Date of Award
Spring 5-2014
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Department
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Major Professor
Dr. William Simmons
Second Advisor
Mr. Alexander Falster
Third Advisor
Dr. Karen Webber
Abstract
This study focuses on exocontact mineral assemblages to determine composition, thermal signatures, and the extent of exomorphism that occurred between the Mt. Mica pegmatite and the migmatite host rock at the contact. Biotite-garnet thermometry of country rock samples resulted in an average temperature estimate of 630 °C. Measured biotite Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios were used to calculate an fO2 of -18. The results indicate that the country rock and pegmatite formed under similar oxidizing conditions near the quartz-fayalite-magnetite (QFM) equilibria buffer. Whole rock (REE) analysis indicates an interaction trend between the country rock and pegmatite. Exomorphism does not appear to have been significant at Mt. Mica, likely due to the moderately evolved nature of the pegmatite. Minor B leakage into the surrounding country rock is constrained to within 15 cm from the contact. Results indicate no enrichment of alkali elements (Li, Rb, Cs), As, U, or F occurred in minerals analyzed.
Recommended Citation
Clark, Kimberly T., "Contact Zone Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Mt. Mica Pegmatite, Oxford County, Maine" (2014). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1786.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1786
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.