Archean rocks from the eastern Lac Seul region of the English River Gneiss Belt, northwestern Ontario, part 1. Petrology, chemistry, and metamorphism

1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1201-1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. B. W. Harris ◽  
A. M. Goodwin

The eastern Lac Seul region of the English River Gneiss Belt is divided into two domains defined by contrasting petrology and structure. The northern domain is underlain by east-trending, steeply south-dipping, migmatized metasediments, intruded by occasional granite sills, and the southern domain by gneissic tonalite and trondhjemite, with abundant amphibolite inclusions, intruded by granite dykes and diapirs: this domain has a complex structure with gently east-plunging open folds of about 5 km wavelength. Field evidence suggests that metasediments of the northern domain have been deposited on the tonalite trondhjemite basement, which was subsequently mobilized, thereby producing the steeply dipping paragneiss belt of the northern domain.The grade of metamorphism throughout the region lies in the upper amphibolite facies, rising locally to the granulite facies. Within 15 km of the southern margin of the gneiss belt, the metamorphic grade decreases to the greenschist facies.U–Pb dating of zircons indicates that the tonalite gneiss was emplaced at least 3040 m.y. ago, and the granite plutons at 2660 m.y., coeval with migmatization and upper amphibolite facies metamorphism. Late pegmatites were emplaced at 2560 m.y.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Xu Kong ◽  
Xueyuan Qi ◽  
Wentian Mi ◽  
Xiaoxin Dong

We report zircon U–Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopic data from two sample of the retrograded eclogite in the Chicheng area. Two groups of the metamorphic zircons from the Chicheng retrograded eclogite were identified: group one shows characteristics of depletion in LREE and flat in HREE curves and exhibit no significant Eu anomaly, and this may imply that they may form under eclogite facies metamorphic condition; group two is rich in HREE and shows slight negative Eu anomaly indicated that they may form under amphibolite facies metamorphic condition. Zircon Lu-Hf isotopic of εHf from the Chicheng eclogite has larger span range from 6.0 to 18.0, which suggests that the magma of the eclogite protolith may be mixed with partial crustal components. The peak eclogite facies metamorphism of Chicheng eclogite may occur at 348.5–344.2 Ma and its retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite fancies may occur at ca. 325.0 Ma. The Hongqiyingzi Complex may experience multistage metamorphic events mainly including Late Archean (2494–2448 Ma), Late Paleoproterozoic (1900–1734 Ma, peak age = 1824.6 Ma), and Phanerozoic (495–234 Ma, peak age = 323.7 Ma). Thus, the metamorphic event (348.5–325 Ma) of the Chicheng eclogite is in accordance with the Phanerozoic metamorphic event of the Hongqiyingzi Complex. The eclogite facies metamorphic age of the eclogite is in accordance with the metamorphism (granulite facies or amphibolite facies) of its surrounding rocks, which implied that the tectonic subduction and exhumation of the retrograded eclogite may cause the regional metamorphism of garnet biotite plagioclase gneiss.



1982 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 55-57
Author(s):  
A.A Garde ◽  
V.R McGregor

Previous geological work on the 1:100000 map sheet 64 V.l N (fig. 15) includes published maps of smaller areas by Berthelsen (1960, 1962) and Lauerma (1964), mapping by Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S (Bridgwater et al., 1976) and mapping by GGU geologists for the 1:500000 map sheet Frederikshåb Isblink - Søndre Strømfjord (Allaart et al., 1977, 1978). The Amltsoq and Niik gneisses and Malene supracrustal rock units south and east of Godthåbsfjord have not so far been correlated with rocks in the Fiskefjord area. Godthåbsfjord separates the granulite facies gneisses in Nordlandet from amphibolite facies Nûk gneisses on Sadelø and Bjørneøen; the granulite facies metamorphism occurred at about 2850 m.y. (Black et al., 1973), while no published isotopic age determinations from the Fiskefjord area itself are available.



1962 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 1-46
Author(s):  
A Berthelsen

