Mineral zones and isograds in “impure” calcareous rocks, an alternative means of evaluating metamorphic grade

Abstract

Although regional mineral zoning in pelitic rocks has been described in numerous metamorphic terrains, relatively little is known about zoning in carbonate-bearing rocks. Regional metamorphism has resulted in a distinctive sequence of mineral zones in calcareous rocks (containing Fe, K and Al) of the Lessard Formation in the Bishop Corners-Madoc area, Grenville Province, Canada. The variation in metamorphic grade represented by the mineral zoning is attributed to a gradient in physical conditions (mainly temperature) at the time of metamorphism. In areas where pelitic schist and siliceous dolomite marble are rare or restricted in distribution, the mineral zones and isograds in impure calcareous rocks provide an alternative to conventional isograds for evaluating variations in metamorphic grade. In a metamorphic terrain where all three rock types occur, comparison of these isograds to those in pelitic and siliceous dolomite rocks results in a more accurate assessment of the distribution of isotherms and may provide some insight into the properties of the metamorphic fluid phase.