Kyanite in upper Proterozoic quartzite near Veslebukta, Wedel Jarlsberg Land, western Spitsbergen

Abstract

Kyanite has been identified in three specimens of dolomitic quartzite collected near Veslebukta, western Spitsbergen. The host rocks are fine-grained dolomitic quartzite with a recognizable foliation. The kyanite occurs as metacrysts, probably pre- or syntectonic; none appears detrital. The non-parallel kyanite crystals define laminae, and some of these layers are isoclinally folded, with axial planes parallel to foliation. This unusual occurrence of kyanite suggests that the metamorphism associated with the Proterozoic deformation may have reached medium grade, at least locally.