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    The complex tectonic evolution of the craton-adjacent northern margin of the Palaeoproterozoic Ketilidian Orogen, southeastern Greenland: Evidence from the geochemistry of mafic to intermediate and granitic intrusions
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    The Archaean North Atlantic Craton of West Greenland collided at c. 1.9 Ga with a lesser-known Archaean craton to the north, to form the Nagssugtoqidian orogen. The Palaeoproterozoic metamorphic grade and strain intensity decrease northward through the orogen, allowing investigation of the reworked Archaean components in its northern part. Two Archaean supracrustal belts in this region – the Ikamiut and Kangilinaaq belts – are investigated here using field mapping, aeromagnetic data, zircon geochronology, and geochemistry. Both belts comprise quartzo-feldspathic and pelitic metasedimentary rocks, amphibolite, and minor calc-silicate rocks, anorthosite and ultramafic rocks. Pb-Pb and U-Pb dating of detrital zircons and host orthogneisses suggest deposition at c. 2800 Ma (Kangilinaaq belt) and after 2740 Ma (Ikamiut belt); both belts have zircons with Neoarchaean metamorphic rims. Metasedimentary rocks and orthogneisses at Ikamiut share similar steep REE signatures with strong LREE enrichment, consistent with local derivation of the sediment and deposition directly onto or proximal to the regional orthogneiss precursors. Zircon age data from Kangilinaaq indicate both local and distal sources for the sediment there. Geochemical data for Kangilinaaq amphibolites indicate bimodal, mixed felsic–mafic source rocks with island-arc basaltic affinities, consistent with a shelf or arc setting. Both belts experienced a similar tectono-metamorphic history involving Neoarchaean amphibolite facies peak metamorphism at c. 2740–2700 Ma, possibly due to continued emplacement of tonalitic and granodioritic magmas. Nagssugtoqidian lower amphibolite facies metamorphism at c. 1850 Ma was associated with development of the large-scale F2 folds and shear zones that control the present outcrop pattern. The observed differences in the sources of the Kangilinaaq and Ikamiut belts and their shared post-Archaean history suggest they were formed in different Neoarchaean environments proximal to and on a continental plate, and were amalgamated in a convergent margin setting shortly after their deposition.
    Greenstone belt
    Felsic
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    The Hurricane Mountain melange is an accretionary zone that is exposed for 160 km in west-central Maine. It is thought to mark the suture zone between the Gander and Boundary Mountain terranes. The melange is characterized by a sedimentary matrix containing mafic and ultramafic blocks. The igneous blocks are medium-sized, generally ranging from 1.5 to 5 m in height and 2-9 m in length. Blocks at the southwest end of the melange, on Stony Mountain and along Cold Stream vary in concentration, often appearing in clusters. The blocks are primarily metamorphosed mafic rocks. Eleven samples were analyzed by INAA for major and trace elements. Four of the mafic blocks have the following concentrations: Si02 (48-50%), A)i03 (14-16%), Fe203 (11-13%), Cao (912%), MgO (6.5-7.5%), Ti02 (1.5-2%), P20 5 (<0.5%), and MnO (<0.5%). Field evidence and discrimination diagrams suggest that these samples originated as basalt formed in an ocean-floor environment. While many of the blocks are mafic rocks metamorphosed to greenschist facies, other blocks within the melange include volcaniclastic-arkosic sandstone, quartzite, metaconglomerate, serpentinite, felsic metavolcanic rocks, granite, and amphibolite. Near Indian Pond, at the northeast end of the melange, we observed an amphibolite block with the following mineral assemblage: hbl + ab + ep + qtz + rt + py. This melange block of originally mafic volcanic breccia reached lower epidote-amphibolite metamorphic facies. Titanite rims and partial titanite replacement of rutile crystals suggest the amphibolite underwent later retrograde greenschist metamorphism.
    Greenschist
    Felsic
    Titanite
    Ultramafic rock
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    Location of the deposits and occurrences of gold mineralization in metamorphic complexes of the Kola region is controlled by tectonic zones at the regional scale at the boundaries of major segments of the Fennoscandian Shield. Three zones are the most important: (1) the system of Neoarchean greenstone belts Kolmozero–Voron’ya–Ura-guba along the southern boundary of the Murmansk craton; (2) the suture, delineating the core of the Lapland–Kola orogeny in the north; and (3) the series of overthrusts and faults at the eastern flank of the Salla–Kuolajarvi belt. Gold deposits and occurrences are located within greenstone belts of Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic age, and hosted by rocks of different primary compositions (mafic metavolcanics, diorite porphyry, and metasedimentary terrigenous rocks). The grade of metamorphism varies from greenschist to upper amphibolite facies, but the mineralized rocks are mainly lower amphibolite metamorphosed, close to the transition from greenschist to amphibolite facies. Gold deposits and occurrences in the northeastern part of the Fennoscandian Shield formed during two periods: the Neoarchean 2.7–2.6 Ga and the Paleoproterozoic 1.9–1.7 Ga. According to paleo-geodynamic reconstructions, these were the periods of collisional and accretionary orogeny in the region. Those Archean greenstone belts, which were reworked in the Paleoproterozoic (e.g., Strel’na and Tiksheozero belts), can contain gold deposits of Paleoproterozoic age.
    Greenschist
    Greenstone belt
    Metallogeny
    Orogeny
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    A temperature–time history for the granulite‐hosted Challenger gold deposit in the Christie Domain of the Gawler Craton, South Australia, has been derived using a range of isotopic decay systems including U–Pb, Sm–Nd, Rb–Sr and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar. Nd model ages and detrital zircon ages suggest a protolith age of ca 2900 Ma for the Challenger Gneiss. Gold mineralisation was probably introduced under greenschist/amphibolite‐facies conditions towards the end of the Archaean, between 2800 and 2550 Ma. However, evidence for the exact age and P–T conditions of this event was almost completely removed by granulite‐facies metamorphism during the Sleafordian Orogeny, which peaked around ca 2447 Ma. Cooling to 350°C occurred before 2060 Ma. It is possible that the Christie Domain was then subject to further sedimentation and volcanism in the period ca 2000–1800 Ma before reburial and a second period of orogeny around ca 1710–1615 Ma. During this second orogeny, the eastern Christie Domain experienced heterogeneous fluid‐induced retrograde metamorphism at lower greenschist‐ to amphibolite‐facies conditions, with metamorphic grade varying between structural blocks. At this time, the Challenger deposit was subject to greenschist‐facies conditions (not significantly hotter than 350°C), while at Mt Christie (50 km to the south) lower amphibolite‐facies conditions prevailed and to the west the Ifould Block experienced extensive plutonism. A third very low‐temperature thermal pulse around ca 1531 Ma, which reached ∼150–200°C, is recorded at the Challenger deposit. It is likely that the global Grenvillian Orogeny (1300–1000 Ma) was a major period of domain exhumation and juxtaposition.
    Orogeny
    Greenschist
    Protolith