Investigation into the Mineralogy of Flow Banding in Georgia’s Sparta Granite Complex
Faculty Mentor
Robert Kelly Vance
Location
Russell Union Ballroom
Type of Research
On-going
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Department
School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Abstract
I am examining the Sparta Granite complex, a plutonic body in the Piedmont region of the Appalachian Mountains; it is heterogenous in composition and displays a number of textures throughout the body, including flow banding. Using a petrographic microscope and a point count stage, I intend to conduct point counts as a statistical analysis of the mineralogical composition of regions of flow banding in thin sections I have created from collected hand samples. There is a lack of research on the differing compositions in certain regions of the Sparta Granite body, and none specifically looking into the flow banding present. I will compare my findings on the mineralogy of the flow bands to previous chemical analysis of the rock body as a whole, and plan to send some of my own samples off for geochemical analysis. I expect to find higher concentrations of minerals that correspond to significant differences in major and trace element composition among flow bands. Furthermore, I will collate and present my data as a data set in a table and map the composition of each thin section on a QAPF plot to determine whether the rock type of individual flow bands varies notably from granite.
Program Description
.
Start Date
4-23-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Hubbs, Renee, "Investigation into the Mineralogy of Flow Banding in Georgia’s Sparta Granite Complex" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 217.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/217
Investigation into the Mineralogy of Flow Banding in Georgia’s Sparta Granite Complex
Russell Union Ballroom
I am examining the Sparta Granite complex, a plutonic body in the Piedmont region of the Appalachian Mountains; it is heterogenous in composition and displays a number of textures throughout the body, including flow banding. Using a petrographic microscope and a point count stage, I intend to conduct point counts as a statistical analysis of the mineralogical composition of regions of flow banding in thin sections I have created from collected hand samples. There is a lack of research on the differing compositions in certain regions of the Sparta Granite body, and none specifically looking into the flow banding present. I will compare my findings on the mineralogy of the flow bands to previous chemical analysis of the rock body as a whole, and plan to send some of my own samples off for geochemical analysis. I expect to find higher concentrations of minerals that correspond to significant differences in major and trace element composition among flow bands. Furthermore, I will collate and present my data as a data set in a table and map the composition of each thin section on a QAPF plot to determine whether the rock type of individual flow bands varies notably from granite.
