COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Tectonothermal Evolution During Collisional Orogenesis: Blueschist to Granulite Facies Metamorphism in the Kigluaik Mountains, Alaska

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The Kigluaik Mountains in Alaska contain a granulite facies (high-temperature) metamorphic overprint on relatively cool, high pressure, epidote-blueschist rocks. Two competing hypotheses for this juxtaposition are (1) that it represents an extensional metamorphic core complex with a pronounced structural break between the different grade rocks, and (2) that the high temperature meta- morphism formed in response to thermal re-equilibration of thickened crust with no structural break. This study will directly test the second hypothesis by an integrated program of field work, petrology and geochronology. It will also evaluate heat transport mechanisms for the high grade rocks. The results will provide important constraints on the thermal history of deep seated parts of orogens immediately post-collision, and will thus have wide tectonic significance.