geology of plutonic rocks. igneous plutonic rocks formed – –900 degree c –50 km depth uplift...
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Geology of Plutonic Rocks
Igneous plutonic rocks
• Formed – – 900 degree C – 50 km depth
• Uplift to earth surface
• Enormous decrease in confining pressure
Extrusive
Intrusive orplutonic
Shield regions
• Sweden is an example• roots of former mountain ranges, • stable interior, • resembles granite but • complex history • often formed by extreme
metamorphism rather than by solidification from a melt. Fig 6.1
Mountains – complex Mountains – complex folding folding
Mountains Mountains worn to worn to flat landflat land
• By the Precambria
n –
MagmaMagma molten rock within the earth LavaLava on the earth
Geothermal gradient
• varies • crust thicker in
continental areas– normal rise in
temperature with depth of between 10 to 50 C per km
• crust thinner in oceanic areas
increased tempurature dueto igneous intrusion
normal rise in temperature with depth of between 10 to 50 C per km
Question
• Where does magma form?
• In the crust and upper mantle NOT in the center of the earth
Magma
subduction relation
• crustal rockscrustal rocks subducted melt at a lower temperature than do oceanic oceanic rocksrocks– two magma producing events
1. subduction - water rich ocean plate
• the rise of the moisture through the overlying rocks lowers their melting point and initiates melting
2. subduction - heat increases with depth
• the crustal rocks begin to melt and mixes with the magma derived from the mantle
Forms of igneous intrusions
• sheets – layer of intrusion• pluton – irregular body• dikes – vertical sheet
intrusions• sills – horizontal sheet
intrusion• laccoliths – lens shaped • ring dikes, cone sheets –
a cone shaped intrusion• dike swarm – several• pipe of neck – source of
nourishment of a volcano • batholiths – largest body
of an intrusion
• stocks – smaller intrusive body• xenoliths – country rock mass
surrounded by intrusive rocks• roof pendants – inliers of
metamorphic rocks• pegmatites – coarse grained
intrusions• aplites – fine grained intrusions• stratiform complexes –
layered• flow bedding – segregation of
layers• lopolith and cone sill –
mineral deposits
Forms of igneous intrusions
• pluton – irregular body• dikes – vertical sheet
intrusions• sills – horizontal sheet
intrusion• laccoliths – lens shaped • ring dikes, cone sheets –
a cone shaped intrusion• dike swarm – several• pipe of neck – source of
nourishment of a volcano • batholiths – largest body
of an intrusion
Forms of igneous intrusions
• pluton – irregular body• dikes – vertical sheet
intrusions• sills – horizontal sheet
intrusion• ring dikes, cone
sheets – a cone shaped intrusion
• dike swarm – several• pipe of neck – source of
nourishment of a volcano • batholiths – largest
body of an intrusion
Forms of igneous intrusions
• xenoliths – country rock mass surrounded by intrusive rocks
Forms of igneous intrusions
• pegmatites – coarse grained intrusions• aplites – fine grained intrusions
Forms of igneous intrusions• stratiform complexes – layered
• flow bedding – segregation of layersid• lopolith and cone sill – mineral deposits
Classification of plutonic rocks Fig 6.6
• Few common minerals – their abundance is the basis for classification
• Basic or Mafic rocks – contain minerals with a high melting point and silica content of ca 43 – 50%
• Acidic or Felsic rocks – contain minerals with low melting point and silica content of 65 – 72%
• Intermediate – have silica contents of 50 to 65%
Texture
Textures – normal slow cooling produces sand size interlocking crystalline grains
• Phenocrysts – coarser grains• Porphyry – contains numerous coarse grains
in an otherwise fine grained mass• Coarse crystalline – grains > 2mm• Medium crystalline – grains 0.06-2mm• Fine crystalline – grains < 0.06 mm• Aphanitic – crystals not visible • Phaneritic –visible grains
Texture
• Phenocrysts – coarser grains• Porphyry – contains numerous coarse
grains (phenocrysts) in an otherwise fine grained mass
Rock names Fig 6.6!!!• Granite• Diorite• Gabbro• Peridotite (ultra basic)
• Dunite (untra basic)
•Rhyolite•Andesite•Basalt
•Granodiorite
•Diabas or dolerite
•Anorthosite
•Syenite
•Tonolite•Monzonite•Porfyr
intrusiveintrusive
extrusiveextrusive
OTHERS?OTHERS?
