Contrasts in sillimanite deformation in felsic tectonites from anhydrous granulite- and hydrous amphibolite-facies shear zones, western Canadian Shield

The deformation behavior of crustal materials in variably hydrated metamorphic environments can significantly influence the rheological and seismic properties of continental crust. Optical observations and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses are used to characterize sillimanite deformation behavior in felsic tectonites from two deformation settings in the Athabasca granulite terrane, western Canadian Shield. Under estimated conditions of 0.8–1.0 GPa, 725–850 °C in the Cora Lake shear zone, the data suggest that sillimanite deformed by dislocation creep with slip in the [001] direction accompanied by subgrain rotation recrystallization. Where sillimanite locally remained undeformed, strain was concentrated in surrounding weaker phases. Under hydrated conditions of 0.4–0.6 GPa, 550–650 °C in the Grease River shear zone, textures and cathodoluminescence imaging point to dissolution-precipitation creep as the major deformation mechanism for sillimanite, resulting in synkinematic growth of foliation-parallel euhedral sillimanite in a preferred orientation with [001] parallel to the lineation. The results suggest that temperature, fluid content, and modal mineralogy of the surrounding phases may all have significant influence on sillimanite deformation but that preferential alignment of sillimanite [001] parallel to the lineation persists regardless of contrasts in the conditions or mechanisms of deformation.