Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T21:45:19.354Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The tectonic evolution of the Abitibi greenstone belt of Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

John Ludden ,
Claude Hubert  and
Clement Gariépy
John Ludden
Affiliation:
Département de Géologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, C.P.6128‘A’, Canada, H3C 3J7 Also at: Lament Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
Claude Hubert
Affiliation:
Département de Géologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, C.P.6128‘A’, Canada, H3C 3J7
Clement Gariépy
Affiliation:
Département des Sciences de la Terre, Université du Quebec à Montréal, Montréal, C.P.8888‘A’, Canada, H3C 3P8
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Based on structural, geochemical, sedimentological and geochronological studies, we have formulated a model for the evolution of the late Archaean Abitibi greenstone belt of the Superior Province of Canada. The southern volcanic zone (SVZ) of the belt is dominated by komatiitic to tholeiitic volcanic plateaux and large, bimodal, mafic-felsic volcanic centres. These volcanic rocks were erupted between approximately 2710 Ma and 2700 Ma in a series of rift basins formed as a result of wrench-fault tectonics.

The SVZ superimposes an older volcanic terrane which is characterized in the northern volcanic zone (NVZ) of the Abitibi belt and is approximately 2720 Ma or older. The NVZ comprises basaltic to andesitic and dacitic subaqueous massive volcanics which are cored by comagmatic sill complexes and layered mafic-anorthositic plutonic complexes. These volcanics are overlain by felsic pyroclastic rocks that were comagmatic with the emplacement of tonalitic plutons at 2717 ±2 Ma.

The tectonic model envisages the SVZ to have formed in a series of rift basins which dissected an earlier formed volcanic arc (the NVZ). Analogous rift environments have been postulated for the Hokuroko basin of Japan, the Taupo volcanic zone of New Zealand and the Sumatra and Nicaragua arcs. The difference between rift related ‘submergent’ volcanism in the SVZ and ‘emergent’ volcanism in the NVZ resulted in the contrasting metallogenic styles, the former being characterized by syngenetic massive sulphide deposits, whilst the latter was dominated by epigenetic ‘porphyry-type’ Cu(Au) deposits.

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 123 , Issue 2 , March 1986 , pp. 153 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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

