东南极普里兹带多期变质作用及其对罗迪尼亚和冈瓦纳超大陆重建的启示

东南极普里兹带是一条经受格林维尔期和泛非期高级构造热事件影响的多相变质带,其构造演化过程与罗迪尼亚和冈瓦纳超大陆的形成密切相关.新的岩石学和年代学资料表明,普里兹带中的格林维尔期高级变质作用是区域性的,并经历了>970Ma和930～900Ma两个演化阶段(期),变质条件达到相对高温高压的麻粒岩相.格林维尔期造山作用起始于活动大陆边缘或岛弧环境下的岩浆增生,最后发展到陆陆碰撞,从而使印度、东南极西陆块和非洲的卡拉哈里克拉通拼合在一起,构成了罗迪尼亚超大陆的重要组成部分之一.普里兹带中的泛非期高级变质作用并不象前人认为的那样只发生在中低压麻粒岩相条件下,而是达到高压麻粒岩相,并具有近等温减压的顺时针P-T演化轨迹.格林维尔期变质先驱的普遍存在说明泛非期碰撞造山事件主要叠加在印度-南极陆块东缘的基底杂岩之上,所以其主缝合线的位置应该在现今普里兹带的东南方向,并可能向南极内陆延伸到甘布尔采夫冰下山脉.对不同类型岩石的精细定年揭示,普里兹带中泛非期造山作用过程从570Ma一直持续到490Ma,这与东非造山带的晚期碰撞阶段大致相吻合.因此,冈瓦纳超大陆的最后拼合可能是通过西冈瓦纳、印度-南极陆块和澳大利亚-南极陆块等三个陆块的近于同期碰撞来完成的.     

东南极普里兹带高级变质作用演化

东南极普里兹带是经历泛非期高级变质和强烈变形的造山带,其内发现有经历格林维尔期高级变质事件的残块。格林维尔期变质矿物组合局部见于姐妹岛和赖于尔群岛,其高峰变质条件达到>950℃和>0.95GPa。泛非期高级变质作用是区域性的,其高峰变质并不像前人想象的那样只发生在中低压麻粒岩相条件下,而是高达850~950℃和0.90~0.95GPa。这些岩石随后经历了近等温减压过程,在760~860℃和0.55~0.70GPa的条件下达到了重新平衡,并进一步减压或近等压冷却至450~750℃和0.30~0.50GPa。同造山的紫苏花岗岩在减压伸展阶段侵位于格罗夫山地区的变质杂岩中,而晚-后造山的A型花岗岩、伟晶岩和花岗岩脉则遍布于整个普里兹带,从而构成一个完整的造山演化序列。由此可见,现有研究资料支持普里兹带是一条冈瓦纳超大陆在泛非期拼合的碰撞造山带的认识。     

南极普里兹造山带性质及构造变形过程

南极大陆足世界上最古老的大陆之一,是冈瓦纳大陆的重要组成.第一次南极科学考察以来,中国地质科学院一直参加南极研究.目前为止,已有33人次参加了14次南极考察,其中2人进入南极内陆格罗夫山考察.经过几代科学家20多年的努力,取得了一系列成果.传统观点认为,东南极大陆是由太古宙陆核与围绕陆核的元古宙活动带组成,东冈瓦纳大陆在晚元古代格林威尔事件后完成统一大陆的构建.上世纪90年代初,在原属于环东南极格林维尔活动带的不同部位识别出-系列晚新元占-早古生代的泛非期(约500 Ma)构造热事件,对传统的东南极大陆模式提出了挑战.其中,普里兹湾地区泛非构造热事件在最近几年的研究中被中国科学家证明向南延伸到南极内陆的格罗夫山一带,在东南极大陆内部形成了一条泛非期构造带.然而,普里兹带的构造属性一直受到研究者的争论.人们关注的焦点是这条泛非期普里兹构造带到底是一条陆内变形带?还是板块碰撞带?因为这个问题直接关系到东南极大陆的结构与形成时代,更关系到东冈瓦纳大陆形成演化过程的重建.2007年,"南极普里兹带1:50万地质图编制"与"南极埃默里冰架-格罗夫山综合地质调查与研究"课题组对普里兹带研究取得了重要进展:①完成了我国在南极的第一张中比例尺地质图,为普里兹构造带的研究、为探讨冈瓦纳大陆的重建,奠定了新的基础;②格罗夫山地区首次发现高压麻粒岩,根据石榴子石的化学环带和单斜辉石原始成分的恢复获得峰期变质条件为12.9～15.8 kb、810～910℃,减压退变质条件为7.6～10.3 kb、700～760℃,具有顺时针演化的P-T轨迹.SHRIMP锆石U-Pb定年揭示高压变质作用发牛的时代为545～542 Ma.这项成果首次为确认普里兹构造带为碰撞造山带提供了直接的岩石学证据;③普哩兹构造带麻粒岩地体变质作用、花岗岩浆侵位构成的热事件经历了ITD IBC发展轨迹,也是大陆碰撞带的指示标志;④基本上确定了普里兹构造带构造格架与变形序列及演化过程;⑤发现格罗夫山地区大型低角度韧性剪切变形带,变形时代为.530～480 Ma;⑥格罗夫山地区NENNE向延伸的沟谷-纵岭地貌特征是由于晚中生代到新生代区域上蓝伯特裂谷发育过程中形成的.     

