Metamorphosed melange in the central Piedmont of South Carolina

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/629340· OSTI ID:7135907

Mittwede, S K; Maybin, III, A H ^[1]

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1. South Carolina Geological Survey, Columbia (USA)

The Enoree melange is exposed in the central Piedmont of South Carolina near the boundary between the Piedmont and Carolina terranes. The melange is composed of ultramafic and mafic blocks in a highly deformed matrix of biotite-feldspar-quartz gneiss which has a composition consistent with a felsic-to-intermediate volcanic precursor. The mafic and ultramafic blocks are separated chemically and petrographically into four compositional groups: metagabbro-clinopyroxenite, websterite, orthopyroxenite, and metasomatized (steatitized) orthopyroxenite. Based on their chemistry and mineralogy, the blocks are clearly exotic relative to their metavolcaniclastic( ) matrix and likely originated as parts of a plutonic suite from the basal or forward part of the Carolina arc terrane. If the Piedmont terrane-Carolina terrane boundary is a continent-arc suture, then the Enoree melange probably formed in the accretionary prism at this convergent margin. The matrix gneisses are interpreted as reworked volcanic debris shed by the Carolina arc terrane edifice and accumulated as graywacke in the accretionary deposits. West-vergent structures in the matrix suggest that the melange was emplaced to its present tectonostratigraphic position either during docking of the Carolina terrane or during widespread Alleghenian thrusting.

• OSTI ID: 7135907
• Journal Information: Journal of Geology; (USA), Vol. 97:5; ISSN 0022-1376
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERALOGY
SOUTH CAROLINA
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
DEPOSITION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
METAMORPHISM
MINERALS
ORIGIN
STRATIGRAPHY
VOLCANIC ROCKS
CHEMISTRY
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences