with Si-bearing fluids in several geochronologically identified metamorphic stages. Strikingly contrasting compositional signatures in coeval zircon from anorthosite (silicate-dominated) and comagmatic RBI (Ti-Fe-oxide-dominated) indicate a major role of fluids locally equilibrating with the rock matrix, as indicated by distinct zircon trace element and oxygen isotopic compositions. A high-grade metamorphic event at c. 950 Ma is likely responsible for the formation of coarse-grained rutile (~0.1–10 mm in diameter), srilankite, zircon and garnet with rutile inclusions as well as metamorphic högbomite surrounding Fe-Mg spinel. Zr-in-rutile minimum temperatures suggest >730°C for this event, which may correlate to rutile-forming granulite facies metamorphism in other Grenvillian-aged basement rocks in Mexico and northern South America. A younger generation of baddeleyite exsolution occurred during post-peak cooling of coarse-grained rutile, reflected in rimward Zr depletion and formation of discontinuous baddeleyite coronas. Baddeleyite around rutile was then transformed into zircon possibly during subsequent metamorphism at c. 920 or 620 Ma, resulting from syn-kinematic and contact metamorphism, respectively. Regional metamorphism at c. 450 and 250 Ma extensively overprinted the existing zircon population, especially during the Triassic event, as suggested by a significant presence of zircon with this age. Nearly pristine baddeleyite occurring interstitial to ilmenite yielded an isochron age of c. 232 Ma according to in situ U–Pb secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), suggesting either formation during metamorphic peak conditions or post-peak cooling. Zircon with ages of c. 80–100 Ma in anorthosite is identified for the first time within the CMC and coincides with cooling ages of c. 100 Ma for coarse-grained rutile. This age is similar to those of rocks occurring ~200 km further to the east in Guatemala, which are also b

The Amdo microcontinent which separates the Qiangtang terrane to the north and the Lhasa terrane to the south is a key terrane for reconstructing the tectonic evolution of Central Tibet. We report the new finding of retrograde eclogites within the Amdo microcontinent in this study. The eclogites are characterized by peak metamorphic mineral assemblages of garnet, omphacite, rutile and quartz and underwent a four-stage metamorphic evolution, including a peak eclogite facies stage (M₁) at ~20–24 kbar and 580–620°C, followed by an HP granulite facies decompression stage (M₂) at ~13–15 kbar and 750–780°C, a subsequent MP-UHT granulite facies heating stage (M₃) at 8–10 kbar and >840°C and a final amphibolite facies retrogression (M₄) at 5.3–6.0 kbar and 560–580°C. The eclogites exhibit rare earth element distribution patterns and trace element abundances similar to those of N-MORB and arc-related volcanics, with depleted whole-rock ε_Nd(t) values of 3.4 to 4.2, and are inferred to have formed in a back-arc basin tectonic setting. Zircon and rutile U–Pb dating yields a protolith age of 226 ± 5 Ma, a peak eclogite facies metamorphic age of 190 ± 1 Ma, an HP granulite facies metamorphic age of 179 ± 1 Ma and an amphibolite facies retrograde age of 172 ± 1 Ma. The clockwise P–T–t paths and the oceanic protolith signature of retrograde eclogites suggest that part of the back arc basin was subducted to depths of ~80 km. Tectonic erosion associated with the subduction of the Amdo microcontinent beneath the Tethys Ocean accounts for the deep subduction of the back-arc basin and the absence of arc magmatic rocks in the northern Amdo microcontinent.

The Kongsberg and Bamble lithotectonic domains of SE-Norway are known as classical Precambrian high-grade metamorphic terrains. The area has undergone extensive metasomatism with formation of albitites and scapolite-rich rocks and numbers of previously economically important deposits including the Kongsberg Silver and the Modum Cobalt mines. We demonstrate here that the central part of the Bamble lithotectonic domain (Kragerø area) has locally developed low-grade metamorphic minerals (prehnite, pumpellyite, analcime, stilpnomelane and thomsonite) belonging to the prehnite-pumpellyite and zeolite facies. Structurally, the low-grade minerals occur as fracture fills, in the alteration selvages around fractures where the rock is albitized, and along shear zones and cataclastic zones. The fracture fill and the alteration selvages vary from millimetres scale to 1 m in thickness. The fractures with low-grade minerals are part of larger fracture systems. The low-grade minerals typically formed by both displacive (swelling) and replacive reactions and in a combination of these. Prehnite together with albite, K-feldspar, quartz, epidote and hydrogarnet form lenses along (001) faces in biotite and chlorite leading to bending of the sheet silicates through a displacive reaction mechanism. Numerous replacement reactions including the earlier minerals as well as the low-grade minerals occur. As albite, K-feldspar, talc, quartz, actinolite, titanite, calcite and hydrogrossular form in the same veins and in the same biotite grain as the classical low-grade minerals, they probably belong to the low-grade assemblage and some of the albitization in the region presumably occurred at low-grade conditions. Alteration of olivine (Fo69) at low-grade conditions results in the formation of clay minerals including ferroan saponite. Reconnaissance studies at the east (Idefjord lithotectonic domain) and the northwest (Kongsberg lithotectonic domain) sides of the Oslo rift together with reports of low-grade assemblages in south-western Sweden along the continuation of the rift into Skagerrak suggest that the low grade assembles occur in rocks adjacent to the Oslo rift along its full extent. Ar-Ar dating of K-feldspar from the low-grade assemblages gave an age of 265.2 ± 0.4 Ma (MSWD = 0.514 and P = 0.766), suggesting that the low-grade metamorphism and some of the metasomatism is induced by fluids and heat from the magmatic activity of the Permian Oslo rift, which requires transport of fluid over distances of several kilometres. The metamorphic conditions are constrained by stability fields of prehnite, pumpellyite and analcime to be less than 250°C and at a pressure less than 5 kbars. The displacive reactions created micro-fractures and porosity in the adjacent minerals that enhance fluid flow and low-grade mineral formation on a local scale. On a thin section scale, the displacive growth of albite in biotite results in a local volume increase of several 100%. Whether the

Accurately defining the peak ages and timescales of high-temperature metamorphism is fundamental to unravelling tectonic dynamics. However, metamorphic constraints are frequently hampered by a large spread of zircon U–Pb ages without explicit textural relationships. Integrated garnet and zircon petrochronology may clarify ambiguous ages retrieved from ancient high-temperature metamorphic rocks. There is a long-standing debate on the interpretation of the spread of zircon ages from c. 2.5–1.8 Ga for the granulites of the North China Craton. In order to clarify the timing and duration of (ultra)high-temperature metamorphism in the North China Craton, we investigated a mafic granulite and the adjoining gneiss from the Yinshan Block of the North China Craton using zircon and titanite U–Pb geochronology combined with garnet Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd geochronology. Pseudosection modelling and conventional thermobarometric calculations constrain the peak metamorphic conditions to be ~1.0 GPa and ~850°C. The near-complete lack of major-element zoning in garnet, aside from ~2 μm diffusion profiles at crystal rims, suggests complete re-equilibration at peak temperatures followed by fast cooling from high temperatures. The Lu–Hf garnet age of 1870 ± 4 Ma and Sm–Nd age of 1870 ± 7 Ma, determined on the same garnet fractions, are indistinguishable from the zircon U–Pb age of 1866 ± 11 Ma obtained from zircon that grew contemporaneously with garnet, evidenced by the chemical equilibrium of coexisting garnet and zircon, and are additionally consistent with a titanite U–Pb age of 1876 ± 7 Ma. We interpret this close agreement of ages, within uncertainty, coupled to the existence of flat Sm–Nd–Hf profiles in garnet that also has well-preserved Lu zoning, to reflect a short-lived high-temperature metamorphic event that was terminated by rapid exhumation and cooling. The short-lived (<4 Myr) high-temperature metamorphism may be generated in the lowermost parts of the crust through magmatic underplating/intraplating during extension that follows collision of the Ordos and the Yinshan Blocks.

This paper presents the results of petrological observations and diffusion modelling on garnet from high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure ((U)HP) metamorphic rocks of the Western Gneiss Region in the Nordfjord. Garnet from kyanite-bearing micaschist preserves two generations of garnet growth that are related to the Pre-Caledonian granulite facies and Caledonian eclogite facies metamorphic events. Mafic eclogite, forming lenses in the micaschist, contains only eclogite facies assemblages with partial recrystallization under amphibolite facies conditions. Caledonian garnet in both the micaschist and hosting eclogite indicates reaction overstepping and nucleation near or above 550°C/2.0 GPa. Maximum pressure and temperature, calculated using pseudosection modelling for the eclogite facies event, were ~2.6 GPa and 650°C. The interface between the Pre-Caledonian and Caledonian garnet in the micaschist shows a strong compositional gradient or possibly a compositional jump. The preservation of such a gradient together with the hummocky-shaped composition profiles in the Caledonian garnet from the eclogite indicates either no relaxation or a short-time of relaxation of the rocks at their peak temperature conditions, as well as their exhumation by cooling. Possibly, heating or exhuming of the rocks by isothermal decompression could have easily modified such compositional irregularities along the garnet profiles. A cooling rate of ~187°C/Ma and exhumation rate in the vertical direction of ~2.5 cm/year for the HP rocks were obtained by considering that the temperature and transport distance changes from their maximum depth and peak temperature to the surface were proportional to the time (3.5 Ma) calculated by modelling for the garnet.

