U–Pb geochronologic constraints on the volcanic evolution of the Mira (Avalon) terrane, southeastern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Lou Bevier ◽  
Sandra M. Barr ◽  
Chris E. White ◽  
Alan S. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
South American ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Late Precambrian ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Mountain Belt ◽  
Coastal Belt ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
American Source ◽  
Middle Proterozoic

New U–Pb ages for late Precambrian volcanic and associated plutonic units in the Mira (Avalon) terrane of southeastern Cape Breton Island indicate that volcanic suites were erupted over a span of at least 100 Ma. The oldest dated rock is a quartz–feldspar rhyodacitic porphyry from the unit that hosts the Mindamar Zn–Pb–Cu–Ag–Au deposit in the Stirling belt, which has an age of [Formula: see text]. The most widespread volcanism and plutonism occurred at ca. 620 Ma in the East Bay Hills and Coxheath Hills belts, and probably the Sporting Mountain belt, as indicated by U–Pb ages and U–Pb maximum ages for rhyolite flows and U–Pb and Ar–Ar ages of crosscutting plutons, as well as stratigraphic constraints. Younger volcanic rocks occur in the Coastal belt, from which a rhyodacitic crystal tuff is dated at [Formula: see text] and a pluton is dated at 574 ± 3 Ma. A rhyolite flow from the contiguous Main-à-Dieu sequence yields a maximum age of ca. 563 Ma, and a minimum age for this sequence is indicated by overlying latest Precambrian to Cambrian fossiliferous sedimentary rocks. Middle Devonian plutonism in the Mira terrane is confirmed by an age of [Formula: see text] from the Lower St. Esprit granodiorite in the Coastal belt. The range of ages of volcanic and plutonic rocks in Mira terrane is similar to that in other parts of Avalon terrane in eastern Newfoundland and southern New Brunswick. Many of the dated rocks contain xenocrystic zircons of Middle Proterozoic ages which suggest a South American source.

Geochemistry and tectonic setting of late Precambrian volcanic and plutonic rocks in southeastern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1147-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Barr
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zone ◽  
Continental Margin ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Volcanic Arc ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Late Precambrian ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Coastal Belt ◽  
Plutonic Rocks ◽  
Mountain Belts

Late Precambrian volcanic–sedimentary belts in the Mira (Avalon) terrane of southeastern Cape Breton Island display differences in rock types, petrochemistry, and age, showing that they did not form contemporaneously above a single northwest-dipping subduction zone, as proposed in earlier models. The oldest rocks are 680 Ma mafic and felsic flows and tuffs, and abundant, mainly tuffaceous, sedimentary rocks in the Stirling belt. They are interpreted to have formed in a trough within or peripheral to a volcanic-arc complex. Northwest of the Stirling belt, the East Bay Hills, Coxheath Hills, and Sporting Mountain belts consist of ca. 620 Ma mafic to felsic subaerial pyroclastic rocks and flows and contemporaneous dioritic to granitic plutons. Both volcanic and plutonic rocks are calc-alkalic to high-K calc-alkalic suites, formed in a continental margin volcanic arc. A correlative 620 Ma plutonic suite intruded the western margin of the Stirling belt, suggesting that subduction may have been toward the present southeast. The ca. 575 Ma Coastal belt, located southeast of the Stirling belt, is significantly younger than the other belts and appears to represent a less evolved calc-alkalic to low-K continental margin volcanic-arc and intra-arc basin formed above a northwest-dipping subduction zone. These various volcanic–sedimentary belts were juxtaposed by lateral movements along major faults in the late Precambrian to form this part of the Avalon composite terrane. Subduction-related, calc-alkalic magmatism at ca. 620 Ma was apparently widespread throughout the Avalon terrane of the northern Appalachian Orogen. However, ca. 680 Ma magmatism like that in the Stirling belt has been documented elsewhere only in the Connaigre Bay Group of Newfoundland. Circa 575 Ma and younger subduction-generated igneous activity like that in the Coastal belt has been recognized in southern New Brunswick, but alkaline magmas were forming in extensional regimes in other areas of the Avalon terrane at that time.

