Boron in metapelites controlled by the breakdown of tourmaline and retrograde formation of borosilicates in the Yanai area, Ryoke metamorphic belt, SW Japan

Abstract

Tourmaline-out isograd formed by the breakdown of tourmaline is defined in the upper amphibolite-facies metapelites in the Yanai area, Ryoke metamorphic belt, SW Japan. The rim composition of tourmaline progressively becomes aluminous with ascending metamorphic grade, and the chemical zoning of tourmaline is controlled by X□AlNa–1Mg–1 and MgTiYAl–2 vectors in low- to medium-grade zones where muscovite is stable, whereas it is controlled by Mg(OH)YAl–1O–1, CaMgOX□–1YAl–1(OH)–1 and MgTiYAl–2 vectors in further higher–grade, muscovite-unstable zones. The size of tourmaline increases drastically where breakdown of muscovite+quartz takes place, probably due to the growth of tourmaline during breakdown of muscovite. On the high-temperature side of the tourmaline-out isograd, depletion of whole-rock boron is observed. Escape of boron-bearing melt or the fluid evolved from the melt during its crystallization probably caused this depletion, although locally trapped, boron-bearing melt or fluid formed irregularly shaped tourmaline and dumortierite during retrograde metamorphism.