Harvey-Cardiff domain and its relationship to the Composite Arc Belt, Grenville Province: insights from U–Pb geochronology and geochemistryThis article is one of a series of papers published in this Special Issue on the theme of Geochronology in honour of Tom Krogh.

Abstract

Combined mapping, U–Pb isotope dilution – thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID–TIMS) geochronology and geochemical studies in Harvey-Cardiff domain in the western Composite Arc Belt reveal the presence of a long-lived magmatic–metamorphic history between 1290 and 1030 Ma. Following intrusion of gneissic tonalite of the Anstruther and Burleigh gneiss complexes at ca. 1290 Ma, diorite of the Salmon Burn intrusive complex was emplaced at 1242.1 ± 1.1 Ma. A potassium-feldspar megacrystic monzogranite in the Salerno Creek deformation zone that forms the boundary between Harvey-Cardiff domain and Bancroft terrane was emplaced at 1211.3 ± 1.5 Ma, similar to the 1220 ± 1.6 Ma old Junction pluton and a previously reported age of ca. 1229 Ma from another Methuen suite granite in the domain. All three ages are 20 to 30 million years younger than Methuen suite ages elsewhere in the Composite Arc Belt (1250–1240 Ma). Deformation along the Salerno Creek deformation zone is constrained between 1211 Ma, the age of the megacrystic monzogranite, and 1050 Ma, the age of titanite grains from the Salmon Burn intrusive complex and a late alkalic dike. A monzogranite of the newly recognized Catchacoma granite suite yielded an age of 1067 ± 3.7 Ma, similar to the 1059.2 ± 1.6 Ma age obtained from the Cavendish pegmatite vein. These ages suggest a temporal link between late granite and pegmatite emplacement in Harvey-Cardiff domain. Metamorphic zircon, monazite, and titanite ages fall into three clusters (1082–1070, 1063–1045, and 1037–1030 Ma) and may represent a protracted metamorphic event or reflect distinct pulses during the Ottawan orogeny.