M.E.R.C. Ain Shams Univ., Earth Sci. Ser., Vol. 17,2003, p. 58-72.

Petrological study of Taba migmatites,

east central Sinai, Egypt
Doris SADEKGHABRIAL
Geological &Geophysical Department, NationalResearchCentre,12622Dokki,Cairo,Egypt
ABSTRACT. A petrological study was carried out on migmatites ofTaba. Sinai. to constrain the
P-T conditions of metamorphism and partial melting. Most of migmatites exposed there are of
stromatic type, although diatexites are locally present. The former is typified by a layered
structure, where layers of leucosomes are concordant to the host rock foliation. Others are
clearly discordant and imply melt injection. Theparent rocks of these migmatites are regarded to
be the surrounding Taba schists.
Leucosomes are trondhjemitic in composition (plagioclase + quartz of:biotite). The K-poor
composition of this product could imply melting under high water activity condition. Such condi-
tion causes a decrease in the temperature of plagioclase + quartz solidus and begins their
melting within the stability field of muscovite. which in this case dissolves congruently in the melt
(Patino Douce & Harris 1998). The migmatite mesosomes contain assemblage plagioclase +
quartz + biotite of:garnet of:rare sillimanite. Melanosomes with higher biotite content may occur
adjacent to leucosome layers.
Assemblage of garnet + plagioclase + quartz + sillimanite or biotite as well as garnet + biotite
are used to provide information for pressure and temperature calculations, respectively. These
results suggest that migmatites be formed at medium pressure condition (about 6 kbars) and at
temperatures near 700C. Assuming uncertainities of of:l kbar, the pressure may be in accord
with low/mediumpressure conditions.
INTRODUCTION
Continental crust metamorphosed under upper amphibolite and granulite facies
conditions typically is migmatitic, characterized by segregation of leucosome in a
deformed metamorphic host (Brown 1997). Experimental studies showed that metape-
lite and metagraywacke yielded a felsic melt within the temperature range 650-900C
(Vielzeuf & Holloway 1988, Vielzeuf & Montel 1994, Patino Douce & Harris 1998).
The produced melt has either a granitic (alkali feldspar-quartz) or a trondhjemitic
(plagioclase-quartz) composition, implying melting under conditions of low and high
water activity, respectively (Patino Douce & Harris 1998).
Migmatites are morphologically complex. This complexity arises because as the
amount of melt increases, there is a progressive change in the physical nature of the
partially molten rock from solid-dominated (metatexite) to melt-dominated (diatexite)
rheology. The distribution and accumulation of the melt (i.e. leucosome) are not only
controlled by the amount of melt segregated, but also by the rock fabrics and structures
(Brown 1997,2001).
Migmatites are widespread in many Precambrian Shields, including the migmatites
of Taba metamorphic belt in the Arabian-Nubian Shield. These migmatites were shown
to be the product of metamorphic differentiation of original Taba metasedimentary
rocks (Eyal 1980), whose source terrain was dated by Kroner et al. (1990) at c. 800-820
Ma. The age of the highest grade metamorphism in Elat area, which occurs in the NE
extension of the Taba belt, falls within the range 620::1: 10 Ma (Cosca et al. 1999), i.e. the
age range of the Pan-African orogeny (Jackson & Ramsay 1980).
PETROLOGY OF TABA MIGMATITES 59
The present work deals with the metamorphism and partial melting of migmatites,
which occur over a relatively large area (about 4 km2) in the Taba belt, east central
Sinai. Petrographical study and electron microprobe analyses were carried out on these
migmatites and their essential minerals to estimate the physical conditions at the meta-
morphic peak.
GEOLOGIC SETTING
The Taba metamorphic belt is about 25 km long and 2-10 km wide, and consists
predominantly of metamorphosed greywackes and plutonic rocks (tonalite to granite
gneisses). The northern part of the Taba belt was metamorphosed in the lower or
middle amphibolite facies, but the centre reached the upper amphibolite facies, where
migmatites were developed (Eyal 1980, Abu EI-Enen et al. 1999, Samuel & SadeK
Ghabrial in prep.).
The overall structure of the belt is synformal roughly trending E-W, where the
migmatites occur along its southern limb. Eyal (1980) concluded that the belt suffered
four deformational stages (DI-D4). The main phase of migmatization occurred prior to
D2, and continued in D2. During D2, the migmatites underwent extensive folding
forming isoclinal and ptygmatic folds, which were refolded and accompanied by the
developments of new folds during D3. Retrograde metamorphism took mainly place
between D3 and D4. D4 phase includes brittle deformation, where kink folds appeared
in mica and chlorite and deformation textures in quartz.
Migmatites are the oldest rock unit in Wadi Minarish, enveloped from all sides by
granite. They are tectonically bordered to the north by garnet biotite and hornblende
biotite gneisses, which belong to the older granite of Egypt (Abu EI-Enen et al. 1999).
