The impact of host-rock composition on devolatilization of sedimentary rocks during contact metamorphism around mafic sheet intrusions

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Aarnes ◽  
Kirsten Fristad ◽  
Sverre Planke ◽  
Henrik Svensen
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leny Montheil ◽  
Virginia G. Toy ◽  
James M. Scott ◽  
Thomas M. Mitchell ◽  
David P. Dobson

In natural friction melts, or pseudotachylites, clast textures and glass compositions can influence the frictional behavior of faults hosting pseudotachylites, and are, in turn, sensitive to the processes involved in pseudotachylite formation. Quantification of these parameters in situations where the host rock composition and formation conditions are well-constrained, such as analogue experiments, may yield calibrations that can be employed in analysis of natural pseudotachylites. In this paper, we experimentally-generated pseudotachylites in granitoid rocks (tonalite and Westerly granite) at Pconf = 40 MPa and slip rates of ∼0.1 m s−1, comparable to the conditions under which natural pseudotachylite is known to form in Earth’s upper crust. We find variations in both clast textures and glass compositions that reflect formation processes, and probably influence the frictional behavior of similar natural faults hosting pseudotachylite. Quantification of particle size and shape distribution with a semi-automatic image analysis method, combined with analysis of glass and host-rock composition of these experimentally generated pseudotachylites, reveals that the textures of pseudotachylite material evolved by combinations of 1) comminution, 2) heterogeneous frictional flash melting, and 3) homogeneous (diffusive) clast melting and/or marginal decrepitation. Fractal dimensions of pseudotachylite-hosted clasts (D ∼ 3) that are greater than those of marginal fragmented host rock particles (gouge, D ∼ 2.4), reflect an increase of the intensity of comminution by slip localisation during a pre-melting phase. Chemical analyses demonstrate that these pseudotachylite glasses were generated by frictional flash melting, where host rock phases melt individually. Biotite is the least resistant to melting, feldspar intermediate, and quartz is the most resistant. The peudotachylite glass generated in these experiments has an alkaline composition, is depleted in SiO2 compared to the bulk host-rock, and shows heterogeneous compositions in a single sample related to proximity to host-rock minerals. The percentage contributions of host rock phases to the melt, calculated by a mixing model, shows that glass compositions are dominated by plagioclase and biotite. Within the melt, margins of clasts were dissolved uniformly by diffusion and/or affected by marginal decrepitation, resulting in convex and round shapes with convexities averaging ∼0.8 and circularities averaging ∼0.65.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matias Alonso ◽  
Jean Vaunat ◽  
Minh-Ngoc Vu ◽  
Antonio Gens

<p>Argillaceous rocks have great potential as possible geological host medium to store radioactive waste.  Andra is leading the design of a deep geological nuclear waste repository to be located in the Callovo-Oxfordian formation. In the framework of this project, excavations of large diameter galleries are contemplated to access and to store intermediate-level long-lived nuclear waste at repository main level. The closure of the repository will be realized by building sealing structures of expansive material.</p><p>The response of such structures is affected by several thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled processes taking place in the near and far field of the argillaceous formations. They include the formation of an excavation induced damaged zone around the galleries, the impact of the thermal load on host rock pressures and deformations, the long-term interaction with support concrete structural elements and the hydration and swelling of sealing materials. As a result, the study of their performance requires to perform simulation works of increasing complexity in terms of coupling equations, problem geometry and material behaviour. As well, challenging computational aspects, as the ones related to fractures creation and propagation, have to be considered for a representative analysis of the problem.</p><p>This work presents advanced large scale THM numerical models to provide keys about the response of the host rock around large diameter galleries during excavation and further thermal load as well as to analyse the performance of large diameter sealing structures. Particular features of the models include on one hand advanced constitutive laws to capture the development of the fractured zone around excavations, the behaviour of host rock/gallery support interfaces and the multi-scale response of bentonitic backfill. On the other hand, simulations consider geometries including constructive details of interest at decimetre scale within large discretization domain covering the whole formation stratigraphic column.</p><p>These challenging simulations provided qualitative and quantitative results on key aspects for natural and engineered barrier integrity, like extension of the damaged zone, impact of the thermal load and water pressure variations in the surrounding geological layers, duration of natural hydration phase, swelling pressure development and seals global stability.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Wessels ◽  
Thijmen Kok ◽  
Hans van Melick ◽  
Martyn Drury

