Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

ROQUES METAMÒRFIQUES
QUARTZO-FELDSPATHIC ROCKS

(ENGLISH) In this file you’ll find microscope images of metamorphic rocks and its
textures discussed during our 8th practical session: Quartzo-feldspathic rocks. Images
are presented in transmitted light and crossed polars so you can do the work as closely
as what you’d be doing in the petrology lab. Remember you have to present 2 reports
of Quartzo-feldspathic rocks (1 thin section and 1 hand specimen).

QUARTZO-FELDSPATHIC ROCKS:

Regional metamorphism is the most extensive of all types of metamorphism, occurring

in large areas at medium to high depth in the crust, in orogenic belts, and in contact
between tectonic plates (subduction zones). This metamorphism needs large periods of
time to be able to generate a significant change in pressure and temperature that affects
the rocks, as both parameters act in a combined way. Mineral and structural changes are
therefore slow and can be completed over periods of up to millions of years. Regional
metamorphism can occur in subduction zones (destructive plate margins).
In areas where orogenic metamorphism has occurred, rocks have often developed under
medium-high temperature conditions, and pressures range from low to very high.

Metamorphosed quartzo-feldspathic rocks are derived from graywacke-arkosic

sandstone and siltstone (1), and granitoid protoliths(2) such as granite, alkali-
feldspar granite, granodiorite and tonalite (rocks that originally contained mostly quartz
and feldspar), which will also contain an abundance of quartz and feldspar as
metamorphic rocks, since these minerals are stable of a wide range of temperature and
pressure. Those that exhibit mostly quartz and feldspar with only minor amounts of
aluminous minerals are termed quartzo-feldspathic. Because the main metamorphic
constituents – Qtz, Kfs, Pl, Bt, Ms, Hbl – occur over a wide range of P–T conditions,
and because Al-silicates are typically absent due to a relatively high silica content,
quartzo-feldspathic rocks may not be a particularly useful indicator of metamorphic
grade (Fig.2). They are carachterized by high silicon and low iron and magnesium
(high SiO2, Al2O3, K2O and Na2O).

They constitute the largest portion of the continental crust. For instance, quartzo-
feldspathic gneisses (metasedimentary paragneisses and granitic orthogneisses),
commonly migmatitic, are the dominant rock type of the continents, forming extensive
terranes.

Metamorphic grade (Tº) Vs Metamorphic facies

Very Low grade - Zeolite, prehnite-pumpellyte and blueschist facies

Low grade - Greenschist and albite-epidote hornfels facies
Medium grade - Amphibolite and amphibole hornfels facies
High grade - Granulite, Pyroxene hornfels and sanidinite facies

Table 1. Relation of metamorphic grade (with increasing temperature, not taking the
pressure into account) with the corresponding metamorphic facies.
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

(1) Metagraywackes

Because quartzofeldspathic graywacke-type rocks (graywacke-arkosic sandstone and

siltstone) originally formed as clastic sediments (often turbiditic), they contain
abundant detrital minerals typically together with lithic clasts of various volcanic,
plutonic and metamorphic rock types. The dominant and most obvious detrital minerals
are Qtz and feldspars that account for most of the bulk rock SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O and
K2O contents so that they essentially equate with a granodiorite bulk composition. At
low grades of metamorphic reconstitution (Table 1, i.e., subgreenschist facies grade)
care needs to be taken to distinguish detrital from neometamorphic minerals.
Usually, this is obvious from grain size and features such as bending, cracking, strain
polarization of mineral grains, but not always so especially if relatively fine-grained
metamorphic detrital minerals are present.

Fig.1. Regional metamorphism products according to different protholits and

metamorphic grades. Highlighted in red are the metasedimentary (para-quartzo-
feldspathic schists and gneisses) protholits.
*** Metaconglomerate is a rock type which originated from conglomerate after
undergoing metamorphism. Conglomerate is easily identifiable by the pebbles or larger
clasts in a matrix of sand, silt, or clay. Metaconglomerate looks similar to conglomerate,
although sometimes the clasts are deformed. The cement matrix of conglomerate is not
as durable as the grains, and hence when broken, conglomerate breaks around the
grains. Metaconglomerate, however, breaks through the grains, as the cement
has recrystallized and may be as durable as the clasts.
Foliated metaconglomerate is created under the same metamorphic conditions that
produce slate or phyllite, but with the parent rock (protolith) being conglomerate, rather
than clay.***

