Field and Microstructural Observations from the Capilla Peak Area, Manzano Mountains, Central New Mexico
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NEWMEXICOGEOLOGY ISSN 0196-948X Volume 22, No. 3, August 2000 Science and Service Field and microstructural observations from the Capilla Peak area, Manzano Mountains, central New Mexico by Joseph R. Marcoline, Steven Ralser*, and Laurel B. Goodwin, Department of Earth and Environmental Science,New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 *Corresponding author ([email protected]) In New Mexico, the timing of deformation events is generally constrained to be con- temporaneous with or younger than plu- tonism associated with crustal accretion at 1,750–1,650 Ma and older than the compar- atively undeformed 1,400–1,450 Ma plu- tons. The timing of regional deformation has, in the past, generally been considered to accompany accretion of the continental crust at ca 1.65 Ga (e.g. Karlstrom and Bowring, 1988; Bauer and Williams, 1994), with only minor deformation accompany- ing metamorphism and pluton emplace- ment at ca 1.4 Ga. However, more recent observations have shown that deformation at ca 1.4 Ga is extensive and regional in nature, often completely overprinting the structures associated with deformation at 1.65 Ga (Lanzirotti et al., 1996; Marcoline et al., 1999; Williams et al., 1999; Ralser, 2000). Locally, the timing of individual defor- mation events can be more accurately tied down. In central New Mexico the timing of deformation can be constrained in a num- ber of areas. In the Magdalena Mountains, for instance, Bauer and Williams (1994) demonstrated deformation at ca 1,660 Ma. In the Manzano Mountains (Fig. 1), two phases of deformation are constrained to FIGURE 1— Capilla Peak area, Manzano Mountains, central New Mexico. be younger than the 1,656 ± 10 Ma Monte Largo granodiorite (U/Pb zircon, Bauer et al., 1993), which is strongly deformed. The facies conditions. Kinematic indicators asso- Abstract comparatively undeformed 1,427 ± 10 Ma ciated with the S2 foliation (e.g. S-C surfaces, Proterozoic rocks in the Capilla Peak area porphyroclast systems) dominantly indicate preserve evidence, at all scales, for multiple an east-side-up sense of shear. A minority (ca deformation events. The dominant north- 5%) record a west-side-up sense of shear. Also in this issue northeast-striking, east-dipping foliation (S2), This variation in sense-of-shear indicators is New Mexico Science Fair Bureau award with a downdip mineral lineation, overprints interpreted to suggest a strain history that winners p. 64 an older foliation. In schists and metarhyo- reflects general shear (simple shear plus flat- 2001 NMGS Fall Field Trip call for papers p. 65 lites, S2 is a crenulation cleavage, whereas in tening strain). The Proterozoic rocks exposed Rockhound State Park p. 66 quartzites, S2 is a mylonitic fabric. Two gen- in the Capilla Peak area are interpreted to harles H. Maxwell (1923–2000) p. 72 erations of amphibole are preserved in represent a part of a large, lower amphibolite C amphibolites, an older, core-forming actino- facies, ductile shear zone, which was active Thesis abstracts p. 75 lite and a younger hornblende. The horn- at ca 1.4 Ga. Geographic names p. 85 blende defines the S2 foliation. Book review p. 86 Microstructures in the quartzite mylonites Introduction Service/News p. 87 vary from fine grained and equigranular to Upcoming meetings p. 88 monocrystalline ribbons. All quartzite mylo- The Proterozoic tectonic history of the nites have a strong c-axis crystallographic southwestern United States is complex, Coming soon preferred orientation. The quartzite mylonite with deformation and/or metamorphic Oil and gas activities in 1999 microfabric and the presence of hornblende events occurring at ca 1.65 Ga, 1.4 Ga, and in the amphibolites indicate that deforma- Geologic history, stratigraphy, and paleontology of 1.0 Ga (Karlstrom and Bowring, 1988; SAM Cave, north-central New Mexico tion associated with D2 occurred under upper greenschist to lower amphibolite Grambling et al., 1989; Heizler et al., 1997). Manzano Mountains State Park ter understand the it crops out as a discrete 3-m-wide shear character and signifi- zone. S cance of 1.4 Ga defor- The Sevilleta Metarhyolite (Stark and T M mation in New Mex- Dapples, 1946), is exposed predominately Taos A ico. This area strad- on the east side of the range in the Capilla e I d n D a lt dles the northern Peak area (Fig. 3). The metarhyolite is pink r Santa Fe N u G a Albuquerque Sandia A f extent of the Monte to brown, well foliated, and lineated. In granite S s Largo shear zone lower strain areas, the metarhyolite con- Socorro ra (MLSZ; Bauer, 1983; tains 1–2 mm equidimensional quartz and ije NEW MEXICO T Thompson et al., feldspar phenocrysts. Amphibolite layers io R . 