Orientation Of Quartz Research Articles

The Influence of the Closure of the East Paleo‐Tethys Ocean on Southern South China: Evidences from Kinematics and 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of the Rongxian Ductile Shear Zone in Southeastern Guangxi

AbstractThe Triassic was a crucial period in the tectonic evolution of the South China Block. Research on tectonic deformation during this period provides information on intracontinental orogenic mechanisms in South China. In this study, alongside thermochronological analyses, we examine the macroscopic and microscopic structural features of the Rongxian ductile shear zone, located south of the Darongshan granite in the southeastern part of Guangxi Province, on the southern margin of South China. Sinistral shear is indicated by the characteristics of rotated σ‐type feldspar porphyroclasts, stretching lineations defined by elongated quartz grains and the orientations of quartz c‐axes. LA‐ICP‐MS U‐Pb dating of zircons from two samples of granitic mylonite and one of granite yielded ages of ca. 256 Ma. Furthermore, two samples of granitic mylonite yield muscovite 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of 249‐246 Ma. These results indicate that the Rongxian ductile shear zone resulted from Early Triassic deformation of the late Permian Darongshan granite. This deformation was likely related to the closure of the eastern Paleo‐Tethys Ocean and the subsequent collision of the South China and Indochina blocks, during the early stage of the Indosinian orogeny.

Subduction plate interface shear stress associated with rapid subduction at deep slow earthquake depths: example from the Sanbagawa belt, southwestern Japan

Abstract. Maximum shear stress along an active deformation zone marking the subduction plate interface is important for understanding earthquake phenomena and is an important input parameter in subduction zone thermomechanical modeling. However, such maximum shear stress is difficult to measure directly at depths more than a few kilometers and is generally estimated by simulation using a range of input parameters with large associated uncertainties. In addition, estimated values generally represent maximum shear stress conditions over short observation timescales, which may not be directly applicable to long-timescale subduction zone modeling. Rocks originally located deep in subduction zones can record information about deformation processes, including maximum shear stress conditions, occurring in regions that cannot be directly accessed. The estimated maximum shear stress is likely to be representative of maximum shear stress experienced over geological timescales and be suitable to use in subduction zone modeling over timescales of millions to tens of millions of years. In this study, we estimated maximum shear stress along a subduction plate interface by using samples from the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt of southwestern (SW) Japan, in which slivers of mantle-wedge-derived serpentinite are widely distributed and in direct contact with metasedimentary rocks derived from the subducted oceanic plate. These areas can be related to the zone of active deformation along the subduction plate interface. To obtain estimates of maximum shear stress at the subduction interface, we focused on the microstructure of quartz-rich metamorphic rocks – quartz is the main component of the rocks we collected and its deformation stress is assumed to be roughly representative of the stress experienced by the surrounding rock and plate interface deformation zone. Maximum shear stress was calculated by applying deformation temperatures estimated by the crystallographic orientation of quartz (the quartz c-axis fabric opening-angle thermometer) and the apparent grain size of dynamically recrystallized quartz in a thin section to an appropriate piezometer. Combined with information on sample deformation depth, estimated from the P–T (pressure–temperature) path and deformation temperatures, it is suggested that there was nearly constant maximum shear stress of 15–41 MPa in the depth range of about 15–30 km, assuming plane stress conditions even when uncertainties related to the measurement direction of thin section and piezometer differences are included. The Sanbagawa belt formed in a warm subduction zone. Deep slow earthquakes are commonly observed in modern-day warm subduction zones such as SW Japan, which has a similar thermal structure to the Sanbagawa belt. In addition, deep slow earthquakes are commonly observed to be concentrated in a domain under the shallow part of the mantle wedge. Samples showed the depth conditions near the mantle wedge, suggesting that these samples were formed in a region with features similar to the deep slow earthquake domain. Estimated maximum shear stress may not only be useful for long-timescale subduction zone modeling but also represent the initial conditions from which slow earthquakes in the same domain nucleated.

