A técnica da Distribuição do Tamanho de Cristais - DTC (Crystal Size Distribution - CSD), que relaciona a densidade de cristais com a distribuição do tamanho, foi aplicada à população de plagioclásio de diques máficos do Enxame de Cabo Frio - Búzios (RJ). Os diques possuem larguras variáveis, de alguns centímetros a 20 metros, e orientação em torno de N45E. A textura dos diques é geralmente fina, localmente microporfirítica e intergranular no centro dos diques mais largos. Bordas resfriadas de alguns centímetros de largura são frequentes nos contatos com as rochas metamórficas encaixantes. Foram estudados dois diques na Praia das Conchas com espessura de 0,8m e 8,2m e, um outro na Praia da Lagoinha, com 2m de largura. As amostras foram coletadas junto às margens (~10 cm do contato) e no centro dos diques. O tamanho médio dos cristais de plagioclásio varia de 0,07 a 0,13 mm na borda dos diques mais finos (<= 2 m de largura) e de 0,09 a 0,20 mm na borda do dique mais largo. No centro do dique de Lagoinha e no dique largo de Praia das Conchas o tamanho de plagioclásio é da ordem de 0,19 ± 0,02 mm e 0,60 ± 0,07 mm, respectivamente. As DTCs nas bordas dos diques, independentemente de sua largura, mostraram um padrão tipicamente encurvado, e que tem sido atribuído na literatura como evidência para misturas de magmas com populações de cristais de tamanhos distintos. No entanto, no centro do dique largo (8,2m) de Praia das Conchas, a DTC é log-linear consistente com uma cristalização magmática simples. A química mineral mostrou que os cristais maiores (precoces) de plagioclásio apresentam um teor mais elevado em An (bytownita-labradorita) que os cristais menores (tardios) da matriz (labradorita-andesina). Além disso, a olivina é mais rica em Fo na borda que no centro do dique e, respectivamente, o piroxênio mais enriquecido em Ca. Esses resultados indicam que as margens resfriadas são mais máficas que o centro sugerindo uma evolução química normal com o resfriamento do magma. Portanto, as DTCs encurvadas provavelmente refletem taxas de cristalização heterogêneas possivelmente induzidas pela despressurização durante a ascensão do magma basáltico seguida de rápido resfriamento. O padrão da DTC log-linear no centro do dique de 8,2m de largura é atribuído ao maior tempo de residência do magma que favoreceria os processos de difusão química e re-equilíbrio textural. Os cálculos da taxa de resfriamento utilizando a inclinação da DTC permitiram estimar que o centro do dique largo da Praia das Conchas estaria completamente cristalizado (~ 900 °C) em torno de 73 dias. O estudo da Orientação Preferencial de Forma (OPF) de plagioclásio mostrou que a petrotrama tende a isotrópica nas margens dos diques com largura menor que 2 metros, o que poderia refletir uma rápida cristalização de plagioclásio por despressurização. Quando a trama é localmente definida, como no dique largo da Praia das Conchas, a lineação de plagioclásio é subhorizontal sugerindo que o fluxo magmático moveu-se predominantemente na lateral do dique. / The method of Crystal Size Distribution (CSD), which relates crystal density with size distribution, has been applied on the plagioclase population of the Mafic Dyke Swarm of Cabo Frio-Búzios (RJ). The dykes are NE-trending with widths from a few centimetres to 20m. The texture is generally fine grained and locally microporphyritic and intergranular at the center of the larger dykes. Chilled margins of a few centimetres in width are common at contacts with the metamorphic basement. Two dykes of 0.8m and 8.2m in width of the Conchas Beach and another of 2m in width at the Lagoinha Beach have been studied. Samples were collected at the margins (~10cm from the contact) and at the center of the dykes. The average characteristic size of the plagioclase crystals varies from 0.07 to 0.13mm at the margins of the narrow dykes (<=2m of width) and from 0.09 to 0.20mm at the margins of the large dyke. At the center of the Lagoinha and Conchas dykes the plagioclase size varies from 0.19 ±0.02mm and 0.60±0.07mm respectively. The CSDs at the dyke margins, irrespective of the dyke width, are typically concave-up, and in literature such patterns have been attributed as evidence of magma mixing with distinct crystal populations. However, at the center of the largest dyke (8.2m) of Conchas Beach, the CSD is log-linear, consistent with simple steady-state crystallization pattern. The mineral chemistry shows that the plagioclase phenocrysts have a high An content (bytownite-labradorite) than the groundmass grains (labradorite-andesine). At the margins olivine is richer in Fo than at the center, and respectively, pyroxene is richer in Ca. These results indicate that the chilled margin is more mafic than the center suggesting a normal chemical evolution in a cooling magma. Nevertheless, the concave-up CSDs probably depict heterogeneous crystallization rates possibly induced by depressurization during the ascent of the basaltic magma followed by rapid cooling. The log-linear CSD pattern at the center of the Conchas dyke (8.2m width) is attributed to a higher residence time of the magma which favors the processes of chemical diffusion and textural re-equilibration. The calculated cooling rates using the CSD slope enables us to estimate that the larger dyke of Conchas would be completely crystallized (at ~900oC) in 73 days. The study of the Shape Preferred Orientation (SPO) in plagioclase shows an isotropic petrofabric at the margins of the dykes <=2m, which could reflect a rapid crystallization of plagioclase by depressurization. When the fabric is defined, as in the larger Conchas Beach dyke, the plagioclase lineation is subhorizontal, suggesting that the magma flow was predominantly lateral to the dyke plane.

