Origin of Quartz Clusters in the Rhyolite Dike at Medicine Park, Oklahoma
Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Major
Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Hogan, John Patrick
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Funding Source
OURE; Dr. Hogan
Abstract
The Rhyolite Dike at Medicine Park contain quartz clusters which currently have two proposed models for their origin: Synneusis, which occurs while the quartz is crystallizing, or resorption which occurs while the crystals are dissolving. Each of these models predict a different scenario for the character of the quartz clusters. The Synneusis model requires quartz crystals to show clean, sharp boundaries between the shared faces of the crystals while the resorption model would likely show disordered clusters. In order to test these models, qualitative observations with a petrographic microscope using thin sections will be used to describe the quartz crystals. Cathodoluminescene (CL) on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) will also be used to determine zoning due to Ti variations. Lastly, the crystallographic orientations of these quartz crystals will be determined using both the EBSD on the SEM scope, and a universal stage with a petrographic microscope.
Biography
Michelle Mild is a senior at Missouri S&T and is working toward a B.S. in Geology and geophysics. She is expected to graduate in May 2016, at which point she’d like to go onto graduate school to pursue a Master’s Degree. In her free time, Michelle likes to read, rollerblade, and play video games.
Research Category
Research Proposals
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
15 Apr 2015, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Origin of Quartz Clusters in the Rhyolite Dike at Medicine Park, Oklahoma
Upper Atrium/Hall
The Rhyolite Dike at Medicine Park contain quartz clusters which currently have two proposed models for their origin: Synneusis, which occurs while the quartz is crystallizing, or resorption which occurs while the crystals are dissolving. Each of these models predict a different scenario for the character of the quartz clusters. The Synneusis model requires quartz crystals to show clean, sharp boundaries between the shared faces of the crystals while the resorption model would likely show disordered clusters. In order to test these models, qualitative observations with a petrographic microscope using thin sections will be used to describe the quartz crystals. Cathodoluminescene (CL) on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) will also be used to determine zoning due to Ti variations. Lastly, the crystallographic orientations of these quartz crystals will be determined using both the EBSD on the SEM scope, and a universal stage with a petrographic microscope.
