Proposal for a terrane-based nomenclature for the Lewisian gneiss complex of NW Scotland

• Published in: Journal of the Geological Society Vol. 162; no. 1; pp. 175 - 186
• Main Authors: Kinny, P. D, Friend, Clark R. L, Love, G. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Geological Society of London 01-01-2005; The Geological Society of London; Geological Society; Geological Society Publishing House
• Subjects: Archean; continental crust; correlation; crust; Crystalline rocks; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Europe; Exact sciences and technology; Geochronology; Geology; Great Britain; Hebrides; Igneous and metamorphic rocks petrology, volcanic processes, magmas; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Lewisian; Lewisian Complex; nomenclature; northwestern Scotland; Outer Hebrides; Plate tectonics; Precambrian; Proterozoic; Rocks; Scotland; Stratigraphy; Structural geology; tectonics; terranes; United Kingdom; upper Precambrian; Western Europe; Outer Hebrides; United Kingdom; Scotland; Great Britain; Hebrides; Western Europe; geochronology; nomenclature; Proterozoic; terranes; Lewisian Gneiss Complex; Archaean; tectonic controls; gneisses; Europe; Precambrian; metamorphic rocks; continental crust; Lewisian; correlation; Terranes; dating; Archean
• ISSN: 0016-7649; 2041-479X
• DOI: 10.1144/0016-764903-149

The current nomenclature for the Lewisian Gneiss Complex has evolved from lithological and structural correlations made prior to any dating. Initial (flawed) geochronological studies gave some names an apparent chronological standing but, as work advanced, fitting events into a coherent regional framework became increasingly difficult. Modern dating studies have shown that the Lewisian Gneiss Complex was progressively assembled from disparate blocks of Archaean continental crust and juvenile Proterozoic arcs, which satisfy the definition of terranes. Each terrane had its own separate accretionary and metamorphic history followed by a common history once juxtaposed against other terranes. Based on a new compilation of modern geochronology allied to the many detailed structural and metamorphic studies, this paper proposes a new systematic terminology for the Lewisian Gneiss Complex that is more applicable to this new tectonic framework.