Search

Abstract: Here, we report the first discovery of an amorphous SiO2 phase (APSI phase) in a pseudomorph after coesite included in garnet from an ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) eclogite from the Su–Lu metamorphic belt, eastern China. Using transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction, we show that the internal structure of the pseudomorph consists of an APSI phase with nano/submicrocrystalline particles of quartz and a polycrystalline K‐bearing fibrous sheet‐silicate phase (KFSS phase). The APSI phase‐bearing aggregates included in the garnet might have formed by reactions involving a supercritical fluid during exhumation by the following processes: (1) the development of radial cracks within the host garnet by the phase transition of coesite to quartz; (2) the decomposition of a part of the pseudomorph following infiltration of supercritical fluid; (3) the precipitation of the KFSS phase from the fluid phase during subsequent exhumation and cooling, which was likely promoted by a change in the metamorphic fluid from supercritical and/or subcritical to aqueous fluid; and (4) the rapid precipitation of the APSI phase under a metastable (non‐equilibrium) state, such as quenching, during a later stage of the exhumation. Whether the APSI phase generally formed during exhumation and survived widely throughout the Su‐Lu terrane is unknown. However, the presence of the APSI phase in a UHP eclogite provides new insight into the geodynamic phenomena occurring at continental collision zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A minor error in calculation of geobarometric estimates from laser Raman microspectrometry of quartz inclusions in garnet appears in Enami et al. (2007). Correction of this error eliminates anomalous results for grossular-rich garnet, inspiring greater confidence in the validity and applicability of this geobarometric technique. Keywords: Geobarometry, Raman spectrometry, quartz, garnet, elastic model

The high temperature ( T )/pressure ( P ) regional Mogok metamorphic belt is situated in central Myanmar, and is mainly composed of pelitic gneisses, amphibolites, marbles, and calc-silicate rocks. The garnet–biotite–plagioclase–sillimanite–quartz assemblage and its partial system suggest equilibrium P / T conditions of 0.6–1.0 GPa/780–850 °C for the peak metamorphic stage, and 0.3–0.5 GPa/600–680 °C for the exhumation and hydration stage. Monazite grains show complex compositional zoning consisting of three segments—I, II, and III. Taking into consideration the monazite zoning and relative misfit curves, the calculated chemical Th–U–total Pb isochron method (CHIME) monazite age data (284 spot analyses) indicated four age components: 49.3 ± 2.6–49.9 ± 7.9, 37.8 ± 1.0–38.1 ± 1.7, 28.0 ± 0.8–28.8 ± 1.6, and 23.7 ± 1.3 Ma (2 σ level). The ages of the Late Eocene and Late Oligocene epochs were interpreted as the peak metamorphic stage of upper-amphibolite and/or granulite facies and the postdated hydration stage, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the first report on the occurrence of eclogite from the Kumon range of the Western province in Myanmar, which is in the southeastern extension of the Himalayan orogenic belt. The eclogite is mainly composed of omphacite, garnet, hornblende/edenite/katophorite/taramite, biotite, quartz, and rutile. The garnet grains in the eclogite usually show textures of barrier reef, atoll, and table reef types, and have a wide compositional range of Alm58–70Sps1–2Prp9–16Grs14–31. Omphacite grains that occur as garnet inclusions and as isolated crystals in the matrix have similar compositions of Jd34–45 and Jd37–44, respectively. Lesser amounts of jadeitic clinopyroxene (Jd21–38), phengite, biotite, albite, and quartz occur in the lagoon of barrier reef and atoll garnet grains. The matrix omphacite is partly replaced by symplectite of sodic clinopyroxene of Jd20–29 and albite. The lower limits of the pressure/temperature during the eclogite stage, which are defined by the assemblage of garnet, omphacite (Jd40–45), and quartz, are 1.2–1.3GPa/530–615°C. The finding of eclogite from Myanmar suggests the possibility of a wide occurrence of high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the ophiolite zone along the southeastern extension of the Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture in Myanmar and Indochina. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Indentation testing of natural single-crystal a-quartz parallel to the crystallographic c axis, using a triangular pyramidal diamond indenter at a maximum load of 500 mN, produced a very small residual volume of less than 1 µm³ in which α-quartz is highly stressed. Laser Raman microspectroscopy across the indentation at room temperature and pressure revealed a shift in the Raman bands, interpreted to reflect the residual stress field generated within the α-quartz. Based on the observed Raman shift, we identified a steep gradient in the residual non-hydrostatic stress field after complete unloading in quartz near the impression formed by indentation. At the center of the indentation, the maximum compressive stress and tensile stress were inferred to be higher than 2.2 and 0.1 GPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical Th-U-total Pb isochron method (CHIME) has been applied to determine the ages of monazite grains from metasediments of greenscshist-amphibolite facies in the Altai orogen, northwest China. The area of distribution of these metamorphic rocks is divided into the Permian (261–268 Ma) central-western and Devonian (377–382 Ma) eastern units on the basis of their metamorphic ages. The Devonian CHIME ages are consistent with the Pb–Pb ages of granitoid in the eastern unit, and support the idea that emplacement of the granitoids was synchronous with regional metamorphism at deep levels. The Permian metamorphic ages (the present study) and igneous ages previously reported from the central-western unit can be interpreted in terms of subduction of crustal material and oceanic plate, and rapid exhumation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the chromian dissakisite-(Ce) in a garnet lherzolite from the Su-Lu ultrahigh pressure metamorphic terrane in China. Description of the sample; Mineral composition of the sample; Origin of the chromian dissakisite-(Ce).