Metamorphism of the Arseno Lake area, N.W.T., Canada: an Abukuma facies series of Aphebian age

Progressive mineralogical and mineral–chemical changes are described for metapelitic rocks from an Abukuma-type metamorphic series ranging from greenschist to upper amphibolite – granulite facies in the Bear Structural Province, Northwest Territories, Canada.The first appearance of the following minerals defines six isograds: biotite; andalusite; cordierite (muscovite + chlorite out); sillimanite (andalusite out); sillimanite + K-feldspar (muscovite + quartz out); and almandine + K-feldspar ± cordierite (biotite + sillimanite + quartz out).Electron microprobe analyses of the Fe–Mg silicates, biotite, cordierite, and garnet, display two distinct trends of mineral chemistry with increasing metamorphic grade. In the almandine + K-feldspar ± cordierite zone, where garnet is present, Fe/(Fe + Mg) decreases in all of the Fe–Mg silicates observed. However, in the cordierite zone and in the higher grade rocks where garnet is absent, Fe/(Fe + Mg) increases in both biotite and cordierite. Ilmenite and rutile are involved in all continuous reactions and lead to increasing Fe/Mg with grade unless garnet is a product of reaction. There is also a displacement towards lower Fe content at the sillimanite + K-feldspar isograd.The scale of equilibration decreases to 1–2 mm in the almandine + K-feldspar ± cordierite zone, which is most probably a function of the decrease of [Formula: see text] and therefore [Formula: see text]in the metamorphic fluid with increasing metamorphic grade.The physical conditions of metamorphism in the Arseno Lake area range from [Formula: see text] at 2–2.5 kbar with[Formula: see text] in the chlorite zone to ≥650 °C at 3.5–4.0 kbar where [Formula: see text] in the almandine + K-feldspar ± cordierite zone.