Metamorphic evolution of the Eiksunddal eclogite complex. Western Norway, and some tectonic implications

Abstract

The metamorphic evolution of the Western Gneiss Region of Norway (WGR) can be evaluated from examination of eclogites formed as an integral part of the gneiss terrain (ie. in situ). Petrologic data from one of the larger “country-rock” eclogites within the northwestern part of WGR have been used to construct a P, T, t-path for this crustal volume. Textural relations as well as mineral composition and zonation suggest an early period of amphibolite facies conditions, followed by movement along a very steep positive P/T-gradient towards very high pressure (P≥25 kb) and moderate temperature (T≈600° C). Orthopyroxene coexisting with garnet at such conditions was poor in Al (<0.5 wt% Al2O3) and is preserved in the cores of orthopyroxene grains in garnet websterites. The increasing Al-content of orthopyroxene towards garnet, and increasing edenite substitution rimwards in zoned amphiboles, suggest a period of decompression accompanied by heating, towards the metamorphic maximum at T≈ 750° C, P≈20kb. Garnet zoning reflects a general prograde history, but the reactions that control the zoning are insensitive to pressure changes. Jadeitic pyroxenes may have formed in the gneisses at P-max, but would revert to plagioclase subsequent to the metamorphic maximum, giving rise to the observed mineralogy. Further decompression and cooling continued towards high-rank amphibolite facies conditions. This P, T, t-path reflects crustal thickening to 80–90 km during Caledonian time. The uplift path is qualitatively similar to theoretically derived paths in which uplift is assumed to be controlled by erosion. However, uplift following the metamorphic maximum may have been accelerated by a period of suture progradation.