2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)
Paper No. 143-59
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

A MULTI-PHASE, CUSPIDINE-BEARING INTERGROWTH RESULTING FROM ÅKERMANITE BREAKDOWN IN A CALC-SILICATE XENOLITH, KIGLAPAIT INTRUSION, LABRADOR

OWENS, Brent E., Department of Geology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, beowen@wm.edu and KREMSER, Daniel T., Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH 43201

Cuspidine [Ca4Si2O7(F,OH)2] is a rare calc-silicate mineral typically confined to contact metamorphic/metasomatic environments.  In most cases, cuspidine is F-rich, reflecting interaction of rocks with F-bearing fluids.  We report an occurrence of cuspidine as part of a complex intergrowth texture formed from the retrograde breakdown of åkermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) in a calc-silicate xenolith in the Kiglapait Intrusion, Labrador.  The m-sized xenolith occurs near the southeastern margin within Lower Zone troctolite, and is surrounded by a cm-thick pyroxenite reaction zone.  Dominant minerals in the xenolith include åkermanite (XMg=0.97, Na-mel12Gh3), forsterite (Fo93), monticellite (XMg=0.86), strongly zoned aluminian-ferrian diopside (≤ 10 wt% Al2O3), along with minor spinel.  Textures among these minerals suggest that åkermanite + forsterite represent the peak T assemblage, and that  intergrown monticellite and diopside formed during cooling (åk + fo = mtc + di).  At low pressure (~1 kb), this fluid absent reaction occurs at ~875°C, suggesting that the xenolith was heated to at least this T.  Åkermanite grains are in local optical continuity, but are separated by regions composed of fine-grained symplectic intergrowths.  Under hydrous (or fluid absent) conditions, åkermanite is known to break down to monticellite + wollastonite at ~700°C.  However, at least 5 phases have been identified in these intergrowths, including cuspidine (near ideal F-bearing composition), monticellite (XMg=0.93), diopside (≤ 6 wt% Al2O3), grandite garnet (Gr70), and serpentine.  This complex intergrowth probably reflects at least a two-stage retrogression path.  The first represents the breakdown of åkermanite in the presence of a F-rich fluid:  4åk + 2HF = cusp + 2di + 2mtc + H2O.  These product phases appear to be the dominant ones in the intergrowth, and the Al-diopside was perhaps derived from the gehlenite component in the åkermanite.  The production of water in this stage then led to further reaction(s), possibly:  3CaTs (Ca-Tschermak's pyx) + 4di + 2 mtc + 4H2O = 3gr + 2srp.  Fluorine-rich cuspidine requires interaction with a F-bearing fluid, probably derived from the surrounding magma.  This interpretation is consistent with the known volatile content of the Kiglapait, which contained F far in excess of H2O and Cl.

2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)
General Information for this Meeting
Session No. 143--Booth# 74
Mineralogy/Crystallography; Petrology; Volcanology (Posters)
Colorado Convention Center: Exhibit Hall E/F
8:00 AM-12:00 PM, Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 6, p. 395

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