Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Estimating P–T conditions of Alpine-type metamorphism using multistage garnet in the tectonic windows of the Cardeto area (southern Aspromonte Massif, Calabria)

  • Published:
Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Near the village of Cardeto, in the southern sector of the Aspromonte Massif (southern Calabria, Italy), a greenschist to low amphibolite facies metamorphic complex outcrops in two main tectonic windows beneath the Aspromonte Unit. Petrological and structural similarities from both windows allow them to be grouped into a single metamorphic complex defined here as ‘Cardeto Metamorphic Complex’ (CMC). The CMC is made up essentially of metapelitic-metapsammitic rocks containing intercalations of marbles and (garnet) amphibolitic-schist lenses, mylonitic strain becoming more intense towards the north. Two stages of metamorphism are recognised: the early stage is sporadically preserved in the form of relics of mineralogical assemblages inside cores of garnet porphyroblasts. P–T conditions are ca. 0.6 GPa and 550 °C. The latter stage of metamorphism is related to the shear deformational episode which produced the widespread mylonitic foliation observed in the CMC rocks. The peak metamorphic conditions of this syn-mylonitic stage are in the range 0.6–0.9 GPa and 550–600 °C. Estimates of PT conditions of metamorphism using compositional isopleths of garnet in phase diagrams in the simplified MnNCKFMASH system allow to constrain the possible PT path. The absence of pre-Alpine mineralogical and structural relics casts doubt on correlation with other Palaeozoic metamorphic units outcropping in the Peloritani Mountains (Sicily) (e.g., Mandanici Unit), due to the same structural position and petrographical features. Rather, a correlation with the Alpine Madonna di Polsi Unit, outcropping in the central sector of the Aspromonte Massif, is plausible.

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

  • L Amodio-Morelli G Bonardi V Colonna D Dietrich G Giunta F Ippolito V Liguori S Lorenzoni A Paglionico V Perrone G Piccarreta M Russo P Scandone L Zanettin-Lorenzoni A Zuppetta (1976) ArticleTitleL’Arco Calabro-Peloritano nell’Orogene Appeninico-Maghrebide Mem Soc Geol It 17 1–60

    Google Scholar 

  • P Atzori P Ferla (1979) ArticleTitleCaratteristiche del metamorfismo ercinico sulle successioni sedimentarie e magmatiche del basamento paleozoico delle unità inferioridei M. Peloritani Mem Soc Geol It 20 447–452

    Google Scholar 

  • P Atzori FP Sassi (1973) ArticleTitleThe barometric significance of the muscovite from the Savoca phyllites (Peloritani, Sicily). With considerations on the baric conditions during Hercynian metamorphism in Italy Schweiz Min Petr Mitt 53 243–253

    Google Scholar 

  • P Atzori R Cirrincione A Del Moro A Pezzino (1994) ArticleTitleStructural, metamorphic and geochronologic features of the Alpine event in the south-eastern sector of the Peloritani Mountains (Sicily) Per Mineral 63 113–125

    Google Scholar 

  • G Bonardi S Gurrieri A Messina V Perrone M Russo A Zuppetta (1979) ArticleTitleOsservazioni geologiche e petrografiche sull’Aspromonte Boll Soc Geol It 98 55–73

    Google Scholar 

  • G Bonardi A Messina V Perrone M Russo S Russo A Zuppetta (1980) ArticleTitleLa finestra tettonica di Cardeto (Reggio Calabria) Rend Soc Geol It 3 3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • G Bonardi R Compagnoni A Del Moro A Messina V Perrone (1987) ArticleTitleRiequilibrazioni tettono-metamorfiche alpine nell’Unita dell’Aspromonte, Calabria meridionale Rend Soc It Min Petr 42 301

    Google Scholar 

  • ND Chatterjee E Froese (1975) ArticleTitleA thermodynamic study of the pseudo-binary join muscovite paragonite in the system KAlSi3O8–NaAlSi3O8–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O Am Mineral 60 985–993

    Google Scholar 

  • R Cirrincione A Pezzino (1991) ArticleTitleCaratteri strutturali dell’evento Alpino nella serie mesozoica di Alì e nell’Unità metamorfica di Mandanici (Peloritani Orientali) Mem Soc Geol It 47 263–272

    Google Scholar 

  • R Cirrincione A Pezzino (1994) ArticleTitleNuovi dati strutturali sulle successioni mesozoiche metamorfiche dei Monti Peloritani orientali Boll Soc Geol It 113 195–203

