The relationship between foliation and strain: an experimental investigation

A multilayered salt/mica specimen with embedded strain markers was shortened to produce a fold and the distribution of strain was subsequently mapped out over the profile plane. On a fine scale the initial foliation, which is parallel to the undeformed layers, is folded by tight kinks to produce two new foliations; one is defined by the preferred orientation of kink boundaries and the other by the preferred orientation of (001) of mica. In the hinge region of the fold the first of these new foliations is parallel to the local λ₁λ₂-principal plane of strain whereas the preferred orientation of mica is bimodal and is symmetrical about the λ₁λ₂-plane. Elsewhere the two new foliations are not parallel to the principal plane of strain and angular divergencies of up to 30–35° are measured. If a March model with initial random mica orientation is assumed for the development of mica preferred orientation then the correct value of strain is predicted but the orientation of the principal plane of strain can be grossly in error. A theoretical analysis of the angular relationships to be expected between kink boundaries and the λ₁λ₂-plane of strain confirms that for the type of geometries experimentally developed, large divergences of up to 35° should be common. In rocks where the foliation has developed by processes similar to those recorded here, large angular divergencies between the foliation and the λ₁λ₂-principal plane of strain should be expected as the rule.     

实验变形煤的光性组构分析

三种R_max^o分别为0.67%,3.41%和4.90%的煤样,在t=350-700℃、P_c=400-600MPa、ε=10%-30%、ε=3.63×10^-4-2.59×10^-5s^-1条件下的变形实验表明:(1)煤光性组构的成因是芳环层片在构造应力作用下重新定向所致,重新定向的主要机制是煤化过程中芳环层片的择优成核生长,同时存在物理转动定向机制的作用;(2)芳环层片的重新定向主要发生在煤级相对较低阶段,VRI的Z轴主要反映这一阶段的构造应力方向;(3)YRI的形态特征并非仅与有限应变有关,它不能直接作为有限应变分析的标志。     

Laboratory Investigations of the Hydro-Mechanical–Chemical Coupling Behaviour of Sandstone in CO2 Storage in Aquifers

This paper is devoted to experimental investigations of the hydro-mechanical–chemical coupling behaviour of sandstone in the context of CO₂ storage in aquifers. We focused on the evolution of creep strain, the transport properties and the elastic modulus of sandstone under the effect of CO₂–brine or CO₂ alone. A summary of previous laboratory results is first presented, including mechanical, poromechanical and hydro-mechanical–chemical coupling properties. Tests were then performed to investigate the evolution of the creep strain and permeability during the injection of CO₂–brine or CO₂ alone. After the injection of CO₂–brine or CO₂ alone, an instantaneous volumetric dilatancy was observed due to the decrease in the effective confining stress. However, CO₂ alone had a significant influence on the creep strain and permeability compared to the small influence of CO₂–brine. This phenomenon can be attributed to the acceleration of the CO₂–brine–rock reaction by the generation of carbonic acid induced by the dissolution of CO₂ into the brine. The original indentation tests on samples after the CO₂–brine–rock reaction were also performed and indicated that the elastic modulus decreased with an increasing reaction time. The present laboratory results can advance our knowledge of the hydro-mechanical–chemical coupling behaviour of sandstone in CO₂ storage in aquifers.     

Shear Strength Response of a Geotextile-Reinforced Chlef Sand: A Laboratory Study