CPO and quantitative textural analyses within sheath folds

We investigate the intra- and inter-crystalline deformation processes involved in sheath fold development combining complementary fabric analysis techniques and 3D modelling by neutron tomography. The investigated sheath fold is a multi-layered sub-metre scale single-eye structure, developed in metapsammites from the Ben Hope Nappe, overlying the Moine Thrust Zone of NW Scotland. Crystallographic Preferred Orientations (CPOs) of quartz and biotite were acquired through a Neutron Diffractometer and an SEM-EBSD system to compare the full-fabric of the main phases and the active slip systems for an “in situ” structural control. Combined with orientation maps and grain size maps, results show that, despite the different structural positions of the investigated microdomains (upper vs lower fold limbs, inner vs outer sheath closures, distance from hinge of the sheath fold), quartz and biotite deformed uniformly, suggesting a constant differential stress and orientation of the kinematic vorticity axis. Previously recognized detachment horizons within the sampled sheath fold do not affect the fabric patterns recorded by quartz and biotite. This may be interpreted in two different ways: i) detachments formed during earlier active folding and prior to passive amplification of folds associated with more uniform flow to create the sheath fold geometries; ii) the quartz c-axis patterns are coeval with a late deformation phase (loading of the orogenic wedge) that pervasively obliterated the previous fabric and therefore did not preserve the active folding component. Several pieces of evidence reported here, such as top-to-SE normal-shear sense which is opposite to the regional kinematics, are more supportive of the second hypothesis. The analysis of mineral textures provides an improved dataset for the whole sheath fold and increases our understanding of recrystallization mechanisms active in shear zones.

Lattice preferred orientation of quartz in granitic gneisses from Tso Morari Crystalline Complex, Eastern Ladakh, trans-Himalaya: evaluating effect of Dauphiné twin in dynamic recrystallization during exhumation

Abstract The Tso Morari Crystalline complex (TMCC) of eastern Ladakh, India, is part of the north Indian continental margin and is characterized by eclogitic enclaves embedded within ortho- and paragneisses known as the Puga Gneiss. Two fault zones bound the TMCC: the Karzok fault to the southwest and the Zildat fault to the northeast. In the present study, we carried out Electron Backscatter Diffraction study of quartz of 10 samples collected from the Puga Gneiss. The relict and recrystallized quartz grains were treated separately to understand the deformation conditions of the Puga Gneiss during early and late deformation stages related to UHP metamorphism and final stage of exhumation during retrogression, respectively. Microstructural observations suggest dynamic recrystallization in quartz and plagioclase at different temperature ranges. Misorientation analysis of both relict and recrystallized quartz grains reveals presence of Dauphiné Twins. Lattice preferred Orientation (LPO) of <c> axis of relict quartz grains generally shows more than one point maxima indicating that the relict grains preserve LPO developed during different stages of metamorphism/deformation. On the other hand, LPO of <c> axis of recrystallized grains from Karzok and Zildat fault zones shows asymmetric single girdle either normal or at an angle to the foliation plane, which suggests simple shear. We conclude that grain size reduction and recrystallization of the Puga Gneiss was greatly influenced by Dauphiné Twin and the final exhumation of the TMCC took place in a simple shear environment aided by activity along its two binding fault zones.

The effect of muscovite on the microstructural evolution and rheology of quartzite in general shear

We conducted general shear experiments on synthetic mixtures of quartz and muscovite aggregates at 800 °C and 1.5 GPa with 0.1 wt% H2O added in the Griggs apparatus to investigate the role of muscovite content on the microstructural evolution and rheological properties of quartz aggregates. Muscovite content varied between 0, 5, 10 and 25% muscovite. Mechanically, the sample strengths decrease with an increase in muscovite content. At high strains muscovite grains align sub-parallel to the shear plane with C′- bands commonly observed in the muscovite-bearing samples. The presence of muscovite has significant influence on the amount of dynamic recrystallization in quartz; at high strains the pure quartz sample completely recrystallizes while only ∼5% of the quartz in the 25% muscovite sample is dynamically recrystallized at similar strains. The presence of muscovite also has a significant influence on crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) and grain shape preferred orientations (SPO) of quartz at high strains. At high strains, muscovite is interpretated to deform primarily by basal glide and dissolution-precipitation creep. Finally, our mechanical results fit well with rheological mixing models, where we estimate aggregates with 25% muscovite may deform 1–2 orders of magnitude faster than pure quartz aggregates at conditions near the brittle-ductile transition.

