An Experimental Study of Temperature-Gradient Metamorphism

Abstract The present study was carried out with a view to quantifying the effects of the main parameters ot temperature-gradient metamorphism. Cold-room simulation tests showed crystal growth to be an increasing function of the temperature-gradient modulus with a lower limit of around 0.25 deg/cm. This growth also proved to be a function of temperature itself reaching a maximum at around –5°C Furthermore the shape of depth-hoar crystals was also shown to depend on temperature and to resemble approximately that obtained when crystals are formed in the atmosphere. Temperature-gradient metamorphism is observed to take place at constant density. Increase in crystal size is a decreasing function of density with a lower limit of around 150 kg/m 3 , below which destructive metamorphism occurs accompanied by packing (similar to ET metamorphism): the upper limit is situated at approximately 350 kg/m 3 and no depth-hoar crystals occur above this value. The series of Cold-room simulations enabled a highly simplified model of crystal growth to be constructed.