Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of metamorphic fluid transport in the Rb-Sr isotopic resetting of shear zones: evidence from Nordre Strømfjord, West Greenland

  • Published:
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Nordre Strømfjord shear zone is about 20 km wide and is exposed for 170 km along strike. It formed under granulite to amphibolite facies conditions as part of the 1,850 Ma-old Nagssugtoqidian orogeny affecting the largely Archean terrain of central West Greenland. We have made Rb-Sr isotope measurements on ca. 130 whole rock samples from the shear zone and have made microprobe analyses of biotite and plagioclase on 40 of them in order to evaluate the effects of shear zone formation on the Rb-Sr isotope system. Seven separate localities were sampled, four of them extensively; large whole rock samples and small, cm-scale thin slices were used in this study.

The Rb-Sr isotope systems and the biotite compositions of the large whole rocks show variable degrees of re-equilibration during shear zone formation. Rb-Sr data for the least affected suites still scatter about Archean isochrons and the biotite compositions show wide variations both within and between samples. In other more affected suites, the Rb-Sr system was reset to approximate the age of shear zone formation on the scale of 10's of meters, and the biotite compositions are consistent within individual samples. The most strongly affected suites underwent profound chemical and isotopic changes. Whole rock suites preserve virtually no Rb-Sr isotopic record of their preshear zone history and the biotite compositions of entire suites are very homogeneous. The cm-scale suites of thin slices all show some degree of Proterozoic re-equilibration, although sharp Sr isotopic discontinuities between groups of lithologic layers are preserved.

Among the suites of large whole rocks, the observed variations do not correlate with variations in shear strain, size of sampling domain, average Rb/Sr, range of Rb/Sr or ppm Sr. The combined Rb-Sr and microprobe data suggest that the responses are most likely to represent differences in total fluid/rock ratio in a system undergoing significant fluid transport. Our data suggest an uneven distribution of fluid pathways within the shear zone and a strongly preferred direction of fluid flow parallel to lithologic boundaries.

Data from previous studies are also consistent with the conclusion that fluid transport is the major agent of Rb-Sr isotopic resetting in shear zones. This conclusion has implications for optimum sampling strategies in Rb-Sr dating of high strain events and for the processes by which Rb-Sr isotopic resetting occurs during regional metamorphism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott JT (1972) Rb-Sr study of isotopic redistribution in a Precambrian mylonite-bearing shear zone, northern Front Range, Colorado. Bull Geol Soc Am 83:487–494

    Google Scholar 

  • Bak J, Korstgaard J, Sørensen K (1975a) A major shear zone within the Nagssugtoqidian of West Greenland. Tectonophysics 27:191–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Bak J, Sørensen K, Grocott, J, Korstgaard JA, Nash D, Watterson J (1975b) Tectonic implications of Precambrian shear belts in western Greenland. Nature 254:566–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Beach A, Tarney J (1978) Major and trace element patterns established during retrogressive metamorphism of granulite facies gneisses, NW Scotland. Precambrian Res 7:325–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckmann GEJ, Mitchell JG (1976) Paleomagnetic and geochronologic work in central West Greenland. Earth Planet Sci Lett 30:269–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridgwater D (1979) Chemical and isotopic redistribution in zones of ductile deformation in a deeply eroded mobile belt: Part I. Chemical redistribution. USGS Open File Report 79-1239:505–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridgwater D, Collerson KD (1976) The major petrological and geochemical characters of the 3,600-my Uivak gneisses from Labrador. Contrib Mineral Petrol 54:43–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodie KH (1980) Variations in mineral chemistry across a shear zone in phlogopite peridotite. J Struct Geol 2:265–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Burwash RA, Krupicka J (1970) Cratonic reactivation in the Precambrian basement of western Canada, II. Metasomatism and isostacy. Can J Earth Sci 7:1275–1294

    Google Scholar 

  • Chessex R, Delaloye M, Gülacar F, Escher A (1973) U-Pb isotopic ages of zircons from Precambrian rocks of West Greenland. Fortschr Mineral 50:60–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Claesson S (1980) A Rb-Sr isotope study of granitoids and related mylonites in the Tännäs Augen Gneiss Nappe, southern Swedish Caledonides. Geologiska Foreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 102:403–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Collerson KD, Fryer BJ (1978) The role of fluids in the formation and subsequent development of early continental crust. Contrib Mineral Petrol 67:151–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Collerson KD, Kerr A, Vocke RD, Hanson GN (1982) Reworking of sialic crust as represented in late Archean-age gneisses, northern Labrador. Geology 10:202–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich RV, Fullagar PD, Bottino ML (1969) K/Ar and Rb/Sr dating of tectonic events in the Appalachians of southwest Virginia. Bull Geol Soc Am 80:307–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Escher A, Sørensen K, Zeck HP (1976) Nagssugtoqidian mobile belt in West Greenland. In: Geology of Greenland (Escher A and Watt WS, eds) Grønlandske Geologiske Undersøgelse, Copenhagen, pp 77–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Etheridge MA, Cooper JA (1981) Rb/Sr isotopic and geochemical evolution of a recrystallized shear (mylonite) zone at Broken Hill. Contrib Mineral Petrol 78:74–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Etheridge MA, Wall VJ, Cox SF (1984) High fluid pressures during regional metamorphism and deformation — implications for mass transport and deformation mechanisms. J Geophys Res 89:4344–4358