Minimally diffracting quartz for ultra-low temperature surface acoustic wave resonators

We simulate and experimentally demonstrate the existence of an orientation of quartz, which minimizes diffraction losses in surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators at ultra-low temperatures. The orientation is optimized for applications to quantum technologies, which benefit from high mechanical quality factors, strong electromechanical coupling, and narrow acoustic apertures. We fabricate narrow aperture SAW resonators on this substrate and measure internal quality factors greater than 100 000 at mK temperatures.

Crystallographic preferred orientation of quartz deformed at granulite conditions: the Kalinjala Shear Zone, Port Neill, South Australia

Crystallographic preferred orientations of quartz aggregates in mylonitic orthogneisses from the highest strained central region of the Kalinjala Shear Zone, Port Neill South Australia, are products of a combination of constrictional and flattening strains. These rocks were deformed under granulite facies peak metamorphic conditions, reaching pressures of ∼1.0 GPa and temperatures of ∼800 ± 50 °C. Neutron diffraction textural and fabric analysis methods reveal a dominant single c-axis maximum parallel to the Y-strain axis. This is accompanied by a symmetric orthorhombic pattern, where the c-axis fabrics and corresponding pole figure densities of {a}, {m}, {r} and {z} planes are arranged around the XY foliation plane. These fabrics from coexisting adjacent layers suggest that the activation of prism-<a> slip is characteristic for these high-temperature deformation conditions. A small asymmetry in the [c], {a} and {m} pole figures suggests a minor component of dextral shearing. The c-axis pattern is weakened where the foliation is dominated by secondary phases, such as concentrations of biotite mica. The opening angles obtained from cross-girdle c-axis patterns produce temperature estimates that are ∼100 °C lower than the peak metamorphic temperature of ∼800 ± 50 °C, but closer to temperatures related to a component of flattening strain. These c-axis patterns are consistent with other structural characteristics and can be related to the late-stage flattening strains during the Kimban Orogeny. KEY POINTS Mylonitic orthogneisses are deformed under granulite facies conditions. Quartz fabrics were measured by bulk neutron diffraction and optical methods. Mylonite c-axis fabrics can be related to the high-temperature deformation and activation of the prism-< a > slip system. Crystal preferred orientations indicate a large component of flattening strain superimposed on the dextral shearing observed in the Kalinjala Shear Zone.

Multi-stage evolution of the South Tibetan Detachment System in central Himalaya: Insights from carbonate-bearing rocks

Low-angle normal faults (LANFs) are increasingly described in collisional orogens and are getting attention in modelling in regard to mass distributions, exhumation history, and the rheology of the continental crust during plate collision. Their kinematic evolution, however, is still not fully understood. We present a microstructural study of a key example of a LANF in a syn-collisional setting, i.e., the ductile portion of the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS) in the Lower Dolpo region (central Himalaya). New data are provided on microstructural characteristics, crystallographic preferred orientations of calcite and quartz as well as of paleopiezometric and kinematic vorticity analyses. Two main stages of non-coaxial shearing from lower to higher crustal levels, here referred as D2early and D2late, are recognized. D2early developed higher temperatures (c. 600–400 °C traced up-section within the STDS) and at low differential stress (<15 MPa). D2late occurred at lower temperatures (T < 350 °C) and differential stress larger than 100 MPa at comparable strain rates with D2early. Cooling and differential stress increased from D2early to D2late, indicating progressive exhumation following typical lithospheric strength profiles. Vorticity data highlight a pure shear component that can account for the up-section telescoping of the paleo-isotherms. Our findings support a strain hardening of the STDS, where ductile shearing persisted to shallower levels, without necessarily localizing a prominent upper brittle fault.

