Precambrian Research 145 (2006) 24–52
Granitic magmatism of Grenvillian and late Neoproterozoic
age in Finnmark, Arctic Norway—Constraining pre-Scandian
deformation in the Kalak Nappe Complex
C.L. Kirkland
a,∗
, J.S. Daly
a
, M.J. Whitehouse
b
a
School of Geological Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
b
Laboratory for Isotope Geology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, S-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
Received 13 March 2005; received in revised form 17 November 2005; accepted 20 November 2005
Abstract
The Caledonian Orogen in Arctic Norway is characterized by a variety of nappes thrust from west to east onto the Baltic Shield.
Traditionally, this has been regarded as the product of two orogenic events: an earlier Finnmarkian (540–490Ma) and a later
Scandian event (400–425Ma). However, ion microprobe U–Pb zircon dating of discordant plutonic rocks within the lowermost
nappes demonstrates that some of the deformation must have taken place in a Grenville (Sveconorwegian) event. This view is
supported by the 981 ± 7 Ma, 978 ± 9 Ma and 973 ± 4 Ma ages of the Repv˚ ag, H˚ arvika and Siedgoaivi adamellite bodies. These
bodies cut the Sørøy Succession, apparently after an earlier deformation event. On these grounds a Grenville (Sveconorwegian) event
is responsible for the D2 deformation within the Olderfjord and Kolvik nappes. Within the overlying Havvatnet Imbricate Stack,
early deformation took place in the Neoproterozoic, “Porsanger Orogeny”. Evidence for this event is provided by the Litlefjord
and Revsneshamn adamellite bodies dated at 841 ± 6 Ma and 839 ± 10 Ma and pegmatitic intrusions, dated at 826 ± 6 Ma and
833 ± 9 Ma, which show clear discordant structural relationships cutting F
2
fold structures that affect the Klubben Psammite, the
oldest unit of the Sørøy Succession. Within the uppermost nappe (Sørøy-Seiland nappe) syn-deformational migmatitic leucosomes
in the Eidv˚ ageid Paragneiss yield crystallization ages of 709 ± 4 Ma. This age is indistinguishable from zircon overgrowths within
the underlying Havvatnet Imbricate Stack. Hence, juxtaposition of these nappes predates Scandian tectonism and occurred during
the Snøfjord event at c. 710 Ma. The component nappes of the KNC show decreasing ages of anatexis on moving up the nappe pile.
Such temporal and spatial patterns are consistent with episodic terrane amalgamation from Grenvillian times. The KNC provides
evidence for punctuated crustal anatexis and episodic orogenic deformation of c. 980 Ma (Grenvillian-Sveconorwegian), c. 840 Ma
(Porsanger) and c. 710 Ma (Snøfjord) age, overprinted by intense Scandian deformation. These data support the notion of a Grenville
segment extending between Greenland and Baltica and require a radical revision to the tectonometamorphic evolution of the KNC.
The KNC represents a collage of exotic, diachronously accreted, terranes overthrust by Llandovery flysch of Laurentian affinity.
© 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Kalak Nappe Complex; Porsanger; Sørøy Succession; Caledonides; Scandian; Finnmarkian; Grenvillian; Sveconorwegian; Snøfjord
∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: chris.kirkland@ucd.ie (C.L. Kirkland).
1. Introduction
The tectonic development of orogenic systems can
be considered in terms of two end member scenarios—
collisional and accretionary. For example, the closure
of the Tethyan ocean with formation of the Alpine-
0301-9268/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2005.11.012