East Greenland Caledonides—an extension of the British Caledonides

Abstract

Summary The major part of the Caledonian fold belt in East Greenland comprises gneiss complexes, which in the south have yielded Archaean and early Proterozoic isotopic ages; their features may be compared to those of the Scourian and Laxfordian divisions of the Lewisian. They are overlain by middle Proterozoic supracrustal sequences, which in some areas are involved in migmatitic activity and granite emplacement of Grenville age; parallels may be drawn with events recorded in the Morar Division of the Moine in Scotland, and in Ireland with those in the Annagh gneiss complex in N Mayo and perhaps in the Ox Mountains sequence. The late Precambrian lower Eleonore Bay Group is similar in development to the Grampian Group (Dalradian) of the British Isles, and the upper Eleonore Bay Group bears comparison with the Appin Group of the Dalradian. The Vendian glacial event is well represented in both regions. The early Palaeozoic succession in Greenland shows marked similarities with the Durness Limestone succession. The pattern of Caledonian deformation, metamorphism and plutonic activity show many similarities but also differences. The marked marginal thrust zone in the west of the E Greenland fold belt is the logical continuation of the Moine thrust belt. Late Palaeozoic continental deposits overlie Caledonian folded units in both regions.