U–Pb geochronology of deformation and metamorphism across a central transect of the Early Proterozoic Torngat Orogen, North River map area, Labrador

Abstract

The Early Proterozoic Torngat Orogen resulted from the oblique collision of the Archean Nain and southeastern Rae provinces and evolved in four stages: (0) deposition of platformal supracrustal assemblages followed by subduction-related arc magmatism in the margin of the Rae Province; (I) crustal thickening and nappe tectonics; (II) sinistral transpression and formation of the Abloviak shear zone; (III) uplift on steeply dipping, east-verging mylonites along the eastern orogenic front.U–Pb geochronology on zircon and monazite from major rock units and syntectonic intrusions indicates that arc magmatism at ca. 1880 Ma was followed by 40 Ma. of deformation and high-grade metamorphism from ca. 1860 to 1820. Subsequent uplift and final cooling occurred ca. 1795 – 1770 Ma. Several ages of mineral growth that correspond to distinct structural and metamorphic events have been recognized: (1) 1858 – 1853 Ma zircon and monazite dates are interpreted as the minimum age of stage I and peak metamorphic conditions; (2) 1844 Ma zircons from anatectic granitoids in the Tasiuyak gneiss complex (TGC), syntectonic with stage II deformation, are interpreted to date the formation of the Abloviak shear zone; (3) 1837 Ma magmatic zircons from an intrusive granite vein deformed along the western contact of the TGC represent a discrete intrusive event; (4) 1825 – 1822 Ma metamorphic overgrowths and newly grown zircons in granitic veins from the western portion of the orogen (Lac Lomier complex) represent a period of renewed transpressional deformation; (5) 1806 Ma magmatic zircons from a post-stage II granite emplaced along the eastern edge of the Abloviak shear zone defines the transition between stage II and stage III events; (6) 1794 – 1773 Ma zircons from leucogranites and pegmatites that are associated with uplift of the orogen (stage III). 1780 – 1740 Ma dates for monazite and a 40Ar/39Ar hornblende age correspond to the latest stages of uplift and cooling of the orogen.