Paige Pimentel, “Major Element Geochemistry of the Pulo do Lobo Formation Affected by the Southern Iberian Shear Zone”
Mentor: Dyanna Czeck, Geosciences
Poster #146

The goal of the project is to further understand the geochemical changes associated with deformation of the Pulo de Lobo metasedimentary rocks affected by the Southern Iberian Shear Zone. This study is part of a larger effort to understand the deformation that occurs along the shear zone. During the field season of late May and early June of 2023, samples were collected at two transects across the Southern Iberian Shear Zone. This was done with a team including Dr. Dyanna Czeck, Dr. Manuel Díaz-Azpiroz, Stephanie Fones, Kayla Kopinski, George Meyer, Paige Pimentel, and J Schnieder. Samples and notes were taken on Strabospot, a digital field notebook, for observations of the outcrops.  With the samples collected, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) will be run after powdering, loss on ignition (LOI), and fusing occurs. The chemical and LOI data from this process will give an indication of the amount of volatiles trapped in the metamorphosed rock at each point sampled. Preliminary data indicate LOI values between 0-5%. With this information, we will know if there are more volatiles closer or farther from the shear zone. Then it can be hypothesized whether the metamorphism occurring during deformation purges volatiles from the system or traps them. Subsequently, more inferences can be made about past conditions during deformation of the Southern Iberian Shear Zone.