The exsolution of clinopyroxene and rutile in coarse-grain garnet is found in the gneissic K-feldspar(-bearing) garnet clinopyroxenite from Yinggelisayi in the Altyn Tagh, NW China. The maximum content of the exsolved clinopyroxene in the garnet is up to >5% by volume. The reconstructed precursor garnet (Grt1) before exsolution has a maximum Si content of 3.061 per formula uint, being of supersilicic or majoritic garnet. The peak-stage metamorphic pressure of >7 GPa is estimated using the geobarometer for volume percentage of exsolved pyroxene in garnet and the Si-(Al+Cr) geobarometer for majoritic garnet, and the temperature of about 1000℃ using the ternary alkali-feldspar geothermometer and the experimental data of ilmen- ite-magnetite solid solution. The protoliths of the rocks are intra-plate basic and intermediate ig- neous rocks, of which the geochemical features indicate that they are probably the products of the evolution of basic magma deriving from the continental lithosphere mantle. The rocks are in outcrops associated with ultrahigh pressure garnet-bearing lherzolite and ultrahigh pressure garnet granitoid gneiss. All of these data suggest that the ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks in the Altyn Tagh are the products of deep-subduction of the continental crust, and such deep- subduction probably reaches to >200 km in depth. This may provide new evidence for further discussion of the dynamic mechanism of the formation and evolvement of the Altyn Tagh and the other collision orogenic belts in western China.
LIU Liang1,3, CHEN Danling1, ZHANG Anda1, SUN Yong1, WANG Yan1, YANG Jiaxi1,2 & LUO Jinhai1 1. Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics of the Ministry of Education of China, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
Exsolution microstructures in minerals of rocks from orogenic belts played an important role in recognition of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism in their host rocks by defining the subduction depth and improving our understanding of the dynamics during the subduction and exhumation of UHP rocks. However, it is a challenging scientific topic to distinguish the 'exsolution microstructures' from the 'non-exsolution microstructures' and decipher their geological implications. This paper describes the subtle differences between the 'exsolution microstructures' and the 'non-exsolution microstructures' and summarizes the progress in studies of exolution microstructures from UHP rocks and mantle rocks of ultra-deep origin. We emphasize distinguishing the 'exsolution microstructures' from the 'non-exsolution microstructures' based on their geometric topotaxy and chemistry. In order to decipher correctly the exsolution microstructures, it is crucial to understand the changes of chemistry and habits of host minerals with pressure and temperature. Therefore, it is important to combine observations of exsolution microstructure in natural rocks with experimental results at high pressure and temperature and results of micro-scale analyses. Such studies will improve our understanding of the UHP metamorphism and cast new lights on solid geoscience issues such as deep subduction of continental crusts and crust-mantle interactions.
LIU LiangYANG JiaXiZHANG JunFengCHEN DanLingWANG ChaoYANG WenQiang
