Potassium–Argon Age Determinations of Metamorphic and Plutonic Rocks in the Yukon Crystalline Terrane

1975 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1895-1909 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Tempelman-Kluit ◽  
R. K. Wanless

Forty-four new potassium–argon age determinations on minerals of metamorphic and igneous rocks from the Yukon Crystalline Terrane define the timing of the three most recent thermal events affecting this region. The oldest, 160 to 170 Ma ago, involved weak retrograde metamorphism of igneous and metamorphic rocks and coincides with the intrusion of batholiths of pink quartz monzonite. The next event, 90 to 100 Ma ago, reflects the emplacement of batholiths of the Coffee Creek quartz monzonite suite. The youngest thermal episode, 50 to 60 Ma ago, marks the time when the Nisling Range alaskite, with its porphyry dyke swarms and explosive acid volcanic rocks, was emplaced and when the K–Ar system of the Ruby Range Batholith was thermally reset. The data provide a younger limit to the age of the oldest Mesozoic plutonic rocks, the Klotassin suite, but they do not define its time of emplacement.

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 556-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Patchett ◽  
G E Gehrels ◽  
C E Isachsen

Nd isotopic data are presented for a suite of metamorphic and plutonic rocks from a traverse across the Coast Mountains between Terrace and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and for three contrasting batholiths in the Omineca Belt of southern Yukon. A presumed metamorphic equivalent of Jurassic volcanic rocks of the Stikine terrane gives epsilon Nd = +6, and a number of other metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks in the core of the Coast Mountains give epsilon Nd values from +3 to +7. A single metasedimentary rock approximately 3 km east of the Work Channel shear zone gives a epsilon Nd value of -9. Coast Belt plutons in the traverse yield epsilon Nd from -1 to +2. The Omineca Belt plutons give epsilon Nd from -10 to -17. All results are consistent with published data in demonstrating that (i) juvenile origins for both igneous and metamorphic rocks are common in the Coast Belt; (ii) representatives of a continental-margin sedimentary sequence with Precambrian crustal Nd are tectonically interleaved in the Coast Mountains; (iii) Coast Mountains plutons can be interpreted as derived from a blend of metamorphic rocks like those seen at the surface, or as arc-type melts contaminated with the older crustal component; and (iv) Omineca Belt plutons are dominated by remelted Precambrian crustal rocks.


1961 ◽  
Vol S7-III (4) ◽  
pp. 345-354
Author(s):  
Andre Michard ◽  
P. Vialon

Abstract Igneous rocks of the Dora-Maira massif in the Po river headwater region in the Cottian Alps of Piedmont, Italy, are surrounded, and in many places surmounted, by gneiss, marble, and other associated metamorphic rocks of controversial age. The evidence is considered conclusive that the age of the rocks ranges from Permo-Carboniferous to Triassic. Criteria for discrimination of successive periods of metamorphism, including retrograde metamorphism, are reviewed. Carbonatized rocks and phengitic conglomeratic quartzite serve as "metamorphic thermometers" useful locally for discriminating successive periods of metamorphism. Cataclastic effects are also useful for determining time relationships, as are also optical peculiarities of quartz, feldspar, white mica, and biotite in various rocks. It is concluded that the region has been subjected to two major periods of metamorphism, and that the Alpine metamorphism in general was less intensive, and in certain aspects was retrograde compared with the pre-Alpine metamorphism.


