Petrology and
Geochemistry in Portugal
Understanding the geology and
events that contributed to the creation of northwest Iberia can shed light on
the evolution of the mountain belts formed during past collisions throughout
the globe. Geologic investigation of Braganca and Morais Massifs of northern
Portugal will be conducted to: (1) correlate the units of the Braganca and
Morais Massifs with units across the region, (2) examine and test hypotheses
about the source/origin of the rocks, and (3) produce data to understand the tectonic
assembly of the Iberian Peninsula. Proposed research will include geologic
sampling and field mapping of the Braganca and Morais Massifs in northern
Portugal. Collected samples will be submitted for geochemical testing of major,
minor, and trace elements, which will be compared and correlated between
related units present in northwest Spain to test hypotheses of direct links
between the Spanish and Portuguese rocks. Geochemical signatures in minor and
trace elements can indicate the type of source that created the rocks and
provide insight on the processes the rocks have endured. Understanding the
correlation of units across northwest Iberia and the source of these rocks will
allow for the testing of competing hypotheses and improve the current geodynamic/tectonic
models for the region.
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Geologic map of the
northwest Iberian massifs showing the location of the five allochthonous
complexes: Malpica-Tuy, Cabo Ortegal, Órdenes, BraganÒ«a, and Morais (after Pin
et al., 2006). Much of this research will be concducted during Dr. Kerrigan's sabbatical at the University of Lisbon in the fall of 2023. Dr. Kerrigan has been awarded a University of Pittsburgh Momentum Fund Priming Grant for 2023-24. Dr. Kerrigan has been chosen to receive a Fulbright Scholar Award to support research activities in Portugal while at the University of Lisbon in the fall of 2023. |
I will try to post more as this project progresses!
I'm always looking for interested students to take on more projects!!!
- Volcanic Ashes and Hydrothermal veining in the Alleghany Plateau
- Petrology, Geochemistry, and Structural Geology of Ultramafic Rocks
- Petrology, Geochemistry, and Structural Geology of Pegmatites
- Petrology, Geochemistry, and Structural Geology of Granites
- Structural Geology of Large Fracture Zones in the Allegheny Plateau
- Environmental Assessment and Remediation
Top images (left to right): Geologic Map of the Youngsford Road ultramfic body; field work at Bells Mill Road with Ryan Kerrigan, Loring Simboli, and Sam Louderback; XPL image of orthopyroxene altering to anthophyllite; Secondary electron image of relict olivine altering to serpentine; field contact between the Bells Mill granodiorite and the Wissahickon schist; trace element chemical discrimination diagram for serpentinites. Copyright © 2024 Ryan Kerrigan (last updated Jun 2024)