| 1. |
- Froitzheim, Nikolaus, et al.
(author)
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Devonian subduction and syncollisional exhumation of continental crust in Lofoten, Norway
- 2016
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In: Geology. - 0091-7613 .- 1943-2682. ; 44:3, s. 223-226
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- When continents collide, continental crust of the lower plate may be subducted to mantle depth and return to the surface to form eclogite facies metamorphic terranes, as typified by the Western Gneiss Complex of the Scandinavian Caledonides. Proterozoic basement of the Lofoten Islands, located northeast and along strike of the Western Gneiss Complex, contains Caledonian eclogite, although Caledonian deformation is only minor. Previous dating suggested that Lofoten eclogites formed at ca. 480 Ma, i.e., similar to 50 Ma before the collision between the major continents Baltica and Laurentia, and that the Lofoten basement may not originate from Baltica but rather represents a stranded microcontinent. Newly discovered kyanite eclogites from the Lofoten Islands record deep subduction of continental crust during the main (Scandian) stage of Baltica-Laurentia collision ca. 400 Ma. Thermobarometry and thermodynamic modeling yield metamorphic conditions of 2.5-2.8 GPa and similar to 650 degrees C. Lu-Hf geochronology yields 399 +/- 10 Ma, corresponding to the time of garnet growth during subduction. Our results demonstrate that the Lofoten basement belonged to Baltica, was subducted to similar to 90 km depth during the collision with Laurentia, and was exhumed at an intermediate to high rate (>6 mm/yr) while thrusting of a Caledonian allochthon (Leknes Group) was still ongoing. This supports the challenging conclusions that (1) subducted continental crust may stay rigid down to a depth of similar to 90 km, and (2) it may be exhumed during ongoing collision and crustal shortening.
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| 2. |
- Hoffmann, J. Elis, et al.
(author)
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Constraining the process of Eoarchean TTG formation in the Itsaq Gneiss Complex, southern West Greenland
- 2014
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In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 1385-013X .- 0012-821X. ; 388, s. 374-386
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present new major and trace element, high-precision high-field-strength-element, hafnium and neodymium isotope data for well preserved Eoarchean TTGs within the Itsaq Gneiss Complex (IGC) of southern West Greenland. These data are combined with thermodynamic model predictions of partial melting and fractional crystallization to gain new insights into continental crust formation in the Archean. Our results show that the observed compositional range of Eoarchean TTGs can be explained by a combination two processes: (1) 5-25% partial melting of amphibolite within thickened mafic crust and (2) subsequent fractional crystallization processes. The Eoarchean TTG suite of SW Greenland probably formed through mixing of melt batches that originally formed at different source depths between 10 and 14 kbar and ponded as plutons at mid-crustal levels. The trace element compositions of some TTGs point to subsequent fractional crystallization processes involving plagioclase, clinopyroxene, amphibole and garnet. Our model is consistent with recent studies proposing that the Eoarchean Itsaq Gneiss Complex TTGs from the IGC formed by re-working of mafic protocrust that stabilized as accreted juvenile crustal terranes in the Eoarchean. The model is also in good agreement with field observations from the area. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Hoffmann, J. Elis, et al.
(author)
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Mechanisms of Archean crust formation inferred from high-precision HFSE systematics in TTGs
- 2011
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In: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0016-7037 .- 1872-9533. ; 75:15, s. 4157-4178
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It has been proposed that Archean tonalitic-trondhjemitic-granodioritic magmas (TTGs) formed by melting of mafic crust at high pressures. The residual mineralogy of the TTGs (either (garnet)-amphibolite or rutile-bearing eclogite) is believed to control the trace element budget of TTGs. In particular, ratios of high-field-strength elements (HFSE) can help to discriminate between the different residual lithologies. In order to place constraints on the source mineralogy of TTGs, we performed high-precision HFSE measurements by isotope dilution (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf) together with Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd measurements on representative, ca. 3.85-2.8 Ga TTGs and related rock types from southern West Greenland, W-India and from the Superior Province. These measurements are complemented by major and trace element data for the TTGs. Texturally homogeneous early Archean (3.85-3.60 Ga old) and Mesoarchean (ca. 3.1-2.8 Ga old) TTGs have both low Ni (<11 ppm) and Cr contents (<20 ppm), indicating that there was little or no interaction with mantle peridotite during