Journal of Petrology Advance Access originally published online on April 15, 2005
Journal of Petrology 2005 46(9):1805-1833; doi:10.1093/petrology/egi035
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PressureTemperature Evolution of a Late Palaeozoic Paired Metamorphic Belt in NorthCentral Chile (34°35°30'S)
INSTITUT FÜR GEOLOGIE, MINERALOGIE & GEOPHYSIK, RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT, D-44780 BOCHUM, GERMANY
RECEIVED MARCH 3, 2004; ACCEPTED MARCH 9, 2005
| ABSTRACT |
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In the Chilean Coastal Cordillera, two units, the Western and Eastern Series, constitute coeval parts of a Late Palaeozoic paired metamorphic belt dominated by siliciclastic metasediments. The Western Series also contains rocks from the upper oceanic crust and represents an accretionary prism. Omnipresent high-pressure conditions are reflected by NaCa-amphibole and phengite in greenschists. Peak PT conditions of 7·09·3 kbar, 380420°C point to a metamorphic gradient of 1116°C/km. Three unique occurrences of blueschist yield deviating conditions of 9·510·7 kbar, 350385°C and are interpreted as relics from the lowermost part of the basal accretion zone preserving the original gradient of 911°C/km along the subducting slab. Pervasive ductile deformation related to basal accretion occurred near peak PT conditions. Deformation and PT evolution of the metapsammopelitic rocks is similar to that of the metabasites. However, a rare garnet mica-schist yields peak PT conditions of 9·614·7 kbar, 390440°C reflecting a retrograde stage after cooling from a high-temperature garnet-forming stage. It is considered to be an exhumed relic from the earliest siliciclastic rocks subducted below a still hot mantle wedge. A retrograde overprint of all rock types occurred at
300380°C. Continuous reactions caused crystal growth and recrystallization with abundant free water mostly under strain-free conditions. They record a pressure release of 34 kbar without erasing peak metamorphic mineral compositions. The Eastern Series lacks metabasite intercalations and represents a less deformed retro-wedge area. In the study area it was entirely overprinted at a uniform depth at 3 ± 0·5 kbar with temperatures progressively rising from 400°C to 720°C towards the coeval Late Palaeozoic magmatic arc batholith. The interrelated pattern of PT data permits a conceptual reconstruction of the fossil convergent margin suggesting a flat subduction angle of
25° with continuous basal accretion at a depth of 2540 km and a short main intrusion pulse in the magmatic arc. The latter was accompanied by the formation of a thermal dome in the retro-wedge area, which remained stable relative to the vertically growing accretionary prism characterized by cyclic mass flow. KEY WORDS: paired metamorphic belt; greenschist; blueschist; central Chile; thermobarometry
| INTRODUCTION |
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The basement of the Coastal Cordillera in central Chile between Pichilemu and Constitución (34°35°30'S; Fig. 1) represents the first region on the South American active continental margin in which metamorphic zonation was studied (González Bonorino, 1971
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The type area was revisited because it exposes the most characteristic elements of the Chilean basement. Here we concentrate primarily on metamorphic processes and correlate these with concomitant deformation and magmatic events. Together with an associated geochronological study (Willner et al., 2005
| GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND FIELD RELATIONSHIPS |
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Traditionally the basement of the Coastal Cordillera has been subdivided into two metamorphic complexes (the Western and Eastern Series; Fig. 1), representing contrasting forearc environments. This association is a fundamental feature of the basement that can be observed consistently throughout the Coastal Cordillera despite variable ages of deposition, metamorphism and deformation. The concept was introduced by Aguirre et al. (1972)
In the Western Series (Fig. 1) the predominant rocks are former turbiditic deposits characterized by a penetrative, mainly subhorizontal transposition foliation with pronounced banding. This represents a second, or locally a third, foliation with frequent intrafolial folding of relic bands, which mostly lacks kinematic indicators and represents ductile thinning. Quartz veins of decimetre thickness transposed parallel to the penetrative foliation are prominent, but deformed cross-cutting quartz veins and undeformed subvertical, quartz-filled tension gashes also exist. Younger subparallel shear bands with variable transport directions are rare. Stretching lineations are characteristically subparallel to the mesoscopic fold axes and mainly NWSE-trending in the southern part of the area, but varying in the north. Frequently black, postkinematic, albite porphyroblasts are present, locally giving rise to spotted schists. Whereas the metapsammopelitic schists lack garnet, an exceptional garnet mica-schist occurs only in the area of Punta Sirena (Fig. 1). This rock is characterized by abundant porphyroblasts of garnet of 210 mm size, by a brighter colour caused by predominant white mica and by a coarser grain size. It forms several layers of 10 m thickness at two localities north and south of Punta Sirena.
Metabasite intercalations in the Western Series make up only 1520% of the rock volume, forming lenses of metre to kilometre size. Whereas these are commonly greenschist, blueschist was observed as rare lenses of 15 m thickness at three localities (Fig. 1: Infiernillo beach, Pichilemu; El Molino gorge, eastern Cahuil; a gorge NE of Iloca). Occasional green rims around these lenses are due to intensive retrograde growth of chlorite. In the greenschist lenses relic depositional features can be observed locally. At Infiernillo beach and at Punta Lobos (Fig. 1) pillow structures of 2050 cm diameter are preserved with radial fractures filled with calcite and amygdules towards the centre of the pillows. At Infiernillo beach relic pyroclastic structures also occur: lenticular clasts (110 cm) of massive dark greenschist with abundant amygdules float in a more foliated matrix richer in ferromagnesian minerals. The structure strongly resembles former hyaloclastite. Also, the presence of relatively abundant white mica-bearing metabasite may point to the presence of former tuffitic deposits. According to Godoy (1986)
, the chemical composition of the metabasites (particularly immobile trace elements) throughout the basement of the Coastal Cordillera resembles that of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) or intraplate basalts. Zones of enhanced fluid flow are indicated by: (1) layers or irregular zones of centimetre to metre scale characterized by phase reduction (e.g. monomineralic zones of epidote or chlorite); (2) concentrations of white albite porphyroblasts; (3) veins filled with quartz, albite, locally calcite and amphibole. The structural inventory of the metabasites is similar to that of the metapsammopelitic schists. Mesoscopic folds of centimetre to metre scale are more prominent and amphibole is often oriented parallel to the regional stretching lineation.
