Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr Chronology of Continental Crust Formation

Abstract

Samarium-neodymium and rubidium-strontium isotopic systematics together with plausible assumptions regarding the geochemical evlution of continental crust material, have been used to ascertain the times at which segments of continental crust were formed. Analyses of composites from the Canadian Shield representing portions of the Superior, Slave, and Churchill structural provinces indicate that these provinces were all formed within the period 2.5 to 2.7 aeons. It has been possible to determine the mean age of sediment provenances, as studies of sedimentary rocks suggest that the samarium-neodymium isotopic system is not substantially disturbed during sedimentation or diagenesis.