The pre‐Caledonian Inishkea Division of northwest Co. Mayo, Ireland: Its geochemistry and probable stratigraphic position

Abstract

AbstractThe dominantly metasedimentary schists and gneisses of the Inishkea Division of the Erris Complex form a distinct rock group, structurally overlying the Grenvillian Annagh Division orthogneisses and underlying Dalradian metasediments, in the northwest County Mayo metamorphic inlier. A regression line for the Inishkea Division schists, defined by Rb–Sr whole rock analysis, suggests a metamorphic age of about 800 Ma, with a provenance age of about 1000–1300 Ma. The major and trace element chemistry is distinct from both the Annagh Division and Dalradian rocks, although sometimes similar to that of the Erris Group, and it suggests that the Inishkea Division originated as greywackes with associated intrusives. Local variations of the chemistry exist, but no systematic subdivision of the Division has been made. Amphibolite pods within the schists are metamorphosed and deformed tholeiite dykes, which are similar in chemistry to the younger metadolerites seen in the Annagh Division. While the geochemistry suggests that the Inishkea Division rocks are similar to both the Moine Assemblage and Grampian Group rocks of Scotland, the isotopic data suggest that they may have been deposited and then initially metamorphosed during the interval between the Grenville metamorphism of the Moine Assemblage and the onset of Dalradian and Erris Group deposition.