Microstructural Observations Across the Southern Iberian Shear Zone
Mentor 1
Dyanna Czeck
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
The interactions of tectonic plates cause deformation in rocks that results in a shear zone. A shear zone is a tabular zone of rocks that has a measurable thickness which strain is localized when two sections of rock smear against each other. Water can change the deformation of shear zones, influencing the deformation in the Earth’s crust. I am contributing to ongoing research on the interactions of fluids and deformation in the Southern Iberian Shear Zone (SISZ).
To research the Acebuches Metabasites, we looked at seven thin section that spanned the Calabazares transect; observed the mineralogy and found that the minerals amphibole, plagioclase, and pyroxene were abundant along with a grain size trend throughout the transect. After observing the mineralogy, we looked at two different microstructures; solution seams and veins and the mineral content and angle against foliation.
We found that the veins are composed of plagioclase and amphibole minerals and that they were nearly all perpendicular to the foliation. Researching the mineralogy and microstructures more at depth will help future research in determining how fluids played a major role in controlling the metamorphic reactions and deformation style of this shear zone.
Microstructural Observations Across the Southern Iberian Shear Zone
Union Wisconsin Room
The interactions of tectonic plates cause deformation in rocks that results in a shear zone. A shear zone is a tabular zone of rocks that has a measurable thickness which strain is localized when two sections of rock smear against each other. Water can change the deformation of shear zones, influencing the deformation in the Earth’s crust. I am contributing to ongoing research on the interactions of fluids and deformation in the Southern Iberian Shear Zone (SISZ).
To research the Acebuches Metabasites, we looked at seven thin section that spanned the Calabazares transect; observed the mineralogy and found that the minerals amphibole, plagioclase, and pyroxene were abundant along with a grain size trend throughout the transect. After observing the mineralogy, we looked at two different microstructures; solution seams and veins and the mineral content and angle against foliation.
We found that the veins are composed of plagioclase and amphibole minerals and that they were nearly all perpendicular to the foliation. Researching the mineralogy and microstructures more at depth will help future research in determining how fluids played a major role in controlling the metamorphic reactions and deformation style of this shear zone.
