Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Petrology And Geochemistry Of The Independence Dike Swarm, Owen’S Valley, California, Sean B. O'Donnell

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Petrologic studies are important because they provide insights into the conditions under which rocks form. The Late Jurassic Independence Dike Swarm is a series of vertical igneous dikes that crop out in eastern and southern California, and range from mafic to felsic in composition. In order to examine their petrology and geochemistry, surface samples were collected from four different dike outcrops within Owen’s Valley, CA. The samples were examined through thin-section analysis under a petrographic microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, and X-ray fluorescence analysis. Mineral composition, mineral size, major, trace, and rare earth element concentrations were collected from these analyses. Results …