The Nature of Textural and Compositional Variability in the Lake Vernon Granodiorite in

Western Yosemite National Park, CA

Jamie Hayward*, Cullen Scheland, Valbone Memeti
California State University, Fullerton; Department of Geological Sciences
*jhayward4@csu.fullerton.edu

Introduction Results Results Continued

• Granodioritic Sierran plutons are often characterized by within-unit, local to regional textural CL Images Whole Rock XRF Element Abundances Modal Abundance of Feldspar across the Klv
and compositional (modal) variability, too subtle for separation into mapping units. % Plagioclase vs Distance from Kbu Contact
• This study investigates the nature of this variability in the Lake Vernon Granodiorite (Klv) using JM-37 60%
JM-287

50% JM-37
JM-14
petrography, CL imaging, and whole rock XRF elemental analysis. JM-289 JM-282

% Plagioclase in sample
JM-44 JM-309
40%

30%

20%

Research Question & Hypothesis 10%

0%
0.01 0.01 0.39 1.24 1.48 2.81 3.69

Question: What is the cause of the textural and compositional variability in the Klv? Figure 7. Sediment source plots showing the
Distance from Kbu relative
contact (Km) percentage of silicon, titanium

and iron. These elements are detrital elements indicative of land sources. Plots for
Hypothesis: The within-unit changes might be due to differences in cooling histories, magma % K-Feldspar
each individual location are shown in vs Distance from Kbu Contact
a) SR1707-02, b) SR1707-03, c) SR1707-04,
25%
and d) SR1707-05, while e) shows results from all cores combined JM-309 with specific
mixing, and crystal fractionation/accumulation. groupings outlined by time ofJM-37 deposition
20% JM-44

% K-Feldspar in sample
JM-282
JM-14
15% JM-289

10%
JM-287

The Klv 5000 µm

5%

0%
0.01 0.01 0.39 1.24 1.48 2.81 3.69
Distance from Kbu contact (Km)
JM-44
Figure 7. Bar graphs showing plagioclase and K-feldspar abundances in each thin section
versus the distance from the nearest Kbu contact. Plagioclase abundance generally
decreases as you move away from the Kbu towards the Kbl. K-feldspar has the opposite
trend, it increases in abundance moving away from the Kbu towards the Kbl. Note
Figure 6. Whole rock major and trace element abundances for Klv samples. Triangle symbols represent samples from the
sample JM-287 is an outlier, it has the highest and lowest abundances of plagioclase and
northern locality and squares represent samples from the south. Colors represent distance from the older plutonic unit
K-feldspar, respectively.
to the east (Kbu). Cool colors are closer to the Kbu and warm colors are closer to Kbl. Note sample JM-315 is from Kbl for
comparison. Element results display negative correlation with increasing silica in MgO and CaO (strong), and Sr (weak)
from the eastern margin to the western interior. K2O and Na2O have weak positive and negative correlations,
respectively with increasing silica. Sample JM-287 notably has the lowest K2O and highest Na2O of all samples.

Discussion
Petrography
JM-273 JM-282 • Cumulate textures are visible at the thin section (Fig. 4, sample JM-287) and unit

JM-287
JM-289
Mafics scales (Fig. 7). More abundant plagioclase accumulation (Fig. 7) at the Klv/Kbu