Several minor rock types are associated with the metabasites: (1) rare serpentinite lenses of several tens of metres in extent; (2) local layers of marble, black graphite-rich metapelite and pure quartzite of centimetre to metre thickness (metachert; Hervé, 1988
); (3) prominent intercalations of ferruginous metasediments of centimetre to metre thickness. These last rocks comprise mainly stilpnomelane-bearing schists and quartzites partly with garnet and/or concentrations of magnetite of economic value (e.g. at Punta Sirena; Fig. 1) as well as layers of massive sulphide of centimetres thickness. In southcentral Chile such rocks also grade into Mn-rich sediments (spessartine quartzites; coticules) which are regarded as pre-metamorphic Mn- and Fe-rich hydrothermal precipitates mixed with aluminous alteration-derived material at the surface of the oceanic crust (Willner et al., 2001
). A similar origin is also possible for the ferruginous metasediments. The metabasites and their associated rock types appear to represent the upper part of segments of oceanic crust incorporated into the accretionary prism.
In the Eastern Series metabasic intercalations are absent and metagreywackepelite alternations prevail with occasional calcsilicate. Particularly in the central part of the exposed Eastern Series in the study area stratigraphic coherence of strata and well-preserved turbiditic sedimentary structures (cross-bedding, load casts, convolute bedding, graded bedding) are observed as well as slightly east-vergent folding of bedding by chevron folds up to 10 m wide. These rocks are overprinted by a flat west-dipping second foliation, which becomes a transposition foliation approaching the Western Series. Early formed quartz veins are frequent, but albite porphyroblasts are absent. In the study area, the Eastern Series is overprinted by a HT metamorphic event. The earlier stages of its tectono-thermal evolution under very low grade conditions can only be inferred by comparison with other areas in Chile, where the HT overprint is lacking (Hervé, 1988
; Willner et al., 2000
). González Bonorino (1971)
mapped several prograde northsouth-trending metamorphic zones with the metamorphic grade increasing towards the axis of the batholith, which intrudes the Eastern Series at its eastern flank. Incipient biotite growth coincides with the western boundary of the Eastern Series. In the north of the study area garnet and oligoclase appear shortly before the staurolite isograd, which delimits the following zone characterized by garnet, staurolite and andalusite porphyroblasts. Then sillimanite appears and the highest grade zone is characterized by a migmatitic garnetcordieritesillimaniteK-feldspar gneiss. In the southern part of the study area staurolite does not appear and temperatures did not overstep the andalusitesillimanite transition. The porphyroblasts grew postkinematically after the first and second deformation. However, local slight rotation of the porphyroblasts is observed, as well as occasional stretching of andalusite blasts and quartz-filled tension gashes parallel to the regional stretching lineation. This indicates that deformation continued with lesser intensity after the peak of the HT event within a stress field similar to that before this overprint.
At three localities (Pichilemu, eastern Punta Lobos, southern Boyeruca; Fig. 1) a northsouth-striking semibrittle mélange-type shear zone occurs related to late-stage destruction of the accretionary prism. The boundary between the Eastern and Western Series in the north of the study area is a brittle reverse fault (PichilemuVichuquén Fault; Fig. 1), which cuts the isograds in the Eastern Series, whereas in the south of the study area the boundary is transitional, as observed by Godoy (1970)
. The prominent fault is a further late deformation, which caused shortening of the accretionary prism.
Tonalite, granodiorite and granite dominate in the eastern part of the study area, forming part of the Southern Coastal Batholith (SCB) of Permo-Carboniferous age (Hervé et al., 1988
). Granite with magmatic muscovite is frequently observed, but granitoids also occur containing hornblende and titanite. S-type granitoids seem to be abundant in the SCB consistent with their high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (Hervé et al., 1988
). Lucassen et al. (2004)
showed that isotope ratios of Nd and Pb are similar to those of the Palaeozoic metasediments, indicating a magmatic arc with a high crustal component. The Western Series are intruded by three small isolated bodies of biotite granite (Fig. 1; from north to south the plutons of Pichilemu, Los Ciruelos and Constitución). Scattered, local, post-tectonic basalt dykes of decimetre to metre thickness and a few rhyolitic dykes occur throughout the area. The Eastern Series and the batholith are unconformably overlain by Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous marine siliciclastic sediments and volcanic rocks.
| PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WESTERN SERIES |
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Rock fabric
Metabasites
The mineral assemblage of the greenschists is amphibolechloriteepidotealbitequartz ± titanite ± magnetite ± white mica ± calcite. Amphibole, chlorite and white mica (0·050·2 mm) are oriented parallel to the penetrative foliation, but cross-cutting grains are frequent. The recrystallized amphibole is always euhedral, forms up to 2 mm long needles and is strongly zoned, displaying bluish cores grading into green rims. Faint internal crenulation with recrystallized hinge zones can be detected within the dominant foliation. Epidote occurs as euhedral, optically zoned crystals of 0·1 mm size cross-cutting the fabric. Epidote and chlorite can continuously replace the existing assemblage until monomineralic layers are formed. Titanite forms small pods or trails of tiny anhedral grains (0·010·04 mm) parallel to the foliation with some relic crenulation hinges or larger euhedral recrystallized grains (0·1 mm). Quartz, albite and/or calcite form small polygonal aggregates or cross-cutting veinlets including all minerals of the matrix assemblage. Occasional anhedral albite porphyroblasts (0·10·5 mm) with internal trails of epidote and amphibole have grown after formation of the predominant foliation and across relic crenulation hinges. They may be rotated in rare sheared rocks. Opaque phases are pyrite or magnetite which grew as large, euhedral, recrystallized grains (0·51 mm). Clinopyroxene (0·10·5 mm) is a ubiquitous relic of the protolith assemblage. It often has irregular grain boundaries as a result of replacement by surrounding minerals. In some cases, large clinopyroxene crystals still display their original euhedral outline as former phenocrysts. In rare sheared rocks the mineral shows brittle deformation and rotation. Further relic fabric are occasional amygdales (15 mm size) filled with albite and/or calcite. The amygdales are slightly flattened in the more strongly deformed areas.
The mineral assemblage of the rare blueschists is blue amphibolechloriteepidotealbitequartz ± white mica ± titanite ± magnetite ± calcite. Banding at millimetre to centimetre scale is represented by dark bands of weakly oriented euhedral amphibole, chlorite, epidote and white mica (0·050·2 mm), alternating with bright bimineralic bands (amphibolequartz, amphiboleepidote, amphibolechlorite) or monomineralic strings (amphibole, chlorite, titanite, white mica or epidote). Crenulation of a relic foliation can also be observed within the bands, with oriented minerals recrystallizing in the crenulation hinges. Epidote and amphibole are optically zoned. Green amphibole overgrows blue amphibole along the rims. One sample (12544) contains relic clinopyroxene (0·5 mm). Unoriented euhedral albite crystals of similar size occur near the clinopyroxene crystals, suggesting a further magmatic relic. Quartzalbite veinlets with some blue amphibole occur parallel to the bands or cut across.
At four localities serpentinite lenses of 10 m scale are associated with the greenschist. Clinopyroxene occurs as the only relic phase forming a network of mainly 0·5 mm crystals, which surround other, entirely replaced phases with partly euhedral outline. Replacement minerals are mainly antigorite, minor tremolite and chlorite with exsolved magnetite. The original fabric resembles that of an ultramafic igneous cumulate. Godoy & Kato (1990)
also decribed pyroxene relics and abundant layered magnetite concentrations in serpentinite from southcentral Chile pointing to a similar origin.
Ferruginous metasediments
The three recognized types of iron-rich metasedimentsstilpnomelane quartzite, stilpnomelane schist and magnetitestilpnomelane rockscan grade into each other and into the associated greenschist. The typical mineral assemblage is magnetitestilpnomelaneamphibolegarnetquartzalbite ± white mica ± chlorite ± epidote.
Stilpnomelane (0·10·3 mm) is unoriented in a polygonal quartz fabric in the stilpnomelane quartzites, with occasional chlorite, white mica, amphibole and rare trails of tiny, optically zoned garnet (0·010·05 mm), or forms nearly monomineralic layers of oriented and cross-cutting crystals (0·050·5 mm) in the stilpnomelane schists. Occasional unoriented porphyroblasts of albite or magnetite (0·40·8 mm) grow across the stilpnomelane. The rocks are mostly banded at a millimetre scale, containing some rootless, isoclinal, intrafolial microfolds with recrystallized fold hinges. Monomineralic pods of magnetite, stilpnomelane, garnet (0·010·05 mm) or epidote occur with a polygonal fabric.
Metapsammopelitic schist
The typical mineral assemblage of the monotonous metapsammopeltic schist is quartzalbitewhite micachloriteilmenite ± magnetite ± epidote. The heavy mineral assemblage is characterized by zircon, apatite and tourmaline. There is prominent banding of alternating quartz- and phyllosilicate-rich bands of millimetre thickness. Quartz and albite (0·050·30 mm) form a polygonal fabric without relics of former detrital or oriented grains, but with local subgrain formation and sutured grain boundaries indicating late continuous deformation. White mica and chlorite (0·10·3 mm) are intensively intergrown showing a relic orientation. Crenulation hinges of various generations (F2, F3) are prominent, but the phyllosilicates are recrystallized in the hinges with frequent growth of cross-cutting mica. Albite porphyroblasts (0·52 mm) are a late, mostly unoriented phase and an intrinsic feature of the metapsammopelitic schist, overgrowing fold hinges of all generations (F2, F3). They are often macroscopically black as a result of internal inclusion trails of graphite, which trace relic crenulation hinges. The porphyroblasts are bound to the phyllosilicate-rich bands, growing at the expense of white mica. In some cases they can completely replace the white mica, forming bands of albite. The porphyroblasts are euhedral or partly anhedral as a result of incomplete development of the crystals or late pressure solution at the rims. Apart from this feature, local slight rotation of the porphyroblasts also indicates continuing weak deformation after the growth of the porphyroblasts.
The assemblage of the unusual garnet mica-schist at Punta Sirena is garnetquartzalbitewhite micachloriteepidotetitanite ± ilmenite ± rutile. Garnet porphyroblasts range from 1 to 10 mm size with internal sigmoidal trails of titanite, ilmenite or quartz (0·010·05 mm). Near the rims the garnet overgrows a polygonal fabric of coarser quartz (0·050·3 mm), similar to that of the surrounding matrix. The grains are euhedral or partly replaced at the rims by white mica and chlorite; in some samples they are also replaced along cracks by chlorite and epidote. Dominant white mica and minor chlorite (0·20·5 mm) form two foliations within a matrix of polygonal quartz and albite. The phyllosilicates recrystallize in crenulation hinges and cross-cutting grains are abundant. An early white mica occurs as inclusions in garnet and titanite. Subhedral grains of unoriented epidote (0·050·10 mm) are abundant in the foliation planes. Titanite forms euhedral, unoriented crystals of 0·10·5 mm size in the matrix, occasionally enclosing round rutile. Albite forms prominent, unoriented porphyroblasts (0·20·5 mm) enclosing trails of graphite, epidote, white mica, titanite or garnet. Some garnet mica-schist samples show a prominent orientation of the phyllosilicates parallel to the prevailing foliation. In these porphyroblasts of garnet, albite and titanite are strongly rotated, indicating a late, localized, non-coaxial deformation.
