Magnetic fabrics and paleomagnetism of the Storsjön–Edsbyn deformation zone, central Sweden

Abstract

A regional deformation zone, separating tectonomagmatic blocks in the central part of the Fennoscandian Shield, has been studied using anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and paleomagnetism in order to define the tectonic character and age of the zone and to put the deformation into a plate tectonic context. The deformation zone (the Storsjön–Edsbyn Deformation Zone; SEDZ) separates the Rätan granite of the Trans Scandinavian Igneous Belt (TIB) and the southern Svecofennian subprovince in the southwest from older Svecofennian granitoids of the central Svecofennian subprovince in the northeast. The SEDZ is the most prominent deformation zone in a regional pattern of NW–SE trending shear zones. On basis of AMS data the width of the zone, which cuts through 1.7–1.9 Ga old rocks, is estimated at 10–12 km in its central–southern part and 20–25 km in its northern part. The orientations of the susceptibility axes vary systematically across the zone, in a way that suggests that the SEDZ is a pure shear dominated transpression zone caused by a compressive stress from the present SSW. Paleomagnetic data from a dolerite sill (Plat=10°, Plon=166°) and from a dyke (Plat=25°, Plon=190°) that cut the SEDZ indicate that no plastic deformation has occurred along the zone during the past 1.25 Ga, and probably not for the past 1.5–1.6 Ga. AMS data do not point to any deformation of the 1.70 Ga old Rätan granite, which further limits the time span of deformation. The main phase of deformation most likely took place between ∼1.80 and 1.70 Ga ago. The geological evolution of this part of the Fennoscandian Shield at the time between 1.80 and 1.70 Ga ago is very complex and in part still enigmatic. This time period involves magmatism of the TIB, which is related to eastward subduction. It also comprises the beginning of the Gothian orogeny and the development of a regional system of transpressive deformation zones. The compressive stress field from the present SSW indicated in this study is interpreted to be related to an initial stage of plate collision between the southwestern Scandinavian subprovince and older parts of the Fennoscandian Shield. This collision resulted in a system of regional NW–SE trending intra-plate deformation zones, one of which is the SEDZ