Hydrogen and oxygen isotope evidence for fluid-rock interactions in the stages of pre- and post-UHP metamorphism in the Dabie Mountains

Hydrogen and oxygen isotope studies were carried out on high and ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks in the eastern Dabie Mountains, China. The delta(18)O values of eclogites cover a wide range of -4.2 to + 8.8 parts per thousand, but the delta D values of micas from the eclogites fall within a narrow range of - 87 to -71 parts per thousand. Both equilibrium and disequilibrium oxygen isotope fractionations were observed between quartz and the other minerals, with reversed fractionations between omphacite and garnet in some eclogite samples. The delta(18)O values of -4 to - 1 parts per thousand for some of the eclogites represent the oxygen isotope compositions of their protoliths which underwent meteoric water-rock interaction before the high to ultrahigh pressure metamorphism. Heterogeneous delta(18)O values for the eclogite protoliths implies not only the varying degrees of the water-rock interaction before the metamorphism at different localities, but also the channelized flow of fluids during progressive metamorphism due to rapid plate subduction. Retrograde metamorphism caused oxygen and hydrogen isotope disequilibria between some of the minerals, but the fluid for retrograde reactions was internally buffered in the stable isotope compositions and could be derived from structural hydroxyls dissolved in nominally anhydrous minerals. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.