We report here lattice preferred orientations （LPOs） and seismic properties of eclogites from the Sulu （苏鲁） UHP terrane. Our results show strong fabrics in omphacite and amphibole, and approximately random fabrics in garnet with or without strong shape preferred orientations （SPOs）. Dislocation creep is likely to be responsible for the observed omphacite fabrics that vary with geometry and orientation of finite strain ellipsoid. Weak garnet LPOs suggest that garnet did not accommodate plastic strain or was not deformed by dislocation creep with a dominant slip system. The calculated seismic properties of eclogites and their component minerals show a strong correlation with their LPOs. Seismic anisotropies are mostly induced by omphacite component in fresh eclogites and by amphibole component in retrograded eclogites, respectively. Retrogression of omphaeite to amphibole and quartz will increase seismic anisotropies but decreases seismic velocities of eclogite. Garnet component increases the seismic velocities but decreases seismic anisotropies of eciogite. Comparison of the calculated and the measured seismic properties of eclogites suggests that both methods resolve comparable results with some discrepancies. Compositional layering can play a very important role in determining the seismic properties of eclogites in addition to LPO.
This article presents an overview on recent developments in studies of chemical and physical processes of lithospheric delamination with respect to destruction of the North China Craton. It is emphasized that the pyroxenite source resulting from interaction between eclogite-derived melt and peridotite is a direct consequence of delamination. The pyroxenite source thus formed has unique mineralogical and geochemical features, which characterize Mesozoic basalts of the North China Craton. Melt-peridotite interaction played an important role in refertilization of cratonic lithospheric mantle, leading to density increase, weakening and final destabilization of the North China Craton. The nature of the melt is the key to distinguish mechanisms of destructing this craton.
Dehydration melting experiments were performed on ultrahigh-pressure eclogite from Bixiling in the Dabie orogen at 1.5―3.0 GPa and 800―950℃ using piston cylinder apparatus. The results show that (1) eclogite with ~5% phengite started to melt at T≤800―850℃ and P = 1.5―2.0 GPa and produced about 3% granitic melt; (2) the products of dehydration melting of phengite-bearing eclogite vary with temperature and pressure. Fluid released from dehydration of phengite and zoisite leads to partial melting of eclogite and formation of plagioclase reaction rim around kyanite at pressures of 1.5―2.0 GPa and temperatures of 800―850℃; (3) phengite reacted with omphacite and quartz and produced oligoclase, kyanite and melt at elevated temperatures. Oligoclase is the primary reaction product produced by partial melting of phengite in the eclogite; and (4) the dehydration melting of phengite-bearing eclogite at pressures of 1.5―3.0 GPa and temperatures ≥900 ℃ results in formation of garnets with higher molar fraction of pyrope (37.67 wt.%―45.94 wt.%). Potassium feldspar and jadeite occur at P = 2.4―3.0 GPa and T≥900 ℃ , indicating higher pressure and fluid-absent conditions. Our results constrain the solidus for dehydration melting of phengite-bearing eclogite at pressures of 1.5―3.0 GPa. Combining experi- mental results with field observations of partial melting in natural eclogites, we concluded that phengite-bearing eclogites from the Dabie-Sulu orogen were able to partially molten at P = 1.5―2.0 GPa and T = 800―850℃ during exhumation. The ultrahigh-high pressure eclogites would have experienced partial melting in association with metamorphic phase transformation under different fluid conditions.
LIU Qiang1,2, JIN ZhenMin1,2 & ZHANG JunFeng1,2 1 State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
To study the mechanism of melt-peridotite reaction pertinent to the destruction of the North China Craton (NCC) lithosphere, a series of experiments were performed at a pressure of 2.0 GPa and temperatures from 1250 to 1400°C using Bixiling eclogite and Damaping peridotite as starting materials. The experimental results show that the reaction between eclogite melt and peridotite causes dissolution of olivine and orthopyroxene and precipitation of clinopyroxene in the melt. The experimental run products, characterized by a lherzolite/pyroxenite/garnet-pyroxenite sequence, are consistent with the mantle xenoliths in the Neogene Hannuoba basalt of the NCC found by Liu et al. (2005). It suggests that the mafic lower continental crust was probably recycled into the mantle during the Mesozoic Era. In the experiments conducted at 1300 and 1350°C, the resulting melts have a high Mg# andesite signature, indicating that the melt-peridotite reaction may have played a major role in the generation of high Mg# andesite. Our experimental results support the hypothesis that melts derived from foundered eclogite in the asthenosphere will consume the lithospheric peridotites. Therefore, melt-peridotite reaction is an important mechanism for the destruction/thinning of the lithosphere.
WANG ChaoJIN ZhenMinGAO ShanZHANG JunFengZHENG Shu
The ultrahigh-pressure（UHP） eclogite and gneiss from the Dabie（大别）-Sulu（苏鲁） oro-gen experienced variable degrees of partial melting during exhumation.We report here dehydration partial melting experiments of biotite gneiss and phengite-bearing eclogite at 2 GPa and 800-950 ℃.Our results show that the partial melting of gneiss is associated with the breakdown of biotite into almandine-rich garnet starting at 900 ℃.About 10% granitic melt can be produced at 950 ℃.In con-trast,the partial melting of phengite-bearing eclogite exists at slightly lower temperatures（800-850 ℃）.The melt fraction is in general more in biotite gneiss than in phengite-bearing eclogite under similar pressure and temperature conditions.Both melts are rich in silica and alkali,but poor in FeO,MgO and CaO.These results suggest that low-degree partial melting of gneiss and eclogite is often associated with dehydration of hydrous mineral,such as micas.The dehydration temperature and melt composi-tion can place important constraints on the partial melting phenomena（granitic leucosome and multi-phase mineral inclusions） recorded in UHP rocks.