东南极晚新元古—早古生代构造热事件及其在冈瓦纳超大陆重建中的意义

在东南极大陆内部及边缘发育3条晚新元古代—早古生代造山带,即东非造山带（南延部分）、普里兹造山带和罗斯造山带。东非造山带的南延部分主要出露于吕措—霍尔姆湾—毛德王后地—沙克尔顿岭地区,其内发育蛇绿岩、榴辉岩相超镁铁岩及逆冲—推覆构造,因而被解释为东、西冈瓦纳陆块拼合的缝合线。罗斯造山带主要出露于横贯南极山脉地区,其内保存有大陆裂解、洋壳俯冲和地体增生的地质纪录,代表冈瓦纳超大陆的活动大陆边缘。普里兹造山带主要出露于普里兹湾和登曼冰川,因其位于从前假设的统一东冈瓦纳陆块的内部,加之缺少蛇绿混杂岩、岛弧增生杂岩和高压变质岩（如蓝片岩或榴辉岩）等与大洋板块俯冲作用密切相关的岩石,所以当前存在着碰撞造山成因和板内改造成因两种不同的认识。普里兹造山带构造性质的确定不仅决定了冈瓦纳超大陆的汇聚过程和方式,也制约了罗迪尼亚超大陆的形成和演化过程。因此,开展普里兹造山带的研究对于揭示新元古代—早古生代的全球构造演化具有重要的科学意义。     

全球早古生代造山带(Ⅰ):碰撞型造山

自新元古代罗迪尼亚超大陆裂解以来,早古生代是板块构造运动活跃时期,具有板块运动速度较快、构造格局不稳定、块体之间相互作用复杂多变等特征,造山带演化极其复杂,导致全球早古生代古大陆重建现今仍较模糊。特别是,早古生代末450~400 Ma存在全球性准同时的造山运动,已经出现俯冲增生、碰撞、陆内3种类型的全球尺度造山带。本文侧重论述全球早古生代碰撞类型造山带的特征,总结典型碰撞造山带最新的年代学、变质、变形和岩浆作用特征及其时空分布。早古生代全球碰撞型造山带主要分布在南半球的泛非造山带和北半球的加里东期造山带,分别与南方冈瓦纳大陆和北方劳俄古陆的初步集结密切相关,早古生代碰撞造山主要体现在大陆块之间的碰撞作用为特征。这些早古生代碰撞造山带具有近似的碰撞年龄,大致相同的演化过程。其中,南方大陆主体碰撞完成于540 Ma,而北方大陆主体集结完成于420 Ma,从全球构造意义上可能意味着全球一个420~400 Ma的超大陆初步形成。     

初论板内造山带

讨论了关于板内造山带含义的不同认识。指出板内造山带是一种特殊类型的造山带,而不是板缘造山带或板间造山带持续发展的结果。简要介绍分别发育在４ 个大陆的不同时代的板内造山带,总结板内造山带在区域大地构造位置、造山带构造格局、构造变形与变质作用、岩浆活动与沉积作用、造山带构造演化等方面与板缘造山带的差异。板内造山带形成于相对较老且强硬的岩石圈板块内部,造山带内部构造单元不具有平行于造山带走向分布的特征,即不具有线状构造格局,构造变形具有地台基底乃至整个地壳卷入的厚皮构造性质,同造山区域变质作用微弱,同造山岩浆活动、沉积作用和构造变形均无极性演化趋势。岩石圈拆沉作用（ｄｅｌａｍｉｎａｔｉｏｎ） 可较好地解释板内造山带的火山活动特征。尽管板块间相互作用（ 俯冲或碰撞）所产生的水平挤压应力似乎更易于阐明板内造山带的收缩变形特征;但是,板块间相互碰撞或俯冲产生的边界应力可否有效地被远程传递,尚有待进一步研究和解决。将板块间相互作用的水平应力场与岩石圈纵向物质与能量调整（ 重力、热力等） 因素作综合考虑,可能是解决板内造山带造山作用机制的有效途径     

