Abstract
The Avalon Platform of Newfoundland is the type locality of the Avalonian plate, that is characterized by late Precambrian volcanic and clastic rocks, marine at the bottom and terrestrial at the top. All are intruded by 650-550 Ma granites. Late Precambrian rocks in the southern British Isles are similar. In both areas, northeastern parts of the belt are affected by deformation and metamorphism that have orogenic aspects. The orogeny is referred to as the Avalonian in Newfoundland and Monian in Britain. To the southeast of the Avalonian rocks in Europe lies another late Precambrian (Cadomian) orogenic belt of rocks. As a part of the Pan-African orogenic belt the Cadomian and Avalonian belts extend into North Africa (Morocco). Since these belts are ophiolite-bearing, it is suggested that the plate was bordered by oceanic domains. It is, therefore, proposed that a microcontinental volcanic arc, that was generated in the late Precambrian, was orogenically deformed by collision with North America, Europe and Africa and survived as a coherent terrain until the late Carboniferous.
Published Version
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