Formation of corundum in metapelites around ultramafic bodies. An example from the Saualpe region, Eastern Alps.

This paper describes corundum formation in a metasomatic reaction zonation around an ultramafic body within a metapelitic sequence. The investigated body is about 100 m in diameter and is located in the Saualpe of the Austroalpine nappe complex in the Eastern Alps. The body is surrounded by a 10 m wide reaction zone (here called zone 3) containing the paragenesis garnet-staurolite-biotite-margarite-chlorite-corundum. Beyond a further metasomatic transition zone (here called zone 2), there are undisturbed metapelitic host rocks (zone 1) that have the metamorphic peak paragenesis garnet-biotite-plagioclase-staurolite-muscovite-quartz. It is shown that reaction zonation formed around 7.2?kbar and 615?°C during regional metamorphism, just above the serpentine breakdown reactions in the system MgO-SiO₂-H₂O. Detailed analysis of the whole rock compositions shows that the reaction zonation formed by infiltration metasomatism that caused significant mass loss in the two alteration zones. These zones are particularly depleted in SiO₂, Na₂O and possibly K₂O. AnX_Na2O-X_SiO2 thermodynamic pseudosection is presented that includes the parageneses of both the unaltered metapelitic host rock and the corundum-bearing parageneses. This suggests that the metasomatic process can be explained by the transfer of SiO₂ and Na₂O alone. We interpret that the process is driven by water liberated from the previously serpentinised ultramafic body during prograde dehydration during regional Eo-Alpine metamorphism. This fluid flowed outwards from the ultramafic body depleting the surrounding pelites in silica and causing margarite formation from plagioclase and muscovite. This interpretation of the driving mechanism is consistent with our knowledge of the low water activities of the Saualpe during the Eo-Alpine orogenic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]