Tectonic evolution of the northeast portion of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt, Chibougamau area, Quebec

1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1714-1736 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Daigneault ◽  
P. St-Julien ◽  
G. O. Allard
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Local Stress ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Tectonic Zone ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Vertical Extension ◽  
Regional Deformation ◽  
Deformation Phase ◽  
Deformation Event ◽  
East West

The Chibougamau area, occupying the northeastern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt is a large synclinorium of volcanic and sedimentary rocks enclosed within tonalitic gneisses. Several east–west–trending regional folds within this synclinorium are responsible for the vertical attitude of the strata. Synclinal structures, with youngest sediments within the core, possess axial-plane schistosity. Anticlines, on the other hand, either form domes with a core occupied by earlier tonalitic to dioritic plutons or are transected by a series of east–west-trending ductile faults (the Waconichi tectonic zone).An early deformation phase of low intensity (D1) generated broad, north–south folds without schistosity. The subsequent regional deformation, event D2, produced the large east–west folds. These deformations, in combination, produced the regional interference pattern of domes and basins. North–south horizontal shortening generated an east–west-trending schistosity associated with a vertical stretching lineation. Regional deformation at its climax produced a tightening of folds and rotation of fold axes parallel to the stretching lineation.Plutons deflected the regional east–west schistosity and formed concentric trajectories associated with "contact-strain aureoles." This produced small interaction zones or triple points characterized by strong vertical extension. These relations suggest an interference between a regional stress field, which produced north–south horizontal shortening, and local stress fields, controlled or deflected by granitoid plutons acting as competent bodies.East–west-trending ductile shear zones represent the final stage of the regional deformation. The observed northward and southward reverse movement along these east–west faults, their parallelism to the axial trace of folds, and the regional schistosity are probable evidence of a regime dominated by a coaxial strain.

Internal structure of the Cadillac tectonic zone southeast of Val d'Or, Abitibi greenstone belt, Quebec

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 2661-2675 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Robert
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Fault Zone ◽  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Strain Increment ◽  
Tectonic Zone ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Detailed Structural Analysis ◽  
Major Fault ◽  
Wide Zone ◽  
East West

The Kirkland Lake – Larder Lake – Cadillac Break is a major fault zone of the Abitibi greenstone belt, well known for its spatially associated gold camps. A detailed structural analysis of this fault zone in the Val d'Or area has shown the presence of a 200 – 750 m wide zone of high strain, defined here as the Cadillac tectonic zone (CTZ), which includes the narrower schist zone generally regarded as the Cadillac Break. The boundaries of the CTZ, which coincide with major lithologic contacts, strike approximately east–west and dip 80° to the north.The internal structure of the CTZ is best analysed in terms of two increments of the same progressive deformation. The D1 strain increment is characterized by an east–west-striking, subvertical S1 foliation, at low angle in strike to the bound aries of the CTZ and containing subvertical elongation lineation. Primary lithological contacts have been transposed into S1 and folded by F1a folds. F1b intrafolial folds of S1 ranging from noncylindrical, subhorizontal folds to subvertical sheath folds, indicate dip-slip movements within the CTZ. The D1 strain increment records synchronous dextral transcurrent shearing, as required by the obliquity of S1 to the CTZ boundaries, and subvertical elongation, as indicated by elongation lineations and F1b folds. The D2 strain increment is chiefly characterized by the development of moderately to steeply plunging asymmetric Z-shaped F2 folds with associated S2 cleavage, recording dextral transcurrent shearing.The studied segment of the CTZ is best interpreted as a zone of dextral transpression, evolving from a zone with a significant shortening component (D1) into a zone increasingly dominated by a transcurrent shearing component (D2).

scholarly journals Crustal velocity structure of the Superior and Grenville provinces of the southeastern Canadian Shield

1997 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1167-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Winardhi ◽  
R. F. Mereu
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Canadian Shield ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Tectonic Zone ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Sudbury Structure

