Structural and metamorphic inheritance controls strain partitioning during orogenic shortening (Kalak Nappe Complex, Norwegian Caledonides)

• Published in: Journal of Structural Geology
• Main Authors: Ceccato, A., Menegon, L., Warren, C. J., Halton, A. M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier 2020
• Subjects: Kalak; Norway; Tilting; Finnmark; Kvaløya
• Online Access: https://oro.open.ac.uk/70123/; https://oro.open.ac.uk/70123/1/70123.htm; https://oro.open.ac.uk/70123/3/Ceccato_etal_%28KNC%29_revisedMS.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2020.104057

The occurrence of pre-collisional structural and metamorphic fabrics may control the development of new structures during subsequent orogenic deformation. Structural, petrological and geochronological analyses have been performed on selected samples collected along a NW-SE cross section of the Kalak Nappe Complex (KNC) exposed on Kvaløya Island (Finnmark, Norway), in order to define pre-Caledonian or Caledonian affinity of deformation fabrics. Nappes within the KNC experienced different pre-collisional tectonometamorphic histories, resulting in contrasting pre-Caledonian fabrics, which in turn controlled orogen-scale strain partitioning and metamorphic re-equilibration during Caledonian shortening. Caledonian deformation during top-to-SE-directed thrusting occurred at 550–675 °C and 0.8–1.0 GPa in the presence of fluid. Suitably-oriented pre-collisional fabrics were firstly exploited as zones of localized shearing internal to the Nappe and subjected to metamorphic re-equilibration during shortening. Fold geometry during Caledonian thrusting was also controlled by the orientation of pre-Caledonian fabrics. SE-verging asymmetric folds were developed after minor tilting of pre-Caledonian upright folds with orogen-parallel hinge in the hinterland consistently with top-to-SE shearing. Shear-parallel folds displaying orogen-perpendicular hinge lines resulted from top-to-SE general shearing of pre-collisional upright folds showing pre-collisional orogen-perpendicular hinge lines. Caledonian metamorphism appears to have been accompanied by infiltration of radiogenic 40Ar-rich fluids, which affected the Ar isotopic system in synkinematic micas.