    Google Scholar 

  • JAD Connolly (1990) ArticleTitleMulti-variable phase diagrams: an algorithm based on generalized thermodynamics Am J Sci 290 666–718 Occurrence Handle10.2475/ajs.290.6.666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connolly JAD (2006) “Pseudosection with PERPLE_X: A WWW Tutorial”, in Computer Library of the Institute of Mineralogy and Petrology, High School of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland, http://www.erwethzch/∼jamie/perplex_pseudosection.html

  • JAD Connolly K Petrini (2002) ArticleTitleAn automated strategy for calculation of phase diagram sections and retrieval of rock properties as a function of physical conditions J Met Geol 20 697–708 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1314.2002.00398.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GM Crisci G Donati A Messina S Russo V Perrone (1982) ArticleTitleL’Unità Superiore dell’Aspromonte. Studio geologico e petrografico Rend Soc It Mineral Petrol 38 989–1014

    Google Scholar 

  • D Dietrich S Lorenzoni P Scandone E Zanettin-Lorenzoni M Di Pierro (1976) ArticleTitleContribution to the knowledge of the tectonic units of Calabria. Relationship evolution Boll Soc Geol It 95 193–217

    Google Scholar 

  • C Dobmeier (1998) ArticleTitleVariscan P–T deformation paths from the southwestern Aiguilles Rouges massif (External massif, western Alps) and their implication for its tectonic evolution Geol Rundsch 87 107–123 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s005310050193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TP Evans (2004) ArticleTitleA method for calculating effective bulk composition modification due to crystal fractionation in garnet-bearing schist: implications for isopleth thermobarometry J Met Geol 22 547–557 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1525-1314.2004.00532.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Franzini L Leoni M Saitta (1972) ArticleTitleA simple method to evaluate the matrix effect in X-ray fluorescence analysis X-Ray Spectrom 1 151–154 Occurrence Handle10.1002/xrs.1300010406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G Gaidies R Abart C De Capitani R Schuster JAD Connolly E Reusser (2006) ArticleTitleCharacterization of polymetamorphism in the Austroalpine basement east of the Tauern Window using garnet isopleth thermobarometry J Met Geol 24 451–475 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1525-1314.2006.00648.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Graessner V Schenk (1999) ArticleTitleLow-pressure metamorphism of Palaeozoic pelites in the Aspromonte, southern Calabria. Constraints for the thermal evolution in the Calabrian cross-section during the Hercynian orogeny J Met Geol 17 157–172 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1314.1999.00188.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KV Hodges LW McKenna (1987) ArticleTitleRealistic propagation of uncertainties in geologic thermobarometry Am Mineral 72 671–680

    Google Scholar 

  • TJB Holland R Powell (1998) ArticleTitleAn internally consistent thermodynamic data set for phases of petrological interest J Met Geol 16 309–343 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1525-1314.1998.00140.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LS Hollister (1966) ArticleTitleGarnet zoning: an interpretation based on the Rayleigh fractionation model Science 154 1647–1651 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.154.3757.1647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S Ioppolo A Pezzino G Puglisi (1983) ArticleTitleCondizioni termobariche dell’evento statico a cloritoide e staurolite in Aspromonte Rend Soc Geol It 6 3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • R Kretz (1983) ArticleTitleSymbols for rock-forming minerals Am Mineral 68 277–279

    Google Scholar 

  • BA Marmo GL Clarke R Powell (2002) ArticleTitleFractionation of bulk rock composition due to porphyroblast growth: effects on eclogite facies mineral equilibria, Pam Peninsula, New Caledonia J Met Geol 20 151–165 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.0263-4929.2001.00346.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Messina S Russo F Stagno (1996) ArticleTitleThe Calabrian Peloritan Arc and its correlation with northern Africa and southern Europe. IGCP Project No 276 Newsletter 6 1–144

    Google Scholar 

  • A Messina G Careri E Macaione (2002) ArticleTitleVariscan continental crust terraines in the southern sector of the Calabria-Peloritani Orogen Plinius 28 216–219

    Google Scholar 

  • A Miyashiro (1953) ArticleTitleCalcium-poor garnet in relation to metamorphism Geochim Cosmochim Acta 4 179–208 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(53)90014-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RC Newton TV Charlu OJ Kleppa (1980) ArticleTitleThermochemistry of the high structural state plagioclases Geochim Cosmochim Acta 44 933–941 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(80)90283-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L Ogniben (1973) ArticleTitleSchema geologico della Calabria in base ai dati odierni Geol Romana 12 243–585

