Relict cataclasis in the high-pressure marbles of the Samaná complex, Northeast Dominican Republic

I. Rodríguez; F. J. Fernández; J. Escuder-Viruete; A. Pérez-Estaún

doi:10.21701/bolgeomin.128.3.003

Authors

I. Rodríguez Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Oviedo
F. J. Fernández Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Oviedo
J. Escuder-Viruete Instituto Geológico y Minero de España
A. Pérez-Estaún Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra “Jaume Almera” CSIC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21701/bolgeomin.128.3.003

Keywords:

cataclasis, deformation mechanisms, fractal dimension, high-pressure metamorphism

Abstract

Cold-cathodoluminescence (CCL) images have unmasked relict cataclastic microstructures in marbles and calc-schists of the higher-pressure units of the Samaná complex. The grain size of the cataclastic microstructures always has a self-similar distribution of power law type, with a slope break at log(r_i)=1.7. The large grain size fraction (1.7<log(r_i)<2.4) is characterized by fractal dimension D₂=2.43 in the calcite-microstructures of the Punta Balandra unit and D₂=2.72 in the Santa Bárbara unit. Both D-values are within the usual range of the carbonate-cataclasites and they are significant with the linear correlation of R²=0.95 and 0.93, respectively. However, the finer grain size fraction (0.9<log(r_i)<1.7) is characterized by D₁<1 and this grain-size distribution is beyond the fractal-range for pure cataclastic-fabric, even though it has better fit power-law distribution.

Microstructures such as dissolution-surfaces, interpenetrated particles, and the higher roundness and lower irregularity of the boundary grain from the fine fraction indicate that dissolution-precipitation creep was dominant after cataclasis. Clast size and stress reduction after cataclasis and the high fluid pressure provided favorable conditions to allow dissolution-precipitation creep. Transition from cataclastic flow to dissolution-precipitation creep was scale-dependent and it tended to homogenize and reduce the finer grain size fraction. Consequently, the slope break between D₁ and D₂ is interpreted as a record in the grain size distribution produced by a change in the dominant deformation mechanism.

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