The Gull Rapids area, Manitoba, lies on the Superior craton margin and forms part of the Superior Boundary Zone (SBZ), a major collisional zone between the Archean Superior craton and the adjacent Paleoproterozoic Trans-Hudson Orogen. There are two main rock assemblages at Gull Rapids: orthogneisses (of possible Split Lake Block origin) and supracrustal rocks (metavolcanic and metasedimentary). Late, crosscutting felsic and mafic intrusive bodies (mostly dykes and sills) are used to constrain the relative and absolute timing of deformation and metamorphism. <br /><br /> The Gull Rapids area records a complex tectonic history. The area experienced four generations of Neoarchean ductile and brittle deformation (G1 ? G4) and one of Paleoproterozoic ductile-brittle deformation (G5). G1 deformation produced the main foliation in the map area, as well as local isoclinal folding which may be related to an early shearing event. M1a prograde mid-amphibolite facies metamorphism is contemporaneous with the early stages of G1. Widespread, tight to isoclinal sheath folding during G2 was recorded in the supracrustal assemblage, and is the result of southwest-side-up, dextral shearing during the early shearing event. A ca. 2. 68 Ga widespread phase of granitoid intrusion was emplaced late-G1 to early-G2, and is rich in metamorphic minerals that record conditions of M1b upper-amphibolite facies peak metamorphism. M1b metamorphism, late-G1 to early-G2 deformation, and intrusion of this felsic phase are contemporaneous. M2 retrograde metamorphism to mid-amphibolite facies was recorded sometime after M1b. G1 and G2 structures were re-folded during G3, which was then followed by G4 southwest-side-up, dextral and sinistral shearing, contemporaneous with late pegmatite intrusion at ca. 2. 61 Ga. This was followed by mafic dyke emplacement at ca. 2. 10 Ga, and then by G5 sinistral and dextral shearing and M3 greenschist facies metamorphism or hydrothermal alteration at ca. 1. 80 Ga. <br /><br /> Deformation and metamorphism at Gull Rapids post-dates emplacement and deposition of gneissic and supracrustal rocks, respectively. This deformation and metamorphism, except for G5 and M3, is Neoarchean (ca. 2. 68?2. 61 Ga), and represents a significant movement of crustal blocks: km-scale shearing of the supracrustal assemblage and consequent uplift of the Split Lake Block. Late deformation and metamorphism (G5, M3) may be related to the Paleoproterozoic Trans-Hudson orogeny. The Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic zircon populations in the geochronological data suggest that the Gull Rapids area largely experienced Neoarchean deformation and metamorphism with a weak Paleoproterozoic overprint. All of the evidence presented above suggests that the Gull Rapids area lies in a part of the Superior Boundary Zone, yet does not lie at the exact margin of the Superior craton, and therefore does not mark the Archean-Proterozoic boundary proper in northeastern Manitoba.

The Gull Rapids area, Manitoba, lies on the Superior craton margin and forms part of the Superior Boundary Zone (SBZ), a major collisional zone between the Archean Superior craton and the adjacent Paleoproterozoic Trans-Hudson Orogen. There are two main rock assemblages at Gull Rapids: orthogneisses (of possible Split Lake Block origin) and supracrustal rocks (metavolcanic and metasedimentary). Late, crosscutting felsic and mafic intrusive bodies (mostly dykes and sills) are used to constrain the relative and absolute timing of deformation and metamorphism. <br /><br /> The Gull Rapids area records a complex tectonic history. The area experienced four generations of Neoarchean ductile and brittle deformation (G1 ? G4) and one of Paleoproterozoic ductile-brittle deformation (G5). G1 deformation produced the main foliation in the map area, as well as local isoclinal folding which may be related to an early shearing event. M1a prograde mid-amphibolite facies metamorphism is contemporaneous with the early stages of G1. Widespread, tight to isoclinal sheath folding during G2 was recorded in the supracrustal assemblage, and is the result of southwest-side-up, dextral shearing during the early shearing event. A ca. 2. 