Mineral chemistry
Mineral compositions were determined using a Cameca SX 50 electron microprobe at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany. Operating conditions were an acceleration voltage of 15 kV, a beam current of 15 nA, 20 s counting time per element on the peak and on the background and a defocused beam of 8 µm diameter to avoid loss of alkalis in micas, feldspars and amphiboles. Standards used were synthetic pyrope (Si, Al, Mg), rutile (Ti), glass of andradite composition (Ca, Fe), jadeite (Na), K-bearing glass (K), topaz (F), Ba-silicate glass (Ba, La). The PAP procedure was used for matrix correction. Representative analyses and structural formulae of minerals used for PT calculations, together with the calculation procedure of the structural formulae, are presented in Table 1. Further data are available as supplementary data tables which may be downloaded from http://www.petrology.oupjournals.org or upon request to the author. Element distribution maps were simultaneously produced for three elements by stepwise scanning over rectangular areas. Abbreviations for minerals and mineral components used throughout the text follow Kretz (1983)
, if not indicated otherwise. Whole-rock analyses were performed at Ruhr-Universität Bochum by XRF except Fe2+ and H2O (standard wet chemical methods).
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Clinopyroxene
The clinopyroxene is augite of probable magmatic origin and, hence, the only abundant relic of the protolith of some metabasites. Its composition (Table 1) varies widely: diopside3568, hedenbergite115, enstatite013, acmite028, Tschermak component028 with notable traces of Ti [0·010·06 atoms per formula unit (a.p.f.u.)] and Cr (0·000·03 a.p.f.u.). The clinopyroxene compositions follow a similar trend within all the samples analysed, which overlaps the compositional range of clinopyroxene in within-plate alkali basalts in a MnOTiO2Na2O variation diagram (Nisbet & Pearce 1977
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Garnet
Garnet in the Western Series is restricted to the unusual garnet mica-schist and the ferruginous metasediments. The garnet mica-schist contains a grossular-rich garnet with the compositional range almandine0·470·76, grossular0·140·34, spessartine0·010·21, pyrope0·020·09 (XMg 0·020·13, Ti
0·04; Table 1). Zoning is typically prograde and bell-shaped with an increase in Ca and Mg and a decrease in Mn, Fe2+, Fe3+ and Ti from core to rim. Zonation of Ca is distinctly oscillatory.
In the ferruginous metasediments, the garnet is Mn- and Ca-rich with the compositional range almandine0·140·47, spessartine0·270·56, grossular0·180·26, pyrope0·010·03, uvarovite0·060·07, andradite0·010·04 (XMg 0·060·12, Ti
0·04 a.p.f.u.). These compositions are rather similar to that of garnet in the spessartine quartzite (coticule) in other parts of the basement, which have a pre-metamorphic hydrothermal origin (Willner et al., 2001
). Zonation is prograde and bell-shaped with an increase in Ca, XMg, Mg and Fe2+ and a decrease in Mn and Fe3+ from core to rim.
Amphibole
At the three blueschist localities (see above; Fig. 1) Na-amphibole varies from glaucophane to magnesioriebeckite in composition (Fig. 3a; Table 1; nomenclature after Leake et al., 1997
) and covers a wide, continuous range of XFe3+ (0·211·00) and NaB (= NaM4 = 1·511·93 a.p.f.u.) with more restricted XMg (0·520·85). Towards the rims the Na-amphibole continuously grades into NaCa-amphibole and actinolite (Fig. 3b; Fig. 4). The NaCa-amphibole is winchite (NaB 0·501·49 a.p.f.u., NaA < 0·28 a.p.f.u., XMg 0·630·93, XFe3+ 0·291·00, Si 7·438·00 a.p.f.u.), which is partly ferrian (Fe3+ 0·751·74 a.p.f.u.) pointing to a relatively oxidized environment. At the outer rims actinolite occurs (NaB 0·210·49 a.p.f.u., NaA < 0·21 a.p.f.u., XMg 0·680·79, XFe3+ 0·630·98, Si 7·457·88 a.p.f.u.; Fig. 4).
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In the greenschist and the ferruginous metasediments, amphibole mostly grades from NaCa-amphibole to Ca-amphibole or is Ca-amphibole with a high NaB content (Fig. 3c; Table 1). This variation also corresponds to high NaB in the core decreasing towards the rims. The NaCa-amphibole (NaB 0·500·88 a.p.f.u., NaA 0·000·31, XMg 0·400·82, XFe3+ 0·600·97) includes winchite (Si 7·507·93 a.p.f.u.) and barroisite (Si 6·647·48 a.p.f.u.). Barroisite is partly ferribarroisite (Fe3+ 1·232·00 a.p.f.u.) in the ferruginous metasediments. The Ca-amphibole (NaB 0·020·49 a.p.f.u., NaA 0·000·39, XMg 0·580·86, XFe3+ 0·301·00) ranges gradually from actinolite (Si 7·587·93 a.p.f.u.) to magnesiohornblende (Si 7·007·48 a.p.f.u.). It is notable that, at a given NaB content, the total R3+ content in the amphiboles of the greenschist is considerably higher than in those of the blueschist (Fig. 3b and c; except sample M3404). This may be due to a higher Tschermak substitution in the amphiboles of the greenschists leading in part to barroisite and magnesiohornblende compositions.
