Detrital zircon populations of the eastern Laurentian margin in the Appalachians

Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette D. Kuiper ◽  
Christopher Hepburn
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Orogenic Belt ◽  
Grenville Province ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Zircon Population ◽  
Middle Ordovician ◽  
Archean Crust ◽  
Laurentian Margin

Newly compiled U-Pb detrital zircon data from eight geographic domains along the eastern Laurentian margin from Newfoundland (Canada) to Alabama (United States) show a highly consistent signature along strike, with only minor local variations. The Precambrian signature is characterized by a small ca. 2.7 Ga population and a major ca. 1.9–0.9 Ga population that peaks at ca. 1.2–1.0 Ga. Detrital zircon populations are from Laurentian Archean crust (ca. 2.7 Ga population), Paleoproterozoic orogens (ca. 1.9–1.6 Ga), the Granite-Rhyolite Province (ca. 1.5–1.4 Ga), and the Elzevir terrane and Grenville Province (ca. 1.3–0.9 Ga). The Mesoproterozoic populations vary in size depending on proximity to the ca. 1.5–1.4 Ga Granite-Rhyolite Province, the ca. 1245–1225 Ma Elzevir terrane, and the ca. 1.2–0.9 Ga Grenville Province. A middle Ordovician zircon population varies in size along strike depending on input from the Taconic orogenic belt, but it is strongest in the northern Appalachians. Because of the general along-strike consistency in detrital zircon age populations, the compilation of all 7534 concordant U-Pb detrital zircon data can be used in future U-Pb detrital zircon studies as an indicator for eastern Laurentian margin sources.

Mantle influence of syn- to late-Grenvillian alkaline magmatism in the Grenville Province: causes and implications

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Eivind Augland ◽  
Abdelali Moukhsil ◽  
Fabien Solgadi
Keyword(s):  
Orogenic Belt ◽  
Alkaline Magmatism ◽  
Magmatic Evolution ◽  
Grenville Province ◽  
Geochemical Composition ◽  
Magmatic Rocks ◽  
Grenville Orogeny ◽  
Slab Breakoff ◽  
Arc Setting ◽  
Laurentian Margin

Several features of Geon 10 magmatic evolution in the Grenville Orogenic Belt is difficult to reconcile with generally accepted models of protracted (ca. 100 Myr) continent–continent collision during the Grenville Orogeny. Particularly the presence of (partly) mantle-derived magmatic rocks, some with subduction signatures, intruded during the inferred climax of the orogeny, is not well accounted for in existing models. We present new geochemical, Lu–Hf isotopic and U–Pb geochronological data from three alkaline composite plutons in Quebec, Canada, that give important clues to the tectono-magmatic evolution from ca. 1040 to 1000 Ma of the Grenville Laurentian margin. The oldest pluton, emplaced at ca. 1038 Ma, has a geochemical composition compatible with derivation in an arc setting by partial melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The two youngest plutons, emplaced at ca. 1014 and 1009 Ma, respectively, have typical within-plate geochemical signatures showing no obvious influence of subduction. The new and existing data indicate that much of the Grenville Laurentian margin experienced ensialic magmatism through large parts of Geon 10, an observation calling for alternative models to the existing to explain the Geon 10 evolution of the Grenville Orogenic Belt. We propose a model where Ottawan metamorphism and magmatism resulted from accretion of terranes and continued subduction beneath Laurentia until late Geon 10. Late Geon 10 magmatism could have been related to slab breakoff prior to or at the onset of a late Geon 10 collisional event, which has also been recently proposed based on paleomagnetic arguments.

Detrital zircon age fingerprinting of NW and SW Iberia Variscan basins: Constraints for the pre-Pangea terrane assemblage analysis and paleogeography

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ícaro Dias da Silva ◽  
Manuel Francisco Pereira ◽  
Emílio González Clavijo ◽  
José R. Martínez Catalán ◽  
Juan Gómez Barreiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Drainage Systems ◽  
Middle Ordovician ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Provenance Studies ◽  
Sedimentary Environments ◽  
Nw Iberia

