J. metamorphic Geol., 2004, 22, 119–134 doi:10.1111/j.1525-1314.2004.00502.

Petrogenesis of andalusite–kyanite–sillimanite veins and

host rocks, Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic belt, Hamadan, Iran
A. A. SEPAHI1, D. L. WHITNEY2 AND A. A. BAHARIFAR3
1
Department of Geology, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
2
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 USA (dwhitney@umn.edu)
3
Department of Geology, Tarbiat-Moallem University, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT Quartz-rich veins in metapelitic schists of the Sanandaj-Sirjan belt, Hamadan region, Iran, commonly
contain two Al2SiO5 polymorphs, and, more rarely, three coexisting Al2SiO5 polymorphs. In most
andalusite and sillimanite schists, the types of polymorphs in veins correlate with Al2SiO5 polymorph(s)
in the host rocks, although vein polymorphs are texturally and compositionally distinct from those in
adjacent host rocks; e.g. vein andalusite is enriched in Fe2O3 relative to host rock andalusite. Low-grade
rocks contain andalusite + quartz veins, medium-grade rocks contain andalusite + sillim-
anite + quartz ± plagioclase veins, and high-grade rocks contain sillimanite + quartz + plagioclase
veins ⁄ leucosomes. Although most andalusite and sillimanite-bearing veins occur in host rocks that also
contain Al2SiO5, kyanite-quartz veins crosscut rocks that lack Al2SiO5 (e.g. staurolite schist, granite).
A quartz vein containing andalusite + kyanite + sillimanite + staurolite + muscovite occurs in
andalusite–sillimanite host rocks. Textural relationships in this vein indicate the crystallization sequence
andalusite to kyanite to sillimanite. This crystallization sequence conflicts with the observation that
kyanite-quartz veins post-date andalusite–sillimanite veins and at least one intrusive phase of a granite
that produced a low-pressure–high-temperature contact aureole; these relationships imply a sequence of
andalusite to sillimanite to kyanite. Varying crystallization sequences for rocks in a largely coherent
metamorphic belt can be explained by P–T paths of different rocks passing near (slightly above, slightly
below) the Al2SiO5 triple point, and by overprinting of multiple metamorphic events in a terrane that
evolved from a continental arc to a collisional orogen.
Key words: andalusite; Iran; kyanite; quartz veins; sillimanite.

Okrusch & Evans, 1970; Rumble, 1973; Pattison,

INTRODUCTION
Quartz veins and leucosomes containing Al2SiO5
polymorphs occur in regional metamorphic terranes
(Read, 1932; Yardley et al., 1980; Stout et al., 1986;
Lang & Dunn, 1990; Nabelek, 1997; Whitney & Dilek,
2000; Widmer & Thompson, 2001; McLelland et al.,
2002) and contact aureoles (Speer, 1982; Cesare, 1994;
Okuyama-Kusunose, 1994; Larson & Sharp, 2003).
The presence of Al2SiO5 phases gives information
about the P–T conditions of vein formation and
possibly also the conditions of metamorphism, the
source(s) of vein-forming materials, and the mech-
anisms of vein formation. These aspects of vein petro-
genesis and Al2SiO5 crystallization are of interest
because they provide insight into fluid–rock inter-
actions during orogenic processes such as metamor-
phism, magmatism and deformation, and information
about the influence of chemical and kinetic factors on
polymorph crystallization.
Various combinations of two Al2SiO5 polymorphs
are common in pelitic schist and quartzite: for exam-
ple, andalusite + sillimanite (Leake & Skirrow, 1960;
1992; Cavosie et al., 2002) and andalusite + kyanite
(Grambling, 1981; Evans & Berti, 1986; Kerrick,
1988). In cases where veins and host rocks contain the
same polymorph(s), the veins likely formed at similar
P–T conditions as the host rocks, and formation of the
veins may have involved chemical and ⁄ or physical
interaction with the host rock; e.g. transport of com-
ponents from the host rock to the vein or mechanical
incorporation of host rock phases into the veins. The
opposite case (e.g. Sauniac & Touret, 1983; Whitney &
Dilek, 2000) is more difficult to interpret because the
presence of different polymorphs in veins compared to
host rocks does not necessarily imply lack of vein–host
interaction during crystallization of the vein nor an
entirely external source of vein-forming materials.
Variation in vein vs. host rock mineralogy might
indicate that different kinetic or chemical factors
affected one environment relative to the other, such as
variation in abundance of fluid or nature of deforma-
tion regimes. For example, andalusite might form
during decompression in veins within host rocks con-
taining kyanite or sillimanite (Stout et al., 1986), but

 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 119

120 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.

might not form in the host rock owing to a more 45° 60°

Turkey
favourable kinetic or chemical environment in the Caspian
Sea
Turkmenistan

veins. Vein assemblages may therefore provide addi-

Tehran
tional, new information about metamorphic condi-

Afghanist
Hamadan
Sa
tions and paths. Hamadan Iraq
na IRAN

an
+ + nd
In most rocks containing multiple Al2SiO5 poly- +
+
+ 9 30°
aj
-S
irj
++ an
morphs, the polymorphs formed during sequential + + be

Pe
+ 8 9 3 bt lt

r
+ +

s ia
crystallization during progressive regional metamor- + + + KV

n
Saudi

Gu
crd++ + + + +KV
+ + Arabia

lf
Oman
phism or a combination of regional and contact kfs + + + + +SVH235A + + +
+ + + + Qatar
a

an
+8 + + + + + + + +

d
metamorphism, and one or more may persist meta- + + + + + + + + +
1
7 + + + + + + + +SV + + + +
stably relative to the peak metamorphic (equilibrium) +
+ + + + + sil+
kfs
+ + +
KV 2 bt
gt
+ + + + + + 531 KVH
assemblage in a rock (Loomis, 1972; Kerrick, 1990). + + + + + + 6 KSVH
+ + + + + + sil+
The sequence of crystallization may be deduced from + + + + + KSV + + + 7b 7a st and
+ + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + 5 ++

crd
textural relationships among the polymorphs, provi- 1
bt
+ + Alvand
+ + Plutonic
+ + + + + + + + +
+ + + + 4b
+ +
+ + + Complex KV
ding information about the conditions and mech-