碰撞造山带超高温变质作用及构造意义——以泛非造山带为例

超高温（≥900℃）变质作用发生在自太古代以来的各个地质历史时期,目前极可能也正发生在青藏高原地壳深部。同时,它也是以冈瓦纳为代表的超大陆在最终拼合时的显著标识,这一关联指示了超高温变质作用与碰撞造山带的密切关系。本文总结了东冈瓦纳内与泛非造山作用有关的典型超高温变质岩的分布、岩石学特征、峰期变质条件、P-T轨迹及形成时代,并简要介绍我们在柴达木地块西段新识别出的泛非期超高温变质作用的基本特征。结合东冈瓦纳超高温变质作用特征和造山带热模拟研究的新进展,本文获得以东冈瓦纳超高温变质作用为代表的碰撞造山带超高温变质作用的几点认识：1）东冈瓦纳麻粒岩地块中的超高温变质岩和普通麻粒岩记录了相似的变质年龄、P-T轨迹以及呈过渡变化的峰期温度,两者可能是同一构造事件的产物,共同组成一个高温-超高温变质岩单元;2）超高温变质作用在东冈瓦纳内部持续了至少超过30Myr,但未见呈大规模的同期或近同期基性岩岩浆出露,指示此处需要的长期热源不是地幔来源岩浆;3）虽然数值模拟能成功呈现加厚地壳被放射元素衰变热加热至超高温条件的情况,且加热及持续时间与东冈瓦纳超高温变质约束的结果相当,但是模拟中需要的高生热值暗示,在自然界中,完全只靠放射性元素衰变生热或许不能让碰撞造山带内达到超高温条件;4）碰撞造山带经历了长期的构造演化,这一过程中,造山带内地壳不太可能同时达到超高温变质条件,这一特征可能反映在P-T-t轨迹的差异上,对这些轨迹的系统研究有助于对超高温变质作用的构造-热过程的理解。     

造山带火山岩研究

造山带火山岩石学研究的主要目的在于重溯造山带的构造－岩浆演化历史。纵观我国以至全球的大陆造山带形成、演化历史，一个造山带往往经历了古大陆裂解、洋陆转换、陆块拼合－碰撞、陆内伸展－盆山耦合和新构造隆升（陆内造山）等众多不同的构造演化阶段，这些不同的构造演化阶段和不同的构造环境均有特定火山岩浆作用与这相伴。因此，可以根据造山带形成、演化不同阶段火山岩浆作用的特点来重溯造山带的构造－岩浆演化历史，进而从更大尺度上加以对比，探索全球动力学乃至比较行星动力学等重大科学问题。本文对造山带火山岩石学研究中的一些重要问题进行了讨论和评述，这些问题包括：板块内部火山岩浆活动、离散板块边界上的火山岩浆活动、会聚板块边缘的火山岩浆活动。     

从亚洲大陆块体拼贴过程看大陆造山带的形成与演化

本文就亚洲大陆喜马拉雅造山带和大别-苏鲁造山带构造演化模式进行详细评述,并据大地构造学和古地磁学最新研究成果讨论并总结大陆造山带形成与演化模式,即大陆碰撞造山带的演化可能涉及以下5个连续的过程: 碰撞旋转拼合陆内挤压反弹.     

全球超级古陆重建研究的新进展

介绍了新元古代－早古生代超级大陆的重建研究,表明中元古代以来,地球上先后经历了罗迪尼亚－冈瓦纳－潘基亚等几次超级大陆的拼合与裂解过程,罗迪尼亚古陆的拼合源于中元古代晚期（１３００～１０００Ｍａ）发生的全球性格林威尔造山事件。东冈瓦纳（澳大利亚、东南极和部分非河）作为一个整体最早与劳伦古陆分离,导致了太平洋的张开。进一步的裂解产生了组成西冈与纳的各克拉通块体。在泛非造山和期间（７２０～５００Ｍａ）西     

