U–Th–Pb ages of single zircons in Archaean supracrustals from Nain Province, Labrador, Canada

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Schiøtte, L., Compston, W., Bridgwater, D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1989
• Subjects: Canada; Nain; Hopedale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e89-224; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e89-224

Ion-probe U–Pb dating of igneous zircons from an acid metavolcanite belonging to the Nulliak supracrustal association of the Saglek area, northern Labrador, suggests an original age of 3776 ± 8 Ma (2σ), interpreted as the deposition age of the volcanite. In accordance with the field model, this is slightly but significantly older than the previously obtained ion-probe U–Pb age of igneous zircons from the main phase of the Uivak gneisses, which carries inclusions of the supracrustal association. A secondary event of zircon growth recorded in the metavolcanite has a maximum age of 3065 ± 8 Ma (2σ).A metapelite belonging to the Weekes amphibolite supracrustal association of the Hopedale area south of Nain contains rounded, low-U zircons of 3258 ± 24 Ma (2σ) age. Occasional textural evidence suggests that some of these zircons are most likely detrital grains of igneous origin, in which case 3258 ± 24 Ma is a minimum age of the source from which the sediment was derived and a maximum age for the deposition of the sediment. However, the possibility that the age represents recrystallization of the sediment under high-grade conditions cannot be ruled out. A 2841 ± 5 Ma (2σ) age obtained on a younger generation of euhedrally zoned high-U zircons from the metapelite is within error of the published bulk zircon U–Pb age of the tonalitic component of the Kanairiktok plutonic suite that intrudes the older orthogneiss and supracrustal units in the area. These younger zircons are most likely to have grown during migmatization of the metasediment at the time of emplacement of the suite.The zircon data give no positive evidence to support correlation between the Nulliak supracrustals and the Weekes amphibolite association.