Geothermobarometry of Al-silicate-bearing migmatites from the Variscan chain of NE Sardinia, Italy: a P-T pseudosection approach

Abstract

This paper investigates Al-silicate-bearing migmatite from NE Sardinia by using the P-T pseudosection approach with the aim to determine the P-T conditions of partial melting and those of melt crystallization. P-T pseudosections were calculated in the NCKFMASH system within the P-T range 500-800 °C, 0.1-1.5 GPa by using the average compositions of metapelitic greywacke, average mesosome and average trondhjemitic leucosome, respectively. The P-T pseudosections calculated for the average metapelitic greywacke and for the average mesosome, contoured for melt volume %, Si/Al and Na/K molar ratios in melt point to P-T conditions ~ 700-740 °C, 1.1-1.3 GPa which are indicative of partial melting. The P-T pseudosection calculated for the average composition of trondhjemitic leucosomes, contoured for kyanite and biotite modal content and for X Mg ratio in biotite indicates P-T conditions of 660-730 °C, 0.75-0.90 GPa for the crystallization of the melt. The comparison between the Na/K and Si/Al ratios in leucosomes, and the same ratios modeled for the anatectic melt by an haplogranitic melt model is thus a powerful tool for the reconstruction of P-T conditions of partial melting also in pelitic rocks, provided that leucosomes represent pure melts and are not contaminated by restitic phases or feldspar cumulates.