Coeval sedimentation, magmatism, and fold-thrust development in the Trans-Hudson Orogen: propagation of deformation into an active continental arc setting, Wekusko Lake area, Manitoba
Ka. Connors et al., Coeval sedimentation, magmatism, and fold-thrust development in the Trans-Hudson Orogen: propagation of deformation into an active continental arc setting, Wekusko Lake area, Manitoba, CAN J EARTH, 36(2), 1999, pp. 275-291
Early structures in the southeastern part of the Trans-Hudson Orogen (THO),
Wekusko Lake area, Manitoba, comprise northwest-verging folds and a set of
steep, southeast-dipping faults that occur at a low angle to bedding. Kine
matic indicators are rare, however, the vergence of the associated folds su
pports reverse movement on the faults. These folds and faults formed prior
to the peak of regional metamorphism and therefore must correlate with the
widely recognised deformational (D2) event which developed pre- to syn-meta
morphism and involved development of a regional, south- to southwest-direct
ed fold-thrust belt. The D2 folds and reverse faults in the study area are
interpreted to have originally formed as gently dipping, southwest-verging
structures, i.e., as inclined folds and thrust faults, which were then rota
ted into a steep, northwest-verging orientation during later deformation (D
3). In the southeastern THO, regional D2 fold and thrust structures are cut
by ca. 1839-1830 Ma plutons, indicating that D2 initiated prior to ca. 183
9 Ma. Recognition of these structures in the study area, and their relation
ships to key stratigraphic units, has provided significant insights into th
e tectonic setting during the regional D2 event. The D2 fold and thrust str
uctures deform ca. 1834 Ma fluvial sedimentary rocks and ca. 1836-1832 Ma v
olcanic (subaerial) and plutonic rocks with a "continental" are geochemical
signature. These are the youngest known Volcanic and sedimentary rocks wit
hin the THO. The subaerial deposition of these young rocks was coeval with
initiation of D2 deformation in the region. They were then rapidly incorpor
ated into the thrust fault sequence soon after their formation, which sugge
sts that the fold and thrust structures propagated into a zone of active ma
gmatism which must have been located in the foreland to the belt of thrusti
ng and folding.