68 Ga widespread phase of granitoid intrusion was emplaced late-G1 to early-G2, and is rich in metamorphic minerals that record conditions of M1b upper-amphibolite facies peak metamorphism. M1b metamorphism, late-G1 to early-G2 deformation, and intrusion of this felsic phase are contemporaneous. M2 retrograde metamorphism to mid-amphibolite facies was recorded sometime after M1b. G1 and G2 structures were re-folded during G3, which was then followed by G4 southwest-side-up, dextral and sinistral shearing, contemporaneous with late pegmatite intrusion at ca. 2. 61 Ga. This was followed by mafic dyke emplacement at ca. 2. 10 Ga, and then by G5 sinistral and dextral shearing and M3 greenschist facies metamorphism or hydrothermal alteration at ca. 1. 80 Ga. <br /><br /> Deformation and metamorphism at Gull Rapids post-dates emplacement and deposition of gneissic and supracrustal rocks, respectively. This deformation and metamorphism, except for G5 and M3, is Neoarchean (ca. 2. 68?2. 61 Ga), and represents a significant movement of crustal blocks: km-scale shearing of the supracrustal assemblage and consequent uplift of the Split Lake Block. Late deformation and metamorphism (G5, M3) may be related to the Paleoproterozoic Trans-Hudson orogeny. The Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic zircon populations in the geochronological data suggest that the Gull Rapids area largely experienced Neoarchean deformation and metamorphism with a weak Paleoproterozoic overprint. All of the evidence presented above suggests that the Gull Rapids area lies in a part of the Superior Boundary Zone, yet does not lie at the exact margin of the Superior craton, and therefore does not mark the Archean-Proterozoic boundary proper in northeastern Manitoba.

<p>This study presents new detrital zircon geochronologic data from Jurassic to Cretaceous sedimentary basins and modern rivers in south-central Alaska in order to examine the sedimentary record of magmatism and tectonics associated with the Mesozoic to Cenozoic growth of the southern Alaska convergent margin. Jurassic to Cretaceous strata of the Wrangell Mountains, Nutzotin, and Wellesly basins formed coeval with the Mesozoic accretion of the Wrangellia composite terrane (WCT) to the continental margin. New detrital zircon data from the Wrangell Mountains and Nutzotin basins demonstrate that these basins were derived primarily from sources associated with the WCT, with little to no derivation from continental margin sources. Detrital zircon ages from the Wrangell Mountains and Nutzotin basins are very similar, suggesting that these basins may have initially formed in a connected retroarc basin system. New detrital zircon data from the Wellesly basin show that the basin was source chiefly from continental margin sources. These ages show that the Wellesly basin is not related to the Nutzotin basin as previously suggested, and may be genetically related to the Kahiltna basin; this suggests that ~330-390 km of post-collisional strike-slip offset occurred along the Denali Fault. Comparing our new data with a regional detrital zircon database from similar-aged depocenters shows that there is a strong provenance and temporal link between outboard and inboard depocenters, with these depocenters being sourced from the same magmatic arcs from the late Jurassic to the late Cretaceous. Our findings from these comparisons are most consistent with a scenario where the WCT was accreted to the margin along an eastward-dipping subduction zone, in contrast to recent suggestions that the accretion was the result of westward-dipping subduction. New and previously published detrital zircon ages from the Tanana, Matanuska-Susitna, and Copper River watersheds in south-central Alaska document the major magmatic episodes that occurred along the southern Alaska convergent margin. These magmatic episodes display a periodicity that is similar to documented cyclic magmatic patterns in other regions along the Cordilleran margin, suggesting similar processes may be occurring margin-wide. The magmatic record of south-central Alaska can also be compared with the magmatic record of other regions in the northern Cordillera such as the Coast Plutonic Complex in British Columbia and the western Alaska Peninsula, which shows a spatial and temporal relationship of magmatism along the entire northern Cordilleran margin.</p>

