Multiple Metamorphic Events Recorded within Eclogites of the Chandman District, SW Mongolia

Abstract

The eclogite-bearing Alag Khadny metamorphic complex in the Lake Zone, SW Mongolia occupies the central region of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the largest Phanerozoic orogenic belt in the world. The complex consists mainly of orthogneisses intercalated with eclogites and micaschists in a mélange zone. Most of eclogites are strongly amphibolitized. In this study, we examined petrography and mineral chemistry of eclogites and amphibolitized eclogites, respectively. The result of our research shows that Chandman eclogites experienced multiple events of metamorphism in throughout their subduction and subsequent collision history. We revealed that eclogites were subjected to blueschist facies metamorphism before the peak eclogite facies stage. In addition, we have studied amphibolitized eclogite, and revealed that another distinct progressive medium pressure (MP) epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphic event took place in the eclogite, consistent with collision process. The multiple events of metamorphism in eclogites have been revealed by zonation textures of HP amphiboles zoned with glaucophane→barroisite→Mg-hornblende and MP amphiboles zoned with actinolite/winchite→barroisite→Mg-hornblende/tschermakite/Fe-pargasite. These amphiboles with different zonation textures reflect their metamorphic history of subduction to collision events.