Metamorphic solid salt (KCl-NaCl) in quartzo-feldspathic polyphase inclusions in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure eclogite

Unusual polyphase inclusions of K-feldspar+quartz+titanite+solid salt and K-feldspar+albite+quartz+epidote with textures similar to the other K-feldspar+quartz inclusions were found in omphacite grains from the Sulu ultrahigh pressure (UHP) eclogites. One of these inclusions contain square to round solid salt inclusions of KCl-NaCl composition. Such a mineral assemblage within K-feldspar-bearing inclusions hosted by UHP metamorphic phases suggests that (1) potassium granitic melts enriched in Cl components were presented during UHP metamorphism or at the early stage of rapid exhumation of deeply subducted continental slab; (2) they were resulted from reactions between the incoming granitic melts and quartz (or coesite); and (3) solid salt inclusions of NaCl-KCl were derived from dehydration and desiccation of Cl-bearing melts. Our new observations further demonstrate that during the tectonic evolution of UHP rocks, fertile components within deeply subducted continental materials could undergo partial melting, leading to the formation of Cl-bearing potassium granitic melts and substantial migration of fluid-conservative elements (e.g. Ti, Hf) within the UHP slab.     

Partial melting of deeply subducted continental crust and the formation of quartzofeldspathic polyphase inclusions in the Sulu UHP eclogites

Two types of quartzofeldspathic inclusions hosted by omphacite and garnet were identified in the Sulu UHP eclogites. The first consists of albite, quartz, and various amounts of K-feldspar. In contrast, the second consists predominantly of K-feldspar and quartz without any albite. The presence of quartzofeldspathic inclusions within the UHP mafic eclogites indicates that partial melting occurred in deeply subducted continental crust via mica dehydration melting reactions at an early stage of rapid exhumation. Such a melting event generated hydrous Na-K-Al-Si melts. These melts infiltrated into the mafic eclogite and were captured by recrystallizing garnet or omphacite, which together followed by dehydration and crystallization to form feldspar-bearing polyphase inclusions. Formation of silicate melts within the deeply subducted continental slab not only provides an excellent medium to transport both mobile （LILE） and immobile （HFSE） elements over a large distance, but also induces effective changes in the physical properties of the UHP slab. This process could be a major factor that enhances rapid exhumation of a deeply subducted continental slab.     

Oxygen isotope compositions of eclogites in Rongcheng,Eastern China

Collected from the Rongcheng region,Shandong Province,the three types of eclogites suffering the UHP (i.e.ultra-high pressure )metamorphism have obviously different oxygen isotope compositions.The eclogites occurring in regional orthogneisses and ultramafic rocks have the oxygen isotope compositions of normal eclogites in the world,but the eclogites existing in marbles are extremely enriched in ^18 O.By applying oxygen isotope geothermometry ,for the all types of exlogites,the temperature estimates of quartz-garnet pair,in principle,indicate the formation temperatures of eclogites,so that the peak-metamorphic temperatures are estimated to be averagely little higher than 800℃ ,which are consistent with the estimates by using other geothermometers according to cation partitioning between coesisting phases ,The δ^18O values of eclogitic inclusions hosted in marbles from Yangguantun,Rongcheng region ,are far higher than the values of eclogites (including eclogitic inclusions in marbles ) from the Dabieshan and other places of the Sulu,The oxygen isotope compositions of various minerals indicate that the formation temperatures of eclogites from the Rongcheng region ,in genceral ,are higher than that from the Dabieshan and the southwestern part of the Sulu ,but the dispersive temperatures estimated by different mineral pairs probably refect that the UHP eclogites from the Rongcheng region generally suffered overprinted metamorphisms during the exhumation.     

New finding of micro-diamonds in eclogites from Dabie-Sulu region in central-eastern China

Micro-diamonds were only found ten years ago in eclogite associated with marble at Xindian in the Dabie Mountains. This paper reports our new finding of micro-diamonds not only in eclogites at Maobei in the Sulu region and at Xindian and Laoyoufang in the south part of the Dabie Mountains (South Dabie), but also in eclogites at Baizhangya and Huangweihe in the northern part of the Dabie Mountains (North Dabie) that has usually been considered not to experience ultrahigh pressure metamorphism.Except the micro-diamond at Huangweihe that was found from the artificial heavy sands of zircons used for isotopic dating, the micro-diamonds from other localities were identified in thin sections of the eclogites. Besides a few interstitial grains, most of the micro-diamond grains in thin sections occur as inclusion in garnet. Three crystals of microdiamond at Maobei in the Sulu region are sized in 120, 60 and 30 lira, respectively. Crystal forms look like octahedron and the composite of octahedron and hexahedron. The largest micro-diamond crystal comes from Xindian, which is measured to be 180 lira in diameter with distinct zonal structure and inclusions. The zonal structure occurs as an inclined octahedron inside rounded by an incomplete hexagonal girdle. A smaller micro-diamond inclusion occurs inside the central octahedron, and a larger graphite inclusion is within the outer zone. The Laoyoufang micro-diamond is partially retrograded to graphite. Micro-diamond from the Baizhangya eclogite in the ultramafic rock belt of North Dabie is an aggregate of 70 lira X 90 lira in size. All the micro-diamonds are confirmed by the Raman spectrum analysis. The occurrence of the micro-diamonds from the eclogites in the ultramafic rock belt of North Dabie demonstrates that this region was also subjected to ultrahigh pressure metamorphism as well as the South Dabie did.     

Coesite in eclogite from the North Qaidam Mountains and its implications

Coesite provides direct evidence for ultrahigh pressure metamorphism. Although coesite has been found as inclusions in zircon in paragneiss of the north Qaidam Mountains, it has never been identified in eclogite. In this contribution, based on petrographic observations and in situ Raman microprobe spectroscopy, coesite was identified as inclusions in garnet of eclogite from the Aercituoshan, Dulan UHP metamorphic unit, north Qaidam Mountains. Coesite is partly replaced by quartz, showing a pali-sade texture. This is the first report on coesite in eclogite from the north Qaidam Mountains, and is also supported by garnet-omphacite-phengite geothermobarometry (2.7―3.25 GPa, 670―730℃). Coesite and its pseudomorphs have not been found in eclogites and associated rocks of other units of the north Qaidam Mountains. Further studies are required to confirm if all metamorphic units in the north Qaidam Mountains underwent the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism.     

Existence and release of fluid inclusions in bornite and its associated quartz and calcite

The existence and release of fluid inclusions in bornite and its associated minerals, namely, quartz and calcite were investigated and confirmed. The structures, forms, and phases of these large quantities of fluid inclusions were also studied. A mass of fluid inclusions with various sizes, distributions, shapes, and phases exist in bornite and its associated minerals. Their sizes vary from a few micrometers to tens of micrometers, and the forms appear as negative crystals, or elongated, elliptical, and irregular. At room temperature, fluid inclusions were mainly characterized as gas-liquid twophase. However, small amounts of fluid inclusions with pure gas phase and pure liquid single-phase were also observed in quartz and calcite. These fluid inclusions initially broke during the ore crushing and grinding process and then released into the flotation pulp in the flotation process. The quantitative analysis of fluid inclusions in the solution and the comparisons of mineral dissolution show that the amount of copper and iron released by fluid inclusions in the bornite sample is higher than the amount dissolved by the mineral; fluid inclusions in the associated gangue minerals, quartz, and calcite also make contribution.     

High density methane inclusions in Puguang Gasfield: Discovery and a T-P genetic study

Based on measurement of homogenization temperature of inclusions and Raman spectral analysis, high density methane inclusions were discovered in the Triassic reservoirs of Puguang Gasfield. The methane inclusions show a homogenization temperature Th = -117.5― -118.1℃, a corresponding density of 0.3455―0.3477 g/cm3, and a Raman scatter peak v1 shift varying between 2911―2910 cm-1, which signifies a very high density of methane inclusions. The salt water inclusions paragenetic with methane inclusions show a homogenization temperature Th=170―180℃. Based on the composition of methane inclusions as determined by Raman spectra, PVTsim software was used to simulate the trapping pressure for high density methane inclusions in geologic history, and the trapping pressure was found to be as high as 153―160 MPa. Even though Puguang Gasfield is currently a gas pool of normal pressure, and the fluid pressure for the gas pool ranges between 56―65 MPa. However, data from this study indicates that remarkable overpressure may be generated at the stage of mass production of gas cracked from oils in Cretaceous, as high density methane inclusions constitute key evidence for overpressure in gas pool in geologic history. Meanwhile, discovery of small amounts of H2S, CO2 or heavy hydrocarbon in part of the high density methane inclusions indicates that the geochemical environment for trapping of inclusions may be related to formation of H2S. Therefore, the observation results can help to explore the thermochemical sulfate reduction （TSR） conditions for oil cracking and H2S formation.     

