R. Bocchio et al., Trace element distribution in eclogites and their clinopyroxene/garnet pair: a case study from Soazza (Switzerland), EUR J MINER, 12(1), 2000, pp. 147-161
Rare earth element (REE) abundances have been determined in six samples of
metabasites from the Pennidic Adula nappe in the area of Soazza (Mesolcina
Valley, Switzerland). The samples cover a broad range of mineralogical comp
osition from eclogite to epidote amphibolite through symplectitic garnet am
phibolite. The REE patterns do not vary significantly and indicate a common
origin of these rocks as "normal" mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORB).
Two main eclogitic phases, clinopyroxene (cpx) and garnet (grt), have also
been analysed for REE and other trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn,
Sr, Y, Zr). The incorporation of REE and most trace elements in structural
sites of cpx and grt is in accordance with that expected mainly from an eva
luation of site geometry, tonic radius and charge balance and is therefore
dependent on the major-element composition of the host phases. The changes
in cpx/grt partition coefficients (D-i) for HREE are particularly associate
d with the temperature condition of the equilibration of the pair.