Geology topics

P.I. Nabelek

Publications and source records attributed to P.I. Nabelek.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1987

Petrogenesis of gabbronorite at Yakobi and northwest Chichagof Islands, Alaska

On Yakobi Island and at Mirror Harbor on the northwest coast of Chichagof Island, gabbronorite occurs as irregular bodies, as much as 5.5 km in maximum dimension, mostly within a 40 to 43 m.y. composite pluton consisting largely of tonalite. The gab-bronorites are the host rocks for a magmatic nickel-copper sulfide deposit consisting predominantly of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite. The gabbronorites characteristically have more orthopyroxene than augite and have a significant amount of hornblende. Rock types mapped as gabbronorite range from hornblende pyroxenite to hornblende-pyroxene gabbronorite to quartz-bearing norite and gabbronorite. The tonalite pluton is composed of hornblende diorite, biotite-hornblende diorite, hornblende quartz diorite, biotite-hornblende tonalite, and biotite granodiorite. Contacts between types of gabbronorite are generally gradational on a scale of centimetres to metres; contacts between gabbronorite and the tonalite pluton are gradational on a scale of metres to tens of metres. Rock textures, pyroxene-hornblende relations, and rock and mineral chemistry of the gabbronorites show systematic changes as the gabbronorites grade into the tonalites. The field, petrographic, and chemical data, including trace-element abundances, of the gabbronorites and tonalite pluton rocks can best be explained by either (1) crystallization of gabbronorite from a tholeiitic magma with subsequent assimilation by tonalite that was simultaneously undergoing fractional crystallization or (2) fractional crystallization of a quartz diorite parent magma yielding the range of gabbronorites and tonalite pluton rocks.

Geological Society of America Bulletin↗

USGS1984

Contrasting fluid/rock interaction between the Notch Peak granitic intrusion and argillites and limestones in western Utah: evidence from stable isotopes and phase assemblages

The Jurassic Notch Peak granitic stock, western Utah, discordantly intrudes Cambrian interbedded pure limestones and calcareous argillites. Contact metamorphosed argillite and limestone samples, collected along traverses away from the intrusion, were analyzed for ??18O, ??13C, and ??D. The ??13C and ??18O values for the limestones remain constant at about 0.5 (PDB) and 20 (SMOW), respectively, with increasing metamorphic grade. The whole rock ??18O values of the argillites systematically decrease from 19 to as low as 8.1, and the ??13C values of the carbonate fraction from 0.5 to -11.8. The change in ??13C values can be explained by Rayleigh decarbonation during calcsilicate reactions, where calculated {Mathematical expression} is about 4.5 permil for the high-grade samples and less for medium and low-grade samples suggesting a range in temperatures at which most decarbonation occurred. However, the amount of CO2 released was not anough to decrease the whole rock ??18O to the values observed in the argillites. The low ??18O values close to the intrusion suggest interaction with magmatic water that had a ??18O value of 8.5. The extreme lowering of ??13C by fractional devolatilization and the lowering of ??18O in argillites close to the intrusion indicates oxgen-equivalent fluid/rock ratios in excess of 1.0 and X(CO2)F of the fluid less than 0.2. Mineral assemblages in conjunction with the isotopic data indicate a strong influence of water infiltration on the reaction relations in the argillites and separate fluid and thermal fronts moving thru the argillites. The different stable isotope relations in limestones and argillites attest to the importance of decarbonation in the enhancement of permeability. The flow of fluids was confined to the argillite beds (argillite aquifers) whereas the limestones prevented vertical fluid flow and convective cooling of the stock. ?? 1984 Springer-Verlag.

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology↗

USGS1983

Vapor phase exsolution as a controlling factor in hydrogen isotope variation in granitic rocks: the Notch Peak granitic stock, Utah

The Notch Peak granitic stock, western Utah, is comprised of three concentric sequentially intruded rock types, from granite at the rim, to quartz monzonite I, to quartz monzonite II at the core. The δ 18 O values of whole rocks vary about an average of 9.4 (SMOW), irrespective of the rock type and position relative to contact, suggesting that the three magmas had the same parent. The whole rock δD values in the stock range from −100 to −55. δD values increase toward the cores of both quartz monzonite I and quartz monzonite II, resulting in concentric contours. The δD contours of quartz monzonite II cross-cut those of quartz monzonite I, suggesting little isotopic interaction between these bodies and the absence of a late pervasive fluid phase. There is a positive correlation between δD values and water content of the samples, where samples from each body define a distinct field. The positive correlation is explained by isotopic fractionation attendant on vapor exsolution from the crystallizing magma. An observed increase in δD with the degree of chloritization, a trend opposite to that observed in systems where participation of meteoric water has been demonstrated, is the result of subsolidus interaction with the exsolved fluids. These results show that large variations in the hydrogen isotope ratios of a granitoid can arise by exsolution of a vapor phase from the melt on crystallization. In general, magmas with larger modal amount of primary hydrous phases will tend to have higher δD values than those with small amounts of hydrous phases. Furthermore, the relatively high δD values of chlorites at Notch Peak confirm the applicability of classical concepts of closed-system deuteric alteration to some granitoid bodies. Thus, meteoric water interaction need not be always invoked to explain hydrogen isotope variation and deuteric alteration in granitoids.

Earth and Planetary Science Letters↗