A técnica da Distribuição do Tamanho de Cristais - DTC (Crystal Size Distribution - CSD), que relaciona a densidade de cristais com a distribuição do tamanho, foi aplicada à população de plagioclásio de diques máficos do Enxame de Cabo Frio - Búzios (RJ). Os diques possuem larguras variáveis, de alguns centímetros a 20 metros, e orientação em torno de N45E. A textura dos diques é geralmente fina, localmente microporfirítica e intergranular no centro dos diques mais largos. Bordas resfriadas de alguns centímetros de largura são frequentes nos contatos com as rochas metamórficas encaixantes. Foram estudados dois diques na Praia das Conchas com espessura de 0,8m e 8,2m e, um outro na Praia da Lagoinha, com 2m de largura. As amostras foram coletadas junto às margens (~10 cm do contato) e no centro dos diques. O tamanho médio dos cristais de plagioclásio varia de 0,07 a 0,13 mm na borda dos diques mais finos (<= 2 m de largura) e de 0,09 a 0,20 mm na borda do dique mais largo. No centro do dique de Lagoinha e no dique largo de Praia das Conchas o tamanho de plagioclásio é da ordem de 0,19 ± 0,02 mm e 0,60 ± 0,07 mm, respectivamente. As DTCs nas bordas dos diques, independentemente de sua largura, mostraram um padrão tipicamente encurvado, e que tem sido atribuído na literatura como evidência para misturas de magmas com populações de cristais de tamanhos distintos. No entanto, no centro do dique largo (8,2m) de Praia das Conchas, a DTC é log-linear consistente com uma cristalização magmática simples. A química mineral mostrou que os cristais maiores (precoces) de plagioclásio apresentam um teor mais elevado em An (bytownita-labradorita) que os cristais menores (tardios) da matriz (labradorita-andesina). Além disso, a olivina é mais rica em Fo na borda que no centro do dique e, respectivamente, o piroxênio mais enriquecido em Ca. Esses resultados indicam que as margens resfriadas são mais máficas que o centro sugerindo uma evolução química normal com o resfriamento do magma. Portanto, as DTCs encurvadas provavelmente refletem taxas de cristalização heterogêneas possivelmente induzidas pela despressurização durante a ascensão do magma basáltico seguida de rápido resfriamento. O padrão da DTC log-linear no centro do dique de 8,2m de largura é atribuído ao maior tempo de residência do magma que favoreceria os processos de difusão química e re-equilíbrio textural. Os cálculos da taxa de resfriamento utilizando a inclinação da DTC permitiram estimar que o centro do dique largo da Praia das Conchas estaria completamente cristalizado (~ 900 °C) em torno de 73 dias. O estudo da Orientação Preferencial de Forma (OPF) de plagioclásio mostrou que a petrotrama tende a isotrópica nas margens dos diques com largura menor que 2 metros, o que poderia refletir uma rápida cristalização de plagioclásio por despressurização. Quando a trama é localmente definida, como no dique largo da Praia das Conchas, a lineação de plagioclásio é subhorizontal sugerindo que o fluxo magmático moveu-se predominantemente na lateral do dique. / The method of Crystal Size Distribution (CSD), which relates crystal density with size distribution, has been applied on the plagioclase population of the Mafic Dyke Swarm of Cabo Frio-Búzios (RJ). The dykes are NE-trending with widths from a few centimetres to 20m. The texture is generally fine grained and locally microporphyritic and intergranular at the center of the larger dykes. Chilled margins of a few centimetres in width are common at contacts with the metamorphic basement. Two dykes of 0.8m and 8.2m in width of the Conchas Beach and another of 2m in width at the Lagoinha Beach have been studied. Samples were collected at the margins (~10cm from the contact) and at the center of the dykes. The average characteristic size of the plagioclase crystals varies from 0.07 to 0.13mm at the margins of the narrow dykes (<=2m of width) and from 0.09 to 0.20mm at the margins of the large dyke. At the center of the Lagoinha and Conchas dykes the plagioclase size varies from 0.19 ±0.02mm and 0.60±0.07mm respectively. The CSDs at the dyke margins, irrespective of the dyke width, are typically concave-up, and in literature such patterns have been attributed as evidence of magma mixing with distinct crystal populations. However, at the center of the largest dyke (8.2m) of Conchas Beach, the CSD is log-linear, consistent with simple steady-state crystallization pattern. The mineral chemistry shows that the plagioclase phenocrysts have a high An content (bytownite-labradorite) than the groundmass grains (labradorite-andesine). At the margins olivine is richer in Fo than at the center, and respectively, pyroxene is richer in Ca. These results indicate that the chilled margin is more mafic than the center suggesting a normal chemical evolution in a cooling magma. Nevertheless, the concave-up CSDs probably depict heterogeneous crystallization rates possibly induced by depressurization during the ascent of the basaltic magma followed by rapid cooling. The log-linear CSD pattern at the center of the Conchas dyke (8.2m width) is attributed to a higher residence time of the magma which favors the processes of chemical diffusion and textural re-equilibration. The calculated cooling rates using the CSD slope enables us to estimate that the larger dyke of Conchas would be completely crystallized (at ~900oC) in 73 days. The study of the Shape Preferred Orientation (SPO) in plagioclase shows an isotropic petrofabric at the margins of the dykes <=2m, which could reflect a rapid crystallization of plagioclase by depressurization. When the fabric is defined, as in the larger Conchas Beach dyke, the plagioclase lineation is subhorizontal, suggesting that the magma flow was predominantly lateral to the dyke plane.