The three components, Q (quartz) + A (alkali (Na-K) feldspar) + P (plagioclase)
Phaneritic – visible grains
Serpentinite
• an altered ultra basic, peridotite (olivine) has been an altered ultra basic, peridotite (olivine) has been replaced by the mineral serpentinereplaced by the mineral serpentine
• this is a chemical weathering process which is associated this is a chemical weathering process which is associated with a with a 70% volume increase70% volume increase
• this increase in volume results often in the internal this increase in volume results often in the internal deformationdeformation of the rock; fracturing and shearing of the rock; fracturing and shearing
jointing in granitic rocks
• arise from general crustal strain, cooling, and unloading
Sheet joints
• typical for igneous rocks, called also exfoliation joints or lift joint
• no sheet joints below 60 m• Sheet joints conform to the
topography, fig 6.12a, 6.10a • slopes steeper than the angle of
friction, ca 35 degrees, tensile fractures develop and wall arch, an overhang
• sheet jointing is well developed in igneous rocks, but not exclusive, it also occurs in soils and other rocks to some extent
• Formed – – 900 degree C – 50 km depth
• Uplift to earth surface
• Enormous decrease in confining pressure
Sheet weathering due to unconfinement
Joints due to relaxation
two to thee preferred directions of joints two to thee preferred directions of joints is common, is common, joint setjoint set
Question
• ??Why is sheet jointing more prominent in igneous rocks than other rocks?
• Unloading is one of the main reasons. • Igneous rocks are formed at up to 50 km
depth. With 27Mpa/Km times 50 km = 1350 MPa pressure at the time of formation; uni directional!! Upon uplift this pressure is reduced and the rocks relax, with a vertical unload stress of 27 MPa.
unloading
unloading in tunnels – different names for different rocks – for igneous rocks it is called:
• Popping rock - is a term used in underground operations where the rock pops off the rock face. This can be very violent and is due to the unloading due to the underground excavation
weathering in plutonic rocks
• physical weathering – mechanical breakdown of earth material at the earth surface. Ex. Heating/cooling, wetting/drying, plants and animals including man.
• chemical weathering – chemical decomposition due to a chemical reaction changing the composition of the earth material, ex carbonic acid replacing silicate minerals, feldspar changing to kaolin, mica changing to limonite and kaolin.
chemical weathering –
• acts on igneous minerals in the order of solidification
• Bowen’s reaction series (fig 6.6)
• high temperature minerals are more rapidly affected
• low temperature minerals more stable
chemical weathering –
• Basic and ultrabasic – form montmorillonite clays
• Grainitic rocks – form kaolinites
Weathering profiles
• form relative rapidly in granitic rocks
• a layer of clay minerals forms at the surface
• by the continuous downward percolation of water and carbon dioxide
• in the vadose zone above the water table
Spheroidal weathering
• common in jointed igneous rocks where the
• percolation of water is concentrated to the joints
• the fresh rock delineated by the fractures is slowly effected but
• the corners are more rapidly effected thus spherical shapes are formed
Spheroidal weathering
• common in jointed igneous rocks where the
• percolation of water is concentrated to the joints
• the fresh rock delineated by the fractures is slowly effected but
• the corners are more rapidly effected thus spherical shapes are formed
Joints enhance weatheringJoints enhance weathering
Paleozoic – Sweden was near the equator
• Rounded rock mass due to weathering
Exfoliation – is formed in the spheres by chemical expansion in the weathering granite
•Rounded blocks due to chemical weathering
•Open joints
It is clear that this is “granite” by the way it weathers
Saprolite• decomposed
granite, residual material formed from weathering resulting in a residual soil
Description of a residual soil is “fuzzy”
two variables• I. the degree of weathering of the
rock
• II. the abundance of altered minerals
Classes of weathering of igneous rocks
• Several different classification systems
• Different authors
All contain several classes
in this case 6 classes
I – fresh (f)II – slightly weathered (sw)III – moderately weathered (mw)IV – highly weathered (hw)V – completely weathered (cw)
VI – residual soil (rs) Hong Kong – zones of weathering p. 225, zones A (residual soil), B, C, D and Fresh rockProfile development in Hong Kong – figures 6.18 1-4, 6.19 a-f!
