Ti solubility in biotite at low pressure in metapelitic systems: the Torres del Paine case

Maria M Ariza-Acero; Lukas P Baumgartner; C. Tom Foster; Marisa D Acosta; Jo Moore; Jack Gillespie; Robert Bodner; Guillaume Siron

doi:10.1007/s00410-026-02305-0

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Ti solubility in biotite at low pressure in metapelitic systems: the Torres del Paine case

Journal article

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Ti solubility in biotite at low pressure in metapelitic systems: the Torres del Paine case

Maria M Ariza-Acero, Lukas P Baumgartner, C. Tom Foster, Marisa D Acosta, Jo Moore, Jack Gillespie, Robert Bodner and Guillaume Siron

Contributions to mineralogy and petrology, Vol.181(4), 28

04/02/2026

DOI: 10.1007/s00410-026-02305-0

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Abstract

The Torres del Paine Intrusive Complex (TPIC) is a shallowly emplaced pluton surrounded by a well-defined contact aureole, providing an ideal setting to test Ti-in-biotite thermometry. We compare existing Ti-in-biotite thermometers with phase petrology constraints and found that they systematically overestimate peak metamorphic temperatures. This discrepancy arises from a significant increase in Ti solubility at low pressures kbar). In fact, we demonstrate that a pressure difference of kbar within the aureole leads to an increase of 0.1 a.p.f.u. in Ti content, suggesting that pressure plays a key role in Ti incorporation at these low pressures. At lower pressures, the Ti-oxy substitution becomes saturated, and Ti incorporation is dominated by a Ti-spinel exchange mechanism. Additionally, textural and chemical analyses reveal that composition vary between small domains of a few hundred micrometers, indicating that local compositional heterogeneities significantly influences Ti content in biotite, even when a Ti-oxide and an Al-rich silicate are nearby. Finally, biotite starts growing near to the biotite-in isograd, and keeps on growing, so that its composition does not fully adjust to the peak composition due to the short metamorphic event. These findings highlight that both pressure and temperature influence the Ti content in biotite. The application of Ti-in-biotite thermometry requires careful consideration of equilibrium domains and growth kinetics.

Geology

Petrology

Biotite

Calibration

Chemical analysis

Composition

Estimates

Growth kinetics

Kinetics

Low pressure

Metamorphism

Plutons

Pressure

Quartz

Sediments

Silicates

Solubility

Temperature

Thermometers

Thermometry

Titanium

Details

Title: Subtitle: Ti solubility in biotite at low pressure in metapelitic systems: the Torres del Paine case
Creators: Maria M Ariza-Acero - University of Lausanne
Lukas P Baumgartner - University of Lausanne
C. Tom Foster - University of Iowa
Marisa D Acosta - University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jo Moore - Freie Universität Berlin
Jack Gillespie - University of Lausanne
Robert Bodner - University of Lausanne
Guillaume Siron - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Contributions to mineralogy and petrology, Vol.181(4), 28
DOI: 10.1007/s00410-026-02305-0
ISSN: 0010-7999
eISSN: 1432-0967
Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
Grant note: Uppsala University
Open access funding provided by Uppsala University.
Language: English
Date published: 04/02/2026
Academic Unit: School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Record Identifier: 9985149628802771

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