The Phase Rule in Metamorphic Systems

Consider the following three scenarios:

C = 1 (Al2SiO5)

F = 1 common

F = 2 rare

F = 3 only at the
specific P-T
conditions of the
invariant point
(~ 0.37 GPa and
500oC)
Figure 21-9. The P-T phase diagram for the system Al2SiO5
calculated using the program TWQ (Berman, 1988, 1990,
1991). Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
Representing Mineral Reactions
• albite  jadeite + quartz
From Hacker, B.R.,
Let’s put it all together…
• What if we had staurolite and andalusite
together? What conditions would that indicate?
 Metamorphic facies
• P-T conditions, presence of fluids induces
different metamorphic mineral assemblages
(governed by thermodynamics/ kinetics)
• These assemblages are lumped into
metamorphic facies (or grades)
 Aluminosilicate Minerals
• SILLIMANITE: Orthorhombic: Octahedral Al chains (6-fold) are
crosslinked by both Si and Al tetrahedra (4-fold).
• ANDALUSITE: Orthorhombic: 5-coordinated Al; Same octahedral (6-
fold) chains.
• KYANITE: Triclinic: All the Al is octahedrally coordinated (6- and 6-
fold).

Andalusite Kyanite Sillimanite

•Clearly, changes in structure are in response to changing P and T. Result is

changes in Al coordination.
•Phase transformations require rebonding of Al. Reconstructive polymorphism
requires more energy than do displacive transformations. Metastability of these 3
are therefore important (Kinetic factors limit equilibrium attainment).
•All 3 are VERY important metamorphic index minerals.
 Aluminosilicate Minerals
• 3 polymorphs of Al2SiO5 are important
metamorphic minerals

Andalusite Kyanite Sillimanite

 Topaz
• Aluminosilicate mineral as well, one oxygen
substituted with OH, F
• Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
• Where do you think Topaz forms??
 Serpentine Minerals
• Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 minerals (principally as
antigorite, lizardite, chrysotile polymorphs)
• Forms from hydration reaction of magnesium
silicates
– Mg2SiO4 + 3 H2O  Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 + Mg(OH)2
forsterite serpentine brucite

• Asbestosform variety is chrysotile (accounts

for 95% of world’s asbestos production 
MUCH LESS DANGEROUS than crocidolite)
 Phyllosilicates

T
Yellow = (OH) O
- vdw

Serpentine: Mg3 [Si2O5] (OH)4 T

O
T-layers and triocathedral (Mg2+) layers - vdw
(OH) at center of T-rings and fill base of VI layer  T
weak van der Waals bonds between T-O groups O
 Serpentine
Antigorite maintains a
sheet-like form by
alternating segments of
opposite curvature

Chrysotile does not do this

and tends to roll into tubes

Octahedra are a bit larger than tetrahedral

match, so they cause bending of the T-O
layers (after Klein and Hurlbut, 1999).
 Serpentine Veblen and Busek, 1979,
Science 206, 1398-1400.

S = serpentine T = talc
Nagby and Faust (1956) Am.
Mineralogist 41, 817-836.

The rolled tubes in chrysotile resolves the apparent

paradox of asbestosform sheet silicates
 Chlorite
• Another phyllosilicate, a group of difficult
to distinguish minerals
• Typically green, and the dominant and
characteristic mineral of greenschist
facies rocks
• Forms from the alteration of Mg-Fe
silicates (pyroxenes, amphiboles, biotite,
garnets)
• Clinochlore, chamosite,
pennantite, nimmite – end members
• Chloritoid - Similar in appearance to
chlorite, but different 2V and relief
 Prehnite-Pumpellyite
• Low-grade metamorphic minerals
• Minerals related to chlorite, form at slightly
lower P-T conditions
• Prehnite is also green, pumpellyite green
too, varies based on Fe content

