Examination of deformation temperature, flow vorticity, and strain symmetry in the Loch Eriboll, Loch More, and Assynt regions of the Moine thrust zone (MTZ) in northwest Scotland allows quantitative kinematic and thermal characterization of a crustal-scale shear zone at the base of the Scandian (435-425 Ma) orogenic wedge. Quartz crystal fabrics, kinematic vorticity (Wm), and strain estimates from the ductile thrust sheets in this region are used to determine how pure and simple shear components of deformation are partitioned, and indicate that these processes may be thermally, structurally, and lithologically dependent. Vorticity analysis of samples collected along strike in the MTZ and overlying Moine nappe indicate that Scandian thrusting and deformation involved a considerable pure shear component. Integrated strain and vorticity estimates indicate that significant sub-vertical foliation normal shortening has occurred as nappe stacking progressed. Along strike Wm variation could not be directly correlated with changes in footwall structural architecture, lithology, deformation temperatures, or structural depth and are thus interpreted to reflect local variability driven by a complex interplay of these and possibly other factors. Quartz c- and a-axis fabrics indicate that deformation in the footwall of the Moine thrust involved plane strain to general flattening strain with only a minor rotational (non-coaxial) component. In contrast, deformation in the Moine nappe was strongly non-coaxial, as indicated by asymmetric single girdle c-axis fabrics. Quartz c-axis opening angles and microstructures suggest that deformation temperatures increase from north to south and from structurally lower to structurally higher levels in the footwall to the Moine thrust. Vertical ductile thinning must be accommodated by either volume loss or extrusion of material towards the synorogenic topographic surface. Extrusion towards the synorogenic topographic surface implies a causal link between upper and lower crustal processes, with significant implications for the kinematic, geometric, and kinetic (deformation rates) evolution of the Scandian orogenic wedge. New thermobarometric and deformation temperature estimates are combined with structural and kinematic investigations to characterize the thermal structure of the Moine, Ben Hope, and related nappes. At the leading edge of the Moine thrust, subhedral garnets with prograde compositional growth zoning yield peak temperatures (grt-bio) of 440-492 °C at 4.5-6.0 kbars from Creagan Meall Horn to northern Assynt. Three samples collected at similar structural positions along the leading edge of the Moine nappe yield deformation temperatures of 420-460 °C, as determined from quartz c-axis opening angles. At the structurally highest position in the Moine nappe, garnet prograde compositional zoning profiles are preserved and samples yields P-T estimates of 565-571 °C (grt-bio) and 4.5-5.1 kbar (GRAIL barometer, minimum pressure due to absence of Al2SiO5 phase). Quartz c-axis fabrics of samples collected at similar structural positions yield deformation temperature estimates of 490-565 °C. In the structurally higher Ben Hope nappe, two phases of prograde compositional growth zoning are preserved in garnet bearing amphibolite near Portvasgo. The later outer garnet rim records P-T conditions of 655-672 °C at 3.9-5.1 kbars. The inverted metamorphic sequence from the Moine to the Naver thrust is mostly intact and is interpreted to be Scandian (435-420 Ma) in age. It is likely that the formation of this inverted sequence is due to a combination of progressive accretion of successively lower grade thrust sheets onto the base of the Scandian wedge and heating of the Moine and Ben Hope nappes from above by the relatively higher temperature migmatites of the Naver thrust. Vertical ductile thinning, in conjunction with erosion and normal faulting, likely led to rapid exhumation of the Scandian nappe pile and in turn preserved the inverted metamorphic sequence. / Ph. D.

