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Influence of Fluid and Deformation on Metamorphism of the Deep Crust and Consequences for the Geodynamics of Collision Zones

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When Continents Collide: Geodynamics and Geochemistry of Ultrahigh-Pressure Rocks

Part of the book series: Petrology and Structural Geology ((PESG,volume 10))

Abstract

A survey of natural transitions from igneous rocks, amphibolite, and granulite, to eclogite demonstrates that the transitions may take place over cm-scale distances parallel to fluid fronts. Rocks ranging in composition from basaltic to granitic show incomplete reactions over the whole range of high pressure to ultrahigh-pressure conditions (500°C and 1.2 GPa to 800°C and >3.0 GPa), indicating overstepping of reaction boundaries of ͠ 1 GPa. When fluid becomes available metastable crust may react forcefully and release earthquakes as indicated by occurrence of eclogite-facies pseudotachylite.

Eclogitization weakens the crust equivalent to a temperature increase of > 100°C. At an eclogitization degree of ͠ 40% the crust loses coherence and pre-existing structure. Reaction of eclogites to granulites and amphibolites also depends on fluid availability. The rheology and density changes caused by fluid-induced eclogite formation and retrogression influence the evolution of collision zones by controlling the timing of collapse, the topography of a collision zone, the exhumation of deep crustal sections, and the amount of material returned to the mantle. The evolution of collision and subduction zones depends not only on temperature and pressure evolution, but also on the fluid budget.

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  1. Håkon Austrheim

    Present address: Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, 1215 W. Dayton St., Madison, WI, 53706, USA

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  1. Mineralogisk-Geologisk Museum, Sarsgate 1, N-0562, Oslo, Norway

    Håkon Austrheim

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  1. Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

    Bradley R. Hacker

  2. Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

    Juhn G. Liou

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Austrheim, H. (1998). Influence of Fluid and Deformation on Metamorphism of the Deep Crust and Consequences for the Geodynamics of Collision Zones. In: Hacker, B.R., Liou, J.G. (eds) When Continents Collide: Geodynamics and Geochemistry of Ultrahigh-Pressure Rocks. Petrology and Structural Geology, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9050-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9050-1_12

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