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Processes of Formation and Retrogression of Scourian Granulites

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Fluid Movements — Element Transport and the Composition of the Deep Crust

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 281))

Abstract

Partial melting of Scourian gneisses during the 2.7Ga Badcallian granulite facies metamorphism produced H2O undersaturated granitic to trondhjemitic melts. During cooling, melts which remained ir the complex crystallized and the residual liquids became richer in H2O until water-rich fluids were exsolved at 620–700°C. These fluids probably caused the Inverian retrogression which commenced at around 650°C. This proposition is supported by the correlation of areas which contain abundant neosomes and regions which underwent the highest degrees of retrogression. Pegmatites representing H2O-rich residual liquids were intruded during the later stages of cooling as predicted by viscosity and separation velocity calculations. During prograde metamorphism, most volatiles probably were located in the mineral phases. Anatexis at the peak of metamorphism transferred volatiles (especially H2O) into the melts. On cooling, fluids were formed which rehydrated the minerals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Weeks Hall, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    I. Cartwright

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  1. I. Cartwright
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Museum, Øster Voldgade 5-7, DK-1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    David Bridgwater

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Cartwright, I. (1989). Processes of Formation and Retrogression of Scourian Granulites. In: Bridgwater, D. (eds) Fluid Movements — Element Transport and the Composition of the Deep Crust. NATO ASI Series, vol 281. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0991-5_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0991-5_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6935-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0991-5

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