The Revsegg and Kvitenut Allochthons, Scandinavian Caledonides: origins and evolutions in the Caledonian Wilson cycle

The Caledonian Orogen preserves the record of a complete Wilson cycle from rifting to continent-continent collision and orogenic collapse. The Revsegg Allochthon, the uppermost tectonostratigraphic unit of the Hardangervidda-Ryfylke Nappe Complex of the southern Scandinavian Caledonides, is an understudied example illustrating key temporal and tectonic stages in a Wilson cycle. It overlies 1600-1500 Ma gneisses of the Kvitenut Allochthon that were deformed, metamorphosed and juxtaposed onto the Dyrskard Allochthon at 1000 Ma. The Revsegg Allochthon consists of leucosome-bearing mica-schists with meta-sandstone, and amphibolite and granitoids lenses. The timing of sedimentation of metasedimentary rocks is constrained to the period 780 - 495 Ma, but its association with a 495 Ma bimodal mafic and felsic intrusive suite suggests concurrent sedimentation in a Cambrian extensional setting. The Revsegg Allochthon underwent peak metamorphism at 480-470 Ma, followed by several metamorphic stages from 460 to 440 Ma, probably at an active margin outboard of Baltica, as postulated for the eclogite-bearing Jæren Nappe to the southeast. The Revsegg Allochthon was thrust onto the Kvitenut-Dyrskard duplex from 437 Ma to 434 Ma during an early Scandian phase also recognized in the Seve Nappe. Syn-deformational pegmatites, emplaced at 428 Ma represent the final stage in the nappe stack development. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Caledonian Wilson cycle collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/caledonian-wilson-cycle

A new lithostratigraphic framework and unified nomenclature for the Nsuze Group of the Nkandla sub-basin, southern Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa

During the early 20th century the term Insuzi Series, later reclassified as the Nsuze Group of the Pongola Supergroup, was proposed for a volcano-sedimentary succession exposed in the upper Nsuze River valley in central KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Subsequently, however, there has been little consensus on lithostratigraphic frameworks within the type area, and limited correlation with the exceptionally well-defined stratigraphy within the main Pongola basin. Recent mapping, combined with newly acquired high-resolution aeromagnetic data, satellite imagery, and available published geochronological data suggest that previously published schemes within the Nkandla sub-basin require revision. Utilising important regional marker units, as well as the stratigraphic positions of distinct sedimentary facies within the otherwise volcanic Nsuze Group, a working model is proposed. Lithostratigraphic units are well represented in the Mhlatuze and Nkandla inliers with examples from these areas given prominence. Where exposed, potential correlates within the Nsuze nappe complex are discussed. Within the proposed scheme the siliciclastic Mantonga Formation forms the base of the Nsuze Group, nonconformably overlying basement granitoids of the Kaapvaal Craton within the Mhaltuze Inlier. Mafic volcanics of the Nhlebela Formation overlie the Mantonga Formation in the inlier. These two lower units are, however, not exposed elsewhere in the sub-basin. The sedimentary White Mfolozi Formation forms the base of the succession in the Nkandla Inlier. Diamictites and stromatolite-bearing carbonate lithologies unique to this unit are utilised for regional third-order correlations with the type-area in the White Mfolozi Inlier. Mafic volcanics of the Agatha Formation overlie the White Mfolozi Formation in all exposures, but are most extensively developed within the Mdlelanga syncline of the Nkandla Inlier. Sedimentary and volcaniclastic lithologies of the Mkuzane Formation cap the Nsuze Group in the Mhlatuze and Nkandla inliers. Thickness of this formation is, however, highly variable having been subjected to pre-Vutshini Formation erosion. Through detailed reinterpretation of the stratigraphy of the Nkandla sub-basin we present a third order, (formation) scale, lithostratigraphic scheme encompassing all the formational units of the currently accepted stratigraphy within the main Pongola basin. This working model has the potential for lower-ranking units to be identified and be placed at their appropriate stratigraphic levels in future.

Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of a metasomatic calc-silicate in the Tsäkkok Lens, Scandinavian Caledonides

The Tsäkkok Lens of the Seve Nappe Complex in the Scandinavian Caledonides comprises eclogite bodies hosted within metasedimentary rocks. These rocks are thought to be derived from the outermost margin of Baltica along the periphery of the Iapetus Ocean, but detrital records from the sedimentary rocks are lacking.Many metasedimentary outcrops within the lens expose both well-foliated metapelitic rocks and massive calc-silicates. The contacts between these two lithologies are irregular and are observed to trend at all angles to the high-pressure foliation in the metapelites. Where folding is present in the metapelites, the calc-silicate rocks are also locally folded. These relationships suggest metasomatism of the metapelites during the Caledonian orogenesis. Zircon U-Pb geochronology was conducted on sixty-one zircon grains from a calc-silicate sample to investigate if they recorded the metasomatic event and to assess the detrital zircon populations. Zircon grains predominantly show oscillatory zoning, sometimes with thin, homogeneous rims that have embayed contacts with the oscillatory-zoned cores. The zircon cores yielded prominent early Stenian, Calymmian, and Statherian populations with a subordinate number of Tonian grains. The zircon rims exhibit dissolution-reprecipitation of the cores or new growth and provide ages that span similar time frames, indicating overprinting of successive tectonic events. Altogether, the zircon record of the calc-silicate suggests that the Tsäkkok Lens may be correlated to Neoproterozoic basins that are preserved in allochthonous positions within the northern extents of the Caledonian Orogen.

Revised tectonostratigraphy and structural evolution of the Köli Nappe Complex, Central Caledonides in Nordland, Norway

The nappe stack in the Røssvatnet-Hattfjelldal region in the Central Norwegian Caledonides consists of seven nappes formed at the boundary between tectonostratigraphically upper and uppermost Caledonian levels. The rocks of all nappes share a polyphase tectono-metamorphic evolution that is younger than the 491±10 Ma depositional (volcanic) age of parts of the succession. Early deformation stages characterized by centimetre- to kilometre-scale folding and intense shearing accompanied by greenschist- to amphibolite-facies peak metamorphism are correlated with the Early Ordovician Taconian accretionary orogeny along the Laurentian margin. The Taconian structures are cut by the Krutfjellet gabbro and diorite, which yield U-Pb zircon ages of 446±5 and 444±4 Ma, respectively. Large-scale nappe stacking and folding postdating emplacement of the gabbro was related to collision of Laurentia with Baltica (Scandian orogeny) and followed by late-/postorogenic extension. The revised tectonostratigraphy assigns the structurally higher nappes to the Uppermost Allochthon while the lower nappes are correlated with the Middle Köli Nappe Complex (Upper Allochthon). The boundary between them is marked by an imbricate zone. Taconian deformation was probably much more penetrative and widespread than hitherto thought; thus, parts of the nappe stack were likely assembled prior to Scandian collision.Supplementary material:https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5357255

Regional study of orogenic ultramafics of the Seve Nappe Complex, Scandinavian Caledonides - preliminary results from northern and central Jämtland, Sweden

