Microstructural analysis of microboudinaged biotite porphyroblasts in graphitic schists from the SW Tauern Window (Valle di Vizze)

This study is aimed at the microstructural analysis and the deformation history reconstruction of some peculiar microboudinaged biotite porphyroblasts from the south-western Tauern Window (Passo di Vizze, Italy). In the past, similar structures from other localities have been highlighted and studied, but not in much detail. Our analysis is not only a qualitative overview of the microstructural setting shown by the rock, but it will be also accompanied by quantitative data such as strain reconstruction, aspect ratio analysis and shape and orientation analysis. To do this, different techniques have been employed. Optical microscopy analyses have been performed with a classic polarized light microscope and a scanning polarized light stage. Chemical analyses have been performed using the SEM. Finally, shape and orientation analysis are performed using 2D oriented thin sections and 3D µCT data. This work will be coupled with another thesis aimed at a petrological analysis that will constrain the PT evolution of the rock and will help to constrain the deformation condition with the final aim of improving the knowledge of the evolution of the studied rocks during the Alpine metamorphism.