Petrology, phase equilibria modelling, and fluid inclusion study of mafic granulites from Bhavani Suture Zone, Southern India

Abstract

We report new petrology, mineral chemistry, P–T conditions, and fluid inclusion data on mafic granulites from the Mettupalayam region along the Bhavani Suture Zone, Southern Granulite Terrane, India. Phase equilibria modelling of mafic granulites yielded peak P–T conditions of 780–860 °C and 7.6–10.1 kbar followed by a near isothermal decompression along a clockwise P–T path. The trapped fluid inclusions in the peak metamorphic minerals display a melting temperature range from −57.4 °C to −56.6 °C, close to the triple-point temperature of pure CO₂. The primary inclusions homogenized at −18.9 °C to +0.2 °C, corresponding to density values of 0.93–1.03 g/cm³. Homogenization of the secondary inclusions occurred within the range from −6.3 to +18.1 °C, corresponding to low CO₂ densities of 0.79–0.96 g/cm³. From the textural characteristics of the high-density primary carbonic fluid inclusions, we interpret these inclusions as the CO₂-rich syn-metamorphic fluid present during the high-grade metamorphism. The secondary fluids characterised by lower densities have undergone re-equilibration during the exhumation stage (decompression) from the peak granulite-facies metamorphism along a clockwise P–T trajectory. This interpretation is consistent with the occurrence of hornblende + plagioclase symplectite around the porphyroblastic garnet, suggesting decompression. We infer that the high-density CO₂ was the dominant syn-metamorphic fluid components present during the granulite-facies metamorphism in the Mettupalayam region. Such carbonic fluids, possibly derived by degassing from carbonates or mantle sources, probably played a significant role in stabilizing high-grade mineral assemblages along this collisional suture zone.