Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fluid variability in 2 GPa eclogites as an indicator of fluid behavior during subduction

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fluid activity ratios calculated between millimeter- to centimeter-scale layers in banded mafic eclogites from the Tauern Window, Austria, indicate that variations in a H 2 O existed between layers during equilibration at P approximately equal to 2GPa and T approximately equal to 625°C, whereas a CO 2 was nearly constant between the same layers. Model calculations in the system H2O−CO2−NaCl show that these results are consistent with the existence of different saturated saline brines, carbonic fluids, or immiscible pairs of both in different layers. The data cannot be explained by the exisience of water-rich fluids in all layers. The model fluid compositions agree with fluid inclusion compositions from eclogite-stage veins and segregations that contain (1) saline brines (up to 39 equivalent wt. % NaCl) with up to six silicate, oxide, and carbonate daughter phases, and (2) carbonic fluids. The formation of crystalline segregations from fluid-filled pockets or hydrofractures indicates high fluid pressures at 2 GPa; the record of fluid variability in the banded eclogite host rocks, however, implies that fluid transport was limited to local flow along individual layers and that there was no large-scale mixing of fluids during devolatilization at depths of 60–70 km. The lack of evidence for fluid mixing may, in part, reflect variations in wetting behavior of fluids of different composition; nonwetting fluids (water-rich or carbonic) would be confined to intergranular pore spaces and would be essentially immobile, whereas wetting fluids (saline brines) could migrate more easily along an interconnected fluid network. The heterogeneous distribution of chemically distinct fluids may influence chemical transport processes during subduction by affecting mineral-fluid element partitioning and by altering the migration properties of the fluid phase(s) in the downgoing slab.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnicoat AC (1988) The mechanism of veining and retrograde alteration of Alpine eclogites. J Metamorph Geol 6:545–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrientos X (1991) Petrology of coexisting blueschists and greenschists, Ile de Groix, France: implications for preservation of blueschists. PhD Thesis, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

  • Bebout GE (1991) Field-based evidence for devolatilization in subduction zones: implications for are magmatism. Science 251: 413–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Bebout GE, Barton MD (1989) Fluid flow and metasomatism in a subduction zone hydrothermal system: Catalina Schist terrane, California. Geology 17: 976–980

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrmann J, Ratschbacher L (1989) Archimedes revisited: a structural test of eclogite emplacement models in the Austrian Alps. Terra Nova 1: 242–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers TS, Helgeson HC (1983) Calculation of the thermodynamic and geochemical consequences of nonideal mixing in the system H2O−CO2−NaCl on phase relations in geologic systems: equation of state for H2O−CO2−NaCl fluids at high pressures and temperatures. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47: 1247–1275

    Google Scholar 

  • Chopin C (1984) Coesite and pure pyrope in high-grade blueschists of the western Alps: a first record and some consequences Contrib Mineral Petrol 86: 107–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloos M (1984) Landward-dipping reflectors in accretionary wedges: active dewatering conduits? Geology 12: 519–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Dachs E (1986) High-pressure mineral assemblages and their breakdown products in metasediments south of the Grossvenediger, Tauern Window, Austria. Schweiz Mineral Petrog Mitt 66: 145–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Dachs E (1990) Geothermobarometry in metasediments of the southern Grossvenediger area (Tauern Window, Austria). J Metamorph Geol 8: 217–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggler DH (1987) Solubility of major and trace elements in mantle metasomatic fluids: experimental constraints. In: Menzies MA, Hawkesworth CJ (eds) Mantle metasomatism. Academic Press, London, pp 21–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis DJ, Green DH (1979) An experimental study of the effect of Ca upon garnet-clinopyroxene Fe−Mg exchange equilibria. Contrib Mineral Petrol 71: 13–22

    Google Scholar 

  • England PC, Holland TJB (1979) Archimedes and the Tauern eclogites: the role of buoyancy in the preservation of exotic eclogite blocks. Earth Plan Sci Lett 44: 287–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernst WG (1990) Thermobarometric and fluid expulsion history of subduction zones. J Geophys Res 95: 9047–9053

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferry JM (1976) A map of chemical potential differences within an outcrop. Am Mineral 64: 966–985

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferry JM (1988) Infiltration-driven metamorphism in northern New England. J Petrol 29: 1121–1159