crd
+ + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + KV ASVH
anisms of vein formation. An ideal situation for + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + +
4a ASV
investigating Al2SiO5 crystallization conditions and + + + + + + +
+ + + + + +8 KV KAV 2
+ + + + + + AV ASKV 3
sequence is a field site containing rocks with multiple + + + + + + +
ASKVH gt 1
+ + + + + + SschH
polymorphs and regional variation in polymorph + + + + + +
+ + + + + AV bt
+ + + + + sil KAV KV
type, so that the crystallization sequence can be + + fs+ + + + KV
sil+
and and
+ +k+ nd + +
evaluated in the context of different P–T conditions crd d + a + + + + KV 4a AVH
cr + + +
st 3
and the overall tectonic setting. In this paper, we + + + +
+ + + + +
st 2
+ + + 4 1
describe a suite of quartz veins and host rocks from 4 st st AV gt bt
Hamadan, Iran, that contain andalusite, kyanite, sil- 2
3
gt
limanite, andalusite–sillimanite, andalusite–kyanite, 1 bt and
sillimanite–kyanite, or andalusite–sillimanite–kyanite 2 2.5 km
gt
(that is, all possible combinations of Al2SiO5 poly- N
bt
morphs), and the Al2SiO5 crystallization conditions, 1
sequences and relationship to country rock evolution b
are discussed.
Fig. 1. (a) Location of the Sanandaj–Sirjan belt in Iran.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING (b) Generalized geological map of the study area near Hamadan.
Isograds (dashed lines) and metamorphic zones are shown, as
The study area is a part of the 1500-km long Sanandaj– well as the locations of Al2SiO5-bearing quartz veins (black
Sirjan metamorphic belt of the Zagros orogen of ellipses). Kyanite-bearing schists and hornfels are within units 6
and 7 but are not mappable. Some faults are shown (heavy lines
western Iran (Fig. 1a). The Zagros formed during within unit 4); contacts between zones 4a–4b, 4a–5, 2–5, and
subduction of a Neo-Tethyan seaway and subsequent possibly 4–7 are faults. Locations of vein samples used in this
oblique collision of Afro-Arabia (Gondwana) with the study are designated with white stars; host rock samples
Iranian microcontinent in the Late Cretaceous–early are designated by black stars. In the sample numbers:
Tertiary (Berberian & King, 1981; Alavi, 1994; Moh- A ¼ andalusite; H ¼ host rock; K ¼ kyanite; S ¼ sillimanite;
V ¼ vein. Locations of samples 235 A (kyanite host rock) and
ajjel & Fergusson, 2000). Crustal shortening associated 531 (sillimanite vein) are also shown. Zones: 1 ¼ biotite zone;
with subduction and collision metamorphosed and 2 ¼ garnet zone; 3 ¼ andalusite zone (± fibrolite); 4 ¼ stauro-
deformed Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary lite zone (a ¼ staurolite + andalusite ± fibrolite; b ¼ stauro-
rocks, including a sequence of pelitic, psammitic, lite + garnet, no andalusite); 5 ¼ sillimanite-andalusite zone;
6 ¼ sillimanite-kfs zone; 7 ¼ cordierite zone (a ¼ cordierite
mafic, calc-pelitic, and calc-silicate rocks near with no new growth of Al2SiO5; b ¼ cordierite + neoblastic
Hamadan (Fig. 1b). andalusite + sillimanite); 8 ¼ cordierite kfs zone; 9 ¼ spotted
The tectonic evolution of the Sanandaj–Sirjan belt schist.
involved continental arc magmatism followed by
collision. Mafic to intermediate plutonic bodies
(olivine gabbro, gabbro, gabbro-norite, diorite, quartz
diorite and tonalite) (Valizadeh & Cantagrel, 1975) FIELD OBSERVATIONS
are older than crustally derived granitic plutons in the In the field area near Hamadan, metapelitic rocks are the most
region (Alvand Plutonic Complex), but all intrusions abundant rock type, and are interlayered with minor metabasaltic
formed during Cretaceous-Tertiary subduction and rocks (amphibole schist and amphibolite), metacarbonate and calc-
collision (Baharifar et al., 2004). The plutons, inclu- silicate rocks. Metapelitic rocks occur as slate, phyllite, mica schist,
ding the granites, are commonly associated with garnet schist, garnet–andalusite (± sillimanite or kyanite) schist,
garnet–staurolite schist and garnet–sillimanite (± kyanite) schist, and
contact aureoles defined by hornfelsic textures and hornfelsic or migmatitic rocks (near the Alvand Plutonic Complex).
mineral assemblages that overprint earlier minerals These contact zone rocks include cordierite + K-feldspar (± andalu-
and fabrics. site, fibrolite) and garnet–staurolite (± kyanite) hornfels. In the

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 ANDALUSITE–KYANITE–SILLIMANITE VEINS 121

Hamadan metamorphic sequence, cordierite and K-feldspar are only

found near (<3 km from) the Alvand granite.
The general trend of increasing metamorphic grade is towards the
pluton, with a succession of isograds in metapelitic rocks: biotite-in,
garnet-in, andalusite-in, staurolite-in, cordierite-in, and K-feldspar-
in. In some parts of the field area, the complete sequence occurs, but
in other areas, some of the lower grade zones are missing (Fig. 1b).
Faulting has disrupted the sequences in places, and some apparent
isograds may actually be faults. The most obvious example of dis-
ruption of the sequence by faulting is the fault-bounded panel of
andalusite–sillimanite schists (zone 5) that occurs between the
andalusite and staurolite zones (Fig. 1b).
Abundant coarse-grained, quartz-rich veins and pods occur in the
metamorphic rocks of the study area (Fig. 1b). Veins range in
thickness from centimetres to 3 m and strike NW–SE, sub-parallel to
isograds and to regional structures such as axial planes of folds,
foliation, and major directions of joint sets.
Veins contain quartz and one, two, or three Al2SiO5 polymorphs
(andalusite, sillimanite, kyanite) as major minerals. The mode is
extremely variable, from Al2SiO5-dominated (up to 75% of the
mode) to quartz-dominated. The size of Al2SiO5 crystals varies from
mm-scale up to 30 cm, and most polymorphs can be identified in
outcrop (Fig. 2), although identification may be complicated by
pseudomorph textures. Although grain size varies from vein to vein,
most veins are very coarse grained (cm-scale). Some host rocks (e.g.
sample ASVH) also contain large porphyroblasts (Fig. 2), but most
typically Al2SiO5 in host rocks is finer-grained than in associated
veins (Fig. 3a–c).
In outcrop, the veins are isolated and do not form interconnecting
networks with other veins. Some veins have been boudinaged and
are therefore discontinuous in outcrop; others can be traced in
outcrop for up to 20 m. Contacts with host rocks are typically
sharp. However, some veins are associated with metre-scale zones
(up to 3 m wide; referred to here as vein marginal zones) that
contain less quartz and more muscovite than the main part of the
adjacent vein. These vein marginal zones contain Al2SiO5 poly-
morph types and textures that have characteristics of both veins and
host rocks. One sample described in this study is from a vein
marginal zone (andalusite vein sample AV2); all other samples
designated with a ÔVÕ are from the interior regions of veins and are
dominated by quartz or Al2SiO5.
The most abundant vein types identified in the field are: andalu-
site–quartz veins in garnet–andalusite (chiastolite) schists (zone 3;
Fig. 3a–c); andalusite–sillimanite–quartz veins in garnet–andalusite–
sillimanite schists (zone 5; Fig. 3d); andalusite–kyanite–quartz veins
in staurolite schist and garnet–andalusite–sillimanite schist (zone 4;
Fig. 3g); sillimanite–quartz–plagioclase veins in garnet–sillimanite
schist, including migmatitic rocks (zone 6); and kyanite–quartz veins
in many lithologies (schist, hornfels and granite) (zones 4–7 and the
granite; Fig. 3h). The zone designations in this list are keyed to the Fig. 2. Photographs of outcrops. (a) Andalusite in fine-grained
map in Fig. 1(b). Other quartz-Al2SiO5 vein types such as andalu- graphitic schist ⁄ phyllite. (b) Sillimanite in migmatite (diatexite).
site–sillimanite–kyanite veins (Fig. 3e) and kyanite–sillimanite veins Sillimanite is inferred to have replaced (pseudomorphed) anda-
(Fig. 3f) occur but are less abundant. lusite. (c) Andalusite-sillimanite schist (host to andalusite-
sillimanite veins) with two large andalusite crystals that have
been partially replaced by prismatic sillimanite (sample ASVH).
PETROGRAPHY AND MINERAL CHEMISTRY
Al2SiO5-bearing veins of the study area are composed of quartz +
Al2SiO5 polymorphs, ± plagioclase, garnet, muscovite, biotite and textures of major phases, as these are relevant for understanding the
staurolite (Table 1). The naming of zones (Fig. 1b, Table 1) is based conditions and mechanisms of vein formation, and the relationship
on the dominant assemblage in metapelitic rocks. For example, zone of veins to host rocks.
3 is comprised of andalusite schists and andalusite–quartz veins, but Mineral compositions and major element distribution maps of
some rocks in this zone contain accessory fibrolite and others contain garnet, Al2SiO5 polymorphs, and staurolite were obtained using a
rare crystals of kyanite. Despite the significance of these other JEOL JXA-8900 electron microprobe at the University of Minne-
Al2SiO5 polymorphs for the P–T path of the rocks, the zone is sota. Operating conditions for quantitative analysis (WDS) were
designated by, and the rocks are named for, the presence of abun- 15 kV accelerating voltage, 15–25 nA beam current, and a range
dant, coarse-grained andalusite. of beam diameters (higher current, <1 lm beam for garnet,
The petrography of the metamorphic rocks and plutonic complex Al2SiO5, and staurolite; lower current, beam defocused to 5–20 lm
is reported in one M.Sc. thesis (Baharifar, 1997) and one Ph.D. thesis for micas and plagioclase). X-ray maps were determined for Fe, Mn,
(Sepahi, 1999), both in Farsi, and in Forghani (1975). Based on Mg, Ca and either Al or Si using a beam current of 100 nA, 50 ms
information in these previous studies and the results of this work, dwell-time, and 2–10 lm beam diameters. Most grains that were
we discuss the mineral assemblages, mineral compositions, and mapped were also analyzed quantitatively along traverses from core

 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

 a AVH
b AV2 c 1 cm
1 cm AV1
And vein
122 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.