To the south and west, they are intruded by younger granite (Fig. 1). Dykes, mainly of
acidic type, are also common crossing most migmatites.
MORPHOLOGY OF PRINCIPAL ROCK TYPES
The metasedimentary rocks in the studied area are transformed into migmatites,
although relict layers of metasedimentary rocks may preserve within the migmatites.
The Latter show a considerable range in morphology and at the outcrop scale the prin-
cipal variation from outcrop to outcrop is in the proportion of leucosomes. The follow-
ing principal rock types can be distinguished within the studied area, although they
commonly grade into one another.
Metasedimentary rocks.- They are non-migmatized rocks of sedimentary origin,
occurring as rare, small relicts within the migmatites in the western part of the studied
area. They consist mainly of dark grey, mica schist of graywacke parentage and have a
strong foliation defined by the preferred orientation of biotite.
Metatexite migmatites (stromatic).-Most migmatites exposed in Taba belt are
considered as metatexites in the broad sense of Mehnert (1968) and Brown (1973),
where the pre-migmatization fabrics, such as layering and foliation, are still visible and
survived partial melting. These migmatites are mainly of stromatic type, typified by a
layered structure. The leucosome layers are oriented consistently at outcrop, concordant
to the host rock foliation. This observation suggests that they have been formed in situ.
The leucosomes are few millimeters to few centimeters thick, and may have thin
60
D. SADEK GHABRIAL
biotite-rich selvages. Less commonly, the leucosome forms-small veins oriented at high
angles to the stromatic structure and linked to layer-parallel leucosomes, suggesting
melt-filled fractures. These fractures, which act as low-pressure sites, were activity
filled as soon as the melt was generated (Brown & Rushmer 1997). Locally and with
the increase in the amount of melt, the migmatites may occur as isolated blocks within
irregular leucosome, resulting in raft migmatites that represent the metatexite/diatexite
transition.
huero~oie Se41muh
0 Wadi Deposits
GillillJ Sedimentarycover
F,,'Afrlcan Rock Assembhu
rC. Late to post tectonic
00' 3 = ..soclollon
~ Q
C. :'
j!11i1, Younger Granites
.0"0 ".'."
Iii [3 II Yonger Gabbros
000
I
0 p. !i1 . Dokhan Andesites
a . iloill Volcanics
{
RhY,Ol!t':'
'E. L IgOlmbnt"
~
r
JI;J.rllteelollle auoelalloll
2
~
9'fO' ~ ~OM
{
. et;;::~~~ dykes
tJ [illJ::s Type-V
2;- Structures f;j ~ It T e-lV
0 \.(> F.ul" with known ;J WAI
..
~' /P-III
~ .en.e of 'hrow 0 I22i2 '" ype
\ Paul". sense of 'hrow';:; W'" Type-II
unl<nown ::r (1)
Average bedding o' II '" Type-!
Averagefoliation(.52) g II Migmatites
A'..ra8"strerehing 3 A. Inltl.l 'ectonlc s,.so
- mineral lineation "0 Ib.ck ar< ...oel.<lon)
"
3 4 K 0' ~ Metagabbro-diorite
.. m X ~ complex
L I L!!II Schists
0
L
Figure 1.Geological map of the Taba metamorphic belt (after Abu El-Enen et al. 1999),
PETROLOGY OF TABA MIGMATITES 61
Diatexite migmatites.-Diatexites represent rocks in which the melt fraction was large.
They locally occur in the northern part of the studied area as a small concordant body
within the stromatic migmatites. In comparison with the latter, they are more homoge-
neous and uniform at the outcrop, where the layered structure of the parental metasedi-
mentary rocks and metatexites has been largely destroyed. Most studied diatexites are
characterized by discontinuous, weakly defmed mica foliation, and both mesosomes
and leucosomes cannot be separated, typified by diffuse boundaries.
Discordant leucosomes.- They are coarse-grained and possess almost pegmatite
texture, reaching up to 60 em in thickness, and occasionally observed within the
metatexites. In hand specimen, some members of this leucosome suite appear to be
layer parallel, but on the scale of an outcrop, they can be seen to be discordant to host
rock foliation. In other leucosomes, discordance is clearly apparent. Both types possess.
sharp contacts with the host rock and have neither mesosomes nor melanosomes. The
nature of these leucosmes implies melt injection and they largely post-date the stro-
matic leucosomes.
PETROGRAPHY
Metasedimentary rocks.- The rocks comprise the assemblage plagioclase + quartz +
biotite :i: garnet with traces of zircon and iron oxides. Muscovite occurs as rare,
randomly oriented anhedral flakes (Fig. 2), while biotite defines the foliation. Plagio-
clase occurs as sub-idoblastic grains, much of them are altered to white mica. Quartz
varies in size from fine rounded grains to coarse patches showing undulose extinction.