The overall compositional variation of amphibole during continuous grain growth, as well as between the peak metamorphic compositions of different blueschist and greenschist samples, shows complete transitions between Ca- and Na-amphibole, suggesting that no miscibility gap exists between Na- and Ca-amphiboles at the given conditions and compositions. Amphibole compositions can be plotted in terms of actinolite, glaucophane and riebeckite components (Fig. 5a and b) showing complete solid-solution between Fe-rich Ca- and Na-amphiboles. The remaining possible solid-solution gap between Mg-rich actinolite and glaucophane must be smaller than that calculated by Massonne (1995a
, 1995b)
at 300°C, indicating amphibole growth at T > 300°C.
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White mica
White mica of phengite composition occurs in all rock types (Table 1). Si contents are highest in the blueschist (3·333·53 a.p.f.u.) with a variation of 0·100·15 a.p.f.u. in single samples, whereas the range is wider in the greenschist (3·143·5 a.p.f.u.) with mostly lower maximum contents and a similar range in individual samples (Fig. 6). Si contents are still lower in the metapsammopelites (3·103·30 a.p.f.u.), but also in the garnet mica-schist (3·23·36 a.p.f.u.). Ti and Na contents are very low in all rock types (<0·05 a.p.f.u.). Most compositions plot below the ideal Tschermak-substitution line in Fig. 6 owing to partial substitution of Al by Fe3+ and some di/trioctahedral substitution. Fe3+ contents were estimated by normalizing the sum of cations on the octahedral site to 2·05 a.p.f.u. (see Massonne, 1995a
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No unambiguous pattern of chemical zonation could be detected, but lower values of Si are mostly measured near the rims. Only in the ferruginous metasediments do notable Ba contents exist (0·030·07 a.p.f.u.), presumably representing a premetamorphic hydrothermal component. Relic prograde phengite is observed only in the garnet mica-schist, as inclusions in garnet and titanite; this shows a slight chemical difference (Si 3·23·25 a.p.f.u., XMg 0·640·7, Na 0·070·12 a.p.f.u., Ti 0·150·3 a.p.f.u.) compared with the matrix white mica (Si 3·243·36, XMg 0·50·7, Na 0·020·07, Ti 0·0050·01).
Chlorite, titanite, epidote, stilpnomelane
Chlorite compositions in the metabasites vary within a similar range (Si = 2·553·10 a.p.f.u.; XMg = 0·520·68). Among the minor elements only Mn has a notable abundance (0·020·17 a.p.f.u.). Chlorite in metapsammopelitic rocks has partly lower Si contents (2·522·74 a.p.f.u.) and XMg (0·310·55) than in the metabasites.
Titanite is a prominent accessory phase in the metabasites and in the garnet mica-schist with a Ca(Al,Fe3+)SiO4(F,OH)-component between 4 and 52 mol %. Notable contents of F (0·020·59 wt %), Al (0·030·46 a.p.f.u.) and Fe3+ (0·010·22 a.p.f.u.) are observed. The Fe3+ content of epidote varies widely in different samples (0·440·99 a.p.f.u.), but generally an increase is observed from core to rim.
Stilpnomelane is the rock-forming mineral in the ferruginous metasediments, with notable contents of Mn (0·190·40 a.p.f.u.) and Na (0·110·23 a.p.f.u.).
| PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EASTERN SERIES |
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Apart from very rare calcsilicate rocks, the Eastern Series are lithologically extremely homogeneous and mineral assemblages, fabric and mineral chemistry change in response to the zonation of the high-temperature metamorphic overprint.
Within the biotite zone the main assemblage is biotitechloritemuscovitequartzplagioclase ± ilmenite. The first biotite grew at the expense of white mica and chlorite, either as mimetic growth along oriented phyllosilicates or as porphyroblasts of 0·050·30 mm size. A polygonal fabric of quartz and plagioclase is prominent. In the biotite zone white mica is muscovite only (Si 3·003·16 a.p.f.u., Na 0·050·15 a.p.f.u., Ti 0·01 a.p.f.u.), plagioclase is oligoclase (1519 mol % anorthite), whereas biotite (XMg 0·320·34, Ti 0·1 a.p.f.u.) and chlorite (Si 2·52·75 a.p.f.u., XMg 0·340·36, Mn 0·040·07 a.p.f.u.) are Fe-rich (Table 1). Compositional variation within and among samples is low.
A stauroliteandalusite zone is only observed in the north of the study area. Two main assemblages are: garnetbiotitemuscoviteplagioclasequartz ± staurolite ± ilmenite and andalusitebiotitemuscoviteplagioclasequartz ± staurolite ± ilmenite. Although porphyroblasts of garnet, biotite, staurolite and andalusite grew post-kinematically with respect to the penetrative foliation, slight rotation is observed locally, indicating continuing deformation with waning intensity after the peak of HT metamorphism. Staurolite porphyroblasts (12 mm) are euhedral with tiny inclusions of quartz and biotite. At the rims slight replacement by muscovite, chlorite and ilmenite is observed. Small euhedral garnet porphyroblasts (0·10·3 mm) are nearly devoid of inclusions. The size of the prominent andalusite porphyroblasts ranges from 0·1 cm to several centimetres. Frequently, partial replacement by sericite and chlorite occurs, indicating very low temperature alteration. Also, quartz-rich calcsilicate rocks are locally observed containing the assemblage garnetclinoproxenequartzplagioclasetitanite.
In the south of the study area medium-grade conditions are represented by an andalusitesillimanite zone as the highest grade without appearance of staurolite. However, some poikilitic cordierite in the matrix has been described by Gana & Hervé (1983)
. Andalusite porphyroblasts are only of 12 mm size, but locally abundant. In the eastern part of the zone fibrolite appears replacing andalusite at the rims.