<p>Publishing research data in a Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) manner is increasingly valued and nowadays often required by publishers and funders. Because experimental research data provide the backbone for scientific publications, it is important to publish this data as FAIRly as possible to enable reuse and citation of the data, thereby increasing the impact of research.</p><p>The structural geology group at Utrecht University is collaborating with the EarthCube-funded StraboSpot initiative to develop (meta)data schemas, templates and workflows, to support researchers in collecting and publishing petrological and microstructural data. This data will be made available in a FAIR manner through the EPOS (European Plate Observing System) data publication chain <span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span>(https://epos-msl.uu.nl/</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span>)</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span>.</span></span></p><p>The data workflow under development currently includes: a) collecting structural field (meta)data compliant with the StraboSpot protocols, b) creating thin sections oriented in three dimensions by applying a notch system (Tikoff et al., 2019), c) scanning and digitizing thin sections using a high-resolution scanner, d) automated mineralogy through EDS on a SEM, and e) high-resolution geochemistry using a microprobe. The purpose of this workflow is to be able to track geochemical and structural measurements and observations throughout the analytical process.</p><p>This workflow is applied to samples from the Cap de Creus region in northeast Spain. Located in the axial zone of the Pyrenees, the pre-Cambrian metasediments underwent HT-LP greenschist- to amphibolite-facies metamorphism, are intruded by pegmatitic bodies, and transected by greenschist-facies shear zones. Cap de Creus is a natural laboratory for studying the deformation history of the Pyrenees, and samples from the region are ideal to test and refine the data workflow. In particular, the geochemical data collected under this workflow is used as input for modelling the bulk rock composition using Perple_X.    </p><p>In the near future the workflow will be complimented by adding unique identifiers to the collected samples using IGSN (International Geo Sample Number), and by incorporating a StraboSpot-developed application for microscopy-based image correlation. This workflow will be refined and included in the broader correlative microscopy workflow that will be applied in the upcoming EXCITE project, an H2020-funded European collaboration of electron and x-ray microscopy facilities and researchers aimed at structural and chemical imaging of earth materials. </p>


SPE Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Aymen Alramadhan ◽  
Yildiray Cinar

Summary In this paper, we present an experimental study that explores the potential links between the imbibition capillary pressure Pci and the pore systems and/or mineralogy for carbonate reservoirs undergoing waterflood. A systematic workflow has been formulated to ensure the data quality ofPci, minimize uncertainty in derivingPci from centrifuge tests, and analyze the data considering the pore-size distribution from mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) and mineralogy from Quantitative Evaluation of Minerals by Scanning Electron Microscopy (QEMSCAN). The workflow starts with assessing the centrifuge production data for gravity-capillary equilibrium at each speed. Then, the quality-checked data are used to generate six differentPci curves using analytical and numerical models. The resulting curves provide a measure of the variability in solutions for various rock types and assist in the selection of the most-representativePci curve. Finally, the representative Pci curves of all rock samples are analyzed together with the MICP and QEMSCAN data to examine the change in Pci curves as a result of changes in the number and character of rock types, pore systems, dominant pore-throat radii, and mineralogy. Findings from this study shed light on the impact of mineralogy and pore systems on Pci. From the mineralogy perspective, the presence of dolomite, microporous calcite, or rutile and anatase (TiO2) within the rock composition is found to affect the Pci of the carbonate samples used in this study. The rock samples with these minerals should be separated from other bimodal samples before attempting to obtain a correlation between Pci and pore systems. The data analysis further reveals that some bimodal samples of medium permeability yield a better waterflood imbibition efficiency than those of the high-permeability samples. This observation is attributed to a better communication between the micropore and macropore systems, and a closer proximity of the peak radii of the micro- and macropore systems of the medium-permeability samples.


