University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations Dissertations and Theses Spring 5-16-2014 Contact Zone Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Mt. Mica Pegmatite, Oxford County, Maine Kimberly T. Clark University of New Orleans, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td Part of the Geochemistry Commons, and the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Clark, Kimberly T., "Contact Zone Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Mt. Mica Pegmatite, Oxford County, Maine" (2014). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1786. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1786 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights- holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Contact Zone Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Mt. Mica Pegmatite, Oxford County, Maine A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of New Orleans in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Earth and Environmental Science By Kimberly T. Clark B.S. University of New Orleans, 2011 May, 2014 © 2014, Kimberly T. Clark ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A special thank you goes to the owner and operator of Mt. Mica Mine, Gary Freeman. Such research would not have been possible without his generosity. Sincere gratitude goes to the University of New Orleans Earth and Environmental Science Department for allowing the opportunity to serve as a Teaching Assistant and for partial financial support for conducting this research. Deepest appreciation goes to the MP2 research lab for conducting quality analytical analyses and providing excellent quantitative guidance. This thesis is the product of several years of work which could not have been possible without the support, cooperation, and the numerous discussions with my office mates; Andrew P. Boudreaux, Karen L. Marchal, Leah R. Grassi, Christopher M. Johnson, John D. Guidry, Sasha T. Kreinik, and Myles Felch. The author is forever grateful to Dr. William Simmons, Mr. Alexander Falster, and Dr. Karen Webber whose support, direction and extreme patience has made this work possible and has taught me so much more than what is encompassed in this work. It has been a great honor and privilege serving as your graduate student. The author pledges undying gratitude to Marshal Simon, whose love, devotion, and encouragement prompted and sustained her through this exhaustive process. iii Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. viii Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... ix Introduction .....................................................................................................................................1 Purpose of Study .................................................................................................................1 Location of Study Area .......................................................................................................4 Previous Work ....................................................................................................................5 General Geology .............................................................................................................................8 Host Rock Type ................................................................................................................12 Methodology .................................................................................................................................13 Field Methods ...................................................................................................................13 Thin Sections ....................................................................................................................16 Titration .............................................................................................................................17 Fusion ICP ........................................................................................................................19 DCP ...................................................................................................................................20 SEM ..................................................................................................................................21 EMP ..................................................................................................................................24 Mineralogy ....................................................................................................................................26 Mica ..................................................................................................................................26 Muscovite ..................................................................................................................28 Biotite ........................................................................................................................34 Garnet .................................................................................................................................42 Tourmaline .........................................................................................................................46 Plagioclase .........................................................................................................................52 Amphibole..........................................................................................................................53 Apatite ................................................................................................................................57 Minor Components ...........................................................................................................59 Biotite - Garnet Thermometry .......................................................................................................61 Oxygen Fugacity ...........................................................................................................................63 Whole Rock Rare Earth Element (REE) Analysis ........................................................................65 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................67 iv References .....................................................................................................................................70 Appendix 1 ....................................................................................................................................73 Previous Studies on Exomorphism ...................................................................................73 Pegmatites of Black Hills, South Dakota ...........................................................................74 Edison Pegmatite ...............................................................................................................76 Tanco Pegmatite ................................................................................................................77 Appendix 2 ....................................................................................................................................78 Fusion ICP Trace Element Detection Limits ....................................................................78 EMP Analysis of Muscovite .............................................................................................79 EMP Analysis of Biotite ....................................................................................................86 EMP Analysis of Garnet ....................................................................................................96 EMP Analysis of Tourmaline ..........................................................................................100 EMP Analysis of Plagioclase ...........................................................................................103 Additional EMP Analysis of Amphibole .........................................................................109 Additional EMP Analysis of Ilmenite..............................................................................111 Garnet-Biotite Thermometer ............................................................................................115 Whole Rock REE Analysis ..............................................................................................116 Vita ..............................................................................................................................................117 v LIST OF FIGURES