Medium-grade schists are characterized by muscovite (Table 1) with an increased paragonite component (Si 3·003·09 a.p.f.u., Na 0·200·27 a.p.f.u., Ti 0·010·017 a.p.f.u.), oligoclase (1925 mol % anorthite), Mg-rich biotite (XMg 0·280·35, Ti 0·090·11 a.p.f.u.) and staurolite with traces of Mn and Zn (XMg 0·120·17, Mn 0·0220·035 a.p.f.u., Zn 0·0210·029 a.p.f.u.); garnet composition is almandine0·730·89, pyrope0·050·08, spessartine0·030·19, grossular0·020·02 (XMg 0·060·12, Ti
0·04 a.p.f.u.). Its zonation is bell-shaped with decreasing Mn, Ca and Ti, and increasing Mg and Fe from core to rim. XMg remains constant.
In the highest grade zone of the northern study area a migmatitic gneiss with the assemblage garnetcordieritesillimaniteK-feldsparplagioclasequartz occurs. Garnet forms prominent anhedral porphyroblasts (0·51·0 cm) with inclusions of quartz, biotite and sillimanite particularly near the rims. Garnet composition (Table 1) is almandine0·790·81, pyrope0·120·15, spessartine0·020·03, grossular0·020·04 (XMg 0·130·16, Ti
0·04 a.p.f.u.). The garnet is internally unzoned. Quartz and plagioclase (1925 mol % anorthite) show secondary recrystallization of large crystals (0·30·8 mm) at the expense of smaller ones with abundant inclusions of biotite, fibrolite and apatite. Cordierite (XMg 0·550·58, Na 0·060·11 a.p.f.u., Mn 0·0070·015 a.p.f.u) with inclusions of biotite and fibrolite is intergrown with quartz and plagioclase. Two generations of sillimanite are present. Fibrolite forms prominent unoriented nodes and bands replacing biotite at its contact. Prismatic sillimanite (0·5 mm) replacing fibrolite and biotite form aggregates of centimetre size. Ti-rich biotite grains (0·21 mm; XMg 0·380·45, Ti 0·130·21 a.p.f.u.) grew entirely unoriented. Local late retrograde muscovite grew across sillimanite. The gneiss contains local migmatitic leucosomes of granitic composition.
| METAMORPHIC EVOLUTION OF THE WESTERN SERIES |
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Phase relationships and reaction history
To visualize the approximate PT stability fields of the high variance blueschist- and greenschist-facies assemblages, pseudosections were calculated in the system K2ONa2OCaOTiO2Fe2O3FeOMgOAl2O3SiO2H2O from the whole-rock composition of four representative white mica-bearing samples of all major rock types (Fig. 7; Table 2). For calculating the equilibrium assemblages and respective mineral compositions, the Gibbs free energy minimization procedure was applied using the DEKAP code developed by Gerya et al. (2001)
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In the two calculated pseudosections of the blueschist and greenschist samples, which have no marked bulk-rock chemical differences, a narrow transitional field, of similar size, with coexisting Ca- and Na-amphiboles, is predicted between the blueschist and greenschist assemblages between 300°C,
57 kbar and 400°C, 68·5 kbar (Fig. 7a and b). The predicted coexistence of two amphiboles contrasts with the observation made above that a complete compositional transition exists between Na- and Ca-amphiboles within the studied samples. The transition between the facies stability fields is actually represented by the NaCa-amphiboles winchite and barroisite, which are common in all metabasites. Hence the predicted coexistence of two amphiboles in the pseudosections must be due to the activity models used for amphibole, which imply a too wide miscibility gap. Nevertheless, the minimum pressure for blueschist assemblages at 7·88·8 kbar, 300400°C is equivalent in both pseudosections. This predicts that there is a pressure difference between the recorded peak assemblages of the blueschist and greenschist samples. Lawsonite is not observed in our samples, but appears at pressures above 911 kbar at 300350°C. This can be taken as a lower temperature limit for the studied epidote blueschist-facies assemblages. At the highest temperature limit, a transitional field to the albite amphibolite facies may already appear at 430°C. In the greenschist assemblages biotite would be stable at T > 400°C and P < 45 kbar.
A typical pseudosection for the metapsammopelites (Fig. 7c) shows that their common assemblage white micachloritequartzalbite ± epidote is stable over a very wide PT field including greenschist, epidote blueschist and albiteepidote amphibolite facies. Lawsonite is predicted already at 911 kbar and 300350°C, representing a good lower temperature limit. Garnet in the Western Series is restricted only to very Mn-rich assemblages, such as the ferruginous metasediments, and it is thus stabilized to low temperature by high Mn contents. An exception is the Ca-rich garnet mica-schist of Punta Sirena, where garnet is predicted to be stable above 1011 kbar. However, in the absence of omphacite, temperatures should have exceeded
450500°C (Fig. 7d). The calculated composition of the high-pressure garnet (e.g. at 11 kbar, 550°C: almandine0·661, grossular0·241, pyrope0·098) corresponds well to the measured one, as noted above.
Four localities of ferruginous metasediments (associated with blueschist and greenschist) contain the assemblage stilpnomelanewhite mica (Fig. 1), proving that temperatures did not exceed stilpnomelane breakdown to biotite coexisting with phengite and quartz (Massonne & Szpurka 1997
; here calculated for mean compositions; method I, Table 3) at
350400°C, >5 kbar (Fig. 8a). On the other hand, thorough recrystallization of quartz within the pentratively deformed rocks, lacking any visible distinction between clastic and recrystallized grains in the metapsammopelites, indicates minimum temperatures above 350°C (Brix et al., 2002
). The pumpellyite breakdown reaction marking the boundary between pumpellyiteactinolite and greenschist facies (Evans, 1990
; here calculated for mean compositions; method I, Table 3) at 300350°C, >5 kbar (Fig. 8b), was well overstepped in the entire study area. Also, retrograde pumpellyite did not form, indicating that retrograde metamorphic reactions appear to have ceased before cooling through 300°C. Hence the evolution of most rocks of the study area was apparently restricted to a rather narrow temperature range. Maximum pressure is limited by the presence of pure albite in all rock types to below 10·512·5 kbar at 300400°C.
