The control of deformation partitioning and strain localization on porphyroblast behaviour in rocks and experiments

Bell, Timothy H., Sanislav, Ioan V., and Sapkota, Jyotindra (2018) The control of deformation partitioning and strain localization on porphyroblast behaviour in rocks and experiments. Geosciences Journal, 22 (1). pp. 65-77.

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View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-017-0030-...
 
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Abstract

Multiple generations of sub-vertical and sub-horizontal foliations preserved as inclusion trails in garnet in mylonitic rocks from the hanging wall of the Main Central Thrust in the Himalayas indicate that these porphyroblasts did not rotate during thrusting. This result is predicated by (i) a consistent succession of 5 changes in FIA trend (foliation inflection/intersection axes in porphyroblasts) for samples where the orientation changes from porphyroblast cores to rims; (ii) sub-vertical and sub-horizontal foliations occur as inclusion trails around each of the 5 FIAs in the succession, which would not be the case if the garnet porphyroblasts rotated during subsequent phases of deformation as tectonism continued; (iii) a change in inclusion trail asymmetry immediately prior to the commencement of mylonitzation indicates top to the south thrusting only if the porphyroblasts had not rotated as they grew; (iv) the latter asymmetry matches truncated crenulation relics preserved within the mylonitic matrix foliation that indicate top to the south thrusting as the latter foliation formed. Partitioning of deformation into shortening and shearing components stops rotation of porphyroblasts during their growth and during following periods of ductile tectonism. This can be replicated via computer modelling by duplicating the crenulation-hinge-like coaxial environment in which porphyroblasts nucleate and grow before the strain intensifies. This was done using Drucker-Prager constitutive models with temperature-dependent strain softening behaviour and resulted in no porphyroblast rotation when followed by non-coaxial deformation no matter how intense. Furthermore, strain localization in the model containing competent objects of variable size, shape and orientation, produced no rotation during deformation involving components of shortening and shearing. These approaches to modelling mechanically resolve the sub-vertical/sub-horizontal foliations defined by inclusion trails and consistent FIA trend successions obtained from the Main Central Thrust rocks as well as in orogens elsewhere.

Item ID: 47906
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1598-7477
Keywords: porphyroblast non-rotation, inclusion trails, microstructures, sub-vertical and sub-horizontal foliations
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Photographs of andalusite and staurolite porphyroblasts with excellent inclusion trails, which have been very carefully traced onto different layers for each deformation event, are available for downloading at very high resolution from http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/44686/ (see the Related URL)

Funders: James Cook University (JCU)
Date Deposited: 28 Mar 2017 22:41
FoR Codes: 37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370503 Igneous and metamorphic petrology @ 50%
37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3705 Geology > 370511 Structural geology and tectonics @ 50%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970104 Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences @ 100%
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