Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics

Joint Laboratory Seminar

Date and Time: Monday, 26 November 2018, at 11:00 AM

Venue: Conference hall (3rd floor), Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics

Seminar topic: «Neutron diffraction texture analysis for understanding the tectonics of the European Alps»

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Froitzheim (Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn, Germany)

Abstract:

The texture of deformed rocks yields information about (1) the active gliding system and hence the temperature during deformation, (2) the type of strain, e.g. extension versus flattening, (3) the kinematic path (e.g., simple shear versus pure shear, and the shear sense of simple shear). Neutron texture goniometry, because of the high penetration capability, allows true volume measurement and therefore statistic measurements even in coarse-grained material. The SKAT diffractometer uses the time-of-flight method on samples up to 5 cm in diameter and containing up to seven mineral phases. I show examples of textures from polymineralic deformed rocks of the Adula Nappe in the Central Alps which were measured on SKAT and yield unprecedented detailed information about the tectonic history of the Adula Nappe.