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The reaction history leading to the omnipresent, conspicuous, retrograde zoning in amphibole and other hydrous phases (white mica, chlorite, epidote) appears to be governed by the presence of a free interstitial hydrous fluid phase. Abundant growth of postkinematic late albite porphyroblasts and different generations of late quartz-filled veins cutting the pervasive foliation are visible expressions of the presence of free fluids on the entire retrograde path. However, it is questionable if an external fluid influx is necessary for retrograde reaction progress, considering the common assumption that water released during prograde dehydration left the system. Pressure-sensitive multivariant reactions such as reaction (E6) (see Table 4) at the blueschistgreenschist-facies transition, that are used for geobarometry below, have water partly as a reactant on the high-pressure side, but also on the low-pressure side [see reaction (5), Table 4]. This means that water can be consumed or released during continuous retrograde decompression reactions. The calculated pseudosections allow quantification of the change in the amount of free water relative to the bulk water content of the system with changing PT conditions (Fig. 9), assuming that reactions are instantaneous and complete, and the water content of the rock was the total water content of the system. Considering PT changes from 400°C, 810 kbar to 350°C, 5 kbar (simulating the partial PT path derived above) the changes in Xfree water/Xbulk water are negative for greenschist sample 95CH24 (consumption of free water), but positive for blueschist sample 95CH11 and the metapsammopelitic sample 98CH32 (release of free water). This predicts that with continuous reaction during decompression at low-grade conditions (either isothermally or with slight cooling), the amount of free water might increase in many cases, such that no external water is required for reactions to proceed. A limited amount of steadily available free water will favour localized equilibrium over short distances during continuous mineral growth with activities of elements in the fluid always buffered.
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Geothermobarometry
For quantification of the PT conditions for equilibration stages along the PT path, local equilibria with multivariant reactions were calculated using mineral compositions of phases in close contact. Multivariant equilibria calculations were undertaken mainly using the Ge0calc software of Brown et al. (1989)
Metabasite
Because of the high number of reliable components available for calculations, good geothermobarometric results were obtained for the low-variance assemblage amphibolewhite micachloriteepidotequartzalbite. Invariant points were calculated using the water-independent multivariant reactions (E1)(E4) (Table 3). Including water as a further phase, nine additional reactions were calculated. However, these relatively flat water-dependent reactions are not only sensitive to minor changes in (unknown) water activity, but also are much more dependent on the activity of the clinozoisite component than the water-independent ones. Thus their use as a further check for equilibrium conditions is limited, although closest coincidence of all possible invariant points was always approached. For blueschist samples lacking chlorite, the water-dependent reaction (E5) was used as a barometer; for greenschist lacking white mica, the water-dependent reaction (E6) was calculated.
The two generations of amphibole in the two different metabasite rock types reflect two stages of equilibration along a partial PT path, a peak metamorphic stage I and a retrograde stage II. Calculations of the stage I conditions yield a range of PT results (invariant points) of 9·510·7 kbar, 350385°C for the blueschist and 7·09·3 kbar, 380420°C for the greenschist (Fig. 8). The temperature range for the latter was independently corroborated by conventional FeMg exchange thermometry with rims of garnetamphibole pairs (Graham & Powell, 1984
) in two magnetitestilpnomelane rocks (samples 95CH25 and 98CH25). The scatter presumably represents continuous equilibration around peak PT conditions during the late prograde and early retrograde PT path, which could not be resolved in detail in the present case, but also differences in peak pressure between greenschist samples are likely. Calculations of the stage II conditions yielded a range of PT results of 6·07·7 kbar, 290345°C for the blueschist and 4·47·2 kbar, 315380°C for the greenschist (Fig. 8), thus indicating pressure release with slight cooling. The slight temperature difference between the paths of the blueschist and greenschist presumably concurs with a generally higher Tschermaks substitution in the amphiboles of the greenschist (Fig. 3c).
There is no regional trend in the distribution of peak pressures (Fig. 1), but there is a significant peak pressure difference between the two metabasite types as predicted from the pseudosections. It is often argued that in the Chilean basement the very rare blueschist assemblages are the principal relics of HPHT conditions generally completely erased by a pervasive retrograde greenschist overprint (e.g. Kato, 1985
; Martin et al., 1999
). Here peak PT compositions of solid-solution phases are regarded as preserved in most rock types for the following reasons:
- relic magmatic clinopyroxene phenocrysts are replaced by Na-, CaNa- or Ca-amphibole in different rock types. It seems unlikely that a premetamorphic phase is preserved but not the peak metamorphic amphibole.
- A pervasive overprint, erasing all relic compositions, could be driven by influx of abundant external fluid; however, this should lead to phase reduction. Such metasomatic effects are frequently observed, but not predominant in the metabasite lenses, where low-variance assemblages are also common. It was shown above that major external fluid infiltration is unlikely for most of the studied rocks.
