Protracted intra- and inter-pluton magmatism during the Acadian orogeny: evidence from new LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages from northwestern Maine, USA

Auteurs-es

  • David Gibson Department of Natural Sciences - Geology, University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington, Maine 04938 USA
  • Sandra M. Barr Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
  • Deanne van Rooyen Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Geology, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6L2, Canada
  • Chris White Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines, Geological Survey Division, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T9, Canada
  • Jean-Luc Pilote Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, 490 rue de la Couronne, Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2021.008

Résumé

Devonian granitoid plutons comprise a major part of the bedrock of northwestern Maine representing the magmatic expression of the Acadian orogeny in this part of the northern Appalachian orogen. They are petrographically diverse with minerals characteristic of both I- and S-type granites, in some cases within the same intrusion, and some are compositionally zoned. New LA-ICP-MS ages presented here elucidate the timing and duration of this magmatism. The earliest phase of granitoid magmatism began around 410–405 Ma with the emplacement of the Flagstaff Lake Igneous Complex, and the presence of contemporaneous mafic rocks suggests that mantle-derived magmas were also produced at this time. Late Devonian ages, ca. 365 Ma, for many intrusions, such as the Chain of Ponds and Songo plutons, reveal that magmatism continued for 45 million years during which compositionally diverse I- and S-type magmas were produced. In addition, there is evidence that intrusive activity was prolonged within some plutons, for example the Rome-Norridgewock pluton and the Mooselookmeguntic Igneous Complex, with 10–15 myr between intrusive units. The new ages suggest a break in magmatism between 400 Ma and 390 Ma apparently separating Acadian magmatism into early and late pulses. The production of lower crustal I-type magmas appears to have been concentrated later, ca. 380–365 Ma, although several S-type granitoids were also emplaced during this period. These Late Devonian plutons display abundant zircon inheritance with ages around 385 Ma, which suggests that the crust was experiencing enhanced thermal perturbations during this extended timeframe. The new data for granitoid plutons in northwestern Maine are consistent with tectonic models for other parts of Ganderia which propose initial flat slab subduction followed by slab breakoff and delamination.

Références

Anderson, T. 2002. Correction of common lead in U–Pb analyses that do not report 204Pb. Chemical Geology, 192, pp. 59–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00195-X DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(02)00195-X

Archibald, D.B., Barr, S.M., Murphy, J.B., White, C.E., MacHattie, T.G., Escarraga, E.A., Hamilton, M.A., and McFarlane, C.R.M. 2013. Field relationships, petrology, age, and tectonic setting of the Ordovician West Barneys River Plutonic Suite, southern Antigonish Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 50, pp. 727–745. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2012-0158 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2012-0158

Barr, S. M., van Rooyen, D., and White, C.E. 2018. Granitoid plutons in peri-Gondwanan terranes of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada: new U–Pb (zircon) age constraints. Atlantic Geology, 54, pp. 21–44. https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2018.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2018.002

Bradley, D.C. and Tucker, R. 2002. Emsian synorogenic paleogeography of the Maine Appalachians. Journal of Geology, 110, pp. 483–492. https://doi.org/10.1086/340634 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/340634

Bradley, D.C., Tucker, R.D., Lux, D.R., Harris, A.G., and McGregor, D.C. 2000. Migration of the Acadian orogen and foreland basin across the northern Appalachians of Maine and adjacent areas. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1624, 49 p. https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1624 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1624

Chappell, B.W. and White, A.J.R. 2001. Two contrasting granite types: 25 years later. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 48, pp. 489–499. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0952.2001.00882.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-0952.2001.00882.x

Deer, W.A., Howie, B.A., and Zussman, J. 1966. An introduction to the rock forming minerals. Publ. Wiley, 528 p.

Dickinson, W.R. and Gehrels, G.E. 2010. Insights into North American Paleogeography and Paleotectonics from U–Pb ages of detrital zircons in Mesozoic strata of the Colorado Plateau, USA. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 99(6), pp. 1247–1265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-009-0462-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-009-0462-0

Eusden, J. D., Brady, J. J., Eusden, R. M., Felch, M. M., Merrill, T. K., and Niiler, K. A. 2020. Bedrock geology of the Bethel quadrangle, Maine. Maine Geological Survey, Open-File Map 20-11, scale 1:24 000. https://digitalmaine.com/mgs_maps/2126.

Ghani, A.A., Searle, M., Robb, L., and Chung, S-L. 2013. Transitional I-S type characteristics in the Main Range granite, Peninsula Malaysia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 76, pp. 225–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2013.05.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2013.05.013

Gibson, D. and Lux, D.R. 1989. Petrographic and geochemical variations within the Songo pluton. Western Maine. Maine Geological Survey Studies in Maine Geology, 4, pp. 87–100.

