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U–Pb geochronology of two discrete Ordovician high-pressure metamorphic events in the Seve Nappe Complex, Scandinavian Caledonides

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Abstract

U–Pb geochronology for eclogites in two different areas of the Seve Nappe Complex (SNC) in Sweden confirms previous indications of discrete Ordovician high-pressure events affecting various parts of the complex. In Norrbotten, just north of the Arctic circle, eclogites from the Tsäkkok and Vaimok Lenses yield identical metamorphic zircon ages of 482 ± 1 Ma. Titanite in a metagabbro from the Vaimok Lens retains an older age of 607 ± 2 Ma, which may date a protolith coeval with mafic dikes in the overlying Sarek Lens; high-U zircon cores in one of the eclogites also indicate a similar age. Farther south, in Jämtland, the Tjeliken eclogite yields a significantly younger metamorphic age of 446 ± 1 Ma. Although they support the age discrepancy between the Norrbotten and Jämtland eclogites, the U–Pb ages of both eclogite suites are ca. 20 m.y. younger than previously reported Sm–Nd ages. The latter may either represent early prograde growth or be spuriously too old due to isotopic disequilibrium. The SNC has traditionally been taken to represent the outermost margin of Baltica, linking the Early Caledonian eclogite–forming events to subduction of Baltica below an offshore arc. Alternatively, the coincidence of these eclogite-forming events with orogenic phases recorded on the Laurentian margin may point to an origin from other regions of the Iapetus Ocean.

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Abbreviations

SNC:

Seve Nappe Complex

KNC:

Köli Nappe Complex

WGC:

Western Gneiss Complex

MSWD:

Mean sum of weighted deviations

REE:

Rare earth elements

TIMS:

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry

SIMS:

Secondary ionization mass spectrometry

EPMA:

Electron probe microanalyzer

BSE:

Backscattered electron

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by a postdoctoral grant (no. 166606) from the Research Council of Norway. We thank P.G. Andréasson, K. Kullerud, H.L.M van Roermund, and M.B Stephens for providing maps, reports, and logistical information on the various eclogite occurrences, and for advice and discussions. Constructive comments by two journal reviewers are greatly appreciated.

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  1. David Root

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  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Post Box 1047, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    David Root & Fernando Corfu

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Communicated by T. L. Grove.

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Root, D., Corfu, F. U–Pb geochronology of two discrete Ordovician high-pressure metamorphic events in the Seve Nappe Complex, Scandinavian Caledonides. Contrib Mineral Petrol 163, 769–788 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-011-0698-0

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