- Library Home /
- Search Collections /
- Open Collections /
- Browse Collections /
- UBC Theses and Dissertations /
- The role of metamorphic and geochemical factors in...
Open Collections
UBC Theses and Dissertations
UBC Theses and Dissertations
The role of metamorphic and geochemical factors in the formation of gem corundum, spinel, and haüyne in metacarbonates of the Lake Harbour Group, Baffin Island, Canada Belley, Philippe Maxime
Abstract
The Lake Harbour Group (LHG) metacarbonates on Baffin Island contain occurrences of the gemstones sapphire (corundum), spinel (including cobalt-blue), and lapis lazuli (blue haüyne-rich rock). This dissertation uncovers the regional geologic processes (e.g., metamorphic history, metasomatism, protolith geochemistry) that influence gemstone potential by developing genetic models for the LHG gem mineral occurrences. Both barren and gem-bearing metacarbonates were studied using field examination and sampling, petrological (optical) and scanning electron microscope petrography, and whole rock geochemistry. Boron isotope geochemistry, thermodynamic modelling, and age-dating (zircon U-Pb and mica ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar) were employed for selected occurrences. Corundum formation was made possible by three equally important sequential metamorphic reactions: (1) formation of nepheline, diopside, and K-feldspar (inferred) at granulite facies peak metamorphic conditions; (2) partial retrograde replacement of the peak assemblage by phlogopite, oligoclase, calcite, and scapolite; and (3) retrograde break-down of scapolite + nepheline to form albite, muscovite, corundum, and calcite. The corundum-forming reaction only occurs in a
Item Metadata
Title |
The role of metamorphic and geochemical factors in the formation of gem corundum, spinel, and haüyne in metacarbonates of the Lake Harbour Group, Baffin Island, Canada
|
Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
|
Date Issued |
2019
|
Description |
The Lake Harbour Group (LHG) metacarbonates on Baffin Island contain occurrences of the gemstones sapphire (corundum), spinel (including cobalt-blue), and lapis lazuli (blue haüyne-rich rock). This dissertation uncovers the regional geologic processes (e.g., metamorphic history, metasomatism, protolith geochemistry) that influence gemstone potential by developing genetic models for the LHG gem mineral occurrences. Both barren and gem-bearing metacarbonates were studied using field examination and sampling, petrological (optical) and scanning electron microscope petrography, and whole rock geochemistry. Boron isotope geochemistry, thermodynamic modelling, and age-dating (zircon U-Pb and mica ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar) were employed for selected occurrences.
Corundum formation was made possible by three equally important sequential metamorphic reactions: (1) formation of nepheline, diopside, and K-feldspar (inferred) at granulite facies peak metamorphic conditions; (2) partial retrograde replacement of the peak assemblage by phlogopite, oligoclase, calcite, and scapolite; and (3) retrograde break-down of scapolite + nepheline to form albite, muscovite, corundum, and calcite. The corundum-forming reaction only occurs in a
|
Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
|
Date Available |
2019-04-12
|
Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
Rights |
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
|
DOI |
10.14288/1.0378174
|
URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
|
Graduation Date |
2019-05
|
Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
|
Rights URI | |
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International