Mid-Late Triassic-age alkali-basalt dikes were emplaced along the coast of New England between 240-200 Ma. Known as the Coastal New England (CNE) magmatic province, this dike swarm is the immediate magmatic predecessor to the formation of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province large igneous province at 201 Ma and the breakup of Pangea. The intent of this study is to determine the melt source and mechanisms for melting which produced the Triassic coastal dikes. To achieve this goal, major and trace element compositions were analyzed for 53 CNE dikes from Maine and Nova Scotia. Radiogenic Nd-Sr-Pb-Hf ratios, representing some of the first 176Hf/177Hf data for CNE, are reported for 12 of the dikes. Taken together, the compositional data implicate melting of a deep mantle source that is relatively enriched in incompatible elements, such as a mantle-plume similar to those hypothesized as the source of melting in modern ocean-island basalts (i.e. Hawaii). Dike compositions are inconsistent with melts generated at typical spreading-center ridges (i.e. MORB). Modeling suggests that CNE melts ascended through thick continental crust, consistent with the incipient stages of rifting of Pangea, as evidenced by a heterogeneous mix of melting and crystallization depths, between 0-70km, with no clear geographic pattern. Radiogenic isotope data are relatively consistent and represent a mixture between HIMU, EMI and DMM mantle reservoirs, implying component consisting of relict subducted oceanic crust (or other similarly evolved material). CNE magmatism may have contributed to the breakup of Pangea by destabilizing the lower crust in the limited local area where it erupted, but its true relationship with the breakup of Pangea and later CAMP event requires more study. / Master of Science / Approximately 200-250 million years ago, hundreds of sheets of lava, called dikes, erupted along what is today the coast of New England. As these volcanic dikes rose up from the Earth’s mantle, they traveled along cracks and weak areas of the Earth’s crust. Today, these dikes are found along the New England coast as far south as Rhode Island and as far north as Nova Scotia, Canada. Based on the similarity of their geochemistry and petrology, as well as their geologic age and geography of their eruption, geologists group these dikes and similar volcanics together as a single, related magmatic event. This magmatic event produced the Coastal New England (CNE) magmatic province. 250 million years ago, the coast of New England was actually an interior part of the supercontinent known as Pangea. Around 250 m.yr. ago, Pangea slowly began rifting apart, which is when CNE volcanism began. By 200 m.yr. ago, Pangea had broken up, and CNE volcanism had ended. Further complicating the story, a large-igneous province (LIP) also erupted 200 m.yr. ago. Known as the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), this volcanism consisted of enormous volumes of lava that flooded over the entire east coast of the United States. The intent of this study is to determine what geological conditions led to the CNE volcanism. By learning which part of the Earth melted and why, CNE volcanism’s role in the breakup of Pangea, and the much larger CAMP eruptions that coincided with it, will become clearer. For instance, did the geologic events that resulted in CNE volcanism contribute to the breakup of Pangea, or did the breakup of Pangea cause CNE volcanism followed by CAMP volcanism? To achieve this goal, the geochemical compositions of 53 CNE dikes from Maine and Nova Scotia were analyzed. Radiogenic Nd-Sr-Pb-Hf ratios for a subset of the dikes (12) were also analyzed. This study presents some of the first radiogenic hafnium data for rocks from CNE. The data indicate that the melting which produced the CNE dikes began in the deep mantle, similar to the melting of mantle plumes beneath modern ocean-islands such as Hawaii. In contrast, shallow mantle melting, like the melting at mid-ocean ridges where oceanic crust is produced, is not consistent with the geochemical evidence presented for CNE in this study. Modeling suggests that CNE magmas rose through thick continental crust, which caused them to begin forming crystals at relatively high depths. Radiogenic isotope data suggests that part of the mantle that melted was old, recycled oceanic crust or similar mantle material. CNE magmatism may have contributed to the breakup of Pangea by destabilizing the lower crust in the limited local area where it erupted, but its true relationship with the breakup of Pangea and later CAMP event requires more study.