Preservation Of Mineral Assemblages Research Articles

Metamorphic evolution of the Loma Marcelo skarn within the geotectonic context of the crystalline basement of the Ventania System (Argentina)

This study describes the mineralogical and isotopic changes that carbonate xenoliths experienced under multiple metamorphic events and hydrothermal fluid circulation during the evolution of the Ventania System basement. The high reactivity of carbonate xenoliths allowed the preservation of mineral assemblages corresponding to at least three metamorphic events in the resulting Loma Marcelo skarn. The Ventania System basement is composed of Neoproterozoic granites and ignimbrites, Early Cambrian granites, and Middle Cambrian rhyolites. Carbonate xenoliths were incorporated during the intrusion of a calc-alkaline granite with an LA-ICP-MS U-Pb crystallization age of 621.6 ± 2.2 Ma. The intrusion induced pyroxene–hornfels facies metamorphism in the carbonate xenoliths and the associated metasomatism generated calcic and magnesian skarns depending on the protolith composition. Garnet, clinopyroxene, wollastonite, bytownite, and meionite were formed in the calcic skarn (CaS), whereas forsterite and spinel were formed in the magnesian skarn (MgS). Crystallization of Early Cambrian alkaline granites was accompanied by intense hydrothermal activity that was responsible for low temperature (≤300 °C) F-metasomatism in the skarn, as evidenced by the presence of F-rich vesuvianite (CaS) and chondrodite (MgS), among other minerals. Vesuvianite was formed from calc-silicate mineral assemblages of the previous metamorphic event, whereas chondrodite was formed by replacement of forsterite. The low temperature formation of these typical high-grade minerals could be an evidence of mineral formation under disequilibrium conditions favoured by the high reactivity of hydrothermal fluids. Neopalaeozoic basement mylonitization under greenschist facies metamorphism was accompanied by hydrothermal fluid circulation. This event promoted extreme mobility of chemical elements in the basement rocks and epidotization (CaS) and serpentinization (MgS) in the Loma Marcelo skarn. The elongated and boudinaged shape of the skarn bodies, parallel to the mylonitic foliation, is a consequence of dextral shearing that affected the basement rocks. Additionally, almost pure grossular crystallized post-tectonically in the CaS. Carbonates of the Loma Marcelo skarn are depleted in 13C and 18O (δ13CV-PDB = −2.5/−10.1‰; δ18OV-SMOW = +7.3/+14.0‰) relative to carbonate sedimentary rocks. The δ13C and δ18O variations can be attributed to the interaction between large amounts of hydrothermal fluids (W/R = 30–50) and Neoproterozoic carbonate sedimentary rocks.

Establishing the P–T path for Alpine Schist, Southern Alps near Hokitika, New Zealand

AbstractPressure–temperature pseudosections for ‘greyschist’ (metamorphosed greywacke and argillite) from the Alpine Schist (Haast Schist group) near Hokitika (Southern Alps, New Zealand) are used to gain new insights into its metamorphic history. The rocks were metamorphosed at relatively low‐grade conditions associated with the first appearance and initial growth of garnet in the stability field of albite. The measured and predicted garnet compositional zoning data are used to construct an overall P–T path by combining P–T path results from nearby rocks that have a range of MnO contents. The P–T path obtained is steep from ∼380 °C/2.5 kbar up to ∼490 °C/8.5 kbar, then recurves sharply with garnet growth continuing during early decompression to ∼500 °C/6.5 kbar. Most garnet growth in the study area took place in the stability field of albite, with oligoclase appearing only during decompression, when the peristerite gap was entered. On appearance of oligoclase, there is a marked decrease in the CaO content of garnet. The preservation of mineral assemblages from near‐peak temperature conditions can be understood in terms of the P–T path subsequently becoming tangential to water content contours, during cooling with further decompression.

The lawsonite paradox: a comparison of field evidence and mineral equilibria modelling

AbstractLawsonite equilibria are predicted to occur over a broad P–T spectrum developed during subduction, yet lawsonite‐bearing assemblages are rare. In the context of mafic mineral equilibria modelled for the range of common crustal metamorphism (4–23 kbar, 400–750 °C) using the system Na2O‐CaO‐K2O‐FeO‐MgO‐Al2O3‐SiO2‐H2O and the software thermocalc, unusually high water contents are demanded by lawsonite assemblages. As a consequence, lawsonite assemblages are predicted to have difficulty forming and lawsonite equilibria to be uncommon. Metabasalt undergoing cooler subduction may experience substantial periods involving the metastable persistence of mineral assemblages because of water under‐saturation with non‐occurrence of recrystallization. If formed, lawsonite‐bearing assemblages are observed to be highly unstable; their preservation requires that exhumation be accompanied by substantial cooling. The amount of structurally bound H2O in minerals plays a critical role in the formation and preservation of mineral assemblages, controlling key changes in rocks undergoing subduction.