AbstractIn the Irish Caledonides, volcanism has been significant in terrane identification and in reconstructions of the Appalachian/Caledonian orogen. Crucial to these reconstructions is the recognition of ocean margins using obducted ocean floor relics (ophiolites) and supra-subduction zone volcanic assemblages. The volcanic rocks provide much evidence for the affinity of a terrane, however, by analogy with present day examples, the ocean floor sediments may provide the best way of tracing both ocean-floor magmatic activity, and continental source areas.
This investigation shows that the Irish Lower Palaeozoic volcanogenic terranes can be discriminated in terms of their shale geochemistry, which also gives information on their provenance and environment of deposition. South Mayo shales are dominated by volcaniclastic material derived both from both an arc and from an ophiolitic source. The Northern and Central belts of the Central Terrane show very similar lithogeochemistries, apparently derived in part from intermediate to silicic volcanic complexes. The Ordovician-Silurian inliers that straddle the Suture Zone, here termed the Southern Domain, show a chemistry close to that of the Leinster Terrane, which, coupled with a greater degree of sea-floor weathering, suggests a terrane with sediment of both volcanic and continental provenance being deposited in deeper water further from land. Across the suture the Leinster Terrane shows a mature chemistry which clearly suggests a continental provenance, together with a volcanogenic input from supra-subduction volcanism. This maturity is probably due to slower rates of sedimentation with longer residence times for volcanic detritus, plus the existence of a deeply weathered continental basement.
Science AMA Series: Scientists are on board the R/V JOIDES Resolution for two months to drill into the ocean floor to investigate geochemical, tectonic, and biological processes occurring in undersea mud volcanoes in an active subduction zone.