This paper summarises several summers field work within the southern Sukkertoppen district. Since detailed mapping has only been carried out within smaller areas within the region, the remainder being covered by reconnaissance mapping along the coasts, the results should be considered as preliminary. The southern Sukkertoppen district can be divided into three tectonic units, the Nordland, the Finnefjeld, and the Alángua complexes, which, most probably, were formed during the Ketilidian cycle (E. Wegmann, 1938). The metamorphic complexes are traversed by postorogenic dykes and faults (Berthelsen and Bridgwater, 1960). The dykes and faults were seemingly formed before the Nagssugtôqidian revolution which affected the country further to the north (Ramberg, 1948). The northern Nordland complex is shown to have passed through a metamorphic and structural evolution very similar to that which recently has been described from a small area within the complex (see table 2). An original granulite facies rock assemblage has been exposed to two successive imprints of retrograde metamorphism: first an amphibolite facies metamorphism; next a postorogenic epidote-amphibolite to greenschist facies metamorphism in connection with the formation of the younger faults. Evidence is brought forward that the tectonic phases established from Tovqussap nunâ may also be traced within the remaining parts of the Nordland complex. In one case (see fig. 3) an analysis of the basement structures reveals that the post-orogenic faulting is of the wrench fault type. The Finnefjeld complex which is built up of homogeneous hornblende-biotite-bearing quartz-dioritic gneisses is believed to have been originally composed of granulite facies rocks. Subsequent strong penetrative movements accompanied by low grade amphibolite facies metamorphism were responsible for the formation of the present Finnefjeld gneisses. This idea is strongly supported by the facts that relic patches of hypersthene gneiss and transgressive, but deformed, more or less uralitised diorite bodies occur within the Finnefjeld gneiss. The Alangua complex comprises abundant pelitic and semipelitic schists, amphibolites, ultrabasics and skarn rocks in addition to gneisses which are considered to be of metasomatic origin. The ultrabasic rocks have been described by H. Sørensen (1952,1953, 1954, and 1955). The rocks of this complex can also be shown to have passed through two periods of metamorphism (see also H. Sørensen, 1952); an original medium to high grade amphibolite facies metamorphism was succeeded by a later low grade amphibolite facies metamorphism accompanied by granitisation, pegmatisation etc., indicating the presence of a volatile-rich dispersed phase. Although not studied in detail, the structures of the Alángua complex are sufficiently well-known to establish the kinematic evolution of this complex. The first amphibolite facies metamorphism seems to correspond to the Smalledal-Pâkitsoq phases of the Nordland complex, while the subsequent period of low grade amphibolite metamorphism can be matched with the posthumous phase. During this latter, the northern part of the Nordland complex, which locally was thrust over the Alángua rocks (thereby causing their refolding) was converted into the present Finnefjeld gneisses. This interpretation explains the present differences between the three com· plexes as being due to Stockwerk tectonics, fig. 16. An alternative theory which holds that the Alángua rocks are younger than those of the southern complexes does not seem to concur with the field relation known so far. No mineral deposits of economic interest were found during the survey, but traces of sulfides (see tables 1 and 3), magnetite, molybdenite, corundum, monazite, zircon, talc and soapstone have been met with at various localities.



1974 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Winchester

SummaryThe contents of CaO and Al2O3 in pelites from areas subjected to amphibolite facies metamorphism have been plotted in order to discover the compositional limit of the stability field of the aluminium silicate minerals. Rocks containing kyanite or sillimanite fall within a well-defined field, while rocks plotting outside this field are devoid of aluminium silicate minerals, irrespective of metamorphic grade. With the trace of the curve bounding this field known, the position of the kyanite isograd may be more easily plotted in areas where kyanite or sillimanite are rare.



1968 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
V.R McGregor

The Godthåb area, situated in the old central gneiss complex of West Greenland, has yielded two of the oldest radiometric dates yet obtained from Greenland. They are both K/Ar biotite dates, one of 2710 ± 130 m.y. on granodiorite gneiss from Godthåb (Armstrong, 1963), and the other of 2610± 50 m.y. on gneiss collected 55 km to the north and on the opposite side of Godthåbsfjord (Larsen and Møller, this report). The latter gneiss shows evidence of having undergone retrograde metamorphism from granulite facies to amphibolite facies, and its date is presumed to be related to this retrogression (Windley, in press).



1969 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 1-44
Author(s):  
R.K Herd ◽  
B.F Windley ◽  
M Ghisler

Seven occurrences of sapphirine-bearing rocks in the Fiskenæsset region are described in detail. They occur within a chromite-layered anorthosite complex that was metamorphosed by a hornblende-granulite facies metamorphism and then by a cordierite-amphibolite facies metamorphism. They were derived from spinel-layered ultramafic rocks that mostly occur as layers and lenses along the contacts between major metaanorthosite and pyribolite/amphibolite horizons within the complex. There are four types of sapphirine-bearing rocks - enstatite, pargasite, gedrite and phlogopite types, which represent a petrogenetic sequence involving increasing degrees of Si, Ca, K and H2O metasomatism related to shearing and deformation along meta-anorthosite-pyribolite junctions. Their relationship to associated non-sapphirine-bearing rocks is described. Brief mineralogical and petrological data are given for the principal minerals and rocks. In addition, two occurrences in the Sukkertoppen region are described in detail; these are also localised in meta-norite-ultramafic lenses in high grade gneisses. It is concluded that sapphirine is stable within a wide range af pressure and temperature conditions, but within a limited range of chemical environments.



