Characteristics and geological significance of the eclogites from the Tongbai Mountains, Henan Province

Some eclogites and the related high-P metamorphic belt have been found for the first time from the Tongbai Mountains, Henan Province, where the eclogites and their probable retrogressive products ——garnet amphibolites——occur as lenses in mica-schists. The fresh eclogites comprise garnet, omphacite, quartz, rutile, phengite, barroisite, etc. The compositional features of garnet and available geothermobarometers indicated that the eclogites belong to the low-T type. The mica-schists contain phengite, quartz, garnet and rutile that are also attributed to high-P assemblage. The eclogites and related high-P belt probably belong to the Early Paleozoic in age, which is distinct from the Indosinian Dabie high- and ultrahigh-P metamorphic belt.     

Discovery of ultrahighpressure magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite (>3.8 GPa) in the Altyn Tagh,Northwest China

Magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite from the Altyn Tagh, associated with garnet pyroxenite, and garnet-bearing felsic gneiss, crops out as lenses in Proterozoic gneiss about 100 km east of the Jianggelasayi River. The garnet lherzolite, together with the eclogite in western Jianggelasayi, composes a high-pressure to ultrahigh- pressure metamorphic belt in the southern margin of the Altyn Tagh. Parageneses of minerals from magnesite-bearing garnet lherzolite indicate that the rock evolved a multi-stage metamorphism. The peak-stage metamorphism produces an assemblage of Grt+Ol+Opx+Cpx±Mgs, in which Al₂O₃ content of Opx is very low (0.30 — 0.66wt%). The calculated P-T condition of the peak stage is 3.8—5.1GPa and 880—970℃, some exsolution rods of clinopyroxene and rutile occur in the Grt and magnesite is rimed by dolomite and orthopyroxene, all implying that the peak stage was a UHP metamorphic process. Together with regional geological studies, isotopic dating and the discovery of coesite inclusions in zircon separates from felsic gneiss from the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, the presence of a very long UHP metamorphic belt in northwest China is suggested.     

Composition of sandstone and heavy minerals implies the provenance of Kuqa Depression in Jurassic, Tarim basin, China

The petrological characteristics and heavy mineral assembly of the Jurassic System in Kuqa Basin are consistent with the tectonic evolution, which is the major factor controlling the filling process of Kuqa Basin. Controlled by the source areas at the both sides of the Basin, the matrixes are dominated by sedimentary rock, high-grade metamorphic rock, acid magmatic rock, and the highest heavy mineral assemblage of zircon-garnet-magnetite in the content. According to heavy mineral indexes, the Jurassic strata can be classified into three rhythmic units of heavy mineral. The lower sequence contains abundant heavy minerals and relatively high content of detritus and its matrixes primarily came form the recycling orogen. The assemblage of “zircon-garnet-magnetite” indicates that the sedimentary area in the early evolution period of the basin is relatively near the provenance. The middle sequence is different from the lower sequence in the heavy mineral assemblage and has the different characteristics from that of source rock. The heavy mineral assemblage is “garnet-zircon” with the highest content of garnet and its main matrices are the high-grade metamorphic rock, acid magmatic rock and hydrothermal vein at the northeastern edge of the basin. The middle and upper sequences are characterized by the clast provenance, which is primarily from the recycling orogen at the northern edge of the basin and secondarily from the southern uplift. As a result of the two provenances, the strata with apparent changes of heavy mineral assemblage and index better coincides with the interfaces of the secondary strata sequences, which reflects the denudation history and the filling process of the orogen at the northern edge of the basin.     

Dehydration melting of UHP eclogite and paragneiss in the Dabie orogen: Evidence from laboratory experiment to natural observation

Dehydration melting of subducted continental crust is significant during exhumation, and its study from both experimental and petrological observations is of great importance to our understanding of continental geodynamics. Dehydration melting experi- ments were carried out on ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） eclogite from Bixiling in the Dabie orogen using a piston cylinder at 1.5-3.0 GPa and 800-950℃ to investigate partial melting of eclogite induced by phengite breakdown. The phengite-bearing eclogite started to melt at T≤800-850℃ and P=1.5-2.0 GPa and produced about 3% granitic melt. The products of dehydration melting vary with temperature and pressure. Such results provide valuable constraints on the micro-texture related to partial melting of UHP rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Three types of polyphase inclusions were identified in garnet from the Shuanghe UHP eclogite. K-feldspar and quartz inclusions are interpreted to represent the products of segregation and crystallization of minor amounts of melt that formed during dehydration melting of phengite by the inferred reaction Phengite＋Omphacite＋Quartz Amphibole_＋Garnet＋Melt （K-feldspar＋Quartz＋Plagioclase）. Polyphase inclusions of phengite and K-feldspar＋Quartz inclusions were also found in zoisite/clinozoisite and garnet from the Shuanghe garnet-bearing paragneiss. These polyphase inclusions pro- vide evidence for a continuous process from sub-solidus dehydration to partial melting within the UHP gneissic rocks. The com- positional variation of garnets demonstrates that breakdown of epidote-group minerals may have played a crucial role during de- hydration melting reaction of phengite. The Ti-in-zircon thermometry and Si content of phengite in zircon suggest that partial melting would occur at 783-839℃ and 2.0-2.5 GPa. Therefore, both experimental results and petrological observations indicate that dehydration melting and fluid activity within the Dabie UHP rocks at micro-scale are controlled by the breakdown of phengite.     