Allard, G. O. 1976. Dore lake complex and its importance to Chibougamau geology and metallogeny. Ministère des Richesses Naturelles du Quebec, DP-368, 446 pp.Google Scholar
Allard, G. O. & Gobeil, A. 1984. General geology of the Chibougamau region. In Chibouqamau – Stratigraphy and Mineralization. Special vol. 34 (eds. Guha, J. and Chown, E.), pp. 5–19. Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Google Scholar
Arndt, N. T., Naldrett, A. J. & Pyke, D. R. 1977. Komatiitic and iron-rich tholeiitic lavas of Munro Township, northwest Ontario. Journal of Petrology 18, 319–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Babineau, J. 1982. La géochimie des séries volcaniques dans la région Cadillac-Malartic de la ceinture métavolcanique de l'Abitibi. Mémoire de maîtrise, University of Montreal, 130 pp.Google Scholar
Babineau, J. 1983. Region de LaMotte-Malartic. Ministère de l'Energie et des Ressources. Quebec: DV 83–13, 41–42.Google Scholar
Baragar, W. R. A. & McGlynn, J. C. 1976. Early Archaean basement in the Canadian Shield: a review of the evidence. Geological Survey of Canada. Paper 14–76, 21 pp.Google Scholar
Cathless, L. H., Guber, A. L., Lenagh, T. C. & Dudas, F. O. 1983. Kuroko-type massive sulphide deposits of Japan: products of an aborted island-arc rift. Economic Geology, Monograph 5, 96–114.Google Scholar
Cattell, A., Krogh, I. E. & Arndt, N. T. 1984. Conflicting Sm–Nd wholerock and U–Pb zircon ages for Archaean lavas from Newton township, Abitibi Belt, Ontario. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 70, 280–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Charbonneau, J. M., Picard, C. & Dupuis-Hébert, L. 1983. Géologie des unités affleurent dans les cantons de Daubrée, Dolomieu, Saussure et la Ribourde, District de Chibougamau. Ministère de l'Energie et des Ressources. Quebec: ET-82–01, 1–68.Google Scholar
Daigneault, R. & Allard, G. O. 1984. Evolution tectonique d'une portion du sillon de roches vertes de Chibougamau. In Chibougamau – Stratigraphy and Mineralization. Special vol. 34 (eds. Guha, J. and Chown, E.), pp. 212–28. Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Google Scholar
Dimroth, E., Imreh, L., Rocheleau, M. & Goulet, N. 1982 A. Evolution of the south central part of the Archaean Abitibi belt, Quebec, Part I: stratigraphy and paleogeographic model. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 19, 1729–58.Google Scholar
Dimroth, E., Imreh, L., Rocheleau, M. & Goulet, N. 1982 b. Evolution of the south central part of the Archaean Abitibi belt, Quebec, Part I: stratigraphy and paleogeographic model. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 19, 1729–58.Google Scholar
Dimroth, E., Imreh, L., Rocheleau, M. & Goulet, N. 1983 a. Evolution of the south central part of the Archaean Abitibi belt, Quebec, Part II: tectonic evolution and geomechanical model. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 19, 1729–58.Google Scholar
Dimroth, E. Imreh, L., Rocheleau, M. & Goulet, N. 1983 B. Evolution of the south central part of the Archaean Abitibi belt, Quebec, Part III: Plutonic and metamorphic evolution and geotectonic model. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 19, 1729–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dimroth, E., Rocheleau, M. & Mueller, W. 1984. Paleogeography, isostasy, and crustal evolution of the Archaean Abitibi Belt: A comparison between the Rouyn-Noranda and Chibougamau-Chapais areas. In Chibougamau – Stratigraphy and Mineralization. Special vol. 34 (eds. Guha, J. and Chown, E.), pp. 73–91. Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Google Scholar
Frith, R. A. & Doig, R. 1975. Pre-Kenoran tonalitic gneisses in the Grenville Province. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 12, 844–49.Google Scholar
Gariépy, C. & Allègre, C. J. 1985. The lead isotope geochemistry and geochronology of kate kinematic intrusives from the Abitibi greenstone belt, and the implications for Late Archaean crustal evolution. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 49, 2371–84.Google Scholar
Gariépy, C., Allègre, C. J. & Lajoie, J. 1984. U-Pb systematics in single zircons from the Pontiac sediments, Abitibi greenstone belt. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 21, 1296–304.Google Scholar
Gelinas, L., Brooks, C., Perrault, G., Trudel, P., & Grasso, F. 1977. Chemostratigraphic divisions within the Abitibi volcanic belt. Rouyn-Noranda district, Quebec. Geological Association of Canada, special paper 16, 265–95.Google Scholar
Gelinas, L. & Ludden, J. N. 1984. Rhyolitic volcanism and the geochemical evolution of an Archaean central ring complex: the Blake River Group volcanics of the southern Abitibi belt, Superior Province. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 35, 77–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gelinas, L., Trudel, P., & Hubert, C. 1984. Chemostratigraphic division of the Blake River Group, Rouyn-Noranda area, Abitibi, Quebec. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 21, 220–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glikson, A. Y. & Lambert, I. B. 1973. Relations in space and time between major Precambrian shield units: an interpretation of Western Australian data. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 20, 395–403.Google Scholar
Gobeil, A. & Racicot, D. 1983. Carte lithostratigraphique de la région de Chibougamau. Quebec: Ministère de l'Energie et des Ressources MM 83–02.Google Scholar
Goldie, R. 1978. Magma mixing in the Flavrian pluton, Noranda area, Quebec. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 15, 132–44.Google Scholar
Goodwin, A. M. 1979. Archaean volcanic studies in the Timmins – Kirkland Lake region of Ontario and Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, paper 278, 51 pp.Google Scholar
