Linking metamorphic textures to U–Pb monazite in-situ geochronology to determine the age and nature of aluminosilicate-forming reactions in the northern Monashee Mountains, British Columbia

The Monashee Mountains of the Canadian Cordillera are thought to expose a classic Barrovian-facies series of isograds. The timing of aluminosilicate growth in the region was determined for four pelitic schist samples by combining textural relationships with monazite compositional zoning and monazite U–Pb geochronology conducted directly on thin-sections by the laser ablation method. Three distinct phases of kyanite growth are recorded in the kyanite zone: at c. 153 Ma, between 122 and 94 Ma and between 76 and 58 Ma. For each phase, monazite and garnet grew synchronously with kyanite, probably by a reaction involving the breakdown of staurolite. In contrast, sillimanite growth by muscovite dehydration melting occurred at or before c. 104 Ma in the sillimanite zone, and retrograde sillimanite grew in schists previously metamorphosed at the kyanite grade during the first two phases by the influx of hot, acidic fluids during top-to-the-east shearing at ca. 71 Ma. These results indicate that rocks metamorphosed at different places and different times in the orogen were juxtaposed prior to being overprinted at the sillimanite grade in the Late Cretaceous–Early Paleocene during the influx of hot fluids in a structurally coherent body deforming by easterly directed shearing. This study also provides new insight into monazite petrogenesis and suggests that, at least in some circumstances, monazite formation is linked to the staurolite-out reaction that produces kyanite.

► 3 periods of prograde kyanite growth
► 2 to 3 periods of sillimanite growth by 4 mechanisms
► Evidence for synchronous monazite, garnet and kyanite growth
► One isograd is probably a metasomatic front, another is a shear zone.
► Continuity of the Barrovian isograd series is only apparent.