During the last earthquake that occurred in Chlef (El Asnam 1980, Algeria), a significant decrease in the shear strength has caused major damages to several civil and hydraulic structures (earth dams, embankments, bridges, slopes and buildings), especially for the saturated sandy soil of the areas near Chlef valley. This paper presents a laboratory study of drained compression triaxial tests conducted on sandy soil reinforced with horizontal layers of geotextile, in order to study the influence of geotextile layer characteristics both on shear stress–strain and on volumetric change–strain. Tests were carried out on medium and dense sand. The experimental programme includes some drained compression tests performed on reinforced sand samples, for different values of the geotextile layers number (N _g), of confining pressure (\( \sigma_{\text{c}}^{\prime } \)) and relative density (D _r). The test results have shown that the contribution of the geotextile at low values of the axial strain (ε ₁) is negligible, for higher values of (ε ₁); geotextile induces a quasi-linear increase in the deviator stress (q) and leads to an increase in the volume contractiveness within the reinforced samples. A negligible influence of geotextile layers number (N _g) on the stress–strain behaviour and the volumetric change has been shown, when normalized with N _g. The results indicate that the contribution of geotextile to the stress–strain mobilization increases with increasing confining pressure, while its contribution to the volume contraction decreases with the increase in the confining pressure.     

Dissolution and precipitation processes in deformed amphibolites: an example from the ductile shear zone of the Ryoke metamorphic belt, SW Japan

The granitic mylonite zone in the Cretaceous Ryoke metamorphic belt contains deformed amphibolites as thin layers. The amphibolite layers do not exhibit pinch‐and‐swell or boudinage structures, even when contained in a high‐strain granitic mylonite. This mode of occurrence suggests that they were deformed as much as the surrounding granite mylonite. In the highly deformed zone, strongly foliated amphibolites contain Ti‐rich brown amphibole porphyroclasts rimmed by Ti‐poor green amphibole, titanite and chlorite. These porphyroclasts are elongated, forming shear surfaces defined by preferential distribution of the chlorite and titanite. Porphyroclastic plagioclase in the strongly foliated amphibolites consists of two components: an anorthite‐rich core and an anorthite‐poor rim. Based on these observations, the mass‐balanced reaction occurring during deformation is defined as As the reaction products form a weak interconnected matrix, the strain rate of the amphibolites may be controlled by the rate of dissolution–precipitation through fluids. Weakly foliated amphibolites in the low‐strain zone exhibit cataclastic microstructures, whereas the strongly foliated amphibolites do not exhibit such features. These microstructural and chemical changes suggest that high‐strain amphibolites were initially deformed by cataclasis, followed by deformation through metamorphic reactions. During the metamorphism/deformation, old plagioclase grains with high X_an were not stable and dissolved, and new plagioclase grains with low X_an crystallized at the old plagioclase rim. Dissolution of old plagioclase and precipitation of new plagioclase occurred normal to and parallel to the foliation, respectively, reflecting incongruent pressure solution due to differential stress and changes in P–T–H₂O conditions. The development of incongruent pressure solution is attributed to increased fluid flux in the strongly foliated amphibolites, as evidenced by the greater abundance of hydration‐reaction products in the strongly foliated amphibolites than in the weakly foliated ones.     

Modelling of structural and elastic changes of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) under stress

The method of crystal static deformation, including inner strain effects, was applied to calculate the structure configuration and the elastic constants of forsterite under anisotropic and isotropic pressure. A Born type interatomic potential is used, with optimized atomic charges and repulsive radii; SiO₄ tetrahedra are approximated as rigid units. Computations were carried out in the range 1–8 GPa, with steps of 1 GPa, for the three uniaxial stresses τ₁, τ₂, τ₃ and for pressure p. By interpolation of results, interatomic distances and elastic tensor components are shown to depend quadratically on stress. A non-linear behaviour generally appears above 4 GPa; the importance of inner strain and non-linear effects is analyzed. Mg-O bond lengths and O-O edges of coordination polyhedra respond differently to anisotropic and to isotropic stresses, according to the topological features of the structure. Elastic and structural results for hydrostatic pressure are compared to experimental literature data, discussing the range of validity of the rigid body approximation for SiO₄ groups.     

