Metamorphic evolution of eclogites and associated metapelites from the Yuka terrane in the North Qaidam ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt, NW China: Constraints from phase equilibrium modeling

Abstract As the products of early Paleozoic continental collision, widespread eclogite facies rocks crop out in the Yuka terrane, western North Qaidam Mountains, NW China. Eclogites commonly reach ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic conditions. However, whether the associated metapelitic rocks also experience UHP metamorphism has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In this contribution, we chose two eclogite samples and one metapelite sample to investigate their metamorphic evolution. Combining with petrographic observation and P–T pseudosections, similar clockwise P–T paths with peak stages at 25–34 kbar, 580–633 °C were obtained for eclogites and metapelites. Eclogite ZM871 records a prograde metamorphic condition at 21.6 kbar/552 °C, defined by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + epidote + lawsonite + talc (+quartz + phengite + rutile) and a peak metamorphic condition at 34.0 kbar/633 °C by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + lawsonite + talc (+coesite + phengite + rutile). Eclogite ZM641 records a prograde metamorphic condition at 21.5 kbar/520 °C, defined by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + glaucophane + lawsonite (+quartz + phengite + rutile) and a peak condition at 30 kbar/616 °C by the assemblage garnet + omphacite + lawsonite + talc (+quartz + phengite + rutile). Metapelite ZM8–1 records a prograde metamorphic condition at 18.2 kbar/530 °C defined by the assemblage garnet + chloritoid + chlorite (+quartz + phengite + rutile), a peak condition at 25 kbar/580 °C by the assemblage garnet + kyanite + chloritoid (+quartz + phengite + rutile), and a retrograde condition at 16.2 kbar/595–598 °C by the assemblage garnet + kyanite + chloritoid + chlorite (+quartz + phengite + rutile). Combined with previous data from orthogneiss and impure marble in the Yuka terrane, which also recorded UHP metamorphic conditions, the Yuka eclogite–bearing unit commonly underwent UHP metamorphism, although further investigation is warranted to verify whether the Yuka unit represents a single coherent UHP metamorphic terrane or a collage of different UHP metamorphic slices.