Goodwin, A. M. 1982. Archaean volcanoes in the southwestern Abitibi Belt, Ontario and Quebec. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 19, 1140–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodwin, A. M., Ridler, R. H. & Annels, R. N. 1972. Precambrian volcanics of the Noranda–Kirkland Lake–Timmins, Michipocten and Mamainse Point areas, Quebec and Ontario. In Guidebook to Excursion A40–C40. XXIV International Geological Congress, 93 pp.Google Scholar
Goulet, N. 1978. Stratigraphy and structural relationships across the Cadillac–Larder lake fault, Rouyn–Beauchastel area, Quebec. Ministère des Richesses Naturelles du Quebec, DP-602, 141 pp.Google Scholar
Gunning, H. C. & Ambrose, J. W. 1937. Cadillac–Malartic area, Quebec. Transactions of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 40, 341–61.Google Scholar
Hodgson, C. J. 1983. Preliminary report on the Timmins–Kirkland Lake area, gold deposits file. Canada: Ontario Geological Survey, open file report 5467, 237 pp.Google Scholar
Hubert, C., Gelinas, L. & Trudel, P. 1984. Archaean wrench fault tectonics and volcanism related to a central ring complex in the Blake River Group, Abitibi Belt, Quebec. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 22, 240–55.Google Scholar
Hyde, R. S. 1980. Sedimentary facies in the Archaean Timiskaming Group and their tectonic implications, Abitibi greenstone belt, northeastern Ontario, Canada. Precambrian Research 12, 161–95.Google Scholar
Imreh, L. 1970. Géologie de la partie sud-ouest du canton de Baby, compte de Temiscamingue. Ministère des Richesses Naturelles du Quebec, RP-592, 22 pp.Google Scholar
Jensen, L. S. & Langford, F. F. 1983. Geology and petrogenesis of the Archaean Abitibi belt in the Kirkland Lake area, Ontario. Canada: Ontario Geological Survey, open file report 5455, 511 pp.Google Scholar
Jolly, W. T. 1978. Metamorphic history of the Archaean Abitibi belt. In Metamorphism in the Canadian Shield (Eds. Fraser, I. A. and Heyward, W. W.). Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 16, 63–78.Google Scholar
Krogh, T. 1982. Improved accuracy of U-Pb zircon ages by the creation of more concordant systems using an air abrasion technique. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 46, 637–49.Google Scholar
Krogh, T. E., Davies, D. W., Nunes, P. D. & Corfu, F. 1982. Archaean evolution from precise U-Pb isotopic dating. Geological Association of Canada/Mining Association of Canada Abstracts 7, 61.Google Scholar
Lajoie, J. & Ludden, J. N. 1984. Petrology of the Archaean Pontiac and Kewagama sediments and implications for the stratigraphy of the southern Abitibi Belt. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 21, 1305–14.Google Scholar
Ludden, J. N. Francis, D. & Allard, G. O. 1984. The geochemistry of the volcanic rocks of the Chibougamau region of the Abitibi metavolcanic belt. In Chibougamau – Stratigraphy and Mineralization. Special vol. 34 (eds. Guha, J. nad Chown, E.), pp. 20–34. Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Google Scholar
Martignole, J. 1984. Some questions about Proterozoic crustal thickening: the case of the Grenville Province. Geological Association of Canada/Mining Association of Canada Abstracts 9, 87.Google Scholar
Nunes, P. D. & Jensen, L. S. 1980. Geochronology of the Abitibi metavolcanic belt, Timmins–Matachwan area – progress report. In Summary of geochronological studies 1977–1979. (Ed. Pye, E. G.) Ontario Geological Survey, miscellaneous paper 92, 40–45.Google Scholar
Nunes, P. D. & Pyke, D. R. 1980. Geochronology of the Abitibi metavolcanic belt. Kirkland Lake area – progress report. In Summary of geochronological Studies 1977–1979. (Ed. Pye, E. G.) Ontario Geological Survey, miscellaneous paper 92, 40–45.Google Scholar
Parent, G. & Ludden, J. N. 1984. The interplay of progressive mantle melting, fractional crystallization and contamination in the genesis of Archaean mafic magmas. Geological Association of Canada/Mining Association of Canada 9, 95.Google Scholar
Percival, J. A. & Coe, K. 1981. Parallel evolution of Archaean low- and high-grade terrane: a view based on relationships between the Abitibi, Wawa and Kapus-kasing belts. Precambrian Research 14, 315–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Percival, J. A. & Krogh, T. E. 1983. U-Pb zircon geochronology of the Kapuskasing structural zone and vicinity in the Chapleau-Foleyet area, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Earth Science 20, 830–43.Google Scholar
Picard, C., Pilbule, M. & Charbonneau, J. M. 1984. Petrogenese des volcanites Archeenes hautement potassique du Groupe d'Opemisca (region de Chapais – Abitibi est). In Chibougamau – Stratigraphy and Mineralization. Special vol. 34 (eds. Guha, J. and Chown, E.), pp. 35–47. Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Google Scholar
Pitcher, W. S., 1983. Granite type and tectonic environment. In Mountain Building Processes, (ed. Hsu, K. J.) pp. 19–40. Academic Press.Google Scholar
Pyke, D. R., Naldrett, A. J. & Eckstrand, O. R. 1973. Archaean ultramafic flows in the Munro Township, Ontario. Geological Society America Bulletin 84, 955–78.Google Scholar
Racicot, D., Chown, E. & Hamel, T. 1984. Plutons of the Chibougamau-Desmaraisville belt; a preliminary survey. In Chibougamau – Stratigraphy and Mineralization. Special vol. 34 (eds. Guha, J. and Chown, E.), pp. 178–97. Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.Google Scholar
Rive, M. 1975. Region des lacs Simard, Winawlash et Decelles, comtes de Temiscamingue et de Pontiac. Ministère des Richesses Naturelles due Quebec, DP–338.Google Scholar
Van der, Walle, 1978. Montbeillard township, geological report. Ministère des Richesses Naturelles du Quebec, RG–188, 128 pp.Google Scholar
Wilson, M. E., 1962. Rouyn-Beauchastel map areas, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada. Memoir 315.Google Scholar
Windley, B. F. 1973. Crustal development in the Precambrian. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 273, 321–41.Google Scholar