The effect of sample size on geological strain estimation from passively deformed clastic sedimentary rocks

The role of sample size in the estimation of geological strain, both finite strain (R_s) and that of the orientation of the finite strain ellipse (φ_s), is investigated for clastic sedimentary rocks. This study looks at four strain methods, the Robin method, the linearization method, the Mulchrone and Meere method and the mean radial length method that are initially tested using simulated strained data sets and subsequently by applying the methods to real data. It is found that the optimum strain analysis sample size for a clastic sedimentary rock is primarily dependant on the intensity of strain suffered by that rock because of the error behavior associated with R_s estimates. An iterative process is therefore recommended starting with a minimum sample size of 150, which can be maintained or reduced based on the initial R_s estimates.     

Evaluation of a regional strain gradient in mylonitic quartzites from the footwall of the Main Central Thrust Zone (Garhwal Himalaya,India): Inferences from finite strain and AMS analyses

The footwall of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) Zone along the Bhagirathi valley comprises a wide zone of mylonitic quartzite and deep-level tectonites. The systematic variation of finite strain parameters (Es, k and v) in the mylonites indicates heterogeneous deformation, which is determined to vary between, simple shear and non-coaxial flattening type. In such a strain regime the outer boundary of the quartz clasts are no longer preserved thus leading to an error in finite strain measurement.In order to supplement the finite strain studies, Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) analyses were carried out on the mylonitic quartzites. A systematic variation in degree of anisotropy (P′) with distance from the MCT is documented and is interpreted to be tectonic in origin. Based on these results it is concluded that P′ can be used as a strain-intensity gauge at least on an outcrop scale, where a systematic variation in P′ values from one part of the outcrop to the other can be established. However, the quantitative relation between principal axes of finite strain ellipsoid and AMS axes, magnitude of principal susceptibility difference (ΔK₁ and ΔK₃) and finite strain magnitude (ε₁=ln 1 + e₁ and ε₃=ln 1 + e₃) were related by a logarithmic relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.844.     

The Maximum Effective Moment Criterion （MEMC） and Its Implications in Structural Geology

1 Introduction A high-level generalization of structures in the earth crust has been given by Ramsay (1980): low-angle thrusts in the brittle upper crust and high-angle reverse shear zones in the ductile middle-lower crust are formed in contractional regimes; high-angle normal faults in the brittle upper crust and low-angle normal shear zones in the ductile middle- lower crust are formed in extensional regimes. The formation of low-angle thrusts and high-angle normal faults in brittle domains …     

Constitutive modelling of fine-grained gassy soil: A composite approach

Fine-grained marine sediments containing large undissolved gas bubbles are widely distributed around the world. Presence of the bubbles could degrade the undrained shear strength (s_u ) of the soil, when the gas pressure u_g is relatively high as compared with the effective stress in the saturated soil matrix. Meanwhile, the addition of bubbles may also increase s_u when the difference between u_g and pore water pressure u_w becomes smaller than the water entry value, causing partial water drainage from the saturated matrix into the bubbles (bubble flooding) during globally undrained shearing. A new constitutive model for describing the two competing effects on the stress-strain relationship of fine-grained gassy soil is proposed within the framework of critical state soil mechanics. The gassy soil is considered as a three-phase composite material with compressible cavities, which allows water entry from the saturated matrix. Bubble flooding is modelled by introducing an additional positive volumetric strain increment of the saturated clay matrix, which is dependent on the difference between pore gas and pore water pressure based on experimental observations. A modified hardening law based on that of the modified Cam clay model is employed, which in conjunction with the expression for bubble flooding, can describe both the detrimental and beneficial effects of gas bubbles on soil strength and plastic hardening in shear. Only two extra parameters in addition to those in the modified Cam clay model are used. It is shown that the key features of the stress-strain relationship of three fine-grained gassy soils can be reproduced satisfactorily.     

