Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Detrital zircon signature of the Moine Supergroup, Scotland: Contrasts and comparisons with other Neoproterozoic successions within the circum-North Atlantic region

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Kirkland, Chris
    Strachan, R.
    Prave, A.
    Date
    2008
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Kirkland, C. and Strachan, R. and Prave, A. 2008. Detrital zircon signature of the Moine Supergroup, Scotland: Contrasts and comparisons with other Neoproterozoic successions within the circum-North Atlantic region. Precambrian Research. 163 (3-4): pp. 332-350.
    Source Title
    Precambrian Research
    DOI
    10.1016/j.precamres.2008.01.003
    ISSN
    0301-9268
    School
    Department of Applied Geology
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23869
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    A total of 200 detrital zircon grains from three stratigraphically distinct samples of the Neoproterozoic Moine Supergroup, NW Scotland were analysed by ion microprobe. Samples were taken from the Lower and Upper Psammite Formations of the oldest Moine unit, the Morar Group, and one from the tectonostratigraphically overlying, and presumed younger, Glenfinnan Group. The Morar Group is dominated by Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoic crystals and minimal Archaean grains whereas the Glenfinnan Group has broadly the same overall age range but a greater proportion of Grenville (late Mesoproterozoic) detritus. These data indicate an increase up-section in Grenville-age detritus and a Laurentian provenance, consistent with initiation of Moine deposition during the final stages of development and exhumation of the Grenvillian Orogen. The youngest concordant detrital zircons provide maximum depositional ages for the Morar Group at 1022 ± 24 Ma and for the Glenfinnan Group at 1009 ± 22 Ma. Sedimentation must have ceased prior to 842 ± 20 Ma, the age of high temperature conditions recorded by magmatic zircon overgrowths in one of the Morar Group samples; this is compatible with mid-Neoproterozoic Knoydartian orogenic events documented elsewhere within the Moine Supergroup. Robust statistical comparison of the Moine detrital zircon age distributions to those from Neoproterozoic successions elsewhere enable definition of three main lithotectonic units: (1) late Mesoproterozic to early Neoproterozoic basins with a range of late Grenville intrusives; (2) mid- to late Neoproterozoic basins in extension-related intra-Rodinia settings or fringing Rodinia's oceanic margin; and (3) late Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic basins formed during the main phase of Rodinia break-up. Statistical comparisons also indicate that: (i) in Scotland, the Morar Group rocks are similar to the sub-Grampian Group rocks (Dava-Glen Banchor succession) and permit linkage with the Torridonian of the Caledonian foreland (Applecross and Ault Bea formations), but differ significantly from the Moinian Glenfinnan and Loch Eil groups, as well as the Dalradian rocks; and (ii) the provenance signal and depositional timing of the Moine compares closely to the Sørøy Succession of Arctic Norway and the lower Eleonore Bay Supergroup of East Greenland. All of these have a Laurentian affinity and thus tectonic models invoking a geologically exotic status (i.e., a terrane) for the Moine appear unnecessary. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • The Proterozoic geological history of the Irumide belt, Zambia
      De Waele, Bert (2004)
      The Irumide belt is an elongate crustal province characterised by Mesoproterozoic tectonism and magmatism that stretches over a distance of approximately 900 kilometers from central Zambia to the Zambia-Tanzania border ...
    • Zircon fingerprint of the Neoproterozoic North Atlantic: Perspectives from East Greenland
      Olierook, Hugo ; Barham, Milo ; Kirkland, Chris ; Hollis, Julie ; Vass, A. (2020)
      Correlations across the once-contiguous North Atlantic region remain challenging, particularly for pre-Caledonian packages. Here, we present new zircon U-Pb and Hf isotope data from five metasedimentary samples and three ...
    • The nature and timing of Palaeoproterozoic sedimentation at the southeastern margin of the Congo Craton; zircon U-Pb geochronology of plutonic, volcanic and clastic units in northern Zambia
      De Waele, Bert; Fitzsimons, Ian (2007)
      This study is focused on the determination of the age and provenance of Proterozoic (meta-)sedimentary units on the southern margin of the Congo Craton, collectively known as the Muva Supergroup. Zircon U–Pb SHRIMP dating ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.