Metasomatism

Metamorphism vs Metasmatism
 Metamorphism
• All CHANGES in SOLID STATE that takes in a
Pre-existing rock, as a result of changes in P,T
and chemical env (fluids) under which the pre-
existing formed
• Changes = textural, mineralogical, structural
• Isochemical !!!

Books : 1. Philpotts 2. Turner 3. Bhaskar Rao 4. Wrinkler 5. Spear 6. Winter

 Limits of Met
• In general low T changes in weathering,
diagenesis, lithification are excluded from met
• Zone of weath/diagenesis (~200 C)
• Zone of melting/ Ig (~ 650- 700 C)
• Zone of Met = lies b/w the two
 Metamorphism
 Features of Metamorphism
- It principally formed in solid state and before melting,
- Metamorphism can be considered to be isochemical, except perhaps
for removal or addition of volatiles (H2O, CO2),
- The process of extensive chemical changes during transformation is
known as metasomatism.
LOWER AND UPPER LIMITS OF METAMORPHISM

• Low grade: diagenesis >> incipient

metamorphism: 100-150C
• High grade: anatexis = formation of partial
melt: 750-850C
• Pressure variations:
• Top of Crust 1-3 km depth (<1 Kb)
• Base of Crust 20-40 km (>10 Kb)
 Types of Met
• Regional/ Dynao-thermal = burial, heating on
a regional scale, tectonism, development of
foliated fabric – slaty, schistose, gneissose
• Contact/thermal = localized, heat from intru,
not strongly deformed, lack of foliated fabric
• Ctaclastic/Dynamic = near faults, overthrusts,
mechanical crushing, shearing
Processes of Met, Metamorphic reactions
1. Rexllon – A changing to A, text change, more
surface tension on the boundary, more
surface area in small xl, hence large xl grow
at the expense of small xl
2. Reorganisation:
Mus = K-f + Corundum + water
Mus+Qtz = K-f+Ky+Water
3. Replacement = metasomatism
4. Crushing/pulverisation
Metasomatism

Metasomatism, metasomatic process and metasomatose are synonyms

Metasomatism: is a metamorphic process by which the chemical

composition of a rock or rock portion is altered in a pervasive manner
and which involves the introduction and/or removal of chemical
components as a result of the interaction of the rock with aqueous fluids
(solutions). During metasomatism the rock remains in a solid state.
Metasomatic processes

Two main types of metasomatism: (based on nature of

mass transport)
diffusional
infiltrational

Diffusional metasomatism: a type of metasomatism that

takes place by the diffusion of a solute through a stagnant
solution (fluid). The driving force of diffusion is the
chemical potential (or chemical activity) gradients in the
rock-pore solution.

Infiltrational metasomatism: a type of metasomatism that

takes place by the transfer of material in solution,
infiltrating through the host rocks. The driving force is the
pressure and concentration gradients between the
infiltrating and rock-pore solutions
 Types of Metasomatism: Based on
participating chemical component
• Alkali metasomatism
• Lime metaso
• Iron-Magnesium-silicate metaso
• CO2 metaso
• Boron metaso
• Fluorine metasomtism
 Mass transfer and Products
• Metasomatic process involves a mass balance
change as a result of input/loss of acid (SiO2, F,
Cl, SO3, CO2, etc.) and alkaline/basic (K2O, Na2O,
CaO, MgO, etc.) components.
• The acidic metasomatic rocks (or the products of
acid leaching) show common enrichment with
acid components and depletion of alkalies and
alkali earths relative to the initial rocks.
• Alkaline and basic metasomatism produces the
opposite mass exchange
Fenite family

Fenites are high temperature metasomatic

rocks composed mainly of K-Na-feldspars
(perthite or antiperthite), albite, nepheline,
alkaline pyroxenes (aegirine, aegirine-diopside,
aegirineaugite), alkaline amphiboles
(arfvedsonite, riebeckite, hastingsite,
richterite); subordinate minerals include
biotite-phlogopite micas, magnetite and
ilmenite and the most common accessories are
titanite and apatite
Skarn family
Skarn is a metasomatic rock formed at the
contact between a silicate rock (or magmatic
melt) and a carbonate rock.