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferry JM, Dipple GM (1991) Fluid flow, mineral reactions, and metasomatism. Geology 19: 211–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher D, Byrne T (1990) The character and distribution of mineralized fractures in the Kodiak Formation, Alaska: implications for fluid flow in an underthrust sequence. J Geophys Res 95: 9069–9080

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank W, Hock V, Miller C (1986) Metamorphic and tectonic history of the Central Tauern Window. In: Flugel HW, Faupl P (eds) Geodynamics of the eastern Alps. Franz Deuticke, vienna, pp 34–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank W, Miller C, Pestal G (1987) Geologische Karte der Republik Österreich: Matrei in Osttirol (1:50000). Geologische Bundesanstalt, Wien

    Google Scholar 

  • Franz G, Selverstone J (1992) An empirical phase diagram for the clinozoisite-zoisite transformation in the system Ca2Al3Si3−O12(OH)−Ca2Al2FeSi3O12(OH). Am Mineral 77: 631–642

    Google Scholar 

  • Franz G, Spear FS (1983) High pressure metamorphism of siliceous dolomites from the central Tauern Window, Austria. Am J Sci 283-A: 396–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill JB (1981) Orogenic andesites and plate tectonics. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickey RL, Frey FA, Gerlach DC, Lopez-Escobar L (1986) Multiple sources for basaltic are rocks from the southern volcanic zone of the Andes (34–41°S): trace element and isotopic evidence for contributions from subducted oceanic crust, mantle, and continental crust. J Geophys Res 91: 5963–5983

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickmott DD, Sorensen SS, Rogers PSZ (1992) Metasomatism in a subduction complex: constraints from microanalysis of trace elements in minerals from garnet amphibolite from the Catalina schist. Geology 20: 347–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland TJB (1979) High water activities in the generation of high pressure kyanite eclogites in the Tauern Window, Austria. J Geol 87: 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland TJB (1983) The experimental determination of activities in disordered and short-range ordered jadeitic pyroxenes. Contrib Mineral Petrol 82: 214–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland TJB, Ray NJ (1985) Glaucophane and pyroxene breakdown reactions in the Pennine units of the castern Alps. J Metamorph Geol 3: 417–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson EL (1991) Experimentally determined limits for H2O−CO2−NaCl immiscibility in granulites. Geology 19: 925–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerrick DM (1990) The Al2SiO5 polymorphs. Mineral Soc Am Rev Mineral, vol 22

  • Kerrick DM, Jacobs GK (1981) A modified Redlich-Kwong equation for H2O, CO2, and H2O−CO2 mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures. Am J Sci 281: 735–767

    Google Scholar 

  • Krogh EJ (1988) The garnet-clinopyroxene Fe−Mg geothermometer —a reinterpretation of existing experimental data. Contrib Mineral Petrol 99: 44–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Lammerer B (1986) Das Autochthon im westlichen Tauernfenster. Jahrb Geol Bundesanst Austria 129: 51–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Luckscheiter B, Morteani G (1990) The fluid phase in eclogites, glaucophane-bearing rocks and amphibolites from the central Tauern Window as deduced from fluid inclusion studies. Tscherm Mineral Petrog Mitt 27: 99–111

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaig AM, Knipe RJ (1990) Mass-transport mechanisms in deforming rocks: recognition using microstructural and microchemical criteria. Geology 18: 824–827

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller C (1977) Chemismus und phasenpetrologische Untersuchungen der Gesteine aus der Eklogitzone des Tauernfensters, Österreich. Tscherm Mineral Petrog Mitt 24: 221–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris JD, Leeman WP, Tera F (1990) The subducted component in island are lavas: constraints from be isotopes and B-Be systematics. Nature 344: 31–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Morteani G (1974) Petrology of the Tauern Window, Austrian Alps. Fortschr Mineral 52: 195–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton RC, Haselton HT (1981) Thermodynamics of the garnetplagioclase-Al2SiO5-quartz geobarometer. In: Newton RC, Navroisky A, Wood BJ (eds) Thermodynamics of minerals and melts. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg Tokyo, pp 131–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock SM (1990) Fluid processes in subduction zones. Science 248: 329–337

