GEOCHEMICAL SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF THE MIDDLE PROTEROZOIC GRANITE-RHYOLITE PROVINCE

Much of the Mid-North American continent is underlain by the Middle Proterozoic Granite-Rhyolite Province. These 1.5-1.3 Ga old granites have been labeled as "anorogenic" based on previous work and make up a belt which extends from Michigan to Southern California. This interpretation is based on geochemical data, field evidence, lack of widespread deformation in these rocks, and a lack of metamorphic and intermediate composition igneous rocks seen in modern day convergent settings. Through mapping using ArcGIS and new trace elemental analyses, this research looks at the relative geochemical/geographical distributions within this belt. The analysis of these data will include both quantitative and spatial techniques, using both published and unpublished work previously done on these granites. The purpose is to find a correlation between the spatial geochemical trends and tectonic processes theorized to have formed this major Precambrian province, which represents a major addition to the continental crust at that time.