Mélange development in the Boones Point Complex, north-central Newfoundland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Author: Nelson, K. Douglas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e81-037; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e81-037

The Boones Point Complex in north-central Newfoundland is a narrow mélange belt separating Roberts Arm terrain volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks to the north from Upper Ordovician westerly derived clastic rocks to the south and east. The mélange has a sedimentary matrix and contains a polymict assemblage of blocks. Limestone blocks have yielded Llanvirn–Llandeilo conodont faunas. Sedimentologic and structural analyses indicate that the complex is composed of subaqueous debris flow deposits, which are the proximal facies equivalent of the Late Ordovician clastics to the south. This debris flow material was tectonically deformed prior to the Medial Devonian 'Acadian' orogeny, probably as a result of earlier 'Taconic' thrusting.