Provenance in the lower Belt-Purcell Supergroup is constrained based on geochemical systematics and chemical monazite ages of argillites and sandstones. Rare earth element (REE), Cr-Ni, and Th/Sc-Sc systematics is equivalent for both facies and consistent with a dominantly post-Archean source area. Detrital monazite chemical ages restrict major provenance for the Appekunny and Grinnell sandstones and argillites to Paleoproterozoic terranes at ~1800-1600 Ma, minor contributions at ~1600-1500 Ma, and marginal contributions from Archean terranes at ~2600, likely in Laurentia. Similar detrital age spectra for monazites of argillites and sandstones of the Appekunny Formation are consistent with a common provenance for the two facies.</p> <p>The Belt-Purcell sequence records three major diagenetic stages displayed in argillites and sandstones: (1) K-addition and rare earth element post-Archean upper continental crust (PA-UCC)-like pattern; (2) a stage characterized by heavy REE enrichment relative to light REE and HFSE fractionation, and U and Ce mobility; and (3) local dolomitization with REE and high field strenght elements (HFSE) mobility. REE and HFSE mobility are interpreted as the result of oxidized alkaline brines developed by dissolution of evaporites. Monazites from the Appekunny and Grinnell formations differ compositionally and texturally in two groups. Rounded or inclusions with ages >~1400 Ma, interpreted as detrital, have higher Th2O, Y2O3 and lower LREE/HREE contents than euhedral individual monazite grains with chemical ages <~1400 Ma that posses opposed compositional characteristics, and viewed as diagenetic. Monazites that span <~1400 to 300 Ma could be the result of basinal brine activity during stages (2) and (3). </p> <p>Chemical index of alteration (CIA) for argillites and sandstones, corrected for a diagenetic K-addition average 73 and 66 respectively. These results, coupled with correlation of CIA with Eu/Eu*, low K/Cs ratios, and low Sr, Ca, and Na relative to PA-UCC, could be interpreted as the result of an moderate weathered provenance in a hot, wet climate being drained by a large-scale river system. Presence of minor pristine feldspars lowers the CIA values, and may signify minor contributions from proximal source with short-river transport under the arid to semi-arid climate in the depositional setting. Moderate to intense weathering of the larger provenance may be associated with elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 degassed from a mantle plume implicated in the rifting of the supercontinent Columbia at ~1500 Ma.

Provenance in the lower Belt-Purcell Supergroup is constrained based on geochemical systematics and chemical monazite ages of argillites and sandstones. Rare earth element (REE), Cr-Ni, and Th/Sc-Sc systematics is equivalent for both facies and consistent with a dominantly post-Archean source area. Detrital monazite chemical ages restrict major provenance for the Appekunny and Grinnell sandstones and argillites to Paleoproterozoic terranes at ~1800-1600 Ma, minor contributions at ~1600-1500 Ma, and marginal contributions from Archean terranes at ~2600, likely in Laurentia. Similar detrital age spectra for monazites of argillites and sandstones of the Appekunny Formation are consistent with a common provenance for the two facies.</p> <p>The Belt-Purcell sequence records three major diagenetic stages displayed in argillites and sandstones: (1) K-addition and rare earth element post-Archean upper continental crust (PA-UCC)-like pattern; (2) a stage characterized by heavy REE enrichment relative to light REE and HFSE fractionation, and U and Ce mobility; and (3) local dolomitization with REE and high field strenght elements (HFSE) mobility. REE and HFSE mobility are interpreted as the result of oxidized alkaline brines developed by dissolution of evaporites. Monazites from the Appekunny and Grinnell formations differ compositionally and texturally in two groups. Rounded or inclusions with ages >~1400 Ma, interpreted as detrital, have higher Th2O, Y2O3 and lower LREE/HREE contents than euhedral individual monazite grains with chemical ages <~1400 Ma that posses opposed compositional characteristics, and viewed as diagenetic. Monazites that span <~1400 to 300 Ma could be the result of basinal brine activity during stages (2) and (3). </p> <p>Chemical index of alteration (CIA) for argillites and sandstones, corrected for a diagenetic K-addition average 73 and 66 respectively. These results, coupled with correlation of CIA with Eu/Eu*, low K/Cs ratios, and low Sr, Ca, and Na relative to PA-UCC, could be interpreted as the result of an moderate weathered provenance in a hot, wet climate being drained by a large-scale river system. Presence of minor pristine feldspars lowers the CIA values, and may signify minor contributions from proximal source with short-river transport under the arid to semi-arid climate in the depositional setting. Moderate to intense weathering of the larger provenance may be associated with elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 degassed from a mantle plume implicated in the rifting of the supercontinent Columbia at ~1500 Ma.

This thesis reports eight measured sections and >400 new detrital zircon U-Pb SHRIMP-II ages from the Mesoproterozoic (~1.4 Ga) upper Purcell Supergroup of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The goal of my study is to constrain the depositional, tectonic and paleogeographic setting of the upper Purcell Supergroup. Stratigraphic sections across the Purcell Anticlinorium, constructed from measured sections, reveal three syn-depositional growth faults: (1) paleo-Hall Lake, (2) paleo-Larchwood Lake, and (3) paleo-Moyie. Stratigraphic sections were combined into a fence diagram, revealing a large north-northeast trending graben bound to the east by the paleo-Larchwood Lake fault and to the west by the paleo-Hall Lake fault. Five samples were collected for detrital zircon analysis along the eastern extent of exposed Purcell strata; one sample was collected from the western limit of strata. All samples are characterized by subordinate numbers of detrital zircons that yield Paleoproterozoic and Archean ages. Detrital zircon ages from the Sheppard Formation are dominated by 1500, 1700, 1750, and 1850 Ma grains. The overlying Gateway Formation is dominated by 1400-1450, 1700, 1850, and 1900 Ma zircon grains. The overlying Phillips, Roosville (east), and Mount Nelson formations are dominated by detrital zircon ages between 1375-1450 Ma and 1650-1800 Ma. Detrital zircon ages from the Roosville Formation (west) are dominated by 1500-1625 Ma grains. Based on the margin perpendicular orientation of the long axis of syn-depositional grabens relative to Laurentia, and on the presence of syn-depositional aged zircons through the entire sedimentary succession, we interpret the upper Purcell Supergroup to have been deposited in a transpressional pull-apart basin setting, adjacent to a convergent/translational plate margin bound to the west by terranes now located in northeastern Australia.