Dear Colleagues,

Eclogite is a hallmark metamorphic rock in subduction zones commonly composed of bright green omphacite (Na-rich diopside) and red garnet of Mg-Fe-Ca types with subordinate rutile, kyanite, quartz (or other polymorphs, e.g., coesite) in a basaltic bulk composition. Additionally, eclogite may contain amphiboles of calcic (hornblende), subcalcic (barroisite) or sodic (glaucophane) types, epidote (zoisite and clinozoisite), lawsonite, white mica (phengite), paragonite, talc, carbonates, diamond or other polymorphs, and others, depending on the whole rock chemistry and peak metamorphic pressures and temperatures attainment. In the meantime, the term “eclogite” is sometimes applied to other metamorphic rocks of diverse compositions that have experienced eclogite facies conditions as well, which was firstly introduced by Finnish geologist Pentii Eskola in the early 1900s. The eclogite facies represents a particular pressure-temperature field, in which the eclogitic assemblages of mainly omphacite and garnet are stable. There are also subfacies that are proposed as amphibole-, epidote-, lawsonite-eclogite or rarely dry eclogite based on the typomorphic mineral occurrences constrained by both bulk chemistry and P-T conditions. Additionally, a specific ultrahigh-pressure eclogite facies is defined by quartz-coesite equilibrium transition at approximate 2.5 GPa pressure and above that involves mantle depths already with particular scientific interests.

The occurrence of eclogite often indicates either a subduction- or collision-related orogenic process that marks the operation of plate tectonics on Earth as the most significant mechanism making our planet unique and vivid. Therefore, the studies of eclogite, from both natural orogenic belts on Earth or experimental synthesization, are of great importance to understand the lithospheric geodynamics in large-scale horizonal and vertical movements contributing to the materials recycling between the supracrust and the deep lithosphere. Meanwhile, there are also mantle eclogites as xenoliths from the deep mantle or garnet clinopyroxenites and other analogues that may be exhumed to the surface, carrying significant deep Earth information. Thanks to the recently developed phase equilibria modeling method, using pseudosection calculation by diverse computer softwares, we are allowed to predict various mineral properties, such as stable mineral phases, mineral modal volume, mineral endmember isolines, water and melt contents, etc., in quite a short time. Additionally, the geochronological methods have been greatly improved in dating the metamorphic timing of eclogites by state-of-art techniques as LA-ICPMS, MC-ICPMS, SIMS, SHRIMP, etc.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the description and interpretation of the newly discovered geologic process or phenomenon related to eclogite and eclogite facies metamorphism in orogenic processes or deep mantle fragments. In the meantime, any experimental attempts to synthesize eclogitic assemblage(s) under extreme conditions (e.g., UHP) are also welcome.

Dr. Xiaoli Li
Dr. Renbiao Tao
Guest Editors

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• orogenic eclogite
• mantle eclogite
• eclogite facies
• PT conditions
• ultrahigh pressure metamorphism
• experimental petrology