Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:56:11.509Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The sillimanite zones of the Huntly-Portsoy area in the north-east Dalradian, Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

J. R. Ashworth
Affiliation:
Department of PhysicsUniversity of EssexWivenhoe ParkColchester

Summary

The distribution of andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite in an important part of the NE Dalradian is mapped. Sillimanite represents a late episode overprinted on the regional Andalusite and Kyanite Zones. The spatial distribution of sillimanite confirms that the heat source for the sillimanite-grade metamorphism in this area was the Newer (or Younger) Basic magma. The sillimanitic aureole of the Newer Basic intrusives is divisible into a Sillimanite Zone and a higher-grade Sillimanite—potash feldspar Zone. Relict andalusite is common in the Sillimanite Zone. Coarse muscovite replacing other minerals is primary in both zones, and should not be confused with late retrograde effects. Electron-probe analytical data on the Sillimanite–potash feldspar zone paragenesis of muscovite are presented. In this, its type area, the so-called ‘Boyne Line’ does not exist; the concept of such a tectonic dislocation arose through misinterpretation of the metamorphic effects.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashworth, J. R. 1972. Myrmekites of exsolution and replacement origins. Geol. Mag. 109, 4562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrow, G. 1892. On certain gneisses with round-grained oligoclase and their relation to pegmatite. Geol. Mag. 9, 64–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrow, G. 1893. On an intrusion of muscovite–biotite gneiss in the south-eastern Highlands of Scotland, and its accompanying metamorphism. Q. Jl geol. Soc. Lond. 49, 330–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrow, G. 1912. On the geology of Lower Deeside and the southern Highland Border. Proc. Geol. Ass. 23, 274–90.Google Scholar
Billings, M. P. 1942. Structural Geology. Prentice-Hall, New York.Google Scholar
Butler, B. C. M. 1967. Chemical study of minerals from the Moine Schists of the Ardnamurchan area, Argyllshire, Scotland. J. Petrology 8, 233–67.Google Scholar
Cameron, W. E. & Ashworth, J. R. 1972. Fibrolite and its relationship to sillimanite. Nature phys. Sci. 235, 134–6.Google Scholar
Carmichael, D. M. 1969. On the mechanism of prograde metamorphic reactions in quartz-bearing pelitic rocks. Contr. Miner. Petrology 34, 288303.Google Scholar
Chinner, G. A. 1961. The origin of sillimanite in Glen Clova, Angus. J. Petrology 2, 312–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chinner, G. A. 1962. Almandine in thermal aureoles. J. Petrology 3, 316–40.Google Scholar
Chinner, G. A. 1966. The distribution of pressure and temperature during Dalradian metamorphism. Q. Jl geol. Soc. Lond. 122, 159–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cipriani, C., Sassi, F. P. & Scolari, A. 1971. Metamorphic white micas: definition of paragenetic fields. Schweiz. miner. petrogr. Mitt. 51, 259302.Google Scholar
Dewey, J. F. & Pankhurst, R. J. 1970. The evolution of the Scottish Caledonides in relation to their isotopic age pattern. Trans. R. Soc. Edinb. 68, 361–89.Google Scholar
Evans, B. W. & Guidotti, C. V. 1966. The sillimanite-potash feldspar isograd in western Maine, U.S.A. Contr. Miner. Petrology 12, 2562.Google Scholar
Fettes, D. J. 1970. The structural and metamorphic state of the Dalradian rocks and their bearing on the age of emplacement of the basic sheet. Scott. J. Geol. 6, 108–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grant, J. A. & Weiblen, P. W. 1971. Retrograde zoning in garnet near the second sillimanite isograd. Am. J. Sci. 270, 281–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gribble, C. D. 1967. The basic intrusive rocks of Caledonian age of the Haddo House and Arnage districts, Aberdeenshire. Scott. J. Geol. 3, 125–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gribble, C. D. 1970. The role of partial fusion in the genesis of certain cordierite-bearing rocks. Scott. J. Geol. 6, 7582.Google Scholar
Guidotti, C. V. 1963. Metamorphism of the pelitic schists in the Bryant Pond Quadrangle, Maine. Am. Miner. 48, 772–91.Google Scholar