Gibson, D., Lux., D.R., Seaman, S., Williamson, K., and Day, K. 2006. Field relations, petrology and cooling history of Devonian plutons, western interior Maine. In Guidebook for field trips in Western Maine. Edited by D. Gibson, J. Daly, and D. Reusch. New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, 98th annual meeting, Trip A-3, pp. 25–42.

Glazner, A.F., Bartley, J.M., Coleman, D.S., Gray, W., and Taylor, R.Z. 2004. Are plutons assembled over millions of years by amalgamation from smaller magma chambers? GSA Today, 14, pp. 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1130/1052-5173(2004)014<0004:APAOMO>2.0.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/1052-5173(2004)014<0004:APAOMO>2.0.CO;2

Guidotti, C.V., Gibson, D., Lux, D.R., DeYoreo, J.J., and Cheney, J.T. 1986. Carboniferous metamorphism on the north (upper) side of the Sebago batholith. In New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference. Edited by D.W. Newburg., D.W., Trip C-4, pp. 306–341.

Harris, N.B.W., Pearce, J.A., and Tindle, A.G. 1986. Geochemical characteristics of collision-zone magmatism. Geological Society of London, Special Publications, 19, pp. 67–81. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1986.019.01.04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1986.019.01.04

Harwood, D. S. 1973. Bedrock geology of the Cupsuptic and Arnold Pond quadrangles, west-central Maine. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 1346, 90 p.

Hawkesworth, C., Cawood, P.A., and Dhuime, B. 2019. Rates of generation and growth of the continental crust. Geoscience Frontiers, 10, pp. 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2018.02.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2018.02.004

Heitzler, M.T., Lux, D.R., and Decker, E.R. 1988. The age and cooling history of the Chain of Ponds and Big Island plutons and the Spider Lake granite, west-central Maine and Quebec. American Journal of Science, 288, pp. 925–952. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.288.9.925 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.288.9.925

Hibbard, J.P., van Staal, C.R., Rankin, D., and Williams, H. 2006, Lithotectonic map of the Appalachian orogen (north), Canada-United States of America: Geological Survey of Canada Map 02041A, scale 1:1 500 000. https://doi.org/10.4095/221932 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4095/221932

Hogan, J.P. and Sinha, K. 1989. Compositional variation of plutonism in the coastal Maine magmatic province: mode of origin and tectonic setting. In Studies in Maine geology; igneous and metamorphic geology; Volume 4. Edited by R.D. Tucker and R.G. Marvinney. Maine Geological Survey, pp. 1–33.

Ludwig, K.R. 2003. Isoplot 3.75: A Geochronological Toolkit for Microsoft Excel; Berkeley Geochronological Center.

Ludwig, K.R., 2012. Isoplot 4.15: A Geochronological Toolkit for Microsoft Excel. Berkeley Geochronological Center.

Lux, D.R and Aleinikoff, J.N. 1985. 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of the Songo pluton, western Maine. Geological Society of America abstratcs with programs, 17, p. 32.

McFarlane, C.R.M. and Luo, Y. 2012. Modern analytical facilities: U–Pb geochronology using 193nm Excimer LA-ICP-MS optimized for in situ accessory mineral dating in thin sections. Geoscience Canada, 39, pp. 158–172.

Miles, A.J., Woodcock, N.H., and Hawkesworth, C.J. 2016. Tectonic controls on post-subduction granite genesis and emplacement: the late Caledonian suite of Britain and Ireland. Gondwana Research, 39, pp. 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.02.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.02.006

Moench, R.H. and Aleinikoff, J.N. 2003. Stratigraphy, geochronology, and accretionary terrane settings of two Bronson Hill arc sequences, northern New England. Physics and chemistry of the Earth, 28, pp. 113–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-7065(03)00012-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-7065(03)00012-3

Moench, R.H. and Hildreth, C. T. 1976. Geologic map of the Rumford quadrangle, Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine. United States Geological Survey, Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1272, scale 1:62 500.

Moench, R.H. and Pankiwskyj, K.A. 1988. Geological map of western interior Maine. United States Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1692, scale 1:250 000.

