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Petrogenesis of cordierite-orthoamphibole assemblages from the Springton region, South Australia

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Abstract

Textural evidence for the partial breakdown of staurolite-biotite and andalusite-biotite assemblages to cordierite-orthoamphibole implies high temperature metasomatic depletion of K2O in semi-pelitic rocks from Springton, South Australia. The origin of the reaction textures is discussed with reference to μK2O-T diagrams derived from the topologically equivalent μK2O−(-μH2O) diagram showing both discontinuous and Fe−Mg continuous reactions. The involvement of fluids in the metasomatic process is implied by the scale of K2O removal and suggests that the outcrop pattern of cordierite-gedrite rocks reflects, at least in part, a heterogeneous distribution of advecting fluids in the metamorphic pile at high temperatures.

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Abbreviations

ab:

albite

alm:

almandine

als:

aluminosilicate

and:

andalusite

anth:

anthophyllite

bt:

biotite

cd:

cordierite

fe-bt:

Fe-rich biotite

fe-cd:

Fe-rich cordierite

fe-oa:

Fe-rich orthoamphibole

fe-st:

Fe-staurolite

gt:

garnet

ksp:

potassium feldspar

ky:

kyanite

mg-cd:

Mg-rich cordierite

mg-oa:

Mg-rich orthoamphibole

mg-st:

Mg-rich staurolite

mu:

muscovite

oa:

orthoamphibole

phl:

phlogopite

plag:

plagioclase

py:

pyrope

sill:

sillimanite

st:

staurolite

v:

vapour

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Adelaide, GPO Box 498, Adelaide, South Australia

    Jo Arnold & Michael Sandiford

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  1. Jo Arnold
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  2. Michael Sandiford
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Arnold, J., Sandiford, M. Petrogenesis of cordierite-orthoamphibole assemblages from the Springton region, South Australia. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 106, 100–109 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306411

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306411

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