Syntectonic granitic intrusions, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands: Difference between revisions

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'''From: Stephenson, D, and Gould, D. 1995. [[British regional geology: Grampian Highlands|British regional geology: Grampian Highlands.]] Fourth edition. Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.'''
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== Syntectonic granitic intrusions ==
== Syntectonic granitic intrusions ==
Several discrete episodes of acid magmatism can be recognised in the Grampian Highlands (P915434). The earliest is represented by the ''Ben'' ''Vuirich Granite ''(''6'') which has yielded a U/Pb zircon age of 590 ± 2 Ma (Rogers'' ''et al., 1989). Bradbury et al. (1976) reported that the Ben Vuirich Granite was emplaced between the regional D<sub>2</sub> and D<sub>3</sub> events; current work casts doubt on this interpretation (Tanner and Leslie, 1994). South-east of the post-tectonic Glen Tilt Complex, a number of small granitic bodies, of which the ''Meall Gruaim'' intrusion (''7'') is the largest, show many similarities with the Ben Vuirich intrusion, and are probably of similar age.
Several discrete episodes of acid magmatism can be recognised in the Grampian Highlands [[Media:P915434.png|(P915434)]]. The earliest is represented by the '''''Ben Vuirich Granite''' ''(6) which has yielded a U/Pb zircon age of 590 ± 2 Ma (Rogers'' ''et al., 1989). Bradbury et al. (1976) reported that the Ben Vuirich Granite was emplaced between the regional D<sub>2</sub> and D<sub>3</sub> events; current work casts doubt on this interpretation (Tanner and Leslie, 1994). South-east of the post-tectonic Glen Tilt Complex, a number of small granitic bodies, of which the '''''Meall Gruaim''''' intrusion (7) is the largest, show many similarities with the Ben Vuirich intrusion, and are probably of similar age.
[[File:P915434.png|600px|thumbnail|Distribution of Caledonian igneous rocks in the Grampian Highlands. P915434.]]
The '''''Dunfallandy Hill Granite''''' (8<nowiki>; Bradbury et al., 1976) is a set of sheet-like bodies with a foliation parallel to the axial planes of F</nowiki><sub>3</sub> folds; it is considered to be pre- to early-D<sub>3</sub> in age. The high initial Sr isotope ratios of the Ben Vuirich and Dunfallandy Hill granites suggest that they are both S-type granites.


The ''Dunfallandy Hill Granite'' (''8''<nowiki>; Bradbury et al., 1976) is a set of sheet-like bodies with a foliation parallel to the axial planes of F</nowiki><sub>3</sub> folds; it is considered to be pre- to early-D<sub>3</sub> in age. The high initial Sr isotope ratios of the Ben Vuirich and Dunfallandy Hill granites suggest that they are both S-type granites.
The relationships of the granites in the vicinity of '''''Milton of Clova''''' (9<nowiki>; Harry, 1958) to the regional tectonic episodes are more complex. They are muscovite-biotite-granites which form sheet-like intrusions whose textures range from medium grained and homogeneous to strongly foliated and gneissose. Robertson (1991; 1994) has shown that the gneissose granites predate D</nowiki><sub>2</sub>, whereas other granites in the vicinity are late- to post-D<sub>3</sub> in age.


The relationships of the granites in the vicinity of ''Milton of Clova'' (''9''<nowiki>; Harry, 1958) to the regional tectonic episodes are more complex. They are muscovite-biotite-granites which form sheet-like intrusions whose textures range from medium grained and homogeneous to strongly foliated and gneissose. Robertson (1991; 1994) has shown that the gneissose granites predate D</nowiki><sub>2</sub>, whereas other granites in the vicinity are late- to post-D<sub>3</sub> in age.
Small, elongate masses of granite are intruded into Appin Group and Argyll Group metasedimentary rocks at '''''Portsoy''''' (10), '''''Windyhills''''' (11), '''''Keith''''' (12) and '''''Muldearie''''' (13). They exhibit strong tectonic fabrics, although cleaved xenoliths in the Keith granite indicate some pre-intrusion deformation. The granites consist of alkali-feldspar augen in a matrix of quartz, plagioclase, biotite and secondary muscovite.


