03.01.2015 Views

Geologic Map of the Maysville Quadrangle, Chaffee County, Colorado

Geologic Map of the Maysville Quadrangle, Chaffee County, Colorado

Geologic Map of the Maysville Quadrangle, Chaffee County, Colorado

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

higher proportion <strong>of</strong> hornblende than amphibolite gneiss and are locally riddled with fine<br />

net veinlets <strong>of</strong> white plagioclase. Minor small zones <strong>of</strong> moderate to strong mylonitic<br />

amphibolite gneiss are present in <strong>the</strong> southwest part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> quadrangle but no continuity<br />

was established.<br />

Amphibolite gneiss is commonly intimately associated with areas <strong>of</strong> calc-silicate<br />

gneiss (Xcs) or has a weak to moderate calc-silicate overprint. The calc-silicate<br />

assemblage is dominated by epidote and, locally, actinolite. In areas <strong>of</strong> well-developed<br />

calc-silicate gneiss <strong>the</strong> adjacent amphibolite gneiss typically has a weak to moderate calcsilicate<br />

overprint characterized by garnet-magnetite-epidote-actinolite +/- clinopyroxene<br />

and biotite-chlorite assemblages. Four <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> larger, continuous areas <strong>of</strong> calc-silicate<br />

gneiss (Xcs) are shown on <strong>the</strong> map.<br />

The amphibolite gneisses are locally cut by abundant sills and dikes <strong>of</strong> Berthoudtype<br />

granite and pegmatite (YXgp) and possibly older Routt-type granite and pegmatite<br />

(Xgp). They are also cut by Middle Proterozoic () microdiorite dikes and Tertiary ()<br />

andesite dikes. The rocks were completely recrystallized during amphibolite-grade<br />

metamorphism. Rare relict textures include small plagioclase eyes that may represent<br />

remnant plagioclase phenocrysts or crystal fragments. The regular gneissic layering is<br />

generally interpreted to represent remnant, primary layering (stratification) in <strong>the</strong><br />

protolith. This is supported by <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> interlayered amphibolite agglomerate<br />

(Xaa) with well-preserved remnant breccia structures, <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> randomly oriented<br />

amphibolite gneiss clasts in <strong>the</strong> amphibolite agglomerate, and <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> massive<br />

amphibolite layers. The composition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> amphibolite gneiss suggests a mafic, basaltic<br />

protolith and remnant textures support an interlayered sequence <strong>of</strong> basaltic<br />

volcaniclastics, flows, and minor breccias.<br />

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY<br />

The <strong>Maysville</strong> quadrangle is located in a tectonically complex region that is<br />

dominated by <strong>the</strong> Late Paleogene-Neogene Rio Grande rift (figs. 4 and 5). The structural<br />

interpretations presented here strongly corroborate <strong>the</strong> views <strong>of</strong> many earlier workers,<br />

150

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!