scholarly journals Stephen Moorbath. 9 May 1929 — 16 October 2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 365-391
Author(s):  
J. F. Dewey ◽  
P. N. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Evolution ◽  
South India ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Late Archaean ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Scottish Highlands ◽  
Dating Methods ◽  
University Professor

Stephen Moorbath was an intellectual with eclectic interests across the sciences and humanities. In 1939, as a ten-year-old, he fled from Germany to England with his father. Stephen spent almost the whole of the rest of his life—from schoolboy to university professor—in Oxford, where he became one of the world's leading isotope geochemists. His academic career began with setting up Europe's first radiometric rock and mineral dating laboratory. In this laboratory, together with numerous colleagues and students, he applied the lead–lead, rubidium–strontium, potassium–argon and, later, samarium–neodymium isotopic dating methods to the solution of many geological problems. He made major contributions in establishing the chronology for the geological and tectonic evolution of Precambrian crust in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, in West Greenland, Zimbabwe, South India, and Ghana. He developed isotopic criteria for assessing the relative contributions of mantle and crustal sources to Tertiary igneous rocks in Scotland, Andean volcanics and the late Archaean granitoids of West Greenland. He established dating methods for sedimentary rocks: Rb–Sr for shales and Pb/Pb for Archaean limestone. Stephen's abiding geological passion was the study of the early Archaean, especially the Godthåbsfjord and Isukasia areas of West Greenland.

Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic orogenic processes: Danish Lithosphere Centre studies of the Nagssugtoqidian orogen, West Greenland

1998 ◽  
pp. 100-110
Author(s):  
Flemming Mengel ◽  
Jeroen A. M. Van Gool ◽  
Eirik Krogstad And the 1997 field crew
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Evolution ◽  
Original Series ◽  
Research Results ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
The Third ◽  
Field Season ◽  
Funding Cycle

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Mengel, F., van Gool, J. A. M., & and the 1997 field crewE. K. (1998). Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic orogenic processes: Danish Lithosphere Centre studies of the Nagssugtoqidian orogen, West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 180, 100-110. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v180.5093 _______________ The Danish Lithosphere Centre (DLC) was established in 1994 and one of its principal objectives in the first five-year funding cycle is the study of Precambrian orogenic processes. This work initially focused on the thermal and tectonic evolution of the Nagssugtoqidian orogen of West Greenland. During the first two field seasons (1994 and 1995) most efforts were concentrated in the southern and central portions of the orogen. The 1997 field season was the third and final in the project in the Nagssugtoqidian orogen and emphasis was placed on the central and northern parts of the orogen in order to complete the lithostructural study of the inner Nordre Strømfjord area and to investigate the northern margin of the orogen (NNO in Fig. 1). This report is partly a review of selected research results obtained since publication of the last Review of Greenland activities (van Gool et al. 1996), and also partly a summary of field activities in Greenland during the summer of 1997.

Bridge River tephra: revised distribution and significance for detecting old carbon errors in radiocarbon dates of limnic sediments in southern British Columbia

1980 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1454-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf W. Mathewes ◽  
John A. Westgate
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Lacustrine Sediments ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
The South ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Carbon Contamination ◽  
Horseshoe Lake ◽  
Tephra Beds

Ash-grade Bridge River tephra, identified as such on the basis of shard habit, modal mineralogy, and composition of ilmenite, occurs in sedimentary cores from three lakes located to the south of the previously documented plume and necessitates a significant enlargement of the fallout area of that tephra in southwestern British Columbia.These new, more southerly occurrences are probably equivalent to the ~2350 year old Bridge River tephra, although it can be argued from the evidence at hand that the 14C dates and biotite-rich nature support relationship to a slightly earlier Bridge River event.Large differences exist in the 14C age of sediments immediately adjacent to the Bridge River tephra at these three lake sites; maximum ages of 3950 ± 170 years BP (GX-5549) and 3750 ± 210 years BP (I-10041) were obtained at Phair and Fishblue lakes, respectively, whereas the corresponding age at Horseshoe Lake is only 2685 ± 180 years BP (GX-5757). The two older dates are considered to be significantly affected by old carbon contamination for the bedrock locally consists of calcareous sedimentary rocks and the lacustrine sediments are very calcareous. The 14C date from Horseshoe Lake, which occurs in an area of igneous rocks, appears to be only slightly too old relative to the ~2350 year old Bridge River tephra.Well-dated tephra beds, therefore, can be very useful in assessing the magnitude of old carbon errors associated with radiocarbon dates based on limnic sediments. Calcareous gyttja deposits beneath Bridge River tephra within the study area exhibit old carbon errors of the order of 1350–1550 years.

