Eclogite from the Kumon range, Myanmar: Petrology and tectonic implications

This paper presents the first report on the occurrence of eclogite from the Kumon range of the Western province in Myanmar, which is in the southeastern extension of the Himalayan orogenic belt. The eclogite is mainly composed of omphacite, garnet, hornblende/edenite/katophorite/taramite, biotite, quartz, and rutile. The garnet grains in the eclogite usually show textures of barrier reef, atoll, and table reef types, and have a wide compositional range of Alm58–70Sps1–2Prp9–16Grs14–31. Omphacite grains that occur as garnet inclusions and as isolated crystals in the matrix have similar compositions of Jd34–45 and Jd37–44, respectively. Lesser amounts of jadeitic clinopyroxene (Jd21–38), phengite, biotite, albite, and quartz occur in the lagoon of barrier reef and atoll garnet grains. The matrix omphacite is partly replaced by symplectite of sodic clinopyroxene of Jd20–29 and albite. The lower limits of the pressure/temperature during the eclogite stage, which are defined by the assemblage of garnet, omphacite (Jd40–45), and quartz, are 1.2–1.3 GPa/530–615 °C. The finding of eclogite from Myanmar suggests the possibility of a wide occurrence of high-pressure metamorphic rocks in the ophiolite zone along the southeastern extension of the Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture in Myanmar and Indochina.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► First report of eclogite in Myanmar, the eastern extension of the Himalayan orogenic belt. ► Descriptions of unique zonal structures of garnet, barrier reef, atoll and table reef types, and their formations. ► Widespread occurrence of higher-pressure metamorphic rocks within the Western province of Myanmar.