The Corner Brook Lake block in the Newfoundland Appalachians: A suspect terrane along the Laurentian margin and evidence for large-scale orogen-parallel motion

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2013 The Corner Brook Lake block in the Newfoundland Appalachians: A suspect terrane along the Laurentian margin and evidence for large-scale orogen-parallel motion Shoufa Lin; Shoufa Lin † 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada †E-mail: [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Arjan G. Brem; Arjan G. Brem 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada §Current address: Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., Kessler Park 1, 2288 GS Rijswijk, the Netherlands. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Cees R. van Staal; Cees R. van Staal 2Geological Survey of Canada, 625 Robson Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5J3, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Donald W. Davis; Donald W. Davis 3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Vicki J. McNicoll; Vicki J. McNicoll 4Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E8, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sally Pehrsson Sally Pehrsson 4Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E8, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2013) 125 (9-10): 1618–1632. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30805.1 Article history received: 11 Oct 2012 rev-recd: 26 Feb 2013 accepted: 10 Apr 2013 first online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Shoufa Lin, Arjan G. Brem, Cees R. van Staal, Donald W. Davis, Vicki J. McNicoll, Sally Pehrsson; The Corner Brook Lake block in the Newfoundland Appalachians: A suspect terrane along the Laurentian margin and evidence for large-scale orogen-parallel motion. GSA Bulletin 2013;; 125 (9-10): 1618–1632. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30805.1 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 Available geochronological (U-Pb and Ar/Ar) and geological data indicate that the Corner Brook Lake block of the Humber zone in the western Newfoundland Appalachians has unique characteristics. Grenvillian ages (ca. 1.0 Ga), which are typical for the Laurentian Appalachian margin, are absent in the crystalline basement to the Corner Brook Lake block. This makes it unlikely that the block is underlain by true parautochthonous Humber margin basement. However, the lithological makeup of its late Neoproterozoic–Early Cambrian sedimentary cover and detrital zircon populations indicate a Laurentian-type provenance. In addition, there is no geochronological or other geological evidence for a Middle Ordovician tectono-thermal event in the Corner Brook Lake block, suggesting that it escaped the penetrative tectono-thermal effects of the Taconic collision present elsewhere in the Laurentian realm. Instead, the block underwent strong regional deformation and associated peak metamorphism during the Silurian Salinic orogeny. Combined evidence, including the absence of Grenvillian ages, the presence of late Neoproterozoic ca. 600 Ma granitoid plutons, the regionally distinct early Paleozoic tectonic history of the Corner Brook Lake block, and its fault-bounded nature, implies that the block represents an allochthonous terrane. Available data indicate that significant orogen-parallel movement of the block (possibly 400 km or more) could have taken place during the Appalachian orogeny. The possibility of large-scale strike-slip tectonics, in addition to the well-documented convergent motions, has significant implications for the tectonic interpretation of the early Paleozoic evolution of the Newfoundland Appalachians. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.