A Road Section near Guy's Hill, Jamaica

1942 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Matley ◽  
Frank Raw
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Plutonic Rock ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Section ◽  
Igneous Intrusions ◽  
Microscope Slides

The rocks exposed along the road between Linstead and Guy's Hill, Jamaica, were described by Dr. C. T. Trechmann in this magazine in 1936 (pp. 259–260). The chief object of his account was to prove that the igneous rocks there were intrusions later than the associated Cretaceous and Tertiary limestones, which, according to him, had been metamorphosed into hornfelses, some of which, he stated later (1937, p. 561), he knew to have an “igneous” appearance under the microscope, “which tends to support my contention that in Jamaica we have sedimentaries altered in situ into rocks that would ordinarily be classified as igneous.” Dissent from his descriptions and interpretations was expressed by C. A. M. (Matley, 1937, pp. 501–3), the criticisms being mainly based on an examination of Trechmann's own microscope slides by F. R. A visit to Jamaica by C. A. M. in 1939 allowed him to study this road and to collect a suite of rocks for petrological examination. The results show that Trechmann's interpretation cannot be sustained. There is no granodiorite or other plutonic rock present, no metamorphism hornfelsing the sedimentary rocks, and no igneous intrusions into the Tertiary limestones.

Interpretation of Pb isotope compositions of galenas from the Midland Valley of Scotland and adjacent regions

1984 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Parnell ◽  
Ian Swainbank
Keyword(s):  
Lower Devonian ◽  
Lead Isotope ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Pb Isotope ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Granite Magma ◽  
Lower Palaeozoic ◽  
Caledonian Granite

ABSTRACTThe lead isotope compositions of 61 galenas from central and southern Scotland vary markedly between different regions. Most galenas from the southern Grampian Highlands yield isotope ratios (206Pb/204Pb 17·77 ± 0·25, 207Pb/204Pb 15·47 ± 0·05, 208Pb/204Pb 37·63 ± 0·26) less radiogenic than those from Midland Valley galenas (18·22 ± 0·12, 15·55 ± 0·05, 38·13 ± 0·14) whilst galena lead from the Southern Uplands (18·28 ± 0·12, 15·56 ± 0·03, 38·21 ± 0·18) is more radiogenic than that from the southern Midland Valley (18·12 ± 0·06, 15·52 ± 0·02, 38·06 ±0·10). The change in isotopie composition across the Highland Boundary fault reflects the presence or absence of Dalradian rocks which included a magmatic component of lead. Galenas from the Dalradian sequence in Islay, where igneous rocks are lacking, have a composition (18·14±0·04, 15·51±0·01, 37·90±0·02) more like Midland Valley galenas. In the Southern Uplands, galenas yield lead isotope ratios similar to those of feldspars from Caledonian granite (18·30 ± 0·14, 15·57 ± 0·04, 37·96 ± 0·15) analysed by Blaxland et al. (1979). The similar ratios reflect the incorporation of Lower Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks into the granite magma, rather than a granitic source for the mineralisation. The granites were then thermal-structural foci for later mineralising fluids which leached metals from the surrounding rocks. Within the Midland Valley, galenas hosted in Lower Devonian-Lower Carboniferous lavas are notably more radiogenic (18·31 ±0·12, 15·58 ± 0·06, 38·20 ± 0·16) than sediment-hosted galenas (18·14 ± 0·07, 15·52 ± 0·02, 38·08 ± 0·10). The Devonian lavas at least may have inherited lead from subducted (? Lower Palaeozoic) rock incorporated in the primary magma.

Triassic and Pleistocene Surfaces on some Leicestershire Igneous Rocks

1934 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Raw
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Glacial Deposits ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
South West

The ancient rocks of Leicestershire may be taken to comprise the pre-Cambrian volcanic and sedimentary rocks of Charnwood Forest, and the igneous rocks intrusive into them, viz. the dacite-porphyrites of Bardon Hill, Peldar, and High Sharpley, etc., the granophyric diorites and porphyrites within and south-west of the Forest and in South Leicestershire, and the Mountsorrel granite or granodiorite. There is reason to believe that all except the last are pre-Cambrian in age: for the last a post-Silurian age seems most probable. These ancient rocks are now exposed through the removal of the Keuper Marl, whichhad largely if not completely buried them. In glacial times, however, small areas have been reburied under glacial deposits.

scholarly journals 207Pb-206Pb dating of magnetite, monazite and allanite in the central and northern Nagssugtoqidian orogen, West Greenland

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Stendal ◽  
Karsten Secher ◽  
Robert Frei
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Activity ◽  
Alkaline Magmatism ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Isotopic Data ◽  
Sulphide Deposit ◽  
Late Archaean ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Source Characteristics ◽  
Isotopic Measurements