Quartz-rich mylonites present along the Moine Thrust Zone are well suited for the application of various analytical techniques designed for investigating the flow processes by which rock deformation occurred. These analytical techniques were applied to a suite of samples from the footwall and hangingwall of the Moine thrust exposed along the Allt Pol aâ Mhadaich stream located in the northern part of the Assynt window. Vorticity analyses were performed to determine the relative contributions of pure and simple shear deformation within the penetratively deforming thrust sheets. Integration of vorticity data with 3D strain analyses demonstrated that sub-vertical shortening perpendicular to the flow plane, accompanied by thrust transport parallel extension, occurred during mylonitization, and was driven by emplacement of the overlying Moine nappe. Quartz c-axis fabrics in the mylonites are characterized by well-defined asymmetric Type-1 cross girdles in which internal and external skeletal asymmetries are indicative of a top-to-the-WNW shear sense, compatible with regional thrusting. These c-axis fabrics were also used to estimate deformation temperatures. Differential flow stresses associated with mylonitization were estimated from the grain size of dynamically recrystallized quartz. Deformation temperature and flow stress data were then incorporated into a dislocation creep flow law for quartz to estimate strain rates. Finally, along strike variation in these flow properties at the base of the Moine nappe to the north and south of the APM section were investigated and results from the APM section compared with previously published studies of mylonites exposed in eastern Assynt that occupy similar structural positions. / Master of Science

Dynamically recrystallized quartz microstructure and grainsize evolution along mid-crustal shear zones allows for the estimation of tectonic driving stresses and strain rates acting in the mid-crust. Quartz-rich tectonites from three exhumed mid-crustal shear zones, the Main Central Thrust (MCT; Sutlej valley, NW India), South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS; Rongbuk valley, S Tibet), and Moine thrust (NW Scotland), were analyzed. Deformation temperatures estimated from quartz microstructural and petrofabric thermometers indicate steep apparent thermal gradients (80–420 °C/km) across 0.5–2.3 km thick sample transects across each shear zone. Quartz recrystallization microstructures evolve from transitional bulging/sub-grain rotation to dominant grain boundary migration at ~ 200 m structural distance as traced away from each shear zone. Optically measured quartz grainsizes increase from ~ 30 μm nearest the shear zones to 120+ μm at the largest structural distances. First-order Zener space analysis across the Moine nappe suggests strong phyllosilicate control on recrystallized quartz grainsize. Recrystallized quartz grainsize piezometry indicates that differential stress levels sharply decrease away from the shear zones from ~ 35 MPa to 10 MPa at ~ 200 m structural distance. Strain rates estimated with quartz dislocation creep flow laws are tectonically reasonable, between 10⁻¹² – 10⁻¹⁴ s⁻¹. Traced towards each shear zone strain rate estimates first decrease one order of magnitude before rapidly increasing one to two orders of magnitude at structural distances of ~ 200 m. This kinked strain rate profile is likely due to the steep apparent thermal gradients and relatively constant differential stress levels at large structural distances. / Master of Science

Dynamically recrystallized quartz microstructures preserved in contact aureoles allow for stress and strain rate estimates associated with penetrative deformation of rocks surrounding pluton margins. Microstructural analysis of the Harkless quartzites surrounding the western margin of Papoose Flat pluton indicates that recrystallization occurred by grain boundary migration with mean recrystallized grain size ranging from 86-225 µm. The application of three calibrated piezometers results in differential stress estimates between ~11 and ~29 MPa. Published wet-quartzite dislocation creep flow laws combined with deformation temperature, water fugacity, and differential stress estimates infer strain rates that range from 1.2 x 10⁻¹⁴ s⁻¹ to 2.3 x 10⁻¹² s⁻¹. In order to analyze 3D subsurface fault geometry along map-pattern curves (salients and recesses), a structure contour map of the Moine thrust, extending from the North Coast southwards to the Dundonnel area, was constructed from 1:50,000 scale British Geological Survey (BGS) maps by correlating between elevation control points constrained by the intersection of the fault trace with topographic contours. The structure contour map indicates significant lateral variation in fault geometry along the Moine thrust, with recesses associated with antiformal corrugations in the subsurface and salients characterized by planar geometries or broad synformal corrugations. Additionally, structure contour maps constructed on the Glencoul thrust, as depicted by original BGS maps confirms that the thrust segments to the NE and SW of Loch Glencoul are part of the same structure, rather than different structures separated by a lateral ramp as shown on more recent BGS maps. / Master of Science