The Mazatzal orogeny (1.66-1.60 Ga) is a key element of the tectonic evolution of the North American continent during the Proterozoic (Whitmeyer and Karlstrom, 2007). Recently, Mesoproterozoic detrital zircon grains (1.55-1.45 Ga) have been found in metasedimentary rocks that were thought to have been deformed during the Paleoproterozoic Mazatzal orogeny (Jones et al. 2011; Doe et al. 2012, 2013; Daniel et al. 2013). Some type examples Mazatzal deformation now seem to be too young to have been deformed in the accepted time of that orogeny (1.66-1.60 Ga) and may have been deformed in the younger, newly defined, Picuris orogeny. This leads to questions regarding the timing and nature of the Mazatzal orogeny and its importance in the evolution of the North American continent. The object of this research is to constrain the timing of deformation related to the Mazatzal and Picuris orogenies and clarify the Proterozoic history of the North American continent. The Four Peaks area in central Arizona has been selected as an ideal location to tightly constrain the timing of deformation. The area hosts a package of Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks that are folded into a kilometer-scale syncline, surrounded by vi Mesoproterozoic to Paleoproterozoic granitoids. The Four Peaks syncline has been considered a type example of Mazatzal-age deformation (Karlstrom and Bowring, 1988). Zircon and monazite geochronology are presented along with structural and petrologic data in order to understand the geologic history of the Four Peaks area. The evidence suggests that three deformation events occurred at ~1675 Ma, 1665-1655 Ma and 1490-1450 Ma. Sedimentary deposition occurred 1665-1655 Ma and 1520-1490 Ma with a significant disconformity in between these episodes. Both the Mazatzal and Picuris orogenies can be associated with periods of deformation, sedimentary deposition and pluton emplacement. The most significant shortening event, which formed the Four Peaks syncline, occurred during Mesoproterozoic time and was related to the Picuris orogeny.

Beacon Supergroup rocks of probable Devonian age, containing conglomerate clasts of lithologies unknown in outcrop in southern Victoria Land (SVL) occur in the St Johns Range to Bull Pass Region, SVL, Antarctica. The Lower Taylor Group sedimentary rocks, herein called the Sperm Bluff Formation, unconformably rest on the regionally extensive Kukri Erosion Surface that truncates local basement. The basement complex includes three Plutonic Suites, Dry Valley (DV) 1a, DVIb and DV2 of the Granite Harbour Intrusives that intrude metasedimentary rocks of the Koettlitz Group. Allibone et al. (1993b) suggested a SVL terrane accretion event may have occurred about the same time as accretion of a terrane known as the Bowers terrane in northern Victoria Land (NVL) based on changing chemistry of the CambroOrdovician granitoids. Further, it is suggested that conglomerate clasts of the Sperm Bluff Formation may have been derived from this postulated terrane (Allibone et al., 1993b; and Turnbull et al., 1994). Following extensive fieldwork provenance studies and basin analysis of the sedimentary Sperm Bluff Formation are used here to test these ideas. The Sperm Bluff Conglomerate of Turnbull et al. (1994) is re-interpreted as the Sperm Bluff Formation and described using a lithofacies-based approach. The Sperm Bluff Formation is divided into six lithofacies including 1) Conglomerate Lithofacies; 2) Pebbly Sandstone Lithofacies; 3) Crossbedded Sandstone Lithofacies; 4) Parallelbedded Lithofacies; 5) Low-angle Crossbedded Lithofacies; and 6) Interbedded Siltstone/Sandstone Lithofacies. The intimate field association of the Conglomerate, Pebbly Sandstone and Crossbedded Sandstone Lithofacies ties them to the Conglomerate Lithofacies Association whereas the other three units are independent. The Conglomerate Lithofacies Association is interpreted to represent a wavedominated deltaic environment, based on the presence of broad channels, pervasive crossbedding, paleocurrent and trace fossil data. Both Parallel-bedded and Low-angle Crossbedded Sandstone Lithofacies are interpreted as a foreshore-shore face shallow marine