Upper Precambrian through Lower Cambrian of Cape Breton Island: faunas, paleoenvironments, and stratigraphic revision

1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 570-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Landing
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Depositional Sequence ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Tectonic History ◽  
Small Shelly Fossils ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Local Erosion ◽  
Lake Formation ◽  
Random Block

Latest Precambrian through Early Cambrian tectonic history and stratigraphy are comparable in southeastern Cape Breton Island and the western Placentia–Bonavista axis, southeastern Newfoundland. The lithostratigraphic nomenclature of southeastern Newfoundland is used for this interval in Cape Breton Island. Upper Precambrian volcanic rocks of the Forchu Group (=“Giant Lake Complex,’ designation abandoned) are unconformably overlain by uppermost Precambrian through lowest Cambrian strata termed the “Morrison River Formation’ (designation abandoned). This depositional sequence consists of three formations: 1) red beds through tidalites of the Rencontre Formation (to 279+ m; =“Kelvin Lake Formation,’ designation abandoned); 2) prodeltaic clastics of the Chapel Island Formation (to 260 m); and 3) macrotidal quartzites of the Random Formation (to 71 + m). Post-Random block faulting and 300 m of local erosion took place prior to onlap of the “MacCodrum Formation’ (abandoned). Siliciclastic mudstones of the lower “MacCodrum’ are re-assigned to the middle Lower Cambrian Bonavista Group. Sub-trilobitic faunas from the Bonavista Group include “Ladatheca’ cylindrica from the West Centre Cove Formation(?) and higher diversity faunas (23 species) in the Camenella baltica Zone of the Cuslett and Fosters Point Formations. Trilobite-bearing, upper Lower Cambrian (Branchian Series) strata (Brigus Formation, =upper “MacCodrum’ and overlying “Canoe Brook’ Formations) unconformably overlie the Placentian Series in Cape Breton Island, southeastern Newfoundland, Shropshire, and, probably, eastern Massachusetts. Correlations based on small shelly fossils indicate an earlier appearance of trilobites in Avalon than on the South China Platform. Twenty-six species are illustrated. Halkieria fordi n. sp., the conodont(?) “Rushtonites’ asiatica n. sp., and the zhijinitid(?) Samsanoffoclavus matthewi n. gen. and sp. are described. Ischyrinia? sp. may be the oldest ischyrinoid rostroconch.

Tectonic setting and regional correlation of Ordovician–Silurian rocks of the Aspy terrane, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1769-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Barr ◽  
Rebecca A. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Volcanic Arc ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Tectonic History ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Metavolcanic Rocks ◽  
High Grade Metamorphism ◽  
Arc Setting

Interlayered mafic and felsic metavolcanic rocks and metasedimentary rocks of Ordovician to Silurian age are characteristic of the Aspy terrane of northwestern Cape Breton Island. These rocks were affected by medium- to high-grade metamorphism and were intruded by synkinematic granitoid orthogneisses during Late Silurian to Early Devonian times. They were intruded by posttectonic Devonian granitic plutons and experienced rapid Devonian decompression and cooling. The chemical characteristics of the mafic metavolcanic rocks indicate that they are tholeiites formed in a volcanic-arc setting. The volcanic rocks of the Aspy terrane differ from many other Silurian and Silurian–Devonian successions in Atlantic Canada, which have chemical and stratigraphic characteristics of volcanic rocks formed in extensional within-plate settings, and are somewhat younger than the Aspy terrane sequences. Aspy terrane units are most similar to Ordovician–Silurian volcanic and metamorphic units in southwestern Newfoundland, including the La Poile Group and the Port aux Basques gneiss. Together with other occurrences of Late Ordovician to Early Silurian volcanic-arc units, they indicate that subduction-related compressional tectonics continued into the Silurian in parts of the northern Appalachian Orogen. The complex Late Silurian – Devonian tectonic history of the Aspy terrane may reflect collision with the southeastern edge of a Grenvillian crustal promentory.

Birth of the Avalon arc in Nova Scotia, Canada: geochemical evidence for ∼700–630 Ma back-arc rift volcanism off Gondwana

1998 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. KEPPIE ◽  
J. DOSTAL
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Benioff Zone ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Mafic Rocks ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Arc Setting ◽  
Oceanic Island Basalts ◽  
Back Arc

Central Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, is host to ∼700–630 Ma felsic and associated mafic volcanic rocks that are relatively rare in other parts of the Avalon Composite Terrane, occurring elsewhere only in the Stirling Block of southern Cape Breton Island and in parts of eastern Newfoundland. The mafic rocks of central Cape Breton Island are typically intraplate tholeiitic basalts generated by melting of a garnet-bearing mantle source. They lack a continental trace element and εNd imprint although they were emplaced on continental crust; they resemble oceanic island basalts. Contemporaneous volcanism in the Stirling Block is calc-alkaline and formed in a volcanic arc setting. In the absence of evidence for an intervening trench complex or suture, it may be inferred that the central Cape Breton tholeiites formed in a back-arc setting relative to the Stirling Block. This rifting may represent the initial stages of separation of an Avalonian arc from western Gondwana. The arc rifted further between ∼630–610 Ma when the younger Antigonish-Cobequid back-arc basin formed. Subsequently, the extensional arc became convergent, telescoping the back-arc basin. Northwestward migration of calc-alkaline arc magmatism may be related to shallowing of the associated Benioff zone through time.

