Permo-triassic ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in the Kontum Massif, Central Vietnam

Abstract

The Kontum massif in central Vietnam consists of low-grade schists and amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphic rocks, that have been intruded by S-type and I-type granites. This terrane was formerly considered to be composed mainly of Archean granulites (the Kannak Complex), Proterozoic amphibolite-facies metamorphic rocks (the Ngoc Linh Complex) and low-grade schists (the Kham Duc Complex). They were thought to be the basement of the Indochina Craton in south-east Asia. The Kannak Complex is dominated by pelitic-semipelitic gneisses metamorphosed under high- to ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) conditions into granulite-facies. A minor amount of mafic and calc-silicate rocks are also intercalated within the gneisses. The major types of ultrahigh-temperature pelitic metamorphic rocks in this complex are garnet-orthopyroxene-sillimanite-cordierite gneiss, orthopyroxene-bearing garnet-cordierite-silliamnite-biotite gneiss and garnet-orthopyroxene charnockitic gneiss. The highest-grade metamorphic condition is determined from garnet-orthopyroxene-sillimanite-cordierite gneiss, which indicates that multi-stage symplectite formation during retrograde stage started from isothermal decompression in UHT condition (1000°C