    Google Scholar 

  • G Ortolano R Cirrincione A Pezzino (2005) ArticleTitleP–T evolution of Alpine metamorphism in the southern Aspromonte Massif (Calabria-Italy) Swiss Bull Mineral Petrol 85 31–56

    Google Scholar 

  • A Pezzino S Pannucci G Puglisi P Atzori S Ioppolo A Lo Giudice (1990) ArticleTitleGeometry and metamorphic environment of the contact between the Aspromonte-Peloritani Unit (Upper Unit) and Madonna di Polsi (Lower Unit) in the central Aspromonte area (Calabria) Boll Soc Geol It 109 455–469

    Google Scholar 

  • A Pezzino G Puglisi S Pannucci S Ioppolo (1992) ArticleTitleDue unità cristalline a grado metamorfico diverso in Aspromonte centrale. Geometria dei loro rapporti, ambientazione metamorfica del loro contatto e caratteri petrografici delle metamorfiti Boll Soc Geol It 111 69–80

    Google Scholar 

  • JP Platt R Compagnoni (1990) ArticleTitleAlpine ductile deformation and metamorphism in a Calabrian basement nappe (Aspromonte, south Italy) Eclogae Geol Helvetica 83 41–58

    Google Scholar 

  • R Powell TJB Holland (1999) ArticleTitleRelating formulations of the thermodynamics of mineral solid solutions: activity modeling of pyroxenes, amphiboles, and micas Am Mineral 84 1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • G Puglisi A Pezzino (1994) ArticleTitleMetamorphism in the central Aspromonte area: geological, mineralogical, and petrogenetic relationships Per Mineral 63 153–168

    Google Scholar 

  • S Russo S Aragona D Cutrupia M Di Bella G Sabatino (2002) ArticleTitleThe Cardeto chlorite-garnet phyllites (southern Calabria, Italy): comparison with the Mandanici Unit of the Peloritani Mountains (NE Sicily) Plinius 28 254–256

    Google Scholar 

  • K Stüwe (1997) ArticleTitleEffective bulk composition changes due to cooling: a model predicting complexities in retrograde reaction textures Contrib Mineral Petrol 129 43–52 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004100050322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K Stüwe R Powell (1995) ArticleTitleP–T paths from modal proportions: application to the Koralm Complex, Eastern Alps Contrib Mineral Petrol 119 83–93 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00310719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • JB Thompson GL Hovis (1979) ArticleTitleEntropy of mixing in sanidine Am Mineral 64 57–65

    Google Scholar 

  • DK Tinkham ED Ghent (2005) ArticleTitleEstimating P–T conditions of garnet growth with isochemical phase-diagram sections and the problem of effective bulk composition Can Mineral 43 35–50 Occurrence Handle10.2113/gscanmin.43.1.35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D Vance E Mahar (1998) ArticleTitlePressure–temperature paths from P–T pseudosections and zoned garnets: potential, limitations and examples from the Zanskar Himalaya, NW India Contrib Mineral Petrol 132 225–245 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004100050419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RW White R Powell TJB Holland BA Worley (2000) ArticleTitleThe effect of TiO2 and Fe2O3 on metapelitic assemblages at greenschist and amphibolite facies conditions: mineral equilibria calculations in the system K2O–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O–TiO2–Fe2O3 J Met Geol 18 497–511 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1525-1314.2000.00269.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BWD Yardley (1977) ArticleTitleAn empirical study of diffusion in garnet Am Mineral 62 793–800

    Google Scholar 

  • CA Zuluaga HH Stowell DK Tinkham (2005) ArticleTitleThe effect of zoned garnet on metapelite pseudosection topology and calculated metamorphic P–T paths Am Mineral 90 1619–1628 Occurrence Handle10.2138/am.2005.1741

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy

    E. Fazio & A. Pezzino

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy

    R. Cirrincione

Authors
  1. E. Fazio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Cirrincione
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Pezzino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Fazio.

Additional information

Correspondence: E. Fazio, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Catania, Corso Italia 57, 95129 Catania, Italy

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fazio, E., Cirrincione, R. & Pezzino, A. Estimating P–T conditions of Alpine-type metamorphism using multistage garnet in the tectonic windows of the Cardeto area (southern Aspromonte Massif, Calabria). Miner Petrol 93, 111–142 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-007-0216-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-007-0216-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation