Quantitative estimates of metamorphic equilibria: Tallassee synform, Dadeville belt, Alabama's Inner Piedmont

Conference · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:5951225

Drummond, M S; Neilson, M J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham, AL (United States). Dept. of Geology

The Tallassee synform is the major structural feature in the western part of the Dadeville belt. This megascopic F2 structure folds amphibolite (Ropes Creek Amphibolite) and metasedimentary units (Agricola Schist, AS), as well as tonalitic (Camp Hill Gneiss, CHG), granitic (Chattasofka Creek Gneiss, CCG), and mafic-ultramafic plutons (Doss Mt. and Slaughters suites). Acadian-age prograde regional metamorphism preceded the F2 folding event, producing the pervasive S1 foliation and metamorphic recrystallization. Prograde mineralogy in the metapelites and metagraywackes of the AS includes garnet, biotite, muscovite, plagioclase, kyanite, sillimanite, and epidote. The intrusive rocks, both felsic and mafic-ultramafic, are occasionally garnetiferous and provide suitable mineral assemblages for P-T evaluation. The AS yields a range of T-P from 512--635C and 5.1--5.5 kb. Muscovite from the AS exhibits an increase in Ti content from 0.07 to 0.15 Ti/22 O formula unit with progressively increasing T's from 512 to 635C. This observation is consistent with other studies that show increasing Ti content with increasing grade. A CHG sample records an average metamorphic T-P of 604C and 5.79 kb. Hornblende-garnet pairs from a Doss Mt. amphibolite sample provides an average metamorphic T of 607C. These data are consistent with regional Barrovian-type middle to upper amphibolite facies metamorphism for the Tallassee synform. Peak metamorphism is represented by kyanite-sillimanite zone conditions and localized migmatization of the AS. The lithotectonic belts bounding the Dadeville belt to the NW and SE are the eastern Blue Ridge and Opelika belts. Studies have shown that these belts have also experienced Acadian-age amphibolite facies metamorphism with comparable P-T estimates to those presented here. These data suggest that the eastern Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont of AL experienced the same pervasive dynamothermal Barrovian-type metamorphic episode during Acadian orogenesis.

• OSTI ID: 5951225
• Report Number(s): CONF-9304188--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 25:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ALABAMA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
METALS
METAMORPHISM
MINERALOGY
NORTH AMERICA
PLUTONIC ROCKS
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
ROCKS
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA