Diagnostic minerals in metamorphosed pelitic rocks

Barrovian metamorphism
Regional orogenic metamorphism in the Scottish
Highlands
Chlorite zone slates or phyllites
Muscovite (important)
Chlorite
Biotite (higher-grade part of facies)
Pyrophyllite
Chloritoid
Albite (lower-grade part of facies)
Biotite zone Slates give way to phyllites or schists
Biotite
Chlorite
Muscovitee
Quartz
Albite

Garnet zone Schists with red almandine garnet

Garnet
Biotite (common)
Chlorite
Muscovite
Quartz
Albite or oligoclase
Staurolite zone Schists
Staurolite
Biotite
Muscovite
Quartz
Garnet
Plagioclase
Chlorite (some may persist)
Kyanite zone Schists
Kyanite
Biotite
Muscovite
Quartz
Plagioclase
Garnet (usually)
Staurolite (common)
Sillimanite zone Schists and gneisses
Sillimanite
Biotite
Muscovite
Quartz
Plagioclase
Garnet
Staurolite (maybe)
Kyanite (maybe)
 Minerals Diagnostic of Different Bulk Compositions
in some facies of Regional Metamorphism

NOTE - never are all the minerals listed for a particular bulk composition present together in a single rock.
A rock contains some of the many minerals listed. This becomes clear as we consider phase diagrams
which apply to metamorphic rocks of restricted composition.
Quartzo-feldspathic rocks are mostly of quartz and feldspar in the greenschist, amphibolite, and pyroxene
granulite facies. One or two of the minerals listed for mafic or calcareous or pelitic rocks in the appropriate
facies may also be present.
Symbols used: (mineral) = rare or minor constituent
CAPITALIZED mineral helps distinguish rocks from next-lower-grade facies
GREENSCHIST FACIES

Mafic Rocks Calcareous Rocks Pelitic Rocks

chlorite calcite muscovite (IMPORTANT)
epidote group dolomite quartz
calcite ankerite chlorite
albite siderite (lower-grade GS-facies) biotite (higher-grade GS-facies)
actinolite (higher-grade GS-facies) epidote group pyrophyllite
(biotite) quartz chloritoid
(quartz) Mg-chlorite (albite)
(muscovite (lower-grade GS-facies))
(talc)
Magnesian Rocks
Talc; antigorite [= serpentine]; tremolite-actinolite; brucite; magnesite; chlorite

EPIDOTE AMPHIBOLITE FACIES

Mafic Rocks Calcareous Rocks Pelitic Rocks

chlorite calcite muscovite (IMPORTANT)
epidote group dolomite (but not with quartz) quartz
calcite epidote group chlorite (Mg-rich)
plagioclase quartz biotite
(biotite) TREMOLITE ALMANDINE-spessartine
(quartz) Mg-chlorite chloritoid
HORNBLENDE or actinolite (plagioclase) pyrophyllite
almandine-pyrope (phlogopite) (plagioclase)
Magnesian Rocks
Talc; antigorite [= serpentine]; tremolite-actinolite; brucite; magnesite; (chlorite)
 AMPHIBOLITE FACIES

Mafic Rocks Calcareous Rocks Pelitic Rocks

intermediate plagioclase calcite muscovite (IMPORTANT - not at high grade)
hornblende dolomite (but not with quartz) quartz
anthophyllite hornblende or tremolite biotite
cummingtonite epidote group (low-grade A-facies) almandine
epidote group (low-grade A- intermed.- or Ca-plagioclase STAUROLITE
facies)
almandine-pyrope diopside KYANITE or ANDALUSITE
diopside forsterite (high-grade A-facies) sillimanite (high-grade A-facies)
(quartz) (phlogopite ) K-feldspar-sillimanite (high-grade A-facies)
(cordierite) (Mg chlorite) (low-grade A-facies) cordierite
(biotite) grossularite-andradite (plagioclase)
(sphene) (very-Mg-rich chlorite) (low-grade A-facies)

Magnesian Rocks
Anthophyllite; actinolite; olivine

PYROXENE GRANULITE FACIES

Mafic Rocks Calcareous Rocks Pelitic Rocks

intermediate plagioclase calcite quartz
AUGITE or diopside dolomite ( but not with quartz) sillimanite
ENSTATITE diopside (kyanite)
almandine-pyrope forsterite almandine
olivine quartz orthoclase
anthophyllite or cummingtonite (low-grade G- grossularite-andradite cordierite (low-grade
facies) G-facies)
(quartz) calcic plagioclase (plagioclase)
wollastonite (high-grade G-facies) ENSTATITE
Magnesian Rocks
Anthophyllite or cummingtonite (low-grade G-facies); olivine; ENSTATITE

BLUESCHIST FACIES

Mafic Rocks Calcareous Rocks Pelitic Rocks

glaucophane ARAGONITE or calcite (low-grade muscovite
BS-facies)
impure jadeite dolomite quartz
LAWSONITE quartz stilpnomelane
almandine glaucophane chlorite
pumpellyite (LAWSONITE) glaucophane
aragonite or calcite (low-grade BS- pumpellyite almandine
facies)
albite (low-grade BS-facies)
chlorite
(quartz)

Quartzo-Feldspathic Rocks (generally derived from graywacke or arkosic arenite)

Quartz; jadeite (high-grade BS-facies); LAWSONITE; glaucophane; stilpnomelane; (muscovite); albite
(low-grade BS-facies); (ARAGONITE or calcite (low-grade BS-facies))