1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Le Couteur ◽  
D. J. Tempelman-Kluit

Nine Rb/Sr apparent ages are reported for igneous rocks of the Yukon Crystalline Terrane. The oldest age (144 m.y.) is from the Triassic? Klotassin quartz diorite and is thought to be a hybrid age that probably reflects the effects of younger intrusives on rocks at least 190 m.y. old. Five ages of about 100 m.y. presumably reflect the cooling of the Coffee Creek quartz monzonite. K/Ar ages for this event are slightly younger than the Rb/Sr ages, suggesting slow cooling. Rb/Sr ages of 53 and 67 m.y. were obtained for the Ruby Range batholith and an age of 61–67 m.y. for the Nisling Range alaskite. The Rb/Sr ages obtained generally confirm recently determined K/Ar ages. There is a regional decrease in initial Sr87/Sr86 ratios, southwestward across the Yukon Crystalline Terrane. This may mean that Precambrian rocks extend under the Yukon Crystalline Terrane, but are absent under the adjoining Coast Plutonic Complex.


1975 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Wanless ◽  
K. E. Eade

Rb–Sr and U–Pb dating techniques have been utilized to identify and date Archean supracrustal rocks within the Churchill structural province in regions where K–Ar age determinations have recorded only the effects of younger Hudsonian orogeny. The age of emplacement of Archean granodiorite has been established at 2550 m.y., a determination that also provides a minimum age for volcanic rocks intruded by the granodiorite.The overlying Proterozoic Hurwitz Group volcanic rocks have been dated for the first time at 1808 ± 35 m.y. (Upper Aphebian). A post-Hurwitz Group quartz monzonite pluton intruded the granodiorite gneiss at 1772 ± 22 m.y. and the age of the post-tectonic Nueltin Lake Granite has been established at 1700 ± 16 m.y. (Paleohelikian).It is concluded that the Hurwitz Group cannot be correlated with the Huronian succession in Ontario as the Hurwitz Group rocks are 300 to 400 m.y. younger than the Huronian strata.


2014 ◽  
Vol 185 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Cuney

Abstract The strongly incompatible behaviour of uranium in silicate magmas results in its concentration in the most felsic melts and a prevalence of granites and rhyolites as primary U sources for the formation of U deposits. Despite its incompatible behavior, U deposits resulting directly from magmatic processes are quite rare. In most deposits, U is mobilized by hydrothermal fluids or ground water well after the emplacement of the igneous rocks. Of the broad range of granite types, only a few have U contents and physico-chemical properties that permit the crystallization of accessory minerals from which uranium can be leached for the formation of U deposits. The first granites on Earth, which crystallized uraninite, dated at 3.1 Ga, are the potassic granites from the Kaapval craton (South Africa) which were also the source of the detrital uraninite for the Dominion Reef and Witwatersrand quartz pebble conglomerate deposits. Four types of granites or rhyolites can be sufficiently enriched in U to represent a significant source for the genesis of U deposits: peralkaline, high-K metaluminous calc-alkaline, L-type peraluminous and anatectic pegmatoids. L-type peraluminous plutonic rocks in which U is dominantly hosted in uraninite or in the glass of their volcanic equivalents represent the best U source. Peralkaline granites or syenites are associated with the only magmatic U-deposits formed by extreme fractional crystallization. The refractory character of the U-bearing minerals does not permit their extraction under the present economic conditions and make them unfavorable U sources for other deposit types. By contrast, felsic peralkaline volcanic rocks, in which U is dominantly hosted in the glassy matrix, represent an excellent source for many deposit types. High-K calc-alkaline plutonic rocks only represent a significant U source when the U-bearing accessory minerals (U-thorite, allanite, Nb oxides) become metamict. The volcanic rocks of the same geochemistry may be also a favorable uranium source if a large part of the U is hosted in the glassy matrix. The largest U deposit in the world, Olympic Dam in South Australia is hosted by highly fractionated high-K plutonic and volcanic rocks, but the origin of the U mineralization is still unclear. Anatectic pegmatoids containing disseminated uraninite which results from the partial melting of uranium-rich metasediments and/or metavolcanic felsic rocks, host large low grade U deposits such as the Rössing and Husab deposits in Namibia. The evaluation of the potentiality for igneous rocks to represent an efficient U source represents a critical step to consider during the early stages of exploration for most U deposit types. In particular a wider use of the magmatic inclusions to determine the parent magma chemistry and its U content is of utmost interest to evaluate the U source potential of sedimentary basins that contain felsic volcanic acidic tuffs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-175
Author(s):  
Ahmad Zaenudin ◽  
I Gede Boy Darmawan ◽  
George Laimeheriwa

