Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A geochemical investigation of pressure solution and the formation of veins in a deformed greywacke

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pressure solution and vein formation often occur simultaneously in shear zones during the deformation of sedimentary rocks. The mineralogical and chemical variations around a typical example of an en echelon zone of quartz veins from north Cornwall are discussed in detail. Solution of quartz is confined to the shear zone and occurs along discrete surfaces. Accumulation of insoluble minerals along these surfaces gives rise to spaced pressure solution cleavage. Petrographic data show that during pressure solution the breakdown of felspar and epidote results in the crystallisation of clay mineral, quartz and siderite. Redistribution of silica within the shear zone by pressure solution does not account for all the quartz in the veins, or for the observed increased concentration of iron and calcium. It is concluded that material was introduced from an external source into the shear zone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Durney, D. W.: Solution transfer, an important geological deformation mechanism. Nature 235, 315–317 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Durney, D. W., Ramsay, J. G.: Incremental strains measured by syntectonic crystal growths. In: DeJong and Scholten (eds.), Gravity and Tectonics. New York: Wiley Interscience 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Bathurst, R. G. C.: Carbonate sediments and their diagenesis. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Heald, M. T.: Stylolites in sandstones. J. Geol. 63, 101–114 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, M. S.: Nonhydrostatic thermodynamics and its geologic applications. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 11, 355–390 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay, J. G.: Folding and fracturing of rocks. New York: McGraw-Hill 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay, J. G., Graham, R. H.: Strain variation in shear belts. Can. J. Earth Sci. 7, 786–813 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shainin, V. E.: Conjugate sets of en echelon tension fractures in the Athens limestones. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 61, 509–517 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorby, H. C.: On the application of quantitative methods to the study of rocks. Quart. J. Geol. Soc. 64, 171–232 (1908)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Liverpool University, Great Britain

    Alastair Beach

Authors
  1. Alastair Beach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beach, A. A geochemical investigation of pressure solution and the formation of veins in a deformed greywacke. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 46, 61–68 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377993

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377993

Keywords

Search

Navigation