Amphibolites are hornblende-plagioclase rocks of metamorphic origin that are widely distributed, especially in Precambrian shield areas and in younger orogenic belts. They commonly occur in association with a variety of garnet-, kyanite-, staurolite-, or sillimanite-bearing schists and gneisses and particularly in Precambrian terrane amongst quartzofeld-spathic gneisses. Most amphibolites have been produced by the recrystallization of basic igneous rocks under conditions of medium temperature and pressure, although other origins are possible. Well-documented examples occur in the Adirondacks, U.S.A. (Engel and Engel, 1962), Grampian Highlands, Scotland (Wiseman, 1934), Connemara, Eire (Evans and Leake, 1960; Leake, 1964), Broken Hill, Australia (Binns, 1965), and southern West Greenland (Friend et al., 1981).
Metamorphic facies
In common usage, the term amphibolite is applied to metamorphosed basic rocks and other hornblende-andesine rocks in the amphibolite facies. According to Miyashi...
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Bowes, D.R. (1989). Amphibolite . In: Petrology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30845-8_7
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