Structural history of the Arthur Lineament,northwest Tasmania: An analysis of critical outcrops

The Arthur Lineament of northwestern Tasmania is a Cambrian (510 ± 10 Ma) high‐strain metamorphic belt. In the south it is composed of metasedimentary and mafic meta‐igneous lithologies of the ‘eastern’ Ahrberg Group, Bowry Formation and a high‐strain part of the Oonah Formation. Regionally, the lineament separates the Rocky Cape Group correlates and ‘western’ Ahrberg Group to its west from the relatively low‐strain parts of the Oonah Formation, and the correlated Burnie Formation, to its east. Early folding and thrusting caused emplacement of the allochthonous Bowry Formation, which is interpreted to occur as a fault‐bound slice, towards the eastern margin of the parautochthonous ‘eastern’ Ahrberg Group metasediments. The early stages of formation of the Arthur Lineament involved two folding events. The first deformation (CaD₁) produced a schistose axial‐planar fabric and isoclinal folds synchronous with thrusting. The second deformation (CaD₂) produced a coarser schistosity and tight to isoclinal folds. South‐plunging, north‐south stretching lineations, top to the south shear sense indicators, and south‐verging, downward‐facing folds in the Arthur Lineament suggest south‐directed transport. CaF₁ and CaF₂ were rotated to a north‐south trend in zones of high strain during the CaD₂ event. CaD₃, later in the Cambrian, folded the earlier foliations in the Arthur Lineament and produced west‐dipping steep thrusts, creating the linear expression of the structure.     

Intrafolial folds and associated structures in a progressive strain environment of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya

The Dating rocks and Darjeeling gneisses, which constitute the Sikkim dome in eastern Himalaya, as well as the Gondwana and Buxa rocks of ‘Rangit Window’, disclose strikingly similar sequences of deformation and metamorphism. The structures in all the rocks belong to two generations. The structures of early generation are long-limbed, tight near-isoclinal folds which are often intrafolial and rootless. These intrafolial folds are associated with co-planar tight folds with variably oriented axes and sheath folds with arcuate hinges. Penetrative axial plane cleavage and mineral lineation are related structures; transposition of bedding is remarkable. This early phase of deformation (D ₁) is accompanied by constructive metamorphism. The structures of later generation are open, asymmetrical or polyclinal; a crenulation cleavage or discrete fracture may occur. The structures of early generation are distorted by folds of later generation and recrystallized minerals are cataclastically deformed. Recrystallization is meagre or absent during the later phase of deformation (D ₂). The present discussion is on structures of early generation and strain environment during theD ₁ phase of deformation. The concentration of intrafolial folds in the vicinity of ductile shear zones and decollement or detachment surface (often described as ‘thrust’) may be considered in this context. The rocks of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya display minor structures other than intrafolial folds and variably oriented co-planar folds. The state of finite strain in the rocks, as observed from features like flattened grains and pebbles, ptygmatic folds and boudinaged folds indicate combination of flattening and constrictional type strain. The significance of the intrafolial folds in the same rocks is discussed to probe the environment of strain during progressive deformation (D ₁).     

Is there Link between the Type of the Volumetric Strain Curve and Elastic Constants, Porosity, Stress and Strain Characteristics ?

The stress [crack damage stress (σ _cd) and uniaxial compressive strength (σ _c)] and strain characteristics [maximum total volumetric strain (ε _cd), axial failure strain (ε _af)], porosity (n) and elastic constants [elastic modulus (E) and Poisson’s ratio (ν)] and their ratios were coordinated with the existence of two different types (type 1 and type 2) of volumetric strain curve. Type 1 volumetric strain curve has a reversal point and, therefore, σ _cd is less than the uniaxial compressive strength (σ _c). Type 2 has no reversal point, and the bulk volume of rock decreases until its failure occurs (i.e., σ _cd = σ _c). It is confirmed that the ratio between the elastic modulus (E) and the parameter λ = n/ε _cd strongly affects the crack damage stress (σ _cd) for both type 1 and type 2 volumetric strain curves. It is revealed that heterogeneous carbonate rock samples exhibit different types of the volumetric strain curve even within the same rock formation, and the range of σ _cd/σ _c = 0.54–1 for carbonate rocks is wider than the range (0.71 < σ _cd/σ _c < 0.84) obtained by other researchers for granites, sandstones and quartzite. It is established that there is no connection between the type of the volumetric strain curve and values of n, E, σ _cd, ν, E/(1 ? 2ν), M _R = E/σ _c and E/λ. On the other hand, the type of volumetric strain curve is connected with the values of λ and the ratio between the axial failure strain (ε _af) and the maximum total volumetric strain (ε _cd). It is argued that in case of small ε _af/ε _cd–small λ, volumetric strain curve follows the type 2.     