Gamet is always coarse, xenoblastic and contains unoriented inclusions of quartz.
Metatexite migmatites.-Stromatic migmatites consist of lenticles or sheets of
leucosome, with or without melanosome walls in mesosome. The mesosome is schis-
tose layered, has roughly the same mineral assemblage as the metasedimentary rocks,
but is characterized by minor depeletion in plagioclase and quartz. Additionally, silli-
manite is rarely observed as scattered needles in the matrix (Fig. 3), while muscovite is
completely absent. Coarse, saussuritized plagioclase grains are commonly corroded and
cracked, with quartz-filled cracks (Fig. 4). Such texture is used to infer the presence of
a melt in the migmatites (Blumenfeld & Bouchez 1,988).Biotite occurs commonly in
the matrix and as inclusions in garnet and plagioclase. The matrix biotite exhibits a
preferred orientation and is rarely altered to chlorite. Garnet was only observed in some
samples as porphyroblasts and medium grains dispersed in the matrix. Some
phenocrysts are xenomorphic with sieve structure and similar in appearance to that
observed in the metasedimentary rocks, but enclose fewer quartz inclusions. They
display compositional zoning and are replaced along their cracks by chlorite. The mela-
nosome is a well-foliated portion of the rock rich in biotite, but poor in the felsic miner-
als. The leucosome is composed of quartz, plagioclase and minor biotite, and is textur-
ally more homogeneous and coarser grained than the mesosome or melanosome. Grain
size increases with increasing the thickness of the leucosomes. Locally it possesses a
well-defined igneous texture where hypidiomorphic plagioclase develops crystal faces
against quartz (Fig. 5). Other criteria indicative of a magmatic texture includes cuspate
shape of plagioclase grains (Fig. 6) (Marchildon& Brown 2002).
,
62 D. SADEK GHABRIAL
i'
..
t
~
Figures 2-7. 2, Unoriented muscovite in metagraywake. C.N., approximate width of the photo is
0.8 mm. 3, Sillimanite needles in stromatic migmatite. P.P.L., approximate width of the photo is
0.3 mm. 4, Plagioclase grain with quartz-filled cracks in stromatic migmatite. C.N., approximate
width of the photo is 0.3 mm. 5, Plagioclase develops crystal faces against quartz. C.N.,
approximate width of the photo is 0.8 mm. 6, Cuspate shape of plagioclase. C.N., approximate
width of the photo is 0.3 mm. 7, Leucosome domain in the schlieren of diatexite containing small
crystals of plagioclase and quartz. C.N., approximate width of the photo is 0.8 mm.
Diatexite migmatites.-Diatexites are medium to coarse grained rocks with a relatively
uniform texture. Main phases in these migmatites are plagioclase, quartz and biotite
with chlorite, muscovite and epidote formed at expense of biotite. The notable minera-
logical difference between the metatexites and diatexites is the absence of gamet, which
may be due to the variation in protolith composition. Discontinuous biotite-rich
PETROLOGY OF TABA MIGMATITES 63
schlieren are present and weakly define the foliation, whereas biotite of the matrix
outside the schlieren is generally smaller in size and occurs as unoriented discrete
flakes or in small aggregates. The leucocratic domains in schlieren nearly resemble
those forming the framework of the host diatexites; there are also smaller crystals of
quartz and plagioclase (Fig. 7), which may represent the crystallization products of melt
trapped between the biotite flakes (Milord & Sawyer 2003). Locally diatexites show
evidence of post-anatectic deformation, such as undulose extinction in quartz and
bending of biotite flakes, but generally they preserve their hypidiomorphic granular
texture.
Discordant leucosomes.- They have a trondhjemitic composition largely resembling
that of the stromatic leucosomes. They consist mainly of plagioclase and quartz, some-
times with minor biotite. Plagioclase occurs as subhedral to euhedral, saussuritized
crystals, reaching up to 1 cm in diameter. Quartz is found as crystal aggregates with
serrated or straight outlines, and may display undulose extinction. Only one sample
contains few interstitial orthoclase commonly corroding plagioclase.
MINERAL COMPOSITION
The different mineral phases present in the migmatites were analysed with AMRAY
18101scanning electron microprobe at the Depatment of Petrology and Geochemistry,
Eotvos University, Budapest. Representative analyses are reported in Tables 1-4.
Plagioclase.- The composition of the plagioclase in the analysed samples shows no
remarkable variation, where it ranges from An28 to An30 and ~ 2-4 mole% Or (Table 1).
Notable plagioclase zoning is not observed, and CaO concentration varies within <1
wt.% between core and rim.
Biotite.-Chemical analyses (Table 2) with total oxides < 93.5 wt.% were rejected, to
avoid possible chlorite intergrowths at small scale (Garcia-Casco et al. 1993). In
general, matrix biotite is homogeneous with an average XMg(MglMg+Fe) = 0.39. It is
notably aluminous (AIVI = 0.63~0.75 per 22 oxgyen) and Ti-rich (Ti = 0.39-0.47).
