Further detrital zircon evidence for peri-Gondwanan blocks in the central Appalachian Piedmont Province, USA

Abstract

Evidence for exotic terranes in the central Appalachian Piedmont Province is fragmented between central Virginia, northern Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania. Here we present laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry data from detrital zircon that support the presence of an exotic terrane in this region. U–Pb dating of detrital zircon from new samples of the Storck quartzite (central Virginia) and the Hoods Mill rocks (northern Maryland) confirms the presence of a major peak at ca. 630–610 Ma in these units. These ages are consistent with derivation from Gondwana, but not Ediacaran Laurentia. Further, modern εHf values of five of the ca. 670–580 Ma grains in these samples are inconsistent with derivation from the few plutons of this age in Ediacaran Laurentia. The Loch Raven Schist and a metasedimentary xenolith in the Wilmington Complex contain a smaller proportion of ca. 670–580 Ma grains than the Storck quartzite and the Hoods Mill rocks, but more such grains than in sediment derived from Ediacaran Laurentia, so we tentatively conclude that these two units also received sediment from Gondwana. Detrital zircon ages from the Piney Run Formation, Pleasant Grove Schist, Prettyboy Schist, and Wissahickon Formation allow sediment provenance solely in Ediacaran Laurentia. We also present new zircon spot U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data from western Newfoundland plutons for comparison with these types of data from the detrital zircon. Intrusion ages of the Steel Mountain Anorthosite, Disappointment Hill Tonalite, and Round Pond Granite are 608 ± 12, 600 ± 8, and 590 ± 9 Ma, respectively. None of these units was derived entirely from the depleted mantle.