Relation Between Normalized Axial Stress and Failure Strain in Heterogeneous Carbonate Rocks Exhibiting Large Axial Strains

A semi-analytical equation for the modeling of stress–strain relationship for heterogeneous carbonate rocks exhibiting large axial strains (ε_af > 1%) is formulated. The equation is derived by modifying the stress–strain model based on Haldane’s distribution proposed by Palchik (2006) for carbonate rocks exhibiting ε _af ≤ 1%. The developed exponential model is used to relate normalized axial stress (σ _a/σ _c) over the whole pre-failure strain range to current axial strain (ε _a) and failure strain (ε _af). For carbonate rocks exhibiting ε _af > 1%, the value of pre-calculated parameter δ involved in the stress–strain model is not constant, but dependent on the failure strain value (ε _af). The normalized stress–strain model can be used to calculate the failure strain in terms of uniaxial compressive strength and stress–strain measurement at one point only. The advantages of the failure strain model and ways of its use in engineering practice are discussed.     

Transpressive Structures in the Ghadir Shear Belt,Eastern Desert,Egypt: Evidence for Partitioning of Oblique Convergence in the Arabian‐Nubian Shield during Gondwana Agglutination

Transpressional deformation has played an important role in the late Neoproterozoic evolution of the ArabianNubian Shield including the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. The Ghadir Shear Belt is a 35 km-long, NW-oriented brittleductile shear zone that underwent overall sinistral transpression during the Late Neoproterozoic. Within this shear belt, strain is highly partitioned into shortening, oblique, extensional and strike-slip structures at multiple scales. Moreover, strain partitioning is heterogeneous along-strike giving rise to three distinct structural domains. In the East Ghadir and Ambaut shear belts, the strain is pure-shear dominated whereas the narrow sectors parallel to the shear walls in the West Ghadir Shear Zone are simple-shear dominated. These domains are comparable to splay-dominated and thrust-dominated strike-slip shear zones. The kinematic transition along the Ghadir shear belt is consistent with separate strike-slip and thrustsense shear zones. The earlier fabric(S1), is locally recognized in low strain areas and SW-ward thrusts. S2 is associated with a shallowly plunging stretching lineation(L2), and defines ～NW-SE major upright macroscopic folds in the East Ghadir shear belt. F2 folds are superimposed by ～NNW–SSE tight-minor and major F3 folds that are kinematically compatible with sinistral transpressional deformation along the West Ghadir Shear Zone and may represent strain partitioning during deformation. F2 and F3 folds are superimposed by ENE–WSW gentle F4 folds in the Ambaut shear belt. The sub-parallelism of F3 and F4 fold axes with the shear zones may have resulted from strain partitioning associated with simple shear deformation along narrow mylonite zones and pure shear-dominant deformation in fold zones. Dextral ENEstriking shear zones were subsequently active at ca. 595 Ma, coeval with sinistral shearing along NW-to NNW-striking shear zones. The occurrence of upright folds and folds with vertical axes suggests that transpression plays a significant role in the tectonic evolution of the Ghadir shear belt. Oblique convergence may have been provoked by the buckling of the Hafafit gneiss-cored domes and relative rotations between its segments. Upright folds, fold with vertical axes and sinistral strike-slip shear zones developed in response to strain partitioning. The West Ghadir Shear Zone contains thrusts and strikeslip shear zones that resulted from lateral escape tectonics associated with lateral imbrication and transpression in response to oblique squeezing of the Arabian-Nubian Shield during agglutination of East and West Gondwana.     

