Orthopyroxene + sillimanite predating sapphirine + quartz: A rare case of ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism from the central zone, limpopo complex, South Africa

Sapphirine + quartz and orthopyroxene + sillimanite occur in garnet from an Mg-Al granulite from the Central Zone of the Limpopo Complex in South Africa. Textural evidence and a chemical gradient in garnet between the zones preserving the inclusions argue for the formation of sapphirine + quartz after orthopyroxene + sillimanite. Petrological observations, pressure-temperature phase diagrams, and compositional and model proportion results on isopleths indicate the sapphirine + quartz + garnet + orthopyroxene (high-Al) assemblage as the peak metamorphic assemblage (~1050 °C at ~8.5 kbars), whereas orthopyroxene (low-Al) + sillimanite represents the prograde stage (at ca. 900 °C at ~8.5 kbars). Our report of these two diagnostic ultrahigh-temperature mineral assemblages in garnet from an Mg-Al granulite is unique, given the rare occurrence of sapphirine + quartz postdating orthopyroxene + sillimanite assemblage in granulites.