As an example, the detrital and metamorphic mineral assemblage of two prehnite–

pumpellyite facies sandstones from graywacke terranes are listed in Fig. 2.
The rocks contain more than twenty different mineral phases and the metamorphic
grade-determining minerals Ab, Ms, Chl, Pmp - Prh , Ep occur as both detrital and
neometamorphic grains, which makes them not very useful to determine the
meramotphic grade. Detrital Qtz, Pl, Kfs, Ms, Chl, Ep, Hbl, Ilm, and allanite even
survive in semi-schistose greenschist facies rocks. In terms of bulk compositions,
graywacke 1 equates with an adamellite and graywacke 2 with a granodiorite.
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

Fig.2. Detrital and neometamorphic minerals present in two prehnite–pumpellyite

facies metagraywacke sandstones with different compositions.

All Equilibrium mineral assemblages for a typical graywacke sandstone composition (=

granodiorite) contain Qtz as might be expected from the silica-rich (70.9 wt%)
composition of the protolith, and K-mica (Ms, Cel, Phe) is stable over most of the P–T
field. Staurolite is absent and Cld is restricted to very high-P conditions.
In high-P metamorphism, Lws, Gln and Jd are the critical minerals formed in
metagraywacke lithologies. At P > 1.7 GPa and T < 450C, a Cld-stability field is
predicted. Very high P Cld-bearing assemblages are only formed where the geothermal
gradient is < 7C/km (Fig. 10.2). At lower-P, metagraywacke schist and gneiss can be
subdivided into those which contain Hbl ( + Bt + Ms +Pl +Grt) and those without Hbl.
Highest grade metagraywacke mineral assemblages are characterized by Kfs and the
eventual disappearance of Ms. (Fig.3)

Fig.3. Calculated equilibrium mineral assemblages in P–T space for a graywacke

sandstone (granodiorite) composition.
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

As it’s shown, Metamorphic quartzo-feldspatic rocks can present a variety of mineral

assemblages depending on their P-T path, although quartz+feldspar+micas are present
throught it. In the tables below there’s a list of the most common mineral present in
quartzo-feldspatic rocks of sedimentary origin and their variation/evolution
depending on the metamorphic facies the rock reaches (Fig.4,Fig.5 for HP-LT).

Fig.4. Mineral stability ranges in zeolite to amphibolite facies metagraywacke-schist

Fig.5. Mineral assemblages and mineral successions in Franciscan (High pressure.low

temperature P-T path) metagraywacke. The characteristic high-P metamorphic minerals
(blueschist facies) in the metagraywackes are Lws, Gln, Arg and Jd, although a detrital
origin for Jd has also been argued on the basis of regional.
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

In a context of Contact metamorphism (Low-P/high-T metamorphism )of

metagraywacke is expected to result in the formation of Kfs, Crd Sil, and Opx, the
disappearance of K-mica, and partial melting to form migmatites.

(2) Granitoids

Unlike “wet” quartzofeldspathic sedimentary rocks, granitoids enter the metamorphic

realm in a predominantly dry state. Thus, like mafic rocks, in order for metamorphic
reactions to begin, hydration, often a significant amount, is necessary. This occurs
during deformation. In the absence of penetrative deformation, primary igneous textures
and structures are well preserved in metagranitoid rocks, even when subjected to UHP
metamorphism.

Some important minerals that can assist on determining the metamorphic grade of
meta-quartzo-feldspathic rocks of granitic origin are:

- The presence of Prehnite and Pumpellyte in granitoid rocks has been

attributed to the activity of hydrothermal solutions, but alteration under
prehnite– pumpellyite facies conditions is now considered to be more likely
especially if indications of low-T metamorphism are also apparent in associated
lithologies. Typically associated with Bt, secondary Chl, and Hb.
- Stilpnomelane occurs as a mineral of low-grade metamorphism along with
Chl, Phe, Ep, Qtz, Kfs and Ab, but at slightly higher grade it also occurs
together with green Bt.
- The presence of microcline/ sanidine indicates a phase transformation that
happens at a temperature ~450ºC (greenschist facies)
- Under eclogite facies conditions Pl is replaced by Jd, Qtz, Zo, Ky, Kfs, and Bt
has been pseudomorphically replaced by Cel-rich, high Ti-Phengite and Rt with
Grt. An usual assemblage is quartz + phengite + jadeite/omphacite + garnet.

