Tectonic subdivision and U-Pb geochronology of the crystalline basement of the Alberta basin, western Canada

Abstract

The Precambrian basement underlying the Paleozoic rocks of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin was studied by combining potential field (gravity and aeromagnetic) analysis with lithological and isotopic studies of crystalline basement samples. The 93 samples, mostly core, retrieved from hydrocarbon exploration wells, are described in this paper. The U-Pb zircon geochronology and systematics of 50 of the samples that were analyzed at the Geological Survey of Canada, are presented and interpreted. Monazite and titanite, with their lower closure temperatures, help delineate post-crystallization, regional thermal events. Sm-Nd data from 35 of the cores are presented and used to test and delineate models for the tectonic evolution of the region. The basement in southern Alberta is Archean, although an early Proterozoic titanite age in the Vulcan Low, when combined with the geophysical signature of the region suggests the presence of a Proterozoic collisional orogeny. Central Alberta is dominated by the formation of 2.3-1.8 Ga domains around the Snowbird Tectonic Zone. Northern Alberta contains a large, complex 2.4-2.0 Ga domain which is flanked by 1.95-1.85 Ga magmatic arc domains. The 1.9 Ga monazite and titanite ages on 2.0-2.4 Ga rocks show the regional effect of the magmatism at the domain margins. Sm-Nd data indicate that most of the Proterozoic domains of the Alberta basement contain a large component of remobilized Archean crustal material.

Tectonic implications of detrital zircon data from Paleozoic and Triassic strata in western Nevada and Northern California

“…Also shown are locations of five transects that yield detrital zircon data for miogeoclinal strata (Gehrels, this volume). Basement provinces are simplified from Hoffman (1989) for cratonal interior, Ross (1991) and Villeneuve et al (1993) for western Canadian shield, Van Schmus et al (1993) for southwestern United States, and Stewart et al (1990) for northwestern Mexico. (Fig.…”

Chronostratigraphy of the Hottah terrane and Great Bear magmatic zone of Wopmay Orogen, Canada, and exploration of a terrane translation model

“…The Holly Lake metamorphic complex metasedimentary rocks have a detrital zircon provenance that strikingly matches the igneous history of the western Rae craton (Davis et al 2015), including a record of the Queen Maud, Arrowsmith, Taltson-Thelon, and Ksituan magmatic events (Bostock and Loveridge 1988;van Breemen and Henderson 1988;Villeneuve et al 1993;Ross 2002;Berman et al 2013). These domains were potentially tied to Slave craton prior to the deposition of the Holly Lake metamorphic complex (Hoffman 1987(Hoffman , 1988a.…”

“…1, 2;Fraser et al 1972;Badham 1973;Hoffman 1973Hoffman , 1980Hoffman , 1984Hoffman , 1988aHoffman and McGlynn 1977;Hoffman et al 1976;King 1986, 1987;Villeneuve et al 1991Villeneuve et al , 1993Aspler et al 2003;Cook and Erdmer 2005;Jackson 2008;Hildebrand et al 1987aHildebrand et al , 1987bHildebrand et al , 2010aHildebrand et al , 2010bJackson and Ootes 2012;Jackson et al 2013;Ootes et al 2013). The Coronation margin includes Archean crust, the ca.…”

“…1,2) are commonly weakly to strongly magnetic and generally have mid-to high-magnetic signatures on regional surveys. Villeneuve et al 1993;Ross 2002;Aspler et al 2003). The solid thick black line between Great Bear Lake and western Saskatchewan demarcates the eastern edge of the Phanerozoic platformal cover.…”

“…A currently untestable implication is what effects such a model has on the correlation and assignments of the terranes across the McDonald Fault in the subsurface of Alberta ( Fig. 1A; Villeneuve et al 1993;Ross 2002).…”