Electron Backscatter Diffraction Study of Ultrahigh-Pressure Tso Morari Eclogites (Trans-Himalayan Collisional Zone): Implications for Strain Regime Transition from Constrictional to Plane Strain during Exhumation

Abstract The Tso Morari Crystalline Complex (TMCC) of trans-Himalaya (eastern Ladakh, India) contains enclaves of ultrahigh-pressure eclogites that underwent deep burial (≥80 km) and subsequent rapid exhumation during continental subduction, collision, and final accretion of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. We present an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) study of eight eclogite samples to investigate the deformation mechanism and strain regimes active during peak (HP) metamorphism and subsequent postpeak rapid exhumation of the TMCC. Our study shows that the least retrogressed eclogite exhibits strong linear fabric (L tectonite) characterized by omphacite, having [001] axes parallel to and (110) poles perpendicular to lineation. These features concur with constrictional strain during peak (HP) metamorphism. A transitional planolinear fabric (LS tectonite) is shown by other eclogites that show petrographic evidence of omphacite alteration to amphibole and the presence of lower metamorphic grade minerals like actinolite and chlorite. Characteristics of lattice preferred orientation (LPO) of omphacite and quartz, indicated, respectively, by the LS and B indices, also suggest variation in strain regime from pristine eclogites to their altered counterparts. Based on these results, it is suggested that a constrictional strain regime prevailed during peak (HP) metamorphism in the TMCC due to the buoyant rise of TMCC in response to slab break-off and reverse slab pull during and after the deepest continental subduction. This buoyant rise was also facilitated by compression related to the ongoing India-Eurasia collision. This regime evolved later to plane strain that was superimposed on the UHP rocks at a shallower depth. It is plausibly associated with foliation-parallel extension during exhumation at midcrustal depths. A high-temperature prism c-slip in quartz shown by few samples is interpreted to have formed due to a subsequent granulite facies metamorphic overprint on the eclogite during collisional thickening.

Temperature Behavior of SAW Resonators Based on LiNbO₃/Quartz and LiTaO₃/Quartz Substrates.

LiNbO3 (LN) or LiTaO3 (LT) thin plates bonded to quartz are novel types of layered substrates for temperature-compensated surface acoustic wave (TCSAW) devices. In SAW resonators with Al electrodes arranged on LT/quartz and LN/quartz substrates, improved temperature behavior due to opposite signs of temperature coefficients of frequency (TCF) in quartz substrates and LT or LN plates can be combined with high Q -factors if the quartz orientation is optimized. The quartz orientation areas that enabled high Q -factors were deduced from analyzing the quartz anisotropy and the characteristics of shear horizontally (SH) polarized waves were calculated in the optimal orientations as functions of the quartz cut angle and plate thickness. The simulation results illustrated by contour plots of the wave characteristics revealed the presence of zero lines on the plots demonstrating TCFs at resonant (TCFR) and antiresonant (TCFA) frequencies in both layered structures. The strong quartz anisotropy explained anomalous temperature behavior of SAW resonators and the existence of LT/quartz structures with TCFA = TCFR facilitating the design of SAW devices with improved thermal stability in the passband. In the LT/quartz structures, two TCFs vanished simultaneously at certain plate thickness and quartz orientation, while in the LN/quartz zero lines did not intersect but low TCF = -(10-20) ppm/°C combined with electromechanical coupling exceeding 18% were obtained numerically in some structures. The effect of inverting the propagation direction or cut angle in one of the combined materials on the wave characteristics was discussed and numerically estimated.

