Aragonite and omphacite‐bearing metapelite from Besshi region, Sambagawa belt in central Shikoku, Japan and its implication

AbstractAragonite and omphacite‐bearing metapelite occurs in the albite–biotite zone of the Togu (Tohgu) area, Besshi region, Sambagawa metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, Japan. This metapelite consists of alternating graphite‐rich and graphite‐poor layers that contain garnet, phengite, chlorite, epidote, titanite, calcite, albite, and quartz. A graphite‐poor layer contains a 1.5‐cm ivory‐colored lens that mainly consists of phengite, calcite, albite, and garnet. Aragonite, omphacite, and paragonite occur as inclusions in the garnet of the ivory lens. The aragonite has a composition that is close to the CaCO3 end‐member: the FeCO3 and MnCO3 components are both less than 0.3 mol% and the SrCO3 component is about 1 mol%. The aragonite + omphacite + quartz assemblage in garnet indicates equilibrium conditions of P > 1.1–1.3 GPa and T = 430–550°C. Quartz grains sealed in garnet of the aragonite and omphacite‐bearing sample and other metapelites in the Togu area preserve a high residual pressure that is equivalent to the Sambagawa eclogite samples. These facts suggest that: (i) the Togu area experienced eclogite facies metamorphism; and (ii) thus, eclogite facies metamorphism covered the Sambagawa belt more extensively than previously recognized.