Guidotti, C. V. 1969. A comment on ‘Chemical study of minerals from the Moine Schists of the Ardnamurchan area, Argyllshire, Scotland’, by B. C. M. Butler, and its implications for the phengite problem. J. Petrology 10, 164–70.Google Scholar
Guidotti, C. V. 1970. The mineralogy and petrology of the transition from the lower to upper sillimanite zone in the Oquossoc area, Maine. J. Petrology 11, 277336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guidotti, C. V. 1973. Compositional variation of muscovite as a function of metamorphic grade and assemblage in metapelites from N. W. Maine. Contr. Miner. Petrology 42, 3342.Google Scholar
Johnson, M. R. W. 1962. Relations of movement and metamorphism in the Dalradians of Banffshire. Trans. Edinb, geol. Soc. 19, 2964.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, M. R. W. 1963. Some time relations of movement and metamorphism in the Scottish Highlands. Geologie Mijnb. 42, 121–42.Google Scholar
Johnstone, G. S. 1966. British Regional Geology: the Grampian Highlands (3rd ed.). H.M.S.O., Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Kwak, T. A. P. 1971. The selective replacement of the aluminium silicates by white mica. Contr. Miner. Petrology 32, 193210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambert, R. St J. 1959. The mineralogy and metamorphism of the Moine schists of the Morar and Knoydart districts of Inverness-shire. Trans. R. Soc. Edinb. 63, 553–88.Google Scholar
Munro, M. 1970. A re-assessment of the ‘younger’ basic igneous rocks between Huntly and Portsoy based on new borehole evidence. Scott. J. Geol. 6, 4152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pankhurst, R. J. 1970. The geochronology of the basic igneous complexes. Scott. J. Geol. 6, 83107.Google Scholar
Pankhurst, R. J. 1974. Rb–Sr whole-rock chronology of Caledonian events in northeast Scotland. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 85, 345–50.Google Scholar
Read, H. H. 1923. The geology of the country around Banff, Huntly and Turriff. Mem. geol. Surv. Scotl. for Sheets 86 and 96.Google Scholar
Read, H. H. 1952. Metamorphism and migmatization in the Ythan Valley, Aberdeen-shire. Trans. Edinb. geol. Soc. 15, 265–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Read, H. H. 1955. The Banff Nappe; an interpretation of the structure of the Dalradian rocks of north-east Scotland. Proc. Geol. Ass. 66, 129.Google Scholar
Read, H. H. & Farquhar, O. C. 1956. The Buchan Anticline of the Banff Nappe of Dalradian rocks in north-east Scotland. Q. Jl geol. Soc. Lond. 112, 131–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Read, H. H. & MacGregor, A. G. 1948. British Regional Geology: the Grampian Highlands (2nd ed.). H.M.S.O., Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Shackleton, R. M. 1948. Overturned rhythmic banding in the Huntly gabbro of Aberdeenshire. Geol. Mag. 85, 358–60.Google Scholar
Stewart, F. H. 1970. The ‘younger’ basic igneous complexes of north-east Scotland, and their metamorphic envelope – Introduction. Scott. J. Geol. 6, 36.Google Scholar
Stewart, F. H. & Johnson, M. R. W. 1960. The structural problem of the Younger Gabbros of north-east Scotland. Trans. Edinb. geol. Soc. 18, 104–12.Google Scholar
Sutton, J. & Watson, J. V. 1955. The deposition of the Upper Dalradian rocks of the Banffshire coast. Proc. Geol. Ass. 66, 101–33.Google Scholar
Sutton, J. & Watson, J. V. 1956. The Boyndie Bay Syncline of the Dalradian of the Banffshire coast. Q. Jl geol. Soc. Lond. 112, 103–28.Google Scholar
Sweatman, T. R. & Long, J. V. P. 1969. Quantitative electron-probe microanalysis of rock-forming minerals. J. Petrology 10, 332–79.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. B. Jr & Norton, S. A. 1968. Palaeozoic regional metamorphism in New England and adjacent areas: in Zen, E-an, White, W. S., Hadley, J. B. & Thompson, J. B. Jr. (Eds): Studies of Appalachian Geology; Northern and Maritime. Interscience, New York.Google Scholar
Turner, F. J. 1968. Metamorphic Petrology: Mineralogical and Field Aspects. McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Weedon, D. S. 1970. The ultrabasic/basic igneous rocks of the Huntly region. Scott. J. Geol. 6, 2640.CrossRefGoogle Scholar