A Laurentian provenance for the Dalradian rocks of north Mayo, Ireland, and evidence for an original basement-cover contact with the underlying Annagh Gneiss Complex

McAteer, Claire A.; Daly, J. Stephen; Flowerdew, Michael J.; Whitehouse, Martin J.; Kirkland, Chris L.. 2010 A Laurentian provenance for the Dalradian rocks of north Mayo, Ireland, and evidence for an original basement-cover contact with the underlying Annagh Gneiss Complex. Journal of the Geological Society, 167 (5). 1033-1048. 10.1144/0016-76492009-147

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Abstract/Summary

Metasediments of the early Dalradian Grampian Group (Erris Group) and probable equivalents (Inishkea Division) structurally overlie Palaeoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic Annagh Gneiss Complex orthogneisses in NW Mayo, Ireland. Sm-Nd isotopic data suggest a Palaeoproterozoic source for the metasediments. K-feldspar and granitoid clasts from the Doonamo Formation, Erris Group, record U-Pb zircon ages of c. 1740 Ma and c. 980 Ma, respectively. These ages are within error of the c. 1730-1750 Ma Mullet gneisses and c. 990 Ma Grenvillian migmatitic leucosomes in the underlying Annagh Gneiss Complex. U-Pb detrital zircon data reveal that the Erris Group was deposited after c. 955 Ma, with predominant input from c. 1640, c. 1500 and c. 990 Ma interpreted Laurentian sources (Labradorian, Pinwarian and Grenvillian terranes, respectively). Limited detrital zircon data from the Inishkea Division yield similarly aged detritus and a tentative maximum depositional age of c. 1005 Ma. Correlation of both sequences with the Scottish Dalradian Grampian Group is considered valid based on detrital zircon U-Pb and whole-rock Sm-Nd data. The clast ages support the hypothesis that the Dalradian unconformably overlies the Annagh Gneiss Complex in north Mayo, whereas the detrital zircon data imply more distal Laurentian sources. Dalradian deposition is thereby tied to the margins of Laurentia.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1144/0016-76492009-147
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Environmental Change and Evolution
ISSN:	0016-7649
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	21 Jun 2011 13:46 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14526

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1144/0016-76492009-147

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Environmental Change and Evolution

ISSN:

0016-7649

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences

Date made live:

21 Jun 2011 13:46 +0 (UTC)