Clay Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-375
Author(s):  
Annette Süssenberger ◽  
Solveig Pospiech ◽  
Susanne Theodora Schmidt

ABSTRACTThe [MnO|SiO2,Al2O3,FeO,MgO] balanced ratio (i.e. the isometric log-ratio of the MnO concentration relative to the concentration of SiO2, Al2O3, FeO and MgO) of chlorite and of whole-rock composition is an effective discriminant between Mesozoic stratigraphic formations in the Magallanes Basin (Chile). The MnO content in chlorite is only controlled by the host rock chemistry and is dependent on the geological environment. The MnO content in chlorite remains unchanged at low-grade metamorphic conditions. Single-grain chlorite analysis (n = 1042, electron microprobe) and whole-rock analysis (n = 40, X-ray fluorescence) were used to discriminate stratigraphic formations and to decipher differences in the depositional environment in the Magallanes Basin. The samples are from one Upper Jurassic and three Cretaceous sedimentary units that were affected either by low-grade regional metamorphism or by Miocene contact metamorphism. The highest [MnO|SiO2,Al2O3,FeO,MgO] values are recorded in the upper Zapata Formation. The Punta Barrosa, Cerro Toro and Tobífera Formations show slightly lower [MnO|SiO2,Al2O3,FeO,MgO] values. Elevated [MnO|SiO2,Al2O3,FeO,MgO] values at the transition between Zapata and Punta Barrosa Formations record an oxygenated shallow marine environment that can be linked to the closure of the Rocas Verdes Basin and the onset of fold-and-thrust belt formation. Decreasing [MnO|SiO2,Al2O3,FeO,MgO] values from the Punta Barrosa towards the Cerro Toro Formation indicate gradually increasing water depths during the Upper Cretaceous that correlate well with the global sea level.


1998 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Ashworth ◽  
V. V. Reverdatto ◽  
V. YU. kolobov ◽  
V. V. Lepetyukha ◽  
V. S. Sheplev ◽  
...  

AbstrsctIn a granulite from the Kokchetav massif, a complex mineral assemblage and intricate textures have resulted from a combination of unusual rock composition and two–stage metamorphic history. The second, contact metamorphism produced mainly cordierite and anthophyllite, reflecting a bulk composition attributed to pre–metamorphic alteration of basic igneous rock. From the first, highpressure metamorphism, garnet relics persist while another mineral has been completely pseudomorphed. The garnet is partly replaced by a symplectite of three minerals: orthopyroxene vermicules in a coarser intergrowth of cordierite and calcic plagioclase. Despite variable proportions of cordierite and plagioclase, the Al:Si ratio of the symplectite is almost constant, because the proportion of orthopyroxene is smaller where the dominant aluminous mineral is cordierite (Al:Si ≈ 0.8) than where the even more aluminous plagioclase (Al:Si ≈ 0.89) is prominent. The bulk Al:Si ratio of this symplectite, approximately 0.69, is very close to that of reactant garnet (0.66), indicating that Al and Si have been retained almost completely during the local reaction, while other elements were more mobile. In the pseudomorphs, aluminous cores (with Al:Si ratios 1.61–1.93) indicate that the mineral which has been completely replaced was probably kyanite. These cores comprise plagioclase, zoisite, corundum and spinel, and are surrounded by layers of plagioclase and cordierite. Fe, Mg, and Ca have diffused to the core, through layers with low bulk concentrations of these elements, probably by grainboundary diffusion in the solid state.