Metapsammopelite
For the high-variance assemblage present in most of the metapsammopelitic rocks, thus far only the approach of Vidal & Parra (2000)
and Parra et al. (2002a
, 2002b)
, using coexisting chloritephengite equilibria, has been shown to yield consistent results, especially for metapelites in similar HPLT terranes. This approach (method 2; Table 3) is based on thermodynamic solution models involving the Tschermak and pyrophyllitic substitutions in white mica and the di/trioctahedral substitution in chlorite. Application of this approach to the metapsammopelitic rocks of the study area is, however, restricted only to the water-independent multivariant equilibria (E7)(E9) and (E3). All analysed iron is assumed to be ferrous in this approach. Other possible end-members with contents in chlorite and mica of less than 5% (e.g. sudoite, pyrophyllite) could not be considered because of the high uncertainty of their activity in these phases. For two metapsammopelitic schist samples calculated ranges of conditions of local equilibria of 49·6 kbar, 355435°C suggest similar peak PT conditions and decompressional overprint to those in the greenschists. Hence a comparable PT evolution path for both rock types is inferred (Fig. 8b and c).
In contrast, the garnet mica-schist yields deviating results. Multiple tests with available multivariant reactions and conventional thermometers involving garnet do not yield any reasonable results, and show that garnet is not in equilibrium with white mica or chlorite. This concurs with the observation that chlorite, white mica and epidote replace garnet at its rims. Evidently the matrix assemblage around garnet is a second retrograde one. Phengite inclusions in garnet, albite and titanite have different compositions than matrix white micas and are prograde. Considering the results from the pseudosections, P >1011 kbar and T >
450500°C must have been realized to produce the garnet during an older, higher temperature stage I. Chloritephengite equilibria of coexisting pairs in the matrix indicate conditions of 390440°C, 9·614·7 kbar (method 2; Table 3). The conditions of this retrograde stage II partly appear to be at too high pressure, because the upper stability of albite should have been overstepped and no jadeite is observed. Nevertheless, they still indicate significantly higher PT conditions than in the metapsammopelites and the greenschist of the study area (Fig. 8). The relation between stages I and II suggests an isobaric cooling path at
1213 kbar. The garnet mica-schist is very similar to a garnet mica-schist associated with a garnet amphibolite in the Western Series of southcentral Chile (Willner et al., 2004b
), which yielded an anticlockwise PT path and highest regional PT conditions. This similarity corroborates the unusual evolution of the garnet mica-schist. Similar to the analogue from southcentral Chile, the garnet mica-schist studied here also yields an age related to stage II that is significantly older than the ages of the peak of metamorphism in the area (Willner et al., 2005
).
| METAMORPHIC EVOLUTION OF THE EASTERN SERIES |
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The interpretation of the HT metamorphic sequence and phase relationships in the Eastern Series is straightforward (Fig. 10). The zonation and sequence of mapped assemblages indicate progressive increase in grade from upper greenschist facies to granulite facies, suggesting a classic Abakuma-type sequence at pressures below the aluminosilicate triple point. The sequence starts with the formation of biotite, passes the staurolite-in reaction in the andalusite stability field and the staurolitequartzmuscovite-out reaction in the sillimanite stability field, and ends with the first anatectic melts. Breakdown of muscovite + quartz in the sillimanite field before reaching the wet granite solidus indicates a pressure below 3·6 kbar (intersection of the muscovite + quartz breakdown and wet granite solidus curves). This is consistent with the position of the univariant reaction Bt + Sil + Qtz = Grt + Cord + Kfs + H2O of the KFMASH system (Spear & Cheney 1989
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Geothermobarometry is consistent with predictions from the petrogenetic net (Fig. 10). All calculations were carried out using method 1 (Table 3) with multivariant reactions (E10)(E20) listed in Table 4. In the biotite zone, the temperature can be approximated calculating reaction (E10) (curve 3a in Fig. 10) and the minimum pressure with reaction (E11) (curve 3b in Fig. 10) involving a theoretical K-feldspar. For mica-schist 01CH29 approximate conditions of 23 kbar, 400450°C result. PT conditions in the medium-grade rocks can be estimated in two ways. (1) Overstepping the staurolite-in reaction conditions in the andalusite stability field requires
520580°C, 2·53 kbar around the isopleth XFe = 0·9 for garnet coexisting with staurolite, biotite, muscovite and quartz (Spear & Cheney 1989
Evaluation of the highest grade conditions are as follows: (1) FeMg exchange thermometry for cordieritebiotite pairs (Bhattacharya et al., 1988
) in sample 01CH48 results in 684716°C (point 8 in Fig. 10), and the isopleth XFe = 0·85 for garnet coexisting with cordierite, biotite, K-feldspar and quartz occurs at 650°C (curve 7 in Fig. 10). The position of the univariant reaction Bt + Sil + Qtz = Grt + Cord + Kfs + H2O in this temperature range indicates a minimum of 2·53·2 kbar. (2) An invariant point (point 6 in Fig. 10) was calculated intersecting seven multivariant water-independent reactions [(E15)(E20), (E12)] including coexisting cordierite, biotite, garnet, quartz, sillimanite and plagioclase. For sample 01CH48 peak conditions at 690°C, 3·45 kbar result. Using water-dependent multivariant reactions including the same components as well as K-feldspar (nine reactions), a reduced water activity can be estimated at
0·5.
The intrusion depth of the neighbouring granite (98CH43) was approximated using the zoned magmatic muscovite coexisting with biotite and K-feldspar. Intersection of reaction (E11) with the wet granite solidus is at 3·6 kbar for an Si content of 3·08 a.p.f.u. in white mica cores (curve 9a in Fig. 10) and at 2·8 kbar for Si 3·04 a.p.f.u. in the white mica rims (curve 9b). The quartzmuscovite breakdown curve is considerably lowered for Si 3·08 a.p.f.u. (curve 2b in Fig. 10). Hence most muscovite presumably crystallized near the granite solidus just on the low-temperature side of the muscovite + quartz breakdown curve.
| DISCUSSION AND GEODYNAMIC CONSTRAINTS |
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