Abstract
In the New Caledonia high-pressure schists pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, rutile and sphene are common phases while hematite and ilmenite are rare and magnetite is absent. The parageneses of these minerals were clarified from their occurrence as inclusions in garnet, from phase relations in the Cu-Fe-S and Fe-Ti-O-S systems, and from phase rule considerations for the multi-component system. The sulfur fugacity estimated for pelites and basites containing pyrrhotite, pyrite and rutile increased with increasing metamorphic grade; the oxygen fugacity in these schists was less than 10−27.6 bars at 400° C, 10 kb and 10−22.3 bars at 500° C, 11 kb. Among the other components of the metamorphic fluid in pelites, H2O was major, CH4, CO2 and H2S minor, and H2, CO, COS and SO2 rare. The fluid composition altered with advancing metamorphic grade, such that H2O decreased while CO2, CH4 and H2S increased, and this change was linked to concurrent massive decarbonization in the rock matrices.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have