Compositional Distribution and Growth Mode of Garnet Porphyroblasts during Deformation and Metamorphism

Although porphyroblast microstructures play an important role in structural and metamorphic studies, there are still controversies in the interpretation. The focus is how porphyroblasts grow during deformation and metamorphism. In this paper, we introduce a new approach, the Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence, to a hemi-quantitative interpretation of the growth mode of porphyroblasts. The analysis was done at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The specimens were sampled from metapelite of the Baoyintu Group, northern Urad Middle Banner, Inner Mongolia. The new method is successful for determining the microscopic distribution of trace elements in porphybroblasts. The results support the theory of deformation partition, which has been brought forth by Bell and his colleagues, and demonstrate the existence of porphyroblast growth phases and the growth mode of porphyroblasts by hemi-quantitative mineral chemical analysis. The porphyroblast grows stage by stage in the manner of the distribution of a roseleaf and is controlled by deformation. We call the growth stage of porphyroblast a growth phase.