Questions about myrmekite in deformed rocks

Several questions about the development of myrmekite in deformed felsic and metapelitic rocks remain unanswered. Although a general relationship between deformation and myrmekite appears to be well established, the fact that myrmekite grows into relatively non-deformed K-feldspar, while being simultaneously deformed and recrystallized at the rear of the growing lobes, suggests that strain energy may not be a major contributor to the advance of the growth interface of the myrmekite colony. Furthermore, because myrmekite typically nucleates on existing plagioclase, rather than in K-feldspar, strain energy may not contribute directly to nucleation of myrmekite either, at least in many instances. However, strain energy probably contributes indirectly by facilitating access of fluids to growth sites, thereby altering the local chemical environment and so promoting development of myrmekite. Because myrmekite recrystallizes readily in deformed felsic rocks, it is one of the main contributors to the development of folia.