Discovery and geological implication of rodingites derived from eclogites of ophiolites at Changawuzi, western Tianshan, China

We here report the first case of rodingites that were formed at the expense of eclogite enclosed in the ultramafic rocks of Changawuzi ophiolites. The rodingites contain a mineral assemblage of grossular, diopside, prehnite, chlorite, and relict omphacite and Fe-Mg-Al garnets. The presented data indicate that the formation of the rodingites resulted from a phase of secondary serpentinization during exhumation of the subducted oceanic plate. The rodingitization started at 370～410 ℃/6.5～8.5 kbar, while pervasive rodingitization took place under the condition of 200～350 ℃/4～6 kbar. The established PT path shows a retrograde track from eclogites to rodingites. We conclude that the process of rodingitization could also take place under subduction conditions in addition to its more common occurrence under ocean-floor metamorphic conditions.     

Confirmation of pelitic granulite in the Altai orogen and its geological significance

The existence of pelitic granulite in the Altai orogen was confirmed for the first time by detailed petrographic research and P-Tpseudosection modeling. The pelitic granulite has the assemblage of garnet ＋ cordierite ＋ K-feldspar ＋ biotite ＋ sillimanite ＋ plagioclase ＋ quartz with some samples containing the paragenesis of cordierite ＋ spinel. Peak conditions of the pelitic granuUte determined from the P-T pseudosection involved P = 0.5-0.6 GPa, T= 780-800℃ belonging to medium- to low-pressure type. SHRIMP U-Pb dating of zircon presented a metamorphic age of 292.8 ± 2.3 Ma. The discovery of pelitic granulite reflects an extensional environment with high heat flow in the southern margin of the Altai orogen during the Early Permian, which provides an important petrological constraint on the evolution of the Altai orogen.     

Breakdown of lawsonite subsequent to peak UHP metamorphism in the Dabie terrane and its implication for fluid activity

Abundant occurrences of quartz vein within eclogites in the Dabie-Sulu orogen provide us an opportunity to study metamorphic fluid flow during subduction and exhumation of continental crust. It is, however, usually short of petrological constraints on pressure and temperature of vein formation. This study focuses on kyanite-quartz veins within Iow-T/high-P eclogite in the Dabie terrane that contain unique polycrystalline aggregates, interpreted as pseudomorphs after porphyroblasts of lawsonite. Coesite pseudomorphs were found for the first time in garnet from eclogite, resulting in a revised estimate of peak P-T conditions at 670℃ and 3.3 GPa for the eclogite. This indicates a stability field at graphite/diamond transition, thus upgrading the HP unit to a UHP unit. Neither foliation texture, undulose extinction of quartz nor coesite were observed in quartz veins,although the peak P-T conditions were estimated the same as that in host eclogite in light of thermodynamic calculation based on mineral assemblage in kyanite-quartz veins.Therefore, the formation of the kyanite-quartz veins as wellas the breakdown of lawsonlte into the kyanite-quartz-zoisite assemblage took place during exhumation subsequent to the peak UHP conditions. In this regard, the continental subduction not only brought the water of water-bearing mineral such as lawsonite into the deep mantle, but also released the water from the mineral during exhumation.     

Discovery of super-silicic and super-titanic garnets in garnet-pyroxenite in Zhaheba and its geological significance

Super-silicic garnet which exists stably at more than 5 GPa is a typical ultra-high pressure mineral. The super-silicic garnet and super-titanic garnet were discovered for the first time in garnet-pyroxenlte of early Paleozoic Zhaheba-Aermantai orogenic belt in north Xinjiang. Our study indicates that these su per-silicic garnets as well as super-Utanic garnets were formed at a depth of at least 300 km. Their host rock-garnet-pyroxenite is one kind of ultra-pressure metamorphic rocks which is related to the ultra-deep subduction of the oceanic crust. Thus, the early Paleozoic Zhaheba-Aermantai orogenic belt is related to the ultra-deep aubduction of the Paleo-Aaian oceanic crust.     

