Fe-Al-rich hornfels containing cordierite, olivine, orthopyroxene and spinel is found in the contact aureole of the Nogo-Hakusan granodiorite. Spinel is hercynitic and rich in V
2O
3 (up to 2.2 wt.%). Symplectites composed of olivine, cordierite and small amount of spinel are present around orthopyroxene. Phase relationships of cordierite, olivine, orthopyroxene and spinel in the system Mg-Fe
2+-Al-Si-O-H have been experimentally determined. The experimental results and petrographical features suggest that the symplectites were formed by the following retrogressive reaction:
10 orthopyroxene+2 spinel=5 olivine+cordierite.
The maximum temperature of the metamorphism in the Nogo-Hakusan area was about 800°C at P
total=P
fluid=2-3 kb. The estimated f
o2 during the retrogressive metamorphism was relatively low, at least below the hematite-magnetite buffer curve.
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