The 1992 Lithoprobe Abitibi–Grenville Seismic Refraction Experiment was conducted using four profiles across the Grenville and Superior provinces of the southeastern Canadian Shield. Delay-time analysis and tomographic inversion of the data set demonstrate significant lateral and vertical variations in crustal velocities from one terrane to another, with the largest velocity values occurring underneath the Central Gneiss and the Central Metasedimentary belts south of the Grenville Front. The Grenville Front Tectonic Zone is imaged as a southeast-dipping region of anomalous velocity gradients extending to the Moho. The velocity-anomaly maps suggest an Archean crust may extend, horizontally, 140 km beneath the northern Grenville Province. Near-surface velocity anomalies correlate well with the known geology. The most prominent of these is the Sudbury Structure, which is well mapped as a low-velocity basinal structure. The tomography images also suggest underthrusting of the Pontiac and Quetico subprovinces beneath the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Wide-angle PmP signals, indicate that the Moho varies from a sharp discontinuity south of the Grenville Front to a rather diffuse and flat boundary under the Abitibi Greenstone Belt north of the Grenville Front. A significant crustal thinning near the Grenville Front may indicate post-Grenvillian rebound and (or) the extensional structure of the Ottawa–Bonnechere graben. Crustal thickening resulting from continental collision may explain the tomographic images showing the Moho is 4–5 km deeper south of the Grenville Front.

Two-stage evolution in an Archean tonalite suite: the Taschereau stock, Abitibi (Quebec, Canada)

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Jébrak ◽  
Luc Harnois
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Granitic Rocks ◽  
Element Abundances ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
End Members

The Taschereau stock occurs north of Timmins and Val-d'Or, Quebec, in the Abitibi greenstone belt of the Superior Province. This late Archean composite pluton is composed mainly of diorite–tonalite–trondhjemite cut by granitic rocks. Gold–molybdenum occurrences are associated with a zone of albite-rich rocks surrounding the granitic rocks. Diabase dykes and shear zones postdate all rock units. Field and geochemical evidence suggests that the Taschereau stock was emplaced diachronously. Trace-element geochemical modelling shows that trace-element abundances (rare-earth elements, Ti, Zr) of Taschereau granitic rocks are consistent with partial melting of preexisting Taschereau tonalitic rocks and implies that these two rock types are not end members of a single magma that evolved through fractional crystallization.

An Archean fold-thrust belt in the northwestern Abitibi Greenstone Belt: structural and seismic evidence

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lacroix ◽  
E. W. Sawyer
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Thrust Belt ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Structural Style ◽  
Slip Event ◽  
Reflector Geometry ◽  
Mountain Belts ◽  
East West ◽  
Seismic Reflector

An integration of structural field data and Lithoprobe seismic reflection line 28 in the northwestern Abitibi Greenstone Belt (AGB) reveals a crustal-scale, south-to southwest-vergent thrusting event that developed "in sequence" above a shallowly (15°) north-dipping sole thrust at a mid-crustal level. Seismic reflector geometry above this décollement suggests a mid crust (6–20 km depth) dominated by low-angle thrusts with smooth trajectory ramps and culmination folds or antiformal stacks, similar to the structural style of neighbouring high-grade plutonic–gneissic (Opatica) and sedimentary (Pontiac) subprovinces. In contrast, low-to high-angle east–west-trending thrusts at the upper-crust greenstone belt level (6–9 km depth) are interpreted to be listric. They occur in two fault systems, the Chicobi and Taibi, that resemble "imbricate fan" systems. The contrasting structural geometry of the upper and mid crust is interpreted as variations in level through the thrust stack, and resembles Paleozoic mountain belts where the upper AGB would represent a ductile–brittle fold–thrust belt. However, the structural evolution of the AGB has been complicated by earlier intrusive–metamorphic contacts or set of thrusts beneath it, and (or) younger out-of-sequence thrusts with north-vergent backthrusts. Also, south-to southwest-vergent thrusts were reactivated, folded, and steepened during a younger dextral strike-slip event.

