Paleoproterozoic evolution of Fennoscandia and Greenland

Abstract

The Paleoproterozoic evolution of Fennoscandia and Greenland can be divided into major rifting and orogenic stages. The Paleoproterozoic rifting of Fennoscandia started with 2.505‐2.1 Ga, multiphase, southwest-prograding, intraplate rifting. Both Fennoscandia and Greenland experienced 2.1‐ 2.04 Ga drifting and separation of their Archean cratons by newly-formed oceans. The main Paleoproterozoic orogenic evolution of Fennoscandia resulted in the Lapland-Kola orogen (1.94‐1.86 Ga) and the composite Svecofennian orogen (1.92‐1.79 Ga). The Paleoproterozoic orogens in Greenland, from north to south, are the Inglefield mobile belt (1.95‐1.92 Ga), the Rinkian fold belt/Nagssugtoqidian orogen (1.88‐1.83 Ga) and the Ketilidian orogen (c. 1.8 Ga). The Lapland-Kola orogen, Inglefield mobile belt and the Rinkian fold belt/Nagssugtoqidian orogen are continent-continent collision zones with limited formation of new Paleoproterozoic crust, whereas the Ketilidian orogen displays a convergent plate-tectonic system, without subsequent collision. The composite Svecofennian orogen is responsible for the main Paleoproterozoic crustal growth of Fennoscandia.