METAMORPHIC EVOLUTION OF CALCSILICATE GRANULITES NEAR BATTYE GLACIER,NORTHERN PRINCE-CHARLES MOUNTAINS, EAST ANTARCTICA

Citation
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
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Geology
ISSN journal
02634929
Volume
15
Issue
3
Year of publication
1997
Pages
361 - 378
Database
ISI
SICI code
0263-4929(1997)15:3<361:MEOCGN>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
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.