Clays are used in the general production of earthen tiles. In this study, the production and characterization of earthen tiles from schist, a clayey rock formed by metamorphism of mudstone or shale, was investigated. The impact of tiles on atmospheric temperature through their absorption of the visible, near-infrared and far-infrared wavelength regions is evaluated. In particular, the absorption of ultraviolet and infrared radiation by the tiles was evaluated, as this could have beneficial applications for human health and the environment. UV-A radiation (320–400 nm) is not absorbed by the atmosphere, but schist materials absorb UV-A, which can contribute to melanoma formation (i.e. cancer). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and X-ray diffraction were used for the analysis of the schist materials. The tile-production stages of schist materials (drying, firing, water absorption rate, etc.) were tested at Hatipoglu Gunes Tile and Brick Industry, Inc. (Turkey). The tiles fired at 950°C and 1000°C comply with the industry standard compressive strength values for fired tiles (when converted to industry production conditions) and were 156.15 and 123.20 kg cm–2, respectively.

Microprobe analyses of the halogen contents of apatites from two samples of amphibolite-facies schist from Connemara, Ireland, have been used to calculate the fugacity ratios fHCl/fH2O and fHF/fH2O using the experimental data of Korzhinskiy. The results imply fugacities for both acids in the range 0.03 to 0.1 bars, but whereas for the lower grade rock fHF > fHCl, the migmatitic sample gives fHF⋍fHCl. An independent estimate of fHF/fH2O from the biotite composition in one sample is in acceptable agreement with the result obtained from apatite.

Zoned barian muscovite (2.52-5.66% BaO) and unzoned biotite (0.99-1.77% BaO) occur in two amphibolite grade metacherts of the Alpine schists, Southern Alps, New Zealand. The Ba-micas are associated with quartz-chlorite-Mn-garnet-tourmaline-apatite-sulphide ± oligoclase ± rutile ± magnetite ± ankerite. Increasing Ba (core to rim) in the muscovite is accompanied by a decrease in Si, Ti, Fe + Mg, and K and an increase in [4]Al, [6]Al, and Na. The main substitution that accounts for entry of Ba into both micas is [A]Ba2+ + [4]Al3+ ⇋ [A]K+ + [4]Si4+ and possibly [A]Ba2+ ⇋ [A]K+ + □. Compositional variation of the muscovite is also governed by the substitutions, [6]Al3+ + [4]Al3+ ⇋ [6](Mg,Fe)2+ + [4]si4+, and [A]Na+ ⇋ [A]K+. The presence or absence of oligoclase, rutile, magnetite and Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratio of coexisting biotite control the Na, Ti, Fe and Mg contents of muscovite in the respective metacherts. Important variables controlling the occurrence of Ba-mica is the Ba-rich composition of the metacherts (1387 and 2741 ppm Ba) and metamorphic grade. In metacherts, siliceous and quartzofeldspathic schists with <1000 ppm Ba barium increases with increasing K2O content indicating that in K-feldspar-absent rocks barium is mainly contained in micas (<0.70% BaO). In greenschist facies metacherts and siliceous schists with high Ba (>1000 ppm) and low K2O, barian micas are not present and most of the Ba occurs in baryte ± barian carbonate with implication of a significant original hydrothermal-hydrogenous input. Although low grade illite/sericite/smectites containing Ba are the most likely precursor of the barian micas in the metacherts, strong marginal Ba enrichment in the muscovite indicates a later Ba-metasomatism resulting from the breakdown of baryte under reducing conditions during amphibolite facies metamorphism.

Zussmanite KFe13[AlSi17O42](OH)14, a modulated 2:1 layer silicate, has so far been found only in iron-rich metasediments from Laytonville, California (Agrell et al.), 1965). A new occurrence is reported here from Punta Nihue north of Valdivia, Chile, in banded stilpnomelane-schists. These are intercalated in the ‘Western Series’, a complex of low-grade metamorphic rocks with local high-pressure, low-temperature overprint (e.g. blueschists).

The rock contains conspicuous porphyroblasts of zussmanite of mm size and is composed of chemically distinct bands with the subsequent assemblages: (1) zussmanite-stilpnomelane-quartz, (2) siderite-quartz±stilpnomelane (3) apatite-stilpnomelane-quartz±siderite. The chemical composition of zussmanite, (K0.80Na0.05Ba0.01)(Fe11.292+Mg1.11Mn0.25Fe0.143+Cr0.01Al0.19Ti0.01)[Al1.23Si16.77O42](OH)14, its optical properties and X-ray data correlate well with the Californian occurrence. Additionally, we present new IR data. In type (2) bands of fine-grained crystals of a K,Al poor mineral formed from siderite and quartz. Its chemical composition is close to that of zussmanite. A similar phase was also reported from Laytonville, California (Muir Wood, 1980).

The rarity of rock-forming zussmanite can be explained by its occurrence in strongly Fe-rich and reduced rocks, as well as, by a possibly narrow P-T stability field.

