Tectonic Pattern of Major Structural Features in North-Central Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract

In Notre Dame and White Bays, Newfound­ land, as well as in contiguous areas southward and southwestward, a structural pattern of re­ gional significance is apparent in the Appala­ chian Paleozoic mobile belt. In Notre Dame Bay, four major fault zones that trend north­ east to east-northeas t can be delineated. Some are mappable for more than 65 mi (105 km) into the interior of the island. The Lukes Arm fault (intersecting New World Island and the Bay of Exploits) and the Green Bay-Birchy Lake fault (which probably establishes the straight trend of the northwest­ ern coast of Notre Dame Bay as well) are zones of transcurrent right-lateral faulting. Somewhat broader zones of significant tectonic adjustment are the Badger Bay-Nutmeg-Bar­ neys Brook fault complex and the Horwood Bay-Exploits Valley belt, each forming a northeasterly trend of predominantly high-an­ gle faulting. West of Notre Dame Bay to the foot of the Long Range Mountains, three major fault zones, each striking north-northeast, are con­ spicuous—the Baie Verte, Hampden-White Bay, and Doucers Brook zones of displace­ ment. In the two westernmost zones, the ex­ posed major faults are high-angle (45-85°) thrust faults with easterly dips. However, sub­ sidiary parallel faulting near Browns Cove and Upper Head, within the White Bay zone but