1 cm
And schist
(vein host)
And vein - marginal zone

d ASV
e 1 cm
1 cm And-Sil-Ky
vein
And-Sil
vein ASKV

g AKV h KV 1 cm
f KSV 15 cm
long dim.
Ky vein

1 cm
And-Ky
Ky-Sil vein
vein

Fig. 3. Photographs of hand samples of Al2SiO5-bearing rocks. (a) Andalusite (chiastolite) schist (AVH), host rock to andalusite vein. (b) Andalusite vein marginal zone;
interstices between andalusite grains are graphitic (AV2). (c) Andalusite-quartz vein. Pink (zoned dark to light pink) are andalusite; all white regions are quartz (AV1).
(d) Andalusite-sillimanite vein (ASV): pink is andalusite, white is sillimanite. (e) Andalusite-sillimanite-kyanite vein (ASKV): blue is kyanite (some of it is very pale but can be
seen to occur as bladed crystals), pink ⁄ red is andalusite, white is mostly quartz. Sillimanite is difficult to see in hand sample in this rock. (f) Kyanite-sillimanite vein (KSV):
75 modal% of this rock is kyanite; most of the white crystals visible in hand sample are quartz. Sillimanite occurs as prismatic and fibrous crystals that are difficult to see in
hand sample. (g) Andalusite-kyanite vein (AKV): photograph is 15 cm in the vertical dimension. (h) Kyanite-quartz vein (KV).

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 ANDALUSITE–KYANITE–SILLIMANITE VEINS 123

Table 1. Characteristics of veins and host rocks.

Vein type Zone (Fig. 1b) Strike Vein minerals Host rock Host rock minerals Grade

Andalusite (AV)
Andalusite-Kyanite (AKV)
Andalusite-Sillimanite (ASV)
Andalusite-Sillimanite-
Kyanite (ASKV)
3 N10)20W And, Qz, Ms, Bt, Ilm ± Gr ± Pl ± Grt-And schist (AVH) Qz, Bt, Ms, Gr, Grt, low
Grt ± Ky (rare), Chl (s), Dsp (s) And, Pl, Fi, Chl, Opq
4 N10)20W And, Ky, Qz, ± Ms ± Grt St schist, Grt-And-Sil (Fi) schist Qz, Bt, Ms, Pl, Gr, Grt, medium
St ± and ± Fi ± Chl
5 N10-20 W And, Sil (prism + Fi), Ms, Qz, Opq Grt-And-Sil schist (ASVH) Qz, Bt, Ms, Gr, Grt, medium
And, Sil, St, Pl ± Ky*
5 N20)30W And, Sil (prism + Fi), Ky, Qz, Ms, St, Grt-And-Sil ± Ky schist (ASKVH) Qz, Bt, Ms, Gr, Grt, medium
Opq ± Grt** And, Sil, Ky, St, Pl, Opq

Sillimanite (SV) 6 N20)30W Sil (prism + Fi), Qz, Pl, Bt ± Grt ± St Grt-Sil-Kfs schist, migmatite (SVH) Qz, Bt, Ms, Grt, Sil, Pl, medium-high
Kfs, Opq

Kyanite-Sillimanite (KSV) 6 N20)30W Ky, Sil (prism + Fi), Qz, Ms Grt-Sil-Kfs ± Ky schist, Qz, Bt, Ms, Grt, Sil, Ky, medium-high
migmatite (KSVH) Pl, Kfs, Opq
Kyanite (KV) 4–8 + granite N10)20W Ky, Qz, Ms, Opq, Chl (s) ± Dsp (s) various; e.g. Grt-St schist (KVH), various various
hornfels, granite

And ¼ andalusite, Bt ¼ biotite, Chl ¼ chlorite, Dsp ¼ diaspore, Fi ¼ fibrolite, Gr ¼ graphite, Grt ¼ garnet, Ilm ¼ ilmenite, Kfs ¼ K-feldspar, Ky ¼ kyanite, Ms ¼ muscovite,
Opq ¼ opaques; Pl ¼ plagioclase; prism ¼ prismatic sillimanite; Qz ¼ quartz; (s) ¼ secondary, Sil ¼ sillimanite, St ¼ staurolite.
* Relict kyanite was observed in one sample of andalusite-sillimanite-staurolite schist.
** Garnet occurs at the margin of the vein; may be part of the host schist.

Table 2. Representative Al2SiO5 analyses from quartz veins and host rocks.*
And And And And vein ⁄ margin And-Sil vein And-Sil schist And-Sil-Ky vein ⁄ margin KV-Sil Ky-Sil Ky Sil
schist vein vein AV2 ASV ASVH ASKV vein schist vein vein
AVH AV1 AV1 And And KSV KSVH KV SV
And And-white And-pink core rim And Sil** Sil** And And Sil Ky Ky Ky Ky Sil

SiO2 36.93 37.09 37.23 36.54 37.36 36.70 37.09 36.85 37.13 37.73 36.92 37.74 37.02 37.06 37.22 36.47
TiO2 --- --- 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.08 0.01 --- 0.01 0.01 --- --- 0.06 --- --- ---
Al2O3 63.11 63.18 63.31 62.06 63.48 63.13 63.56 62.83 63.03 62.36 62.97 62.18 63.47 63.02 62.88 62.83
Fe2O3 0.15 0.13 0.22 0.73 0.20 0.55 0.11 0.10 0.24 0.44 0.15 0.15 0.10 0.18 0.25 0.16
MnO --- --- --- 0.01 --- --- --- --- --- 0.04 0.02 0.02 --- --- 0.06 ---
MgO 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.17 0.02 0.11 --- 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01 --- --- --- 0.02 ---
Cr2O3 0.07 --- --- 0.08 --- 0.05 0.07 0.05 0.08 0.02 0.01 0.03 --- 0.03 0.08 0.03
Total 100.28 100.43 100.79 99.63 101.08 100.62 100.83 99.85 100.52 100.61 100.08 100.12 100.65 100.30 100.51 99.49
mol% Fe 0.10 0.09 0.15 0.50 0.14 0.37 0.07 0.07 0.16 0.30 0.10 0.11 0.07 0.12 0.17 0.11

* Representative means that these are actual analyses (not averages) and are typical compositions observed within each sample (vein, host) or domain (core, rim).
** Prismatic sillimanite replacing andalusite.
Key to abbreviations and symbols: And ¼ andalusite, Ky ¼ kyanite, Sil ¼ sillimanite; - - - ¼ analyzed but element not detected.

Table 3. Representative garnet analyses.

Gt-St Gt-St And And And-Sil And-Sil And-Sil-Ky And-Sil-Ky Ky-St Ky-St Ky-Sil Sil Sil Sil
schist schist v ⁄ margin v ⁄ margin schist schist vein vein schist schist schist vein schist schist
SschH core SschH rim AV2 core AV2 rim ASVH core ASVH rim ASKV core ASKV rim KVH core KVH rim KSVH rim SV rim SVH core SVH rim

