Polyorogenic history of the East Greenland Caledonides

Feiko Kalsbeek, Kristine Thrane, A.K. Higgins, Hans F. Jepsen, A. Graham Leslie, Allen P. Nutman, Robert Frei

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter in bookResearchpeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Caledonian orogen of East Greenland contains remnants of Archean, Paleoproterozoic, late Mesoproterozoic, and early Neoproterozoic rocks that occur within far-traveled thrust sheets, and bear witness to a complex polyorogenic history of the region prior to Caledonian orogenesis. Archean and Paleoproterozoic complexes consist mainly of granitoid orthogneisses. A succession of Paleoproterozoic tholeiitic metabasalts is present in some of the foreland windows. A major unit of late Mesoprotero zoic metasedimentary rocks (Krummedal supracrustal sequence) contains early Neoproterozoic (ca. 950 Ma) as well as Caledonian granites. There is evidence for Archean (ca. 2800-2600 Ma), Paleoproterozoic (2000-1750 Ma), and late Grenvillian (ca. 950 Ma) deformation and metamorphism, but Caledonian overprinting complicates the study of these events. This paper presents a broad overview of the various rock units with structural, geochemical, and geochronologic data. The Paleoproterozoic metabasaltic rocks from the foreland windows are described in more detail.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Greenland Caledonides: Evolution of the Northeast Margin of Laurentia
EditorsA.K. Higgins, Jane A. Gilotti, M. Paul Smith
PublisherGeological Society of America
Pages55-72
Number of pages18
ISBN (Print)9780813712024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Publication series

SeriesGeological Society of America Memoir
Volume202

Keywords

  • Caledonian orogen
  • East Greenland
  • Grenvillian granites
  • Mesoproterozoic supracrustal rocks
  • Paleoproterozoic basement

Programme Area

  • Programme Area 4: Mineral Resources

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