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Title: Rock deformation in hydrothermal systems: the nature of fractures in plutons and their host rocks. Technical progress report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5718987· OSTI ID:5718987

The purpose of this program is to accumulate the types of field data which are important for the analysis of magma-hydrothermal systems. The structural effects of thermal processes were identified in order to distinguish the thermally induced deformations from the deformations that occurred subsequent to complete cooling of the system. Mapping techniques were developed to record the structural data on the ground from local domains characteristic of larger areas in the magma chamber, and in the air from low-angle oblique aerial photography of the entire region. The ground system is complete and preliminary testing is currently being carried out to verify the method. The results indicate that granitic crystalline rocks have no structural resistance to thermal perturbations. If nuclear wastes are to be stored in granite, precautionary buffers would have to be incorporated into the system. A total of 30 fossil magma chambers have been studied over the past 2 years. An extensive set of fracture imagery has been collected, together with information related to the geological history of the plutons. Fossil magma chambers in Arizona, Utah, California, Washington, Montana, and British Columbia have been studied.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-81ER10842
OSTI ID:
5718987
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/10842-1; ON: DE82005301; TRN: 82-007000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English