Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism and cooling of the northern Nagssugtogidian orogen, West Greenland

Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd garnet geochronology combined with geothermobarometric calculations allowed us to gain new insight into the metamorphic evolution of the Northern Nagssugtoqidian orogen (NNO), in West Greenland. Three samples were collected from the southern (SM 310 and SM 316) and northern (SM 339) parts of the NNO. They revealed amphibolite-grade Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism under peak temperature conditions decreasing from c. 810 to 840 degrees C at 7.5 kbar (SM 310, 316) to c. 690 C at 10 kbar (SM 339) in the southern and northern part of the NNO, respectively. Our garnet dating defines two episodes: (1) at c. 1780 Ma, determined by Lu-Hf in sample SM 316 and Sm-Nd in sample SM 339, most likely approximating the time of garnet growth, and (2) at c. 1750 Ma defined by the remaining Sm-Nd dates, reflecting time of cooling below isotopic closure. Original garnet growth patterns preserved by HREE (SM 316) and clearly seen zonation of Sm and Nd (SM 339) suggest that the garnets may not have been completely reset and thus, the obtained age of 1780 Ma could be fairly close to the time of garnet crystallisation. The growth of peak metamorphic mineral assemblages in the southern NNO took place after the end of deformation, as demonstrated by sample SM 316 that was collected from an undeformed mafic dyke cutting across the regional fabric. In contrast, sample SM 339 revealed synkinematic growth of peak metamorphic paragenesis that crystallised in a low angle top-to-SW shear zone overprinted on the preexisting fabric. Our results are consistent with the interpretation of the NNO as an Archaean crustal block, the Aasiaat domain, that was affected by Palaeoproterozoic metamorphism and localised deformation at 1780 Ma, i.e., 70 Ma after the Nagssugtoqidian collision. This event can be compared to the formation of steep belts (major left-lateral strike-slip shear zones) in the central part of the Nagssugtoqidian orogen. The Aasiaat domain is considered to be an independent microplate separating the Nagssugtoqidian and Rinkian orogens which define respectively its southern and northern margins. The interpretation presented implies the existence of two discrete tectonic sutures to the north and south of the Aasiaat domain. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.