The stability field of andradite in H
2O-CO
2 mixtures has been calculated on the basis of previous work in the systems CaO-SiO
2-CO
2 and CaO-FeO
X-SiO
2-O
2, and the thermo-chemlcai data. Under relatively high oxygen fugacities where hedenbergite is unstable, the andradite field is restricted by the following reactions:
(1) andradite+CO
2=calcite+magnetite+quartz+O
2 (2) andradite+CO
2=calcite+hematite+quartz.
Compared with the grossular field, the andradite field extends towards the low-temperature and CO
2-rich side in the
T-X
CO2 diagram. For example, where the oxygen fugacity is represented by the NNO buffer, the equilibrium boundary for Reaction (1) at 2000 bars passes approximately through the points: X
CO2=13mole%,
T=500°C, and X
CO2=0.44mole%,
T=300°C.
Since grandite garnet occurs commonly in skarn-type ore deposits, the upper limit of the amount of CO
2 in fluids under which ore-bearing skarn can be formed is inferred to be 3 mole % at 400°C. This suggestion agrees with the fact that CO
2-rich inclusions are not common in ore deposits of this type.
View full abstract