Later Proterozoic Stratigraphy of the Northern Atlantic Regions

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Aim of this volume.- 1.2 Geographical limits.- 1.3 Proterozoic time-span covered.- 1.3.1 Terminology.- 1.4 Tectonometamorphic units.- 1.4.1 The Grenville-Sveco-Norwegian event.- 1.4.2 Late Precambrian events.- 1.4.3 Palaeozoic events.- 1.5 Stratigraphie methods.- 1.5.1 Lithological correlation.- 1.5.2 Chemostratigraphic correlation.- 1.5.3 Isotopic age-dating methods.- 1.5.4 Geophysics in correlation.- 1.6 External links.- References.- Section 1: Rocks Predating the Grenville Event.- 2 Sedimentary structures and sequences within a late Proterozoic tidal shelf deposit: the Upper Morar Psammite Formation of northwestern Scotland.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Geological setting.- 2.3 Petrography.- 2.4 Sedimentology.- 2.4.1 The Upper Psammite on the western limb of the Morar Antiform.- 2.5 Other features.- 2.5.1 Palaeocurrents.- 2.5.2 Soft-sediment deformation.- 2.5.3 Erosion surfaces.- 2.5.4 Shrinkage cracks?.- 2.5.5 Calc-silicates.- 2.5.6 Morar Striped and Pelitic Schist.- 2.6 Summary.- 2.6.1 Facies relationships.- 2.6.2 Interpretation: lateral changes.- 2.6.3 Interpretation: vertical transitions.- 2.6.4 Discussion.- 2.6.5 The Upper Psammite on the eastern limb of the Morar Antiform: a possible control on basin geometry.- 2.7 Conclusions.- References.- 3 The Glenfinnan and Loch Eil Divisions of the Moine Assemblage.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Geological setting.- 3.3 Age of the Glenfinnan and Loch Eil Divisions.- 3.4 Stratigraphy of the Glenfinnan and Loch Eil Divisions.- 3.4.1 Glenfinnan Division.- 3.4.2 Loch Eil Division.- 3.4.3 Achnacarry and Achnaconeran Striped Formations.- 3.4.4 The northern and southern parts of the Sgurr Beag Nappe.- 3.4.5 Stratigraphie nomenclature.- 3.5 Regional correlations.- 3.5.1 Correlations between the rocks of the Sgurr Beag Nappe and the Morar Division.- 3.5.2 Correlation between the rocks of the Sgurr Beag Nappe and the Sutherland Moine Assemblage.- 3.6 Sedimentology of the Glenfinnan and Loch Eil Divisions.- 3.6.1 Loch Eil Division.- 3.6.2 Glenfinnan Division.- 3.7 Depositional tectonics.- References.- 4 The Central Highland Division.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Lithofacies.- 4.3 Orogenic history.- 4.3.1 Late Proterozoic history.- 4.3.2 Latest Proterozoic (Knoydartian) shearing event.- 4.3.3 Early Palaeozoic orogeny.- 4.4 Relationship between the Central Highland Division and the Grampian Group.- 4.5 Affinities and age of the Central Highland Division.- 4.6 Regional implications.- References.- 5 The Moine Assemblage in Sutherland.- 5.1 Introduction: a history of speculation and controversy.- 5.2 Lithologies, tectonics and age of deposition.- 5.2.1 Structure and tectonomorphic sequence.- 5.2.2 The A'Mhoine Nappe.- 5.2.3 The Naver Nappe.- 5.2.4 The Swordly Nappe and the granite-migmatite complexes.- 5.2.5 Conclusions on the age of deposition and deformation.- 5.3 Geochemical characterization of the Sutherland Moine Assemblage.- 5.3.1 Analytical method.- 5.3.2 Geochemical results.- 5.4 Discussion and conclusions.- References.- 6 The Moine rocks of Shetland.- 6.1 Moine rocks west of the Walls Boundary Fault.- 6.1.1 The Sand Voe schuppen zone.