Timing of Paleoproterozoic granitoid magmatism along the northwestern Superior Province margin: implications for the tectonic evolution of the Thompson Nickel BeltThis article is one of a series of papers published in this Special Issue on the theme of Geochronology in honour of Tom Krogh.

Abstract

The U–Pb geochronology of three granitoid plutons and three granitic pegmatite dykes, largely from the Thompson Nickel Belt located along the northwestern Superior craton margin, was investigated to place constraints on the timing of felsic magmatism associated with closure of the Manikewan Ocean and final continent–continent collision to form the Trans-Hudson Orogen. These data indicate that 1840–1820 Ma granite magmatism along the Superior margin was more active than previously thought and that some magmatism extended beyond the Thompson Nickel Belt sensu stricto, including the 1836 ± 3 Ma Mystery Lake granodiorite, 1822 ± 5 Ma Wintering Lake granodiorite, and the 1825 ± 8 Ma Fox Lake granite located in the Split Lake Block. Granitic pegmatites within the Thompson Nickel Belt were emplaced late in the collisional history in the period 1.79–1.75 Ga and include a 1770 ± 2 Ma dyke exposed at the Thompson pit, a 1767 ± 6 Ma dyke at the Pipe Pit, and a 1786 ± 2 Ma dyke located at Paint Lake. The final stage of crustal amalgamation in the eastern Trans-Hudson Orogen involved Superior Province crustal thickening and partial melting forming 1.84–1.82 Ga granite magmas and then final collision at ∼1.8 Ga between the Superior Province and a continental block to the west consisting of the previously amalgamated Sask and Hearne cratons. Heating of the Superior craton margin and granitic magmatism continued past peak metamorphism (1790–1750 Ma); this thermal event is represented by the emplacement of numerous late pegmatite dykes and evidenced by cooling dates recorded by metamorphic minerals (e.g., titanite) in reworked Archean gneisses and Proterozoic intrusions.