Comparison Between Stress and Strain Quantities of the Failure–Deformation Process of Fennoscandian Hard Rocks Using Geological Information

The aim of this paper was to compare the stress and strain quantities that are related to the failure–deformation process of hard rock. The data used here was obtained from laboratory uniaxial compression tests performed on different types of Fennoscandian hard rocks. The failure–deformation process quantities were compared at each deformation stage and for each single specimen. Moreover, geological information such as the rock origin process and the rock characteristics of the specimens were studied and linked to the stress and strain quantities. The purpose was to investigate the influence of the rock origin process and rock characteristics on these quantities. The main results of this study showed that the normalized crack damage lateral strain (ε _3cd/ε _3p ) and the volumetric strain (ε _crv?ci and ε _v?cd) quantities were strongly affected by the grain size. The normalized and volumetric quantities are weakly dependent on the mineral composition.     

Thermodynamics of multicomponent pyroxenes: II. Phase relations in the quadrilateral

The model for the thermodynamic properties of multicomponent pyroxenes (Part I) is calibrated for ortho- and clinopyroxenes in the quadrilateral subsystem defined by the end-member components Mg₂Si₂O₆, CaMgSi₂O₆, CaFeSi₂O₆, and Fe₂Si₂O₆. This calibration accounts for: (1) Fe-Mg partitioning relations between orthopyroxenes and augites, and between pigeonites and augites, (2) miscibility gap features along the constituent binary joins CaMgSi₂O₆-Mg₂Si₂O₆ and CaFeSi₂O₆-Fe₂Si₂O₆, (3) calorimetric data for CaMgSi₂O₆-Mg₂Si₂O₆ pyroxenes, and (4) the P-T-X systematics of both the reaction pigeonite=orthopyroxene+augite, and miscibility gap featurs, over the temperature and pressure ranges 800–1500°C and 0–30 kbar. The calibration is achieved with the simplifying assumption that all regular-solution-type parameters are constants independent of temperature. It is predicated on the assumptions that: (1) the Ca-Mg substitution is more nonideal in Pbca pyroxenes than in C2/c pyroxenes, and (2) entropies of about 3 and 6.5 J/K-mol are associated with the change of Ca from 6- to 8-fold coordination in the M2 site in magnesian and iron C2/c pyroxenes, respectively. The model predicts that Fe²⁺-Mg²⁺ M1-M2 site preferences in C2/c pyroxenes are highly dependent on Ca and Mg contents, with Fe²⁺ more strongly preferring M2 sites both in Ca-rich C2/c pyroxenes with a given Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio, and in magnesian C2/c pyroxenes with intermediate Ca/(Ca+Fe+Mg) ratios.The proposed model is internally consistent with our previous analyses of the solution properties of spinels, rhombohedral oxides, and Fe-Mg olivines and orthpyroxenes. Results of our calibration extend an existing database to include estimates for the thermodynamic properties of the C2/c and Pbca pyroxene end-members clinoenstatite, clinoferrosilite, hedenbergite, orthodiopside, and orthohedenbergite. Phase relations within the quadrilateral and its constitutent subsystems are calculated for temperatures and pressures over the range 800–1700°C and 0–50 kbar and compare favorably with experimental constraints.     

Domain wall formation in minerals: I. theory of twin boundary shapes in Na-feldspar

Domains of triclinic Na-feldspar which are a direct consequence of structural strain are investigated theoretically. The following conclusions are arrived at. Only two types of twin walls are created by spontaneous strain, namely the Albite- and Pericline twin walls. If intersections occur, rounded corners are predicted. Any third domain wall close to such an intersection must bend into an S-shape. Narrow domains between two twin walls tend to become needle-shaped close to the intersection with a further, perpendicular, twin wall. The combination of the elastic stiffness coefficients c ₄₄ c ₆₆-c ₄₆ ² is expected to become small at temperatures near to the transition temperature. In the same temperature interval elastic fluctuations occur; their amplitudes and propagation directions are given.     

