Nature of the Quetico–Wabigoon boundary in the de Courcey – Smiley Lakes area, northwestern Ontario

1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred M. Kehlenbeck
Keyword(s):  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Metamorphic Grade ◽  
Boundary Zone ◽  
Present Level ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
The North ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Multiple Phase ◽  
Mineral Assemblages

In the de Courcey – Smiley Lakes Area, the boundary between the Quetico and Wabigoon Belts is expressed by a sequence of pelitic to semi-pelitic schists and gneisses. At the present level of erosion, these metasedimentary rocks are in contact with granodioritic gneisses, granites, and pegmatites, which are exposed to the south.To the north of this area, regional metamorphism of volcanic and sedimentary rocks has resulted in greenschist facies assemblages, which characterize the Wabigoon Belt in general. In the boundary zone, the metamorphic grade increases southward toward de Courcey and Smiley Lakes.Formation of three distinct foliation surfaces was accompanied by syn-tectonic as well as post-tectonic recrystallization, producing polymetamorphic schists.In the boundary zone, mineral assemblages comprising andalusile, sillimanite, cordierite, garnet. biotite, and muscovite form a facies series of the Abukuma type.The boundary between the Quetico and Wabigoon Belts in this area is a complex zone in which rocks of both belts have been reconstituted by multiple-phase metamorphism and partial melting.

A metasedimentary source of gold in Archean orogenic gold deposits

Geology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain K. Pitcairn ◽  
Nikolaos Leventis ◽  
Georges Beaudoin ◽  
Stephane Faure ◽  
Carl Guilmette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rock ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Metamorphic Grade ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Metal Source ◽  
Main Metal ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Orogenic Gold Deposits ◽  
Archean Orogenic Gold Deposits

The sources of metals enriched in Archean orogenic gold deposits have long been debated. Metasedimentary rocks, which are generally accepted as the main metal source in Phanerozoic deposits, are less abundant in Archean greenstone belts and commonly discounted as a viable metal source for Archean deposits. We report ultralow-detection-limit gold and trace-element concentrations from a suite of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks from the Abitibi belt and Pontiac subprovince, Superior Province, Canada. Systematic decreases in the Au content with increasing metamorphic grade indicate that Au was mobilized during prograde metamorphism. Mass balance calculations show that over 10 t of Au, 30,000 t of As, and 600 t of Sb were mobilized from 1 km3 of Pontiac subprovince sedimentary rock metamorphosed to the sillimanite metamorphic zone. The total gold resource in orogenic gold deposits in the southern Abitibi belt (7500 t Au) is only 3% of the Au mobilized from the estimated total volume of high-metamorphic-grade Pontiac sedimentary rock in the region (25,000 km3), indicating that sedimentary rocks are a major contributor of metals to the orogenic gold deposits in the southern Abitibi belt.

scholarly journals The country rocks of Devonian magmatism in the North Patagonian Massif and Chaitenia

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Hervé ◽  
Mauricio Calderón ◽  
Mark Fanning ◽  
Robert Pankhurst ◽  
Carlos W. Rapela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metamorphic Grade ◽  
Oceanic Island ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Island Arc ◽  
Ultramafic Rocks ◽  
The West ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
The North ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Late Neoproterozoic

Previous work has shown that Devonian magmatism in the southern Andes occurred in two contemporaneous belts: one emplaced in the continental crust of the North Patagonian Massif and the other in an oceanic island arc terrane to the west, Chaitenia, which was later accreted to Patagonia. The country rocks of the plutonic rocks consist of metasedimentary complexes which crop out sporadically in the Andes on both sides of the Argentina-Chile border, and additionally of pillow metabasalts for Chaitenia. Detrital zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age determinations in 13 samples of these rocks indicate maximum possible depositional ages from ca. 370 to 900 Ma, and the case is argued for mostly Devonian sedimentation as for the fossiliferous Buill slates. Ordovician, Cambrian-late Neoproterozoic and “Grenville-age” provenance is seen throughout, except for the most westerly outcrops where Devonian detrital zircons predominate. Besides a difference in the Precambrian zircon grains, 76% versus 25% respectively, there is no systematic variation in provenance from the Patagonian foreland to Chaitenia, so that the island arc terrane must have been proximal to the continent: its deeper crust is not exposed but several outcrops of ultramafic rocks are known. Zircons with devonian metamorphic rims in rocks from the North Patagonian Massif have no counterpart in the low metamorphic grade Chilean rocks. These Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks were also intruded by Pennsylvanian and Jurassic granitoids.

