Detrital zircon geochronology and provenance of the Neoproterozoic to Late Devonian Franklinian Basin, Canadian Arctic Islands

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2012 Detrital zircon geochronology and provenance of the Neoproterozoic to Late Devonian Franklinian Basin, Canadian Arctic Islands Owen A. Anfinson; Owen A. Anfinson † 1Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada †E-mail: [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew L. Leier; Andrew L. Leier 1Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ashton F. Embry; Ashton F. Embry 2Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33rd Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2A7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Keith Dewing Keith Dewing 2Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33rd Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2A7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Owen A. Anfinson † 1Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada Andrew L. Leier 1Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada Ashton F. Embry 2Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33rd Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2A7, Canada Keith Dewing 2Geological Survey of Canada, 3303-33rd Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 2A7, Canada †E-mail: [e-mail] Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Mar 2011 Revision Received: 27 May 2011 Accepted: 09 Jun 2011 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2012 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2012) 124 (3-4): 415–430. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30503.1 Article history Received: 03 Mar 2011 Revision Received: 27 May 2011 Accepted: 09 Jun 2011 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Owen A. Anfinson, Andrew L. Leier, Ashton F. Embry, Keith Dewing; Detrital zircon geochronology and provenance of the Neoproterozoic to Late Devonian Franklinian Basin, Canadian Arctic Islands. GSA Bulletin 2012;; 124 (3-4): 415–430. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30503.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract More than 1800 detrital zircon uranium-lead (U-Pb) ages collected from Franklinian Basin sedimentary strata of the Canadian Arctic Islands provide important insights into the depositional and tectonic evolution of the northern margin of Laurentia from the late Neoproterozoic to the Late Devonian. The Franklinian Basin succession is composed of strata with three distinctly different U-Pb age provenance signatures, which have implications for the tectonic and paleogeographic evolution of the entire Arctic region. Neoproterozoic and Lower Cambrian formations contain detrital zircon populations of 1750–1950 Ma and 2650–2800 Ma, which are consistent with derivation from Archean to Paleoproterozoic gneisses and granites of the west Greenland–northeast Canadian Shield. The Lower Silurian to Lower Devonian Danish River Formation contains a dominant population of 900–2150 Ma detrital zircons with scattered Archean ages. The 900–2150 Ma zircons were likely transported axially along the foreland basin of the East Greenland Caledonides (Caledonian orogen) and deposited in a deep-water basin between the Pearya terrane and northern Laurentian margin. Middle Devonian to Upper Devonian strata contain detrital zircon populations of 900–2150 Ma, similar to the Danish River Formation, but these units also contain 370–450 Ma and 500–700 Ma detrital zircons. The 900–2150 Ma zircons were likely derived from the East Greenland Caledonian Mountains, the uplifted foreland of the East Greenland Caledonides, and the Pearya terrane. The population of 370–450 Ma detrital zircons potentially comes from uplifting granites in the Caledonian Mountains and Pearya terrane. The 500–700 Ma detrital zircons were likely derived from the continental landmass responsible for the Ellesmerian orogen. The 500–700 Ma age of the zircons suggests that the northern landmass likely had a connection to rocks of the Timanide orogens, located in the Timan Range of northwestern Russia. A dominant population of 365–450 Ma and 500–700 Ma ages in Upper Devonian strata suggests that the Pearya terrane and the northern continental landmass became the dominant source by the end of Franklinian Basin sedimentation.Because detrital zircons are often recycled from older strata into younger deposits, these data provide the basis for understanding the sedimentary provenance of younger units of the Sverdrup Basin and sedimentary wedges along the present Arctic continental margin. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.