The Gothian and Labradorian orogens: Variations in accretionary tectonism along a late Paleoproterozoic Laurentia-Baltica margin

• Published in: GFF Vol. 119; no. 2; pp. 181 - 191
• Main Authors: Åhäll, Karl-Inge, Gower, Charles F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-06-1997
• Subjects: crustal growth; Eastern Canada; Gothian; Labradorian; Laurentia-Baltica synthesis; North Atlantic correlations; Paleoproterozoic; SW Scandinavia
• ISSN: 1103-5897; 2000-0863
• DOI: 10.1080/11035899709546475

Intermittent crustal growth characterised late Paleoproterozoic development in western Baltica during Gothian orogenesis, and in eastern Laurentia during Labradorian orogenesis. Both regions are inferred to have belonged to the same margin of a supercontinent, but they do not show identical tectonic histories. Long-lived convergent margin activity associated with successive, oceanward migrating stages of sub-duction characterized western Baltica during the late Paleoproterozoic, in contrast to the development of a pre-Labradorian, ca. 1.71 Ga sedimentary depocentre close to the margin of pre-Labradorian Laurentia that gave way to Labradorian 1.68-1.65 Ga calc-alkaline magmatism associated with subduction away from cratonic Laurentia. Continued Gothian, ca. 1.62-1.58 Ga continental-margin calc-alkaline magmatism and arc accretion has no recognized counterpart in eastern Laurentia, where collision of the outboard microcontinents/arcs resulted in voluminous granitoid magmatism caused by crustal thickening. Subduction either ceased at 1.65 Ga or northward subduction was initiated much farther south. The caveat to all interpretations is that some of the apparent differences may reflect inadequate geochronological databases of western Baltica and southeasternmost Laurentia.
Åhäll, K.-I. & Gower, C.F., 1997: The Gothian and Labradorian orogens: variations in accretionary tectonism along a late Paleoproterozoic Laurentia-Baltica margin. GFF, Vol. 119 (Pt. 2, June), pp. 181-191. Stockholm. ISSN 1103-5897.