SiO2 37.23 37.25 31.13 37.38 37.38 37.36 37.23 37.40 37.36 37.30 37.19 37.34 37.33 37.43
TiO2 0.06 0.03 0.30 0.33 – 0.01 – – 0.04 0.02 – 0.32 0.01 –
Al2O3 21.04 21.07 21.10 21.15 20.89 21.19 21.16 21.11 21.24 21.21 21.07 21.30 20.95 21.12
FeO 27.93 36.18 31.24 35.02 21.29 34.36 30.47 33.14 31.61 34.31 34.86 33.73 31.10 34.66
MnO 9.56 1.12 6.39 2.63 5.44 4.39 8.56 5.39 7.38 4.65 2.77 2.70 6.15 2.79
MgO 1.00 1.95 2.07 1.71 2.38 1.80 1.86 2.32 2.22 2.33 2.44 2.88 2.76 2.68
CaO 2.81 2.42 1.76 2.57 1.38 1.01 0.69 0.86 0.82 0.64 1.26 1.86 1.74 1.88
Total 99.64 100.02 99.99 100.80 99.76 100.12 99.97 100.22 100.67 100.47 99.59 100.12 100.04 100.56
Si 3.02 3.01 3.00 3.00 3.02 3.02 3.02 3.02 3.00 3.01 3.01 3.00 3.01 3.00
Ti 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00
Al 2.01 2.01 2.01 2.00 1.99 2.02 2.02 2.01 2.01 2.01 2.01 2.01 1.99 2.00
Fe 1.90 2.45 2.11 2.35 2.18 2.32 2.06 2.24 2.13 2.31 2.36 2.26 2.10 2.33
Mn 0.66 0.08 0.44 0.18 0.37 0.30 0.59 0.37 0.50 0.32 0.19 0.18 0.42 0.19
Mg 0.12 0.23 0.25 0.20 0.29 0.22 0.22 0.28 0.27 0.28 0.29 0.34 0.33 0.32
Ca 0.24 0.21 0.15 0.22 0.12 0.09 0.06 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.11 0.16 0.15 0.16
XAlm 0.65 0.82 0.72 0.80 0.74 0.79 0.70 0.76 0.72 0.78 0.80 0.77 0.70 0.78
XSps 0.23 0.03 0.15 0.06 0.13 0.10 0.20 0.12 0.17 0.11 0.06 0.06 0.14 0.06
XPrp 0.04 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.10 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.11
XGrs 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.07 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.05

to rim. Natural mineral standards and the ZAF matrix correction The following discussion is organized by metamorphic grade, from
routine were used. Representative analyses for Al2SiO5, garnet, and lowest (chlorite, biotite zones) to highest (sillimanite–K-feldspar
staurolite are given in Tables 2–4. zone).

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124 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.

Table 4. Representative staurolite analyses. Mica schists, some containing garnet, also occur in the sequence
(zone 2, Fig. 1b). In some schists, garnet is partially to completely
Gt-St schist And-Sil schist And-Sil-Ky vein Ky-St schist Ky-Sil schist replaced by chlorite and white mica. Garnet crystals have complex
SschH ASVH ASKV KVH KSVH relationships to deformation, and may have had a protracted growth
history in relation to deformation. These schists contain more
SiO2 26.70 26.46 28.08 27.73 27.68
abundant quartz veins than the lower-grade rocks, and the veins lack
TiO2 0.43 0.59 0.29 0.67 0.87
Al2O3 55.68 55.32 54.58 53.33 55.18
Al2SiO5 polymorphs.
FeO 11.71 14.16 13.16 14.36 12.39
MnO 0.02 0.41 0.39 0.29 0.41
MgO 0.93 1.57 1.45 1.38 0.98 Andalusite-bearing schists and veins (zone 3)
ZnO 2.18 0.45 0.36 0.09 0.68
Total 97.63 98.95 98.32 97.84 98.18 Andalusite-bearing schists are medium to coarse grained, with an
XFe-St 0.78 0.69 0.69 0.72 0.74 average ground-mass mineral size of 3–6 mm, porphyroblasts of
garnet up to 1 cm in diameter, and andalusite crystals up to 20 cm in
length (Fig. 2a). Common minerals are quartz, biotite, andalusite
(chiastolite), garnet and muscovite. Minor minerals are graphite,
chlorite, plagioclase, tourmaline, ilmenite, rutile and fibrolite (in
Low-grade rocks (zones 1 and 2) some rocks). Garnet has been partially to completely pseudomor-
phed by white mica ± chlorite in andalusite schists near veins. Some
The lowest-grade metapelitic rocks in the field area are very fine- andalusite grains, particularly those near faults and veins, are par-
grained slates and phyllites that are interlayered with carbonate tially replaced at their margins and along fractures by fine-grained
rocks and quartzite. Rare quartz veins with accessory iron oxides and white mica and coarse chlorite. Andalusite porphyroblasts, including
rutile cut through the slates, but are more common in the phyllites; chiastolite (Fig. 3a), in the schists are colourless in plane light
these veins lack Al2SiO5. The slates are chlorite zone rocks (not (Fig. 4a) and contain low abundances of trace elements (¼ 0.15 wt%
shown in Fig. 1b) and the phyllites are biotite zone rocks (zone 1, Fe2O3, or ¼ 0.1 mol% FeAlSiO5; sample AVH; Table 2). Elongate
Fig. 1b). crystals display boudinage.

a AVH b AV1

Ms
clear And
pink
And
clear pink And
Dsp
And
clear Dsp
pink
1 mm
1 mm clear And
1 mm

c AV2 0.8

Chl
Qz + Gr + Ms d
weight percent oxides

0.6
clear Fe203
Chl
0.4

pink And
0.2 MgO
Cr2O3
clear
0
1 mm
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
Distance (mm)

Fig. 4. Andalusite-bearing schists and veins. (a) Andalusite from the host schist (AVH), see Fig. 3(a); (b) Vein andalusite with both
pink (Fe-richer) and white (Fe-poorer) regions and texturally late diaspore (inset); both photographs are from sample AV1, see
Fig. 3(c). (c) Vein marginal zone andalusite with pink core inside graphite-rich inclusion band and clear rim (sample AV2, see Fig. 3b).
Colour zoning corresponds to higher trace element concentration in the core (d).

