Geophysical interpretation of the geology of the northeast Gander Terrane, Newfoundland

Abstract

New gravity data from the northeastern portion of the Gander Terrane of Newfoundland are analysed in association with existing gravity data. These are combined with the digitized and filtered aeromagnetic and geochemical data to produce an interpretation of the subsurface geology.Interpretation of these data suggests that there are two extensive areas underlain at depth by rocks similar to the Dunnage Terrane mafic and ultramafic rocks that outcrop at the Gander River ultrabasic belt. These regions of ultramafic and mafic rocks extend in two north–south belts throughout the study area, and both may have tongues continuing seaward beneath the Deadman's Bay pluton. The western belt, the Ocean Pond belt, probably consists of a series of granitic plutons underlain by mafic and ultramafic rocks. Geophysical modelling corroborates an earlier geological interpretation that the eastern belt, the Indian Bay Big Pond thrust belt, is a thrust sheet. The lateral extent of the thrust belt is accurately determined by new geophysical data. The presence of these two subsurface units composed of material similar to typical Dunnage Terrane rocks demonstrates that the Gander River ultrabasic belt is neither the most eastward extent of the Dunnage Terrane nor the sole thrust upon which Dunnage Terrane material was transported eastward. The two belts have associated diagnostic geochemical signatures and are bounded on the north and south by linear patterns in both the geophysical and geochemical patterns. The block defined by these geophysical and geochemical patterns is the same as that upon which the classic Gander Terrane was defined. The evidence presented in this paper suggests that this block may be allochthonous, which implies that the nature of the Gander Terrane may need to be reconsidered.