JM-315
boundary suggests boundary effects led to greater interstitial melt loss.
JM-44 JM-37
5000 µm •Figure
XRF results suggest
7. Sediment the Klv
source underwent
plots fractional
showing the relativecrystallization
percentage ofover 6 wt%
silicon, of
titanium
JM-309
JM-14
and iron.decreasing
silica, These elements
maficsare
anddetrital elements
increasing felsicindicative of land
composition sources.
towards thePlots
Kbl. for
each individual location are shown in a) SR1707-02, b) SR1707-03, c) SR1707-04,
JM-287 • and
Petrography resultswhile
d) SR1707-05, showe)increasing K-spar
shows results fromabundance towards the
all cores combined Kbl
with (Fig. 7).
specific
groupings outlined by time of deposition
• CL and petrographic results suggest that 3 distinct plagioclase populations likely
Figure 5. Scans of thin sections from the Klv displaying the variability in mafics. Modal abundances range
from 4-14% of thin section, grains range from <1mm up to 7mm. Edge of thin sections is 24 mm. originated in an earlier Klv magma or from adjacent units and concluded their
magmatic histories together in the Klv. The resorbed cores and patchy zoning of
Figure 1. Map of the Jack Main Canyon intrusive suite, Western Yosemite National Park, CA. Red dots
represent sample collection points within the Klv, see legend above for further details. 3 Plagioclase Populations were identified: plagioclase populations 1 and 2 suggest the magma was in disequilibrium and
• The Klv is a pluton in the Jack Main experienced changing conditions.
Canyon Intrusive Suite, in Western
Population 1
• Grain sizes range from 350 –
Yosemite National Park, CA (Fig.1). The
3000 µm
intrusive suite grades from oldest to
• Cores are resorbed and contain
Conclusions
youngest on a NW trend. To the West lies • The textural and compositional variability of the Klv appears to be caused by
hornblende and opaque mineral
the younger Boundary Lake granite (Kbl) several factors:
inclusions
and to the NE/SE is the older Bearup Lake 5000 µm
1. The Klv grades to more felsic composition from the Kbu towards the Kbl,
• No spatial preference within the
granodiorite (Kbu). as a result of fractional crystallization.
Klv
• U/Pb zircon geochronology indicates
JM-289 2. Plagioclase is showing a preference for accumulation at the Kbu contact
crystallization from 97-95 Ma Population 2 margins and causing melt to migrate at least locally.
• Grain sizes range from 150 –
(unpublished data). 3. The presence of all 3 plagioclase populations in all samples across the Klv
3000 µm
• Composition is granodioritic and grades suggests that the Klv had variable melt conditions.
Figure 2. Classification Diagram showing the Klv • Oscillatory and patchy zoning
towards granite with sample locality • Overall, variability is caused by crystallization accumulation/fractionation
grades from granodiorite to granite. • 95% of grains have albitic
nearing Kbl to the west (Fig.2). from the Kbu contact to the Kbl contact.
overgrowth
• Most abundant population across
the Klv
References
Population 3 Marshall, D. J., & Mariano, A. N. (1988). Cathodoluminescence of geological materials.
• Grain sizes range from 150 - Taylor & Francis.
5000 µm 2000 µm (smallest of the three
Figure 3. Representative samples of the Klv, showing the textural and compositional variability. populations)
Figure 4. Klv thin sections utilized for Cathodoluminescence imaging (CL). Plagioclase has range of
Klv characteristics: colors (bright green to red/brown) based on varying proportions of Fe and Mn (Marshall and Mariano, • No zoning patterns, but often rims Acknowledgements
1988).. It displays several zoning patterns mostly with green cores: normal, oscillatory, patchy, or none.
• The distinguishing feature of the Klv is its porphyritic hornblende and biotite. Hornblende is the other two populations
A few grains display resorbed cores with opaque inclusions. Some degree of accumulation (5-25%) is Funding for this project comes from 3 sources: (1) USGS EdMap grant to Memeti for field
anhedral to euhedral and can get up to 13 mm long. Biotite varies in size and shape, clots are visible in all thin sections. In JM-287 melt appears to have migrated at least locally around the • Most abundant in samples at NE work, (2) NSF grant EAR-1624854 to Memeti for lab analysis, and (3) NSF grant # 1826490 to
accumulated plagioclase. Samples with the highest accumulation (15-25%) are near the Kbu contacts.
replacing hornblende and large books up to 6 mm are common (right photo, Fig. 3). K-Feldspar is interstitial and displays normal zoning with variable bright blue to dark blue based on Kbu contact and SW Kbl contact CSU LSAMP for supporting student research. A special thanks to Alejandra Angulo for her
varying proportions of Ba and Al (Marshall and Mariano, 1988).
• Plagioclase can range from 1 – 7 mm, and K-feldspars can be up to 15 mm long. many hours spent in the field collecting samples and data for the map.