<p>Synorogenic basins could be linked to a wide variety of sedimentary environments, from continental to deep-marine, in distinct geodynamic settings. The sedimentary evolution of synorogenic basins is mainly controlled by the existence of relief rejuvenation and denudation within and in the surroundings areas. Accumulation of sediment in such basins could react to changes in tectonic settings. Successive extensional or contractional events that are common during the formation of an orogenic belt can induce variations on basin depth, basin depocenter migration and/or repetition of sedimentation-erosion cycles.</p><p>Detrital zircon age fingerprinting of sedimentary basins has proven to be a very sensitive tool for analyzing large and local scale changes in source-terranes, contributing to refine regional paleogeographic models. Recognition of potential source areas could be done by using statistically robust techniques. Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test (K-S) and Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) has been successfully applied to define the fingerprints of sedimentary rocks using detrital zircon age populations and compare with those from potential terrane sources. Comparative statistical analysis of detrital zircon age populations from particular sources and basin strata may be useful to prove sedimentary provenance and distance from source areas, to identify intra-basin sediment recycling and to track multi-source mixing along drainage systems.</p><p>During the Late Devonian-Carboniferous amalgamation of Pangea extensive marine sedimentation occurred in the Variscan orogen on both Laurussia and Gondwana collision margins. Remains of such synorogenic basins are currently located in different sectors of the European Variscan belt, including Iberia.</p><p>Recent provenance studies conducted in SW Iberia Variscan basins have distinguished the contribution of three distinct terrane sources “Gondwana-”, “Laurussia-” and “Variscan magmatic arc-” types, in some cases admitting sediment recycling and mixing of sources. Statistical analysis of detrital zircon age population from NW Iberia Variscan basin allowed us to distinguish two major sources a “Middle Ordovician-Silurian magmatic episode”-type and a “Gondwana”-type. These two types appear to correspond to source areas belonging to the nearby autochthonous and allochthonous units. Gondwanan-type source includes six sub-types whose contributions varied throughout synorogenic basins evolution, indicating that where sedimentary recycling seems to have been relevant.</p><p>Provenance studies on Variscan basins proved to be essential to test if whether or not NW Iberia and SW Iberia synorogenic basins have developed in geographical proximity of Paleozoic Laurussian- or Gondwanan-terrane sources. The differences found between the sources of NW and SW Variscan basins suggest that they would be geographically separated and influenced by independent drainage systems. This finding has provided a better understanding of the framing of Iberia synorogenic basins in paleographic models of Pangea amalgamation.</p><p>Acknowledgements: This study was supported by SYNTHESIS3 project DE-TAF-5798, by “Estímulo ao Emprego Científico – Norma Transitória” by CGL2016-78560-P (MICINN) and by FCT- project UID/GEO/50019/2019 - Instituto Dom Luiz.</p>

Persistence of Grenvillian dominance in Laurentian detrital zircon age systematics explained by sedimentary recycling: Evidence from detrital zircon double dating and detrital monazite textures and geochronology

Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 792-797
Author(s):  
S.C. Zotto ◽  
D.P. Moecher ◽  
N.A. Niemi ◽  
J.R. Thigpen ◽  
S.D. Samson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Lag Times ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Geological Constraints

Abstract Grenvillian ages dominate Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic detrital zircon (DZ) populations across eastern Laurentia and persist through the present. The persistence of this dominance is inferred to result from recycling of DZ grains ultimately sourced from exceptionally Zr-rich and zircon-fertile Grenvillian granitoids. Pennsylvanian arenites of the Appalachian Basin (eastern United States) exhibit DZ U-Pb age distributions that are nearly identical to those of Neoproterozoic to Cambrian strata, and contain detrital diagenetic monazite grains formed via metamorphism or diagenesis of sedimentary rocks in the source region. Detrital zircon (U-Th)/He ages are mostly 475–300 Ma, yielding lag times [Δt = U-Pb age − (U-Th)/He age] of 500–1000 m.y. and 1200–2400 m.y. for Grenvillian and Paleoproterozoic to Archean DZ grains, respectively. Detrital monazite Th-Pb ages are comparable to (U-Th)/He cooling ages, reflecting formation of monazite during Paleozoic regional metamorphism of Neoproterozoic to Cambrian strata that reset the (U-Th)/He systematics of Grenvillian DZ grains within those metasediments. These results are either consistent with or prove recycling. Incorporation of other geological constraints permits definition of at least three (and potentially five) recycling events and their timing following initial post-Grenvillian exhumation and erosion (the “great Grenvillian sedimentation episode”). Recycling events include dispersal of post-Grenvillian sediment during deposition of Neoproterozoic to Cambrian strata (formation of the “Great Unconformity”: cycle 1), subsequent erosion of metamorphosed Neoproterozoic to Cambrian strata generating detritus for the Pennsylvanian arenites sampled here (cycle 2), and modern erosion of those arenites (cycle 3). Pancontinental river systems facilitated dispersal of sediment of ultimate Grenvillian age during or after each cycle.

scholarly journals The Pre-Grenvillian assembly of the southeastern Laurentian margin through the U–Pb–Hf detrital zircon record of Mesoproterozoic supracrustal sequences (Central Grenville Province, Quebec, Canada)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
K. Papapavlou ◽  
A. Moukhsil ◽  
A. Poirier ◽  
J.H.F.L. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Crustal Evolution ◽  
Crustal Growth ◽  
Grenville Province ◽  
Mantle Reservoir ◽  
Depositional Age ◽  
Laurentian Margin