An insight into quartz mineral interactions with kerogen in Green River oil shale

Green River oil shale is an organic-inorganic macromolecular composite system. Identifying the interactions between nanoscale organic kerogen and the inorganic mineral matrix in oil shale is an important step towards the design of technologies for economic and efficient recovery of shale oil. Quartz (SiO2), one of the tectosilicate minerals present in the Green River oil shale, is modeled to determine the interactions with the 3D kerogen model. The molecular dynamics simulation technique is used as the tool for modeling the interactions. Two models with different orientations of quartz mineral and kerogen are built to evaluate the role of mineral orientation on the molecular interactions. The models are simulated at room temperature and pressure (300 K and 1.013 bar). The kerogen-quartz interactions are evaluated with respect to eight kerogen fragments. We observe that different fragments within the 3D Kerogen molecules interact with the quartz depending upon the quartz orientation. In both cases, the unconstrained ammonium (NH4) ions from the adjacent layer of kerogen migrate to the quartz cavities. All the non-interacting kerogen fragments move away from quartz. The nonbonded interactions between kerogen and quartz are generally electrostatic. The presence of quartz mineral also affects the inter-fragment and inter-layer interactions within the kerogen molecule.

Debonding of cemented natural fractures during core recovery

Natural opening-mode fractures existing in the subsurface can be partially or completely sealed by diagenetic cements (e.g., joints and veins), and these cemented fractures may reopen during core recovery to the ground surface. Depending on the cement/host-rock material properties, debonding or re-fracturing may happen within the cement or at the cement/rock interface. We demonstrate the role of induced stresses in opening cemented fractures (veins) during cores recovery to the surface and to determine whether cracks form along the vein interface or through the core and why. We consider vein as a thin layer sandwiched inside the rock mass, and use the theory of eigenstrain to calculate stress disturbances at the core surface due to the release of in-situ stresses and the difference between surface and downhole temperatures. Then, we employ the theory of elasticity to calculate the maximum tensile stress at the edge of the vein. This tensile stress can be used to estimate the tensile strength of the diagenetic cements inside natural fractures. Using the developed technique, we solve practical examples to determine whether debonding is more likely within the natural cement or at cement/host-rock bonding. For the case of core recovery in Marcellus Shale with a calcite vein, we find that the maximum tensile stress normal to the vein plane happens at the center of the vein. We observe this phenomenon for both alignment of c-axis orientation with the layering, perpendicular to the fracture wall (⊥c-axis) and parallel to the fracture wall (∥c-axis). Therefore, theoretically, cracks likely form at the center of the calcite vein rather than the Marcellus Shale/calcite interface. Laboratory tests to date have shown that re-fracturing of calcite veins in Marcellus Shales can occur either within the calcite or at the calcite/Shale interface. For the case of core recovery in sandstone with fractures cemented with continuous crystallized quartz grains, the proposed solution predicts re-breaking at the center of the vein. For this case, we investigate two crystallographic orientations of quartz, c-axis orientation perpendicular to the fracture wall and a-axis orientation perpendicular to the fracture wall. Based on the current calculations for both crystallography of quartz, the tensile stress normal to the quartz plane is maximum at the center of the vein. Petrographic evidence, using secondary electron (SE) and cathodoluminescence (CL) images, supports our model predicting breakage within quartz veins as opposed to at the cement/sandstone host-rock interface. However, in a hypothetical case in which the calcite c-axis forms parallel to fracture walls in sandstone host-rock, debonding is predicted at the interface rather than within the vein cement.

Crystallographically controlled void space at grain boundaries in the Harkless quartzite

Electron backscatter diffraction analysis of quartz grains and imaging of void spaces at grain boundaries in two orthogonal sections of a sample from the plastically deformed and dynamically recrystallized Harkless quartzite reveals the presence of void spaces at quartz-quartz grain boundaries. The distribution of these voids correlates with the crystallographic orientation of neighboring quartz grains relative to the grain boundary. Void spaces are more prevalent along grain boundaries where the a-axis of quartz is normal to the grain boundary. These void spaces likely formed during the exhumation (decrease in temperature and pressure) of the Harkless quartzite as a consequence of the volume change associated with an anisotropic elastic change in quartz crystal lattice dimensions, in which the length of the a-axis decreases by more than that of the c-axis. This volume change results in void space preferentially forming at grain boundaries neighbored by quartz with the a-axis normal to the grain boundary. The preferred orientation of the void spaces thus matches the preferred crystal orientation of quartz in the samples, suggesting that the preexisting rock microstructure and crystal fabric plays an important role in controlling the development and distribution of porosity during exhumation, which more generally may have important implications for fluid migration and the strength of exhumed rocks.