...
- -- -.
---------. -_..,""..._uv \.. H- _. WUW.uu.. u,"'''w.
V',' - "'" .
Sample No. 4e
6d
Points 1 2-c 3-r 4 5 6-c 7-r 8
SiO, 61.47 61.38 61.68 62.19 62.15 61.21 61.48 61.84
AI,03
24.35 24.55 24.22 24.45 24.14 24.20
23.94 24.01
CaO 6.03 6.08 5.84 5.79 5.74 5.95 5.68 5.79
Na,O 7.98 7.85 7.85 8.04 8.06 7.44 7.60 7.62
K,O 0.48 0.39 0.45 0.31 0.33 0.46 0.69 0.52
Total 100.31 100.25 100.04 100.78 100.42 99.26 99.39 99.78
Number of cations on the basis of 8 (0
Si 2.724 2.720 2.736 2.737 2.745 2.734 2.745 2.748
AI 1.272 1.282 1.266 1.268 1.256 1.274 1.260 1.257
Ca 0.286 0.289 0.278 0.273 0.271 0.285 0.272 0.276
Na 0.686 0.674 0.675 0.686 0.690 0.644 0.658 0.656
K 0.027 0.022 0.025 0.017 0.019 0.026 0.039 0.029
Total 4.996 4.987 4.981 4.981 4.981 4.964 4.973 4.966
Ab 68.6
68.5 69.0 70.2 70.4
67.5 67.9 68.2
An 28.7 29.3 28.4 28.0 27.7 29.8 28.0 28.7
Or 2.7 2.2 2.6 1.8 1.9 2.7 4.1
3.1
64 D. SADEK GHABRIAL
Biotite enclosed in the garnet porphyroblasts has XMg,Alvl and Ti contents similar to
matrix biotite.
Garnet.-It is almandine rich in the compositional range Alms8.7oSpSI3-29PYP7-13 Grs4.9
(Table 3). Garnet is the only mineral phase with a well-developed zoning showing a
pattern characterized by large homogeneous cores surrounded by thin rims (Fig. 8 and
Table 3). There is an overall increase in Fe/Fe+Mg towards the rims, coupled with an
increase in Mn content, while Ca varies irregularly.
T
Chlorite.-It is represented by ripidolite with AIIVcontent averaging 2.500 (Table 4). It
shows a wide range in Mg/Mg+Fe ratios, varying ITom0.29 to 0.46.
METAMORPHIC CONDITIONS IN TABA MIGMATITES
Partialmelting
Most migmatites were formed during the partial melting of continental crust,
although metamorphic differentiation is another possible forming mechanism (Robin
1979). The interpretation of anatectic, as well as non-anatectic subsolidus origins for
migmatites is commonly revealed by their macrostructure and microstructure and
permitted by estimates of prevailing P-T conditions. The following features in the
leucosomes in the Taba migmatites favour formation by partial melting:
1) The discordant nature of some leucosome veins that are not related to intruded
granites requires production and segregation of melt (Kalt et al. 1999).
2) Variable thickness of leucosomes, and their occasional large thickness (Robin 1979).
3) The restitic character of melanosomes points at melt extraction (Kalt et al. 1999,
Sawyer 1999).
4) Leucosomes preserve textures indicating the presence of a melt (see section on
petrography).
5) Semi-quantitative estimates of peak conditions (see section on geobarothermometry)
indicate that temperature was enough to induce melting.
iable 2. Chemical compositions (wt%) and ionic formula of biotite
* =biotite inclusion).
Sample No.
4e 6d
Points I 2 3 4* 5 6 7 8
Si02 35.73 36.23 35.56 35.89 35.98 35.71 34.45 35.63
Ti02
3.81 3.54 3.74 3.58 4.13 3.38 3.42 3.58
AhOJ 18.14 18.54 17.75 18.04 18.19 18.16 17.24 18.03
FeO 21.43 21.50 22.09 21.78 21.79 21.93 22.12 21.71
MnO 0.21 0.29 0.22 0.35 0.32 0.30 0.31 0.34
MI!O 7.49 7.76 7.48 7.86 7.89 7.93 7.15 7.80
K20
9.07 8.96 8.85 8.96 8.98 8.86 8.74 8.89
Total
.
95.88 96.82 95.69 96.46 97.28 96.27 93.43 95.98
.. - .. --- .-.
