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- Lewerentz, Alexander, 1987-
(author)
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Fluid-induced alteration of metasedimentary rocks in the Scottish Highlands
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Fluids, mainly H2O and CO2, are released from H- and C-bearing phases during prograde metamorphism. Because of the buoyancy of these fluids, they rise within the crust towards the surface of the Earth. Metamorphic fluids take advantage of permeable horizons, shear zones, fold hinges, fractures, and are channelled into high-flux zones. Fluid fluxes for channelized fluid flow may exceed background pervasive fluxes by several orders of magnitude. Metamorphic fluids react with the surrounding rock during fluid flow, and altered zones are commonly observed adjacent to high-flux conduits. Fluid-altered rock is texturally, mineralogically, chemically, and isotopically different from rock unaffected by fluid flow. In this thesis, fluid-rock interaction is studied at two localities in the Scottish Highlands: Glen Esk and the Isle of Islay.Glen Esk is one of the type localities used by George Barrow (1853-1932) to propose the concept of metamorphic zones and metamorphic index minerals as an approximate determination of metamorphic grade. In several of the metamorphic zones in Glen Esk, index mineral distribution is highly dependent on proximity to veins. The occurrence of index minerals is therefore not only controlled by pressure and temperature, but also by the availability of metamorphic fluids. Evidence of a retrograde fluid flow event from the North Esk Fault is observed in Glen Esk, for which a time-averaged fluid flux of 0.0003 – 0.0126 m3∙m-2∙yr-1 is calculated. The duration of the fluid event is estimated to between 16 and 334 kyr.On the Isle of Islay, kyanite is observed in rocks of chlorite or lower-biotite metamorphic grade, i.e. much lower temperatures than usually associated with kyanite formation. The favoured explanation for this is retrograde infiltration of extremely high-CO2 fluids, at least locally XCO2 > 0.7, at ~340°C, which altered these rocks and stabilised kyanite in a carbonate-bearing assemblage. Oxygen and carbon stable isotope profiles across the Islay Anticline reveals highly channelized fluid flow along the axial region of this fold, with fluid:rock ratios at least four times higher than in rock farther away from the fold. Although carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of metacarbonate rocks were altered along the Islay Anticline, negative anomalies observed below and above the Port Askaig Tillite Formation cannot solely be attributed to metamorphic fluid flow, which implies that these rocks to varying degree retain their primary paleoclimatological isotopic signatures.
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- Lewerentz, Alexander, 1987-, et al.
(author)
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On the Association between Veining and Index Mineral Distributions in Barrow’s Metamorphic Zones, Glen Esk, Scotland
- 2017
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In: Journal of Petrology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0022-3530 .- 1460-2415. ; 58:5, s. 885-908
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The concept of index mineral based metamorphic zones was first introduced by George Barrow in 1912 and the Barrovian metamorphic zones continue to be used as a framework for describing regional metamorphism. Pressure, temperature, and protolith composition are widely recognized as primary controls on index mineral distribution. Today, metamorphic fluid flow is also recognized as an important driver of metamorphic reactions. The aim of this study is to establish if and how metamorphic fluids control index mineral distribution during Barrovian metamorphism. We use samples from Barrow’s type locality in Glen Esk, SE Scottish Highlands, to study possible relationships between veining and index mineral distribution. In addition to petrographic and textural observations, we use whole-rock compositions, mineral compositions and oxygen isotope analyses. At low grade, in the chlorite zone and most of the biotite zone, no correlation between veining and index mineral distribution is seen. At higher grade, in the garnet and staurolite zones, index mineral abundance is shown to be higher adjacent to veins. These trends coincide with other mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic changes in the vein-proximal rock, indicative of fluid–rock interaction. Kyanite distribution is homogeneous in the kyanite zone. However, we show that this too relates to extensive fluid–rock interaction. Garnet-, staurolite-, and kyanite-bearing selvedges are common in the sillimanite zone. However, sillimanite distribution is unrelated to these selvedges, which supports models arguing that sillimanite formed during a separate metamorphic event. We infer fluid flow from high grade to low grade because the fluid was out of isotopic equilibrium with the lower grade rocks, but in equilibrium with the higher grade rocks. We conclude that fluid flow played a major role in the stabilization and distribution of Barrovian index minerals in Glen Esk, and that the importance of fluid flow was greater at higher metamorphic grades.
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- Lewerentz, Alexander, 1987-
(author)
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Vein controlled crystal size distributions of Barrovian index minerals
- 2015
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The concept of index mineral based metamorphic zones was first introduced by George Barrow in 1912, and Barrovian metamorphism is still applied by metamorphic petrologists. Today the importance of metamorphic fluids for driving metamorphic reactions is widely recognised. Even so, the general view is that Barrovian metamorphism is solely controlled by pressure, temperature, and protolith composition. This thesis aims to establish if and how fluids control index mineral formation and distribution during Barrovian metamorphism. To do so, samples from Barrow’s own type locality in Glen Esk, Southeast Scottish Highlands, are used to investigate possible relationships between veining and index mineral distribution. This was done using a combination of petrographic and textural observations and analyses, whole rock chemistry, mineral chemistry, as well as oxygen isotope analyses. These data show a grade dependant association of index mineral distribution and veining: in the chlorite zone and most of the biotite zone, no correlation between veining and index mineral distribution is seen. For the garnet and staurolite zones, index mineral abundance is shown to decrease away from veins. The kyanite zone shows a fairly homogenous kyanite distribution, but also indications of extensive fluid-rock interaction. Based on these observations and the analysis datasets, it is concluded that fluid played a major role in the stabilisation and distribution of the Barrovian index minerals in Glen Esk, and that the fluid control was larger at metamorphic grade.
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