Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Greentone Belts PDF

    Uploaded by

    guillermo mario
    11 views10 pages

    Original Title

    GREENTONE BELTS.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    11 views10 pages

    Greentone Belts PDF

    Uploaded by

    guillermo mario

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 10
    Articles A.Y.Glikson Bureau of Mineral Resources Geology and Geophysics Canberra ACT. Australia Summary The elucidation of the nature ofthe crust which originally underlay and delimited Archean volcanic-sedimentary green: stone belts s essential for the under- ‘standing of the early Precambrian ‘crustal record -and through it of early ‘etrestria evolution, Stratigraphic evi- dence from the Pilbara and Yilgarn Coratons in Western Australia is consist tent with datatrom the eastem Transvaal Rhodesia and southern india, suggest ingatundamental dichotomy of maior greenstone sequences. Twoassemb- lages are recognized, including: 1) early greenstones which predate, and occut as xenoliths within, the isotopically ‘oldest granites in each craton, and2) late greenstones, which overlie the early ‘greenstones through major paracontor= rmities accompanied by thick chert and acid volcanic units, and may in places overlap the early granites unconform- ably. The early granites typically consist ‘of tonalite and granodioxite whose ‘geochemical andisotopic parameters inaicate derivation trom parental basic materials. In this article, the possible relevance of these observations tothe ‘question of granite-groonsione relations in the Canadian Precambrian Shield is. considered, with particular attention to the Archean crustal foundation of Keewatin (Abitibi) and Yellowknite greenstone bets. Nature of the Problem ‘Two broad schools of thought exist regarding the nature of the crust on which Archean greenstones were de- posited, namely: 1) a primary simatic Crust, possibly analogous to modern ‘oceanic crust or island-arc-trench domains (Bass, 1961; Folinsbee er a, 1968; Green and Baadsgaard, 1971 Ermanovics, 1973; Hubregise, 1976, Wilson et at, 1974), and 2) an acid igneous-metamorphic sialic basement (Donaldson and Jackson, 1965; Ayres, 1974; McGlyan and Henderson, 1970, Bel, 1971; Frith and Doig, 1975; Hender- son, 1975, Baragar and McGlynn, 1976). Inthe last reference, Baragar and ‘McGlynn assemble an impressive body ‘of evidence wnich suggests that denu- ation of granitic rocks has taken place ‘concomitantly withthe volcanic evou- tion of Keewatin (Abitibi) and Yellow- knife greenstone sequences. Their ‘evidence and arguments include: 1) observation or inferred existence of basal unconformities: 2) documientation of granite-derived clastic sediments; ‘and 3) the isotopic dating, in places, of about three by. old granites. This evidences usedaas the basis of an ‘Archean crustal model central which is proposed existence of a continuous sialic crust prior to the evolution of (greenstone belts (Baragar and McGlynn, 1976). In view of the longtime span occupied by the Archean era (defined here as 4.0 1026 by. ago), the possibilty hat significant secular changes have oc- curred during this ime, and diferences in the depth of erosion and the crustal level exposed - every terrain represents but a segment intime and space and a synthesis of all available information is required for any model of Archean crustal evolution. Supporters of an original simatic crust point out the abundance of matic and ultramafic voleanic xenoliths within the isotopically ‘oldest orthogneisses in southwestern Greenland, Labrador, Minnesota, Rhodesia, Swaziland, India and Western Australia (Viljoen and Viljoen, 1969, Anhaeusser, 1973, Gikson, 1971, 1972, 1976; Naqvi, 1976). In contrast, sup~ porters of the sialic basernent hypothe: sis point out occurrences of granitic clasts within greenstone sequences (Hunter, 1974; E.G. Nisbet, pers commun, 1976; Baragar and McGiynn, 1976). Of central significance to this problem is the observation of @ concom: itant development of acid plutonic activity and mafic-ultramatic volcanic activity during atleast parts of the ‘Archean era (Fig 1). Thus, the lithology ol the oldest stratigraphic unit, igneous body, xenolith or clastic fragment in any single terrain doesnt initselt necessar- ily constitute evidence for the composi tion of the eariiest crust inthis region ~ less ofall world-wide This truismis ‘evident with reference to modern tec: tonic environments. For example, ocour- rences of granitic rocks in island arcs (eg, Gil, 1970) or mid-ocean ridges (Coleman and Peterman, 1975; Engel and Fisher, 1975) are no more in evidence for an underlying sial than are continental lood basalts (which may include low-K tholaites) for an underly- ing sima. Each Archean terrain, however, con- ins the record of a succession of ‘events which effected a transition from lone tectonic environment to another - signitying a trend of crustal evolution, These developments may be diachro- nous (see Fig. 1) - resulting in a spatial and temporal overiap of diferent stages in diferent areas, For example, regions inwhich an advanced stage of cratoni- zation was reached may coexist with adjacent regimes where an older crustal ‘segment has been litle modified by + i Pan eo $4 = e Na granite nucleation L greenstone belt development + | | | + e + ®e etanm ante impacts Figure 1 Interpreted a'strbution of major events inthe ‘Archean evolution of southwestern Greer lana (A), Nain Province (Labrador (6), Rhodesian craton (C), Kaapyaal craton 0). Pivara craton (E) and the Eastern Goiatetds Province of the Vigarn craton (F). Stars - Impact events: sa ines - ealy greenstone Crust (utamatic-maic voteanics, minor dacites and sediments) circled crosses - tonalte-granodtorite suite; amonds and arrows ~ minimum ages of late greenstones; crosses - adamolite and quartz monzonte. Other events - fr example, metamorphism, ‘minor igneous activty and sedimentation = {are not shown on this oiagram. younger tectonic and thermal events. “The sum-total ofthe individual evolu- tionary trends in different parts of the ‘Archean Earth must retlect an overall though diachronous, trend of crustal development. The central question in this regard is whether greenstone belts developed as: 1) intrasialic depressions; Figure 2 Alternative models of Archean greenstone bet evousion Medel - Develogment of greenstone belts as ntasiaic basins - ie, overying@ granitic: ‘metamorphic basement - accompanied by ‘anatexis in downbuekledifracrusta root zones. Determation isassociated wih the ‘ascent of putons. Madel2 - Qevelogment of greenstone belts above oceanic crus! formedin a dvergent Crustal gap o! ne Rea Sea type. iftng o! the basic crust and ts partial meting at ower levels results in Na-rich intermediate to acid ‘magma. Concomitant meting in subjacent ‘mantle diapirs beneath the ited zones ‘resutsin further matic-utramaticvoleanic ‘activity, Deformation of the supracrustal racks results from the ascent of granitic plutons. 