Author(s):  
Arthur Russell

Of the many small manganese deposits which have in the past been worked in both Cornwall and Devonshire that of Treburland is from the mineralogical point of view by far the most remarkable, its especial interest being due to the variety of minerals which it has afforded and to the fact that it and one other are the only manganese deposits in the west of England which are known to lie on the contact of igneous and sedimentary rocks and which have consequently been vitally affected by contact metamorphism.The following observations are based on frequent visits to the spot since the year 1906, when I first stumbled across the locality, which, strange to say, has only received very cursory mention by the Geological Survey and has altogether escaped mention in mineralogical literature.


2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazel Barton ◽  
Nicholas Taylor ◽  
Michael Kreate ◽  
Austin Springer ◽  
Stuart Oehrle ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 101-102
Author(s):  
Michael Mertineit ◽  
Michael Schramm

Abstract. For a repository of heat generating radioactive waste, the thermal behaviour of the host rock and the impact of temperature increase on rock properties is of general importance. In the German Site Selection Act (2017), the maximum temperature of the container surface is preliminarily limited to 100 ∘C but this limit might change in the future based on scientific and technological findings. Rock salt, as one of the possible host rocks, consists predominantly of halite with varying amounts of accessory minerals (e.g., Hudec and Jackson, 2007); however, some lithological units within a salt deposit, e.g. potash seams, show a different mineralogical composition with high amounts of potash minerals. Most of them are not very stable regarding temperature resistance and stress, contain water in the crystal lattice, and therefore react sensitively to changes in the environment. The melting point of most evaporated minerals is higher than the expected temperatures in a repository but dehydration and partial melting might occur at relevant temperatures, depending on the confining pressure. For example, the temperature of dehydration of carnallite is ca. 80 ∘C at 0.1 MPa confining pressure but increases to ca. 145 ∘C at 10 MPa confining pressure (Kern and Franke, 1986). The melting point of carnallite increases from ca. 145∘C/8MPa to ca. 167∘C/24MPa, which corresponds to a depth of ca. 1000 m. Depending on the mineral paragenesis and composition of saline solutions, different minerals develop with increasing temperature. For instance, a salt rock with an initial composition of kieserite + kainite + carnallite + solution R (25 ∘C) reacts solely to kieserite and solution R, when the temperature increases to 78 ∘C. A rock with a composition of kieserite + carnallite + bischofite + solution Z (25 ∘C) reacts to kieserite + carnallite from 25 to 50 ∘C, from 50 to 73 ∘C only kieserite is stable, and at temperatures >73 ∘C kieserite and bischofite develop (Usdowski and Dietzel, 1998). For the construction of an underground repository, the mineralogical composition of the host rocks and fluids have to be evaluated carefully and play an important role for the site selection and design of the underground facility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
A. V. Spirina ◽  

The article presents the impact of contact metamorphism on the ores of the large Novo-Uchaly Cu-Zn massive sulfide deposit (South Urals) as well as structural features of the contact zone and change in mineral composition of the ore and dikes. The study of contact metamorphism is also of practical interest because the ores are enriched in precious metals and rare elements in the local contact areas. The author together with geologists from the Uchaly Mining and Processing Plant carried out a geological and mineralogical mapping of the deposit (underground mine). The analytical studies were based on using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The results of detailed geological mapping are as follows: the thick gabbro-diorite dike is alterated by chloritization, hematitization and silicification, and contains quartz-carbonate-sulfide veinlets. The exocontact zones are usually thin, with thickness less than 10 cm, rarely reach 2 m. The signs of the contact metamorphism of the ores: cataclasis, recrystallization of sulfides; the appearance of the increased amount of rare minerals (magnetite, fahlore, galena); violation of the geochemical zoning caused by local redistribution of chemical elements. These factors characterize the ore transformation by the processes — local contact metamorphism and the subsequent hydrothermal mineralization caused by the remobilization of the ore substance.


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