setting on the basis of low-angle crossbeds and trace fossil assemblages. The Interbedded Siltstone and Sandstone Lithofacies is interpreted as an estuarine environment based on alternating siltstone/sandstone beds and the presence of flaser and lenticular bedding, small crossbedded dune sets, mud drapes, syneresis cracks and diverse paleocurrent directions. An estuarine setting is tentatively favoured over a lagoonal setting due to the presence of syneresis cracks small channels and the proximity to a river delta. I suggest that the Sperm Bluff Formation is likely a lateral correlative of the Altar Mt Formation of the Middle Taylor Group, in particular the Odin Arkose Member. This interpretation is based on arkosic nature of the sedimentary rocks, regional paleocurrent patterns, the presence of salmon pink grits at Gargoyle Turrets and trace fossil assemblages. The upper most lithofacies at Mt Suess, the Low-angle Crossbedded Sandstone Lithofacies that only occurs at this site is- suggested as a lateral correlative to the Arena Sandstone, which stratigraphically overlies the Altar Mt Formation, based on quartzose composition, clay matrix, stratigraphic position and trace fossils present. Provenance analysis was carried out on sedimentary rocks and conglomerate clasts using clasts counts of conglomerates, petrographic analysis of clasts, point counts of sandstones and clasts, geochemistry and V-Pb detrital zircon analysis. Conglomerate clasts lithologies include dominantly silicic igneous clasts and finely crystalline quartzite clast amongst other subordinate lithologies such as vein quartz, schist, schorl rock, gneiss and sandstone. Despite past identification of granitoid clasts in the Sperm Bluff Formation (Turnbull et al., 1994), none were found. Rhyolitic clasts of the Sperm Bluff Formation have compositions typical of highly evolved subduction related rocks, although they have undergone post-emplacement silicification. Wysoczanski et al. (2003) date rhyolite and tuff clasts between 497±17 Ma and 492±8 Ma, placing them within error of all three Dry Valley Magmatic Suites and removing the likelihood of correlation to NVL volcanic rocks. Petrographic analysis suggests they are components of a silicic magmatic complex. Chemically the volcanic clasts appear to represent a single magmatic suite (Sperm Bluff Clast Suite), and are clearly related to the Dry Valley Plutonic Suites. Although clasts are not constrained beyond doubt to one Suite, DV2 is the best match. Quartzite clasts of the Sperm Bluff Formation are too pure and old to be derived from a local source. Detrital zircon V-Pb ages for the quartzite suggest zircons were derived from the East Antarctic Craton, and that the quartzite source rocks were deposited prior to the Ross-Delamarian Orogeny. Quartzite with a similar age signature has not been identified; however, the Junction Formation sandstone of northwest Nelson has a similar age spectrum. Sandstones from the Sperm Bluff Formation indicate derivation from a felsic continental block provenance, which contain elements of volcanic, hyperbyssal and plutonic rocks. They are arkosic to quartzose in composition and conspicuously lack plagioclase. Detrital zircon analyses give a strong 500 Ma peak in all 3 samples, characteristic of a Ross-Delamarian Orogen source, with few other peaks. The dominance of a single peak is highly suggestive oflocal derivation. The sedimentary rocks of the Sperm Bluff Formation are interpreted to be derived predominantly from the basement rocks they now overlie. The presence of the regionally extensive Kukri Erosion Surface at the lower contact of the Beacon Supergroup rocks implies an intermediate source must have existed. This most likely contained all components of the formation. I suggest that the DV2 Suite was emplaced in a subsiding, extensional intra-arc setting. Erosion of the uplifted arc region probably occurred from Late Ordovician to Silurian times with deposition of sediments in a subsiding intra-arc basin. Erosion of the rhyolitic complex in this region probably occurred, however, it is likely that some was preserved. Inversion of this basin prior to the Devonian probably provided the means for these sediments to be deposited as the Sperm Bluff Fonnation.