 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd


Andalusite-bearing schists are cut by boudinaged quartz veins.
Some veins contain only accessory iron oxides in addition to quartz,
but others contain andalusite (Fig. 4b), with minor muscovite,
plagioclase, biotite, ilmenite, almandine-rich garnet and chlorite
(retrograde). Andalusite is largely inclusion-free except for radiating
crystals of secondary diaspore (Fig. 4b, inset) and rare euhedral
kyanite that appears to be texturally later than the andalusite (i.e. it
nucleated within andalusite). The vein andalusite exhibits patchy
colour zoning, varying from pink to white, where the pink regions
correspond to slightly higher transition metal (Fe, Cr, Ti) contents
than the white ⁄ colourless zones (Fig. 4b, Table 2, sample AV1).
The margins of some andalusite–quartz veins are characterized by
andalusite-rich regions that are distinct from the host rock in their
greater abundance of andalusite (60–70% of the mode) and finer
andalusite grain size (cf. Fig. 3a,b). The andalusite in the vein mar-
ginal zone is similar to host rock andalusite in that it displays a
chiastolite texture (Figs 3b & 4c), and inclusions in andalusite are
phases found in the host rock [graphite, ilmenite, quartz and
plagioclase (An42)]. Andalusite in the vein marginal zone differs
from host rock andalusite, however, in that it is zoned in trace
elements, whereas host rock andalusite is typically homogeneous and
near-end member Al2SiO5. In vein margin andalusite, the boundary
between a pink, inclusion-rich core zone and a colourless, inclusion-
free rim region (Fig. 4c) corresponds to an abrupt decrease in minor
element content of the andalusite (e.g. 0.46–0.74 wt% Fe2O3 in
the cores vs. <0.20 wt% near the rim; sample AV2, Fig. 4d,
Table 2); cores are also enriched in Cr, Mg, Mn and Ti relative to
rims. The cores contain higher Fe than the pink (Fe-bearing) regions
of unambiguous vein andalusite, and the rims are similarly low in Fe
as host rock andalusite.
In the andalusite-rich vein marginal zones, the interstices between
andalusite grains are very graphite-rich (Figs 3b & 4c), contain
muscovite + ilmenite, and are enriched in apatite + monazite rel-
ative to the host schist In these graphitic interstices, accessory
monazite occurs in clusters with zoned allanite, apatite and musco-
vite. Ilmenite inclusions in andalusite have a higher pyrophanite
(Pyr) component, that is, are more Mn-rich, than ilmenite in the
graphitic interstices (inclusions: Ilm91)93Pyr6)7; matrix: Ilm96)97
Pyr2). Euhedral to subhedral garnet occurs in andalusite and in the
graphitic interstitial regions. Garnet displays typical growth zoning
trends of increasing Fe and decreasing Mn from core to rim (core:
Alm72Sps15Prp8Grs5; rim: Alm80Sps7Prp7Grs6) (Table 3). It is not
possible to compare the composition of these garnet with those in the
host rock because host rock garnet has been completely pseudo-
morphed by white mica, quartz and plagioclase. Nevertheless, these
observations and mineral composition data suggest that garnet and
andalusite have crystallized ⁄ grown in vein marginal zones rather
a relict b Mn
St
Grt
Chl + Ms
Gr + Ms + Chl + Qtz + Pl
1 mm
Fig. 5. Staurolite-garnet schist. (a) Euhedral garnet crystal adjacent to a pseudomorphed staurolite porphyroblast. Relict staurolite
occurs in the core of the grain, now largely comprised of chlorite + muscovite. (b) X-ray map of Mn zoning in garnet from the
matrix of the same sample. Line marks the location and trajectory of a microprobe traverse, with data shown in (c). The traverse
started in the upper right and ended at the lower left end of the line.
 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
ANDALUSITE–KYANITE–SILLIMANITE VEINS 125
than being mechanically incorporated from the groundmass, and
that these vein marginal zones may represent transition zones where
the host rocks have extensively interacted with vein-forming fluids.
Staurolite schists and associated quartz veins
(andalusite-kyanite; zone 4)
Staurolite schists are composed of quartz, staurolite, garnet,
biotite, muscovite, chlorite, plagioclase, graphite and tourmaline.
Porphyroblasts of garnet are typically small (<1 cm), but staurolite
crystals are up to 20 cm long. Staurolite porphyroblasts have been
partially to completely replaced by chlorite and muscovite near
fault zones, veins, and intrusive bodies. Relict staurolite in the cores
of pseudomorphs are Fe- and Zn-rich (XFe-St ¼ 0.8; 2 wt% ZnO)
(Table 4). In these schists, plagioclase has an intermediate compo-
sition and is unzoned or slightly normally zoned, from An36)29
cores to An29)32 rims. Garnet occurs in the matrix and within
pseudomorphed staurolite, and is strongly growth zoned
(core: Alm65Sps23Prp4Grs8; rim: Alm82Sps3Prp8Grs7) (sample
SschH; Fig. 5; Table 3). Garnet is euhedral and unaltered, with
no evidence for retrograde zoning, even in schists in which staur-
olite has been extensively replaced (Fig. 5a). These features
suggest new crystallization of garnet following formation and
replacement of staurolite. The presence of pressure shadows on
garnet indicates deformation continued during and possibly after
garnet growth.
Quartz veins are common in these rocks, and some contain kyanite
or kyanite + andalusite. In veins containing both andalusite and
kyanite, tabular kyanite surrounds large euhedral crystals of anda-
lusite, and also occurs within andalusite, suggesting that they grew at
the same time or that kyanite post-dated andalusite; i.e. kyanite may
have nucleated within andalusite.
Zone 4 has been divided into two sub-regions (Fig. 1b). Both
regions are characterized by staurolite–garnet schists, so are included
as one zone, but the western part of the zone contains andalusite
(kyanite–andalusite veins and andalusite–sillimanite schist), whereas
the eastern part of the zone lacks andalusite. The 4a)4b boundary is
at least in part a fault (Fig. 1b).
Andalusite–sillimanite schists and veins (zone 5)
Andalusite-sillimanite schists contain large (3–20 cm long) porphy-
roblasts of andalusite partially replaced by prismatic and fibro-
lite (sample ASVH1) (Fig. 2c). These large porphyroblasts occur
in a fine-grained matrix of biotite + garnet (1 mm) + quartz +
1.0
c
0.75
mole fraction
Alm
0.5 Sps
Prp
Grs
0.25
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
Distance (mm)
126 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.

plagioclase. Accessory minerals are graphite, tourmaline, and
ilmenite. Garnet is slightly zoned; Mn decreases and Fe increases
from core to rim (core: Alm73Sps14Prp10Grs3; rim: Alm78Sps11-
Prp9Grs3; Table 3). Small (<500 lm) garnet also occurs as inclu-
sions in andalusite, and has similar compositions and zoning trends
as matrix garnet. Clusters of euhedral staurolite crystals occur at the
margins of sillimanite-andalusite porphyroblasts near veins (e.g.
sample ASVH). These staurolite-rich vein marginal zones also con-
tain abundant, coarse muscovite and rare, relict kyanite. This kyanite
is surrounded by muscovite and is not in contact with andalusite or
sillimanite.
Quartz-rich veins that crosscut andalusite-sillimanite schists also
contain andalusite + sillimanite (Fig. 3d), with minor muscovite,
plagioclase, biotite, chlorite, graphite, tourmaline and ilmenite. As in
the host schists, andalusite has been partially replaced by prismatic
sillimanite (Fig. 6b,c). Andalusite is pink and enriched in Fe relative
to sillimanite (sample ASV; Fig. 6d; Table 2).
The three-Al2SiO5 vein (sample ASKV, Fig. 3e) occurs in the
andalusite–sillimanite zone. All three polymorphs are in mutual
contact with each other. The vein is dominated by Al2SiO5 poly-
morphs in a matrix of coarse-grained quartz. Euhedral staurolite is
also relatively abundant in the vein (Fig. 7a-c), and muscovite occurs
as a minor phase. Pink andalusite (0.4–0.5 wt% Fe2O3) and
kyanite are the most abundant polymorphs in the vein. Euhedral
kyanite occurs within and adjacent to partially resorbed andalusite
(Fig. 7a,c,d); this texture suggests that kyanite grew later than
andalusite, nucleating within the aluminous domain of the andalusite
and likely forming by polymorphic transformation. Both kyanite and
andalusite are crosscut by prismatic sillimanite (Fig. 7c). Sillimanite
also occurs as small, oriented prisms in staurolite (Fig. 7a,b) and as
mats of fibrolite. The texture of sillimanite crosscutting andalusite
and kyanite conflicts with other observations in the Hamadan seq-
uence, in which kyanite is typically the texturally latest polymorph.
Garnet occurs at the margins of the vein, most likely as part of the
host rock assemblage.
Kyanite-bearing rocks and veins
Kyanite-bearing rocks are most common in zone 7 of the map
(Fig. 1b), but kyanite also occurs in schists in zones 3–8. Kyanite
schists (e.g. sample KVH in zone 7) contain biotite + plagio-
clase + quartz + kyanite ± garnet ± staurolite. Garnet is typic-
ally almandine-rich (Alm72)78) and is not strongly zoned (Table 3).
Quartz veins with kyanite as a major phase occur in zones 4–8.
Kyanite occurs in veins with andalusite (zone 4), andalusite-

a 1 mm b ASV
ASVH Sil
Sil
Sil
Sil
And And
And
Sil
Sil
Sil

And
And
Sil
And 1 mm

c And ASV 0.5

d S A S A A A S

0.4
Fe2O3 (weight %)

A
Sil
0.3

Sil 0.2

0.1

And S S S
Sil 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 mm Distance (µm)

Fig. 6. Andalusite-sillimanite schist and vein. (a) Andalusite partially replaced by prismatic sillimanite in a garnet-biotite-
andalusite (sillimanite) schist, see Fig. 2(c). Andalusite is rimmed by muscovite. (b) Intergrown andalusite (pink) and sillimanite
(colourless) in a vein; see Fig. 3(d). (c) Sillimanite cross-cutting andalusite in a vein. (d) Variation in Fe2O3 in intergrown andalusite
and sillimanite (sample ASKV, an andalusite-kyanite-sillimanite vein). A ¼ andalusite; S ¼ sillimanite.

