Thai nguyen university of technology Faculty of mechanical engineering

seminar #5
topic 8: metamorphic facies

course: evolution of the earth & solar system presentator: nguyen tien hao lecturer: msc.le manh tu

Metamorphic Facies
That is a set of

metamorphic mineral assemblages indicative of a certain range pressure and temperature in which it formed.

How do they indicate the different in the

vicinity of the subduction zone?

Like an index mineral, a facies indicates the

specific temperature and pressure conditions that characterized the development of these metamorphic rock.

The different metamorphic facies are defined by

the mineralogical composition of a rock. When the temperature or pressure in a rock body change, the rock can cross into a different facies and some minerals becomestablewhile others become unstable or metastale. Whether minerals really react depends on thereaction kinetics, the activation energy of the reaction and how much fluid is present in the rock.

Zeolite facies (LP/LT) The zeolite facies is the metamorphic facies

with the lowestmetamorphic grade. At lower temperature and pressure processes in the rock are calleddiagenesis. The facies is named forzeolites, stronglyhydratedtectosilicates.

Prehnite-pumpellyite-facies (LP/LT)

The prehnite-pumpellyite facies is a little

higher in pressure and temperature than the zeolite facies. It is named for the mineralsprehnite(aCa-Al-phyllosilicate) andpumpellyite(asorosilicate).

Greenschist facies (MP/MT)

The greenschist facies is at medium pressure

and temperature. The facies is named for the typicalschistosetextureof the rocks and green colour of the mineralschlorite,epidoteandactinolite.

Amphibolite-facies (MP/MT-HT)

Main article:amphibolite facies Theamphibolitefacies is a facies of medium

pressure and average to high temperature. It is named afteramphibolesthat form under such circumstances

Granulite facies (MP/HT)

Main article:granulite facies Thegranulitefacies is the highest grade of

metamorphism at medium pressure. The depth at which it occurs is not constant. A characteristic mineral for this facies and the pyroxene-hornblende facies isorthopyroxene.

Blueschist facies (MP-HP/LT)

Main article:blueschist facies The blueschist facies is at relatively low

temperature but high pressure, such as occurs in rocks in asubduction zone. The facies is named after the schistose character of the rocks and the blue mineralsglaucophaneandlawsonite.

Albite-epidote-hornfels facies (LP/LT-MT)

The albite-epidote-hornfels facies is a facies

at low pressure and relatively low temperatures. It is named for the two mineralsalbiteandepidote, though they are stable in more facies.Hornfels is a rock formed incontact metamorphism, a process that characteristically involves high temperatures but low pressures/depths.

Eclogite facies (HP/HT)

Main article:eclogite facies The eclogite facies is the facies at the highest

pressure and high temperature. It is named for the metabasic rockeclogite.

Sanidinite facies (LP/HT)

The sanidinite facies is a rare facies of

extremely high temperatures and low pressure. It can only be reached under certain contact-metamorphic circumstances. Due to the high temperature the rock experiencespartial meltingand glass is formed. This facies is named for the mineralsanidine.

Thanks for atention