Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Geology
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Geosciences
Advisor/Mentor
Dumond, Gregory
Committee Member
Potra, Adriana
Second Committee Member
Liner, Christopher
Abstract
Samples of mafic granulite and eclogite from the Athabasca granulite terrane, thought to be representative of the lower continental crust, were analyzed via bulk geochemistry analysis and seismically modelled with Perple_X v.7.1.6. Modeled P-wave speeds, S-wave speeds, and densities for the samples were graphed by region and calculated for wet (1.00 wt.% H2O) versus dry (0.01 wt.% H2O) conditions at 460 °C and 648 °C. The samples were found to have higher median P-wave values than those determined by Rudnick and Fountain (1995; 7.4 km/s to 7.8 km/s, as compared to 6.9 km/s to 7.2 km/s). This indicates both a denser and more heterogeneous lower crust for the Athabasca granulite terrane than previously estimated for lower continental crust, in general. Mafic granulite velocities and densities between domains of the Athabasca granulite terrane appear similar. The results also indicate that a hydrated continental crust near the Moho can have lower seismic velocities and densities.
Keywords
Lower Crust; P-wave speeds; Perple_X; Athabasca; Mafic Granulite
Citation
Wyllie, O. (2026). Phase Equilibria Modeling Constraints on Seismic Velocity and Density for Mafic Granulites in the Athabasca Granulite Terrane, Western Canadian Shield. Geosciences Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/geosuht/6
