Petrogenetic modelling of strongly residual metapelitic xenoliths within the southern Platreef, Bushveld Complex, South Africa

Xenoliths of quartz-absent Fe-rich aluminous metapelite are common within the platinum group element-rich mafic ⁄ ultramafic magmatic rocks of the Platreef. Relative to well-characterized protoliths, the xenoliths are strongly depleted in K2O and H2O, and have lost a substantial amount of melt (>50 vol.%). Mineral equilibria calculations in the NCKFMASHTO system yield results that are consistent with observations in natural samples. Lower-grade rocks that lack staurolite constrain peak pressures to � 2.5 kbar in the southern Platreef. Smaller xenoliths and the margins of larger xenoliths comprise micro-diatexite rich in coarse acicular corundum and spinel, which record evidence for the meta…

Processes in granulite metamorphism

On the importance of minding one’s Ps and Ts: metamorphic processes and quantitative petrology

This Special Issue comprises a selection of the papers given at a two-day discussion meeting held at the University of Melbourne, Australia in June 2009 to celebrate Roger Powells 60th birthday. At this milestone, it is fitting to review Rogers career to date. He has published 200 scientific papers on topics that range from low- to high-grade metamorphism, from low- to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamor- phism, and from thermodynamics to kinetics. Most of Rogers papers are multi-authored and address important questions in the petrogenesis of metamorphic rocks. Roger is widely known for his work with Tim Holland to develop the most complete internally consistent dataset of thermodynamic proper…

Subduction or sagduction? Ambiguity in constraining the origin of ultramafic–mafic bodies in the Archean crust of NW Scotland

Abstract The Lewisian Complex of NW Scotland is a fragment of the North Atlantic Craton. It comprises mostly Archean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) orthogneisses that were variably metamorphosed and reworked in the late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. Within the granulite facies central region of the mainland Lewisian Complex, discontinuous belts composed of ultramafic–mafic rocks and structurally overlying garnet–biotite gneiss (brown gneiss) are spatially associated with steeply-inclined amphibolite facies shear zones that have been interpreted as terrane boundaries. Interpretation of the primary chemical composition of these rocks is complicated by partial melting and melt loss…

A year in the life of an aluminous metapelite xenolith—The role of heating rates, reaction overstep, H2O retention and melt loss

Abstract Xenoliths of aluminous metapelite within the Platreef magmatic rocks of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa, are mineralogically and texturally zoned, with coarse-grained margins rich in acicular corundum, spinel and feldspar and cores rich in finer-grained aluminosilicate and cordierite. Xenoliths exhibiting remarkably similar features occur within other intrusions, suggesting a common origin. Using a single 3 m wide xenolith as a case study, a model is proposed to explain their petrogenesis. Mineral equilibria calculations in the NCKFMASHTO system show that the thermal stability of the solid phases, in particular corundum, is highly sensitive to the quantity of H 2 O retained in t…

Archaean Intracrustal Differentiation from Partial Melting of Metagabbro--Field and Geochemical Evidence from the Central Region of the Lewisian Complex, NW Scotland

The central region of the mainland Lewisian gneiss complex of NW Scotland is a granulite-facies migmatite terrane. With the exception of ultramafic and rare calc-silicate rocks, all other lithologies partially melted during Neoarchaean, ultrahigh-temperature (Badcallian) metamorphism. The clearest evidence is preserved within large layered mafic^ultramafic bodies that exhibit macroscopic features diagnostic of anatexis. In situ partial melting of metagabbroic rocks produced patches and sheets of coarse-grained plagioclase-rich leucosome containing euhedral peritectic clinopyroxene.These leucosomes connect with larger, laterally continuous tonalite or trondhjemite sheets that record segregat…

Delamination and recycling of Archaean crust caused by gravitational instabilities

The volume of Archaean crust preserved at Earth’s surface today is low. Thermodynamic calculations and geodynamic modelling show that the thick, primary crust that would have formed on a much hotter Archaean Earth was denser than the underlying mantle, and would have therefore been recycled back into the mantle as drips.

Granulites, partial melting and the rheology of the lower crust