龙门山造山带构造地层学研究

龙门山造山带属青藏高原东缘的陆内造山带 ,是一个独立的地层复合体 ,地层记录具有复杂性、混杂性、不连续性、不完整性和分带性等特征 ;根据龙门山造山带地层的构造变形、变位和变质特征以及边界断裂特征 ,可将龙门山造山带划分为 A、B、C三个构造地层带 ,其中 A带位于青川—茂汶断裂与北川—映秀断裂之间 ,属变形变质构造地层带 ,主要由志留系—泥盆系浅变质岩和前寒武系杂岩构成 ;B带位于北川—映秀断裂与彭灌断裂之间 ,属变形变位构造地层带 ,主要由上古生界—三叠系沉积岩构成 ;C带位于彭灌断裂与广元—大邑断裂之间 ,属变形构造地层带 ,主要由侏罗系至第三系红层构成。对不同类型构造地层带采用了不同的地层学研究方法 ,并建立了各个构造地层带的独立的地层系统 ,其中 A带采用构造—地 (岩 )层分析方法 ,B带采用构造片—地层分析方法 ,C带采用构造层序地层分析方法。     

秦岭造山带金属成矿系统

秦岭造山带是一个多旋回复合大陆碰撞造山带，是我国重要的多金属成矿带之一，自太古代以来秦岭经历了四大构造演化阶段及多种构造体制的转化，导致了多期构造热事件和成矿作用的发生，形成了多个构造成矿旋回，为秦岭金属元素的大规模富集成矿创造了条件，根据构造，建造，成矿作用及矿床组合特征，从早到晚可将秦岭区域成矿划分为六大成矿系统。其中，中晚元古代与海相火山岩及岛弧菌浆活动有关的成矿系统，早古生代与海相火山热液有关的成矿系统，海西期与海底热液及岩浆作用有关的成矿系统及中生代与陆内造山体制构造一岩浆活动有关的成矿系统对成矿的贡献最大，成矿系统的叠加是区内大多数大型，超大型矿床形成的前提。     

Das Problem des Alkalihaushalts im Orogen

Zusammenfassung Das geochemische Verhalten der Alkalien wurde untersucht an Hand von Beispielen magmatischer, metamorpher und anatektischer Gesteine. Bei der Metamorphose fest fest verhält sich der Alkaligehalt bis in relativ hochtemperierte Bereiche im wesentlichen konservativ. Eine Alkalimigration auf größere Erstreckung tritt ein bei Stoffmobilisierung durch hydrothermale Lösungen oder Bildung anatektischer Schmelzen. Das Problem der Na-Lücke wird diskutiert und dabei auf den primär hohen Na-Gehalt vieler Biotit-Plagioklas-Gneise hingewiesen. Die Alkaliverteilung im Orogen kann nicht einaktig erklärt werden. sondern sie setzt sich zusammen aus einer komplizierten Folge verschiedenartiger, zum Teil sogar gegenläufiger Akte.     

Alpine-type tectonics in the Paleoproterozoic Lapland-Kola Orogen

The Kola region in the northeastern Baltic Shield is characterized by diverse Paleoproterozoic collision processes. The Keivy Terrane is one of the major tectonic units in the northeastern foreland of the Paleoproterozoic Lapland-Kola Collisional Orogen, which markedly differs in a number of parameters from other tectonic units of the Kola region. The study of the Keivy Terrane allowed us to unravel one more basic difference: the large Paleoproterozoic sheath synform of the Serpovidny (Crescentic) Range localized in this terrane. Its core is occupied by volcanic and sedimentary rocks, which correlate with the fill of the Imandra-Varzuga Rift; the limbs are composed of metamorphosed mature sedimentary rocks known as Keivy paraschists of Neoarchean or Paleoproterozoic age. The lower limb of the Serpovidny Synform is strongly squeezed, whereas the upper limb consists of almost undeformed rocks. The deformed rocks underwent ductile flow under conditions of simple or general shear. In the degree of its asymmetry and main parameters, the Serpovidny Synform is similar to the plunging and recumbent anticlines in the Helvetic nappes of the Alps. It is concluded that the Paleoproterozoic core of the Serpovidny Sheath Synform, or plunging anticline, is a fragment of the almost completely eroded deep Serpovidny Nappe of the Helvetic type. During the collision related to the Lapland-Kola Orogeny (1.9–2.0 Ga), this nappe was pushed out northward from the Paleoproterozoic Imandra-Varzuga Rift, which is situated 50 km south of the Serpovidny structure, and thrust over the Keivy paraschists. The latter, together with underlying the Lebyazhka Gneiss, were folded in the process of thrusting and were involved in the structure of the Serpovidny Synform. The Keivy paraschists make up a para-autochthon or a separate nappe of the Pennine type. The Archean Lebyazhka metafelsic volcanics underlie the Keivy paraschists and overlie granitoids of the Archean basement that remained undeformed during thrusting. Most likely, they also belong to the para-autochthon; however, it cannot be ruled out that, like the Keivy paraschists, they occur as a Pennine-type nappe. The large sheath folds known in the Paleoproterozoic and Phanerozoic orogens are genetically related to deep-seated nappes or channel-flow tectonics. Paleoproterozoic and Phanerozoic orogens are similar in this respect.     

