Metamorphism of Anorthositic Rocks with Respect to Amphiboles in Hadong Area

Abstract

Precambrian Jirisan gneiss complex suffered retrograde metamorphism ranging from granulite facies to the amphibolite facies and/or greenschist facies. Intrusive anorthositic rocks in gneiss complex are influenced by late metamorphism. Mafic mineral in anorthositic rock composed mainly of amphiboles, which can anticipate the information about metamorphic conditions and metamorphic facies. Amphiboles from anorthositic rock show subhedral to anhedral in shape and mostly blueish green and/or green in colour in plane polarized light. Some of brownish amphiboles show zonal texture with brownish to blueish green in color from core to rim. Reaction parts in clinopyroxene which exchange with amphibole. It suggests retrograde metamorphism and/or alteration. Amphiboles composing anorthositic rocks can be classified into two types depending on the size and occurrence of amphibole. The first type is microcrystalline amphibole occurring matrix [Group I: ferrohornblende]. The second type is amphibole with 1 mm or larger in size, which is usually occurred in the boundary between opaque mineral and plagioclase [Group II: ferropargasite]. Electron microscopic analyses base on the composition in amphiboles suggest that the metamorphic pressure of anorthositic rock was low with 5 kbar or less. Ti compositional range in amphibole and representing hornblende+ plagioclase+garnet+biotite+chlorite mineral assemblage suggest that metamorphic facies of anorthositic rock is in amphibolite facies.