Jerzy Czerny

Late Neoproterozoic amphibolite-facies metamorphism of a pre-Caledonian basement block in southwest Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spitsbergen: new evidence from U-Th-Pb dating of monazite

Abstract – Southwest Spitsbergen, Wedel Jarlsberg Land, consists of two Proterozoic crustalblocks with differing metamorphic histories. Both blocks experienced Caledonian greenschist-faciesmetamorphism, but only the southern block records an earlier pervasive M1 amphibolite-faciesmetamorphism and strong deformational fabri c. In situ EMPA total-Pb monazite geochronologyfrom both matrix and porphyroblast inclusion results indicate that the older M1 metamorphismoccurred at 643 ±9 Ma, consistent with published cooling ages of c . 620 Ma (hornblende) and580 Ma (mica) obtained from these same rocks. This region thus contains a lithostratigraphic profileand metamorphic history which are unique within the Svalbard Archipelago. Documentation of apervasive late Neoproterozoic Barrovian metamorphism is difficult to reconcile with a quiescent non-tectonic regime typically inferred for this region, based on the occurrence of rift-drift sequences onthe Baltic and Laurentian passive margins. Instead, our new metamorphic age implies an exotic originof the pre-Devonian basement exposed in SW Spitsbergen and supports models of terrane assemblypostulated for the Svalbard Archipelago.Keywords: Svalbard, Caledonides, terranes, geochronology, tectonics.

A strike-slip terrane boundary in Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Svalbard, and its bearing on correlations of SW Spitsbergen with the Pearya terrane and Timanide belt

Abstract: Southwest Spitsbergen, Wedel Jarlsberg Land, consists of two Proterozoic terranes with differing structural and metamorphic histories. The northern terrane experienced two Early Palaeozoic deformation events both accompanied by greenschist-facies metamorphism of similar grade. The southern terrane records a Neoproterozoic pervasive amphibolite-facies metamorphism and strong deformational fabric only locally retrogressed during a Caledonian greenschist-grade event. These terranes are separated by an important sinistral ductile shear zone defined as the Vimsodden–Kosibapasset zone, which comprises wrench- and contraction-dominated domains characteristic of strain partitioning in transpression zones; in this case apparently controlled by contrasting rheologies of the juxtaposed crustal domains. The northern terrane of Wedel Jarlsberg Land shares affinities with Pearya in northern Ellesmere Island of Arctic Canada whereas the southern one resembles the Timanide belt of NE Europe. A quantitative approach facilitated by a numerical plate model demonstrates that correlation with Pearya is feasible if sinistral displacement of c. 600 km occurred during the Caledonian orogeny. The correlation with the Timanides is valid if the southern terrane represents an outlier of the Timanide belt separated from Baltica by the opening of the Iapetus Ocean.

Thermochronological evidence for late Proterozoic (Vendian) cooling in southwest Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spitsbergen

Two Proterozoic terranes with different metamorphic histories are distinguished from geological mapping in southwestern Wedel Jarlsberg Land: a northern greenschist facies terrane and a southern amphibolite facies terrane which has been overprinted by greenschist facies metamorphism. To better characterize the tectonothermal history of these terranes we have obtained new 40 Ar/ 39 Ar mineral dates from this area. A muscovite separate from the northern terrane yielded a Caledonian plateau age of 432±7 Ma. The southern terrane yielded significantly older 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages with three muscovite plateau dates of 584±14 Ma, 575±15 Ma, and 459±9 Ma, a 484±5 Ma biotite plateau date, and a 616±17 Ma hornblende plateau date. The oldest thermochronological dates are over 300 Ma younger than the age of amphibolite facies metamorphism and therefore probably do not represent uplift-related cooling. Instead, the Vendian dates correlate well with a regionally widespread magmatic and metamorphic/thermal resetting event recognized within Caledonian complexes of northwestern Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet. The apparent Ordovician dates are interpreted to represent partial resetting, suggesting that late Caledonian greenschist facies overprinting of the southern terrane was of variable intensity.

Torellian (c. 640 Ma) metamorphic overprint of Tonian (c. 950 Ma) basement in the Caledonides of southwestern Svalbard

Ion microprobe dating in Wedel Jarlsberg Land, southwestern Spitsbergen, provides new evidence of early Neoproterozoic ( c . 950 Ma) meta-igneous rocks, the Berzeliuseggene Igneous Suite, and late Neoproterozoic ( c . 640 Ma) amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The older ages are similar to those obtained previously in northwestern Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet where they are related to the Tonian age Nordaustlandet Orogeny. The younger ages complement those obtained recently from elsewhere in Wedel Jarlsberg Land of Torellian deformation and metamorphism at 640 Ma. The Berzeliuseggene Igneous Suite occurs in gently N-dipping, top-to-the-S-directed thrust sheets on the eastern and western sides of Antoniabreen where it is tectonically intercalated with younger Neoproterozoic sedimentary formations, suggesting that it provided a lower Tonian basement on which upper Tonian to Cryogenian sediments (Deilegga Group) were deposited. They were deformed together during the Torellian Orogeny, prior to deposition of Ediacaran successions (Sofiebogen Group) and overlying Cambro-Ordovician shelf carbonates, and subsequent Caledonian and Cenozoic deformation. The regional importance of the late Neoproterozoic Torellian Orogeny in Svalbards Southwestern Province and its correlation in time with the Timanian Orogeny in the northern Urals as well as tectonostratigraphic similarities between the Timanides and Pearya (northwestern Ellesmere Island) favour connection of these terranes prior to the opening of the Iapetus Ocean and Caledonian Orogeny.

Preservation of magmatic signals in metavolcanics from Wedel Jarlsberg Land, SW Svalbard

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the role of metamorphism and thereby identify the preserved magmatic signature in metavolcanics from Wedel Jarlsberg Land in southwestern Svalbard. Samples have been collected from late Precambrian metavolcanics occurring within metasedimentary rocks of the Sofiebogen Group, as well as dikes cutting older metasedimentary rocks of the Deilegga Group. The volcanic rocks were metamorphosed under greenschist facies conditions during the Caledonian Orogeny. To investigate the role of metamorphism, we present petrography, major and trace element geochemistry, and use factor analysis as a tool to identify correlations that correspond to primary magmatic signals. The metavolcanics are classified as subalkaline basalt to basaltic andesite and they contain relicts of primary clinopyroxene and plagioclase. The metamorphic minerals are actinolite, secondary plagioclase, chlorite and minerals belonging to the epidote group. Major element variations are highly scattered with no obvious trends observed. The HFSE and REE show strong trends attributed to fractional crystallization. The LILE, Th and La show elevated contents in some samples. Factor analysis shows that the HFSE and REE are well correlated. The LILE form a separate well correlated group, while the major elements are not correlated, except for Na2O, Fe2O3 and CaO. The lack of correlation for major elements, as well as the lack of observed fractional crystallization trends between these elements suggests that they were modified by metamorphism. The strong correlation of HFSE and REE reflects the original geochemical signal generated by magmatic processes. The correlation of the LILE is consistent with their elevated composition implying the influence of crustal contamination processes, and though some variability is likely superimposed due to metamorphism, the primary magmatic record is not completely destroyed. We conclude that the HFSE and REE are not influenced by metamorphic processes and therefore provide robust records of magmatic processes.