Rb-Sr age determinations on shales associated with the Varanger Ice Age

Abstract

Summary Rb–Sr whole-rock isochron ages from shale horizons in the Late Pre-Cambrian tillite succession in Varangerfjord, Northern Norway, are presented. Although data from the Stappogiedde Formation, which overlies the tillite horizons, give a Caledonian, metamorphic age of 530±50 m.y., ages obtained from shales occurring between and below the tillites are believed to represent the approximate times of deposition of the sediments. An age of 810±90 m.y. for the Tanafjord Group enables this group to be correlated with the Upper Torridonian and the age of 668±23 m.y. for the Nyborg Formation, which is taken as the age of the Varanger Ice Age, allows a tentative correlation to be made with the Egan and Marinoan Glaciation in Australia.