Macro- and microstructural analysis of the Zhujiafang ductile shear zone, Hengshan Complex: Tectonic nature and geodynamic implications of the evolution of Trans–North China orogen

AbstractIn worldwide orogenic belts, crustal-scale ductile shear zones are important tectonic channels along which the orogenic root (i.e., high-grade metamorphic lower-crustal rocks) commonly experienced a relatively quick exhumation or uplift process. However, their tectonic nature and geodynamic processes are poorly constrained. In the Trans–North China orogen, the crustal-scale Zhujiafang ductile shear zone represents a major tectonic boundary separating the upper and lower crusts of the orogen. Its tectonic nature, structural features, and timing provide vital information into understanding this issue. Detailed field observations showed that the Zhujiafang ductile shear zone experienced polyphase deformation. Variable macro- and microscopic kinematic indicators are extensively preserved in the highly sheared tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) and supracrustal rock assemblages and indicate an obvious dextral strike-slip and dip-slip sense of shear. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was utilized to further determine the crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of typical rock-forming minerals, including hornblende, quartz, and feldspar. EBSD results indicate that the hornblendes are characterized by (100) &amp;lt;001&amp;gt; and (110) &amp;lt;001&amp;gt; slip systems, whereas quartz grains are dominated by prism &amp;lt;a&amp;gt; and prism &amp;lt;c&amp;gt; slip systems, suggesting an approximate shear condition of 650–700 °C. This result is consistent with traditional thermobarometry pressure-temperature calculations implemented on the same mineral assemblages. Combined with previously reported metamorphic data in the Trans–North China orogen, we suggest that the Zhujiafang supracrustal rocks were initially buried down to ∼30 km depth, where high differential stress triggered the large-scale ductile shear between the upper and lower crusts. The high-grade lower-crustal rocks were consequently exhumed upwards along the shear zone, synchronous with extensive isothermal decompression metamorphism. The timing of peak collision-related crustal thickening was further constrained by the ca. 1930 Ma metamorphic zircon ages, whereas a subsequent exhumation event was manifested by ca. 1860 Ma syntectonic granitic veins and the available Ar-Ar ages of the region. The Zhujiafang ductile shear zone thus essentially record an integrated geodynamic process of initial collision, crustal thickening, and exhumation involved in formation of the Trans–North China orogen at 1.9–1.8 Ga.

Deformation conditions and kinematics of fault rocks in the Hatagawa Fault Zone and the Shajigami Shear Zone, Northeast Japan: Insights from calcite and quartz microstructures

Calcite grains are plastically deformed at lower temperatures than are quartz grains, which means that investigating the microstructures of both minerals should provide useful information regarding the deformation history of faults. We investigated the conditions of deformation and kinematics of fault rocks within the Hatagawa Fault Zone and the Shajigami Shear Zone, Northeast Japan, using deformation microstructures and crystallographic preferred orientations of quartz and calcite. The Hatagawa Fault Zone trends NNW–SSE, and the associated foliated granite cataclasites show sinistral shear. Limestone mylonite samples showing sinistral shearing display girdles of calcite c-axes close to the YZ plane and Z-maximum, suggesting relatively high and low temperatures of deformation, respectively. The Shajigami Shear Zone trends NE–SW, and quartz microstructures in granodiorite mylonites of the shear zone indicate dislocation creep at temperatures of 400–500 °C. The limestone mylonites have Z-maximum patterns of calcite c-axes. These fault rocks were deformed during the Cretaceous (before the Cenozoic 40° counterclockwise rotation of Northeast Japan) in a kinematic framework characterized by a shortening direction that rotated from N–S to NW–SE. The kinematics and deformation ages of the fault rocks correspond to a change in the direction of motion of the Izanagi Plate at c. 100 Ma.

