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Monazite begets monazite: evidence for dissolution of detrital monazite and reprecipitation of syntectonic monazite during low-grade regional metamorphism

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Abstract

Back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging and X-ray element mapping of monazite in low-grade metasedimentary rocks from the Paleoproterozoic Stirling Range Formation, southwestern Australia, reveal the presence of distinct, high-Th cores surrounded by low-Th, inclusion-rich rims. Previous geochronology has shown that the monazite cores are older than 1.9 Ga and overlap with the ages of detrital zircon grains (∼3.5–2.0 Ga), consistent with a detrital origin. Many cores have scalloped and embayed surfaces indicating partial dissolution of former detrital grains. Textural evidence links the growth of the monazite rims (∼1.2 Ga) to deformation and regional metamorphism during the Mesoproterozoic Albany-Fraser orogeny. These results indicate that high-Th detrital monazite is unstable under low-grade metamorphic conditions (<400°C) and was partially or completely dissolved. Dissolution was followed by near-instantaneous reprecipitation and the formation of low-Th monazite and ThSiO4. This reaction is likely to operate in other low-grade metasedimentary rocks, resulting in the progressive replacement of detrital monazite by metamorphic monazite during regional prograde metamorphism.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ian Fletcher and Bryan Krapez for comments and discussion, and the staff of CMCA at UWA for their assistance. SEM imaging and microanalysis were carried out using facilities at the CMCA (UWA), which is supported by funding from the University, and the Western Australian and Australian Governments. Samples were collected with the permission of the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management. The paper was improved by comments from Gerhard Franz and an anonymous reviewer.

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  1. School of Earth and Geographical Sciences M006, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Birger Rasmussen

  2. Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis M010, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Janet R. Muhling

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  1. Birger Rasmussen
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Correspondence to Birger Rasmussen.

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Communicated by T.L. Grove.

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Rasmussen, B., Muhling, J.R. Monazite begets monazite: evidence for dissolution of detrital monazite and reprecipitation of syntectonic monazite during low-grade regional metamorphism. Contrib Mineral Petrol 154, 675–689 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0216-6

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