Skip to main content
6th International Archean Symposium
6th International Archean Symposium

Archean garnet-bearing amphibolites in NE Brazil: constraints on pressure-temperature paths

Poster

Talk Description

The Archean basement of NE Brazil features several Paleo- to Neoarchean plutonic and metasedimentary rocks. Partial melting at high temperatures were previously constrained during the Mesoarchean, Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic. Here we present pressure-temperature paths based on thermodynamic modelling of a garnet-bearing amphibolite that intrudes a 3.35 Ga supracrustal sequence. The sample comprises plagioclase (XAn: 0.88 – 0.20), pargasitic amphibole, garnet with almandine and pyrope-rich cores (XAlm: 0.60, XPy: 0.15,) and grossular-rich rims (XGrs: 0.40), epidote, quartz, muscovite, titanite, clinopyroxene, K-feldspar (XOr: 0.96), calcite, magnetite, rutile, apatite and zircon. The sample comprises quartz absent domains, where the breakdown of garnet leads to the intergrowth of epidote and amphibole. In quartz-bearing domains, breakdown of garnet leads to symplectites of amphibole and plagioclase (XAn – 0.60). Inclusions in garnet comprise amphibole, titanite, ilmenite, magnetite, quartz and calcite. Matrix minerals include amphibole, plagioclase, rutile, calcite, apatite and zircon. Thermodynamic modelling on the NCKFMASHTO system constrained temperatures between 800-850° C at 8-10 kbar for garnet cores and 750-800° C for garnet rims. Pressure decrease led to the breakdown of garnet to amphibole + plagioclase ± titanite ± ilmenite at 650° C and 6 kbar. Recrystallization of matrix amphibole occurred at 600° C and 4 kbar. The presence of muscovite and rutile suggests possible pressures above 14 kbar at 705° C. Overall, the P-T path suggest a pressure peak at 14 kbar, followed by peak temperature conditions at 800-850° C. High-temperature metamorphism overprinting high-pressure metamorphism is a common feature of Archean high-pressure granulites and is predicted by geodynamic modelling as a marker of ancient collisional orogens.

Speakers