Due to the possible ambiguity regarding the type of protolith involved (igneous or
sedimentary), it is common that the terminology in use for rocks of this compositional
class include derivation indicator prefixes (if it is known), such as metapsammite,
metagranite, orthogneiss, paragneiss, etc

Quartzo-feldspathic metamorphic rocks can be divided into 2 main lithotypes,

regardless the origin of the protholit:

- Quartzo-feldspatic schists
These rocks present numerous different mineral assemblages and have a well developed
schistosity; these rocks can reach the amphibolite facies.

- Quartzo-feldspathic gneisses
These rocks present numerous different mineral assemblages and have a poorly
developed schistosity; these rocks usually go from the amphibolite facies to the
granulite facies.
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

Both of these terminologies are usually completed with other mineral phases present in
the schist/gneiss (Fig.6), as it’s usual to find their protoliths interlayed with other
lithologies.

Fig.6. Different quartzo-feldspathic rocks depending on their percentage of quartz and

presence of other minerals (red circle).

Some specific names for quartzo-feldspathic rocks are:

- Quartzite: hard, granofelsic metamorphic rock which was originally

pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite at High T-P
regimes related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. They have over
90 % of quartz content. Pure quartzite is usually white to grey, though quartzites
often occur in various shades of pink and red due to varying amounts of iron
oxide (Fe2O3). Other colors, such as yellow, green, blue and orange, are due to
other minerals. They show concidal fracture. If flaky parallel layers of white
mica can be observed it will be called quartzitic schist.

- Charnokite: ganofelsic, orthopyroxene-bearing quartz-feldspar, high grade

(granulite facies ) metamorphic rocks. They straddle the boundary between
igneous & metamorphic. They are mostly derived from granitic rocks. Granites
are felsic rocks that usually contain no or very little pyroxene. There is actually
an entire array of rocks (mostly granitoids but also syenite, monzonite, etc.) that
may contain orthopyroxene plus quartz. These are called the charnokite series, a
granofelsic group that includes rocks of many different types, some being felsic
and rich in quartz and microcline, others mafic and full of pyroxene and
olivine, while there are also intermediate varieties corresponding
mineralogically to norites, quartz-norites and diorites. A special feature,
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

recurring in many members of the group, is the presence of a strongly

pleochroic, reddish or green orthopyroxene (formerly known as hypersthene).
Rocks of the charnockite series may be named by adding orthopyroxene to the
normal igneous nomenclature (e.g. orthopyroxene-granite), but specific names
are in widespread use such as norite, mangerite, enderbite, jotunite, farsundite,
opdalite and charnockite (Fig.7)

Fig.7. Quartz-alkali feldspar-plagioclase (QAP) diagram (Streckeisen, 1974) showing

the different compositional variants observed among orthopyroxene-bearing granitoids.
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

QUARTZITE:
Nom làmina: GRT-QTZ. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

CHARNOKITE:
Nom làmina: CHARN-GRA-HYP. Virtual microscope:
https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/sites/default/files/html5Assets/cd0311/index.html?if
rame=true&width=1320&height=621
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

QUARTZO-FELDSPATIC SCHISTS AND GNEISSES:

Nom làmina: GLPH-GRNFS. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

Nom làmina: QZFSP-GN-SLIGO-14. Virtual Microscope:

https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/sites/default/files/html5Assets/amg002/index.html?i
frame=true&width=1320&height=621
Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

HAND SPECIMENS:

Nom mostra: QUAR-PK. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Nom mostra: QUAR-PU. https://geology.com/

Petrologia metamòrfica - Docència Virtual Pràctica 8- Quartzo-feldspathic rocks

Nom làmina: CHARNOKITE-GRA-HYP-1. Virtual microscope:

https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/sites/default/files/html5Assets/cd0311/index.html?if
rame=true&width=1320&height=621

Nom làmina: ORTHOGN-1. Virtual microscope:

https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/sites/default/files/html5Assets/sh29_o/index.html?if
rame=true&width=1360&height=621