Small, elongate masses of granite are intruded into Appin Group and Argyll Group metasedimentary rocks at ''Portsoy'' (''10''), ''Windyhills'' (''11''), ''Keith'' (''12'') and ''Muldearie (13''). They exhibit strong tectonic fabrics, although cleaved xenoliths in the Keith granite indicate some pre-intrusion deformation. The granites consist of alkali-feldspar augen in a matrix of quartz, plagioclase, biotite and secondary muscovite.
Migmatitic rocks occur in the north-west and north-east Grampians (stippled ornament in [[Media:P915434.png|(P915434)]]). Those in the north-west form the Central Highland Migmatite Complex, parts of which have suffered two separate periods of migmatisation. Migmatisation in the north-east Grampians coincided with the peak of the Grampian event: regional metamorphism, the D<sub>3</sub> deformation, and the intrusion of large volumes of basic magma (dated at around 489 ± 17 Ma by Pankhurst, 1970). In those areas subjected to middle amphibolite-facies metamorphism, migmatites were formed in rocks of susceptible compositions. Both groups of migmatites comprise lenticles and veinlets of coarse-grained quartzofeldspathic material (the neosome), frequently bordered by a biotite-rich selvedge, set in a finer-grained host rock or palaeosome. The neosome forms bands and segregations, both parallel to and, more rarely, cross-cutting the layering of the host metasedimentary rocks. Some of the migmatites, particularly those adjacent to the basic plutons, may have formed by partial melting (anatexis) of the host rock but the majority of them are now believed to have formed by subsolidus segregation (Ashworth, 1985; Ashworth and McLellan, 1985).
 
Migmatitic rocks occur in the north-west and north-east Grampians (stippled ornament in P915434). Those in the north-west form the Central Highland Migmatite Complex, parts of which have suffered two separate periods of migmatisation. Migmatisation in the north-east Grampians coincided with the peak of the Grampian event: regional metamorphism, the D<sub>3</sub> deformation, and the intrusion of large volumes of basic magma (dated at around 489 ± 17 Ma by Pankhurst, 1970). In those areas subjected to middle amphibolite-facies metamorphism, migmatites were formed in rocks of susceptible compositions. Both groups of migmatites comprise lenticles and veinlets of coarse-grained quartzofeldspathic material (the neosome), frequently bordered by a biotite-rich selvedge, set in a finer-grained host rock or palaeosome. The neosome forms bands and segregations, both parallel to and, more rarely, cross-cutting the layering of the host metasedimentary rocks. Some of the migmatites, particularly those adjacent to the basic plutons, may have formed by partial melting (anatexis) of the host rock but the majority of them are now believed to have formed by subsolidus segregation (Ashworth, 1985; Ashworth and McLellan, 1985).


'''Seven-fold division of the Caledonian Igneous Suite'''
'''Seven-fold division of the Caledonian Igneous Suite'''
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:: [[Pre-tectonic basic magmatism, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Pre-tectonic basic magmatism]]
:: [[Pre-tectonic basic magmatism, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Pre-tectonic basic magmatism]]


:: [[Syntectonic granitic intrusions, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands:Syntectonic granitic intrusions|Syntectonic granitic intrusions]]
:: [[Syntectonic granitic intrusions, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Syntectonic granitic intrusions]]
:: [[Syn- to late-tectonic basic and ultramafic intrusions, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Syn- to late-tectonic basic and ultramafic intrusions]]
:: [[Syn- to late-tectonic basic and ultramafic intrusions, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Syn- to late-tectonic basic and ultramafic intrusions]]


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:: [[Lower Old Red Sandstone volcanism, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Lower Old Red Sandstone volcanism]]
:: [[Lower Old Red Sandstone volcanism, Caledonian magmatism, Grampian Highlands|Lower Old Red Sandstone volcanism]]
==[[References, Grampian Highlands|Full list of references]]==
==[[References, Grampian Highlands|Full list of references]]==
[[Category:Grampian Highlands]]
[[Category:Grampian Highlands]]

Latest revision as of 15:48, 31 January 2018

Stephenson, D, and Gould, D. 1995. British regional geology: the Grampian Highlands. Fourth edition. Reprint 2007. Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.