Gravity measurement has been conducted in South Lampung area to study the characteristics of the distribution of bedrock and igneous rocks, especially those that can be utilized for development in the National Strategic Area of the Sunda Strait. This study uses a 2D qualitative modeling method and utilizing spectrum analysis of complete Bouguer anomaly data. Based on the result of modeling of residual gravity anomaly, it was found that the intrusion pattern on Sulan granitoid pluton and surrounding plutons showed a significant intrusion of the body and scattered in some Tarahan area. 2D qualitative modeling shows Paleozoic metamorphic rocks are responsible as bedding rocks, and the spread was identified scattered throughout the study area, although it cannot be ascertained whether the bedrock in the Bakauheni area is precisely the same rock as the bedrock in Tarahan area. Meanwhile, Quaternary volcanic rocks are still dominated by tuffaceous sandstone and breccia. This method also confirms that andesite lava is commonly found as a product of the eruption of Mount Rajabasa and Pre-Rajabasa in the Bakauheni region. Nevertheless, some potential of basaltic andesite rocks can be obtained in monogenetic volcanic zones exposed around the foot of Mount Rajabasa.


1974 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
S Pedersen ◽  
O Larsen ◽  
D Bridgwater ◽  
J Watterson

The metamorphosed supracrustal rocks and paragneisses studied were collected during a reconnaissance traverse across the trend of the Ketilidian mobile belt in South-Bast Greenland (Andrews et al., 1971, 1973). All the samples are taken from gneisses regarded as derived from supracrustal material which was originally composed of acid volcanic material deposited as lavas, ignimbrites or sediments with a large volcanic component. Sample localities are shown in fig. 2. All the rocks have been affected by at least one metamorphic episode during the formation of the Ketilidian mobile belt. All are regarded as deposited after the end of regional high grade metamorphism in the Archaean block to the north (which has yielded a U/Pb zircon diffusion age of 2808 m.y.) and are intruded by a variety of synto late tectonic granites within the Ketilidian mobile belt which have yielded U/Pb diffusion and concordia ages between 1850 and 1770 m.y. in this area (Gulson & Krogh, 1972).


1975 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 17-24
Author(s):  
N Hald ◽  
A.K Pedersen

A sequence of flood basalts, in places more than 8-10 km thick, was erupted during the Early Tertiary in the central part of West Greenland between latitudes 69° and 73°N. The volcanic rocks rest on Precambrian metamorphic rocks and non-marine and marine sediments from the Cretaceous and Paleocene. The lower part of the volcanic sequence is dominated by tholeiitic olivinerich basalts and picrite basalts, whereas the upper part is characterized by tholeiitic basalts with plagioclase as the dominant phenocryst mineral; transitional and alkaline lavas and tuffs are found, especially in the upper part of the sequence. The geology of the Tertiary igneous rocks has been summarized by Munck & Noe-Nygaard (1957), Rosenkrantz & Pulvertaft (1969) and Clarke & Pedersen (in press). However, until now no formal lithostratigraphy has been established. A geological map at scale 1:100 000 covering the greater part of Nugssuaq (sheet Agatdal-70 V. 1 Nord) has been published by GGU.