scholarly journals Very low- and low-grade metamorphism of mafic volcanic rocks of the Mira terrane (Avalonia), southeastern Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (0) ◽  
pp. 95-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W.A. McMullin ◽  
Sandra M. Barr ◽  
Robert P. Raeside
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Grade Metamorphism ◽  
Cape Breton

Contrasting metamorphic terranes near Chéticamp, Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

1987 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 2422-2435 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Currie
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
The Other ◽  
Biotite Gneiss ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Late Precambrian ◽  
Cape Breton ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Cover Relation ◽  
Metamorphic Terranes

Two contrasting metamorphic terranes can be recognized in northwestern Cape Breton Island. One terrane (Pleasant Bay complex) consists of biotite gneiss and quartzite with minor calc-silicate lenses that were metamorphosed in Late Precambrian time (about 550 Ma) and were subsequently intruded by Silurian salic and mafic plutons that were, in turn, deformed and intruded by granite in Devonian time. The other terrane (Jumping Brook complex) consists of volcanogenic and sedimentary schists of probable Silurian age that were metamorphosed in Devonian time. P–T estimates indicate that the older parts of the Pleasant Bay complex were metamorphosed at about 790 °C and 7 kbar (1 kbar = 100 MPa) at low to moderate water fugacities during a major intrusive episode. The Jumping Brook complex exhibits a single progressive metamorphic sequence now disrupted by faulting. P–T conditions during this Devonian (370–390 Ma) metamorphism varied from greenschist (300 °C at <3 kbar) to amphibolite (650 °C at 4 kbar) facies. Metamorphism probably occurred in a thermal dome. The data suggest a moderately deformed basement–cover relation between the Pleasant Bay and Jumping Brook complexes.

Superposed Neoproterozoic and Silurian magmatic arcs in central Cape Breton Island, Canada: geochemical and geochronological constraints

2000 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. KEPPIE ◽  
J. DOSTAL ◽  
R. D. DALLMEYER ◽  
R. DOIG
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
New England ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Southern New England ◽  
Cape Breton

Isotopic and geochemical data indicate that intrusions in the eastern Creignish Hills of central Cape Breton Island, Canada represent the roots of arcs active at ∼ 540–585 Ma and ∼ 440 Ma. Times of intrusion are closely dated by (1) a nearly concordant U–Pb zircon age of 553±2 Ma in diorites of the Creignish Hills pluton; (2) a lower intercept U–Pb zircon age of 540±3 Ma that is within analytical error of 40Ar/39 Ar hornblende plateau isotope-correlation ages of 545 and 550±7 Ma in the River Denys diorite; and (3) an upper intercept U–Pb zircon age of 586±2 Ma in the Melford granitic stock. On the other hand, ∼ 441–455 Ma 40Ar/39 Ar muscovite plateau ages in the host rock adjacent to the Skye Mountain granite provide the best estimate of the time of intrusion, and are consistent with the presence of granitic dykes cutting the Skye Mountain gabbro–diorite previously dated at 438±2 Ma. All the intrusions are calc-alkaline; the Skye Mountain granite is peraluminous. Trace element abundances and Nb and Ti depletions of the intrusive rocks are characteristic of subduction-related rocks. The ∼ 540–585 Ma intrusions form part of an extensive belt running across central Cape Breton Island, and represent the youngest Neoproterozoic arc magmas in this part of Avalonia. Nearby, they are overlain by Middle Cambrian units containing rift-related volcanic rocks, which bracket the transition from convergence to extension between ∼ 540 and 505/520 Ma. This transition varies along the Avalon arc: 590 Ma in southern New England, 560–538 Ma in southern New Brunswick, and 570 Ma in eastern Newfoundland. The bi-directional diachronism in this transition is attributed to northwestward subduction of two mid-ocean ridges bordering an oceanic plate, and the migration of two ridge–trench–transform triple points. Following complete subduction of the ridges, remnant mantle upwelling along the subducted ridges produced uplift, gravitational collapse and the high-temperature/low-pressure metamorphism in the arc in both southern New Brunswick and central Cape Breton Island. The ∼ 440 Ma arc magmatism in the Creignish Hills extends through the Cape Breton Highlands and into southern Newfoundland, and has recently been attributed to northwesterly subduction along the northern margin of the Rheic Ocean.

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