<p>The Scandinavian Caledonides comprise numerous ultramafic bodies emplaced within metamorphic nappe complexes. A hypothetical suture between the most distal crustal units representing Baltican margin (Seve Nappe Complex, SNC) with the oceanic Iapetian terranes (Köli Nappe Complex) is abundant in such occurrences. Here we present preliminary data on garnet/spinel peridotites/pyroxenites from SNC in central and northern parts of Swedish Jämtland county. The presented results are a part of a project involving regional study focused on orogenic peridotites (mostly spinel-bearing) of Seve and Köli nappe complexes. </p><p>The ultramafic bodies in the study area range from a meters to kilometer scale and comprise: 1) garnet peridotites, 2) spinel peridotites, 3) spinel pyroxenites and 4) garnet pyroxenites. Individual outcrops often record different levels of serpentinisation. </p><p>The Grt-peridotites are usually harzburgites (sparsely dunites/lherzolites) with an assemblage of Ol+Opx+Cpx+Amph+Grt+Spl.  Minerals within the Grt-peridotites are characterised by Ol Fo=~90-91 and Mg# in pyroxenes 90-92 and 92-96 (enstatite and diopside/Cr-diopside, respectively). Garnet is pyrope with end-members Prp=60-69%, Usp=0-4% and Cr#=0.5-4. Amphibole (pargasite; Mg#=88-92) typically occurs as patches or rims around Grt and often host significant amounts of Spl. The spinel has an intermediate composition between hercynite-spinel and magnesiochromite-chromite (Cr#=41-55, Mg#=40-57). </p><p>The spinel peridotites are formed of Ol+Opx+Amph+Chl+Spl and classify mostly as harzburgites/dunites. Olivine and Opx (enstatite, rarely Cr-enstatite; often as porphyrocrysts) show a high range of Fo/Mg# values (90-95 and 90-94, respectively). Amphibole (tremolite; Mg#=91-96) is usually evenly distributed within the rock, while Chl is often associated with grain boundaries. Spinel has a chromite composition (Cr#=82-100, Mg#=5-10). Within single large (~0.5mm) spinel grains, cores with higher Mg# (~23) and lower Cr# (~82) can be observed.</p><p>The garnet pyroxenites are websterites characterised by lower Mg# (88-90) in enstatite, presence of Al-diopside and lower Cr# (<0.5) in pyrope than in peridotites. The Spl-pyroxenites are orthopyroxenites with Mg# in enstatite (86-88) lower than in peridotitic orthopyroxene.</p><p>The presented preliminary data suggest that lithologies formed under different pressures (i.e. Grt and Spl facies) and must have recorded different evolution paths. Garnet ultramafics mineralogy resembles typical “mantle” assemblage with Prg suggesting possible metamorphic input also for other consisting phases (similarly to M2 paragenesis described in [1]). While the Grt ultramafic rocks and their evolution has been a subject of several studies before, the Spl ultramafics are relatively understudied and can shed new light on the evolution of SNC. The composition of Spl peridotites represents a mixture of typical “magmatic” mantle phases with metamorphic minerals (Amph+Chl). Very high Mg# values and occurrence of 120° triple point junctions in Ol (also described in [2]) suggest complex genesis, which probably includes serpentinisation (+exhumation?) followed by deserpentinisation. This indicates that the Spl ultramafics of SNC might have been subducted after their primary serpentinisation, which can be related either to emplacement and exhumation of ultramafics during Rodinia breakup or derivation from shallow, serpentinised “wet” mantle wedge in the subduction zone. </p><p>Research founded by Polish National Science Centre grant no. 2019/35/N/ST10/00519.</p><p>[1] Gilio et al. (2015). Lithos 230, 1-16.<br>[2] Clos et al. (2014). Lithos 192-195, 8-20.</p>

Late Neoproterozoic granulite facies metamorphism of the Upper Gneiss unit (Seve Nappe Complex) in the Váivančohkka-Salmmečohkat area, northern Scandinavian Caledonides

