kenneth robert kukee hbsc thesis abstract

the big beaver house carbonatite complex is an orbicular-shaped intrusion emplaced into granitoid rocks of the gods lake subprovince of the archean superior province of the canadian shield.  rocks of the complex may be divided into five lithologic categories based on model composition.

cathodoluminescence (cl) is a non-destructive process by which visible radiation is emitted from the surface of some materials when charged electrons supplied by a cathode ray gun excite electrons in the sample to higher-energy levels.  photons are emitted as electrons return to lower-energy levels.  the wavelength and frequency of light emitted is characteristic of the element causing activation.

cl techniques are useful in locating zircon and calzirtite.  the activator causing cl in these zircons is presumed to be dy³⁺.  zonation and fracture control of apatite grains is prominent.  the relative concentrations of dy³⁺ to sm³⁺ may be determined by comparing the spectral emission peaks.  50% of the big river house carbonatite complex apatites produce spectral emissions consistent with dy³⁺ domination.  details of carbonate veinlets are apparent using cl techniques.  multiple generations of carbonate terminate with a late influx of fe carbonate.  rees could be causing activation in the big beaver house carbonatite complex calcites.  there may be domination of dy³⁺ activation associated with pyroxenite.