• Prehnite + chlorite  pumpellyite + quartz

 Micas
• Biotite and Muscovite are also important
metamorphic minerals (muscovite often the
principle component of schists)
• Phlogopite – similar to biotite, but has little
iron, forms from Mg-rich carbonate deposits
and a common mineral in kimberlites
(diamond-bearing material)
• Sericite – white mica (similar to muscovite)
– common product of plagioclase feldspar
alteration at low grades
 Zeolites
• Diverse group of minerals forming at lower
metamorphic grades
• Framework silicas, but characteristically
containing large voids and highly variable
amounts of H2O
– Name is from the greek – meaning to boil stone as
the water can de driven off with heat
– Voids can acts as molecular sieves and traps for
many molecules
– Diversity of minerals in this group makes a for a
wide variety of sieve and trapping properties
selective for different molecules
 Epidote Group

• Sorosilicates (paired silicate tetrahedra)

• Include the mineral Epidote Ca2FeAl2Si3O12(OH),
Zoisite (Ca2Al3Si3O12(OH) and clinozoisite
(polymorph)
 Garnets
Garnet: A2+3 B3+2 [SiO4]3

“Pyralspites” - B = Al
Pyrope: Mg3 Al2 [SiO4]3
Almandine: Fe3 Al2 [SiO4]3
Spessartine: Mn3 Al2 [SiO4]3
“Ugrandites” - A = Ca
Uvarovite: Ca3 Cr2 [SiO4]3
Grossularite: Ca3 Al2 [SiO4]3
Andradite: Ca3 Fe2 [SiO4]3

Occurrence:
Mostly metamorphic
Some high-Al igneous
Also in some mantle peridotites
Garnet (001) view blue = Si purple = A turquoise = B
 Staurolite
• Aluminosilicate - Fe2Al9Si4O22(OH)2
• Similar structure to kyanite with tetrahedrally
coordinated Fe2+ easily replaced by Zn2+ and Mg2+
• Medium-grade metamorphic mineral, typically
forms around 400-500 C
– chloritoid + quartz = staurolite + garnet
– chloritoid + chlorite + muscovite = staurolite + biotite +
quartz + water
• Degrades to almandine (garnet at higher T)
– staurolite + muscovite + quartz = almandine +
aluminosilicate + biotite + water
 Metamorphic chain silicates
• Actinolite and tremolite are chain silicates
derived from dolomite and quartz and
common in low-mid grade metamorphic
rocks
• Riebeckite and Glaucophane are also
chain silicates – higher grade minerals,
often a blue color
• These minerals usually lower P, higher T
conditions
 Metamorphic Facies
• Where do we find
these regimes of P-
T ‘off’ of the typical
continental
isotherms??
• How is the
environment that
forms a blueschist
facies rock different
from one forming a
hornfels?
 Metamorphic Facies
• Table 25-1. The definitive mineral assemblages
that characterize each facies (for mafic rocks).
Let’s put it all together…
 Facies Series
• Miyashiro (1961) initially proposed five facies series,
most of them named for a specific representative
“type locality” The series were:
1. Contact Facies Series (very low-P)
2. Buchan or Abukuma Facies Series (low-P
regional)
3. Barrovian Facies Series (medium-P
regional)
4. Sanbagawa Facies Series (high-P,
moderate-T)
5. Franciscan Facies Series (high-P, low T)
Fig. 25-3.
Temperature-
pressure diagram
showing the three
major types of
metamorphic
facies series
proposed by
Miyashiro (1973,
1994). Winter
(2001) An
Introduction to
Igneous and
Metamorphic
Petrology.
Prentice Hall.
 Isograds
• Lines (on a map) or Surfaces (in the 3D
world) marking the appearance or
disappearance of the Index minerals in
rocks of appropriate composition
e.g. the ‘garnet-in isograd’; the ‘staurolite-
out isograd’
Complicated by the fact that most of these
minerals are solid solutions
• Isograds for a
single shale unit
in southern
Vermont
• Which side
reflects a higher
grade, or higher
P/T environment?