QUANTIFICATION OF FLOW DIFFERENTIATION BY IMAGE ANALYSIS OF A PROTEROZOIC AGE MAFIC DIKE

The definition of flow differentiation, is described as the separation of material based on density during the cooling process. The aim of the study is to test for flow differentiation using solely CSD image analysis. The focus of the study is a mafic dike from the Quinnesec Formation from the Pembine Wisconsin area. This area is predominantly basalt and diabase, and also contains some andesite, metagabbro sills, peridotite, tuff and breccia. The dike is known for being strongly porphyritic so large crystals are easily observed in the sample. We are hoping to find the crystal cargo concentration and quantify it, as well as quantify the long axis orientation.