Microstructural and metamoprhic study in rocks of the Seiland Igneous Province between Langfjord and Øksfjord, Alta kommune, Northern Norway

Abstract

The Seiland Igneous Province (SIP) is situated in western Finnmark, Northern Norway. The SIP comprises a suite of mainly gabbroic plutons, with ultramafic, syenitic and felsic intrusions. The origin of the region has been interpreted in different ways and several tectonic models have been proposed. Many different ideas have been suggested about the metamorphic, magmatic and deformation history. New age dates by Roberts (2008) fall within a narrow time range, from 555 Ma to 579 Ma, concluding that the main magmatism took place within ten million years. This is a much shorter period than previously estimated, and the deformation and metamorphic history of the province is therefore reconsidered. In order to better understand the metamorphic and deformation history of the SIP, studies on microstructures, deformation and metamorphism have been carried out in this thesis on a gabbroic pluton and a strongly sheared quartz-feldspathic xenolith of the Seiland Igneous province situated between Langfjord and Øksfjord. Observations from the field and thin sections indicate that the metamorphic and deformational history of these two rocks can be divided into the following stages: contact metamorphism of the country rock caused by the emplacement of the plutonic gabbro (stage I) with subsequent cooling (stage II) and following loading probably as a result of nappe emplacement during the Caledonian orogeny (stage III). Microstructures and metamorphic reactions observed in the rocks support pressure and- temperature estimates given by Elvevold et al. (1994). Both rock types show evidence of a cooling and subsequent solid state deformation. The cooling stage was followed by a higher-pressure metamorphism interpreted to be related to emplacement of a tectonic unit of cold thrust sheet over hot rock during the Caledonian orogeny. The nappe emplacement resulted in the formation of thin mylonitic zones recognized by a strong grain size reduction and a replacement of a pyroxene granulite assemblage to a garnet granulite assemblage. The foliation seen in the Suborg-gabbro and the quartz-feldspathic gneiss is suggested to be a result of extension associated with continental rifting. The emplacement of the Suborg-gabbro is believed to have taken place during regional deformation. The foliation in the Suborg-gabbro shows evidence of magmatic flow overprinted by a solid state flow. Kinematic indictors observed in the quartz-feldspathic xenolith indicate normal faulting supporting extension and a rifting model for the SIP. Keywords: Seiland Igneous Province, metamorphism, deformation, extension.