Daughter minerals in fluid inclusions of garnet and diopside from Tongguanshan Copper Deposit by SEM/EDS and LRM

Tongguanshan copper deposit of Tongling large ore belt is one of the typical skarn copper deposits. Based on careful observation under microscope many daughter minerals including transparent ones and opaque ones have been distinguished in the fluid inclusions of garnet and diopside. The results of SEM/EDS (scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrometer) and LRM (laser Raman microprobe) analysis show that these daughter minerals in garnet are sylvite, halite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and carbonate. Sylvite daughter mineral is very popular in garnet and diopside. The existence of so much sylvite daughter mineral and other daughter minerals in the fluid inclusions indicates that the ore-forming fluid is of supper-high salinity and high potassium concentration. High potassium concentration in the fluid inclusions agrees with K-rich mesotype-acid rock and K-silicate alteration that occurred widely in this area. The daughter mineral assemblage in garnet and diopside is similar to the mineral assemblage of oreforming stage that followed skarn stage.     

Discovery of eclogite inclusions and its geological significance in early Jurassic intrusive complex in Xuzhounorthern Anhui,eastern China

The early Jurassic intrusive complex is chiefly made of monzodioritic porphyry in northern Anhui and northern Jiangsu, which emplaced in 191 Ma. The intrusive complexes contain a lot of eclogite inclusions which belong to eclogite and garnet-pyroxenite. The inclusions had undergone eclogite facies high-pressure metamorphism and amphibolite facies retrogressive metamorphism. The garnets in eclogite inclusions are mainly almandine varieties and clinopyroxenes are omphacite and augite. The mineral assemblage and P-T estimation results show that P-T conditions of eclogite facies metamorphism and amphibolite facies retrogressive metamorphism are over 1.2—1.5 GPa, 709—861℃ and 0.7—1.03 GPa, 666—738℃, respectively. The discovery of the highpressure xenoliths not only is of important significance to understand the composition and structure of deep crust in southern edge of North China Platform, but also can be of important influence on realizing the subduction-collision-exhumation evolutional process of the DabieSulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt.     

Phase equilibria of HP-UHP mica-schists in Jiangling,Eastern Dabieshan orogen

The HP-UHP metamorphic terrane of Jiangling, eastern Dabieshan comprises extensively distributed granitic gneisses, mica-schists and numerous eclogite blocks. The mica-schists generally contain garnet, phengitic muscovite, biotite, plagioclase, quartz, rutile and a small amount of epidote and hornblende. Study on petrography and phases equilibria in the NCKMnFMASH system indicates that the present mineral assemblages in mica-schists are not in equilibrium. The earlier stage of mineral assemblage represented by garnet and phengite reflects a HP-UHP condition. The garnet compositions and the phengite Si contents give a PT condition of 580-00 ℃ at 2.6-2.8 GPa. The garnet zonation records an earlier progressive metamorphic process which may be associated with the appearance of glaucophane, jadeite and lawsonite. The later stage of mineral assemblage characterized by the presence of biotite and plagioclase reflects a PT condition of 620-635℃ at 0.9-1.1 GPa, belonging to the HP amphibolite facies. The main mineral assemblage in mica-schists from the Jiangling region has recorded a complete HP-UHP metamorphic process.     

Lower time limit on the UHPM rock exhumation: Discovery of eclogite pebbles in the Late Jurassic conglomerates from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, eastern China

Eclogite pebbles are first discovered in late Jurassic conglomerates of the Fenghuangtai Formation from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, eastern China. The eclogite shows relatively strong retrograde metamor- phism. The major remnant minerals are garnet, phengite, quartz, rutile, clinozoisite, fingerprint(or worm)-form sym- plectite and pseudomorphic enclosure of coesite in garnet. End-member components of the garnet mainly made up of grossular (27.7%-37.8%), almandinc (45.5%-49.0%) and pyrope (12.3%-25.7%). End-member components of the pyrope is less than 30%, i.e. equivalent to C type eclogite. Si-cations of the phengite are 3.44-3.54 p.f.u. (taking O=11 as standard). It is estimated that the pressures are 2.5-3.2 GPa, the temperatures are 600-900℃. Discovery of the eclogite pebbles in the late Jurassic conglomerates from the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains suggests that the HP-UHP metamorphic rocks of the Dabie Mountains, which were formed in Triassic, had been exposed to the surface in the late Jurassic or before it by exhumation.     

Experimental study of the metamorphic reaction involving melt under high temperature and high pressure

HighP-T experiment with natural massive rock sample of garnet biotite plagioclase gneiss indicates that the metamorphic reaction involving melt (reaction between relic mineral phase and melt) is the most important reaction in granulite-facies metamorphism and accompanies anatexis process.     

