The age of anorthosite events and their geological implications

Abstract

It is proposed by the authors in the light of isotopie age data available that anorthosite events are advisable to be assigned to two periods, i.e., the Karelian period (1,700–2,00 m.y.) and the Grenville period (1.000–1.300 m.y.), rather than simply to a time span of 1,300±200 m.y. as suggested by N. Herz in 1969. This division is in agreement with the earth history. It is noticed that anorthosites always occur in the mobile zones between plates, indicating a close relationship with deep faults. Anorthosites of the Karelian period are found principally in tectonic zones that strike approximately NWW or NEE in Eurasian (possibly North American) plate. Grenville anorthosites, constituting two (possibly three) belts running roughly in NNE or NNW direction, occur in orogenic zones marginal to the present continents resulting from the breaking up of Pangaca. This suggests that the breaking up of the ancient continent of Pangaea started to operate as early as late Precambrian and was probably responsible for the continental drift along these tectonic belts during late Palaeozoic.