Evolution of fluids associated with metasedimentary sequences from Chaves (North Portugal)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2002

Authors

Guedes, A (Author) Other; Noronha, F (Author) FCUP; Boiron, MC (Author) Other; Banks, DA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Chemical Geology

Vol. 190

Pages: 273-289

ISSN: 0009-2541

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-MN0

DOI: 10.1016/s0009-2541(02)00120-1

Abstract (EN): In order to identify and characterise fluids associated with metamorphic rocks from the Chaves region (North Portugal), fluid inclusions were studied in quartz veinlets, concordant with the main foliation, in graphitic-rich and nongraphitic-rich lithologies from areas with distinct metamorphic grade. The study indicates multiple fluid circulation events with a variety of compositions, broadly within the C-H-O-N-salt system. Primary fluid inclusions in quartz contain low salinity aqueous-carbonic, H2OCH4-N-2-NaCl fluids that were trapped near the peak of regional metamorphism, which occurred during or immediately after D2. The calculated P-T conditions for the western area of Chaves (CW) is P=300-350 MPa and T similar to 500 degreesC, and for the eastern area (CE), P=200-250 MPa and T=400-450 degreesC. A first generation of secondary fluid inclusions is restricted to discrete cracks at the grain boundaries of quartz and consists of low salinity aqueous-carbonic, H2O-CO2-CH4-N-2-NaCl fluids. P-T conditions from the fluid inclusions indicate that they were trapped during a thermal event, probably related with the emplacement of the two-mica granites. A second generation of secondary inclusions occurs in intergranular fractures and is characterised by two types of aqueous inclusions. One type is a low salinity, H2O-NaCl fluid and the second consists of a high salinity, H2O-NaCI-CaCl2 fluid. These fluid inclusions are not related to the metamorphic process and have been trapped after D3 at relatively low P (hydrostatic) - T conditions (P < 100 MPa and T < 300 degreesC). Both the early H2O-CH4-N-2-NaCl fluids in quartz from the graphitic-rich lithologies and the later H2O-CO2-CH4-N-2-NaCl carbonic fluid in quartz from graphitic-rich and nongraphitic-rich lithologies seem to have a common origin and evolution. They have low salinity, probably resulting from connate waters that were diluted by the water released from mineral dehydration during metamorphism. Their main component is water, but the early H2O-CH4-N-2-NaCl fluids are enriched in CH4 due to interaction with the C-rich host rocks. From the early H2O-CH4-N-2-NaCl to the later aqueous-carbonic H2O-CO2-CH4-N-2-NaCl fluids, there is an enrichment in CO2 that is more significant for the fluids associated with nongraphitic-rich lithologies. The aqueous-carbonic fluids, enriched in H2O and CH4, are primarily associated with graphitic-rich lithologies. However, the aqueous-carbonic CO2-rich fluids were found in both graphitic and nongraphitic-rich units from both the CW and CE studied areas, which are of medium and low metamorphic grade, respectively.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17