北祁连山含镁纤柱石高压泥质岩及其对古大洋俯冲的意义

北祁连山发育有缝合带是一条典型的早古生代大洋型俯冲带。针对该缝合带中首次发现的含镁纤柱石高压泥质片岩进行了详细的岩石学和矿物学研究。根据平衡矿物组合,利用THERMORCAL(V3.23)计算出镁纤柱石+石榴石+硬绿泥石+多硅白云母组合稳定的温压条件为P=2.2～2.5GPa,T=530～580℃。利用纤柱石和硬绿泥石的稳定范围,确定了北祁连山早古生代大洋冷俯冲的地热梯度的范围为6.5～7.5℃/km。该研究结果对于了解早古生代时期大洋俯冲带的热结构及其高压变质岩石的脱水过程有重要意义。     

Finding of high-pressure mafic granulites in the Amdo basement,central Tibet

High-pressure mafic granulites with a peak mineral assemblage of garnet + clinopyroxene + rutile + quartz were found in the Amdo basement, central Tibet. Two kinds of symplectites were identified that are composed of orthopyroxene + plagioclase ± spinel and hornblende + plagioclase around garnet, which were interpreted to develop during the retrogressing stages in the granulites. P-T estimates suggested that peak metamorphic conditions were about 860–920°C and 1.46–1.56 GPa, which retrogressed from post-peak phase at 820–890°C and 0.88–1.15 GPa to amphibolite facies at 550–670°C and 0.52–0.65 GPa. These three stages define a clockwise P-T path with near-isothermal decompression and cooling following the peak high-pressure metamorphism. This suggests that the Amdo granulites underwent an initial subduction to a deep crustal level of ~50 km and then were rapidly exhumed to a shallow crustal level (~20 km). The formation of Amdo granulites is considered to result from the arc-continent collision between the Amdo basement and the Qiangtang terrane in the middle Jurassic, which is a crucial step to the tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau.     

Evolution of the Xiaotian-Mozitan fault and its implications for exhumation of Dabie HP-UHP rocks

The Xiaotian-Mozitan fault （XMF） located north of the Dabie orogenic belt separates the North Dabie complex to the south from the Beihuaiyang low-grade metamorphic rocks to the north. It comprises several NW-striking ductile shear zones and brittle faults. The brittle faults obviously overprinted on the ductile shear zones and promoted the development of the volcanic basins in early Cretaceous to the north, which suggests that the brittle faults were normal faults formed in early Cretaceous during doming of the Dabie orogenic belt. The ductile shear zone superposed on the north Dabie gray gneiss, and it is an important channel where the Dabie HP-UHP rocks exhumed. For obtaining new structural constraint on exhumation of the HP-UHP rocks, we present here experimental results on the microstructure, quartz C-axis fabrics and the microprobe analyses of phengite. The ductile shear zone was determined to be formed at a temperature of 600-650 ℃ and pressure of 1.1 GPa by the mineral deformation, microprobe analyses and geobarometry of Si-in-phengite of the mylonite, the results suggest that the mylonite now exposed on the surface experienced an upper amphibolite-facies metamorphism in the lower crust. The mineral stretching lineation varies from horizontal in the east segment to sub-dip in the west. Shear sense indicators from outcrop and thin sections of orientated specimen and quartz C-axis fabrics suggest that the XMF is a sinistral normal fault. The kinematics analysis of the ductile shear zone indicates that the exhumation of Dabie HP-UHP rocks is the results of a SE-directed extrusion and an anticlockwise rotation around its eastern pivot simultaneously.     

Sapphirine-bearing high pressure mafic granulite and its implications in the south Altyn Tagh

Sapphirine is a relatively uncommon mineral whichgenerally occurs in granulite with bulk compositions richin both Mg and Al. It was mainly recognized in Al-richrocks of Precambrian granulite terrane[1]. Recently, it wasalso reported from the HP/HT metamorphic rocks in thePhanerozoic collision orogens[2,3]. In China, up to now,sapphirine was only reported in Precambrian Al-richgneisses from the Daqingshan area, Inner Mongolia[4].Sapphirine often forms from the breakdown of earlieraluminou…     

Discovery of Late Paleozoic retrograded eclogites from the middle part of the northern margin of North China Craton

The northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), located between the Paleo-Asian Ocean tectonic region on the north and the NCC on the south, is a key region for studying the tectonic evolution of NCC. A Pre-cambrian retrograded eclogite (2500 Ma or 1800 Ma) was reported in Baimashi near Hengshan Mountain in the NCC, which is characterized by the vermicular symplec-tite of diopside and plagioclase with absence of ompha-cite[1,2]. In Hongqiyingzi Group from the middle part of the …