1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2021-2025 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. Pidgeon ◽  
F. Kalsbeek

U–Pb measurements on zircons from gneisses, which closely resemble Amitsoq gneisses, from nunataks from the Frederikshåbs Isblink show that they are in fact much younger, probably ca. 3000 Ma old. A direct measurement of the age of the granulite facies metamorphism in the northern part of the Fiskenaesset area, of [Formula: see text], has been achieved by U–Pb analyses on: (1) a large euhedral zircon from an ultrabasic pod considered to have crystallized during the granulite facies metamorphism; (2) zircons from the Ilivertalik granite, which is considered to have been emplaced shortly before the end of the granulite facies metamorphism; and (3) zircons from an anthophyllite–gedrite rock considered to have grown during the amphibolite facies retrogression following granulite facies metamorphism.A maximum age of 2660 ± 20 Ma for the end of the low grade amphibolite facies overprinting in the southern part of the Fiskenaesset area is given by a zircon U–Pb measurement on intrusive granitic sheets.



2006 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Korstgård ◽  
Bo Møller Stensgaard ◽  
Thorkild M. Rasmussen

Within the southern Nagssugtoqidian orogen in West Greenland metamorphic terrains of both Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic ages occur with metamorphic grade varying from low amphibolite facies to granulite facies. The determination of the relative ages of the different metamorphic terrains is greatly aided by the intrusion of the 2 Ga Kangâmiut dyke swarm along a NNE trend. In Archaean areas dykes cross-cut gneiss structures, and the host gneisses are in amphibolite to granulite facies. Along Itilleq strong shearing in an E–W-oriented zone caused retrogression of surrounding gneisses to low amphibolite facies. Within this Itivdleq shear zone Kangâmiut dykes follow the E–W shear fabrics giving the impression that dykes were reoriented by the shearing. However, the dykes remain largely undeformed and unmetamorphosed, indicating that the shear zone was established prior to dyke emplacement and that the orientation of the dykes here was governed by the shear fabric. Metamorphism and deformation north of Itilleq involve both dykes and host gneisses, and the metamorphic grade is amphibolite facies increasing to granulite facies at the northern boundary of the southern Nagssugtoqidian orogen. Here a zone of strong deformation, the Ikertôq thrust zone, coincides roughly with the amphibolite–granulite facies transition. Total magnetic field intensity anomalies from aeromagnetic data coincide spectacularly with metamorphic boundaries and reflect changes in content of the magnetic minerals at facies transitions. Even the nature of facies transitions is apparent. Static metamorphic boundaries are gradual whereas dynamic boundaries along deformation zones are abrupt.



1968 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 1-47
Author(s):  
P.R Dawes

Metamorphosed rocks of three distinct episodes of basic intrusion can be recognised in the Precambrian basement of the Tasiussaq area, South Greenland. The oldest intrusions, represented by sills and dykes, are pyriclasites and biotitepyriclasites; the second episode intrusions, in the form of dykes, are pyroxenemetadolerites and the third episode intrusions, represented by dykes and small bodies, are metagabbros, metadolerites, metanorites and amphibolites. The metamorphic nature of the rocks of the three episodes is a reflection of age. Chemical and modal analyses of rocks from the three episodes are presented. Fresh diorite sills and dolerite dykes represent later episodes of Precambrian basic intrusion. The basic rocks depict the varying types of metamorphic conditions which affected the area in Precambrian time, and these are seen to differ from the established metamorphic history in areas to the north-west in South Greenland. The pyriclasites and biotite-pyriclasites have been derived through granulite facies metamorphism; the pyroxene-metadolerites by dipsenic metamorphism under conditions corresponding to the amphibolite facies and the metagabbros, metadolerites, metanorites and amphibolites through amphibolitisation during amphibolite facies metamorphism. It is suggested that the metamorphism producing the pyroxene-metadolerites (Sanerutian in age) was controlled by dipsenic conditions inherited from earlier granulite facies metamorphism (Ketilidian in age). This implies that the Ketilidian and Sanerutian metamorphisms in the Tasiussaq area are not separated by a long span of time and that the break in plutonism marked by the pyroxene-metadolerites cannot be regarded as a significant cratogenic hiatus between two separate plutonisms. The importance of water in controlling trends in the metamorphism of dolerites is stressed. The 1st episode intrusions have undergone severe changes since intrusion and no palimpsest features indicative of primary texture or mineralogy remain. The majority of the 2nd episode intrusions display a granular texture, but some display sub-ophitic and relic sub-ophitic textures. The 3rd episode intrusions display a range from ophitic, sub-ophitic and microporphyritic textures to relic stages of these textures. The 1st episode intrusions were emplaced into a geosynclinal pile of sediments and were probably connected with the volcanicity which occurred at the end of sedimentation. The 2nd and 3rd episode intrusions were emplaced into granitic and metamorphic rocks at a later stage in the same 'geological cycle'. Both the 2nd and 3rd episode intrusions are considered to indicate trends in the crust towards brittle conditions marking temporary partial withdrawals of the thermal front. Their preserved ophitic and sub-ophitic textures are not indicative of emplacement and crystallisation in cratogenic conditions.



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