Research Article| January 01, 2004 Complex patterns of fluid flow during wollastonite formation in calcareous sandstones at Laurel Mountain, Mt. Morrison Pendant, California Jade Star Lackey; Jade Star Lackey 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, 1215 West Dayton Street, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John W. Valley John W. Valley 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, 1215 West Dayton Street, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jade Star Lackey 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, 1215 West Dayton Street, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA John W. Valley 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, 1215 West Dayton Street, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 14 Aug 2002 Revision Received: 29 Apr 2003 Accepted: 12 Jun 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2004) 116 (1-2): 76–93. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25239.1 Article history Received: 14 Aug 2002 Revision Received: 29 Apr 2003 Accepted: 12 Jun 2003 First Online: 02 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 Jade Star Lackey, John W. Valley; Complex patterns of fluid flow during wollastonite formation in calcareous sandstones at Laurel Mountain, Mt. Morrison Pendant, California. GSA Bulletin 2004;; 116 (1-2): 76–93. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25239.1 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Late Cretaceous contact metamorphism at Laurel Mountain, east-central California, resulted in growth of wollastonite in calcareous metasandstones during infiltration of water-rich [X(CO2) = 0.03–0.14] fluids. Fluids originated from the Laurel Mountain pluton and other magmatic sources. The mapped distribution of wollastonite versus calcite + quartz in the aureole reveals geometrically complex fluid flow paths at a range of scales. An inner aureole, concentric to the pluton, extends up to 500 m from exposed contacts and is characterized by ubiquitous wollastonite. An outer aureole has irregular distribution of wollastonite, chiefly at faults and stratigraphic contacts.Fluid flow was largely vertical during metamorphism, and permeability varied systematically. As fluids migrated up from crystallizing magmas into pendant rocks, they were variably channeled along a hierarchy of structural features. Faults in the aureole transported the largest fluid fluxes as recorded by δ18O(Wo) values (7–8‰) that approach equilibrium with the pluton. These faults distributed fluids up and away from the Laurel Mountain pluton. Of the total fluid flow, 2–4% was across layers, which mixed low-δ13C carbon (−25‰) from pelites into wollastonite metasandstones. Textural and isotopic data indicate that mineral reaction in the inner aureole was controlled by availability of fluids, permeability, and likely temperature; reaction in the outer aureole was driven mostly by access to water-rich fluids. Magmatic fluids in the outer aureole were isotopically shifted farther from magmatic values than fluids in the inner aureole and are inferred to have traveled from deeper sources.Isotope disequilibrium is widespread at Laurel Mountain. Values of Δ18O(Qt–Cc) in calcareous sandstones (1.78 ± 0.3‰) indicate exchange, but not equilibration at peak metamorphic temperatures (560 °C). Most Δ18O(Qt–Wo) values (2.0–6.5‰) indicate kinetically controlled exchange and disequilibrium during fluid-rock interaction. Minor isotopic resetting in the aureole was caused by polymetamorphism related to younger plutonism in the eastern Sierra Nevada. This study highlights the complexities of modeling fluid flow during contact metamorphism in composite batholith settings. These complexities include multiple fluid and heat sources, plus variable permeability, temperature, mineral-fluid exchange, and flow path. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.