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sillimanite (zone 5), sillimanite (zone 6), and alone (zones 4, 7, and in
the granite). Kyanite-quartz veins occur in the contact aureole of the
pluton, within the granite (Fig. 8), and in low-grade rocks that do
not otherwise contain Al2SiO5 polymorphs. Kyanite crystals in veins
are typically large blue bladed crystals (Fig. 3f-h); kyanite in some
veins (e.g. sample KV, Fig. 3g) is deformed (folded ⁄ kinked; Fig. 9).
Fe is the most abundant trace element in both vein and host kyanite,
with mol% FeAlSi2O5 ¼ 0.07–0.17.
Sillimanite ± kyanite schists, migmatites, and veins
(zones 6–8)
The highest-grade rocks in the Hamadan region contain sillim-
anite + quartz + biotite + muscovite + garnet + plagioclase + K-feld-
spar (perthitic orthoclase) + ilmenite ± staurolite ± andalusite or
kyanite. Sillimanite schists grade into migmatitic rocks with meso-
some mineralogy similar to the mineral assemblages in the schists.
The schists are cut by abundant granitic dykes and sillimanite-
bearing quartz–plagioclase veins ⁄ leucosomes.
Close to the granite (<3 km), schists have a hornfels texture but
preserve their primary regional metamorphic assemblages, such as
those containing staurolite or andalusite. Texturally late cordierite
occurs in these rocks (hornfelsed schists), but cordierite has a com-
plex history: in zone 7b (Fig. 1b), neoblastic andalusite crystals occur
in rocks in which cordierite has broken down to form sillim-
anite + biotite ± garnet. Closer to the granite, cordierite has been
pseudomorphed by fibrolite + biotite + garnet ± K-feldspar. Less
than 1 km from the Alvand Plutonic Complex (granite), rocks have
been extensively hornfelsed and contain unaltered cordierite in
hornfels and in leucosomes. Rocks in this inner contact zone include
cordierite ± andalusite ± garnet hornfels, cordierite – K-feldspar ±
garnet hornfels, and sillimanite – K-feldspar ± garnet hornfels. In
some rocks, sillimanite has been partially replaced by symplectitic
spinel + plagioclase.
Some kyanite schists ⁄ hornfels in the contact zone have textures
that suggest there may have been two distinct generations of kyanite
formation. In these rocks, staurolite is ragged and partially replaced
by plagioclase + quartz + biotite (Fig. 10a), and some kyanite is
deformed (bent, broken), and also partially replaced by these phases
(Fig. 10b). These rocks also contain euhedral, randomly oriented
kyanite (Fig. 10b) that is typically less blocky (more elongate) than
the broken kyanite, and which crosscuts the relict foliation. The
second generation of kyanite may be related to the event that formed
the late kyanite veins.
Sillimanite–quartz veins are the most plagioclase-rich of the
quartz vein suite in the field area. These veins consist of pris-
matic and fibrolite + plagioclase (An39)42) + quartz ± garnet
(Alm77Sps6Prp12Grs5) ± staurolite ± andalusite or kyanite. Sillim-
anite-bearing veins also contain minor muscovite, biotite, chlorite
and ilmenite. Vein garnet is distinct from host rock garnet; the latter
commonly has complex textural and compositional zoning
(Fig. 11a–d, Table 3) whereas vein garnet is homogeneous and
inclusion-free. In some sillimanite-rich veins, small inclusion-free
garnet occurs within prismatic sillimanite. In other sillimanite
veins, garnet is rimmed by, and in some grains, pseudomorphed by
plagioclase that is typically twinned (Fig. 11e), and some atoll garnet
is cored by plagioclase. Sample SV, from zone 6 (<0.5 km from the
Alvand granite, Fig. 1b), contains radiating sprays of prismatic and
fibrolite (Fig. 11f) in a matrix of plagioclase + quartz, with rare
euhedral garnet.
SUMMARY OF MINERAL COMPOSITION
RELATIONS AND TEXTURES
Vein andalusite has a different trace element compo-
sition ⁄ zoning compared to host rock andalusite, and
vein garnet has different compositions, zoning patterns
and textures compared to host rock garnet. Vein
andalusite and the core regions of andalusite in vein
 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
ANDALUSITE–KYANITE–SILLIMANITE VEINS 127
marginal zones is Fe-richer than andalusite in host
schists. Vein andalusite typically contains 0.11–
0.70 wt% Fe2O3 (assuming all Fe is Fe3+), and
andalusite in the host rocks contain 0.07–0.16 wt%
Fe2O3. In vein andalusite, the lower values are from
the rims and the higher values from the cores of grains.
Higher Fe2O3 values correlate with higher abundance
for other transition elements (Cr, Ti).
Vein and host rock sillimanite typically contain
0.05–0.18 wt% Fe2O3. Fe2O3 concentrations in kya-
nite in both veins and host rocks are also similar;
vein kyanite has Fe2O3 concentrations of 0.16–0.25
wt% (Table 2), and kyanite in kyanite-sillimanite
schists contains 0.10–0.30 wt%. These low trace
element abundances will displace the Al2SiO5
equilibria an insignificant amount (Kerrick & Speer,
1988).
Garnet has been analyzed from andalusite, andalu-
site–sillimanite, and sillimanite veins to compare
compositions with garnet in the host rocks and to
examine zoning patterns for information about the
metamorphic evolution of the veins. Garnet composi-
tions are almandine-rich and growth zoned in host
rocks and veins, but some rocks (e.g. zone 6 sillimanite
schist) have texturally and compositionally complex
garnet, whereas vein garnet exhibits only simple
growth zoning. Garnet in veins is typically small
(<1 mm), euhedral, and commonly included within
Al2SiO5 polymorphs; host rock garnet is larger (mm-
to cm-scale) and occurs as porphyroblasts in the schist
matrix, with the exception of small garnet included
within extremely large Al2SiO5 crystals in some
samples (e.g. within 10–20 cm long andalusite crystals,
sample ASVH).
Vein staurolite has been analyzed from only the
andalusite–kyanite–sillimanite vein; these have similar
composition to staurolite within the host schist (XFe-St ¼
0.70 ± 0.05 in both; Table 4). Staurolite in garnet–
staurolite ± kyanite schists and hornfels is more
Fe-rich (XFe-St ¼ 0.74–0.78). Zinc content of staurolite
is variable, with the highest amounts (2 wt% ZnO) in
vein staurolite and in relict (partially pseudomorphed)
staurolite in schist.
Plagioclase compositions are sodic in both veins
(andesine) and hosts (oligoclase–andesine) but are
variable. Staurolite schists and hornfelsed kyanite-
staurolite schists contain plagioclase that is more sodic
than plagioclase in sillimanite schists.
PRESSURE–TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS &
REACTION HISTORY
The Hamadan metamorphic rocks have experienced
multiple episodes of metamorphism driven by burial
and heating during arc construction and collision, and
these events are associated with local partial melting
(at high grades, near the pluton) and infiltration of
aqueous fluids. Determining the peak P–T conditions
and the paths for these various events using vein
128 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.

a Ky

And b

Qz St
Sil prisms St blebs
in St And Sil
Qz blebs
in St

Ky 0.5 mm
1 mm Ky

c Ky
d
Ky
Ky Ky
Sil
And

And
Ky Ky
And And
And
1 mm St 1 mm

Fig. 7. Photomicrographs of the andalusite-kyanite-sillimanite vein (ASKV), see Fig. 3(e). (a) Zoned pink to colourless andalusite
encloses euhedral kyanite and staurolite. Staurolite contains blebs of quartz and prisms of staurolite. (b) Close up view of staurolite
from (a), shown under crossed polars. Arrows point to sillimanite crystals in staurolite. (c) Euhedral kyanite and staurolite in partially
resorbed andalusite. Both andalusite and kyanite are crosscut by prismatic sillimanite. The staurolite crystal contains quartz blebs
as in (b), and (d) Euhedral kyanite in andalusite.

granite
Ky
granite

Ky Fig. 8. Kyanite-quartz vein crosscutting

granite in the Alvand Plutonic Complex.
Field of view is 40 cm.

