Microstructural relationships from locally equilibrated domains in UHP eclogites (Snieznik Massif, NE Bohemian Massif)

The Snieznik eclogites experienced peak ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism in around ~770°C at ~3.2 GPa followed by isothermal decompression and amphibolite-facies retrogression during Variscan Orogeny. The well-preserved peak metamorphic assemblage of these UHP eclogites comprises garnet + omphacite + kyanite + phengite + rutile + coesite. The mineral assemblage connected with the isothermal decompression episode is present in the form of diopside-amphibole-plagioclase symplectites that are locally disintegrating the main foliation.

Here, we investigate plagioclase rims developed around kyanite at the interface with quartz and diopside-plagioclase symplectite. They are present only around kyanite occurring in the vicinity of zones developed during the isothermal decompression event. In some parts, the plagioclase rims are locally replaced by the diopside-plagioclase symplectite. The monomineralic plagioclase rims, having max. 20 µm radial thickness, are polycrystalline. They consist of individual plagioclase grains (each 2-15 µm in diameter) with different crystallographic orientations. The rims as a whole exhibit zoning with the highest Ca content observed at the contact with the kyanite grains. The measured CaO content increases from ~2% near quartz and diopside-plagioclase symplectite to ~6% at the kyanite boundary.

In this contribution we investigate the chemical and mechanical effects, that might have contributed to the preservation of the observed zoning and the microstructural heterogeneity of the rims.