All contain several classes
in this case 6 classes
I – fresh (f)II – slightly weathered (sw)III – moderately weathered (mw)IV – highly weathered (hw)V – completely weathered (cw)
VI – residual soil (rs)
All contain several classes
in this case 6 classes
I – fresh (f)II – slightly weathered (sw)III – moderately weathered (mw)IV – highly weathered (hw)V – completely weathered (cw)
VI – residual soil (rs)
Chemically weathered
granite
All contain several classes
Granite weathers to a sandy soil
Rock Quality – some tests
Index tests – give information about the Index tests – give information about the rockrock – fresh or weathered and to what – fresh or weathered and to what degreedegree
• Porosity• Bulk density• Compressibility• Tensile strength• Elastic constants• Point load test
Rock Quality – some tests
Fluid adsorption, classes 1-4Almost impermeableSlightly permeableModerately permeableHighly permeable
Rock Quality – some tests
Slake behaviorSlake behavior - degree of disintegration of 40 to 50 grams of specimen after 5-min immersion in water
Class 1 – no changeClass 2 – less than halfClass 3 – more than halfClass 4 – total disintegration
Effect of climate and rock type on weathering
Precipitation/evaporation ratio is important • Weinert - N valueWeinert - N value is a weathering index
N<5, chemical weathering is favored over mechanical – decomposition is the predominate process
N>5, mechanical weathering is favored over chemical – decomposition is predominate
Weathering of basic and ultrabasic rocks
• N > 2, montmorillonite• N between 1-2, kaolinite
Effect of climate and rock type on weathering
• Extreme – tropical climates laterite soilslaterite soils are produced
• where all silica is removed and • some clay minerals replaced by
iron, aluminum, and magnesioum oxided and hydroxides
Effect of climate and rock type on weathering
Engineering properties
plutonic rocks
exploration
• weather profile nature: extent of rock and soil cover
• hazards of boulders • hazard of soil flow• slides of serpentine• sheet slides• rock falls
excavation
• core stones– size
• drilling can divert along joints
foundations
• hardness and soundness• core stones – differential support• driving piles difficult in weathered
material• collapsing residual soil• disposal of water in weathered
terrain, erosion susceptible
dams
• earth fill dams can be placed on soil profiles of I-IV possible V
• concrete dams can be placed on sound rock and possible zones I and II
• Permeability a problem in weathered zones
• Permeability between sheets common• Serpentine is not suitable for any dam
construction
underground works
• weathering down to 60 m (500 m)• variable hardness difficult• popping rock danger• diabase dikes act often as
subsurface dams – water can be a problem upon penetration
• serpentine dangerous
ground water
• fault zones• weathered granite
case histories
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
San Joaquin River, California
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
San Joaquin River, California
biotite granodioriteweathering depth – 30
msaprolite used as
aggregate for a 100 m high dam – without clay core
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
• surface covered with core stones
• largest was a sheet of granite, 5000 m3,
• valley filled with alluvial sediments with maximum depth of 30 m
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
• bedrock contained numerous jointsbedrock contained numerous joints• open or partly filled with alluvial open or partly filled with alluvial
sand and weathered debrissand and weathered debris• bedrock grouted downward 5 m – to bedrock grouted downward 5 m – to
reduce compressibility of the open reduce compressibility of the open fissures and jointsfissures and joints
• grout curtain down to 15 m below grout curtain down to 15 m below the foundation and 12 m into the the foundation and 12 m into the abutmentsabutments
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
• grouting– must go slow– at low pressures– some sheets are bolted prior to
grouting– otherwise uplift of sheet joints
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
• grouting• estimated 5 000 sacks• required 42 000 sacks
• why – aperture of joints very large – one as wide as 40 cm!
• NOTE: apertures of 100 cm not uncommon in Sweden
mammoth pool dam – sheeted granodiorite
• rock bolts installed to stabilize sheets• drainage holes were made to insure that low
water pressures would be maintained between sheets after the dam was filled– 15 m, 5º from horizontal, into the sheets to intercept all
possible open sheet joints
Malaysian granite hydroelectric project
• Porphyritic granite with 35% quartz and 5% biotite• hairline fractures• occasional shear zone healed with calcite, chlorite or
quartz
Malaysian granite hydroelectric project
• Shear zones and mylonite and brecciated granite
Malaysian granite hydroelectric project
• surface outcrops minimal due to jungle vegetation• Lineaments visible on aerial photographs suggested
faults and shear zones• 67 drill holes
Malaysian granite hydroelectric project
• Tunneling was the biggest problem with weathered zones and faults
• weathering average 30 m • but also in the tunnel at 300 m• residual soil was up to 6 m thick
Malaysian granite hydroelectric project
• grade VI material in weathered profile had a clay content of 20%
• grade V was sand with less than 10% clay
• Grade V1 material used to form a core
• Grade V formed the shells
Malaysian granite hydroelectric project
• shear zones at 250 m depth contained 7 to 22 cm thick layers of grade IV and V weathered grainite
• at 450 m depth in the tunnel slabbing occurred in the walls
• erosion was a problem in weathered granite
• divert the tunnel to a different direction to avid problem zones and faults zones
Question
• Can decomposed granite furnish satisfactory materials for concrete aggregate?
Question
• How can it be determined that a borehole through soil and saprolite extending into unweathered rock has not actually bottomed in a core stone?
Question
• A granitic pluton is not bedded in the sense that a sedimentary rock is bedded. How then could a conspicuous fracture be identified definitively as a fault?
Question
• Granitic core stones are well developed in Hong Kong whereas granitic rocks of Korea generally lack then. How is this possible?