<p>Here, we present preliminary petrochronological results of paragneisses and schists containing bodies of metamafic rocks belonging the Upper Gneiss unit that occurs within the Seve Nappe Complex (SNC) in the Váivančohkka-Salmmečohkat area, north of the lake Torneträsk in northern Sweden and Norway.</p><p>At the outcrop scale, the paragneiss is pervasively foliated and bears features of migmatization. It hosts garnet amphibolite bodies that are locally transected by leucocratic veins. Thin section observations of the paragneiss reveal a mineral assemblage composed of Q+Grt+Amp+Bi±Pl±Ms±Sil±Ru. The leucocratic vein contains Q+Pl+Ms+Bi+Grt+Kfs±Sil. Importantly, some of the studied gneisses contain quartz, exhibiting lobate boundaries, as well as garnet surrounded by melt rim. The presence of quartz forming pseudomorphs after melt was also identified and observed to host both monophase and fluid inclusions. All of these microtextures are indicative of partial melting.</p><p>Preliminary pressure-temperature estimates derived using conventional geothermobarometry and phase equilibrium modelling corroborated petrographic observations. The peak metamorphic conditions were estimated to 8–10kbar and 800–850°C, i.e., in the stability field of melt.</p><p>Uranium-Pb zircon and Th-U-total Pb monazite dating of the migmatitic paragneiss yielded consistent age estimates of 602±5Ma and 599±3Ma, respectively. Nearly the same U-Pb age of 604±7Ma was obtained for the zircon from the leucocratic vein transecting the amphibolite within the studied gneiss. Interestingly, no Caledonian zircon nor monazite were identified. Considering the textural position of the dated zircon and monazite, as well as their chemical character, we suggest that these minerals date the partial melting event recorded by the rocks.</p><p>Regionally, we interpret that the Upper Gneiss unit of SNC in the Váivančohkka-Salmmečohkat area could be a northern continuation of the Leavasvággi gneiss associated with the Vassačoru Igneous Complex of SNC in the Kebnekaise region. Notably, the latter reveals evidence of high temperature metamorphism at c. 600Ma (Paulsson and Andréasson 2002) and its mafic component (see also Rousku et al. in this session) could be an equivalent to the metamafic rocks enclosed within the Upper Gneiss unit. The Leavasvággi gneiss and the Upper Gneiss unit together with similar rocks farther north in Indre Troms and in Corrovare which also yield a c. 610-600Ma age of high grade overprint (Gee et al. 2016; Kjøll et al. 2019). Altogether, these areas with only localized Caledonian influence diverge from traditional models developed for the SNC farther south and offer an additional insight into the development of the late Neoproterozoic margin of Baltica at the early stages of Iapetus opening.</p><p>This study was supported by the National Science Centre (Poland) grant no. 2019/33/B/ST10/01728 to J. Majka.</p><p>References</p><p>Gee et al. 2016. Baltoscandian margin, Sveconorwegian crust lost by subduction during Caledonian collisional orogeny. GFF 139, 36–51.</p><p>Kjøll et al. 2019. Timing of break-up and thermal evolution of a pre-Caledonian  Neoproterozoic exhumed magma-rich rifted margin. Tectonics 38, 1843-1862.</p><p>Paulsson & Andréasson 2002. Attempted break-up of Rodinia at 850 Ma: geochronological evidence from the Seve–Kalak Superterrane, Scandinavian Caledonides. JGS, 159, 751-761.</p>

Deciphering the structural and metamorphic history of the Balsfjord Series in the Upper Allochthon of the Scandinavian Caledonides in northern Norway

<p>Deciphering the structural and metamorphic history of the Balsfjord Series in the Upper Allochthon of the Scandinavian Caledonides in northern Norway</p><p>Höpfl Stephan<sup>1</sup>, Konopásek Jiří<sup>1</sup>, Stünitz Holger<sup>1,2</sup> Bergh G., Steffen<sup>1</sup></p><p>UiT Norges arktiske universitet, Institutt for geovitenskap, [email protected]</p><p> </p><p><sup>1</sup>Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9037, Norway</p><p><sup>2</sup>Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTO), Université d’Orleans, Orleans 45100, France</p><p> </p><p>The Balsfjord Series is located in the central part of Troms–Finnmark County, northern Norway, and is part of the upper allochthon of the Scandinavian Caledonides. It consists of an Ordovician–Silurian metsedimentary sequence lying on top of the mostly gabbroic Lyngen Magmatic Complex (LMC). The unit exhibits an inverted metamorphic gradient, where the metamorphic conditions increase from the base to the top, from very low grade in the southeast to medium grade in the west and northwest. The Balsfjord Series is sandwiched between two high-grade units, the Nakkedal + Tromsø Nappe Complex in the hanging wall and the Nordmannvik Nappe as the top part of the Reisa Nappe Complex (RNC) in the footwall. The Nakkedal + Tromsø Nappe Complex features metamorphic peak ages of ca. 455–450 Ma and the Nordmannvik Nappe of ca. 430 Ma. The peak metamorphism of the Balsfjord Series has never been dated and the role of the inverted metamorphic gradient is not yet understood. One of the main motivations in this project is to resolve the Caledonian deformation history in the Balsfjord Series, ideally leading to a regional tectonic model explaining the tectonostratigraphic and metamorphic relationships between the abovementioned units.</p><p>The Balsfjord Series features two main discernible folding phases. The earlier phase displays tight to isoclinal folds with flat lying axial surfaces parallel to the penetrative foliation. Observed fold axes are parallel with the stretching lineation. These folds are best preserved in the northwestern, upper part of the unit and are syn-metamorphic in certain areas, as they fold original bedding (transposed foliation). A later folding phase is represented by mainly open folds with inclined to steep axial surfaces. Their fold axes are gently plunging with a predominant NE–SW orientation. We interpret these two folding events to be genetically related but slightly diachronous. The earlier folding phase with flat lying axial surfaces was likely generated during nappe thrusting and peak metamorphism of the Balsfjord Series. The subsequent open folding with inclined to steep axial surfaces is explained as a result of continued shearing and shortening of the weaker metapelitic Balsfjord Series against the more rigid gabbroic part of the LMC during the late stages of the Caledonian nappe thrusting.      </p><p>Observed thrust kinematics and penetrative retrogression at the bottom of the Nakkedal + Tromsø Nappe Complex suggest that its final exhumation took place during prograde metamorphism of the underlying Balsfjord Series. The ongoing dating of the prograde metamorphism in the Balsfjord series will provide important information about a possible continuity between the timing of peak metamorphism in the Nakkedal + Tromsø Nappe Complex, the Balsfjord series and the underlying RNC.</p>

