A Discussion on global tectonics in Proterozoic times - The Grenville Province in Helikian times: a possible model of evolution

Abstract

It is suggested that the Helikian (1650-1000 million years (Ma) ago) evolution of the Grenville Province in the Canadian Shield was marked by three events: emplacement of anorthosites around 1450-1500 Ma ago, rifting associated with opening of a proto-Atlantic ocean between 1200 and 1300 Ma ago, and continental collision responsible for the Grenvillian ‘orogeny’ about 1100-1000 Ma ago. Emplacement of rocks of the anorthosite suite (anorthosites and adamellites or mangerites) into continental crust was accompanied by formation of aureoles in the granulite facies. The Grenville Group was deposited in the southern part of the Province between 1300 and 1200 Ma ago and comprises marbles, clastic metasedimentary rocks and volcanics. It occupies a roughly triangular area limited on the northwest by the Bancroft—Renfrew lineament and on the southeast by the Chibougamau—Gatineau lineament. It is thought to have been accumulated in an aulacogen that would have developed along a fracture zone separating two basement blocks. The Grenvillian thermotectonic event may represent a Tibetan continental collision in the sense of Burke & Dewey. The suture zone would now be hidden under the Appalachians. Collision would cause reactivation of continental crust and renewed movement on pre-existing lineaments. The east—central part of the Grenville Province appears to have been more intensively reactivated than the western part.