ZIRCON-INCLUSION MINERALOGY OF A DIAMOND-GRADE ECLOGITE FROM THE KOKCHETAV MASSIF, NORTHERN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

In order to understand the dehydration process related to phengite decomposition during subduction of crust into the deep mantle, we systematically investigated mineral inclusions in zircons from Kokchetav diamond-grade eclogites. In the eclogites, phengite is absent from the matrix but only occurs as inclusions in clinopyroxene. The clinopyroxene is zoned; the core augite contains K2O up to 0.24 wt%, whereas the rim omphacite contains secondary K-feldspar inclusions. Phengite may have been consumed during prograde reactions, and K was fixed in clinopyroxene or in a fluid/melt phase. Inclusions of clinopyroxene and garnet were identified in zircon cores, whereas garnet, rutile, quartz, and composite inclusions are present in the mantles and quartz occurs in the rims. Distribution of mineral inclusions in zoned zircons indicates that zircon cores grew at the peak UHP stage, whereas the rims grew in the quartz stability field during decompression. The composite inclusions have assemblages of albite + glass + epidote, rutile + ilmenite, quartz + rutile, and rutile + albite. The former three-phase composite inclusions have rounded outlines and triple-junction grain boundaries, suggesting crystallization from fluid or melt. During the growth of zircon from core to mantle, phengite was consumed, and new garnet, rutile and fluid/ melt were formed. Copyright © 2006 by V.H. Winston & Son, Inc. All rights reserved.