The boundary between Proterozoic and Archaean crustal blocks in central West Greenland and northern Labrador

Abstract

Summary The contact between the Early Proterozoic Nagssugtoqidian Mobile Belt and the Archaean craton in West Greenland, and that between the Churchill Province and the Archaean (Nain) craton in Northern Labrador represent two cross-sections of an Early Proterozoic orogenic boundary. The Archaean cratons in both regions display the peripheral effects of Proterozoic orogenic events. The best indicators of Proterozoic effects on the Archaean cratons are the Late Archaean-Early Proterozoic dykes and the Early Proterozoic supracrustal rocks which unconformably overlie the gneisses and dykes. In Greenland the boundary zone evolution is characterized by Late Archaean (Nag. 1) transcurrent shearing, Early Proterozoic Kangâmiut dyke intrusion and subsequent (Nag. 2) ductile overthrusting. Ductile overthrusts are characteristic of the Nagssugtoqidian-Archaean boundary and attest to substantial shortening of the crust in this region. In Labrador the boundary region has been divided into several distinct zones. Although facets of its evolution are analogous to the boundary in Greenland there are several fundamental differences, the most important of which is that transcurrent movement appears to have been dominant over ductile overthrusting. These differences are provisionally related to contrasting tectonic settings of the two areas during Early Proterozoic continental collision, the Greenland segment being the frontal collision zone whilst the Labrador segment documents slightly oblique transcurrent motion.