Rubidium–strontium ages of Archean and Proterozoic rocks in the Nejanilini and Great Island domains, Churchill Province, northern Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Rubidium–strontium whole-rock ages are reported from the Nejanilini – Great Island area in northeastern Manitoba. This area is part of an extensive zone of Archean basement that was metamorphosed and intruded by granitic magma during the Proterozoic; it extends into Saskatchewan and southern District of Keewatin, Northwest Tertitories. An age of 2577 ± 42 Ma (1σ error) for the extensive Nejanilini granulite massif (Nejanilini domain), considered one of the oldest rock units in the area, is interpreted as a minimum age for late Archean granulite-facies metamorphism. A minimum age of 2052 ± 41 Ma (initial ratio 0.7150) for quartz–feldspar porphyry that intrudes the Seal River volcanic suite constrains the age of these volcanics and could represent a partially reset Archean age. Early Proterozoic quartzite and metagreywacke of the Great Island Group unconformably overlies the quartz–feldspar porphyry. These metasedimentary rocks, which are probably correlative with the Daly Lake Group (Saskatchewan) or the Hurwitz Group (southern District of Keewatin), give an age of 1885 ± 85 Ma, with an initial ratio of 0.7093. The age records the time of closure of the Rb–Sr isotopic system subsequent to early Proterozoic metamorphism. The age and initial ratio are consistent with published results for other, possibly correlative, metasedimentary rocks in this zone. Modelling the Rb–Sr isotopic data constrains the time of sedimentation to between ca. 2100 and 2000 Ma ago. Syn- to late-kinematic, early Proterozoic granite to granodiorite batholiths, which intruded metasedimentary rocks of the Great Island Group, may largely be the product of melting of Archean basement, based on field evidence and high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios. The Caribou Lake porphyritic quartz monzonite gives an age of 1795 ± 35 Ma, with an initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of 0.7084. High initial ratios seem to typify early Proterozoic granitic rocks in this remobilized craton.