Titanium in muscovite, biotite, and hornblende: Modeling, thermometry, and rutile activities of metapelites and amphibolites

Jennifer A. Chambers, Matthew J. Kohn

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Abstract

Reactions involving the VITiIVAl-VIAl IVSi exchange in muscovite, biotite, and hornblende were calibrated thermodynamically using a set of experimental and natural data in rutile- plus quartz/coesite-bearing assemblages. The specific respective reactions are K(Al2)(AlSi3)O10(OH)2 + TiO 2 = K(AlTi)(Al2Si2)O10(OH) 2 + SiO2 (R1) K(MgAl)Si4O10(OH) 2 + TiO2 = K(MgTi)AlSi3O10(OH) 2 + SiO2 (R2) Ca2Mg3Al 2Al2Si6O22(OH)2 + 2TiO2 = Ca2Mg3Ti2Al 4Si4O22(OH)2 + 2SiO2. (R3) Ideal mixing on octahedral or octahedral plus tetrahedral sites and a non-ideal van Laar solution model yield the best regression results for thermodynamic fit parameters, with R2 values of 0.98-1.00. Isopleths of the equilibrium constant (Keq) show minimal pressure dependencies of <1 °C/kbar, implying that the equilibria are poor barometers. Model reproducibility of the ideal portion of the equilibrium constant (K id) is excellent (ca. ±0.1 to 0.3, 2σ), but the absolute value of the combined term ΔS+Kid is quite small (absolute values from 0 to 4), so calibration residuals propagate to temperature errors >±50-100 °C, 1σ. Whereas the consistency of a mica or hornblende composition with a known T can be evaluated precisely, Ti chemistry in these reactions is sensitive to composition and does not resolve T (or P) well. The activity of TiO2 in rutile [a(rt)] was also evaluated using both the garnet-rutile-ilmenite-plagioclase-quartz (GRIPS) equilibrium and our new calibrations in rutile-absent, ilmenite-bearing rocks whose peak P-T conditions are otherwise known. Metapelites have average a(rt) of 0.9 (GRIPS) and 0.8 (R1), whereas amphibolites have a(rt) of 0.95 (GRIPS and R3). A value for a(rt) of 0.80 ± 0.20 (metapelites) and 0.95 +0.05/-0.25 (amphibolites) is recommended for trace-element thermomobarometers in ilmenite-bearing, rutile-absent rocks. The dependence of Ti contents of minerals on a(rt) and the reequilibration of Ti during metamorphic reactions both deserve further exploration, and may affect application of trace-element thermobarometers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)543-555
Number of pages13
JournalAmerican Mineralogist
Volume97
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2012

Keywords

  • Biotite
  • Hornblende
  • Muscovite
  • Rutile
  • Titanium

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