Lithogeochemical, isotopic, and U–Pb (zircon) age constraints on arc to rift magmatism, northwestern and central Avalon Terrane, Newfoundland, Canada: implications for local lithostratigraphy

Abstract

The northwestern Avalon Terrane, Newfoundland, is underlain by Neoproterozoic rocks traditionally divided into older Love Cove Group, medial Connecting Point Group, and the unconformably overlying Musgravetown Group. New lithogeochemical, isotopic, and updated U–Pb (zircon) age data demand changes to stratigraphic nomenclature and maps and help constrain the tectonomagmatic evolution. U–Pb age constraints include 620 ± 2 Ma for the calc-alkaline Broad Island Group (former Love Cove Group); 605 ± 1.2 Ma for rhyolite from near Bull Arm (type area, Bull Arm Formation, lower Musgravetown Group); 589 ± 2.0 Ma for a schist from the Love Cove type locality; 568.7 ± 1.4 Ma for rhyolite of the Rocky Harbour Formation, upper Musgravetown Group; and 572 ± 2 Ma for Louil Hills granite. In light of these results, remnants of the main Avalonian arc are re-designated “Broad Island Group”, for the site of the dated 620 Ma tuff. The ca. 589 Ma schist from Love Cove is included in the Musgravetown Group and may be a tectonized equivalent of Bull Arm Formation. Our data outline a tectonomagmatic change from arc-dominated magmatism at ca. 620 Ma, to an extensional regime ca. 605–589 Ma, culminating in alkaline magmatism by ca. 572 Ma. εNdtvalues (t = 620–569 Ma) for felsic rocks range from 3.7 to 5.6 and yield TDMages consistent with derivation from a juvenile Neoproterozoic (878–730 Ma) basement. Mafic rocks exhibit a time-progressive increase in εNdt, indicating more juvenile mantle sources through time. Further delimitation of map units of the area await integrated lithostratigraphy, precise modern U–Pb geochronology, and lithogeochemistry.