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Porosity generated during fluid–rock reaction can facilitate fluid transport and metasomatism in low permeability high-pressure metamorphic rocks. Evidence for reaction-induced porosity is found in an eclogite-facies clinopyroxene + apatite vein in an undeformed eclogitized Fe–Ti metagabbro from the Monviso Ophiolite (W. Alps) with a distinct garnet-rich selvage. Vein-forming fluids were sourced from adjacent metagabbros and reaction with the host rock removed Ca and P from the selvage and added Fe, REE, Pb and Cr. Textures at the selvage–host rock interface and in the host rock record local heterogeneity in reactivity and porosity during metasomatism linked to variable initial lawsonite abundance. These features reflect a hierarchy of pervasive-to-channelized porosity structures that facilitated widespread metasomatism of the host rock. Development of this metasomatic system in response to locally derived fluids suggests large-scale externally derived fluid transport is not required to drive extensive fluid–rock exchange. The production of porosity during metasomatic reactions could be important in facilitating further fluid–rock reaction and fluid transport in subducting slabs where permeability is low.
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A grain boundary model of metamorphic reaction
Abstract A model is presented whereby metamorphic parageneses are governed by local, nano-scale reactions among adjacent phases along grain boundaries that are driven by local disequilibrium between the solid phases and the grain boundary composition. These reactions modify the grain boundary composition setting up compositional gradients that drive diffusion and change the grain boundary composition elsewhere in the rock, which drive local reactions in these locations. The process may be triggered by the nucleation of a new phase that is out of equilibrium with the existing assemblage and an example is presented based on the transformation of kyanite (Ky) to sillimanite (Sil). Model results reveal that a simple polymorphic transformation (Ky→Sil) can result in local reactions among all phases in the rock and some phases may grow in one locale and be consumed in another. An implication of these results is that interpretation of metamorphic parageneses based on growth or resorption and compositional changes of phases requires careful evaluation of nano-scale processes.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2147526
- PAR ID:
- 10495616
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer Science + Business Media
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology
- Volume:
- 179
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0010-7999
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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