Thermal history of the 3.5–3.2 Ga Onverwacht and Fig Tree Groups, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa, inferred by Raman microspectroscopy of carbonaceous material

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2004 Thermal history of the 3.5–3.2 Ga Onverwacht and Fig Tree Groups, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa, inferred by Raman microspectroscopy of carbonaceous material Michael M. Tice; Michael M. Tice 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Benjamin C. Bostick; Benjamin C. Bostick 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Donald R. Lowe Donald R. Lowe 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2004) 32 (1): 37–40. https://doi.org/10.1130/G19915.1 Article history received: 09 Jun 2003 rev-recd: 09 Sep 2003 accepted: 11 Sep 2003 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Michael M. Tice, Benjamin C. Bostick, Donald R. Lowe; Thermal history of the 3.5–3.2 Ga Onverwacht and Fig Tree Groups, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa, inferred by Raman microspectroscopy of carbonaceous material. Geology 2004;; 32 (1): 37–40. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G19915.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Raman spectra of carbonaceous material were collected in situ from samples of cherts of the Onverwacht and Fig Tree Groups in the central Barberton greenstone belt. The spectra feature two dominant peaks characteristic of disordered carbon: the D peak at ∼1310 cm−1 and the O peak at 1580–1600 cm−1. D peak positions and relative peak intensities and areas indicate that all samples have been altered to lower greenschist facies or above. No correlation was observed between maximum temperature and stratigraphic position or degree of hydrothermal alteration, implying that metamorphism in the central Barberton greenstone belt was regional and unaccompanied by the flow of large quantities of hydrothermal fluids. Samples from the Marble Bar Chert of the Pilbara block, Western Australia, have been heated to the same extent as samples from Barberton. This study demonstrates the use of Raman spectra of carbonaceous material as a sensitive geothermometer for low-temperature metamorphic facies. This application could also be used to establish the antiquity of putative microfossils from metamorphic terranes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.