Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T06:20:23.743Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Geochemical evidence for the origins of igneous and sedimentary rocks of the Highland Border, Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

A. H. F. Robertson  and
W. G. Henderson
A. H. F. Robertson
Affiliation:
Grant Institute of Geology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, Scotland.
W. G. Henderson
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA, Scotland.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Narrow, intermittent, fault-bounded outcrops forming the largely Ordovician Highland Border Complex comprise terrigenous-derived turbidities, a dismembered ophiolite, and ophiolite-derived sediments.

New major- and trace-element analyses of the mafic igneous rocks confirm that two main groups exist. One, represented in outcrops the length of the Highland Boundary fault-zone, has a mostly MORB-like chemistry with some trace-element compositions conventionally pointing to genesis above a subduction zone. The other group, found more locally, has an alkalic ‘within-plate’ character. Amphibolites interpreted as ophiolitic ‘sole’ rocks are chemically similar to the MORB-type mafic extrusive rocks. X-ray diffraction of the sedimentary rocks reveals kaolinite to be widespread and this is attributed to tropical weathering of the Highland Border Complex beneath a (?mid-Devonian) unconformity surface. New major- and trace-element analyses show that the turbidities of the Highland Border Complex were derived from a terrigenous terrane similar to that which supplied the Dalradian Supergroup. Inter-lava sediments reflect varied terrigenous (distal turbidites), hydrothermal (iron oxide sediments), mafic extrusive (volcaniclastic silt) and biogenic (jaspers) provenances. The ophiolite-derived Highland Border Complex sediments also have a terrigenous component. Unlike, for example, the early Ordovician rocks of the South Mayo trough (Ireland), coeval differentiated volcanic material is not a significant component of the Complex.

No one existing model adequately explains all the available data. We favour an origin of the Complex in the Ordovician as a small Gulf of California-type marginal basin which was later tectonically emplaced in stages involving a long history of alternating extension, strike-slip and compression.

