Table Of ContentPetrogenesis of
Metamorphic Rocks
Petrogenesis of
Metamorphic Rocks
Fifth Edition
Helmut G. F. Winkler
I
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Helmut G. F. Winkler
Professor Emeritus, Institute of Mineralogy and Petrology
U niversity of Göttingen
Federal Republic of Germany
~H<iIv'GER
STUD~
f;::t)1'f"""/O(-J Design: Peter Klemke, Berlin
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Winkler, Helmut G. F. 1915-
Petogenesis of metamorphic rocks.
"Springer study edition."
Inc1udes bibliographical references and index.
1. Rocks, Metamorphic. I. Title.
QE475.A2W5613 1979 552'.4 79-14704
ISBN 978-0-387-90413-9 ISBN 978-1-4757-4215-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4757-4215-2
All rights re served.
No part of this book may be translated or reproduced in
any form without written permission from Springer-Verlag.
© 1974, 1976, 1979 by Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally published by Springer-Verlag New York Inc in 1979.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Preface to the Third Edition
The first edition of this book was published in 1965 and its French
translation in 1966.The revised second edition followed in 1967 and its
Russian translation became available in 1969. Since then, many new
petrographie observations and experimental data elucidating reactions in
metamorphie rocks have made a new approach in the study of metamor
phic transformation desirable and possible. It is feIt that this new
approach, attempted in this book, leads to a better understanding of rock
metamorphism.
The concept of metamorphie facies and subfacies considers asso
cations of mineral assemblages from diverse bulk compositions as char
acteristie of a certain pressure-temperature range. As new petrographie
observations accumulated, it became increasingly difficult to accommo
date this information within a manageable framework of metamorphic
facies and subfacies. Instead, it turned out that mineral assemblages due
to reactions in common rocks of a particular composition provide suita
ble indieators of metamorphie conditions. Metamorphic zones, defined
on the basis of mineral reactions, very effectively display the evolution
of metamorphic rocks. Thus, the importance of reactions in metamor
phic rocks is emphasized. Experimental calibration of mineral reactions
makes it possible to distinguish reactions which are of petrogenetic sig
nificance from those which are not. This distinction provides guidance
in petrographie investigations undertaken with the object of deducing
the physieal conditions of metamorphism.
Within a metamorphie terrain, points indicating the same reaction
constitute a line or a band, here designated by the term isoreaction-grad.
Points along the isoreaction-grad represent metamorphie conditions (P,
T, PvolatUes) corresponding to the pertinent reaction. As the term implies,
an isoreaction-grad is defined by a specific re action and is therefore more
significant than an isograd based on the appearance or disappearance of
a mineral or mineral assemblage not related to a specific reaction.
Thus, this presentation of the principles of rock metamorphism dif
fers from that of previous editions: mineral reactions in several rock
groups of common composition (mafic, ultramafic, pelitic, marly, and
dolomitie) are treated in separate chapters. For each compositional
vi Preface to the Third Edition
group, the various mineral reactions that take place during the course of
metamorphism are discussed. Large divisions of metamorphic grade,
also defined on the basis of mineral reactions in common rocks, pro
vide a convenient overview of metamorphic conditions. These divi
sions are designated as very-Iow-, low-, intermediate-, and high-grade
metamorphism.
The new concept is straightforward in its application. It has been
used successfully in the field by the author's coworkers and others. It is
hoped that this book will provide some guidance in the petrographie
studies of metamorphic terrains: only rocks having certain compositions
need be examined in great detail. Instead of extensive investigations,
only selected petrographie observations aimed at specific targets are
required to deduce physical conditions of metamorphism. In order to
choose the right targets within a given metamorphic setting, Chapter 15
should be consulted because it furnishes a key for the determination of
metamorphic grades and major isoreaction-grads and isograds in com
mon rocks.
The references are predominantly to recent literature in order to
save space. There is no intention to underrate the value of older publi
cations, and the student is advised to consult the reference lists given in
recent publications. For the sake of convenience, all references are
grouped together at the end of each chapter.
This book stresses the chemieal, mineralogieal, and physicochemi
cal aspects of metamorphism. The fabric of rocks is not treated but
attention is called to the books by Spry [Metamorphic Textures . Perga
mon Press, Oxford. 1%9] and Turner and Weiss [ Structural Analysis 01
Metamorphie Tectonites. McGraw-Hill, New York. 1963]. Field rela
tions in specific metamorphic regions are not considered in detail; this
has been done by Turner [Metamorphie Petrology. McGraw-Hill, New
York. 1968]and by Miyashiro [Metamorphism and Metamorphic Belts.
George Allen & Unwin, London. 1973]. However, this book furnishes
the basis for field investigations yielding petrogenetically significant
data.
I am grateful for oral and written discussions, for expert guidance
on field trips, and for early communication of most recent observations
to so many people in various countries that all cannot be acknowledged
individually. I also express my gratitude to my young colleagues at the
University of Goettingen, especially Drs. P. Metz, K.-H. Nitsch, and B.
Storre, who contributed many experimental results and discussions.
