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Metamorphic Petrology - Lecture VI

This document discusses metamorphic grade and facies. It defines metamorphic grade based on pressure-temperature conditions, ranging from very low to very high grade. Metamorphic facies describe recurring mineral assemblages and include zones like zeolite, greenschist, and amphibolite facies. Index minerals are used to delineate metamorphic zones within terrains. Diagrams like ACF, AKF, and AFM are graphical methods to represent metamorphic mineral assemblages in different rock types.

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KeErthi Vasan
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144 views

Metamorphic Petrology - Lecture VI

This document discusses metamorphic grade and facies. It defines metamorphic grade based on pressure-temperature conditions, ranging from very low to very high grade. Metamorphic facies describe recurring mineral assemblages and include zones like zeolite, greenschist, and amphibolite facies. Index minerals are used to delineate metamorphic zones within terrains. Diagrams like ACF, AKF, and AFM are graphical methods to represent metamorphic mineral assemblages in different rock types.

Uploaded by

KeErthi Vasan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture SIX

Metamorphic Grade and


Facies
Metamorphic grade and Facies

Systematic spatial distribution in mineral assemblages that formed


during metamorphism in metamorphic terrains allow to delineate mineral
zonation, using index minerals (e.g. chlorite, biotite, garnet, staurolite,
cordierite, sillimanite, andalusite, wollastonite, diopside… etc.)

- Mineral zone: Zones in the field,


which mark the first appearance of
an index mineral, such as chlorite
zone, garnet zone.

-Mineral isograde: boundary


marked between two mineral zones,
which include:
- Mineral-in: first app
-Mineral-out: the last appearance of
Example: Wadi Tweiba (S. Sinai) mineral zones
Gabal Yelleq (Sinai) contact aureole mineral zones

H13
>

Upper c
aureole H1
H0
Rim

20 m
A7
A8
A9
Core - A3 A10
A0
Wadi filling A1
A11
A4
A6

Dolorite Sill
Lower
aureole
Metapelites metamorphic zones (Scotland)
Distribution of minerals within metamorphic zones
Metamorphic grades

Metamorphic grades is a general term for describing the relative P-T


conditions under which the metamorphic rocks form. The grades
could subdivided into:

- Very low grade

- Low grade

- Medium grade

- High grade

- Very high grade

The boundaries between the grades are chosen to correspond to


important discontinuous reactions (could recognized as major
isograde), and they correlate with the scheme of metamorphic facies.
Metamorphic facies

Metamorphic facies is defined as a set of metamorphic mineral


assemblage, repeatedly associated in space and time.
Metamorphic grades and facies
Metamorphic grade Metamorphic facies Index mineral assemblages
Pelitic rocks Metabasalt
Very low grade Zeolite Mixed layer clays, Laumonite, analcite,
sericite heulandite, wairakite
Prehnite-pumpellyite Illite-muscovite, Chl, - prehnite-pumpellyite,
Ab, Pyr, Chl. Ab, Ep, Act, Law.
Blue schist Chl, Tlc, Ms, Grt, Chld Glu, Law
Low grade Greenschist Chl, Ms, Ab, Bt, Grt Act, Ep, Ab, Chl, Act,
Grt, Hbl
Albite-epidote Ms, Bt, Chl Pl, Ep, Act, Chl
hornfels
Medium grade Amphibolite Grt, St, And, Ky, Sill, Hbl, Pl, Ep, Grt
Ms, Crd
Hornblende hornfels Crd, Chl, bt, Ms, And Hbl, Pl, Cumm
High grade Granulite Crd, Grt, Kfs, Sill, Ky, Cpx, Grt, Opx, Pl, Ol,
Hy, Sap. Hbl
Pyroxene honfels Crd, And, Kfs Cpx, Opx, Pl, Ol, Hbl
Sanidinite Cor, Mgt, An, glass Not well defined
Very high grade Eclogite Tlc, ky, Grt, Ms Omph (Cpx), grt
Metamorphic grades and facies
Metamorphic series
Graphical representation of metamorphic mineral
assemblage

1- ACF and AKF diagrams: Suitable for mafic rocks and calc-

silicates.

2- AFM diagram: Useful for pelitic rocks.

3- CAS (CaO - Al2O3 - SiO2) diagram: Useful for marly rocks

(calcareous mudstones).

4- MCS (MgO - CaO - SiO2) diagram: Useful for ultramafic rocks.


ACF diagram
AKF diagram
Plotting of mineral assemblage and rock categories in
ACF and AKF
AFM plotting
AFM diagram
SCM diagram

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