Geochemical Analysis of Cordierite in Metamorphic Systems
Summary
Cordierite, a magnesian aluminium silicate common in pelitic and mafic rocks, serves as a crucial recorder of pressure–temperature–fluid conditions during metamorphism. Its open framework allows incorporation of H2O, CO2 and minor volatile species, rendering it a sensitive archive of fluid composition and activity. Trace‐element distributions and major‐element zoning within cordierite permit reconstruction of prograde and retrograde paths, while stable isotopes in channel fluids constrain sources of metamorphic fluids. Advances in in situ analytical techniques have refined thermobarometric calibrations, extending cordierite-bearing assemblage studies into ultrahigh-temperature and high-pressure regimes. Across global metamorphic terrains—from amphibolite to granulite facies—cordierite chemistry elucidates tectonic processes such as crustal thickening, exhumation rates and fluid–rock interaction. The integration of geochemical data with phase equilibria modelling underpins quantitative estimates of metamorphic conditions and fluid evolution, offering insights into crustal dynamics and volatile cycling in orogenic belts.
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Geochemical Analysis of Cordierite in Metamorphic Systems publication trend
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Technical terms
Cordierite: Magnesian aluminium silicate mineral (Mg2Al4Si5O18) with a channelled structure accommodating volatiles.
Ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism: Metamorphic conditions characterised by peak temperatures exceeding ~900 °C, often with granulite-facies mineral assemblages.
Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS): Microanalytical technique that sputters a sample surface to determine in situ elemental and isotopic composition with high spatial resolution.
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS): Analytical method that separates volatile compounds by chromatography and identifies them via mass spectrometric detection.
Thermobarometry: Quantitative determination of pressure and temperature conditions of mineral formation using chemical equilibria and compositional data.
References
- Primary cordierite with > 2.5 wt% CO2 from the UHT Bakhuis Granulite Belt, Surinam: CO2 fluid phase saturation during ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2023).
- Fluid Components in Cordierite from the Rocks of Epidote-Amphibole Facies of the Muzkol Metamorphic Complex, Tajikistan: Pyrolysis-Free GC-MS Data. Minerals (2023).
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