- 6.1.2 The Eastern Gneisses.- 6.1.3 The metasediments - psammites.- 6.1.4 The metasediments - the garnet-mica schists.- 6.1.5 The correlation with Scotland.- 6.2 Moine rocks east of the Walls Boundary Fault.- 6.2.1 Lithology of the Yell Sound Division.- 6.3 The boundary zone.- 6.4 The Hascosay Slide.- 6.5 Conclusions.- References.- 7 The Krummedal supracrustal sequence in East Greenland.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 General structure of the Caledonides.- 7.3 Isotopic evidence for Grenville orogenesis.- 7.4 Krummedal supracrustal sequence.- 7.4.1 Krummedal.- 7.4.2 Hinks Land.- 7.4.3 Vestfjord.- 7.4.4 Nordbugt.- 7.4.5 East Milne Land.- 7.4.6 North Liverpool Land.- 7.4.7 Kejser Franz Joseph Fjord.- 7.5 Conclusions.- References.- Section 2: Late Proterozoic Rocks on the Laurentian Foreland.- 8 The Stoer Group, Scotland.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 The Stoer Group.- 8.2.1 Breccia facies.- 8.2.2 Muddy sandstone facies.- 8.2.3 Conglomeratic facies.- 8.2.4 Port Cam facies.- 8.2.5 Poll a'Mhuilt facies.- 8.2.6 Bay of Stoer facies.- 8.2.7 Meall Dearg facies.- References.- 9 The Sleat and Torridon Groups.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 The Sleat Group.- 9.2.1 Rubha Guail Formation.- 9.2.2 Loch na Dal Formation.- 9.2.3 Beinn na Seamraig and Kinloch Formations.- 9.2.4 Comparison of Sleat and Torridon Groups.- 9.3 The Torridon Group.- 9.3.1 Diabaig Formation.- 9.3.2 Applecross Formation.- 9.3.3 Aultbea Formation.- 9.3.4 Cailleach Head Formation.- 9.4 The provenance of the Sleat and Torridon Groups.- References.- 10 The Double Mer Formation.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Regional distribution.- 10.3 Characteristics of the Double Mer Formation.- 10.4 Interpretation of the age of the Double Mer Formation.- References.- 11 The Colonsay Group.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 The Colonsay Group Sequences.- 11.2.1 Lithostratigraphy.- 11.2.2 Cover-basement contacts.- 11.2.3 Sedimentology.- 11.2.4 Regional depositional environment.- 11.3 Structure.- 11.3.1 Deformation history.- 11.3.2 Structural relationships of the main igneous intrusions.- 11.4 Geochronological framework.- 11.4.1 Isotope studies.- 11.4.2 The relative timing of events within the Colonsay Group.- 11.5 Inter-regional correlation.- 11.5.1 Basement correlatives.- 11.5.2 Colonsay Group correlatives.- 11.5.3 Regional correlation of the Colonsay Group deformation.- 11.5.4 Displacement histories on the Great Glen and Loch Gruinart Faults and their bearing on Colonsay Group correlations.- 11.6 Conclusions.- References.- Section 3: Post-Grenville Rocks Affected by the Caledonian Event.- 12 Pre-Dalradian rocks in NW Ireland.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Northwest County Mayo inlier.- 12.2.1 Erris Complex.- 12.3 Slishwood Division.- 12.4 Northernmost Ireland.- 12.5 Other Proterozoic inliers in NW Ireland.- References.- 13 The Grampian Group, Scotland.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Stratigraphie framework.- 13.2.1 Glenshirra succession.- 13.2.2 Ord Ban Subgroup.- 13.2.3 Corrieyairack Subgroup.- 13.2.4 Glen Spean Subgroup.- 13.3 Geochemistry.- 13.4 Conclusions.- References.- 14 The Erris Group, Ireland.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Stratigraphy.