The strain history of a dalradian slide: Using pebbles with low fluctuations in axis orientation

The strain associated with the Horn Head Slide, a major tectonic break in the Dalradian rocks of NW Ireland, is recorded by pebbles in an adjacent quartzite horizon. Mean X/Y ratios of the deformed pebble shapes in excess of 8.0 are seen closest to the slide and the field of three-dimensional shapes lies along the K = 1 line. The usual methods of separating initial shape ratio (R_i) and tectonic strain ratio (R_s) from the deformed shape ratio (R_f) of ellipsoidal markers are based on measurements of variation in fluctuation (e.g., the (R_f/φ technique). However, due to the high X/Y strains in this situation and since the pebbles initially lay parallel to bedding and to a principal plane of the finite strain ellipsoid, fluctuation is generally very low. Thus, except for the least deformed X/Y data, the R_f/φ technique is inapplicable and other methods are used. For X/Y data with mean (R_f > 4.0: R_s is calculated as the harmonic mean of R_f; maximum R_i values only are obtained from the range of R_f data. For all Y/Z and X/Z data: R_i is calculated from the logarithmic range (ω_log) of R_f; R_s is simply obtained from the geometric mean of R_f modified by R_i. It is concluded from this that a varying prolate tectonic strain (K - 1.5) reaching X/Y values in excess of 8.00 was coaxially superimposed on an initial oblate shape fabric to produce the present field of deformed pebbles in the quartzite near the slide.     

Geological observations in high‐grade mid‐Proterozoic rocks from Else Platform,northern Prince Charles mountains region,east Antarctica

Granulite facies rocks on Else Platform in the northern Prince Charles Mountains, east Antarctica, consist of metasedimentary gneiss extensively intruded by granitic rocks. The dominant rock type is a layered garnetbiotite‐bearing gneiss intercalated with minor garnet‐cordierite‐sillimanite gneiss and calc‐silicate. Voluminous megacrystic granite intruded early during a mid‐Proterozoic (ca 1000 Ma) granulite event, M₁, widely recognized in east Antarctica. Peak metamorphic conditions for M₁ are in the range of 650–750 MPa at ～800°C and were associated with the development of a gneissic foliation, S₁ and steep east‐plunging lineation, L₁. Strain partitioning during progressive non‐coaxial deformation formed large D₂ granulite facies south‐dipping thrusts, with a steep, east‐plunging lineation. In areas of lower D₂ strain, large‐scale upright, steep east‐plunging fold structures formed synchronously with the D₂ high‐strain zones. Voluminous garnet‐bearing leucogneiss intruded at 940 ±20 Ma and was deformed in the D₂ high‐strain zones. Textural relationships in pelitic rocks show that peak‐M2 assemblages formed during increasing temperatures via reactions such as biotite + sillimanite + quartz ± plagioclase = spinel + cordierite + ilmenite + K‐feldspar + melt. In biotite‐absent rocks, re‐equilibration of deformed M₁ garnet‐sillimanite‐ilmenite assemblages occurred through decompressive reactions of the form, garnet + sillimanite + ilmenite = cordierite + spinel + quartz. Pressure/temperature estimates indicate that peak‐M₂ conditions were 500–600 MPa and 700±50°C. At about 500 Ma, north‐trending granitic dykes intruded and were deformed during D₃‐M₃ at probable upper amphibolite facies conditions. Cooling from peak D₃‐M₃ conditions was associated with the formation of narrow greenschist facies shear zones, and the intrusion of pegmatite. Cross‐cutting all features are abundant north‐south trending alkaline mafic dykes that were emplaced over the interval ca 310–145 Ma, reflecting prolonged intrusive activity. Some of the dykes are associated with steeply dipping faults that may be related to basin formation during Permian times and later extension, synchronous with the formation of the Lambert Graben in the Cretaceous.