This study utilised U-Pb geochronology, and 40Ar/39Ar and (U-Th)/He thermochro-nology to delineate arc magmatism, metamorphism, and exhumation of the pericratonic Yukon-Tanana terrane in the McQuesten map area of west-central Yukon, Canada. SHRIMP U-Pb ages delineate Mid to Late Paleozoic arc magmatism and fit key units into the regional lithotectonic framework of the terrane. The juxtaposition of unmetamorphosed and predomi-nantly undeformed Devono-Mississippian rocks in the northwest of the study area with polydeformed and up to amphibolite facies metamorphosed rocks in the southwest suggests a crustal-scale discontinuity, the Willow Lake fault, bounds the two domains. The asymmetric distribution of 40Ar/39Ar ages across the fault suggest it is extensional, and was active in the Early Jurassic. Zircon (U-Th)/He ages delineate erosion of rocks in the northwest through the upper crust during the Late Triassic and Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous followed by Mid-dle Cretaceous erosion of the southwestern domain and possibly fault reactivation.

Tectonic development of the Andean Cordillera has profoundly changed the topography, climate, and vegetation patterns of the southern central Andes. The Cenozoic Bermejo Basin in Argentina (30 degrees S) provides a key record of thrust belt kinematics and paleoclimate south of the high-elevation Puna Plateau. Ongoing debate regarding the timing of initiation of upper plate shortening and Andean uplift persists, precluding a thorough understanding of the earlier tectonic and climatic controls on basin evolution. We present new sedimentology, detrital geochronology, sandstone petrography, and subsidence analysis from the Bermejo Basin that reveal siliciclastic-evaporative fluvial and lacustrine environments prior to the main documented phase of Oligocene-Miocene shortening of the Frontal Cordillera and Argentine Precordillera. We report the first radiometric dates from detrital zircons collected in the Cienaga del Rio Huaco Formation, previously mapped as Permian, that constrain a Late Cretaceous (95-93Ma) maximum depositional age. Provenance and paleocurrent data from these strata indicate that detritus was derived from dissected arc and cratonic sources in the north and northeast. Detrital zircon U-Pb ages of 37Ma from the overlying red beds suggest that foredeep sedimentation began by at least the late Eocene. At this time, sediment dispersal shifted from axial southward to transversal eastward from the Andean Arc and Frontal Cordillera. Subsidence analysis of the basin fill is compatible with increasing tectonic deformation beginning in Eocene time, suggesting that a distal foredeep maintained fluvial connectivity to the hinterland during topographic uplift and unroofing of the Frontal Cordillera, prior to Oligocene-Miocene deformation across the Precordillera.

The Palaeoproterozoic Birimian terrane of the West African Man Shield is a gold province of global importance. Gold mineralization at the Damang deposit, however, is unique amongst known gold deposits in Ghana. It comprises a stratigraphically controlled auriferous quartz-pebble conglomerate, which is overprinted by later orogenic gold contained in a sub-horizontal fault-fracture quartz vein array. Furthermore, this gold mineralization is hosted in sediments of the Tarkwaian System, rather than volcanics of the underlying Birimian Supergroup. This thesis integrates petrological, geochemical, thermodynamic and geochronological data to investigate the Damang deposit in the context of the regional tectonic and metallogenic framework. Staurolite-grade, amphibolite facies peak metamorphism at Damang occurred at around 595ºC and 5.5 kbar at 2005±26 Ma. This was immediately followed by a short period (~ 5 Ma) of rapid exhumation, at a rate of approximately 2.6 mm/yr. This decompression led to the formation of the fault-fracture mesh, which was enhanced by the silicification of host rocks during an earlier ‘Pink Haematite’ hydrothermal event that was associated with the intrusion of voluminous dolerite bodies. Orogenic gold mineralization occurred at the end of this exhumation period at conditions of 400–450ºC and 1–2 kbar. These conditions are in broad agreement with other Ghanaian deposits. A gold-bearing, CO₂-rich (X(CO₂) ~ 0.7), aqueous fluid generated through metamorphic devolatilization reactions close to peak metamorphism and during the subsequent exhumation fed the fault-fracture mesh. This fluid imparted a potassic–carbonation–sulphidation alteration overprint similar to that seen at orogenic gold deposits globally. This alteration signature is characterized and identified with portable infrared spectroscopic techniques. Exhumation rates following gold mineralization were less than 0.01 mm/yr, while ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of biotites give ages ranging between 1978.8±6.2 Ma and 1898±11 Ma, indicating extremely prolonged (~ 80 Ma) cooling through the interval 300–250ºC. Ultimately, this thesis demonstrates that the Damang deposit is part of the same regional metallogenic event that formed the other Ghanaian deposits. This implies that the Tarkwaian System elsewhere in Ghana may be prospective for orogenic gold mineralization.