Keywords

alterationbasaltdeep sea sedimentkaolinitemid-ocean ridge basaltophioliteOrdovicianstrike-sliptrace-element
Type
Highland Border and Dalradian terranes
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 75 , Issue 2: Deep Geology of the Midland Valley of Scotland and Adjacent Regions. Bicentenary Symposium , 1984 , pp. 135 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allan, D. A. 1928. The Geology of the Highland Border from Tayside to Noranside. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 56, 57–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allan, D. A. 1940. The Geology of the Highland Border from Glen Almond to Glen Artney. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 60, 171–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, J. G. C. 1947. The geology of the Highland Border: Stonehaven to Arran. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 61, 479–515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, J. G. C. & Pringle, J. 1944. The Arenig rocks of Arran and their relationship to the Dalradian series. GEOL MAG 81, 81–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderton, R., Bridges, P. H., Leeder, M. R. & Sellwood, B. W. 1979. A dynamic stratigraphy of the British Isles—a study in crustal evolution. London: Unwin.Google Scholar
Barrett, T. J., Jenkyns, H. C., Leggett, J. K. & Robertson, A. H. F. 1982. Comment on: Bluck, B. J., Halliday, A. N., Aftalion, M. & Macintyre, R. M. 1980. Age and origin of the Ballantrae ophiolite and its significance to the Caledonian orogeny and the Ordovician time scale. GEOLOGY 9, 331–3.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrow, G. 1901. Silurian (?) in Forfarshire and Kincardineshire along the Highland Border. Q J GEOL SOC LONDON 57, 328–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bluck, B. J. 1983. Role of the Midland Valley of Scotland in the Caledonian orogeny. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH EARTH SCI 74, 119–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boström, k. & Peterson, N. M. 1969. The origin of aluminium-poor ferro-manganoan sediments in areas of high heat flow on the East Pacific Rise. MARINE GEOL 7, 427–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyle, J. F. & Robertson, A. H. F. 1984. Evolving metallogenesis at the Troodos spreading axis. In Gass, I. G., Lippard, S. J. & Shelton, A. W. (eds) Ophiolites and oceanic lithosphere, 169–81. GEOL SOC LONDON SPEC PUBL 13.Google Scholar
Campbell, R. 1913. The geology of South-Eastern Kincardineshire. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 48, 923–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cann, J. R. 1969. Spilites from the Carlsberg Ridge, Indian Ocean. J PETROL 10, 19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cann, J. R. 1970. Rb, Sr, Y, Zr and Nb in some ocean floor basaltic rocks. EARTH PLANET SCI LETT 10, 7–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curry, G. B., Ingham, J. K., Bluck, B. J. & Williams, A. 1982. The significance of a reliable Ordovician age for some Highland Border rocks in Central Scotland. J GEOL SOC LONDON 139, 463–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curry, G. B., Bluck, B. J., Burton, C. J., Ingham, J. K., Siveter, D. V. & Williams, A. 1984. Age, evolution, and tectonic history of the Highland Border Complex, Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH EARTH SCI 75, 113–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A. & Zussman, J. 1962. Rock-forming minerals. London: Longmans.Google Scholar
Dewey, J. F. 1982. Plate tectonics and the evolution of the British Isles. J GEOL SOC LONDON 139, 371–412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Segonac, G. 1970. The transformation of clay minerals during diagenesis and low-grade metamorphism: a review. SEDIMENTOLOGY 15, 281–346.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitton, J. G., Thirlwall, M. F. & Hughes, D. J. 1982. Volcanism in the Caledonian belt of Britain. In Thorpe, R. S. (ed.) Andesites: orogenic andesites and related rocks, 611–39. New York: John Wiley.Google Scholar
Fleischer, M. 1955. Minor elements in some sulphide minerals. ECON GEOL 50TH ANNIV VOL Part II, 970–1024.Google Scholar
Flinn, D., Frank, P. L., Brook, M. & Pringle, I. R. 1979. Basement-cover relations in Shetland. In Harris, A. L., Holland, C. H. & Leake, B. E. (eds) The Caledonides of the British Isles—reviewed 109–15. SPEC PUBL GEOL SOC LONDON 8.Google Scholar
Floyd, P. A. 1982. Chemical variations in Hercynian basalts relative to plate tectonics. J GEOL SOC LONDON 139, 505–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Floyd, P. A. 1977. Rare earth element mobility and geochemical characterisation of spilitic rocks. NATURE 269, 134–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Floyd, P. A. & Winchester, J. A. 1975. Magma type and tectonic setting discrimination using immobile elements. EARTH PLANET SCI LETT 27, 211–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Floyd, P. A. & Winchester, J. A. 1978. Identification and discrimination of altered and metamorphosed volcanic rocks using immobile elements. CHEM GEOL 21, 291–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friend, P. F., Harland, W. B. & Hudson, J. D. 1963. The Old Red Sandstone and the Highland Boundary in Arran. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 19, 363–425.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, C. M. 1976. Petrochemistry and tectonic significance of Dalradian metabasaltic rocks of the SW Scottish Highlands. J GEOL SOC LONDON 132, 61–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, C. M. & Borrodaile, G. J. 1984. The petrology and structure of Dalradian metabasaltic dykes of Jura: implications for early Dalradian evolution. SCOTT J GEOL 20, 257–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, W., Geike, A., Peach, B. N. & Harker, A. 1903. The geology of North Arran, South Bute and the Cumbraes with part of Ayrshire and Kin tyre. MEM GEOL SURV SCOTLAND.Google Scholar
