The Origin and Occurrence of Cordierite in the South Mountain Batholith

Abstract

Cordierite occurs on both sides of the contact between the South Mountain batholith and the Meguma metasediments, in southwestern Nova Scotia. Textural features of the cordierites in the batholith, the xenoliths, the Meguma country rock and the pegmatite dyke collected, along with microprobe analyses of the AFM minerals present, indicate cordierites of two origins. Cordierites in the granodiorites and monzogranites of the batholith are interpreted to be metamorphic in origin. Cordierites in the pegmatite dyke are interpreted to be the result of direct crystallization from a fluid phase.

Keywords: Pages: 90 Supervisors: D. B. Clarke