Most of all, I am grateful to my friend Dr. Edgar Froese of the Geologi
cal Survey of Canada. He corrected, in fact, edited, my English version
of the manuscript and improved it also through critical remarks and sug
gestions. Mrs. Ingeborg Tradel was so kind to undertake the task of
Preface to the Fifth Edition vii
typing the English manuscript. Finally, I cordially thank my wife Ursula
for her gentle understanding during the many long days extending over
the several years that I spent sitting at my desk.
Göttingen, September 1973 Helmut G. F. Winkler
Preface to the Fourth Edition
I am very grateful to those who purchased the third edition and thus
made it possible to issue this fourth edition after such a short time. Com
pared with the previous edition, no substantial changes were made; how
ever, some of the most recent research results have been integrated into
the text. Accordingly, nine figures were redrawn and five figures were
added.
This edition eliminates many of the typographical errors which had
been overlooked. I thank very much Drs. R. A. Binns from Australia
and E. Althaus from Karlsruhe (Germany) who very kindly read the
whole book of the previous edition and gave me a list of corrections that
had to be made. Again, I am very grateful to my young colleagues at this
Institute, especially Drs. P. Metz and B. Storre.
Göttingen, June 1975 Helmut G. F. Winkler
Preface to the Fifth Edition
This edition, like the third and fourth editions, is based on the con
cept of dividing metamorphic grades according to mineral reactions in
common rocks. The purpose of the present edition is the inclusion of
results of recent progress in metamorphic petrology. Major changes are
in the chapters on the metamorphism of carbonate rocks, pelitic rocks,
and ultramafic rocks, and in the chapters 15 and 18. 14 figures are new
or have been corrected.
In order for this book to remain a useful guide for field geologists,
the previous framework of treating the subject has been maintained.
Consequently, the scope has not been expanded to include a thorough
consideration of thermodynamics. A knowledge of thermodynamics is
necessary to acquire a deeper understanding of experimental work and
its application. For those interested in this aspect, attention is drawn to
the following publications:
viii Preface to the Fifth Edition
Fraser, D. G., ed. 1977. Thermodynamics in Geology. 403 pp. D. Rei
deI, Boston.
Froese, E. 1976. Applications of Thermodynamics in Metamorphie
Petrology. 37 pp. Geol. Survey of Canada, Paper 75-43.
Greenwood, H. J., ed. 1977. Application of Thermodynamics to
Petrology and Ore Deposits. 230 pp. Mineralog. Association of
Canada, Short Course Handbook.
Powell, R. 1978. Thermodynamics in Petrology-An Introduction.
284 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Wood, B. J. and Fraser, D. G. 1976. Elementary Thermodynamicsfor
Geologists. 303 pp. Oxford University Press.
I am grateful to Drs. P. Metz, B. Storre, D. Puhan, and E. Hoffer
from this Institute and specially to Dr. R. D. Schuiling, Utrecht, for
haviilg offered valuable suggestions. Again, cordial thanks are due to
Dr. E. Froese, Ottawa, for comments on subject matter and improve
ments of the English text.
Göttingen, January 1979 Helmut G. F. Winkler
Contents
1. Definition and Types of Metamorphism ............................. 1
2. From Diagenesis to Metamorphism .................................9
3. Factors ofMetamorphism ........................................ 15
General Considerations ........................................ 15
The Composition of the Fluid Phase ............................. 19
Directed Pressure .............................................2 4
4. Mineral Parageneses: The Building Blocks of Metamorphic Rocks .....2 8
5. Graphical Representation of Metamorphic Mineral Parageneses ...... .31
Composition Plotting ......................................... .31
ACF Diagram ................................................ 35
A'FK Diagram ............................................... 39
How Are ACF and A'FK Diagrams Used? .......................4 4
AFM Diagrams .............................................. .48
6. Classification Principles: Metamorphic Facies versus
Metamorphic Grade ....................................... .55
7. The Four Divisions of Metamorphic Grade .........................6 4
General Considerations ...................................' .....6 4
The Terms Isograd and Reaction-Isograd .........................6 6
The Division of Very-Low-Grade Metamorphism ..................6 8
The Division ofLow-Grade Metamorphism .......................7 4
The Change from Low-Grade to Medium-Grade Metamorphism .....7 5
The Change from Medium-Grade to High-Grade Metamorphism .....8 2
Granulite-High-Grade: Regional Hypersthene Zone ..............8 8
Pressure Divisions of the Metamorphic Grades ....................8 8
Problems with the Al SiOs Species ..............................9 2
2
8. General Characteristics of Metamorphic Terrains ....................9 7
Metamorphic Zones in Contact Aureoles .........................9 7
Metamorphic Zones in Regional Metamorphism .................. 102
Paired Metamorphic Belts ..................................... 107
9. Metamorphic Reactions in Carbonate Rocks ....................... 111
General Considerations ....................................... 111
Metamorphism of Siliceous Dolomitic Limestones ................ 113
Formation of Wollastonite .................................... 128
Metamorphism of Carbonates at Very High Temperature and Very
Low Pressure .......................................... 133
