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Carbon isotopic thermometry and geobarometry of sillimanite isograd in thermal aureoles: the depth of emplacement of upper crustal granitic bodies

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Abstract

Carbon isotope fractionation between coexisting calcite and graphite (ΔC ) has been studied in metamorphosed limestones from three thermal aureoles around Cretaceous granitic bodies (i.e., Tanohata, Tono, and Senmaya aureoles) in the Kitakami Mountains, Northeast Japan. ΔC in each aureole decreases toward the granitic bodies, and becomes virtually uniform near the sillimanite isograd for metapelites, although calcite has variable isotopic ratios reflecting the original sedimentary compositions. The relationships indicate that isotopic equilibrium has been attained in metamorphosed limestone of sillimanite grade. Estimated ΔC at the sillimanite isograd is similar in the Tanohata and Tono aureoles, but different in the Senmaya aureole with smaller carbon isotopic fractionations. From the temperature dependence of ΔC and the negative dP/dT of andalusite–sillimanite equilibrium, we conclude that the sillimanite isograd in the Senmaya aureole was under higher temperature and lower pressure than in the other two localities. Temperatures at the sillimanite isograd are estimated by using existing calibrations of carbon isotopic exchange between calcite and graphite, whereas pressures are estimated from carbon isotopic temperatures and the andalusite–sillimanite equilibrium (Holdaway and Mukhopadhyay 1993a). Consistency of the P–T estimates is examined in the light of phase equilibria in the pelitic system. The estimated pressures at the sillimanite isograd are at about 2.1–2.7(±0.2) kbar for the Tanohata and Tono aureoles and less than 1 kbar for the Senmaya aureole, respectively. Geobarometry of sillimanite isograd in thermal aureoles indicates a marked difference in the depth of solidification of upper crustal granitoids: the Senmaya pluton has intruded and solidified at a very shallow level of less than 4 km whereas the Tanohata and Tono plutons are more deep-seated (ca. 8–10 km). The method can also be an effective tool in studying low-pressure type metamorphism in which geothermobarometry using garnet is not always applicable.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Dr M. Ujiie-Mikoshiba of the Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, for valuable suggestions on the petrology and geochronology of the Senmaya plutonic mass. We deeply thank Dr K. Kusunose and Dr T. Nakajima of the Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, for their encouragements. We also thank Dr H. Tabata of the University of Tokyo, Dr T. Moriguchi of Okayama University, Mr H. Sugai of Dada Corporation, and Mr K. Iwamasa of Kokan Kogyo Ltd for their efforts in the early stage of this work when they were at Shinshu University. Thorough reviews by Professor J. W. Valley and Professor S. Hoernes, and comments from Professor. J. Hoefs are gratefully acknowledged, which helped to improve the manuscript greatly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, 1-1-1 Higashi, AIST Tsukuba Central 7, 305-8567, Tsukuba, Ibaraki , Japan

    Yasuko Okuyama-Kusunose

  2. Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

    Toshiro Morikiyo

  3. Research Institute of Mitsubishi Material Co Ltd, 1-297 Kitabukuromachi, 330-8508, Saitama, Japan

    Akiko Kawabata & Akira Uyeda

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  1. Yasuko Okuyama-Kusunose
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Correspondence to Yasuko Okuyama-Kusunose.

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Okuyama-Kusunose, Y., Morikiyo, T., Kawabata, A. et al. Carbon isotopic thermometry and geobarometry of sillimanite isograd in thermal aureoles: the depth of emplacement of upper crustal granitic bodies. Contrib Mineral Petrol 145, 534–549 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-003-0479-5

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