Fluid inclusions evidence for differential exhumation of ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks in the Sulu terrane

Since the discovery of coesite and diamond inclusions in eclogites from the Dabie-Sulu orogen, east-central China[1―3], this largest ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamor- phic terrane in the world has attracted extensive scientific interests. A number of hydrous minerals such as zoisite, phengite, magnesite and talc have been found in the UHP rocks, showing that fluids have played an important role in this type of extreme metamorphic evolution[4―8]. Sev-eral techniques have been applied to th…     

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.     

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.     

Coesite inclusions in zircon from gneisses identified by laser Raman microspectrometer in ultrahigh pressure zone of Dabie Mountains, China

The mineral inclusions in zircon from gneisses in ultra-high pressure (UHP) zone of the Dabie Mountains were identified by using a laser Raman microspectrometer. Coesite occurs as inclusions in zircons from all types of gneiss. Other important minerals, such as jadeite, omphacite, aragonite, barite, and anhydrite were also found as inclusion minerals. These discoveries indicate that (ⅰ) gneissic country rocks had metamorphosed at the same time as the enclosed eclogites; and (ⅱ) SO₄^-2-bearing fluids were present in the UHP metamorphic process, which is manifested by occurrence of barite and anhydrite coexisting with coesite.     

Fluid inclusions hidden in coesite-bearing zircons in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from southwestern Sulu terrane in eastern China

Fluidinclusionstudiesarepowerfultoolsfordeci-pheringthefluidevolutionandfluid-rockinteractionin-volvingultrahigh-pressure(UHP)metamorphismofcrustalrocksatmantledepths.Thecompositionandprop-ertiesoffluidinclusionscanreflectthephysico-chemicalconditionsofthefluidsduringplatesubduction,UHPmetamorphismandexhumation.However,UHPmeta-morphicrockscommonlyexperiencedconsiderablede-compressionrelatedtotherapidexhumationprocess.Thishascausedtheinternalpressureoftheinclusionstrappedinthemetamorphicmin…     

Hydroxyl in continental deep subduction zone: Evidence from UHP eclogites of the Dabie Mountains

Infrared spectra in the region of 3 000 to 4 000 cm⁻¹ have been measured by an FTIR spectrometer on minerals in UHP eclogites from the Bixiling and Shuanghe areas, the Dabie Mountains. It is shown that omphacite is the most important hydrous mineral (100–200 μg/g) in UHP eclogites. Garnet and quartz contain virtually no H₂O or OH. Accessory mineral rutile contains a significant amount of OH (>1 000 μg/g). Coesite gives no indication of the presence of OH but apparent H₂O bands. The results have considerable implications for existing forms and contents of hydroxyl in the continental deep subduction zone, the eastern Dabie Mountains.     

The P2O5 content of feldspars from the Yashan granites, Jiangxi Province, South China

The P₂O₅ contents of feldspars in the Yashan F-rich and P-rich granite yield a maximum value of 0.93% (In albite) and a maximum average value of 0.65% (hereinafter weight percent) (in K-feldspar), and is generally between 0.10% and 0.35%. Most of the distribution coefficient D_p[Ab/Kt] values are greater than 1(1.13–28.9). The study shows that phosphorus could preferably enter the albite structure mainly by PAISi₂ substitution relative to K-feldspar.     

Evidence for UHP metamorphism of eclogites from the Altun Mountains

Ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphism refers to metamorphism that has occurred at pressures for the stability of coesite. The polycrystalline quartz inclusions showing the characteristic texture within garnets of eclogites indicates the pre-existence of coesites under the peak metamorphic condition. The unusual exsolution textures in ompacites and apatites, and the pressure estimations of phengite-bearing eciogites have been taken to provide further proof of eclogite formation under the UHP conditions.Combined with the fact that coesites have been observed in country rocks of eclogites in North Qaidam Mountains, another UHP metamorphic belt cut by the large-scale strikeslip fault in the AItun-North Qaidam area of China is confirmed.``