U-Pb ages of plutonism, wollastonite formation, and deformation in the central part of the Lac-Saint-Jean anorthosite suite

Abstract

The Lac-Saint-Jean anorthosite suite (LSJAS) is the largest ensemble of plutons in the Grenville Province. Zircons from a pluton in the central part of the LSJAS yield an age of 1140+10–5 Ma, which accords with existing 1157–1142 Ma ages determined from the southern part of the LSJAS. The Du Bras granite is a linear pluton emplaced into the dominantly dextral Pipmuacan shear zone (PSZ). The U–Pb zircon age of 1148 ± 2 Ma for the Du Bras granite confirms earlier proposals that it is a granophyre, formed at greater depths by partial melting of paragneiss by the heat of the crystallizing anorthosite. Parts of the pluton are strongly deformed by the shear zone, and other parts cut the shear zone. This suggests that the pluton dates one phase of movement of the PSZ. The Canton-St-Onge wollastonite deposit was developed in paragneisses preserved within the PSZ. Titanite from this deposit gives an age of 1163 ± 18 Ma, identical within error to that of the Du Bras granite, indicating that this pluton may have provided the skarn fluids. A second plutonic cycle comprises the post-tectonic Astra granite, which stitches the PSZ, and an amazonite-bearing pegmatite dyke. Zircons gave an age of 1028 ± 2 Ma for the Astra granite. The amazonite-bearing dyke only yielded monazite, one fraction of which gave an age similar to that of the Astra granite. Other fractions record the effects of a thermal event at 1020–1017 Ma that may be related to a widespread magmatic event. The undeformed Venus de Milot syenitic intrusion yields a U–Pb age of 988 ± 2 Ma. It was emplaced along the northwest-trending Lac Rioux fault, indicating that one phase of movement occurred before 988 Ma. Another strand of the same fault system also cuts the intrusion, showing later reactivation that may have been associated with the formation of the Saguenay Graben.