Garnet–spinel–corundum–quartz-bearing titanohematite veins in eclogite from the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure terrane: Imprint of a short-lived, high-temperature metamorphic stage

Eclogite-hosted garnet–spinel–corundum–quartz-bearing titanohematite veins and lenses (10–20 cm in width) are described for the first time in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terrane. Some of the lenses were aligned parallel to the foliation of the host eclogite, suggesting that they were the product of ductile deformation of one titanohematite layer. A vein composed of titanohematite + ilmenite + hematite + spinel + garnet + corundum + quartz + K-feldspar + albite was studied in detail. Ti–Fe oxides account for up to >80% and Al-rich phases for ∼15% of the total volume of this vein. Electron microprobe analyses show that the titanohematite solid solution was made up of 0.75 hematite + 0.25 ilmenite. The unusual mineral assemblage of garnet + spinel + corundum + quartz implies that this vein could have experienced high temperatures (>900 °C). Although the garnets showed well-defined Mg and Mn diffusion zoning in the rim as a result of the high temperature event, slight Mg and Mn growth zoning was preserved in the core. Thus, we suggest that the Sulu UHP terrane could have experienced a short-lived, high-temperature (>900 °C) stage during exhumation. Garnets in the titanohematite vein were characterized by extremely low trace-element contents. Petrological and geochemical features of the veins suggest that they could be metamorphic products of igneous cumulates composed of magnetite + plagioclase ± clinopyroxene.

Research highlights
► Mineral assemblage of spinel + corundum + quartz was reported in the Sulu UHP belt.
► Unusual spinel + corundum + quartz assemblage implies a high-T condition (>900 °C).
► Growth zoning preserved in the garnet implies that high-T stage is short-lived.
► High-T could have induced granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting.