Journal article
Late Ediacaran–early Cambrian rifting along the northern margin of Laurentia: constraints from the Yelverton Formation of Ellesmere Island, Canada
Canadian journal of earth sciences, Vol.60(12), pp.1597-1626
12/01/2023
DOI: 10.1139/cjes-2023-0020
Abstract
Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic strata exposed along the northeastern margin of North America (Franklinian Basin) record a prolonged history of rifting and passive margin development. An episode of Ediacaran–Cambrian extension is potentially recorded in volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Yelverton Formation, exposed on northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. Here, we present new whole-rock trace element and isotope geochemistry and hornblende 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronology from intrusive and extrusive rocks of the Yelverton Formation, along with isotope geochemistry from carbonate rocks underlying the volcanics and detrital zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data from the Yelverton Formation and overlying Grant Land Formation. The carbonate strata yielded an average 87 Sr/ 86 Sr value of 0.7076 ( n = 6), constraining the overlying volcanics to the late Ediacaran–early Cambrian (ca. 570–530 Ma). Flows and dikes/sills show three distinct compositions: (1) a depleted, low La/Yb PM and Th/Nb group, (2) an enriched, higher La/Yb PM and low Th/Nb group, and (3) a low to moderate La/Yb PM and high Th/Nb group. One of the high Th/Nb intrusions produced saddle-shaped 40 Ar/ 39 Ar hornblende spectra with ca. 482 ± 7 Ma age minima and Silurian–Devonian inverse isochron ages, highlighting a hitherto unknown suite of younger intrusions and volcanic rocks. The trace element geochemistry and 143 Nd/ 144 Nd (t) ratios of enriched and depleted volcanic rocks of the indisputable Yelverton Formation are consistent with decompression melting during rifting along a continental margin. We suggest that late Ediacaran–early Cambrian rifting recorded in the Yelverton Formation resulted in the separation of peri-Laurentian terranes, such as the North Slope subterrane and eventual development of the passive margin of northern Laurentia.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Late Ediacaran–early Cambrian rifting along the northern margin of Laurentia: constraints from the Yelverton Formation of Ellesmere Island, Canada
- Creators
- Karol Faehnrich - Dartmouth CollegeWilliam C. McClelland - University of IowaLaura Webb - University of VermontKarolina Kośmińska - Jagiellonian UniversityJustin V. Strauss - Dartmouth College
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Canadian journal of earth sciences, Vol.60(12), pp.1597-1626
- DOI
- 10.1139/cjes-2023-0020
- ISSN
- 0008-4077
- eISSN
- 1480-3313
- Grant note
- name: National Science Foundation, award: EAR-1649254, EAR-1650022, EAR-16550152
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/03/2023
- Date published
- 12/01/2023
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984473945202771
Metrics
5 Record Views