A seismic-reflection-based regional cross section of the southern Abitibi greenstone belt

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Jackson ◽  
A. R. Cruden ◽  
D. White ◽  
B. Milkereit
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Lower Layer ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Upper Crust ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Seismic Reflection Profiles

Seismic reflection profiles from the southern Abitibi greenstone belt reveal four first-order subdivisions: (1) Between 0 and ~4.5 s, the upper crust is weakly reflective, with prominent local to laterally extensive reflections. (2) Between ~4 and ~9 s, the crust is strongly and heterogeneously reflective with laterally continuous reflections. (3) From ~9 to ~13 s, the crust is more homogeneously reflective and displays downward decreasing reflectivity. (4) Below ~13 s (Moho?) the upper mantle is weakly reflective. The upper layer may correspond to subgreenschist–greenschist-facies supracrustal rocks cut by low-angle shear zones and intruded by regional tabular batholiths; the middle layer, to ductiley deformed amphibolite-facies gneisses, granitoids, and (or) metasediments; and the lower layer, to more homogeneously deformed granulite-facies rocks. North-dipping, low-angle reflections extending beneath both diverse supracrustal assemblages and regional batholiths may represent structural detachments upon which both the supracrustal assemblages and batholiths were imbricated and translated southward. However, the preservation of regional low-pressure metamorphic rocks and the common para-autochthonous relationships between assemblages suggest that thrust-related vertical separations and the magnitude of crustal thickening were not large. Steeply dipping regional shear zones within the greenstone belt appear to disrupt subhorizontal reflections down to ~15 km and may represent late-tectonic strains, which were progressively concentrated into linear zones during continued north–south shortening. The crustal-scale structure determined from the seismic reflection profiles, combined with surface geology, is compatible with post-2.70 Ga north–south shortening accommodated by south-directed(?) thrusting in a thermally softened mid crust and by upright folding in the upper crust. This scenario is comparable to recently proposed models for the Paleozoic, high-temperature, low-pressure Lachlan fold belt of Australia.

Pontiac metavolcanic rocks within the Cadillac tectonic zone, McWatters, Abitibi Belt, Quebec

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1521-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Morin ◽  
Michel Jébrak ◽  
Marc Bardoux ◽  
Normand Goulet
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Tectonic Zone ◽  
Southern Boundary ◽  
Abitibi Greenstone Belt ◽  
Metavolcanic Rocks

The McWatters metavolcanic rocks are structurally bounded lenses within the Cadillac tectonic zone on the southern boundary of the Abitibi greenstone belt. They comprise komatiite, tholeiitic basalt and gabbro, and calc-alkaline andesitic lavas and volcaniclastic rocks cut by calc-alkaline dioritic and lamprophyric dykes. The McWatters basalts are mid-ocean-ridge basalt type tholeiites exhibiting low incompatible trace element contents and [La/Yb]N < 1. They may have formed via relatively high degree partial melting of a rare-earth element depleted mantle source. The andesites exhibit chondrite-normalized trace-element patterns with light-rare-earth and large-ion lithophile element enrichments and negative Nb and Ti anomalies, comparable to those of subduction-related calc-alkaline andesites. McWatters units are distinct from nearby Blake River Group rocks, despite comparable lithological assemblages and some common geochemical characteristics. The McWatters basalts exhibit lower Ti/Y, Zr/Y, and La/Yb than the Blake River tholeiites, whereas the McWatters andesites display lower Ti/Zr and higher Zr/Y than the Blake River calc-alkaline units. The McWatters tholeiites can be correlated with northern Pontiac Group tholeiitic units based on similar trace-element ratios and parallel rare-earth-element patterns. Thus, the McWatters tholeiites represent Pontiac rocks, underthrust beneath the southern Abitibi belt and appearing as isolated and retrograded lenses in the Cadillac tectonic zone. They may represent the remnants of an ocean basin that once separated the southern Abitibi greenstone belt from the Pontiac Subprovince.

