UHP kyanite eclogite associated with garnet peridotite and diamond-bearing granulite, northern Bohemian Massif

Abstract

Kyanite eclogites enclosed in garnet peridotites may provide important information on P-T evolution of orogenic peridotites in deep subduction and collision zones. Kyanite eclogite interlayered with garnet peridotite occurs in the borehole T-7, in the Saxothuringian basement of the northern part of the Bohemian Massif. This orogenic peridotite of mantle origin is associated with felsic granulites, which contain diamond as a consequence of deep subduction of the continental crust. Here, we report on the metamorphic evolution of kyanite eclogite, which shows a well-preserved peak-pressure mineral assemblage of garnet, omphacite, kyanite and phengite. Conventional geothermobarometry, average PT method and thermodynamic modelling constrain the metamorphic conditions of this assemblage up to 3.5–4.5GPa at 900–1050°C. Two compositional types of garnet, i.e., Mg-rich and Ca-rich, have been recognised. Thermodynamic modelling shows that the composition of Ca-rich garnet with XCa (0.35–0.37) in the core corresponds to stability of garnet at 3.5–4.5GPa. Amphibole and zoisite are preserved as inclusions in garnet cores, and they are stable below 2.5GPa, indicating that garnet grew at the expense of these phases at increasing P-T conditions during the prograde evolution of the rock. A post-peak metamorphism decompression and cooling are recorded by decrease of Ca-Eskola end-member in omphacite, drop in XMg and XGrs at garnet rim and a very restricted formation of pargasitic amphibole in the matrix. The absence of symplectites after omphacite in the investigated eclogite may be due to a very low content of quartz and possibly also fluid in the rock. Our study suggests that kyanite-bearing eclogite underwent UHP metamorphism as a consequence of subduction, together with interlayered garnet peridotite. Both rocks were incorporated into the subducted continental crust (diamond-bearing granulites) during the Variscan orogeny.