Orthoquartzite pebbles in Archean conglomerate, North Spirit Lake, northwestern Ontario

1977 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1980-1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Donaldson ◽  
Richard W. Ojakangas
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Canadian Shield ◽  
Superior Province ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Definite Evidence ◽  
The North ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Quartz Grains

An Archean conglomerate in the North Spirit Lake area of northwestern Ontario contains rare orthoquartzite pebbles. Detailed study of these pebbles shows that mineralogically they are very mature, consisting of as much as 99.8 percent quartz and a heavy mineral suite of zircon, tourmaline, and apatite. Textures are typically bimodal, characterized by rounded sand-sized quartz grains set in a 'matrix-cement' of thoroughly recrystallized finer quartz grains. These orthoquartzite pebbles provide the first definite evidence for local tectonic stability of the Canadian Shield before deposition of the immature sedimentary rocks that form part of an Archean (>2.6 Ga) greenstone belt of the Superior Province.

scholarly journals Preliminary Rb-Sr age determinations from the North Greenland fold belt, Johannes V Jensen Land, with comments on the metamorphic grade

1981 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 77-84
Author(s):  
N Springer
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Metamorphic Grade ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Fold Belt ◽  
Isotopic Dating ◽  
Field Mapping ◽  
Sedimentary Structures ◽  
The North ◽  
North Greenland ◽  
Age Determinations

This report presents the first Rb-Sr age determinations obtained on low-grade metasediments within the eastern part of the North Greenland fold belt. Samples were collected during the 1979 field mapping in eastem Johannes V. Jensen Land, the results ofwhich have been published elsewhere (Soper et al., 1980). Material selected for this study was taken from moderately folded rocks of the Polkorridoren Group and from the northem part of the fold belt where deformation is intense and sedimentary structures are rarely preserved (fig. 23). The principles and methods of isotopic dating of sedimentary rocks applied in this study have been treated in a recent paper by Clauer (1979).

The texture and composition of tourmaline in metasediments of the Sinai, Egypt: Implications for the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Pan-African basement

2007 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Abu El-Enen ◽  
M. Okrusch
Keyword(s):  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Metamorphic Grade ◽  
Crystalline Basement ◽  
Amphibolite Facies ◽  
Metamorphic Rocks ◽  
Pan African ◽  
Chemical Signatures ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Metamorphic Facies

AbstractAccessory tourmaline in metasediments from the Sinai crystalline basement exhibits textural and chemical signatures that relate to the evolution of regional metamorphism and deformation during the Pan-African orogeny and testifies to different P-T path segments. Tourmaline inclusions in various porphyroblasts were formed during the prograde phase of metamorphism; acicular to prismatic crystals in the matrix, oriented sub-parallel to, and enveloped by, the main foliation crystallized syntectonically under prograde and peak metamorphic conditions; tourmaline cross-cutting the main foliation may have formed just after the peak or during the retrograde phase of metamorphism. Some of the cores in tourmaline crystals, showing different colours, are interpreted as former detrital grains. The abundance of tourmaline decreases with increasing peak metamorphic conditions. The tourmaline investigated belongs to the schorl-dravitess group, generally with XMg of 0.42–0.73 and XCa = Ca/(Ca+Na+K+□) of 0.02–0.24, typical of tourmalines in metapelites and metapsammites; whereas detrital cores have been derived from various sources, including former tourmaline-quartz and pre-existing high-metamorphic rocks. Tourmaline of the Sinai metasediments was formed during metamorphism of the sedimentary precursors, essentially in a closed system, where clay minerals and organic matter, together with detrital tourmaline, served as the source of boron. Although a metamorphic facies should be defined by characteristic mineral assemblages present in metamorphic rocks, tourmaline chemistry is a good monitor of P-T conditions in the metapelites and semi-metapelites investigated, showing an increase in XMg with increasing metamorphic grade, where XturMg = 0.60 distinguishes between greenschist and lower-amphibolite facies, while XturMg = 0.65 could distinguish lower- from middle- to upper-amphibolite facies. The results of tourmaline-biotite geothermometry compare well with our former temperature estimates using conventional geothermometry and phase-diagram modelling.

