Metamorphic hydrology at 13 km depth and 400/sup 0/-550/sup 0/C

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6643136

Ferry, J M

The pattern of metamorphic fluid flow through six large outcrops of regionally metamorphosed impure carbonate rock from a single stratigraphic unit in south-central Maine was determined by quantitative measurement of the progress of the prograde devolatilization reactions. With reference to adjacent pelitic schists, the outcrops are located in the chlorite, biotite, garnet, staurolite-andalusite, and sillimanite zones. Two components of flow were detected: a pervasive component and a channelized component. In the chlorite, biotite, and garnet zones fluid flow was highly channelized along bedding with enhanced flow occurring within the more impure carbonate layers that acted as metamorphic aquifers. A smaller amount of pervasive background flow also occurred within the intervening more impure carbonate layers that acted as metamorphic aquifers. A smaller amount of pervasive background flow also occurred within the intervening more pure carbonate layers that acted as metamorphic aquitards. Fluid-rock ratios differ between aquifers and aquitards by a factor greater than 50 over distances of 1 mm or less at grades lower than the staurolite-andalusite zone. Two generalization can be made about the affect of metamorphic grade on patterns of fluid flow: with increasing grade (1) flow becomes less channelized and more pervasive and (b) the average time-integrated fluid flux for a whole outcrop increases. Patterns of metamorphic fluid flow may be rationalized in terms of a model for reaction-enhanced permeability.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6643136
• Report Number(s): CONF-8510489-
• Journal Information: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CARBONATE ROCKS
METAMORPHISM
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
FLUID FLOW
MAINE
BIOTITE
CHLORITE MINERALS
GARNETS
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROLOGY
MINERALOGY
SCHISTS
CHEMISTRY
FEDERAL REGION I
FLUIDS
KINETICS
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MICA
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
USA
580400* - Geochemistry- (-1989)
580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)