EES Departmental Seminar: The low-pressure metamorphic gradient along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, revisited

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Dr. Jillian Kendrick
Assistant Professor
Department of Earth Science, Saint Mary’s University

Title: The low-pressure metamorphic gradient along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, revisited

Abstract: In southwestern Nova Scotia, the metasedimentary rocks of the Meguma terrane exhibit a low-pressure metamorphic gradient from greenschist facies to migmatite in the Queens, Shelburne, and Yarmouth counties. These rocks were described and studied primarily in the 1980s and 1990s with few subsequent studies, leaving questions unanswered concerning their significance to the geological evolution of the Meguma terrane. Metamorphic grade has been observed to increase with proximity to granitoid plutons in this region, but the relative contributions of regional metamorphism vs. contact metamorphism have not been fully disentangled. My planned research program includes several projects in this area, beginning with migmatite and amphibolite-facies cordierite-bearing metapelites. Although a spatial association between migmatite and the Barrington Passage Pluton has been identified, a temporal link has not been established. We will conduct U-Pb geochronology by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) to obtain high precision ages of migmatite leucosome and the Barrington Passage Pluton. These results will elucidate the potential connection between crustal anatexis and magmatism and the timescale of elevated heat flow in the crust. In the Jordan Falls area, muscovite + cordierite + staurolite + biotite ± andalusite assemblages have been observed, however are unlikely to represent an equilibrium state. Previous work has proposed that cordierite formed later due to a decrease in pressure accompanied by heating from nearby plutons. We will test this hypothesis, which has implications for the tectonic evolution of the region. Future research projects will focus on the behaviour and mobilization of trace elements during metamorphic reactions along the metamorphic gradient in this region.

Speaker: Dr. Jillian Kendrick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Science at Saint Mary’s University (2025 to present). Her research background is primarily in metamorphic petrology and igneous petrology, with a focus on the deep crust, high-grade metamorphism, crustal melting, and the evolution of associated granitoid magma.

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EES Departmental Seminar: The low-pressure metamorphic gradient along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, revisited