- 14.2.1 Doonamo Formation.- 14.2.2 Belderg Formation.- 14.2.3 Broad Haven Formation.- 14.2.4 Benmore Formation.- 14.2.5 Srahlaghy Formation.- 14.2.6 Rocks correlated with the Erris Group.- 14.3 Geochemical studies.- 14.3.1 Psammites.- 14.3.2 Semi-pelites.- 14.3.3 Heavy-mineral bands.- 14.3.4 Amphibolites.- 14.4 Correlation with the Grampian Group.- 14.5 Conclusions.- References.- 15 The Appin Group.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Stratigraphy.- 15.2.1 Lochaber Subgroup.- 15.2.2 Ballachulish Subgroup.- 15.2.3 Blair Atholl Subgroup.- 15.3 Geochemistry.- 15.3.1 Lochaber Schists.- 15.3.2 Quartzites.- 15.3.3 Black Slates.- 15.3.4 Carbonate rocks.- 15.4 Sedimentology.- 15.4.1 Lochaber Subgroup.- 15.4.2 Ballachulish Subgroup.- 15.4.3 Blair Atholl Subgroup.- 15.5 Conclusions.- References.- 16 Stratigraphy of the Fleur de Lys Belt, northwest Newfoundland.- 16.1 Introduction.- 16.2 Evolution of stratigraphic thought.- 16.3 Infrastructure.- 16.3.1 Age and correlations.- 16.4 Cover sequences.- 16.4.1 Varied sequence.- 16.4.2 Monotonous sequence.- 16.4.3 Ophiolitic rocks.- 16.4.4 Other sequences.- 16.4.5 Contact relationships.- 16.4.6 Age and correlation.- 16.5 Significance and interpretation of the Fleur de Lys Belt.- References.- 17 The Eleonore Bay Group (central East Greenland).- 17.1 Introduction.- 17.2 Alpefjord Formation.- 17.2.1 The lower member.- 17.2.2 The middle carbonate member.- 17.2.3 The upper member.- 17.3 Agardhsbjerg Formation.- 17.3.1 Agardhsbjerg Formation in Canning Land.- 17.4 Brogetdal Formation.- 17.4.1 Description of the major cycles.- 17.4.2 Description of the characteristic facies.- 17.4.3 Interpretation of the palaeoenvironments.- 17.5 Nokkefossen Formation.- 17.5.1 Description of some characteristic facies.- 17.5.2 Interpretation of the palaeoenvironments.- 17.6 The age of the Eleonore Bay Group.- 17.6.1 Geochronological data.- 17.6.2 Comparisons with the Phanerozoic.- 17.7 Conclusions.- References.- 18 The 'sparagamites' of Norway.- 18.1 Introduction.- 18.2 South Norway.- 18.2.1 Valdres and Mellsenn Groups.- 18.2.2 Engerdalen Group.- 18.3 North Norway.- 18.3.1 Vadso Group.- 18.3.2 Tanafjord Group.- 18.3.3 Bossekop Group.- 18.3.4 Vestertana Group -.- 18.3.5 Borras Group.- 18.3.6 Dividal Group.- 18.3.7 Barents Sea Group.- 18.3.8 Lokvikfjell Group.- 18.3.9 Laksefjord Group.- 18.4 Palaeogeographical environment and sedimentary evolution.- 18.5 Correlation.- References.- 19 Later Proterozoic environments and tectonic evolution in the northern Atlantic lands.- 19.1 Introduction.- 19.2 Correlating Canada and West Greenland.- 19.3 Correlating West and East Greenland.- 19.4 Correlation between SE Greenland and the NW British Isles.- 19.5 Correlating East Greenland and Scandinavia.- 19.6 Correlating Scandinavia and the NW British Isles.- 19.7 Early Proterozoic mafic volcanic belts.- 19.8 Sedimentation between 1150 and 1000 Ma ago.- 19.9 Continental sedimentation.- 19.10 Marine basins 1150-1000 Ma.- 19.11 Tectonic setting and depositional patterns.- 19.12 Post-Grenville basin development.- 19.13 Early restricted basin development.- 19.14 Late Proterozoic deformation and metamorphism.- 19.15 Early widespread subsidence and deposition.- 19.16 Widespread marine transgression.- 19.17 Postglacial Proterozoic deposits.- References.