Syntectonic granitic intrusions

Several discrete episodes of acid magmatism can be recognised in the Grampian Highlands (P915434). The earliest is represented by the Ben Vuirich Granite (6) which has yielded a U/Pb zircon age of 590 ± 2 Ma (Rogers et al., 1989). Bradbury et al. (1976) reported that the Ben Vuirich Granite was emplaced between the regional D2 and D3 events; current work casts doubt on this interpretation (Tanner and Leslie, 1994). South-east of the post-tectonic Glen Tilt Complex, a number of small granitic bodies, of which the Meall Gruaim intrusion (7) is the largest, show many similarities with the Ben Vuirich intrusion, and are probably of similar age.

Distribution of Caledonian igneous rocks in the Grampian Highlands. P915434.

The Dunfallandy Hill Granite (8; Bradbury et al., 1976) is a set of sheet-like bodies with a foliation parallel to the axial planes of F3 folds; it is considered to be pre- to early-D3 in age. The high initial Sr isotope ratios of the Ben Vuirich and Dunfallandy Hill granites suggest that they are both S-type granites.

The relationships of the granites in the vicinity of Milton of Clova (9; Harry, 1958) to the regional tectonic episodes are more complex. They are muscovite-biotite-granites which form sheet-like intrusions whose textures range from medium grained and homogeneous to strongly foliated and gneissose. Robertson (1991; 1994) has shown that the gneissose granites predate D2, whereas other granites in the vicinity are late- to post-D3 in age.

Small, elongate masses of granite are intruded into Appin Group and Argyll Group metasedimentary rocks at Portsoy (10), Windyhills (11), Keith (12) and Muldearie (13). They exhibit strong tectonic fabrics, although cleaved xenoliths in the Keith granite indicate some pre-intrusion deformation. The granites consist of alkali-feldspar augen in a matrix of quartz, plagioclase, biotite and secondary muscovite.

Migmatitic rocks occur in the north-west and north-east Grampians (stippled ornament in (P915434)). Those in the north-west form the Central Highland Migmatite Complex, parts of which have suffered two separate periods of migmatisation. Migmatisation in the north-east Grampians coincided with the peak of the Grampian event: regional metamorphism, the D3 deformation, and the intrusion of large volumes of basic magma (dated at around 489 ± 17 Ma by Pankhurst, 1970). In those areas subjected to middle amphibolite-facies metamorphism, migmatites were formed in rocks of susceptible compositions. Both groups of migmatites comprise lenticles and veinlets of coarse-grained quartzofeldspathic material (the neosome), frequently bordered by a biotite-rich selvedge, set in a finer-grained host rock or palaeosome. The neosome forms bands and segregations, both parallel to and, more rarely, cross-cutting the layering of the host metasedimentary rocks. Some of the migmatites, particularly those adjacent to the basic plutons, may have formed by partial melting (anatexis) of the host rock but the majority of them are now believed to have formed by subsolidus segregation (Ashworth, 1985; Ashworth and McLellan, 1985).

Seven-fold division of the Caledonian Igneous Suite

Pre-tectonic basic magmatism
Syntectonic granitic intrusions
Syn- to late-tectonic basic and ultramafic intrusions
Late-tectonic granitoid intrusions
Post-tectonic granitoid intrusions
Late- to post-tectonic minor intrusions
Lower Old Red Sandstone volcanism

Full list of references