The Finnmarkian Orogeny revisited: An isotopic investigation in eastern Finnmark, Arctic Norway

The Scandinavian Caledonides have been viewed as resulting from either a single Silurian (i.e. Scandian) event or from polycyclic orogenies involving several collisions on the margin of Baltica. Early studies of the Kalak Nappe Complex (KNC) in Finnmark, Arctic Norway, led to the hypothesis of an Early Cambrian-Early Ordovician (520-480 Ma) Finnmarkian Orogeny, though the nature of this tectonic event remains enigmatic. In this contribution we have employed in situ UV laser ablation Ar-Ar dating of fine-grained phyllite and schist from the eastern Caledonides of Arctic Norway to investigate the presence of pre-Scandian tectonometamorphic events. U-Th-Pb detrital zircon and whole rock Sm-Nd analyses have been used to test the regional stratigraphic correlations of these metasedimentary rocks. These results indicate that the Berlevåg Formation within the Tanafjord Nappe, previously assumed to be part of the KNC, was deposited after 1872 Ma and prior to a low temperature hydrothermal event at 555 ± 15 Ma. It has a likely provenance on the Baltica continent, lacks any Grenville-Sveconorwegian detrital zircons, and thus cannot be part of the KNC which contains abundant detritus in this age range. Instead the Berlevåg Formation is interpreted as part of the Laksefjord Nappe Complex, which structurally underlies the KNC. Laser-ablation argon-argon dating also shows that late Caledonian (i.e. Scandian) tectonometamorphism affected both the KNC and its immediate footwall at c. 425 ± 15 Ma. This is corroborated by a step-heating argon-argon muscovite age of 424 ± 3 Ma which is interpreted as dating cooling. However, within two samples from the KNC, an earlier (Middle-Late Cambrian) metamorphic event is also recorded. A biotite-grade schist yielded an Ar-Ar inverse isochron age of 506 ± 17 Ma from whole rock surfaces, in which the mineral domains are too fine-grained to date individually. An early generation of muscovite from a coarser-grained amphibolite-facies sample yielded an inverse isochron of 498 ± 13 Ma. Both isochron ages have atmospheric argon intercept values. Previous studies have documented similar Cambrian ages in the Caledonian nappes below the KNC. These results suggest correlative tectonometamorphic events in the eastern KNC and its footwall at c. 500 Ma. This Cambrian event may reflect the arrival of the Kalak Nappe Complex as a previously constructed exotic mobile belt onto the margin of Baltica. Combined with recent studies from the western Kalak Nappe Complex, the results do not support the traditional constraint on the Finnmarkian Orogeny sensu stricto. However they vindicate classic tectonic models involving a Cambrian accretion event.     

A Cordilleran model for the evolution of Avalonia

Striking similarities between the late Mesoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic record of Avalonia and the Late Paleozoic–Cenozoic history of western North America suggest that the North American Cordillera provides a modern analogue for the evolution of Avalonia and other peri-Gondwanan terranes during the late Precambrian. Thus: (1) The evolution of primitive Avalonian arcs (proto-Avalonia) at 1.2–1.0 Ga coincides with the amalgamation of Rodinia, just as the evolution of primitive Cordilleran arcs in Panthalassa coincided with the Late Paleozoic amalgamation of Pangea. (2) The development of mature oceanic arcs at 750–650 Ma (early Avalonian magmatism), their accretion to Gondwana at ca. 650 Ma, and continental margin arc development at 635–570 Ma (main Avalonian magmatism) followed the breakup of Rodinia at ca. 755 Ma in the same way that the accretion of mature Cordilleran arcs to western North America and the development of the main phase of Cordilleran arc magmatism followed the Early Mesozoic breakup of Pangea. (3) In the absence of evidence for continental collision, the diachronous termination of subduction and its transition to an intracontinental wrench regime at 590–540 Ma is interpreted to record ridge–trench collision in the same way that North America's collision with the East Pacific Rise in the Oligocene led to the diachronous initiation of a transform margin. (4) The separation of Avalonia from Gondwana in the Early Ordovician resembles that brought about in Baja California by the Pliocene propagation of the East Pacific Rise into the continental margin. (5) The Late Ordovician–Early Silurian sinistral accretion of Avalonia to eastern Laurentia emulates the Cenozoic dispersal of Cordilleran terranes and may mimic the paths of future terranes transferred to the Pacific plate.This close similarity in tectonothermal histories suggests that a geodynamic coupling like that linking the evolution of the Cordillera with the assembly and breakup of Pangea, may have existed between Avalonia and the late Precambrian supercontinent Rodinia. Hence, the North American Cordillera is considered to provide an actualistic model for the evolution of Avalonia and other peri-Gondwanan terranes, the histories of which afford a proxy record of supercontinent assembly and breakup in the late Precambrian.     