It consists mainly of Ca-Mg-Fe-Mn- silicates,

which are free or poor in water.
Rodingite: is a metasomatic rock primarily
composed of grossular-andradite garnet and
calcic pyroxene; vesuvianite, epidote, scapolite
and iron ores are characteristic accessories.
Rodingite mostly replaces dykes or inclusions
of basic rocks within serpentinised ultramafic
bodies. It may also replace other basic rocks,
such as volcanic rocks or amphibolites
asociated with ultramafic bodies.
Greisen family

Greisens are quartz-muscovite rocks

commonly with topaz, fluorite, tourmaline,
and locally with orthoclase or amazonite. They
may replace granites, sandstones, or
micaceous schists. The greisen family of
metasomatic rocks includes some facies
related to varying activity ratios of F, Cl, CO2,
and B.
Propylite: is a low to medium temperature
metasomatic granofels formed by the
alteration of basic volcanic rocks; low
temperature varieties are principally
composed of albite, calcite and chlorite; high-
temperature varieties are composed of
epidote, actinolite and biotite. They form at
the postmagmatic stage.
Albitites related to ‘linear’ carbonatite bodies
in shear zones form rims around carbonatite
lenses and veins and separate veins in the
upper part of the alkaline-carbonatite rock
bodies.
Albitites of this type may form by the action of
aqueous-CO2 fluids replacing previously
fenitised host rocks (gneisses or amphibolites).
 Metamorphic Fluids & Metasomatism

Pelite

U L T R A M A F I C

Figure 30.16. “Ideal” mineral zonation due to metasomatism in < 3-m long ultramafic pods in low-grade regionally metamorphosed pelites at
Unst, Shetland Islands. After Read (1934) Mineral. Mag., 23, 519-540. Winter (2010) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology.
Prentice Hall.
 Metamorphic Fluids & Metasomatism

Figure 30.17. Variation in mineral proportions across the zones between the ultramafic and quartzo-feldspathic gneiss contact at Grafton,
Vermont, after Sanford (1982). Zone letters at the top correspond to the zones listed in the text. Zone letters at the top are: A = Tlc + Ath, B =
Tlc, C = Act + Chl, D = transitional, E = quartzo-feldspathic country rock. The vertical dashed line represents the estimated initial contact. After
Sanford (1982) Amer. J. Sci., 282, 543-616. Winter (2010) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
 Metamorphic Fluids & Metasomatism

Figure 30.21. Schematic representation of major silicate mineral reactions and component fluxes associated with metasomatism of the
ultramafic body at Grafton, Vt. Elemental fluxes across various zones are indicated by the arrows at the top. Arrows between mineral boxes
(somewhat distorted from the true modes in Figure 30.15) indicate reactions. When horizontal, these arrows involve metasomatic
reactions; when vertical they are approximately isochemical. The zones listed at the bottom correspond to those in Figure 30.15, and the
heavy dashed line is the estimated original contact. After Sanford (1982) Amer. J. Sci., 282, 543-616. Winter (2010) An Introduction to
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
 Metamorphic Fluids & Metasomatism

Figure 30.23. The three principal types of skarns. From Kerrick (1977) J. Petrol., 18, 144-181. Winter (2010) An Introduction to Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
 Contact Metamorphism
• Adjacent to igneous intrusions
• Thermal (± metasomatic) effects of hot magma
intruding cooler shallow rocks
• Occurs over a wide range of pressures, including
very low
• Contact aureole
 Metamorphic Fluids & Metasomatism

Figure 30.29. Mineral zones and modes developed at the contact between quartz diorite and dolomitic marble in Figure 30.26a. Initial
contact may be at either side of the contact zone. Index numbers at the top indicate the locations of bulk chemical analyses. After Frisch and
Helgeson (1984) Amer. J. Sci., 284, 121-185. Winter (2010) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.