Number of cations on the basis of22 (0
Si 5.447 5.457 5.449 5.445 5.410 5.430 5.432 5.434
AI" 2.553 2.543 2.551 2.555 2.590 2.570 2.568 2.566
AI" 0.706 0.748 0.654 0.671 0.634 0.685 0.636 0.674
Ti 0.437 0.401 0.431 0.408 0.467 0.387 0.405 0.410
Fe'. 2.732 2.708 2.831 2.764 2.740 2.789 2.917 2.769
Mn 0.027 0.037 0.029 0.045 0.041 0.039 0.041 0.044
MI! I. 702 I. 742 I. 708 1.778 I. 768 I. 797 1.681 I. 773
K 1.764 1.721 1.730 I. 734 1.722 1.719 I. 758 1.729
Total 15.368 15.357 15.382 15.400 15.372 15.415 15.439 15.400
XM.
0.38 0.39 0.38 0.39 0.39 0.39 0.37 0.39
PETROLOGY OF TABA MIGMATITES 65
T
II-c, 12, 13& 14-r = zoned garnet grain from core to rim.
Possible melting reactions and poTconditions
The migmatite zone records the highest metamorphic conditions in the Taba belt.
This zone is characterized by the occurrence of leucosome segregations, which are
thought to have been drived mostly by partial melting of Taba metasedimentary rocks.
Some melting reactions are possible for the development of these migmatites. Musco-
vite is virtually absent, but biotite is still present and shows no sign of destablization.
Hence melting of the Taba rocks occurred largely within the stability field of biotite,
----
- -. - n n- -- ----- n---_n- __n- -_m- n----_'n- -- _--_n- -
un, -
-un .
Sample
4e 6d
No.
points I 2 3 4 5 6-c 7-r 8 9
Si02 36.71 37.29 36.98 36.49 36.50 37.16 37.44 36.66 36.54
Ah03 20.55 20.80 2050 20.30 20.63 21.08 20.67 20.49 20.22
FeO 29.07 28.99 29.35 30.87 30.97 28.86 27.41 32.31 31.62
MnO 7.53 7.56 7.62 6.68 6.70 7.78 11.00 5.93 5.91
MI!O 2.63 2.80 2.92 2.99 3.14 2.83 1.79 3.06 2.99
CaO 3.00 2.92 254 1.83 1.51 3.02 2.23 1.75 1.70
Total 99.49 100.36 99.91 99.16 99.45 100.73 10054 100.20 98.98
Number of cations on tbe basis of 12 (0)
Si 2.973 2.991 2.982 2.969 2.959 2.967 3.021 2.954 2.980
Al 1.962 1.966 1.948 1.947 1.971 1.984 1.966 1.946 1.943
Fe" 1.969 1.944 1.979 2.101 2.100 1.927 1.850 2.177 2.157
Mn 0517 0513 0520 0.460 0.460 0.526 0.752 0.405 0.408
M2 0.318 0.335 0.351 0.363 0.379 0.337 0.215 0.367 0.363
Ca 0.260 0.251 0.219 0.160 0.131 0.258 0.193 0.151 0.149
Total 7.999 8.000 7.999 8.000 8.000 7.999 7.997 8.000 8.000
Aim 64.2 63.9 64.6 68.1 68.4 63.1 61.5 70.2 70.1
Spes 16.9 16.9 16.9 14.9 15.0 17.3 25.0 13.1 13.3
Pvr 10.4 11.0 11.4 11.8 12.3 ILl 7.1 11.8 11.8
Gros 85 8.2 7.1 5.2 4.3 8.5 6.4 4.9 4.8
Sample
6d
No.
points 10 ll-c 12 13 14-r 15-c 16-r 17-c 18-r
Si02 36.41 36.60 36.69 36.22 37.24 3754 37.42 36.46 37.07
Ah03 20.33 20.07 20.10 20.33 20.60 20.10 20.73 20.26 20.15
FeO 30.55 29.08 29.13 28.70 27.02 29.90 25.29 32.24 28.17
MnO 7.82 8.74 8.70 9.25 11.83 8.46 12.73 5.81 10.32
MI!O 2.82 252 2.57 2.42 1.77 2.56 1.79 3.31 2.20
CaO 2.27 1.99 2.04 2.12 1.79 1.65 1.91 1.80 1.90
Total 100.20 99.00 99.23 99.04 100.25 99.21 99.87 99.88 99.81
Number of cations on tbe basis of 12 (0)
Si 2.937 2.992 2.991 2.960 3.018 2.983 3.031 2.944 3.013
Al 1.933 1.934 1.931 1.958 1.968 1.934 1.979 1.928 1.930
Fez' 2.061 1.988 1.986 1.961 1.831 2.042 1.713 2.177 1.915
Mn 0.534 0.605 0.601 0.640 0.812 0585 0.873 0.397 0.710
M2 0.339 0.307 0.312 0.295 0.214 0.312 0.216 0.398 0.266
Ca 0.196 0.174 0.178 0.186 0.155 0.144 0.166 0.156 0.165
Total 8.000 8.000 7.999 8.000 7.998 8.000 7.978 8.00 7.999
Aim 65.8 64.6 64.6 63.6 60.8 66.2 57.7 69.6 62.7
Spes 17.1 19.7 19.5 20.8 27.0 19.0 29.4 12.7 23.2
Pvr 10.8 10.0 10.1 9.6 7.1 10.1 7.3 12.7 8.7
Gros 6.3 5.7 5.8 6.0 5.1 4.7 5.6 5.0 5.4
66 D. SADEK GHABRIAL
i.e. at temperatures <800C (Vietzeuf & Holloway 1988), and may involve the break-
down of muscovite as well as quartz and feldspar.