Pb-isotopic data for magnetite from amphibolites in the Nagssugtoqidian orogen, central West Greenland, have been used to trace their source characteristics and the timing of metamorphism. Analyses of the magnetite define a Pb-Pb isochron age of 1726 ± 7 Ma. The magnetite is metamorphic in origin, and the 1726 Ma age is interpreted as a cooling age through the closing temperature of magnetite at ~600°C. Some of the amphibolites in this study come from the Naternaq supracrustal rocks in the northern Nagssugtoqidian orogen, which host the Naternaq sulphide deposit and may be part of the Nordre Strømfjord supracrustal suite, which was deposited at around 1950 Ma ago. Pb-isotopic signatures of magnetite from the Arfersiorfik quartz diorite in the central Nagssugtoqidian orogen are compatible with published whole-rock Pb-isotopic data from this suite; previous work has shown that it is a product of subduction-related calc-alkaline magmatism between 1920 and 1870 Ma. Intrusion of pegmatites occurred at around 1800 Ma in both the central and the northern parts of the orogen. Pegmatite ages have been determined by Pb stepwise leaching analyses of allanite and monazite, and source characteristics of Pb point to an origin of the pegmatites by melting of the surrounding late Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic country rocks. Hydrothermal activity took place after pegmatite emplacement and continued below the closure temperature of magnetite at 1800– 1650 Ma. Because of the relatively inert and refractory nature of magnetite, Pb-isotopic measurements from this mineral may be of help to understand the metamorphic evolution of geologically complex terrains.

scholarly journals Geochemical features, sources and geodynamic settings of accumulation of the cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Mel’gin trough (Bureya continental massif)

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-519
Author(s):  
R. O. Ovchinnikov ◽  
A. A. Sorokin ◽  
V. P. Kovach ◽  
A. B. Kotov
Keyword(s):  
Continental Margin ◽  
Active Continental Margin ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Relative Probability ◽  
Early Proterozoic ◽  
Geodynamic Settings ◽  
Probability Plots

The first data about geochemical features of the Cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Mel’gin trough of the Bureya continental Massif, as well as ages of detrital zircons of them are obtained. It is established, that among the detrital zircons from the sandstones of the Chergilen and Allin formations of the Mel’gin trough zircons with Late Riphean (peaks on relative probability plots – 0.78, 0.82, 0.94, 1.04 Ga) and Early Riphean (peaks on relative probability plots – 1.38, 1.45, 1.64 Ga) ages predominate. The single grains have a Middle Riphean, Early Proterozoic and Late Archean ages. We can suppose, that the sources of Late Riphean detrital zircons from sandstones of the Chergilen and Allin formations are igneous rocks of gabbro-granitoids (940–933 Ma) and granite- leucogranites (804–789 Ma) association, identified in the Bureya continental Massif. We can`t assume, what kind of rocks were the source for Middle Riphean and older detrital zircons from the Cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Bureya continental Massif, because in this massif still do not identified complexes older Late Riphean age. The most probable geodynamic conditions of accumulation of the Cambrian deposits of the Mel’gin trough is the conditions of active continental margin, which is corresponding to of Early Cambrian granitoids magmatism.

The Chitradurga greenstone succession in south India and evolution of the late Archaean basin

1988 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Bhattacharyya ◽  
H. N. Bhattacharya ◽  
A. D. Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
South India ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Late Archaean ◽  
Clastic Sediments ◽  
Granitic Intrusion ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Extensional Faulting ◽  
Wilson Cycle ◽  
Similar Deformation

AbstractThe Chitradurga greenstone succession of south India comprises a thick pile (~ 10 km) of late Archaean volcanic flows and terrigenous clastic sediments, metamorphosed from greenschist to low-grade amphilobite facies. An older near-shore sedimentary sequence of cratonic affiliation and an off-shore bimodal volcanic sequence were deposited contemporaneously on a gneissic basement. The volcanics are metasomatically altered, and major, minor and trace element data fail to discriminate the metavolcanics in terms of modern plate settings. A younger turbidite sequence of coarser elastics covered the older deposits without any apparent tectonic or erosional break. All the rocks of the succession display evidence of similar deformation, prior to invasion by younger granites (~ 2.5 Ga)in a late syn-kinematic phase.This suggests that initially a simple flat-lying downwarp in a continental crust served as the passive receptacle of the platform-type sediments, and also witnessed volcanism along extensional faulting. This phase of the basin was not associated with any compressive deformation. Subsidence of the Chitradurga basin by the denser volcanics and uplift in the gneissic borderlands provided the infrastructure for subsequent development of the younger turbidite sequence covering the still virtually undeformed older deposits. A compressive orogeny, accompanied by granitic intrusion (~ 2.5Ga) in a late kinematic phase, ultimately deformed and uplifted the basin-fill during the declining phase of basinal activity.There is no evidence in the belt to suggest that the plate-tectonic (Wilson cycle) processes, pending a terminal orogeny, were operative during evaluation of the Chitradurga basin.

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