Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Aragonite Pseudomorphs In High Pressure Marbles Of Syros, Greece, John B. Brady, Michelle J. Markley, John C. Schumacher, John T. Cheney, Grace A. Bianciardi

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

Numerous rod-shaped calcite crystals occur in the blueschist to eclogite facies marbles of Syros, Greece. The rods show a shape-preferred orientation, and the long axes of the rods are oriented at a large angle to foliation. The crystals also have a crystallographic-preferred orientation: calcite c-axes are oriented parallel to the long axes of the rods. Based on their chemical composition, shape, and occurrence in high-pressure marbles, these calcite crystals are interpreted as topotactic pseudomorphs after aragonite that developed a crystallographic-preferred orientation during peak metamorphism. This interpretation is consistent with deformation of aragonite by dislocation creep, which has been observed …