Patino Douce & Harris (1998) investigated experimentally the melting reaction
involving muscovite, in a pelitic schist below the temperature of biotite dehydration.
Their results indicate that high temperature melts were produced at low a(H2O) condi-
tions by the reaction (mineral abbreviations after Kretz 1983)
22 Ms + 7 PI + 8 Qtz =25 melt + 5 Kfs + 5 Sil + 2 Bt (1)
and the lower temperature melts were produced at high a(H20) conditions by the
reaction
9 Ms + 15PI + 7 Qtz + x H2O= 31 melt (2)
Table 4. Chemical compositions (wt%) and ionic
formula of chlorite
Figure 8. Zoned garnet fromrim to core (see Table 3, points 14-r, 13, 12, II-c).
Samole No. 4e
6d
ooints 1 2 3
SiO,
25.62 26.88 23.66
AI,OJ
20.34 21.93 18.79
FeO 29.52 27.90 33.74
MnO 0.854 0.47 1.27
M!!O 11.54 13.59 7.74
K,O
0.00 0.00 0.00
Total 87.87 90.77 85.20
Number of cations on the basis of28 (0)
Si 5.525 5.513 5.458
AF 2.475 2.485 2.542
AIVI 2.697 2.816 2.567
Fe'. 5.326 4.786 6.510
Mn 0.155 0.082 0.248
MIJ 3.711 4.155 2.661
K 0.000 0.000 0.000
Total 19.889 19.837 19.986
PETROLOGY OF TABA MIGMATITES 67
Reaction (1) is widely considered appropriate for the production of a granitic melt
that is different in composition from Taba migmatite leucosomes. Such composition as
well as the absence of K-feldspar and retrograde muscovite, which may appear in the
consumption ofK-feldspar (Spear et al. 1999) suggest that this reaction didn't occur.
It is clear that the H2O-fluxed melting reaction (2) contrasts sharply with the
dehydration melting reaction (1). In the case of H2O fluxing, the melts produced with
small amounts of added H2O may be of trondhjemitic composition, which is virtually
similar to Taba leucosomes. This resulted from the decrease in the temperature of the
plagioclase + quartz solidus with increasing H2Oactivity, which starts melting within
the stability field of muscovite. Therefore, the amount of melt generated is generally
large, limited by protolith plagioclase content, however, plagioclase is consumed in a
greater proportion than muscovite, which in this case dissolves congruently in the melt
when present. In contrast, dehydration melting consumes muscovite in greater propor-
tion than plagioclase because H2Ois supplied by incongruent breakdown of muscovite.
To produce trondhjemites through melting, a plagioclase-rich and muscovite-poor rock
is needed. Hence metapsammites and metagraywackes represent a more fertile source
than metapelites. It can be indeed observed that most Taba metasedimentary rocks are
metagraywackes and do not contain muscovite in excess, and therefore reaction (2) is
proposed as the principal melt-forming reaction in the Taba migmatites.
Another possible melting reaction for migmatites provided that a water-rich fluid is
available is
Ms + Ab + Qtz + H2O=Sil + melt (3)
This reaction produces sillimanite, which is rarely recognized in few samples, most
likely reflecting that reaction (3) was of minor importance in the partial melting of
these rocks. Such reaction requires a temperature above 650C at 4-6 kbars (Spear et al.
1999) in the NaKFMASH model system. The presence of oligoclase in the studied
samples is likely to raise slightly the minimum temperature for this reaction in relation
to the NaKFMASH grid of Spear et al. (1999).
The common occurrence of chlorite, replacing biotite and garnet in Taba migma-
tites, is a typical feature of retrograde alteration across the transition from amphibolite-
to greenschist conditions, at temperatures <500Cthat represent the lowest temperature
retrogressivestage recorded in these migmatites.
Geothermobarometry
The p. T conditions achieved in the Taba migmatites can be constrained by the use
of conventional geothermometers and geobarometers. As mentioned above, zoning is
not pronounced in both biotite and plagioclase in the studied migmatites. Also, the
composition of matrix biotite is obviously similar to that of biotite encolsed in garnet,
meaning that biotite compositions have not been re-equilibrated. On the other hand,
most coarse garnet porphyroblasts possess relatively homogeneous Mg-richer interiors
and Mn-richer peripheries (Fig. 8 and Table 3). Accordingly, the compositions of
biotite and plagioclase were used with both garnet rims and cores in the present calcu-
lations.