2) simatic rt zones between diverging sialic plates; or 3) by progressive ‘nucleation of granitic bathoiihs in ensimatic regimes - the three alterna tives are portrayed in Figure 2 Itis also possible that two or all three interpreta- tions are applicable to diferent green- stone belts, Each of these models is Model’3- Develonment of greenstone dels byriting and! or downbucking ofa simatic ‘crust, represented by early greenstone ‘assemblages. Partial meting in crustal ot zones and underying mane diapirsresuts in foymaion of Na-sich granites and matic: ultamatc volcanics respectively - the ater etined as late greenstones. The sedimen: tary units result rom erosion of acid volcanic piles and of adjacent cratons - the result of ‘pit and stabilization o yet older gran ‘greenstone systems. Inthis model the sic ‘rust evolves in stages by the nucleation of vastich grantes as a progressive and iachronous process. ‘Symbois:gs -greenstones, sv - sediments ‘and acid volcanics: ap acig plutons hg ~ high-grade zone, mad - mante dap °g - ‘early greenstones' i - late greenstones: ‘un unconformity, az - anatectc zone, Geoscience Canada, Volume 5, Number 1 consistent with an occurrence of grani- ticrocks at relatively early stages of ‘greenstone belt evolution. In the follow- ing sections, the evidence bearing on these alternatives is examined Field Evidence ‘Arkosic conglomerates occur below ‘greenstones of the Hays River Group (Oxford and Gods Lakes, Manitoba Campbell et al, 1972), at low stratigra- phic levels ofthe Abitibi Group (Holubec, 1972), in the Miminiska Group (Fort Hope, Ontario) and in other localities (Baragar and McGiynn, 1976). general upwards increase in the importance of ‘ranite-derived sediments suggests progressive uplft and denudation of the granites. Itis less clear, however, whether the ‘exposed granites represented inlers of ‘a continuous sialic basement, as sug- gested by the frst model (Fig. 2) or alternatively, outcrops of spatially separ- ated sialic plates or nuclei, as suggested by the second and third models, espec- tively, The two latter models alow for local greenstone-granite unconformities where volcanic activity overlapped peripheral zones of sialic plates or ruclel. Clearly, however, nterms of the ‘second and third models the bulk of the volcanic activity occurred within simatic environments, ie. above newly formed ‘oceanic cust or older greenstones, respectively, whereas sial basement. greenstone unconformities would be relatively rare. How extensive is the evidence for basal unconformities and granite basement outcrops underneath Keewatin (Abitibi) and Yellowknife vol- canic sequences? A review suggests, that, in most instances, such occur- rences have been inferred from: 1) Occurrences of granite-derived sediments and cross-bedded quartzite within, or atthe base, of volcanic sequences. 2) Differential distribution of basic dykes namely, their denser occurrence within granites than within adjacent green- stones. These relations were taken as evidence for an older age of the granites, suggesting that the dykes were feeders ofthe volcanic flows (e.g, Heywoodand Davidson, 1969) 3) The structural complexity of granitic batholits is sometimes regarded as evidence for their older age relative to less deformed greenstones. 4) An absence in places of contact ‘metamorphic aureotes along granite: {greenstone contacts is sometimes regarded as an indication ofa relatively younger age of the greenstones. is suggested below that none of the above observations is necessarily im: plicit of a granitic basement. As pointed ut botore, granite-derived sediments could be derived from neighbouring sialic plates or granitic nuciei. The abundance of dykes within granitic terrains is to large extent controlled by the highly fractured nature of these rocks, as contrasted to the ductile layered nature of the supracrustal greenstones. The Pilbara granite- {greenstone terrain in Western Australia Contains clear examples of Proterozoic dykes which intrude granites but fail to trangress granite-greenstone boun- daries (Fig. 3). Noris the third criterion Figures ‘An aerial photograph showing the reations between a basic dyke, granite and green- stones nan area north of Marbie Bar, Pibara region, Western Australia. The area shown is: ‘about 19km across. Symbols: Oyke, listed above implicit of granite- ‘greenstones age relations: inherent in the development of composite plutonic bodies is the progressive intrusion of magmatic increments into semi- consolidated granite - a process asso- lated with syn- to late-magmatic deformation, development of foldingand neissosity. Superposed intrabatholithic Structures cannot therefore be cons: dered evidence for an older age relative t0 less-detormed adjacent greenstones. The structure ofthe latter is clearly determined the external configuration ‘and mode of emplacement of the batholiths (Anhaeusser of a/, 1969; Hickman, 1975), bearing tle elation to the internal endemic features of these Plutons. An absence of thermal meta- ‘morphic aureoles along some grarite- ‘greenstone contacts does notin itself ‘suggest unconformable relations be- ‘9-grantte; vb - basic voleanies: va - acid volcanics; T - Talga River. C- Coongan Fiver, Arrow indicates the area where the

    You might also like