1991), which sepa- (1–20 m wide and 400 m long) occur with- S Las Cruces T N rates lower amphibo- in the Sevilleta Metarhyolite and are inter- M 35° lite facies rocks in the preted to be deformed and metamor- south from upper phosed early mafic dikes (Stark and Dap- A T greenschist facies ples, 1946). The amphibolites are petrolog- Manzanita I N rocks to the north ically complex, containing two amphibole pluton A Z (Thompson et al., phases, hornblende and actinolite, along N 1991, 1996). with plagioclase, biotite, quartz, epidote, A M and minor amounts of titanite and Fe–Ti Ojita pluton Location and oxides. The mineral assemblages in differ- ent amphibolites all indicate formation . regional geology S under amphibolite grade conditions Area of The Manzano Moun- MT (Marcoline et al., 1999). Fig. 3 Capilla Peak tains are an eastward- The stratigraphic relationships between tilted fault block com- these units are unclear, although it is O Monte Largo N posed primarily of shear zone A Z Proterozoic metasedi- N Monte Largo A mentary, metavolcan- M e pluton ic, and plutonic rocks. NEW MEXICO d Manzano The mountain range n Monte Largo a Peak is approximately 70 r Canyon GEOLOGY G km long and 15 km Science and Service wide and defines the ISSN 0196-948X t eastern margin of the l Volume 22, No. 3, August 2000 u ° a Rio Grande rift be- o Priest pluton f 34 30' i tween the Manzanita Editors: Jane C. Love, Nancy S. Gilson, R Abo Pass a Mountains and Abo Bonnie Frey, and Susan Voss tos Cartographers: Kathryn E. Glesener and Leo Gabaldon n Pass (Fig. 2). The o EDITORIAL BOARD M study area is in the James M. Barker, NMBMMR, Chair . Los Pinos S central Manzano Steve M. Cather, NMBMMR T Thomas Giordano, NMSU pluton M Mountains, located Laurel B. Goodwin, NMIMT 10 mi between Capilla Peak Barry S. Kues, UNM S 0 Larry Crumpler, NMMNHS O and Trigo Canyon IN 10 km P 0 (Figs. 2, 3). Published quarterly by New Mexico Bureau of Mines and S Three major litho- LO 106°30' Mineral Resources logic units are recog- a division of New Mexico Institute of nized in the Capilla Mining and Technology FIGURE 2—Location map, showing simplified geology of the Manzano Peak area (Stark, BOARD OF REGENTS Mountains (modified from Bauer et al., 1993). Ex-Officio 1956; Stark and Gary Johnson, Governor of New Mexico Dapples, 1946; Michael S. Davis, Superintendent of Public Instruction Priest pluton (U/Pb zircon, Bauer et al., Appointed 1993) is interpreted to have intruded late Reiche, 1949; Bauer, 1982): the Blue Springs Randall E. Horn, Pres., 1997–2003, Albuquerque Schist, the Whiterock quartzite, and the Kathryn E. Wavrik, Student Mem., Sec./Treas., syntectonic to the younger phase of defor- 1999–2000, Socorro mation. This interpretation is supported by Sevilleta Metarhyolite. The Blue Springs Ann Murphy Daily, 1999–2004, Santa Fe the presence of a strongly deformed gra- Schist is composed of intensely folded Sidney M. Gutierrez, 1997–2001, Albuquerque Robert E. Taylor, 1997–2003, Silver City nitic dike that has a U/Pb age of 1,438 ± 6 metasiltstones, phyllites, and muscovite- Ma (Ralser et al., 1997). Detailed 40Ar/39Ar chlorite schists (Stark 1956; Bauer 1982). New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology geochronologic studies in the Capilla Peak Boudinaged quartzites within the Blue President . Daniel H. López area, in the central Manzano Mountains Springs Schist are now interpreted as New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources (Fig. 2), also suggest that the dominant transposed sedimentary layers but were Director and State Geologist . Peter A. Scholle structural fabric formed during 1.4 Ga tec- initially believed to be saddle reefs (Stark, Subscriptions: Issued quarterly, February, May, August, November; 1956). subscription price $10.00/calendar year. tonism (Marcoline, 1996; Marcoline et al., Editorial Matter: Articles submitted for publication should be in the 1996, 1999). Localized deformation in the The Whiterock quartzite consists of a editor’s hands a minimum of five (5) months before date of pub- series of quartzite mylonites interlayered lication (February, May, August, or November) and should be no Priest pluton is related to the Grenville longer than 20 typewritten, double-spaced pages. All scientific orogeny at ca 1,000 Ma (Heizler et al., with rocks of the Blue Springs Schist and papers will be reviewed by at least two people in the appropriate 1997). Sevilleta Metarhyolite. These quartzite field of study. Address inquiries to Jane C. Love, Editor of New mylonites represent localized high-strain Mexico Geology, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral In this paper, we summarize structural Resources, Socorro, New Mexico 87801-4796. relationships and deformation conditions zones within a larger deformation zone Published as public domain, therefore reproducible without permis- in the Proterozoic rocks in the Capilla Peak (Marcoline, 1996). In Monte Largo Canyon sion. Source credit requested. area. Our goal is to document the structur- these quartzite mylonites define the MLSZ Circulation: 1,000 al relationships in this area in order to bet- (Bauer, 1983; Thompson et al., 1991), where Printer: University of New Mexico Printing Services 58 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGY August 2000 to 50° and dips varying from 60° to 90° southeast.