On the preservation mechanism of intragranular coesite in the Yangkou, Sulu UHP eclogite

Yangkou Bay, in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) belt of eastern China is the only known locality in the world in which UHP eclogite contains intragranular coesite. The question remains then, how is the extremely rare occurrence of intragranular coesite preserved in the Sulu belt, and if we can identify the reasons for its preservation, might it be found in other UHP belts? Preservation of coesite inclusions or intragranular coesite has been interpreted to result from multiple reasons, but lack of fluid availability is a critical factor, and the survival is not only because of their incorporation in a strong host phase but because of the ability of the host to prevent fluid infiltration until fracturing occurs at low temperatures. High-precision field structural geology mapping in the Yangkou area has revealed the complex deformation history including multi-stage folding events. The earliest folding event occurred before the eclogite reached peak metamorphism, and is preserved as rootless F1 isoclines that preserve the earliest evidence for UHP metamorphism, including intragranular coesite. We report the structural and petrological phenomenon that the intragranular coesite is uniquely preserved within the hinge zones of F1 rootless eclogite folds that have a mineral assemblage of Grt+Omp+Rt+Cs. However, the limbs of F1 folds or overprinted F1+F2 folds have a mineral assemblage of Grt+Omp+Rt+Qtz+Phg, and experienced different degrees of retrogression. The peak metamorphic P-T condition for coesite-bearing eclogite is P=4.0-4.5GPa, 745-909°C. however, the peak metamorphic P-T condition for phengite-quartz bearing eclogite is 3.8-4.1GPa, 733-840°C. The hydrogen concentration was investigated by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) in these two samples. In the intragranular coesite eclogite, coesite is basically free of water (<10 ppm), very low in garnet (8-50 ppm) and average hydrogen concentration of omphacite is 106-200 ppm; however, with the appearance of phengite and coesite's transformation into quartz, the water content within phengite bearing eclogite is raised. The average hydrogen concentration of garnet is 26-157 ppm , that of omphacite is 270-405 ppm. This indicates that with the appearance of phengite and retrogression, the water content of eclogite is raised up gradually, but at this stage, the eclogite is still within a localized "dry" environment compared to most water-rich (1000-2000ppm) eclogite in the Dabie-Sulu orogen. Through the structural and petrological analysis, we find that the intragranular coesite is more likely preserved within the F1 rootless isoclinal folds which formed prior to the peak metamorphism. This suggests that F1 rootless folds act as rigid and impervious shells under ultrahigh-pressure conditions, and shelter the eclogite from the surrounding fluid, which is helpful to maintain a relatively dry environment during rapid exhumation of UHP rocks, allowing the intergranular coesite to be preserved. This mechanism may have important implications for understanding the prograde path of continental-continental collision, and understanding the structural setting of the preserved intergranular coesite, which has important implications for the search for the early fabrics and metamorphic assemblages in other UHP-terrains around the world.