Deformation across the western Quetico subprovince and adjacent boundarl regions in Minnesota

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 2087-2103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Bauer ◽  
Peter J. Hudleston ◽  
David L. Southwick
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Lower Grade ◽  
Seine River ◽  
Complex Deformation ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Regional Deformation ◽  
Oblique Convergence ◽  
Deformation Features ◽  
Ductile Shear ◽  
East West

North- to northwest-directed crustal shortening across the western Quetico subprovince and its boundary regions produced a complex deformation sequence within the Quetico belt and resulted in concentrated zones of dextral ductile shear in the boundary regions within the adjacent greenstone–granite terranes. In this paper, we review and introduce new data on the regional deformation features and their geometries and discuss the history of generation of these features. We attribute the deformation sequence to differential partitioning of shortening and shear strains during dextral transpression associated with oblique convergence and accretion along the southern margin of the Superior Province.The turbiditic wacke in the western Quetico subprovince, now typically amphibolite-facies schist and migmatite, underwent an early deformation stage that included recumbent folding (F1) and the generation of an S1 bedding-parallel foliation. This event is most evident along the northern and southern boundaries of the subprovince, but it is also recognized in the lower grade metasedimentary rocks in the adjacent Wawa and Wabigoon subprovinces. In these subprovinces, F1 folding may have been associated with higher level thrusting and allochthonous emplacement of greenstone units. Despite our F1 designation of this event, it it unlikely that this deformation was synchronous across the subprovinces.Widespread upright folding of the overturned limbs of F1 folds produced moderately to gently plunging F2 folds with east–west-trending axial planes. F, folds, with an associated L, stretching lineation subparallel to fold hinges, are well developed along the southern and northern margins of the Quetico subprovince and in the metasediments of the adjacent Wawa subprovince. During this event, ductile dextral shear was concentrated in steeply dipping east–west-trending shear zones in the Wawa subprovince and in the region of the Rainy Lake – Seine River fault along the Quetico–Wabigoon subprovince boundary. In the northern Wawa subprovince, shear was strongly concentrated in relatively incompetent, steeply dipping metasedimentary and tuffaceous units interlayered with more competent greenstone units. Concentrated zones of ductile shear are not evident within the Quetico subprovince away from its boundary regions. However, emplacement of syntectonic plutons in the central Quetico reoriented F2 folds which were then refolded by large regional F3 folds during continued regional shortening.

U–Pb ages for late magmatism and regional deformation in the Shebandowan Belt, Superior Province, Canada

1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1075-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Corfu ◽  
G. M. Stott
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rock ◽  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Superior Province ◽  
Tectonic Regime ◽  
Fault Systems ◽  
Regional Deformation ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
Deformation Event ◽  
Type Sequence

Five precise U–Pb zircon (and titanite) ages from different lithologic units of the Shebandowan greenstone belt in the western Wawa Subprovince of the Superior Province put tight constraints on the time of late Archean magmatism and of two major deformation events.A porphyry sill from the older supracrustal sequence has an age of 2733 ± 3 Ma. Another porphyritic rock, a trondhjemite occurring as a clast in a conglomerate of the unconformably overlying Timiskaming-type supracrustal sequence, formed 2704 ± 2 Ma ago and defines a maximum age for the deposition of the Timiskaming-type sequence. An alkalic volcanic rock from this sequence has been directly dated at [Formula: see text], in accord with the above constraint and with another probable maximum age of deposition given by the date of 2696 ± 2 Ma for the Shebandowan Lake Pluton. A first deformation event (D1) was related to a predominantly vertical tectonic regime and occurred during or before intrusion of the Shebandowan Lake Pluton at 2696 ± 2 Ma. The second deformation event (D2) was caused by northwesterly-directed compression and occurred after [Formula: see text] ago, the age of the Timiskaming-type volcanic rocks. A minimum age for the D2 deformation event, which also affected the adjacent Quetico metasedimentary belt and was probably related to the development of major transcurrent fault systems throughout the Superior Province, is provided by an age of [Formula: see text] for the undeformed, late-kinematic Burchell Lake Pluton.

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