Table 5 shows the thermobarometric data for average analyses per sample and
illustrates the diversity of results obtained with various calibrations. Among the differ-
ent calibrations of the garnet-biotite thermometer, the Holdaway's (2000) calibration,
which includes corrections for the effect of Ti and Aivi in biotite (see also Indares &
Martignole 1985) and for non-ideality in both the garnet and biotite, appears to be the
most reasonable calibration for the studied rocks, based on the compositions of biotite
and garnet (i.e. biotite with significant Ti content and garnet relatively rich in Ca and
Mn). Application of the equation of Holdaway (2000) to garnetrim-biotitepairs yields
68 D. SADEK GHABRIAL
temperature values in the range of 633-654C, whereas garnetcore-biotitepairs yield
values in the range of 696-719C. These estimated temperatures are obviously close to
those obtained with the calibration of Indares & Martignole (1985) with maximum
differences of 45C, whereas the calibrations of Ferry & Spear (1978) and Loomis &
Nimick (1982), corrected for nonideal mixing of garnet according to Hodges & Spear
(1982), always give higher temperatures with deviations of up to 95C. Ti-in-biotite
thermometer of Henry & Guidotti (2002) generally gives temperatures of about 700C,
which is in agreement with the garnet-biotite temperatures according to Holdaway's
(2000) geothermometer.
The results of geothermometry indicate that the temperatures obtained from garnet
rims are lower than those obtained from garnet cores. These inconsistencies are most
likely the result of late stage re-equilibration of the phases. Bucher & Frey (1994)
mentioned that anomalously low garnet-biotite temperatures were obtained from garnet
rim/matrix biotite in the upper amphibolite and granulite facies rocks. This effect is
attributed to retrograde Fe-Mg exchange during cooling that caused considerable
changes in garnet rim composition, while the matrix biotite composition remained
almost unchanged. Therefore reasonable temperature estimates can be obtained by
using garnet core and matrix biotite, nearly reflecting peak metamorphic conditions
(Bucher & Frey 1994).
Pressure estimates for the studied migmatites can be made from the garnet- silli-
manite- plagioclase-quartz geobarometer of Holdaway (2001). These estimates give
pressure.of 5.6-6.1 kbars (at 650C) for garnet rims and of6.1-9.2 kbars (at 700C) for
cores, assuming sillimanite as the coexisting AI-silicate mineral. Additional pressure
estimates were obtained by using the garnet-plagioclase-biotite-quartz geobarometer
calibrated by Hoisch (1990), which yields pressures in the range of 6.1-6.9 kbars (at
650C) and of 6.4-8.9 kbars (at 700C) for garnet rims and cores, respectively, consis-
tent with that of Holdaway's (2001) calibration. It is observed that the pressure obtained
by garnet cores in sample 4e is higher than expected, because the lack of kyanite indi-
cates maximum pressures of about 8 kbars (Pattison 1992). The unreasonable pressure
is likely caused by disequilibrium between garnet cores and plagioclase. Generally,
average pressures between 6.1 and 6.4 kbars were recorded for the studied migmatites.
Assuming uncertainities of :1:1kbar, the pressure may be in accord with low/medium
pressure conditions.
- ---. .. - .,n .- --_u - -- , -..-- - n- -______n_n. --- no- .------ nn ----,..-..
Sample No.
4e 6d
Position Gamet-core Gamet-rim Gamet-core Gamet-rim
Garnet-biotite thermometer
Ferry & Spear (1978)
796 616 760 653
Loomis & Nimick (1982)
814 656 784 690
Indares & Martignole (1985)
765 628 728 684
Holdaway (2000)
719 633 696 654
Garnet-AI-silicate- quartz - plagioclase barometer
Holdaway (2001)
9.15 6.08 6.1 5.56
Garnet - plagioclase - biotite - quartz barometer
Hoisch (1990)
8.92 6.87 6.4 6.05
.
_!I
-
PETROLOGY OF TABA MIGMATITES 69
The migmatites were in part affected by minor retrograde alteration. Formation of
chlorite at the expense of biotite and saussuritization of plagioclase occurred later under
greenschist facies conditions. However, the chlorite-Allv geothermometer of
Cathelineau (1988) yields temperatures between 337 and 347C.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Stromatic type prevails among migmatites exposed in Taba belt, but diatexites
locally occur. There are two generations of leucosomes. One set is parallel to the rock
foliation and crystallized in situ. The other is discordant and implies melt injection,
largely post-dating the stromatic leucosomes. Leucosomes are of trondhjemitic compo-
sition suggesting melting under high water activity condition.