秦岭晋宁期的两条蛇绿岩带及其对秦岭——大别构造演化的制约

本文在总结前人对秦岭造山带中蛇绿岩研究成果的基础上,结合我们的工作实践,对秦岭南北两条蛇绿岩形成时代、构造背景以及它们对秦岭－大别山构造演化的制约提出以下认识：①北秦岭构造带不存在显生宙的蛇绿岩套。分布于北秦岭商丹构造带的松树沟蛇绿岩是秦岭造山带中保存最完整的蛇绿岩,形成时代不晚于１０００Ｍａ,就位于９８０Ｍａ。分布于二郎坪群、丹凤群中的超镁铁岩及镁铁质岩可能不属于典型的蛇绿岩,形成时代不晚于８０     

Basement geology of the southern Thomson Orogen

Abstract

The diverse geological and geophysical data sets compiled, interrogated and interpreted for the largely undercover southern Thomson Orogen region reveal a Paleozoic terrane dominated by deformed metasedimentary rocks intruded by S- and I-type granites. An interpretive basement geology map and synthesis of geochronological constraints allow definition of several stratigraphic packages. The oldest and most widespread comprises upper Cambrian to Lower Ordovician metasedimentary rocks deposited during the vast extensional Larapinta Event with maximum depositional ages of ca 520 to ca 496 Ma. These units correlate with elements of the northern Thomson Orogen, Warburton Basin and Amadeus Basin. The degree of deformation and metamorphism of these rocks varies across the region. A second major package includes Lower to Middle Devonian volcanic and sedimentary units, some of which correlate with components of the Lachlan Orogen. The region also includes a Middle to Upper Ordovician package of metasedimentary rocks and a Devonian or younger package of intermediate volcaniclastic rocks of restricted extent. Intrusive units range from diatremes and relatively small layered mafic bodies to batholithic-scale suites of granite and granodiorite. S-type and I-type intrusions are both present, and ages range from Ordovician to Triassic, but late Silurian intrusions are the most abundant. Two broad belts of intrusions are recognised. In the east, the Scalby Belt comprises relatively young (Upper Devonian) intrusions, while in the west, the Ella Belt is dominated by intrusions of late Silurian age within a curvilinear, broadly east–west trend. The stratigraphic distributions, characteristics and constraints defined by this interpretive basement mapping provide a basic framework for ongoing research and mineral exploration.     

北山造山带的基本成矿特征

北山造山带位于塔里木板块北部边缘,属于古亚洲构造区南带天山-兴安造山带中西段。区域地壳结构有基底结晶岩系(新太古界)和褶皱岩系(中新元古界),盖层为古生界,自上震旦统至二叠系基本连续出露。构造形态为一系列总体东西向向北突出的弧形大断裂分割的断块,断块内褶皱强烈。岩浆活动频繁,岩石类型复杂,花岗岩类可明显分出S、I型,基性-超基性岩可分出铁质和镁质,火山岩具裂谷火山岩特征,具有数条蛇绿杂岩,表明具有较好的成矿环境。本区矿床可分7大类:1与中酸性侵入岩有关热液矿床;2与火山岩有关热液矿床;3沉积变质矿床;4沉积矿床;5喷气沉积-改造矿床;6与基性-超基性岩有关岩浆矿床;7热液再造矿床。根据本区的成矿地质背景,包括地质条件、矿床分布、矿化分带性、遥感蚀变异常、地球化学异常及地球物理特征等,提出10个找矿远景区。     