ascent. Ratios of Nb/Ta in juvenile Eoarchean TTGs range from ca. 7 to ca. 24, and in juvenile Mesoarchean TTGs from ca. 14 to ca. 27. Even higher Nb/Ta (14-42) were obtained for mig-matitic TTGs and intra-crustal differentiates, most likely mirroring further fractionation of Nb from Ta as a consequence of partial melting, fluid infiltration and migmatisation. In the juvenile TTGs, positive correlations between Nb/Ta and Gd/Yb, La/Yb, Sr/Y, Zr/Sm and Zr/Nb are observed. These compositional arrays are best explained by melting of typical Isua tholeiites in both, the rutile-bearing eclogite stability field (>15 kbar, high Nb/Ta) and the garnet-amphibolite stability field (10-15 kbar, low Nb/Ta). With respect to the low end of Nb/Ta found for TTGs, there is currently some uncertainty between the available experimental datasets for amphibole. Independent of these uncertainties, the TTG compositions found here still require the presence of both endmember residues. A successful geological model for the TTGs therefore has to account for the co-occurrence of both low-and high-Nb/Ta TTGs within the same geologic terrane. An additional feature observed in the Eoarchean samples from Greenland is a systematic co-variation between Nb/Ta and initial epsilon Hf(t), which is best explained by a model where TTG-melting occured at progressively increasing pressures in a pile of tectonically thickened mafic crust. The elevated Nb/Ta in mig-matitic TTGs and intra-crustal differentiates can shed further light on the role of intra-crustal differentiation processes in the global Nb/Ta cycle. Lower crustal melting processes at granulite facies conditions may generate high-Nb/Ta domains in the middle crust, whereas mid-crustal melting at amphibolite facies conditions may account for the low Nb/Ta generally observed in upper crustal rocks.
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| 4. |
- Hoffmann, J. Elis, et al.
(author)
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The geodynamic evolution of Mesoarchean anorthosite complexes inferred from the Naajat Kuuat Complex, southern West Greenland
- 2012
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In: Precambrian Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-9268 .- 1872-7433. ; 196, s. 149-170
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Layered anorthosite complexes are typical components of Archean crustal domains. However, the geodynamic settings in which they were emplaced are still discussed as geological relationships are often ambiguous. Here we report major, trace element and high-precision high-field-strength-element (HFSE) data for the recently discovered well preserved Naajat Kuuat Anorthosite Complex from the inner Ameralik fjord region, southern West Greenland. The dataset is complemented by the first combined Hf-Nd isotope analyses for Archean layered anorthosite complexes and U-Pb zircon geochronology. The data contribute to the small database on Archean layered anorthosite complexes and are used to unravel the origin of these complexes and the tectonic regime involved. Fractional crystallisation of olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase and possibly amphibole controls major and trace element variations in the layered intrusion. There are two groups of amphibolites: (1) a group with primitive mantle normalized trace element patterns are similar to those of MORB-like basalts and (2) typical island-arc tholeiites (IAT), apparently indicating an island-arc setting. Lu-Hf regression lines yield an age of 2985 +/- 59 Ma (MSWD 4) within the error of the Sm-Nd regression age of 2929 110 Ma (MSWD 17). The initial epsilon Hf(2985) for the Naajat Kuuat rocks range from +1.6 to +5.8 and the initial epsilon Nd(2985) range from +0.4 to +3.9, either indicating variably depleted mantle sources or variable degrees of crustal contamination. In contrast to most mafic assemblages, ratios of Nb/Ta are highly variable (7.85 to 18.6), reflecting fractionation and accumulation of amphibole, ilmenite and pyroxene. The MORB-like parental liquids have the highest Nb/Ta of ca. 18, consistent with a mantle source overprinted by melt-like components from subducting oceanic crust with high Nb/Ta. The accumulation of plagioclase forming the anorthosites and the primary fractionation of amphibole as well as the occurrence of high-Al basalts within the Naajat Kuuat complex argue for hydrous parental liquids in support of an island-arc related setting. Zircon U-Pb geochronology from the anorthosite and adjacent tonalites reveal major tonalite intrusion into the complex at ca. 2802 Ma and a second regional event at ca. 2710 Ma, in accord with crustal heating due to micro-continent amalgamation and crustal thickening. Altogether, the geochemical data can be interpreted with a geodynamic model, where anorthosite-complex associated rocks intrude into tectonically thickened island-arc crust. Crustal thickening is possibly triggered by island-arc accretion, leading to the emplacement of TTG bodies that further thickened the crustal pile. Further collision and amalgamation with other proto-crustal assemblages might have led to enhanced crustal magmatism and granulite facies metamorphism.
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| 5. |
- Szilas, Kristoffer, et al.