Optimization of LiNbO3/Quartz Substrate for High-Frequency Wideband SAW Devices Using Longitudinal Leaky Waves.

Multilayered structures can successfully replace single crystal substrates in high-performance surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. A combination of high propagation velocity and strong piezoelectric coupling is required for acoustic modes used in wideband high-frequency SAW devices. These characteristics can be achieved simultaneously in SAW devices arranged on a lithium niobate (LN) thin plate bonded to quartz and using longitudinal leaky SAW (LLSAW) if the orientations of both the crystals and the plate thickness are optimized. This article describes an optimization procedure developed to find low-attenuated LLSAWs in layered structures that can be used in LN/quartz applications. The symmetry consideration of two crystals was followed by the optimization of the LN orientation to achieve the largest electromechanical coupling and by an analysis of quartz anisotropy as a crucial factor of the existence of nonattenuated LLSAWs. Finally, the quartz orientation and LN thickness were optimized by a rigorous numerical simulation of resonator admittances and by the extraction of LLSAW attenuation at resonant and antiresonant frequencies. The discovered structures enable the propagation of LLSAWs with velocities in the range of 5400-6000 m/s, electromechanical coupling up to 18%, and negligible attenuation. High Q -factors can be achieved at resonance and antiresonance by the variation of the duty factor in the same layered structure. The specific behavior of the LLSAW attenuation with a variation of the LN thickness and quartz cut angle is illustrated by contour plots for each of the optimal structures discovered.

Petrologia, geoquímica e geocronologia do Granodiorito Presidente Kennedy: contextualização na evolução do Cinturão Araguaia

Diversos corpos graníticos têm sido identificados no extremo leste do Cinturão Araguaia (CA) em seu domínio de mais alto grau metamórfico (Grupo Estrondo). Tais granitos têm sido interpretados como de posicionamento sin a tardi-cinemático em relação à tectônica principal e metamorfismo regional da evolução do CA, no final do Neoproterozóico. Neste contexto o Granodiorito Presidente Kennedy (GPK) localizado a 6 km a noroeste da cidade de Presidente Kennedy (TO) compõe a forma de um stock elíptico, que abrange uma área aflorante cujo diâmetro maior é de aproximadamente 10 km, e o menor de 5 km, encaixado em micaxistos do Grupo Estrondo e parcialmente coberto por rochas sedimentares da Formação Pimenteiras. O estudo petrográfico identificou rochas hololeucocráticas (M&lt;6) granodioríticas e monzograníticas equigranulares, de cor cinza levemente rosada, e com textura granular hipidiomórfica e alotriomórfica. Dados litoquímicos indicam que o GPK tem caráter levemente peraluminoso, com elevados valores SiO2, Al2O3 e álcalis e baixos valores de MgO, Fe2O3t e TiO2. O estudo geocronológico de evaporação de Pb em zircão forneceu idade 539 ± 5 Ma, interpretada como idade mínima de cristalização do GPK. Os estudos petrográficos, geoquímicos e geocronológicos do GPK, indicam semelhanças com os demais granitos ocorrentes no CA. Os estudos isotópicos pelo método Sm-Nd definiram idades modelo (TDM) de 2,13 Ga e 2,17 Ga para o GPK e valores εNd negativos indicando que essa rocha tem proveniência de fonte crustal, gerada da fusão de crosta antiga Paleoproterozóica. Os estudos comparativos indicam semelhanças entre este e os demais granitos do CA, possivelmente cogenéticos relacionado à fase principal do metamorfismo do CA, no limete Neoproterozóico-Paleozóico.