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 ANDALUSITE–KYANITE–SILLIMANITE VEINS 129

0.25 mm assemblages and associated host rocks is in most cases

not possible because of difficulty in determining which
minerals (and mineral compositions) represent equi-
librium assemblages, and because some key minerals
Ky for P–T determinations have been pseudomorphed
or extensively resorbed in rocks located near veins.
Several metres from veins, textures are more straight-
forward (more consistent with an assumption of
equilibrium), and a study is in progress by A. Baharifar
to characterize P–T conditions of these rocks.
Textures suggesting disequilibrium are common in
both veins and associated host rocks. For example,
in many rocks containing the pressure-sensitive
assemblage garnet–Al2SiO5–quartz–plagioclase, coex-
isting Al2SiO5 polymorphs represent a crystallization
Fig. 9. Deformed kyanite from kyanite-quartz vein (sample KV); sequence of uncertain relationship to the (zoned)
see Fig. 3(g).

a Ky b
Ky Bt

Ky
Grt

St Ky

Ky
Bt
Bt
0.5 mm Ky 1 mm

c 0.5 mm d 0.5 mm

Grt
Crd

Fibrolite + Bt
Fig. 10. Photomicrographs of rocks in the contact zone of the granite. (a, b) Kyanite-bearing rock in the contact zone of the
pluton (sample 235 A). Ragged staurolite (a), partially resorbed by plagioclase + quartz + biotite; garnet + kyanite (b) (deformed,
lower left of garnet; and euhedral, twinned, randomly oriented (right of garnet). (c) Cordierite partially pseudomorphed by biotite
and fibrolite. (d) Cordierite partially pseudomorphed by garnet + biotite.

 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

130 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.

Fig. 11. (a–b) X-ray maps of Mn and Ca concentration in garnet from a sillimanite schist. Composition in mol% spessartine (a)
and grossular (b) shown for selected points. Data from a complete rim-rim traverse are shown in (c) and (d). Dashed lines on the
Ca map show the outlines of compositional zones: intermediate Ca core, low Ca outer core, higher Ca rim. (e) Garnet rimmed ⁄
pseudomorphed by plagioclase ± sillimanite in sillimanite-quartz-plagioclase vein (sample 531); and (d) Prismatic and fibrolite in
sillimanite-quartz-plagioclase vein (SV). The entire field of view is comprised of sillimanite (fibrolite is darker and mostly in lower
right of photo).

garnet and plagioclase. Our approach to describing the
P–T history of this region therefore relies largely on a
petrogenetic grid approach, supplemented by thermo-
barometry for rocks with apparently simple and well-
preserved mineral assemblages. P–T path inferences
are informed by field relations (e.g. the pluton and
its contact aureole) and thin section observations
(e.g. textures indicating the crystallization sequence of
Al2SiO5 polymorphs).
The absence of primary pyrophyllite, kaolinite
and ⁄ or diaspore from low-grade rocks provides a
useful minimum temperature estimate (350–375 C,
Fig. 12) only in Al2SiO5-bearing rocks in which the
Al2SiO5 formed at the expense of these phases. This
may have been the case for the low-grade andalusite
schists (e.g. zone 3, sample AVH), but there is no
direct evidence for the andalusite-forming reactions
in these rocks. These minimum temperatures would
imply high geothermal gradients at the pressure
conditions required for andalusite crystallization
(>50 C km)1; Fig. 12).
The metamorphic conditions of the low-grade
andalusite-bearing rocks are therefore not well defined
by mineral assemblages, but peak temperatures and
pressures were likely in the range of 375–500C and
2–3 kbar based on petrogenetic grid considerations,
estimates of geothermal gradients, and calculations
and inferences for rocks in higher grade zones
(Fig. 12). For example, garnet-staurolite schist in zone
4 records garnet-biotite Fe-Mg exchange temperatures
of 520–570C (Baharifar, 1997; this study) and a
pressure of 3 kbar (Baharifar, 1997).
In zone 5 rocks, sillimanite clearly replaces anda-
lusite in schists (ASVH) and veins (ASV). Sample
ASKV is also from zone 5, and in this vein, sillim-
anite post-dates andalusite, kyanite and staurolite
(Fig. 7). Although ASKV contains kyanite, the lack
of kyanite from other rocks (veins and schists) in the
same zone is puzzling. Relict kyanite was found in
one sample of andalusite–sillimanite–staurolite schist,
indicating that kyanite may have been more wide-
spread earlier in the metamorphic history but was
largely replaced by other minerals (including non-
Al2SiO5 phases). Based on these observations, we
have drawn two generalized P–T paths for zone 5
rocks as segments of clockwise loops: a path that
accounts for the sequence andalusite fi kya-
nite fi sillimanite (ASKV), and a path that accounts
for the sequence (kyanite) fi andalusite fi sillim-
anite + staurolite (Fig. 12). Andalusite–kyanite veins
(zone 4) may have formed along a path that followed
the and ¼ ky equilibrium. The proximity of samples

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 ANDALUSITE–KYANITE–SILLIMANITE VEINS 131

8
H2O saturated

2O
Dsp + Qz
granite solidus

Ky + H

H2 O
+ K + Qz
St +

fs +
Ky

Ms
2O
6
Pressure (kbar)

L O
H
St +

+ H2O

s+ z
or H2
Si l
Ky + Qz +

Kf Q
Kln
Sil

+ +
Prl

d Bt
Ky + Qz

-C +
H2 O

Fe Sil
+ G + Qz
4 KV contact
AS

rt +
meta-

St
/H morphism
/km ASV St
°C

Si l
20 And

S t + + Ch l
Bt
2 C/k
m
4 0°

Gr t
/km
60°C
An rl
P
d

0
200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Temperature (°C)
Fig. 12. Pressure–temperature diagram. Al2SiO5 triple point from Holdaway (1971); other equilibria calculated using database
and software of Berman (1991). P–T conditions and paths are shown for selected samples. Dsp ¼ diaspore; Kln ¼ kaolinite; Prl ¼
pyrophyllite. The shaded field labelled And (andalusite) shows the conditions at which the andalusite schists and andalusite-quartz
veins may have equilibrated. The field labelled St (staurolite) was calculated for the staurolite-garnet schist (SschH) using garnet-biotite
thermometry, brackets from lower and higher grade rocks, and results of Baharifar (1997). The field labelled St + Ky and St + Sil are
partially defined by equilibria (e.g. the upper stability of staurolite + quartz), but the maximum pressure for St + Ky is not known.
The path for sample ASKV (3 Al2SiO5 polymorph vein) is schematic, but shows a possible path that would result in the inferred
crystallization sequence (andalusite fi kyanite fi sillimanite). This path does not account for the appearance of staurolite before
sillimanite. The path for samples ASV and ASVH is similarly schematic, but accounts for relict kyanite fi andalusite fi sillim-
anite + staurolite. Kyanite veins appear to be late in the metamorphic and magmatic history, so a path is drawn from the contact
metamorphism field (grey box) to the kyanite stability field; this represents a decrease in temperature, with or without an increase in
pressure (and therefore decreasing geothermal gradient); this path could be isobaric.

ASKV and ASV to each other in zone 5, and the lack occurs as a texturally late phase near the pluton
of recognized structures that could account for a (<3 km) in rocks with a hornfels texture, and over-
significant variation in their tectonic histories, sug- prints an earlier andalusite ± sillimanite assemblage.
gests that factors related to kinetics or fluid ⁄ mineral Migmatitic rocks and the assemblage K-feldspar +
compositions more likely accounted for the differ- sillimanite also occur only near the pluton, implying
ence in the assemblages and inferred crystallization that the highest temperatures were associated with
sequences. intrusion of the granite. Mineral assemblages in
An unresolved question is the relationship between hornfelsic rocks and the presence of granitic leuco-
the staurolite-forming reaction(s) and reactions that somes suggest that the stability of muscovite in
form Al2SiO5 polymorphs. Possible explanations to quartz-bearing rocks was exceeded, and that contact
account for the formation of staurolite before anda- metamorphic P–T conditions were therefore in excess
lusite (zone 4a) and before sillimanite (zone 5) include: of 650C at moderate to low pressures (¼ 4 kbar)
(1) staurolite formed by a different, lower temperature (Fig. 12).
reaction than the garnet + chlorite equilibrium shown Contact metamorphism texturally overprinted
in Fig. 12 (perhaps a reaction involving pyrophyllite or regional metamorphic assemblages and fabrics, but
other low-T Al-rich phase), (2) the Al2SiO5 triple point some phases of the granite and the contact aureole are
of Holdaway (1971) is not applicable to these rocks, or crosscut by kyanite-bearing veins, suggesting a complex
(3) staurolite and andalusite ⁄ sillimanite formed during P–T path of increasing pressure and ⁄ or decreasing
entirely different metamorphic events (separated in temperature following intrusion of at least part of the
time). plutonic complex. In some zones near the granite,
The Alvand Plutonic Complex was emplaced at cordierite is replaced (pseudomorphed) by sillim-
shallow crustal levels and is associated with a low- anite + biotite, implying back reaction of cordierite
pressure–high-temperature contact aureole (Baharifar, (Fig. 12), perhaps during the post-migmatite ⁄ granite
1997; Sepahi, 1999) (zones 6–8; Fig. 1b). Cordierite path that accounts for growth of late kyanite (Figs 8

