The initiation and development of metamorphic foliation in the Otago Schist, Part 2: Evidence from quartz grain-shape data AARON STALLARD,1 DAVID SHELLEY1 AND STEVE REDDY2 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand (
[email protected]) 2Tectonics Special Research Centre, Dept. of Applied Geology, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA 6845, Australia ABSTRACT Shape, size and orientation measurements of quartz grains sampled along two transects that cross zones of increasing metamorphic grade in the Otago Schist, New Zealand, reveal the role of quartz in the progressive development of metamorphic foliation. Sedimentary compaction and diagenesis contributed little to forming a shape preferred orientation (SPO) within the analysed samples. Metamorphic foliation was initiated at sub-greenschist facies conditions as part of a composite S1- bedding structure parallel to the axial planes of tight to isoclinal F1 folds. An important component of this foliation is a pronounced quartz SPO that formed dominantly by the effect of dissolution- precipitation creep on detrital grains in association with F1 strain. With increasing grade, the following trends are evident from the SPO data: (i) a progressive increase in the aspect ratio of grains in sections parallel to lineation, and the development of blade-shaped grains; (ii) the early development of a strong shape preferred orientation so that blade lengths define the linear aspect of the foliation (lineation) and the intermediate axes of the blades define a partial girdle about the lineation; (iii) a slight thinning and reduction in volume of grains in the one transect; (iv) an actual increase in thickness and volume in the survivor grains of the second transect.