Atlas of Metamorphic-metasomatic Textures and Processes Book

This monograph is essentially an atlas, illustrated by 375 figures (mainly photomicrographs) presenting the most common and significant textures of the metamorphic-metasomatic rocks from many important regions of the world. The book as a whole covers the wide spectrum of metamorphic processes and the basic relation of metamorphic processes and textures is emphasised.Metamorphism-metasomatism is seen as an integral system where every textural intergrowth is the result of a particular process. In addition, principles of comparative anatomy (widely accepted in bioscience) are applied in metamorphic petrology and conclusions are reached inductively, based on textural analysis. The comparative anatomy approach aims at finding ideas and principles that will attempt to unify diverse, textural patterns of an evolving system (as rocks are) and integrate them into concepts of wide application.Emphasis is put on the significance of crystalloblastesis which represents not only mineral growths but also textural patterns. Moreover, mineral assemblages and parageneses of metamorphic rocks are seen on the basis of crystalloblastic sequences, where an extended period of metamorphism and polymetamorphism are prerequisite, in contrast to a simultaneous crystallization of all mineral components. In conjunction with these crystalloblastic sequences, the significance of the progenitor is considered. Tectonic influence on crystalloblastic growths is also covered.Extensive discussion is devoted to the importance of metasomatic and topometasomatic processes, as well as the role of solutions and fluids. A study of quartz/feldspar symplectites showing the presence in metamorphic rocks of textural patterns such as myrmekites and graphic quartz is taken as supporting granitization-metamorphism. Replacement processes indicating metasomatic and topometasomatic mobilizations within a metamorphic rock are examined. Another of the topics presented is the limitation of the extrapolation of experimental results to natural metamorphic rocks and their conditions of formation.Read More