Abstract The detrital zircon perspective on the pre-collisional crustal evolution of the Grenville Province remains poorly explored. In this study, we conducted in situ laser ablation U–Pb–Hf isotopic microanalysis on detrital zircon grains from three pre-orogenic (>1 Ga) supracrustal sequences that crop out in the Central Grenville Province (Lac Saint-Jean region, QC, CA). Detrital zircon grains from vestiges of these sequences record three dominant age peaks at c. 1.46 Ga, 1.62 Ga, 1.85 Ga, and a subordinate peak at 2.7 Ga. The 1.46 Ga and 1.62 Ga age peaks are recorded in detrital zircon grains from a quartzite associated with a metavolcanic sequence (i.e. Montauban Group) with a maximum depositional age of c. 1.44 Ga. In contrast, the c.1.85 Ga age peak is observed from recycled zircon grains in metasediments with maximum depositional ages between 1.2 and 1.3 Ga. The suprachondritic Hf isotope composition in detrital zircon grains of the 1.46 Ga and 1.62 Ga age populations records juvenile crustal growth during peri-Laurentian accretionary orogenesis related to the Pinwarian (1.4–1.5 Ga) and Mazatzalian–Labradorian (1.6–1.7 Ga) events. The detrital zircon grains associated with Penokean–Makkovikian (1.8–1.9 Ga) source rocks record reworking of c. 2.7 Ga continental crust derived from a near-chondritic mantle reservoir. Overall, crust-forming and basement reworking events associated with accretionary orogenesis in southeastern Laurentia are retained in the detrital zircon load of Precambrian basins even after the terminal Grenvillian collision and assembly of Rodinia.

U–Pb and Hf isotopic data from Franklinian Basin strata: insights into the nature of Crockerland and the timing of accretion, Canadian Arctic Islands

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1316-1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen A. Anfinson ◽  
Andrew L. Leier ◽  
Rich Gaschnig ◽  
Ashton F. Embry ◽  
Keith Dewing
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Middle Devonian ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Late Devonian ◽  
Isotopic Data ◽  
Zircon Population ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Laurentian Margin

New detrital zircon uranium–lead (U–Pb) ages and initial epsilon hafnium (εHf(i)) data from the Devonian clastic succession of the Canadian Arctic Islands refines the provenance of strata within the Franklinian Basin and provides constraints on the geologic evolution of the landmass responsible for the Ellesmerian Orogen. This study contributes more than 500 U–Pb ages and 32 εHf(i) values from the Blackley Formation and the Parry Islands Formation. The Middle Devonian Blackley Formation represents the onset of clastic sedimentation into the Franklinian Basin during the Devonian period. Detrital zircon from two samples yield U–Pb age populations of 380–470, 500–700, 900–2100, and 2550–3000 Ma. The population of 500–700 Ma U–Pb ages indicates a source exotic to the northern Laurentian margin and is attributed to a continental landmass located north of the present Canadian Arctic Islands (often referred to as Crockerland). This is some of the earliest evidence of 500–700 Ma detrital zircon deposition onto the northern Laurentian margin and indicates this northern landmass is at least partially accreted to Laurentia by early-Eifelian time. The Late Devonian Parry Islands Formation is the uppermost succession of Ellesmerian Orogen foreland basin sedimentation in the Franklinian Basin. Detrital zircon from four samples yield U–Pb age populations of 370–450, 470–750, 930–2100, and 2300–3200 Ma. The U–Pb ages suggest the Parry Islands Formation is derived from the northern source terrane (Crockerland) and indicate this landmass contains rocks similar to that of the east Greenland Caledonides, Pearya, and northeastern Baltica. Rim and core U–Pb double dates from the 500–700 Ma detrital zircon population and εHf(i) values from the 380–450, 520–550, and 650–710 Ma detrital zircon populations help constrain magma generation processes within Crockerland and suggest the zircons are derived from a juvenile lithosphere.

scholarly journals Detrital zircon provenance and depositional links of Mesozoic Sierra Nevada intra-arc strata

Geosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1422-1453
Author(s):  
Snir Attia ◽  
Scott R. Paterson ◽  
Jason Saleeby ◽  
Wenrong Cao
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Continental Margin ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Early Jurassic ◽  
Southwestern United States ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Sedimentary Provenance ◽  
Cordilleran Margin

Abstract A compilation of new and published detrital zircon U-Pb age data from Permo-Triassic to Cretaceous intra-arc strata of the Sierra Nevada (eastern California, USA) reveals consistent sedimentary provenance and depositional trends across the entire Sierra Nevada arc. Detrital zircon age distributions of Sierra Nevada intra-arc strata are dominated by Mesozoic age peaks corresponding to coeval or just preceding arc activity. Many samples display a spread of pre-300 Ma ages that is indistinguishable from the detrital age distributions of pre-Mesozoic prebatholithic framework strata and southwestern Laurentian continental margin deposits. Synthesis of detrital zircon age data with tectonostratigraphic constraints indicates that a marine to subaerial arc was established in Triassic time, giving way to widespread shallow- to deep-marine deposition in latest Triassic to Early Jurassic time that continued until the emergence of the arc surface in the Early Cretaceous. No data presented herein require the existence of Mesozoic exotic terranes and/or outboard arcs that were previously hypothesized to have been accreted to the Sierra Nevada. We conclude that Sierra Nevada intra-arc strata formed within a coherent depositional network that was intimately linked to the southwestern United States Cordilleran margin throughout the span of Mesozoic arc activity.

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