The precursor principle and the possible significance of stratiform ores and related chemical sediments in the elucidation of processes of regional metamorphic mineral formation

Abstract

This contribution is concerned with the regional metamorphism of fine-grained (pelitic) sedimentary materials, and with the pelitic components of coarser sediments. It emphasizes the possible importance of purely chemical sedimentary rocks, and the preservation of chemical patterns within them, in the elucidation of some regional metamorphic mineralogical processes. The materials and examples used come largely from the category of exhalative sediments, of which stratiform metallic sulphide orebodies and their associated exhalites are important members. A few examples come from volcanic rocks that have been altered by exhalative processes. The special significance of chemical sediments stems from their propensity for the development of highly complex metamorphic silicate mineral assemblages within relatively minuscule volumes of rock, and from their commonly sharply defined chemical bedding and chemical sedimentary facies patterns. As the primary nature of such chemical bedding and chemical layering and zoning in completely unmetamorphosed materials is observable and known, and as their sharp boundaries and other well-defined features can be examined in a full range of unmetamorphosed to highly metamorphosed environments, they may be used as extremely sensitive markers for the detection and measurement of any chemical movement that may have taken place during regional metamorphism. Detailed examination of such evidence appears to indicate a general lack of diffusion and reaction, and a common lack of attainment of mineral equilibrium, in the development of the regional metamorphic silicate assemblages of a number of such stratiform ore deposits and their associated exhalative materials. This, together with the common interbedded nature of metamorphic silicate, sulphide, carbonate, etc., and the faithful maintenance of primary sedimentary chemical facies patterns within many exhalative metasediments suggests that the silicates, like the accompanying sulphides and associated compounds, may derive directly and in situ from early-formed precursor materials rather than from extensive elemental diffusion and metamorphic reaction. That particular clays and zeolites derive from specific precursors in many instances has been recognized for a long time. That many metamorphosed bedded oxides (including quartz), together with carbonates, sulphates, sulphides and authigenic silicates such as the feldspars, have derived from sedimentary: diagenetic precursors is self-evident and unavoidable, and establishes precursor derivation for at least some regional metamorphic minerals as a principle, not an hypothesis. What is not known, however, is the extent to which this principle applies to the broader spectrum of metamorphic silicates. The present contribution examines this problem. The evidence of ‘ metamorphic ’ silicates in a range of unmetamorphosed and littlemetamorphosed rocks, in present ocean-floor sediments, in unmetamorphosed volcanic alteration products and in modern geothermal systems is examined. The preservation of possible precursor materials in a variety of rocks, and the synthesis of a number of ‘ metamorphic ’ minerals by low-temperature solution experimentation and in low-temperature industrial products is considered. It is deduced that most of the well-known regional metamorphic minerals may in fact be produced directly from low-temperature sedimentary/diagenetic/alteration materials, and that such precursors may be of simple or complex kind. It is suggested that the direct derivation of regional metamorphic silicates from precursors may resolve the problem of the elusive metamorphic mineral reaction, and that the principal regional metamorphic grade indicators may be the temperatures of precursor transformations rather than temperatures of reactions. Several implications of the precursor principle are then examined: its significance in the interpretation of zoning of regional metamorphic mineral assemblages and mineral chemistry; in considerations of metamorphic grade and the development of grainsize; in the identities of certain metamorphic equilibria, intergrowths and ‘retrograde’ materials; and in the deduction of earlier environments of rock formation and alteration. In this general connection it is proposed that the overall regional metamorphic process may be substantially indigenous: that through their primary nature certain materials, e.g. some andesitic-dacitic volcaniclastic rocks, may be predisposed to metamorphose themselves, and that this may be accentuated by the petro-tectonic setting in which they form, e.g. island arc - eugeosynclinal provinces, with their characteristically inter-related calc-alkaline volcanism, riftrelated palaeogeographical features and highly patterned heat flow. Effects of climate may be superimposed on this: some of the more highly developed regional metamorphic zoning may arise in calc-alkaline volcanic sediments deposited in tropical island arc shelf areas, and in sediments laid down in large saline lakes of continental volcanic rift provinces. From all this it is proposed that the ambit of regional metamorphic petrology may be much wider than currently visualized. Just as precursor-derived oxides, carbonates, sulphates, graphite, pyrite, etc., of high-grade metasedimentary rocks may give clear indications concerning the nature and environments of formation of the original sediments, so the metamorphic silicates may yield subtle insights into palaeoprovenance, palaeogeography, palaeoclimate and a variety of weathering, volcanic alteration, sea-floor hydrothermal and other regimes. The application of metamorphic mineralogy and mineral chemistry to the search for stratiform ores in metamorphosed terranes may constitute one of the major advances in mineral exploration in the near future. It appears that there is considerable scope for further searching for possible precursor material in a variety of rocks and modern sediments (especially those of the present-day volcanic-sedimentary milieu), extension of clay and mixed-layer clay-chlorite-zeolite mineral synthesis in low-temperature-pressure laboratory experiment, and for the investigation of the behaviour of these synthetic products at metamorphic temperatures and pressures.