Coexisting garnets and biotites from Precambrian gneisses of the south coast of Western Australia |
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| Authors: | NCN Stephenson |
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| Institution: | Department of Geology, University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W. 2351, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Garnet-biotite (-cordierite) phase relations in high-grade gneisses of the south coast of Western Australia reflect at least two metamorphic episodes. Chemical uniformity of the interiors of garnet and cordierite grains suggest thorough equilibration during a major phase of metamorphism. Narrow Mg-depleted rims on garnet grain boundaries in contact with biotite or cordierite, and complementary Mg-enriched rims on contiguous cordierites are the result of subsequent retrograde re-equilibration. The absence of reaction zoning in biotites suggests more complete retrograde modification of this mineral.Comparison between granulite and amphibolite facies garnet-biotite pairs shows that Mn contents of both minerals are higher, and Ti contents of the biotites are lower, in the lower-grade rocks. These differences, although not entirely unrelated to grade, are more directly controlled by variations in host rock chemistry and modal amounts of garnet and biotite.Partitioning of Mg, Fe2+ and Mn between garnet and biotite is fairly uniform, with no clear differences between granulite and amphibolite facies pairs. Application of the Mg-Fe2+ distributions to the geothermometers devised by Perchuk, Thompson, and Goldman & Albee yields variable T estimates of 600–680°C, 580–780°C, and 475–715°C respectively, for the main metamorphism. These estimates are low compared with the T indicated for the granulite facies rocks by other evidence (i.e. > 750°C at 5 kb PT). The Mg-Fe2+ distributions between contiguous garnet-biotite rims suggest that retrograde re-equilibration occurred at least 20–140°C below the T of the main metamorphism. |
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