Slab breakoff: a model for Caledonian, Late Granite syn-collisional magmatism in the orthotectonic (metamorphic) zone of Scotland and Donegal, Ireland

None of the existing models for calc-alkaline “Late Granite” (Siluro–Devonian) genesis in the metamorphic Caledonian orogenic belt of Ireland and Scotland fully explains their spatial, age or chemical character. A consistent model must involve the closure of Iapetus Ocean, where slab breakoff is a natural consequence of attempted subduction of continental crust. Expected outcome is a long linear belt of high-K, calc-alkaline magmas, some with characteristic trace element signatures, specifically high Ba, Sr and Zr. Other features include the critical magmatic association of coeval appinite and granite, rapid uplift, erosion and the low-grade regional metamorphism in the Southern Uplands. The linear heat pulse on breakoff is spatially, intensity and time limited producing small volume melts emplaced as separated plutons, over a short time span. Magmatism in the Caledonian metamorphic belt is accurately accounted for by slab breakoff on collision of Baltica with the Scoto–Greenland margin during the Scandian orogeny, following Iapetus Ocean closure. The two chemically, isotopically and areally distinctive suites in the metamorphic belt in Scotland, viz. the Argyll and Cairngorm Suites, can be modelled by reference to the Donegal granites where sequential partial melting of new, lamprophyric underplated crust, then shallower old crust, as heat conduction moved up through the crust on slab breakoff, produced magmas characteristic of the two suites.     

Caledonian Low-Temperature Granulite-Facies Metamorphism in the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt—SHRIMP Chronological Evidence from Zircon

The West Kunlun orogenic belt is located at the conjunction of the paleo-Asian tectonic system and the Tethys tectonic system. Petrological and mineralogical studies of the Early Cambrian metamorphic surface crust in this region have shown that in case the metamorphism reached low-temperature granulate facies, the typical mineral assemblage is biotite-garnet-silimanite-K feldspar-plagioclase-quartz. The peak metamorphic temperatures are within the range of 720–740°C and the pressure is 0.6 GPa ±. Three types of metamorphic zircon have been detected in the metamorphic rocks: the complex inclusion-bearing type ; the early relic zircon inclusion-bearing type; and the inclusion-free type. SHRIMP age determination of these three types of metamorphic zircon have revealed that these zircons were formed principally during 400–460 Ma, indicating that pre-Cambrian metamorphic surface crust rocks underwent low-temperature granulite facies metamorphism during the Caledonian. In combination with the geological characteristics of this region, it is considered that when the oceanic basin was closed, there occurred intense intracontinental subduction (type A), bringing part of the Early Cambrian metamorphic basement in this region downwards to the lower crust. Meanwhile, there were accompanied with tectonic deformation at deep levels and medium- to high-grade metamorphism. This study provided important chronological and mineralogical evidence for the exploration of the evolutionary mechanism and process of the West Kunlun Early Paleozoic. Part of the results from the research project “ Research on the West Kunlun pre-Cambrian tectonic events” under the program “ Research on the important geological problems of China’ s pre-Cambrian” (No. 200113900070) sponsored by the China National Geological Surveying Bureau.     