(author)
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Complex calc-alkaline volcanism recorded in Mesoarchaean supracrustal belts north of Frederikshab Isblink, southern West Greenland: Implications for subduction zone processes in the early Earth
- 2012
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In: Precambrian Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-9268. ; 208, s. 90-123
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present new geochemical data for three Mesoarchaean supracrustal belts (Ravns Storo, Bjornesund and Perserajoorsuaq) situated north of Frederikshab Isblink in southern West Greenland for which we propose the collective name 'The Ikkattup Nunaa Supracrustal Association'. They comprise mainly amphibolites of tholeiitic basalt composition and leucoamphibolites of calc-alkaline andesite composition. Both lithological units are cut by aplite sheets of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) composition with U-Pb zircon ages of c. 2900 Ma. Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isochrons based on whole rock amphibolite and leucoamphibolite samples yield ages of 2990 +/- 41 Ma and 3020 +/- 78 Ma, respectively, which are within error of the age of the Fiskenaesset Complex situated 5-25 km to the north. Leucoamphibolites from the three supracrustal belts show apparent geochemical mixing trends between tholeiitic amphibolites and TTG gneisses, as the end-members. By assimilation-fractional-crystallisation (AFC) modelling we can show that one group of leucoamphibolites can indeed be explained by contamination of the parental melts by a TTG-like end-member and another group of high P2O5, La and Nb leucoamphibolites can be explained by contamination involving a hypothetical low-silica adakite end-member. However, the leucoamphibolites are juvenile with epsilon Nd-(2970 Ma) from +2.1 to +3.5 and epsilon Hf-(2970 (Ma)) of +3.5 to +4.3. Thus, the mafic source of the felsic contaminant melts must have been derived from a depleted mantle source more or less at the same time (<60 Ma) as the volcanism took place. Our preferred interpretation of the geochemical and isotope data is that the protoliths of the supracrustal rocks formed in an island arc setting, where early tholeiitic volcanism gave way to calc-alkaline volcanism in a maturing arc. The apparent AFC trends are thus explained by in situ partial melting of basaltic arc crust to form juvenile TTG- and adakite-melts that mixed with mafic magmas or contaminated their mantle source to produce the calc-alkaline leucoamphibolite protolith. This model has important implications for the general interpretation of other Archaean supracrustal belts, because AFC and geochemical mixing trends towards a TTG end-member are not uniquely diagnostic of crustal contamination, but may rather reflect processes operating at lower crustal or source levels in arcs, such as melting-assimilation-storage-homogenisation (MASH) or slab-melt (low-silica adakite) metasomatism of the mantle source, respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Szilas, Kristoffer, et al.
(author)
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Remnants of arc-related Mesoarchaean oceanic crust in the Tartoq Group of SW Greenland
- 2013
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In: Gondwana Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 1342-937X. ; 23:2, s. 436-451
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Tartoq Group, located in SW Greenland, consists of supracrustal rocks of mainly tholeiitic basaltic composition, including pillow lavas, sills/dykes and gabbros, as well as ultramafic rocks. Metamorphic grade ranges from greenschist fades to granulite facies. The Tartoq Group crops out as a series of blocks and slivers that are imbricated with originally intrusive Mesoarchaean TTG orthogneisses. The supracrustal rocks form part of a SE vergent fold and thrust belt consistent with the imbrication of TTG gneisses and supracrustal rocks along a convergent margin. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating of an intrusive TTG sheet yields a minimum age of 2986 +/- 4 Ma for the Tartoq Group. This age is consistent with MC-ICP-MS Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic whole-rock data for mafic samples from different blocks of the Tartoq Group, which yield errorchron ages of 3189 +/- 65 Ma and 3068 +/- 220 Ma, respectively. The mafic supracrustal rocks of the Tartoq Group have chondrite-normalized REE patterns with La-CN/Sm-CN of 0.67-1.96 and rather flat primitive mantle-normalized multi-element patterns, except for scattered LILE contents, and generally negative Nb-anomalies with Nb/Nb* of 0.26-1.31. Th/Yb varies between 0.06 and 0.47 and Nb/Yb between 0.45 and 4.4 indicative of an arc affinity when compared to rocks from modern settings. The similar geochemistry of the different lithological units, together with their coeval formation, as evident from trace element geochemical trends, supports a co-magmatic origin for the rock assemblage and their formation as imbricated relics of oceanic crust Accordingly, we propose that the Tartoq Group represents remnants of Mesoarchaean oceanic crust, which formed in a suprasubduction zone geodynamic environment (C) 2011 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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