Hamilton, P. J., Bluck, B. J. & Halliday, A. N. 1984. Sm–Nd ages from the Ballantrae complex, SW Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH EARTH SCI 75, 183–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, A. L. 1969. The relationship of the Leny Limestone to the Dalradian. SCOTT J GEOL 5, 187–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harte, B., Booth, J. E., Dempster, T. J., Fettes, D. J., Mendum, J. R. & Watts, D. 1984. Aspects of the post-depositional evolution of Dalradian and Highland Border Complex rocks in the Southern Highlands of Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH EARTH SCI 75, 151–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hellman, P. L. & Henderson, P. 1977. Are rare earth elements mobile during spilitisation? NATURE 267, 38–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, W. G. & Fortey, N. J. 1982. Highland Border rocks at Loch Lomond and Aberfoyle. SCOTT J GEOL 18, 227–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, W. G. & Robertson, A. H. F. 1982. The Highland Border rocks and their relation to marginal basin development in the Scottish Caledonides. J GEOL SOC LONDON 139, 433–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, W. G., Fortey, N. J., Johnson, C. E. & Grout, A. 1983. Mineral reconnaissance at the Highland Boundary with special reference to the Loch Lomond and Aberfoyle areas. MINER RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAMME REP 61, INST GEOL SCI LONDON.Google Scholar
Hower, J., Eslinger, E. V., Hower, M. E. & Perry, E. A. 1976. Mechanism of burial metamorphism of argillaceous sediments: 1. Mineralogical and chemical evidence. BULL GEOL SOC AM 87, 725–37.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ikin, N. P. 1983. Petrochemistry and tectonic significance of the Highland Border Suite mafic rocks. J GEOL SOC LONDON 140, 267–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ikin, N. P. & Harmon, R. S. 1983. A stable isotope study of serpentinization and metamorphism in the Highland Border Suite, Scotland, U.K. GEOCHIM COSMOCHIM ACTA 47, 153–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jamieson, R. A. 1980. Trace element mobility in the mylonite zone within the ophiolite aureole, St. Anthony Complex, Newfoundland. EARTH PLANET SCI LETT 49, 188–92.Google Scholar
Jehu, T. J. & Campbell, R. 1917. The Highland Border rocks of the Aberfoyle district. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH 52, 175–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jelínek, E., Souček, J., Bluck, B. J., Bowes, D. R. & Treloar, P. J. 1980. Nature and significance of beerbachites in the Ballantrae ophiolites, S W Scotland. TRANS R SOC EDINBURGH EARTH SCI 71, 159–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambert, R. St J. & McKerrow, W. S. 1976. The Grampian Orogeny. SCOTT J GEOL 12, 271–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Longman, C. D., Bluck, B. J. & van Breemen, O. 1979. Ordovician conglomerates and evolution of the Midland Valley. NATURE 280, 578–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearce, J. A. 1980. Geochemical evidence for the genesis and eruptive setting of lavas from Tethyan ophiolites. In Panayiotou, A. (ed.) Ophiolites: Proceedings International Ophiolite Symposium Cyprus 1979, 261–72, Nicosia: Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.Google Scholar
Pearce, J. A. & Cann, J. R. 1973. Tectonic setting of basic volcanic rocks determined using trace element analysis. EARTH PLANET SCI LETT 19, 290–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phillips, W. E. A., Stillman, C. J. & Murphy, T. 1976. A Caledonian plate tectonic model. J GEOL SOC LONDON 132, 579–609.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pringle, J. 1941. On the relationship of the Green Conglomerate to the Margie Grits in the North Esk, near Edzell; and on the probable age of the Margie Limestone. TRANS GEOL SOC GLASGOW 20, 136–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, A. H. F. 1975. Cyprus umbers: basalt-sediment relationships on a Mesozoic ocean ridge. J GEOL SOC LONDON 131, 511–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryan, P. D., Floyd, P. A. & Archer, J. B. 1980. The stratigraphy and petrochemistry of the Loch Nafooey Group (Tremadocian), western Ireland. J GEOL SOC LONDON 137, 443–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saunders, A. D., Tarney, J., Marsh, N. G. & Wood, D. A. 1980. Ophiolites as ocean crust or marginal basin crust: A geochemical approach. In Panayiotou, A. (ed.) Ophiolites: Proceedings International Ophiolite Symposium Cyprus 1979, 193–204. Nicosia: Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.Google Scholar
Tremlett, W. E. 1973. Excursion 9: Balmaha. In Bluck, B. J. (ed.) Excursion guide to the geology of the Glasgow district. 75–81. Geological Society of Glasgow.Google Scholar
Turekian, K. K. & Wedepohl, K. H. 1961. Distribution of the elements in some major units of the earth's crust. BULL GEOL SOC AM 72, 175–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, D. A., Gibson, I. L. & Thompson, R. N. 1976. Elemental mobility during zeolite facies metamorphism of the Tertiary basalts of Eastern Iceland. CONTRIB MINERAL PETROL 55, 241–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woodcock, N. H. & Robertson, A. H. F. 1982. Wrench and thrust tectonics along a Mesozoic-Cenozoic continental margin: Antalya Complex, S W Turkey. J GEOL SOC LONDON 139, 147–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zeck, H. P., Lou, S. & Ellgaard, L. 1983. Statistical evaluation of metasomatic effects in meta-igneous rock series. CHEM GEOL 40, 51–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar