Metamorphic mineral growth

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Growth ◽  
Metamorphic Mineral

Evolution of regional metamorphism during back-arc stretching and subsequent crustal shortening in the 1.9 Ga Wopmay Orogen, Canada

1987 ◽  
Vol 321 (1557) ◽  
pp. 199-218 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Thermal Relaxation ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Magmatic Arc ◽  
Mineral Growth ◽  
Metamorphic Mineral ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Continental Magmatic Arc ◽  
Uplift And Erosion ◽  
Structural Levels

The stratigraphic units, structural elements and metamorphic mineral assemblages of a regional metamorphic culmination in the 1.9 Ga Wopmay Orogen are exposed over greater than 30 km of composite structural depth, in a series of oblique sections produced by cross folding. Regional metamorphism developed continuously in three sequential, rapidly changing thermo-tectonic régimes within an evolving continental magmatic arc. At ca . 1900 Ma, stretching of intra-arc crust resulted in the accumulation of clastic sediment and bimodal volcanic rift-fill deposits. The onset (first stage) of regional metamorphism is marked by high- T low P mineral assemblages, condensed metamorphic zonal sequences and extensive areas of high-grade gneisses devoid of associated plutons. These features are interpreted in terms of a high thermal gradient related to stretching and thinning of the continental lithosphere. Five to ten million years after stretching, following deposition of a west-facing sedimentary prism, a suite of 1896—1878 Ma plutons was emplaced into the rift and margin deposits as they underwent subhorizontal shortening and deformation during the Calderian Orogeny. Thrusted and folded syn-orogenic foredeep deposits are also intruded by the syn-tectonic plutons. At high and intermediate structural levels, syn-tectonic metamorphic mineral growth and metamorphic zonal sequences which are spatially related to the plutons, document heat advection into the deforming marginal prism and mark a second stage of regional metamorphism related to the emplacement of the plutonic bodies. Inverted mineral isograds in autochthonous Proterozoic units beneath a basal décollement record downward thermal relaxation of isotherms following east-directed Calderian transport of the deformed, thickened, and still hot marginal prism over a relatively cold basement. Derivation of multi-point P - T trajectories from post-tectonic, poikiloblastic garnets charts metamorphic mineral growth during uplift and erosion of the internal zone, documenting the third (final) stage of regional metamorphism in Wopmay Orogen. The short erosional time interval (less than 11 Ma) between tectonic thickening and the end of uplift constrains the heat required for this last metamorphic stage to be inherited from the two preceding thermo-tectonic régimes: epicontinental stretching and the emplacement of the syn-tectonic plutonic suite.

The sources of metamorphic heat during collisional orogeny: the Barrovian enigma

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1309-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Ryan ◽  
John F. Dewey
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Heating ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Thermal Relaxation ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Medium Temperature ◽  
Mineral Growth ◽  
Metamorphic Mineral ◽  
Lithospheric Extension ◽  
Western Ireland ◽  
Collisional Orogeny

The problem of the observed very rapid advection of heat into metamorphic thrust stacks is reviewed. Conductive models relying on the thermal relaxation of a thickened crust will not produce the observed Barrovian (medium temperature, medium pressure) assemblages within some short-lived orogens (e.g., western Ireland and Timor). Studies of the rate and timing of metamorphic mineral growth suggest that this is commonly faster than predicted by thermal relaxation. Barrovian assemblages are localised in some orogens (e.g., the Alps) but extensive in others (e.g., the Himalayas). Metamorphic mineral growth brackets deformation; consequently, slow growth is inconsistent with the rapid uplift of many orogens. Thus, no single mechanism can account for the development of Barrovian assemblages during collisional orogeny. The only mechanisms that can supply large amounts of heat for regional metamorphism quickly (<10 Myr) are: rapidly thinning the lithosphere without stretching it (e.g., by plume thermal erosion, slab drop-off, or delamination); by emplacing magma into the crust (modest deep mafic underplate and (or) very large amounts of mafic and silicic magma emplaced into the middle and upper crust); or obducting hot nappes of arc with a thin ophiolite forearc (“hot iron” mechanism). Frictional and viscous heating produces local rapid heating but not fast regional heating. Back-arc or any kind of lithospheric extension increases the geothermal gradient and heat flow but does not heat rocks up. We suggest that magmatic advection of heat-associated lithospheric thinning or “hot iron” overthrusting of an arc/ophiolite are the primary sources of heat in short-lived orogens.

IV.—On Mineral growth, at ordinary temperatures, and under ordinary conditions

1877 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 158-184
Author(s):  
T. A. Readwin
Keyword(s):  
Natural Order ◽  
Mineral Growth ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
At Will

“Plants live, and grow ; Animals live, grow, and move; Minerals, neither live, grow, nor move.”For so long a time, has this been an article of almost universal belief, that any nonconformity therewith, is looked upon with more or less of grave suspicion.In what follows, it is proposed to show that there is a rather more natural order in which the aphorism may appropriately run; namely :—Minerals grow, Plants live and grow, Animals live, grow, and move at will. “The three kingdoms of nature,” as they are not at all inconveniently called, exist in close relationship; so very close, indeed, that some naturalists think they are not really apart from each other.

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