Petrology/Geochemistry/Mineralogy/Structure of Shear zones in St. Lawrence County

Robert Badger
,
SUNY Potsdam
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Summary

Field and petrographic examination of shear zones in northern New York

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Context

Audience

Junior/senior level petrology class. Most of these students took structure in the fall, and are taking geochemistry simultaneously.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

  • Concept of shear zones and microstructures
  • Good working knowledge of petrography

How the activity is situated in the course

culminating project

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

  • Recognition of microstructures
  • Identification of minerals under the microscope

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

  • Brittle vs. ductile shear
  • Effects of depth on style of deformation
  • Timing of metamorphic and structural events

Other skills goals for this activity

Synthesis of geochemical data with structural and petrologic data

Description of the activity/assignment

These rocks were collected from outcrops frequented by structural geology field trips. CCM 42 is from the town of Clare, CCM 43 is from Russell; although labeled CCM, neither is from the Carthoage Colton Mylonite Zone, but both are from shear zones. DEK is from the world famous DeKalb anticline.
In this lab we try to pull together material from petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy and structure.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Answers to lab specific questions

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

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