Conditions and timing of metamorphism in the southern Abitibi greenstone belt, Quebec

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 787-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Powell ◽  
D. M. Carmichael ◽  
C. J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Fault Zones ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
The North ◽  
Major Fault ◽  
Facies Transition

Regional metamorphism, ranging in grade from the subgreenschist-facies to the greenschist–amphibolite-facies transition, affects all Archean supracrustal rocks (>2677 Ma) in the Rouyn–Noranda area. Contact metamorphic minerals associated with the posttectonic Preissac–Lacorne batholith (2643 Ma) show no evidence of a regional retrograde event. Accordingly, the age of regional metamorphism can be bracketed between 2677 and 2643 Ma. Three reaction isograds were mapped in subgreenschist-facies metabasites, dividing the low-grade rocks into three metamorphic zones: the pumpellyite–actinolite zone, the prehnite–pumpellyite zone, and the prehnite–epidote zone. In addition, the pumpellyite–actinolite–epidote–quartz bathograd, corresponding to a pressure of approximately 200 MPa, occurs on both sides of the Porcupine–Destor fault. Low-pressure regional metamorphism is also indicated both by the occurrence of an actinolite–oligoclase zone, and the persistence of pre-regional-metamorphic andalusite. The coincidence of andalusite and the actinolite-oligoclase zone indicates that pressure was <330 MPa at the greenschist-amphibolite transition. The geothermal gradient during metamorphism was approximately 30 °C/km. Regionally, isograds dip shallowly to the north and trend subparallel to lithological and structural trends. Metamorphic minerals in metabasites define tectonic fabrics only near major fault zones and in zones of CO2 metasomatism. In biotite zone metasedimentary rocks the schistosity is defined by mica and amphibole. These textures indicate that metamorphism and fabric development were coeval. However, the actinolite–epidote isograd cuts the Porcupine–Destor fault, indicating that regional metamorphism postdates movement along this fault. The strong fabrics associated with the Porcupine–Destor and Larder Lake–Cadillac faults must have developed through a process dominated by flattening strain.

Two komatiitic pyroclastic units, Superior Province, northwestern Ontario: their geology, petrography, and correlation

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1455-1470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Schaefer ◽  
Penelope Morton
Keyword(s):  
Explosive Volcanism ◽  
Pyroclastic Rock ◽  
Superior Province ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
The North ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Volcanic Breccia ◽  
Metavolcanic Rocks ◽  
Volcaniclastic Rocks ◽  
Lapilli Tuff

Two Archean komatiitic pyroclastic rock units occur on opposite sides of the Quetico Fault in northwestern Ontario. The eastern unit, the Dismal Ashrock, is located 3 km north of Atikokan, Ontario, on the north side of the Quetico Fault within the Wabigoon Subprovince of the Superior Province. It is part of a suprascrustal sequence, the Steep Rock Group. The Grassy Portage Bay ultramafic pyroclastic rock unit (GUP) is located 100 km to the west, on the south side of the Quetico Fault, and is part of an overturned succession comprising mafic metavolcanic rocks, GUP, and metasedimentary rocks. The Dismal Ashrock dips steeply, is little deformed, has undergone greenschist metamorphism, and is divided into komatiitic lapilli tuff, komatiitic volcanic breccia, komatiitic volcaniclastic rocks, and a mafic pillowed flow. GUP outcrops form an arcuate fold interference pattern, are strongly deformed, and have undergone amphibolite metamorphism. GUP is divided into komatiitic lapilli tuff and komatiitic volcanic breccia. Both pyroclastic units contain cored and composite lapilli, evidence for explosive volcanism. Locally, some of the lapilli fragments are highly vesicular (up to 30% by volume), greater than reported for any other komatiites. Other fragments show no vesicularity. The low vesicularity of some of the pyroclasts and, in the case of the Dismal Ashrock, their association with pinowed lava flows may indicate explosive hydrovolcanic activity. The Dismal Ashrock and GUP are high in MgO, Cr, and Ni and are unusually enriched in Fe, Ti, Zr, Mn, P, Ba, Nb, Rb, and Sr compared with other komatiites. These unique geochemical compositions are not understood at this time.

