Edward Meyer, “Using Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) to Approximate  Finite Strain Orientations in the Southern Iberian Shear Zone”
Mentor: Dyanna Czeck, Geosciences
Poster #129

The purpose of this undergraduate research project is to study the magnetic fabrics present in a suite of rocks from the Southern Iberian Shear Zone (SISZ) located in Almonaster La Real, Spain to aid in defining strain characteristics of the shear zone. A team of myself and three other undergraduates, along with Dr. Dyanna Czeck, travelled to Spain to participate in NSF-funded field analysis of this shear zone using both hand tools and Strabospot, a structural geology digital field notebook for iPads. While there, forty-two samples were collected and sent back to our lab for analysis. This project involved cutting these samples into both oriented thin sections and 8 cm3 cubes for anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) research. AMS research was conducted on an AGICO MFK1 Kappabridge, which measures the anisotropy of magnetic fabrics inside the samples. These data will be used in combination with other structural tools, such as thin section analysis, geochemistry, etc. to form an interpretation on the kinematic model and deformation conditions of the SISZ. The SISZ has interesting kinematics with both left-lateral and strike-slip deformation, and the AMS fabrics will help determine how those are partitioned across and along the shear zone. AMS research can be a valuable tool for defining structural fabrics and how they vary in space, which allows us to unravel the strain partitioning. Given the well-exposed transect of the SISZ, we can use the AMS fabrics as potential proxies for deformation magnitude and spatial variations.