Two samples of garnet-kyanite-staurolite schist from Lukmanier, Switzerland, each contain two chemical varieties of kyanite which occur in texturally distinct areas of the rock. Type 1 form large idiomorphic crystals within an open crenulation cleavage S3. They exhibit a systematic zonation of F2O3, with core values of 0.8% decreasing to 0.3% at the crystal margin. Type 2 form small, much less abundant crystals in areas between S3 cleavage zones, and have a homogeneous distribution of 0.3% Fe2O3 throughout the crystal.

It is suggested that the first-nucleated crystals contain the highest core concentration of Fe2O3 and are the largest. A positive correlation between core Fe2O3 values and crystal size is interpreted as a nucleation and growth sequence. This indicates that the first crystals formed preferentially in S3 (Type 1), with Type 2 crystals growing later outside the S3 zones.

Concentration of kyanite in S3 zones produces a distinct mineral banding in the rock. A mechanism for the development of metamorphic differentiation by preferred nucleation of kyanite in S3 is proposed.

This paper describes a newly observed phenomenon, a rare form of lamina protecting petroglyphs from weathering, and it attempts an explanation of such features. These laminae are not precipitates but represent the floors of the original cupules that have become more resistant to erosion through conversion to tectonite. The process involves crystallization of the syntaxial quartz overgrowths on quartz grains that constitute the cement component of quartzite and silica-rich schist. It is attributed to the cumulative application of kinetic energy that derives from the tens of thousands of hammerstone blows that produced the cupule. The tribological process results in products similar to those formed in ductile shear zones when sandstone has been subjected to great kinetic stresses. In the cupules reported here, the re-metamorphosed lamina preserves their original surface and prevents the erosion of the protolith (parent rock) concealed by the modified layer. The thickness of the layer is a function of the cumulative amount of energy applied to the rock's cement, and the process of alteration is defined as ‘kinetic energy metamorphosis’.

For much of its length in eastern Finland, the contact between the late Archaean granitoid terrane and early Proterozoic supracrustal rocks is that of a depositional unconformity tectonically modified during the Svecokarelian orogeny. In the Kaavi district, this modification has been extensive, particularly because of thrusting which resulted in tectonic slices of basement being present as inliers within the cover rocks and cover rocks as outliers within the main basement outcrop. Both basement and cover have undergone repeated deformation and metamorphic recrystallisation reflected by the presence of multiple tectonic fabrics and sequential mineral growths. However, it is only locally in major zones of movement that the basement rocks of the Presvecokarelides show major modification as the result of the deformation which had such a profound effect on the cover rocks during the development of the Svecokarelides. Over large areas, the products of four phases of deformation (DI–IV) remain in the basement gneisses together with the products of basic and acidic intrusion whose positions in the deformational sequence can be established‥

In the cover rocks, early nappe emplacement (Outokumpu nappe) was followed by the development of isoclinal folds associated with prograde metamorphism (D1). Regionally expressed asymmetrical folds, overturned to the E, with attenuation of overturned limbs and thrusting, involving basement, followed (D2). Subsequent deformation related to wrench faulting (D2c) was followed by the development of more open folds associated with declining geotherms (D3, D4); F3–F4 interference structures are expressed as domes, some of which were a locus of granitoid emplacement (Maarianvaara granitoid suite). D5 and D6 are expressed as cleavages and fractures.

Correlation of the structural features in the Kaavi district with those in the Outokumpu and adjacent districts forms the basis both for establishing the regional disposition of basement and cover units and for determining the structural evolution of this part of the Svecokarelides.

The migmatite complex of the Savonranta district of eastern Finland represents the combined effects of polyphase deformation, polymetamorphism and the emplacement of a series of dioritic, grandioritic, granitic and pegmatitic masses. The most significant feature in terms of both regional structure and control of neosome emplacement is a large wrench fault zone along which there has been a minimum of 30 km displacement. Its development was controlled by a stress system related to plate movement in the early-middle Proterozoic Svecokarelian orogenic belt.

Successive neosome development has been related to the extensive structural and metamorphic history of the amphibolite facies palaeosome mica schists which has been deduced from refolding and cross-cutting relationships. Rb–Sr whole-rock isotopic studies of a porphyritic granite, whose emplacement was controlled by the wrench fault regime, indicate an age of crystallisation of 1786 ± 80 m.y. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0·7053 ± 01 shows the source region for the granite magma had a previous crustal history.

In this feasibility study, Sm/Nd and 143Nd/144Nd ratios have been determined on garnets and coexisting mineral and whole-rock phases from a selection of amphibolite facies rocks, granulite facies rocks and an eclogite. In two micaceous schists and an eclogite the distribution coefficient of the Sm/Nd ratio in garnet relative to other phases is in the range 2-3, i.e. comparable to values for phenocrysts in igneous rocks. In two granulite facies rocks the garnets have Sm/Nd distribution coefficients relative to other phases in the range 13-20 and have yielded precise ages.

Garnet from a granulite facies shear zone from the Limpopo belt in southern Africa, of Archaean age, has yielded concordant duplicate ages of 1974±14 Ma and 1988±14 Ma. These results have been interpreted as relating to the last tectonic event in the region, long after the main gneiss-forming event. Garnet from a granulite facies xenolith from a Carboniferous vent in the Midland Valley of Scotland has yielded an age of 356±10 Ma; this is related to the onset of basic magmatism in the region.