ARCHAEAN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS OF NORTH SPIRIT LAKE AREA, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO

1965 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 622-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Donaldson ◽  
G. D. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Red Lake ◽  
Sedimentary Sequences ◽  
The North ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
History Of ◽  
Granitoid Rocks

Archaean sedimentary rocks of the North Spirit Lake area show little evidence of having been derived predominantly from associated Archaean volcanic rocks. Instead, compositions of the sediments reflect significant sedimentary and (or) granitoid provenance. A remarkably high content of clastic quartz in thick units of sandstone and conglomerate suggests either reworking of older quartzose sediments, or reduction of the labile constituents in quartz-rich granitoid rocks through prolonged weathering and rigorous transport. Observations for other sedimentary sequences in the region between Red Lake and Lansdowne House suggest that the North Spirit sediments are not unique in the Superior Province. Quartzose sandstones commonly are regarded as atypical of the Archaean, but such rocks arc abundant in northwestern Ontario. Frameworks of many Archaean greywackes actually are richer in quartz than typical greywackes from numerous Proterozoic and Phanerozoic sequences.The concept of rapidly rising volcanic arcs as the sole source of Archaean sedimentary detritus is rejected for the North Spirit area. The volcanies, rather than representing relicts of protocontinents, probably record events removed from initial volcanism in the history of the earth by one or more orogenic cycles. Major unconformities may therefore exist not only between sedimentary and volcanic units, but also between these units and older granitoid rocks.

Late Archean evolution of the Nain Province, Nain, Labrador: imprint of a collision

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1325-1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Connelly ◽  
B. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Boundary Zone ◽  
Critical Position ◽  
The North ◽  
Ductile Shearing ◽  
Granitic Intrusions ◽  
Corroborative Evidence ◽  
Geochronological Evidence ◽  
Nain Plutonic Suite

Archean gneisses of the Nain Province in the Nain area, Labrador, comprise narrow septa between intrusions of the Mesoproterozoic Nain Plutonic Suite. This region occupies a critical position between the northern (Saglek) and southern (Hopedale) blocks of the Nain Province, which experienced distinct thermotectonic histories until the late Archean. Field and geochronological evidence are indicative of a strong late Archean thermotectonic overprint that is absent from most of the remainder of the Nain Province. Archean gneisses were intruded by granites and mafic dykes at 2578 ± 3 and [Formula: see text], respectively, and subsequently subjected to amphibolite- to granulite-facies regional metamorphism and ductile shearing at ca. 2550 Ma; granite veins and dykes related to the Nain Plutonic Suite were emplaced at ca. 1310 Ma. The Archean events are interpreted to represent the juxtapositioning and final docking of Saglek and Hopedale blocks to form a single, stable cratonic mass during the late Archean. Corroborative evidence indicates that the collisional boundary zone could extend at least 200 km to the north and 150 km to the south of Nain. This late Archean junction may have subsequently been exploited by several Paleoproterozoic granitic intrusions and some members of the Mesoproterozoic Nain Plutonic Suite.

The contact aureole of the South Mountain Batholith in Halifax, Nova Scotia: geology, mineral assemblages, and isograds

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1280-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Jamieson ◽  
G.G. Hart ◽  
G.G. Chapman ◽  
N.W. Tobey
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Metamorphic Grade ◽  
Contact Aureole ◽  
Sulphide Mineral ◽  
The South ◽  
South Mountain Batholith ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Modal Abundance ◽  
The City

The contact aureole at the eastern margin of the South Mountain Batholith (Halifax Pluton) underlies most of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Halifax Group in the study area includes two lithological units, the Cunard and Bluestone formations. Before intrusion, both had been affected by greenschist facies regional metamorphism and deformed into northeast–southwest-trending, regional upright folds associated with a strong slaty cleavage. Contact metamorphic isograds trend obliquely across the Halifax peninsula, at a high angle to regional structural trends. At 2.5–3 km from the intrusive contact, sparse cordierite spots mark the outer limit of the contact aureole. The biotite-in isograd is marked by the development of biotite within chlorite + muscovite stacks inherited from regional metamorphism. Pyrrhotite is the dominant sulphide mineral throughout the contact aureole. With increasing metamorphic grade, assemblages in both units are marked by increasing modal abundance of cordierite and biotite, with K-feldspar variably developed within ca. 600 m of the contact. However, there is a marked difference in the distribution and appearance of andalusite between the two units. In aluminous pelites of the Cunard formation, idioblastic chiastolite appears before biotite more than 1500 m from the contact. In the less aluminous Bluestone formation, andalusite is present only within ca. 500 m of the contact, where it forms xenoblastic, spongy crystals. In both units, the assemblage andalusite + biotite + K-feldspar ± cordierite is developed near the contact, with local fibrolite and evidence of incipient partial melting. Petrographic constraints suggest pressure–temperature conditions at the contact of ca. 2.5–3.0 kbar (1 kbar = 100 MPa) at ca. 650 °C.

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