Orogenically thickened lower crust is the key site of crustal differentiation, crustal deformation, and Moho modification. However, the composition of thickened lower crust is still highly debated. Here, we calculate a set of pseudosections with mafic lower crust compositions in the Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–TiO₂–O₂ (NCKFMASHTO) system. Our modelling results show that the maximum thickness of the mafic lower crust increases with the Moho temperature (T_Moho). In addition, the lithologies of stable mafic crust are characterized by medium-pressure (MP) to high-pressure (HP) granulites at 40–50 km, HP granulites and garnet-omphacite granulites at 50–60 km, and garnet-omphacite granulites at 60–70 km. Under the Pamir geothermal conditions, mafic rocks with high SiO₂ (>50.2 wt%), X_Mg (>0.70), X_Ca (>0.49), or low X_Al (<0.11) could be stable at 70 km; however, only ~10% of global mafic granulite xenoliths lie within this compositional range. Further modelling indicates that if T_Moho reaches 900–1000°C, neither the lower crust nor the upper mantle has significant strength relative to the upper crust and that only ~5–37% of mafic materials are gravitationally stable at 70 km. This implies that the base of doubly thickened (70 km) crust is dominated by intermediate-felsic rocks, consistent with the low V_p and V_p/V_s values seismically observed in young orogenic crustal roots. Thus, most mafic materials at >70 km could delaminate into the deep mantle. Our results provide insights on the formation of extremely thick crust with a predominantly intermediate-felsic base and the crustal thickness variation in continental collision zones.

We present data on the pressure and temperature (P–T) conditions experienced by metamorphic rocks of the Meguma Terrane, Nova Scotia, Canada, also utilizing three-dimensional microstructural data on one sample to better constrain the mechanisms that controlled garnet crystallization. Inverse and forward thermodynamic modelling place peak P–T conditions in the southwestern Meguma Terrane at ~650°C and 4.5 kbar. Interpretation of these results with petrographic observations and previous P–T constraints across the terrane suggests that amphibolite facies metamorphism occurred during the Devonian Neoacadian orogeny (406–388 Ma). Integration of quantitative 3D textural data with an estimated metamorphic heating rate of <5°C/Myr is consistent with amphibolite facies metamorphism resulting from tectonic loading during the Neoacadian orogeny, though the exact nature of the orogeny is still not well understood. Further, the intrusion of granitic plutons into the Meguma metasediments at 373 Ma likely locally drove metamorphic recrystallization (polymetamorphism). The 3D size, shape, and location of garnet crystals in one sample reveal that the rate-limiting step for garnet crystallization was likely the diffusion of aluminium through the intergranular matrix at length scales less than the mean nearest neighbour distance between garnet crystals. Nucleation was aided by epitaxial overgrowth onto a muscovite substrate, though it appears there may have been a decoupling between minerals providing a substrate and those providing nutrients during garnet growth.

The analysis of major and trace elements in zoned minerals is useful for deciphering parts of the tectonothermal evolution of polymetamorphic tarrain. We applied this approach to the Maz Metasedimentary Series in Western Sierras Pampeanas of Argentina, where polymetamorphism resulted in the overprinting of a Grenvillian basement (the Maz Complex) during the pervasive Rinconada tectonic phase of the Famatinian orogeny. The older metamorphism (M₁) is assigned to the youngest Grenvillian metamorphic event recognized in this basement at c. 1035 Ma, whereas the Rinconada metamorphism (M₂) was Silurian to early Devonian, essentially between 440 and 410 Ma. The latter resulted from oceanward migration of the orogenic front relative to earlier late Cambrian to Ordovician (490–470 Ma) tectonic phases of the Famatinian orogeny. The M₁ and M₂ metamorphic events have been recognized in a staurolite-garnet schist from the Maz Metasedimentary Series. Most metamorphic minerals from this rock were formed during the M₂ event which was of the Barrovian type (±kyanite). Part of the metamorphic P–T evolution is recorded in the complex compositional zoning of garnet porphyroblasts. Three types of garnet were identified based on texture and chemistry, including trace elements (REEs). Phase equilibrium analysis, compositional isopleth, and multi-equilibrium thermobarometry were applied in order to establish the P–T history. M₁ is represented by preservation of Grt₁ ± Kfs ± Sil, with peak P–T condition of 790°C and 5.2 kbar, that is, granulite facies. This early metamorphic event was related to a deformational D₁ episode represented by a relict S₁ foliation. The latter is preserved as aligned inclusions in staurolite porphyroblasts and as relics of an older crenulated foliation in microlithons from the matrix. M₂ followed a clockwise P–T path with three mineral growth stages. The earliest occurred at ~585°C and ~8.7 kbar and is represented by Grt₂ ± St₁ ± Bt₁ + Qz. Grt₂ was partially coeval with growth of St₁, which was stable at ~625°C and 9.0 kbar. Grt₂ + St₁ are syn-kinematic to the main S₂ foliation (D₂ episode). Subsequently, decompression (D₃) started as St₂ (+ Bt₂ + Ms₁ + Qz + Pl) crystallized, and garnet was partially consumed at ~612–620°C and ~7.3–7.7 kbar. St₃ + Grt₃ crystallized at ~608°C and ~6.8 kbar at the end of D₃. Increasing P–T conditions during the earlier M₂ growth stage suggest burial of the Maz Metasedimentary Series, probably linked to tectonic thickening by underthrusting (tectonic phase D₂). Peak metamorphic conditions were attained during thrust stacking. The tec