Unlike the other migmatitic terrains, the Taba migmatites do not have low-
metamorphic grade margins. They uncommonly contain relicts of unmigmatitized
metasedimentary rocks, and are separated from the Taba schists in the north by various
types of granitic gneisses. The main mineralogical components of the migmatites and
the associated metasedimentary relicts are plagioclase, quartz, biotite and garnet,
obviously similar to those of the Taba schists at Wadi Morakh. Moreover, the
mel,},edimentary relicts, from which the migmatites were formed, are chemically
. indl~lmguishable from the Taba schists (Table 6), although the former have slightly
higher Ti02 and Fe203t, consistent with the abundance of biotite (Le. they contain more
pelitic matrix). Thus, the protolith of the migmatites might be graywackes affiliated to
the northern Taba schists, in agreement with the former opinion of Eyal (1980),
however, these schists were proved to be the lower member of Hammamat clastic
sediments (Samuel & Sadek Ghabrial in prep).
Table 6. Average major element data of the metasedimentary relicts (MSR) within studied
migmatites. MST= average composition of Wadi Morakh schists from Samuel & Sadek Ghabrial
Generally, metamorphic grade in the Taba belt increases towards the south, and
migmatites are characteristic of the central part. At Wadi Twieba to the north, stauro-
lite-cordierite schists are observed interlayered with the more common biotite-garnet
schists (Samuel & Sadek Ghabrial in prep.). In this particular area Abu El-Enen et al.
(2003) reported andalusite and sillimanite near the wadi entrance. Geothermobarometry
applied to these schists yielded a temperature range of 550-580C at about 3 kbars.
Southwards at Wadi Morakh, biotite garnet schists is only found and gave somewhat
higher temperatures of about 600C at about 4 kbars (Abu El-Enen et al. 2003). Farther
south, the rocks were remobilized and transformed into migmatites at higher tempera-
tures (-700C) and transitional to the medium-PIT metamorphic type, representing a
deeper crustal level.
The occurrence of high temperature minerals and migmatites commonly associated
with various granitic gneisses in the Taba belt is somewhat similar to those described
from the Hammamat sediments at Wadi Kid area, southeast Sinai (Reymer et al. 1984),
but the latter gave lower pressure estimates of 3.2 kbars at Wadi Kid and their
.
in prep. , BTG= average composition of garnet biotite gneiss from Abu EI-Enen et al. (1999).
Rocks SiOz TiOz AhO. FezO.t MoO
MgO
CaO NazO KzO LO.I.
MSR 64.2 1.02 16.2 6.9 0.1 2 2.9 3.8 2.7 1.5
MST 64.8 0.75 16.5 5 0.09 2.2 2.8 4.1 2.4 1.2
BTG 65 0.91 15.8 6.5 0.1 1.9 2.8 3.7 2.8 0.7
-
-
:-
~ "-
70 D. SADEK GHABRIAL
metamorphism was described as low-pressure "regional metamorphism". The low-
pressure metamorphism affected the Hammamat sediments at Urn Had area, Eastern
Desert (El-Gaby et al. 1988, El Kalioubi 1988) is shown to be comparable to that of
Wadi Kid area. In both occurrences, the metamorphosed rocks grade from staurolite
zone through an anatectic zone into granite gneiss. The granite gneiss is considered as
part of a concealed granitic diapir, which resulted in the development of the high
temperature metamorphism and is intrusive into the surrounding lower-grade schists
(Reymer et al. 1984). The studied Taba rocks appear to have formed by the same
mechanism, namely in thermal domes associated with granitoid diapir, but at somewhat
higher pressure.
The garnet biotite gneiss (the tonalitic Fjord gneiss of Eyal 1980) bordered the
migmatites to the north is similar in composition and chemistry to migmatites (Table
6), but there is no gradation between them to justifYtheir common origin. However, the
border between gneiss and migmatites is structurally controlled. Applying Ni-Zr/TiOz
and MgO/CaO-PzOs/TiOz discriminant diagrams (not shown here) introduced by
Winchester et al. (1980) and Werner (1986), respectively, to distinguish between ortho-
and para- quartzofeldspathic rocks, most Fjord gneiss samples analyzed by Abu El-
Enen et al. (1999) plot on or close to the boundary between the fields of igneous and
sedimentary rocks. Based on field appearance, in some places sedimentary origin for
the Fjord gneiss is suggested by the absence of obvious intrusive features and the
presence of concordant intercalations of schist. In other places towards the north, the
Fjord gneiss intrudes the schist with sharp contact and schist xenoliths are found within
it, indicating igneous origin. The ambiguous results of geochemical and outcrop
characteristics suggest that part of Fjord gneiss resulted from recrystallization of the
schist that interacted with the rising magmatic diapir, which introduced the principal
heat for anatexis and intruded into the schist in the north.
ACKNOWLEDGEMETS
The author wish to thank Prof. Dr. Samir El-Gaby, Geology Department, Assiut
University, Egypt, for his help in revision of the manuscript, and Prof. Dr. Mike J.
Holdaway, Southern Methodist University, U.S.A., for his help in estimation of P-T
conditions using GASP geobarometer and GB geothermometer.
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