How fluid infiltrates dry crustal rocks during progressive eclogitization and shear zone formation: insights from H2O contents in nominally anhydrous minerals

Abstract

Granulites from Holsnøy (Bergen Arcs, Norway) maintained a metastable state until fluid infiltration triggered the kinetically delayed eclogitization. Interconnected hydrous eclogite-facies shear zones are surrounded by unreacted granulites. Macroscopically, the granulite–eclogite interface is sharp and there are no significant compositional changes in the bulk chemistry, indicating the fluid composition was quickly rock buffered. To better understand the link between deformation, fluid influx, and fluid–rock interaction one cm-wide shear zone at incipient eclogitization is studied here. Granulite and eclogite consist of garnet, pyroxene, and plagioclase. These nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs) can incorporate H2O in the form of OH groups. H2O contents increase from granulite to eclogite, as documented in garnet from ~ 10 to ~ 50 µg/g H2O, pyroxene from ~ 50 to ~ 310 µg/g H2O, and granulitic plagioclase from ~ 10 to ~ 140 µg/g H2O. Bowl-shape profiles are characteristic for garnet and pyroxene with lower H2O contents in grain cores and higher at the rims, which suggest a prograde water influx into the NAMs. Omphacite displays a H2O content range from ~ 150 to 425 µg/g depending on the amount of hydrous phases surrounding the grain. The granulitic plagioclase first separates into a hydrous, more albite-rich plagioclase and isolated clinozoisite before being replaced by new fine-grained phases like clinozoisite, kyanite and quartz during ongoing fluid infiltration. Results indicate a twofold fluid influx with different mechanisms to act simultaneously at different scales and rates. Fast and more pervasive proton diffusion is recorded by NAMs that retain the major element composition of the granulite-facies equilibration where hydrogen decorates pre-existing defects in the crystal lattice and leads to OH increase. Contemporaneously, slower grain boundary-assisted aqueous fluid influx enables element transfer and results in progressive formation of new minerals, e.g., hydrous phases. Both mechanisms lead to bulk H2O increase from ~ 450 to ~ 2500 µg/g H2O towards the shear zone and convert the system from rigid to weak. The incorporation of OH groups reduces the activation energy for creep, promotes formation of smaller grain sizes (phase separation of plagioclase), and synkinematic metamorphic mineral reactions. These processes are part of the transient weakening, which enhance the sensitivity of the rock to deform.