High Flux Events in Magmatic Arcs

Large volume magma fluxes into batholiths result in most of the magma added to continental arc systems and may represent large volumes of rock added to the continental crust. However, if these magmas are derived within the crust, then crustal growth may be either small or insignificant. Research in the Canadian Coast Mountains batholith has documented high magma flux events and my work is evaluating trigger mechanisms for these events. Geochronology and metamorphic P-T-t paths are being used to determine whether Cretaceous thickening of the crust and heating of sedimentary rocks resulted in devolatization and/or partial melting which triggers or causes high magma fluxes into the batholith. This work is currently funded by National Science Foundation Tectonics.

​Geological Society of America Thompson Field Forum: Processes Controlling the Growth and Evolution of Continental Batholiths, Coast Mountains British Columbia Canada