2006 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Macdonald ◽  
Douglas J. Fettes

ABSTRACTScotland has a magmatic record covering much of the period 3100–50 Ma. In this review, we pull together information on Scotland's igneous rocks into a continuous story, showing how magmatic activity has contributed to the country's structural development and assessing whether the effects of older magmatic events can be recognised in later episodes.The oldest igneous rocks are part of supracrustal sequences within the Lewisian Gneiss Complex, formed when Scotland was part of the supercontinent Kenorland. The supracrustal rocks were intruded between 3100 and 2800 Ma by granodiorites and tonalites, which were metamorphosed and deformed in a major tectonothermal event between 2700 and 2500 Ma. The break-up of Kenorland (2400–2200 Ma) was marked by the intrusion of mafic dyke swarms of tholeiitic affinity. The convergence of continental masses to form the supercontinent Columbia resulted, at ∼1900 Ma, in a series of subduction-related volcanic rocks and gabbro–anorthosite masses. Subsequent continent–continent collision formed a series of granite–pegmatite sheets at ∼1855 Ma and ∼1675 Ma and reworked much of the earlier rocks in the amphibolite facies. Columbia was breaking up by 1200 Ma, an event marked by remnants of basaltic magmatism in the NW of the country. Re-assembly of the continental fragments to form the supercontinent Rodinia resulted in the Grenville Orogeny, which in Scotland was marked by basement reworking but no confirmed magmatic activity. Early attempts to split Rodinia produced a rift-related, bimodal, mafic–felsic sequence in the Moine Supergroup of the Northern Highlands, at least some of the mafic rocks having mid-ocean ridge basalt affinities. Crustal thickening during a disputed orogenic event, the Knoydartian, may have caused regional migmatisation. The final break-up of Rodinia occurred in Scotland at ∼600 Ma, when very extensive tholeiitic magmatism characterised the later parts of the Dalradian Supergroup, while a series of granites intruded the Moine and Dalradian successions.Ordovician and Silurian times saw the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and the convergence of Laurentia, Avalonia and Baltica. The collision of a major arc system with Laurentia caused the Grampian event (480–465 Ma) of the Caledonian Orogeny, marked by ophiolite obduction, the generation of (largely) anatectic granites, volcanism in the Midland Valley and Southern Uplands, and intrusion of a major gabbro–granite suite in the NE. The late-Caledonian events (435–420 Ma) were largely post-collisional and were marked by the emplacement of alkaline igneous intrusions in the NW, calc-alkaline granitic intrusions over much of the country, widespread volcanic activity and regional dyke swarms. Laurentia, Avalonia and Baltica amalgamated to form the supercontinent Laurussia. Magmatic activity recommenced at 350 Ma, when intra-plate alkaline magmatism affected much of southern Scotland, in particular, through into Permian times. The alkaline magmatism was interrupted at ∼295 Ma by a short-lived event in which tholeiitic magmas were intruded as sills and dykes in a swarm ∼200 km wide. In the early Palaeogene, lithospheric attenuation related to proto-North Atlantic formation and the splitting of Pangaea was complemented by the arrival of the Iceland mantle plume. Huge volumes of mafic magma were emplaced as lava fields, central complexes and regional swarms, locally increasing crustal thickness by 30%


Author(s):  
Gejing Li ◽  
D. R. Peacor ◽  
D. S. Coombs ◽  
Y. Kawachi

Recent advances in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and analytical electron microscopy (AEM) have led to many new insights into the structural and chemical characteristics of very finegrained, optically homogeneous mineral aggregates in sedimentary and very low-grade metamorphic rocks. Chemical compositions obtained by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) on such materials have been shown by TEM/AEM to result from beam overlap on contaminant phases on a scale below resolution of EMPA, which in turn can lead to errors in interpretation and determination of formation conditions. Here we present an in-depth analysis of the relation between AEM and EMPA data, which leads also to the definition of new mineral phases, and demonstrate the resolution power of AEM relative to EMPA in investigations of very fine-grained mineral aggregates in sedimentary and very low-grade metamorphic rocks.Celadonite, having end-member composition KMgFe3+Si4O10(OH)2, and with minor substitution of Fe2+ for Mg and Al for Fe3+ on octahedral sites, is a fine-grained mica widespread in volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sediments which have undergone low-temperature alteration in the oceanic crust and in burial metamorphic sequences.


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