The partial equilibration of garnet porphyroblasts in pelitic schists and its control on prograde metamorphism, Glen Roy, Scotland

Dempster, T. J. , Gilmour, M. I. and Chung, P. (2019) The partial equilibration of garnet porphyroblasts in pelitic schists and its control on prograde metamorphism, Glen Roy, Scotland. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 37(3), pp. 383-399. (doi: 10.1111/jmg.12467)

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Abstract

Garnet porphyroblasts in sillimanite-bearing pelitic schists contain complex textural and compositional zoning, with considerable variation both within and between adjacent samples. The sillimanite-bearing schists locally occur in regional Barrovian garnet zone assemblages and are indicative of a persistent lack of equilibrium during prograde metamorphism. Garnet in these Dalradian rocks from the Scottish Highlands preserves evidence of a range of metamorphic responses including initial growth and patchy coupled dissolution- reprecipitation followed by partial dissolution. Individual porphyroblasts each have a unique and variable response to prograde metamorphism and garnet with mainly flat compositional profiles co-exists with those containing largely unmodified characteristic bell-shaped Mn-profiles. This highlights the need for caution in applying traditional interpretations of effective volume diffusion eliminating compositional variation. Cloudy garnet with abundant fluid inclusions is produced during incomplete modification of the initial porphyroblasts and these porous garnet are then particularly prone to partial replacement in sillimanite-producing reactions. The modification of garnet via a dissolution-reprecipitation process releases Ca into the effective whole rock composition, displacing the pressure-temperature positions of subsequent isograd reactions. This represents the first report of internal metasomatism controlling reaction pathways. The behaviour of garnet highlights the importance of kinetic factors, especially deformation and fluids, in controlling reaction progress and how the resulting variability influences subsequent prograde history. The lack of a consistent metamorphic response, within and between adjacent schists, suggests that on both local and regional scales these rocks have largely not equilibrated at peak metamorphic conditions.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gilmour, Ms Mairi and Chung, Mr Peter and Dempster, Dr Tim
Authors: Dempster, T. J., Gilmour, M. I., and Chung, P.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Journal of Metamorphic Geology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0263-4929
ISSN (Online):1525-1314
Published Online:25 December 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 The Authors
First Published:Journal of Metamorphic Geology 37(3):383-399
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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