Mohammadi, N., Fyffe, L., McFarlane, C.R.M., Thorne, K.G., Lentz, D. R., Charnley, B., Branscombe, L., and Butler, S. 2017. Geological relationships and laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology of the Saint George Batholith, southwestern New Brunswick, Canada: implications for its tectonomagmatic evolution. Atlantic Geology, 53, pp. 207–240. https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2017.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2017.008

Mutch, E.J.F., Blundy, J.D., Tattich, B.C., Cooper, F.J., and Brooker, R.A. 2016. An experimental study of amphibole stability in low-pressure granitic magmas and a revised Al-in-hornblende geobarometer. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 171, pp. 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-016-1298-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-016-1298-9

Neilsen, R.L., Landis, E.S., Ceci, V.M., and Poston, C.J. 1989. The commingling of diverse magma types in the Flagstaff Lake Igneous complex. In Studies in Maine Geology. Edited by R.D. Tucker and R.G. Marvinney. Maine Geological Survey, 3, pp. 67–78.

Osberg, P.H., Hussey III, A.M., and Boone, G.M. 1985. Bedrock geologic map of Maine: Maine Geological Survey, scale 1:500 000.

Paton, C., Hellstrom, J.C., Paul, B., Woodhead, J.D., and Hergt, J.M. 2011. Iolite: Freeware for the visualisation and processing of mass spectrometric data. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 26, pp. 2508–2518. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1ja10172b DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c1ja10172b

Pearce J. 1996. Sources and setting of granitic rocks. Episodes, 19, pp. 120–125. https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/1996/v19i4/005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/1996/v19i4/005

Petrus, J.A. and Kamber, B.S. 2012. VizualAge: A novel approach to laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology data reduction. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 36, pp. 247–270. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-908X.2012.00158.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-908X.2012.00158.x

Pilote, J-L, Barr, S.M., and Gibson, D. 2011. A cross-border geochronological compilation for Late Silurian–Devonian granitoid rocks in Maine (USA) and New Brunswick (Canada): Pulses or a continuum? Geological Society of America, abstracts with programs, 43, no. 1, p. 159.

Pressley, R.A. and Brown, M. 1999. The Phillips pluton, Maine, USA: evidence of heterogeneous crustal sources and implications for granite ascent and emplacement mechanisms in convergent orogens. Lithos, 43, pp. 335–366. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(98)00073-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(98)00073-5

Simonetti, A. and Doig, R. 1990. U–Pb and Rb–Sr geochronology of Acadian plutonism in the Dunnahe zone of the southeastern Quebec Appalachians. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 27, pp. 881–892. https://doi.org/10.1139/e90-091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/e90-091

Solar, G.S. and Tomascak, P.B. 2016. The migmatite-granite complex of Southern Maine: its structure, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, and relation to the Sebago pluton. In Guidebook for field trips along the Maine coast from Maquoit Bay to Muscongus Bay. Edited by H.N. Berry, IV and D.P. West. New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, pp. 19–42. https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2016NE-272917 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2016NE-272917

Solar, G.S., Pressley, R.A., Brown, M., and Tucker, R.D. 1998. Granite ascent in convergent orogenic belts: Testing a model. Geology, 26, pp. 711–714. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0711:GAICOB>2.3.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0711:GAICOB>2.3.CO;2

Tomascak, P.B., Brown, M., Solar, G.S., Becker, H.J., Centorbi, T.Y., and Tian, J. 2005. Source contributions to Devonian granite magmatism near the Laurentian border, New Hampshire and Western Maine, USA. Lithos, 80, pp. 75–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2004.04.059 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2004.04.059

Tucker, R.D., Osberg, P.H., and Berry IV, H.N 2001. The geology of a part of Acadia and the nature of the Acadian orogeny across central and eastern Maine. American Journal of Science, 301, pp. 205–260. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.301.3.205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.301.3.205

van Staal, C.R. and Barr, S.M. 2012. Lithospheric architecture and tectonic evolution of the Canadian Appalachians. In Tectonic Styles in Canada Revisited: the LITHOPROBE perspective. Edited by J.A. Percival, F.A. Cook, and R.M. Clowes, R.M. Geological Association of Canada Special Paper, 49, pp. 41–95.

van Staal, C.R., Whalen, J.B., Valverde-Vaquero, P., Zagorevski, A., and Rogers, N. 2009. Pre-Carboniferous, episode accretion-related, orogenesis along the Laurentian margin of the northern Appalachians. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 327, pp. 271–316. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP327.13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP327.13

Westerman, D. 1980. Geologic structures of the Chain of Pond pluton and vicinity, Northwestern Maine. Geological Survey of Maine, Open-File report no. 80-36, 34 p.

Publié-e

2021-03-31

Comment citer

Gibson, D. ., Barr, S. M., van Rooyen, D., White, C., & Pilote, J.-L. (2021). Protracted intra- and inter-pluton magmatism during the Acadian orogeny: evidence from new LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages from northwestern Maine, USA. Atlantic Geoscience, 57(1), 147–191. https://doi.org/10.4138/atlgeol.2021.008

Numéro

Rubrique

Articles