    Google Scholar 

  • Floyd DA, Winchester JA (1983) Element mobility associated with meta-shear zones within the Ben Hope amphibolite suite, Scotland. Chem Geol 39:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Glassley WE (1983a) The role of CO2 in the chemical modification of deep continental crust. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47:597–616

    Google Scholar 

  • Glassley WE (1983b) The contribution of carbonates to deep crustal CO2: Evidence from metasomatic reaction zones. Contrib Mineral Petrol 84:15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Glassley WE, Sørensen K (1980) Constant Ps-T amphibolite to granulite facies transition in Agto (West Greenland) metadolerites: implications and applications. J Petrol 21:69–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant NK, Voner FR, Marzano MS, Hickman MH, Ermanovics IF (1983) A summary of isotopic studies in the Archean Hopedale block and the adjacent Proterozoic Makkovik Subprovince, Labrador: report 5. In: Current Research, Part B, Paper 83-1B. Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, pp 127–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen BF (979) Some charnockite rocks in the Nagssugtoqidian of West Greenland. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 89:85–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson GN, Grünenfelder M, Soptrayonova G (1969) The geochronology of a recrystallized tectonite in Switzerland — The Roffna gneiss. Earth Planet Sci Lett 5:413–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgeson HC, Delany JM, Nesbitt HW, Bird KD (1978) Summary and critique of the thermodynamic properties of rock-forming minerals. Am J Sci 278-A:229 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickman MH (1979) A Rb-Sr age and isotope study of the Ikertôq, Nordre Strømfjord and Evighedsfjord shear belts, West Greenland — outline and preliminary results. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 89:125–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickman MH (1980) Rb-Sr age and isotope study of two Precambrian shear belts, West Greenland. (abstr) EOS 61:384

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickman MH (1981) Contrasting responses of Rb-Sr isotope systematics to shear belt formation in three Precambrian fault zones, West Greenland. (abstr) EOS 62:429

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickman MH (1984) Rb-Sr chemical and isotopic response of gneisses in the late-Archean shear zones of the Limpopo Mobile Belt, southern Africa. Precambrian Res 24:123–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Himmelberg GR, Phinney WC (1967) Granulite facies metamorphism, Granite Falls-Montevideo area, Minnesota. J Petrol 8:325–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunziker JC (1970) Polymetamorphism in the Monta Rosa, Western Alps. Eclog Geol Helv 63:151–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalsbeek F (1979) Rb-Sr isotope evidence on the age of the Nagssugtoqidian orogeny in West Greenland, with remarks on the use of the term “Nagssugtoqidian”. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 89:129–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalsbeek F (1981) The northernmost extent of the Archean basement in Greenland — a review of Rb-Sr whole-rock ages. Precambrian Res 14:203–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalsbeek F, Bridgwater D, Zeck HP (1978) A 1950±60 Ma Rb-Sr whole rock isochron age from two Kangâmiut dykes and the timing of the Nagssugtoqidian (Hudsonian) orogeny in West Greenland. Can J Earth Sci 15:1122–1128

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerrich R, Fyfe WS, Gorman BE, Allison I (1978) Local modification of rock chemistry by deformation. Contrib Mineral Petrol 65:183–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerrick DM, Jacobs GK (1981) A modified Redlick-Kwong equation for H2O, CO2 and H2O-CO2 mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures. Am J Sci 281:735–767

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler H, Müller-Sohnius D (1980) Rb-Sr systematics on paragneiss series from the Bavarian Moldanubicum, Germany. Contrib Mineral Petrol 71:387–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Korstgaard J, ed (1979) Nagssugtoqidian Geology. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 89:149 pp

  • Larsen O, Möller J (1968) Potassium-argon age studies in West Greenland. Can J Earth Sci 5:683–691

    Google Scholar 

  • McCulloch MT, Wasserburg GJ (1978) Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr chronology of continental crust formation. Science 200:1003–1011

    Google Scholar 

  • Mengel F (1981) Amfibolitter i Nordre Strømfjord-omradet, den centrale del af de Vestgrønlandske Nagssugtoqider: Geokemi og mineralkemi. Unpubl thesis, Aarhus University, Denmark

    Google Scholar 

  • Odom LA, Fullagar PD (1973) Geochronologic and tectonic relationships between the Inner Piedmont, Brevard Zone and Blue Ridge belts, North Carolina. Am J Sci 273–A:133–149

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara KD, Gromet LP (1983) Textural and Rb-Sr isotopic evidence for late Paleozoic mylonitization within the Honey Hill fault zone, SE Connecticut. Am J Sci 283:762–779