The Silurian-Devonian metasedimentary rocks of the Connecticut Valley-Gaspé trough (CVGT) were subjected to multiple deformational and metamorphic events during the Acadian orogeny in the Middle-Late Devonian. Plutons intruding the Devonian Waits River and Gile Mountain Formations have been considered post-tectonic, but microstructural studies of the intrusions and their metamorphic aureoles indicate some of these plutons intruded syntectonically. This study investigates the relationship between Acadian deformation and intrusion of the Knox Mountain pluton (KMP) of central Vermont. Structural and geochronological data were collected along a c. 15 km transect from the western limit of the CVGT, where the unconformable Richardson Memorial Contact coincides with the Dog River Fault Zone, into the margin of the KMP in the east. Field and microstructural observations indicate the KMP intruded syntectonically. Evidence for Acadian deformation post-dating intrusion includes folded and boudinaged granitic dikes at the margin of the KMP, and microstructures such as flame perthite, myrmekite, deformation twins, and textures associated with grain-boundary migration recrystallization in the granite. In the metamorphic aureole, biotite porphyroblasts overgrow S3, the earliest Acadian secondary foliation, and were deformed during S4 crenulation cleavage development. The KMP intruded at 377±5.2 Ma based on a U-Th-total Pb monazite crystallization age, which is concordant with the published age of the nearby Barre granite. The timing of S4 foliation development in the CVGT is constrained locally by 40Ar/39Ar geochronology at ~365 Ma, consistent with the microstructurally-inferred relative-age relationships. Plateau/weighted mean 40Ar/39Ar ages from across the transect and minimum ages from argon-loss profiles show a general trend of younging towards the east, suggesting these rocks have been affected by Alleghanian and Mesozoic deformation and exhumation.

Orientador: Antenor Zanardo / Banca: Marcos Aurélio Farias de Oliveira / Banca: Antonio José Ranalli Nardy / Banca: Eliane Aparecida Del Lama / Banca: Gergely Andres Julio Szabó / Resumo: As rochas máficas e ultramáficas em foco estão inseridas na Faixa Itapira/Amparo. Ocorrem na forma de corpos tabulares a lenticulares e são representadas por metaperidotitos, xistos ultramáficos e anfibolitos. Rochas metassomáticas aparecem associadas às máficas e ultramáficas. A litoquímica juntamente com dados de campo, a petrografia e a geocronologia mostram que os processos tectono-metamórficos que atuaram sobre essas rochas provocaram mudanças químicas e mobilidade de elementos maiores, menores, traços e terras-raras. O contexto geológico juntamente com os dados obtidos sugere que essas rochas sejam derivadas de fragmentos de crostas oceânicas embutidas na crosta continental durante o Paleoproterozóico e não de ofiólitos brasilianos, como anteriormente aventado. Indicam, também, que não houve geração de material juvenil no Neoproterozóico, apenas retrabalhamento de rochas mais antigas. Diante da possibilidade de os litotipos atribuídos ao Grupo Itapira terem sido gerados em mais de um ciclo geotectônico optou-se pela denominação de Complexo Itapira / Abstract: The metamafic and metaultramafic rocks studied in this work are located in Itapira/Amparo belt. They occur as tabular to lenticular bodies and are represented by metaperidotites, ultramafic schists and amphibolites. Metassomatic rocks are associated with these rocks. Lithochemistry, field data, petrography and geochronology indicate that the tectonic-metamorphic processes which actuated over the studied region produced chemical changes and the mobility of major, minor, trace and rare earth elements. Geological context with such data suggest that these rocks were originated from oceanic crust pieces emplaced in continental crust during Palaeoproterozoic, not from brazilian ophiolites like avocated before. They also indicate that there were no primary material generation on the Late Proterozoic, just reworking of older rocks / Doutor