 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

132 A. A. SEPAHI ET AL.
& 10). Whether the kyanite-bearing rocks within and
beyond the obvious contact aureole experienced
P > 4 kbar before and ⁄ or after intrusion of the pluton
depends on how the different generations of kyanite
formed.
The P–T diagram (Fig. 12) illustrates the following
implications of our data. Some rocks (ASKV, ASV,
ASVH) record a prograde heating path that is
clockwise on a P–T diagram. Other rocks that were
buried and heated along apparently similar paths as
ASV ⁄ H, or at slightly higher pressures (kyanite zone),
experienced low-pressure–high-temperature contact
metamorphism near the Alvand granite, reaching
conditions sufficient to break down muscovite and
initiate partial melting in pelitic rocks. The contact
metamorphosed rocks, the granite itself, and some
rocks that are beyond the contact aureole, experi-
enced kyanite zone conditions following intrusion of
the granite. Whether these rocks were buried and
heated (e.g. during contraction associated with colli-
sion and suturing) or whether the P–T path was
dominated by cooling is not defined by our observa-
tions and analyses.
The P–T diagram and inferred paths do not account
for the decompression history of the terrane. The
breakdown of garnet to plagioclase + sillimanite,
dehydration melting and the formation of spinel-
plagioclase symplectite on sillimanite could occur
during decompression or heating; these textures are
limited to the contact aureole, so heating is perhaps the
more likely explanation, but, as noted earlier, the P–T
conditions and paths associated with the late kyanite
vein-forming event are not known.
PETROGENESIS
In the suite of NW–SE trending quartz-rich veins near
Hamadan, andalusite-bearing quartz veins occur pri-
marily in andalusite-bearing rocks, andalusite-sillim-
anite veins occur in andalusite-sillimanite schist, and
sillimanite-bearing quartz veins occur primarily in
high-grade, migmatitic sillimanite-bearing rocks.
Kyanite-quartz veins, however, are not correlated with
host rock mineralogy or metamorphic grade (Fig. 1b).
These observations indicate that different vein-forming
mechanisms may have operated at different times
during dynamothermal metamorphism.
Veins and host rocks containing two Al2SiO5 phases
show a similar crystallization sequence for the poly-
morphs: that is, in most veins and hosts, the inferred
sequence of polymorphic transitions is andalusite fi
sillimanite, andalusite fi kyanite, or sillimanite fi
kyanite. A prominent exception to this trend is the
andalusite–kyanite–sillimanite vein (ASKV), which
shows evidence for the sequence andalusite fi kya-
nite fi sillimanite. In the following sections, we discuss
these inferred crystallization sequences in the context
of P–T conditions and paths and possible vein-forming
mechanisms.
Petrogenesis of the Al2SiO5-bearing veins
The large size (up to 3 m) of the andalusite-bearing
veins, their coarse quartz and Al2SiO5 crystals con-
taining abundant aqueous fluid inclusions, the growth
of Al2SiO5 perpendicular to vein walls, and the pres-
ence of cm- to m-scale reaction zones with host rocks
suggest crystallization from an aqueous fluid that
interacted with the host rock.
In all andalusite veins that also contain other
polymorphs (sillimanite ± kyanite), andalusite is tex-
turally earliest and partially replaced by the other(s)
(e.g. Figs 6 & 7). Sillimanite and kyanite that occur
in andalusite veins may have formed by polymorphic
transformations, as they nucleated in and around
texturally earlier andalusite crystals. In the host
rocks, there is evidence for polymorphic transforma-
tion of andalusite to sillimanite in large porphyro-
blasts (e.g. sample ASVH, Figs 2b & 6a), but Al2SiO5
phases may also have formed in the host rocks from
breakdown of other aluminous minerals. For example,
in the high-T (K-feldspar-bearing) rocks near the
granite, some sillimanite in veins and host rocks may
have formed from breakdown of muscovite + quartz,
with or without the production of granitic melt
(Fig. 12); some of the sillimanite + plagioclase-bear-
ing segregations may be leucosomes (cf. Nabelek,
1997).
The formation of the kyanite–quartz veins may not
have involved the same type of interaction with the
host rocks as inferred for the andalusite and sillimanite
veins, as there is no correlation between kyanite-quartz
veins and host rock type or grade. The rocks in the
Hamadan region may have experienced a significant
change in P–T conditions following generation of the
andalusite and sillimanite-bearing veins. Late growth
of kyanite may have occurred in response to an
increase in pressure and ⁄ or decrease in temperature
(Fig. 12), but the maximum pressures and the paths
are not known.
Metamorphic–tectonic history of the region
The observations and data presented in this paper are
consistent with a thermal-tectonic history in which
early regional metamorphism (greenschist to amphi-
bolite facies) occurred during initial collision ⁄
contraction of continental margin basins and develop-
ment of a continental margin arc and associated high
geothermal gradient. Intermediate stages of contract-
ional history and arc evolution were associated with
intrusion of the Alvand Plutonic Complex, including
the granite in the Hamadan area that created a low-
pressure–high-temperature contact aureole. Fluids
related to the intrusion or regional dehydration of
hydrous minerals in pelitic rocks may have generated
the quartz ± andalusite ± sillimanite vein system.
Continued collision associated with final closure of
the Neo-Tethyan seaway may have driven further
 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

burial of the rocks (creating the kyanite veins at
higher pressures), or continued fluid infiltration dur-
ing cooling may have generated the kyanite-quartz
veins at lower temperatures without an increase in
pressure.
Significance of andalusite–kyanite–sillimanite veins
Veins or leucosomes that contain all three Al2SiO5
polymorphs are extremely rare. Three coexisting poly-
morphs are known from metapelitic rocks (Hietanen,
1956; Garcı́a-Casco & Torres-Roldán, 1996) and
quartzites (Holdaway, 1978; Grambling, 1981; Whit-
ney, 2002), but reports of Al2SiO5–bearing veins typ-
ically describe at most two polymorphs (Cesare, 1994;
Whitney & Dilek, 2000; Cavosie et al., 2002). The
complexity of the tectonic and metamorphic history of
the Hamadan region may have contributed to the
abundance of Al2SiO5 polymorphs in the region, pro-
viding suitable P–T conditions for all three polymorphs
to be created at different times. The presence of dif-
ferent crystallization sequences within a relatively small
region may also indicate that the P–T paths passed near
the Al2SiO5 triple point (some slightly above, some
slightly below), producing different P–T paths in rocks
that experienced overall similar P–T conditions.
Alternatively, the complexity of regional vs. contact
metamorphic events, combined with fluid–rock inter-
action associated with infiltration of aqueous fluids,
may have created a variety of chemical ⁄ mechanical
environments in which Al2SiO5 nucleation varied
greatly in neighbouring rocks.
Once created, the multiple Al2SiO5 polymorph
assemblages survived, most notably in quartz veins, for
a similar reason that two and three Al2SiO5 polymorph
assemblages occur in quartzites in other terranes: i.e. in
a simple chemical system, there is a better chance for
the metastable persistence of the polymorphs during
progressive metamorphism because the polymorphs are
not destroyed by reactions involving other aluminous
phases (biotite, muscovite, plagioclase, staurolite, gar-
net). In addition, if the P–T paths did not stray far from
the Al2SiO5 triple point, nontectonic factors such as
kinetics and chemistry could have resulted in the variety
of Al2SiO5 assemblages without significant differences
in tectonic histories.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank S. Khodabakhsh, C. Manning, B. Cesare,
and T. Larson for their reviews.
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