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen TS (1978) Praekambrisk grundfjelsgeologi i Qeqertaussaq W-omradet ved Nordre Strømfjord, den centrale del af de Vestgrønlandske Nagssugtoqider. Unpubl cand scient thesis, Aarhus University, Denmark

    Google Scholar 

  • Pankhurst RJ, O'Nions RK (1973) Determination of Rb/Sr and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of some standard rocks and evaluation of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in Rb-Sr geochemistry. Chem Geol 12:127–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen S, Bridgwater D (1979) Isotopic re-equilibration of Rb-Sr whole rock systems during reworking of Archaean gneisses in the Nagssugtoqidian mobile belt, East Greenland. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 80:133–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper JDA (1981) The altitude dependence of magnetic remanence in the slowly cooled Precambrian plutonic terrain of West Greenland. Earth Planet Sci Lett 54:449–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Roddick JC, Compston W (1977) Strontium isotopic equilibration: a solution to a paradox. Earth Planet Sci Lett 34:238–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumble D III, Ferry JM, Hoering TC, Boucot AJ (1982) Fluid flow during metamorphism at the Beaver Brook fossil locality, New Hampshire. Am J Sci 282:886–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumble D III, Spear FS (1983) Oxygen isotope equilibration and permeability enhancement during regional metamorphism. J Geol Soc London 140:619–628

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell GS (1976) Rb-Sr evidence from cataclastic rocks for Devonian faulting in the southern Appalachians (abstr). GSA Abstr with Progr 8:1081

    Google Scholar 

  • Sack RO (1980) Some constraints on the thermodynamics of mixing properties of Fe-Mg orthopyroxene and olivine. Contrib Mineral Petrol 71:257–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena SK (1969) Distribution of elements in coexisting minerals and the problem of chemical disequilibrium in metamorphosed basic igneous rocks. Contrib Mineral Petrol 20:177–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Seck HA (1971) Der Einfluss des Drucks auf die Zusammensetzung coexistierender Alkalifeldspate und Plagioklase im System NaAlSi3O8-KAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8-H2O. Contrib Mineral Petrol 31:67–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Sims PK, Peterman ZE (1976) Geology and Rb-Sr ages of reactivated Precambrian gneisses and granites in the Marenisco-Watersmeet area, northern Michigan. J Res, US Geol Surv 4:405–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen K (1983) Growth and dynamics of the Nordre Strømfjord shear zone. J Geophys Res 88:3419–3437

    Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen K (1970) Some observations on the structural and metamorphic chronology on Agto and surrounding islands, central West Greenland. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 27:32 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen K, Korstgaard JA, Olesen NØ (1982) Descriptive text to Geological map of Greenland 1:100,000, Agto 67 V. 1 Nord. Grønlands Geolgiske Undersøgelse, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer N, Pedersen S, Bridgwater D, Glassley WE (1983) One dimensional diffusion of radiogenic 87Sr and fluid transport of volatile elements across a margin of a metamorphosed Archean basic dike from Saglek, Labrador. Contrib Mineral Petrol 82:26–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Talbot CJ (1979) A klippe of Nagssugtoqidian supracrustal rocks at Sarfartûp nunâ, Central West Greenland. Rapp Grønlands Geol Unders 89:23–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Turek A, Peterman ZE (1971) Advances in the geochronology of the Rice Lake-Beresford area, southeastern Manitoba. Can J Earth Sci 8:572–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Valley JW, O'Neil (1984) Fluid heterogeneity during granulite facies metamorphism in the Adirondacks: stable isotope evidence. Contrib Mineral Petrol 85:158–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Valley JW, Essene EJ (1980) Calc-silicate reactions in Adirondack marbles: The role of fluids and solid solutions. Bull Geol Soc Am 91 pt II: 720–815

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther JV, Orville PM (1982) Volatile production and transport in regional metamorphism. Contrib Mineral Petrol 79:252–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther JV, Wood BJ (1983) Mechanistic control on prograde metamorphism (abstr). GSA Abstr with Progr 15:714–715

    Google Scholar 

  • White SH, Knipe BK (1978) Transformation- and reaction enhanced ductility in rocks. J Geol Soc London 135:513–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Yund RA, Smith BM, Tullis J (1981) Dislocation-assisted diffusion of oxygen in albite. Phys Chem Minerals 7:185–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Zartman RE, Stern TW (1967) Isotopic age and geologic relationships of the little Elk Granite, northern Black Hills, South Dakota. US Geol Surv Prof Paper 575-D:D157-D163

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Miami University, 45056, Oxford, Ohio, USA

    M. H. Hickman

  2. Department of Geology, Middlebury College, 05753, Middlebury, Vermont, USA

    W. E. Glassley

Authors
  1. M. H. Hickman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. E. Glassley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hickman, M.H., Glassley, W.E. The role of metamorphic fluid transport in the Rb-Sr isotopic resetting of shear zones: evidence from Nordre Strømfjord, West Greenland. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 87, 265–281 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373060

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373060

Keywords

Search

Navigation