Geochemistry and mineral chemistry of pelitic gneiss of Ikare area, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study conducts Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis on the pelitic gneiss of the Basement complex of Nigeria. Phase equilibrium modeling was undertaken in the MnO–Na2O–CaO–K2O–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O–TiO2–O2 (MnNCKFMASHTO) chemical system using THERMOCALC. The rock comprises of sillimanite + biotite + garnet + K-feldspar + quartz + ilmenite + plagioclase ± cordierite. Garnet has inclusions of sillimanite, biotite, and quartz. There is a very close association between biotite and sillimanite. Fibrolitic and prismatic sillimanite are both present. Fibrolitic sillimanite surrounding biotite could have possibly formed through melt-residue back reactions involving crystallization of melt. Garnet has almandine higher than 60 % and pyrope less than 33 %. Plagioclase feldspar has anorthite content between 29 and 39 %, comprising of both oligoclase and andesine. Microtextures such as cordierite corona round garnet, symplectite and kinked biotite were observed. The textural association indicates that cordierite was formed at the expense of garnet and sillimanite; garnet + sillimanite + plagioclase => cordierite + melt/fluid. Metamorphic peak conditions of 770–840 °C and 5.5–7 kbar were obtained for the mineral assemblage garnet-biotite-sillimanite-K-feldspar-quartz indicating medium-pressure granulite facies metamorphism.

Keywords

• THERMOCALC
• Sillimanite
• Cordierite
• Granulite
• Symplectite
• Microtextures