Geology and Genesis of the Ta'ergou Skarn - Quartz Vein Tungsten Deposit in the North Qilian Caledonian Orogenic Belt, Northwest China

Abstract. The Ta'ergou tungsten deposit in Gansu province, northwestern China, is located in the western part of the North Qilian Caledonian orogen, and consists of scheelite skarn bodies and wolframite quartz veins. The tungsten‐bearing skarn developed by the replacement of carbonate layers intercalated in the Precambrian schist and amphibolite whereas wolframite‐quartz ore veins developed along a group of fractures that cut through horizontal skarns. The Ta'ergou tungsten deposit is genetically related to the Caledonian Yeniutan granodiorite intrusion and occurs ca. 500 m wide in the exo‐contact zone 300 ～ 500 m apart from the intrusion. The granodiorite displays a lower grade of differentiation, low content of SiO₂ and high contents of mafic components. There are three types of fluid inclusions in the wolframite‐quartz vein systems, i. e. aqueous, CO₂‐H₂O and CO₂‐rich. The homogenization temperature of aqueous inclusion ranges from 140 to 380d?C and their salinities from 6.4 to 17.4 equivalent wt% NaCl. Laser Raman spectroscopy shows that the inclusions contain a relatively high content of CO₂. The δ³⁴S values of skarn type sulfides range from +8.1 to +12.7 per mil and those of quartz vein sulfides from +9.3 to +14.9 per mil, similar to sulfides of the granodiorite with from +6.0 to +11.7 per mil. The δ¹⁸O values of quartz are between +10.5 and +13.3 per mil and those of wolframite between +3.4 and +5.1 per mil. The δ¹⁸O water values of ore forming fluids range from +0.6 to +6.4 per mil and suggest the mixture of magmatic fluids with meteoric water formed the ore‐forming fluids. It has been proved that Precambrian strata in the west sector of North Qilian region are enriched in tungsten. We propose the strata were remelted to be tungsten‐granitoid during subduction. The polymetallic tungsten was gradually accumulated into the roof pendants of the granite intrusion by fractional crystallization and then was deposited by hydrothermal fluids during metasomatism and infilling along fractures. On the other hand, the granite intrusion also acted as “heating machine” to make hydrothermal fluids leach out the metals from Precambrian strata and these metals joined the ore‐forming hydrothermal system.     

西昆仑康西瓦加里东期孔兹岩系及地质意义

在青藏高原西昆仑地体南部的元古宙片麻岩穹窿南侧 ,发育一条近 EW向规模巨大的康西瓦韧性走滑剪切带 ,韧性剪切带岩石由 7km宽的糜棱岩化的孔兹岩系组成 ,孔兹岩原岩为富铝质泥质沉积岩夹火山岩及大理岩。孔兹岩系的 MORB标准化微量元素蛛网图显示了其为富铝泥质沉积岩 ,具有明显的 Th正异常及 Ce、Zr等大离子的正异常 ,而变质火山岩中出现 Nb、Zr正异常 ;稀土元素含量展示上述两类岩石均具轻稀土相对富集、重稀土相对亏损及 Eu中度亏损的特性。康西瓦孔兹岩形成的温度为 70 0℃ ,压力 6 .8GPa。锆石 SHRIMP同位素年代测试表明 ,孔兹岩的碎屑锆石来源于 6 4 4～ 873Ma或更老的周缘古老变质基底剥蚀区 ,孔兹岩形成于加里东期(42 8～ 4 4 5 Ma) ,并遭受印支期 (2 5 0～ 2 10 Ma)强烈的剪切应变。康西瓦孔兹岩的原岩、微量元素与稀土元素特征、形成的温 -压条件以及生成时代等与南阿尔金孔兹岩系可以类比 ,表明西昆仑地体与阿尔金地体可能原为同一地体。中国已发现的孔兹岩系绝大部分为太古宙及元古宙的产物 ,西昆仑与阿尔金加里东期孔兹岩的发现不仅显示了加里东造山带山根的存在 ,而且提出沿阿尔金断裂系左行平移 6 0 0 km的新证据。     