    Google Scholar 

  • Perfit MR, Gust DA, Bence AE, Arculus RJ, Taylor SR (1980) Chemical characteristics of island-arc basalts: implications for mantle sources. Chem Geol 30: 227–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Philippot P, Selverstone J (1991) Trace-element-rich brines in eclogitic veins: implications for fluid composition and transport during subduction. Contrib Mineral Petrol 106: 417–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Raith M, Hormann PK, Abraham K (1977) Petrologic and metamorphic evolution of the Penninic ophiolites in the western Tauern Window (Austria). Schweiz Mineral Petrog Mitt 57: 187–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Raith M, Mehrens C, Thole W (1980) Gliederung, tektonischer Bau und metamorphe Entwicklung der penninischen Serien im südlichen Venedigergebiet, Osttirol. Jahrb Geol Bundesanst Austria 123: 1–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumble D (1978) Mineralogy, petrology, and oxygen isotopic geochemistry of the Clough Formation, Black Mountain, western New Hampshire, USA. J Petrol 19: 317–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryburn RJ, Raheim A, Green DH (1976) Determination of the P, T paths of natural eclogites during metamorphism-record of subduction: a correction to a paper by Raheim and Green. Lithos 9: 161–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Selverstone J (1986) Possible consequences of CO2−H2O immiscibility on blueschist-facies metamorphism. Geol Soc Am Prog Abstr 18: 745

    Google Scholar 

  • Selverstone J, Munoz JL (1987) Fluid heterogeneties and hornblende stability in interlayered graphitic and nongraphitic schists (Tauern Window, eastern Alps). Contrib Mineral Petrol 96: 426–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Selverstone J, Spear FS (1985) Metamorphic P-T paths from pelitic schists and greenstones from the southwest Tauern Window, eastern Alps. J Metamorph Geol 3: 439–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Sisson VB, Crawford ML, Thompson PH (1981) CO2-brine immiscibility at high temperatures, evidence from calcareous metasedimentary rocks. Contrib Mineral Petrol 78: 371–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith DC, Lappin MA (1989) Coesite in the Straumen kyaniteeclogite pod, Norway. Terra Nova 1: 47–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobolev NV, Shatsky VS (1990) Diamond inclusions in garnets from metamorphic rocks: a new environment for diamond formation. Nature 343: 742–746

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen SS (1988) Petrology of amphibolite-facies mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Catalina Schist, southern California: metasomatism and migmatization in a subduction zone metamorphic setting. J Metamorph Geol 6: 405–435

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen SS, Grossman JN (1989) Enrichment of trace elements in garnet amphibolites from a paleo-subduction zone: Catalina Schist, southern California. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 53: 3155–3177

    Google Scholar 

  • Spear FS, Franz G (1986) P-T evolution of metasediments from the eclogite zone, south-central Tauern Window, Austria. Lithos 19: 219–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterner SM, Bodnar RJ (1989) Synthetic fluid inclusions-VII. Reequilibration of fluid inclusions in quartz during laboratory-simulated metamorphic burial and uplift. J Metamorph Geol 7: 243–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas S (1990) Segregations and veins in eclogite facies rocks from the Tauern Window, Austria: mineralogy and fluid inclusions. Geol Soc Am Prog Abstr 22:A257

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas S (1991) Zur Kluftbildung in Gesteinen der Eklogitzone (Hohe Tauern, Österreich). Technische Universität Berlin, PhD Thesis

  • Thomas S, Franz G (1989) Kluftminerale und ihre Bildungsbedingungen in Gesteinen der Eklogitzone/Südvenedigergebiet (Hohe Tauern, Österreich). Mitt Österr Geol Ges 81:189–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson EB, Brenan JM (1987) Fluids in the lithosphere, 1. Experimentally-determined wetting characteristics of CO2−H2O fluids and their implication for fluid transport, host rock physical properties, and fluid inclusion formation. Earth Plant Sci Lett 85:497–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann R, Franz G (1989) Die Eklogite der unteren Schieferhülle, Frosnitztal/Südvenediger (Tauern, Österreich). Mitt Österr Geol Ges 81:167–188

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jane Selverstone

    Present address: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Campus Box 250, 80309-0250, Boulder, CO

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 Oxford St., 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Jane Selverstone & Stephen Getty

  2. Fachgebiet Petrologie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17 Juni 135, W-1000, Berlin 12, FRG

    Gerhard Franz & Sabine Thomas

Authors
  1. Jane Selverstone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerhard Franz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sabine Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephen Getty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Selverstone, J., Franz, G., Thomas, S. et al. Fluid variability in 2 GPa eclogites as an indicator of fluid behavior during subduction. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 112, 341–357 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310465

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310465

Keywords

Search

Navigation