The subduction, exhumation, and deformation history of the Vaimok Lens, Seve Nappe Complex, Scandinavian Caledonides

<p>            The Seve Nappe Complex (SNC) of the Scandinavian Caledonides represents portions of the Baltican margin that were subducted to mantle depths. Eclogite-bearing sub-units of the SNC provide a record of this important step in orogen development. One such sub-unit is the Vaimok Lens of the SNC in southern Norrbotten. The Vaimok Lens constitutes eclogites hosted within metasedimentary rocks that reached ultra-high pressure (UHP) conditions in the Cambrian/Early Ordovician period. The metasedimentary rocks are typically composed of quartz, white mica, garnet, plagioclase, biotite, clinozoisite, apatite and titanite, and show a pervasive ‘S2’ foliation that developed during exhumation. Garnet is recognized as a relic of prograde metamorphism during subduction, whereas the other minerals represent retrogressive metamorphism during exhumation. To resolve the timing of prograde metamorphism, Lu-Hf geochronology was conducted on metasediment-hosted garnet that preserves prograde, bell-shaped Mn-zoning with a chemical formula of Alm<sub>69-59</sub>Grs<sub>32-24</sub>Sps<sub>13-2</sub>Prp<sub>5-2</sub>. The results indicate garnet growth at 495.3 ± 2.6 Ma. Quartz-in-garnet (QuiG) elastic geobarometry was also conducted on garnet from the same sample, providing pressures of 0.9-1.3 GPa, calculated at 500-700°C. Six samples were obtained for in-situ <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar geochronology, targeting white mica defining the S2 foliation. Samples can be classified as: 1) low-strain (n: 3), with large (>400 µm width), undeformed micas that are chemically homogeneous (X<sub>Cel</sub>: 0.24-0.35), which yielded a weighted average <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar population of 470.5 ± 5.9 Ma; 2) high-strain (n: 3), with small (<300 µm width) mica fish with heterogeneous chemistry (X<sub>Cel</sub>: 0.03-0.27), which provided weighted average <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar populations of 447.6 ± 2.6 Ma and 431.1 ± 4.1 Ma. An additional sample from the basal thrust of the lens that contains large (>300 µm width), homogeneous (X<sub>Cel</sub>: 0.24-0.34) mica was also dated, yielding a population of 414.1 ± 5.8 Ma. Altogether, the data indicates that the Vaimok Lens was subducting by c. 495 Ma. The lens underwent post-decompression cooling at c. 470 Ma, possibly decompressing to 0.9-1.3 GPa by this time. This would equate to an exhumation rate of 3-9 mm/yr. Imbrication of the SNC in southern Norrbotten is taken to be c. 447 Ma. Scandian deformation was active by c. 431 Ma and led to overthrusting of the SNC onto subjacent nappes by latest c. 414 Ma. Both the timescale for subduction and the rates of exhumation for the Vaimok Lens reflect subduction-exhumation dynamics of large UHP terranes. Furthermore, the timing of imbrication and Scandian deformation in southern Norrbotten is similar to estimates along strike of the SNC. These results indicate that the SNC acted as a large UHP terrane that underwent a ~25 Myr cycle of subduction and exhumation during the late Cambrian/Early Ordovician, before being deformed and partially dismembered in subsequent accretionary and collisional events.</p><p> </p><p>Research funded by National Science Centre (Poland) project no. 2014/14/E/ST10/00321 to J. Majka.</p>