贺兰山及周边地区加里东运动研究

基于对贺兰山及周边地区下古生界详细的野外地质调查,通过碎屑锆石年龄谱的物源分析、地层接触关系追踪、岩性岩相突变特征分析、残留地层分布、古生物组合及亲缘性分析,讨论了阿拉善地块与华北地块和中祁连地块的亲缘关系,探讨了研究区加里东运动的幕次,认为早古生代阿拉善地块和华北地块相互独立,俯冲造山特征建造不清晰,两者之间可能为转换型陆缘。阿拉善地块和中祁连地块之间的加里东运动幕次清晰。加里东运动一幕发生在中-晚寒武世,香山群深水复理石沉积和张夏组浅水碳酸盐台地相沉积呈拼合式接触,生物组合为亲华北-亲祁连混合型,彼时中祁连地块从Rodinia大陆裂离,逐步靠近阿拉善地块;加里东运动二幕发生在早-中奥陶世,下奥陶统碳酸盐岩在全区稳定分布,与下伏香山群不整合接触,与阿不且亥组整合接触,生物相统一,生物组合为华北型,中祁连地块-阿拉善地块-华北地块平和成为一个统一的块体,整体为浅水台地沉积环境;加里东运动三幕发生在奥陶纪末,中-上奥陶统与泥盆系角度不整合接触,商丹洋闭合,扬子地块与阿拉善地块和华北地块靠近,商丹缝合带南部的宽坪洋打开,导致研究区中、晚奥陶世亲华北-亲扬子混合型生物组合类型。     

The Anglo-Brabant Massif: Persistent but enigmatic palaeo-relief at the heart of western Europe

The surface geology of central England and Belgium obscures a large ‘basement’ massif with a complex history and stronger crust and lithosphere than surrounding regions. The nucleus was forged by subduction-related magmatism at the Gondwana margin in Ediacaran time. Partitioning into a platform, in the English Midlands, and a basin stretching to Belgium, in the east, was already evident in Cambrian/earliest Ordovician time. The accretion of the Monian Composite Terrane during the Penobscotian deformation phase preceded late Tremadocian rifting, and Floian separation, of the Avalonia Terrane from the Gondwana margin. Late Ordovician magmatism in a belt from the Lake District to Belgium records subduction beneath Avalonia of part of the Tornquist Sea. This ‘Western Pacific-style’ oceanic basin closed in latest Ordovician time, uniting Avalonia and Baltica. Closure of the Iapetus Ocean in early Silurian time was soon followed by closure of the Rheic Ocean, recorded by subduction along the southern margin of the massif. The causes of late Caledonian deformation are poorly understood and controversial. Partitioned behaviour of the massif persisted into late Palaeozoic time. Late Devonian and Carboniferous sequences show strong onlap onto the massif, which was little affected by crustal extension. Compressional deformation during the Variscan Orogeny also appears slight, and was focussed in the west where a wedge-shaped mountain foreland uplift was driven by orogenic indentation, splitting the massif from the Welsh Massif along the reactivated Malvern Line. Permian to Mesozoic sequences exhibit persistent but variable degrees of onlap onto the massif.     

The Caledonian Structures of Shetland – Funzie and Norwick Geological Conservation Review sites

Locations at Funzie on the island of Fetlar, and at Norwick on the island of Unst contain excellent examples of structures relating to the Caledonian age disruption and emplacement of the Shetland Ophiolite Complex. The Caledonian age Shetland Ophiolite Complex contains exceptionally well developed and exposed sections of the lower parts of the characteristic ophiolite sequence, including layered gabbro, cumulates and mantle rock. Composed of two tectonic units (the Lower Nappe and Upper Nappe) each underlain by an imbricate zone, it is among the finest and most accessible examples of ophiolitic rocks in Europe. The sites at Funzie and Norwick have been selected to be part of the Caledonian Structures of Great Britain Geological Conservation Review (GCR) network, as the best examples in Britain of structures relating to Caledonian ophiolite disruption and emplacement. As the Funzie GCR site and the Norwick GCR site they form the Caledonian Structures of Shetland GCR block.Accounts of all other sites in the Caledonian Structures of Great Britain Geological Conservation Review (GCR) network are already published (Treagus, 1992). Accounts of the Caledonian Structures of Shetland GCR block sites are, therefore, presented in this paper to complete publication of the Caledonian Structures of Great Britain Geological Conservation Review (GCR) network.