Timing of orogenic events in the Lachlan Orogen

A substantial database of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages, collected recently from micas in western and central Victoria, has been used in several recent papers as support for continuous, diachronous deformation across western and central Victoria lasting through much of the Early Palaeozoic. This paper reviews these ages, together with field evidence collected over the last ten years. It provides an alternative interpretation, that mica growth and overgrowth in western Victoria was not continuous but episodic, occurring at ca 455 Ma, 440 Ma and 425 Ma, with little or no mica growth recorded from between these times. These ages have been obtained from mica in regional cleavage, crenulation cleavage and in quartz veins, and from across the entire width of the Stawell and Bendigo structural zones of western Victoria. A sharp change in mica ages occurs at the Mt William Fault, east of which no mica growth older than about 380 Ma is recorded. Several ages used in support for diachronous deformation are not related to deformation: an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 417 Ma from Chewton is from the aureole of a Devonian granite, and an age of 410 Ma from the Melbourne Zone is shown to contain a substantial amount of inherited mica. If it is accepted that mica growth can be used to date deformation, then the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages indicate episodic, not continuous, deformation in western Victoria (Stawell and Bendigo Zones). The sharp decrease in the deformation age in the Melbourne Zone, east of the Mt William Fault, agrees well with field evidence that shows continuous sedimentation in the Melbourne Zone in the period (Ordovician to mid‐Early Devonian) during which the Stawell and Bendigo zones were undergoing deformation. Some correlation also exists between the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages from western Victoria and well‐constrained deformational events in the eastern Lachlan Orogen. The pattern of deformation has important corollaries in any model that attempts to understand what drives the deformation. While plate convergence must be the ultimate driving force, the pattern is quite inconsistent with deformation of a crust that was being drawn progressively into subduction zones, as proposed in recently published models. Rather, the observed pattern suggests that deformation happened in several very brief events, probably on semi‐rigid plates.     

The Thomson Orogen of the Tasman Orogenic Zone

The Thomson Orogen forms the northwestern segment of the Tasman Orogenic Zone. It was a tectonically active area with several episodes of deposition, deformation and plutonism from Cambrian to Carboniferous time.Only the northeastern part of the orogen is exposed; the remainder is covered by gently folded Permian and Mesozoic sediments of the Galilee, Cooper and Great Artesian Basins. Information on the concealed Thomson Orogen is available from geophysical surveys and petroleum exploration wells which have penetrated the Permian and Mesozoic cover.The boundaries of the Thomson Orogen with other tectonic units are concealed, but discordant trends suggest that they are abrupt. To the west, the orogen is bordered by Proterozoic structural blocks which form basement west of the northeast-trending Diamantina River Lineament. The most appropriate boundary with the Lachlan and Kanmantoo Orogens to the south is an arcuate line marking a distinct change in the direction of gravity trends. The north-northwest orientation of the northern part of the New England Orogen to the east cuts strongly across the dominant northeast trend of the Thomson Orogen.The Thomson Orogen developed as a tectonic entity in latest Proterozoic or Early Cambrian time when the former northern extension of the Adelaide Orogen * was truncated along the Muloorinna Ridge. Early Palaeozoic deposition was dominated by finegrained, quartz-rich clastic sediments. Cambrian carbonates accumulated in the southwest and a Cambro-Ordovician island arc was active in the north. Along the western margin of the orogen, sediments were probably laid down on downfaulted blocks of deformed Proterozoic rocks, with oceanic crust further to the east.A mid- to Late Ordovician orogeny which affected the whole of the Thomson Orogen marked the climax of its precratonic (orogenic) stage. The northeast structural trend of the orogen (parallel to its western boundary with the Precambrian craton) was imposed at this time and has controlled the orientation of later folding and faulting. Up to three generations of folding have been recognized and fine-grained metasediments exhibit a prominent slaty cleavage. Metamorphism was to the greenschist and amphibolite facies, the highest grade rocks being associated with synorogenic granodiorite batholiths in the north. Following deposition of Late Ordovician marine sediments at the eastern margin, emplacement of post-tectonic Late Silurian or Early Devonian batholiths ended the precratonic history of the Thomson Orogen.The subsequent transitional tectonic regime was characterized by deposition of Devonian to Early Carboniferous shallow marine and continental sediments including widespread red-beds and andesitic volcanics. The maximum marine transgression occurred in the early Middle Devonian. Localized folding affected the easternmost part of the Thomson Orogen at the end of Middle Devonian time and was followed by intrusion of Devono-Carboniferous granitic plutons. However, the terminal orogeny which deformed all Devonian to Early Carboniferous rocks of the orogen was of mid-Carboniferous age. It produced northeast-trending open folds and normal and high-angle reverse faults which are considered to reflect basement structures. The cratonization of the Thomson Orogen was completed with the emplacement of Late Carboniferous granites and the eruption of comagmatic volcanics in the northeast, permian and Mesozoic sediments accumulated in broad, relatively shallow down warps which covered most of the former orogen.