Ncn. Stephenson et Ndj. Cook, METAMORPHIC EVOLUTION OF CALCSILICATE GRANULITES NEAR BATTYE GLACIER,NORTHERN PRINCE-CHARLES MOUNTAINS, EAST ANTARCTICA, Journal of metamorphic geology, 15(3), 1997, pp. 361-378
Calcsilicate granulites of probable Middle Proterozoic age (c.1000-110
0 Ma) in the vicinity of Battye Glacier, northern Prince Charles Mount
ains, East Antarctica, contain prograde metamorphic assemblages compri
sing various combinations of wollastonite, scapolite, clinopyroxene, A
n-rich plagioclase, calcite, quartz, titanite and, rarely, orthoclase,
ilmenite, phlogopite and graphite. Comparison of the prograde assembl
ages with calculated and experimentally determined phase relations in
the simple CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-CO2-H2O system suggests peak metamorphism at
greater than or equal to 835 degrees C in the presence (in wollastoni
te-bearing assemblages at least) of a CO2-bearing fluid (X-CO2 greater
than or equal to 0.3) at a probable pressure of 6-7 kbar. Well-preser
ved retrograde reaction textures represent: (1) breakdown of scapolite
to anorthite + calcite +/- quartz; (2) formation of grossular-andradi
te garnet and, locally, (3) epidote, both principally by reactions inv
olving scapolite breakdown products and clinopyroxene; (4) local coupl
ed replacement of clinopyroxene and ilmenite by hornblende and titanit
e, respectively; and finally (5) local sericitization of prograde and
retrograde plagioclase. These retrograde reactions are interpreted to
be the result of cooling and variable infiltration by H2O-rich fluids,
possibly derived from crystallizing pegmatitic intrusions and segrega
tions that may be partial melts, which are common throughout the area.