Preferred Orientation of Quartz in Metamorphic Rocks from the Bergell Alps

Crystal preferred orientation of 47 samples of quartzite and eight samples of associated marbles from the Bergell Alps have been analyzed with time-of-flight neutron diffraction and EBSD. The results show a clear distinction of texture types for quartzites transformed from Triassic sandstones and quartz layers in gneiss. Textures of Triassic quartzites are overall weak and display a maximum of c-axes perpendicular to the foliation or a crossed girdle perpendicular to the lineation. Pole figures for positive rhombs {10 1 ¯ 1} show a maximum perpendicular to the foliation and negative rhombs {01 1 ¯ 1} generally display a minimum. Based on polycrystal plasticity models this texture type can be attributed to a combination of basal and rhombohedral slip. Asymmetry of the distributions is attributed to simple shear and local strain heterogeneities. The relatively weak texture is partially caused by muscovite limiting dislocation motion and grain growth, as well as adjacent layers of marble that accommodate significant strain. Most quartz layers in gneiss, including mylonites, display a texture with a-axes parallel to the lineation and a c-axis maximum in the intermediate fabric direction. This texture type can be attributed to dominant prismatic slip. Many samples are recrystallized and recrystallization appears to strengthen the deformation texture. The study shows good agreement of neutron diffraction and EBSD. Neutron diffraction data average over larger volumes and maximum pole densities are generally lower and more representative for the bulk material. With EBSD the microstructure and mechanical twinning can be quantified.

High-velocity non-attenuated acoustic waves in LiTaO3/quartz layered substrates for high frequency resonators

Multilayered substrates for Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices are able to combine SAW characteristics that cannot coexist in a single crystal substrate and, thus, meet the strong requirements of the new class of SAW devices developed for the next generations of communication systems. Recently, high performance resonators arranged on LiTaO3/quartz bonded wafers and utilizing shear horizontally polarized acoustic waves were reported. Leaky SAWs with quasi-longitudinal polarization propagate faster and can facilitate fabrication of high frequency SAW devices but generally leak strongly into the substrate. This paper describes how the LiTaO3/quartz structure can be optimized to allow longitudinal SAWs to propagate without attenuation. Due to the symmetry consideration, which is supplemented by a rigorous numerical simulation of the admittance functions of SAW resonators and an accurate extraction of the propagation losses, the found optimal LiTaO3 and quartz orientations with the optimized LiTaO3 thickness ensure the propagation of acoustic waves with a velocity exceeding 5400 m/s and an electromechanical coupling of 6.8% in resonators with Q factors up to 10,000. The optimal LT/quartz structures with plate thicknesses varying between 0.32 and 0.68 wavelengths can be employed in SAW resonators operating at high frequencies, up to 5 GHz. The existence of numerous orientations in quartz supporting the propagation of non-attenuated longitudinal SAWs is explained based on the concept of exceptional bulk waves, which is a part of SAW theory.

Evaluating Synchrotron-Based Scanning Laue Microdiffraction for Mineralogy Mapping in Heterogeneous Samples

Synchrotron Laue microdiffraction imaging (MDI) is a well-used technique in material science research and environmental research to determine the strain/stress and orientation of quartz and calcite crystallites. However, Laue MDI has unrealized potential to provide spatially resolved mineralogical information for geochemical and contaminated site samples. In this manuscript, three constructed mineral mixtures and two environmental samples were analyzed with Laue MDI to illustrate the strengths, limitations/challenges, and applicability of the technique for environmental research. Mixture 1 (quartz, calcite, and magnetite), mixture 2 (quartz, calcite, magnetite, and clinochlore), and mixture 3 (calcite, hematite, sphalerite, and arupite) were constructed to highlight the potential limitations of the technique. The mixtures illustrate the potential of Laue MDI and X-ray fluorescence imaging for clearly identifying environmentally relevant contaminant and sorbent minerals while demonstrating that minerals smaller than the incident beam are challenging to index. Two environmental samples were then used for comparison to the synthetic mixtures. Laue MDI analysis was successful in identification of a Zn-substituted magnetite/non-stoichiometric franklinite rather than a pure franklinite phase in a Zn smelter-contaminated soil. Laue MDI was also crucial in the evaluation of the particle size of carbonates to distinguish between parent material (calcite) and secondary carbonate minerals (dolomite) in a calcareous soil undergoing phosphorus nutrient applications to stimulate hydrocarbon remediation. Despite challenges and limitations, Laue MDI, when correctly used, is a valuable technique for earth and environmental science researchers.