Scales of disequilibrium and rates of equilibration during metamorphism

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that partial disequilibrium-meaning disequilibrium for some elements, but not for others-may be a common but rarely detected phenomenon during metamorphic mineral growth, even in ordinary prograde reactions that progress to completion. Detailed examination of compositional variations in garnet crystals over a range of metamorphic grade suggests distinctly different scales of equilibration for common elements, with strong temperature dependence. Under lower greenschist-facies conditions, Fe and Mg may equilibrate at hand-sample scale, whereas Mn and Ca may not equilibrate even at millimeter-scale. Although Mn may achieve hand-samplescale equilibration under upper greenschist-facies conditions, Ca and many trivalent cations (e.g., REEs) may not do so until temperatures exceed those of the middle amphibolite facies. Even in the lower granulite facies, some elements (e.g., Y, Yb) show indications of disequilibrium at sub-centimeter- scales during garnet growth.