Research
Mesoscopic to microcropic structures associated with the Wanni Complex/Highland Complex Boundary Shear Zone in Sri Lanka
Authors:
Lalindra V. Ranaweera ,
Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya 70140, LK
About Lalindra
Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences
K.V. Wilbert Kehelpannala
University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, BW
About K.V. Wilbert
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science
Abstract
In this study, we report mesoscopic and microscopic structures in sheared rocks associated with the Wanni Complex/Highland Complex boundary shear zone (WHBSZ) which represents a deep part of a granulite-facies, crustal-scale ductile shear zone in the Proterozoic basement of Sri Lanka. Normal khondalitic mylonites, spinel-bearing khondalitic mylonites, semipelitic mylonites and metagranitoid mylonites (striped gneisses) found along the WHBSZ show mesoscopic to microscopic scale shear sense indicators such as S-C' fabrics, rotated garnet porphyroblasts, δ-type and σ-type asymmetric objects, asymmetric folds and sheath folds. These asymmetric mesoscopic to microscopic structures indicate that the dominant deformation along the WHBSZ is non-coaxial ductile flow and that the WC has been emplaced from NNW (present orientation) on top of the HC. The presence of mylonites and ultramylonites along the WHBSZ suggests severe grain size reduction during the shearing. All the mylonites studied along the boundary shear zone have developed a mylonitic foliation, defined by quartz plates and ribbons, elongated and recrystallized fine-grained aggregates of feldspar, and a very strong stretching lineation mostly defined by c-axis of sillimanite and stretched quartz and elongated aggregates of other minerals. All the mesoscopic and microscopic structures suggest that the WHBSZ has formed during the second phase of D2 non-coaxial deformation accompanying high-temperature (HT) to ultrahigh temperature (UHT) granulite facies meta-morphism related to the first collision between the WC and the HC. This study emphasizes that careful study of granulite facies mylonites may provide reliable shear sense indicators for understanding the nature and kinematics of deep crustal shear zones.
How to Cite:
Ranaweera, L.V. and Kehelpannala, K.V.W., 2019. Mesoscopic to microcropic structures associated with the Wanni Complex/Highland Complex Boundary Shear Zone in Sri Lanka. Journal of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka, 20(2), pp.1–30. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jgssl.v20i2.29
Published on
01 Dec 2019.
Peer Reviewed
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