Journal of Petrology

Effects of P, f(O2) and Mg/Fe Ratio on Dehydration Melting of Model Metagreywackes.

Alberto E. Patino Douce, James S. Beard

ABSTRACT

We present results of dehydration melting experiments (3-15 kbar, 810-950 degrees C, f(O2) less than or equal to QFM and more than or equal to NiNiO) on two Fe-rich mixtures of biotite (37%), plagioclase An38 (27%), quartz (34%), and ilmenite (2%), which differ only in their biotite compositions Mg 23 and 0.4). Dehydration melting of metagreywackes of constant modal composition generates a wide range of melt fractions, melt compositions and residual assemblages, through the combined effects of pressure, Fe/Mg ratio, and f(O2). Crystallization of garnet is the chief control on melting behavior, and is limited by two reactions: (1) the breakdown of garnet + quartz to orthopyroxene + plagioclase at low P, and (2) the oxidation of garnet to magnetite + anorthite + quartz (+enstatite), which is sensitive to both f(O2) and P. Because of these reactions, melting of Mg-rich metagreywackes is rather insensitive to f(O2) but strongly sensitive to P; the converse is true for Fe-rich metagreywackes. Garnet crystallization requires that plagioclase break down incongruently, liberating albite. This increases the Na2O content of the melts and enhances melt production. Thus, melting of metagreywacke in a reducing deep-crustal environment (with garnet stable) would produce more, and more sodic melt than would garnet-absent melting of the same source material in a relatively oxidizing, shallow-crustal environment.

Keywords

anatexis;metasediments;gneisses;granites;garnet

Return to header

Current Contents ................

J. Petrology Editor's Page