Rutile to Titanite Transformation in Eclogites and its Geochemical Consequences: An Example from the Sumdo Eclogite, Tibet

The formation of titanite coronae after rutile is common in retrograde high- to ultrahigh-pressure meta-mafic rocks, which provides a good opportunity to address the geochemical behavior of HFSE in crustal environments. In the Sumdo eclogite, titanite occurs either as a corona around rutile grains or as semi-continuous veins cross-cutting the major foliation, whereas rutile grains occur either as inclusions in garnet or omphacite or as a relict core surrounded by titanite. Textural relationships and trace elements characteristics of rutile and titanite with different occurrences indicate that both minerals preferentially incorporate Nb and Hf over Ta and Zr in aqueous fluid. Moreover, the breakdown of omphacite and epidote could release substantial amounts of aqueous fluids enriched in Ca, Si, Fe and REE, which would react with rutile to form titanite coronae and veins. During this process, water-insoluble elements, like HFSE and HREE, behave like mobile elements, but they do not migrate substantially out of the system, instead, tending to react in situ. This suggests that the aqueous fluids released during the retrograde metamorphic reactions in mafic rocks could not substantially transfer fluid-immobile elements into the overlying mantle wedge in subduction environments.

Automated summary

The formation of titanite coronae after rutile in retrograde meta-mafic rocks indicates the geochemical behavior of HFSE in crustal environments. The preferential incorporation of Nb and Hf over Ta and Zr by both minerals suggests their behavior in aqueous fluids. The aqueous fluids released during retrograde metamorphism do not significantly transfer fluid-immobile elements to the overlying mantle wedge.