TECTONIC DELAMINATION AND SUBCRUSTAL IMBRICATION OF THE PRECAMBRIAN LITHOSPHERE IN NORTHWESTERN CANADA MAPPED BY LITHOPROBE

Seismic reflection profiling of the Precambrian lithosphere in northwe stern Canada has produced images of delamination structures (tectonic wedges) at crustal scale (to about 30 km depth) and, for the first tim e, at lithospheric scale (to about 100 km depth), and has further deli neated subcrustal structures that were likely caused by imbrication of subducted lithosphere. Coupled with observations of similar structure s in thrust and fold belts, delamination and lower plate imbrication a re persistent features at many scales.