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Research ArticleArticles

Geochemical evidence for a Ganderian arc/back-arc remnant in the Nashoba Terrane, SE New England, USA

Andrew Kay, J. Christopher Hepburn, Yvette D. Kuiper and Ethan F. Baxter
American Journal of Science April 2017, 317 (4) 413-448; DOI: https://doi.org/10.2475/04.2017.01
Andrew Kay
* Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachussetts 02467
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J. Christopher Hepburn
* Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachussetts 02467
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  • For correspondence: john.hepburn@bc.edu
Yvette D. Kuiper
** Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1516 Illinois St., Golden, Colorado 80401
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Ethan F. Baxter
* Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachussetts 02467
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Abstract

New geochemical data including Sm/Nd isotopic data show evidence for an early Paleozoic arc/back-arc complex in the Nashoba terrane of southeastern New England. The Nashoba terrane lies between rocks of Ganderian affinity to the northwest and Avalonian affinity to the southeast. It consists of early Paleozoic mafic to felsic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks that were intruded by intermediate to felsic plutons and metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies conditions in the mid-Paleozoic. Major and trace element geochemical data indicate that the early Paleozoic igneous rocks contain a mix of arc, MORB, and alkaline signatures, and that the terrane formed as a primitive volcanic arc/back-arc complex built on thinned continental crust. Amphibolites have +4 to +7.5εNd(500) values consistent with formation in a primitive volcanic arc with minimal crustal contamination. Intermediate and felsic gneisses have εNd(500) values between +1.2 and –0.75 indicating a mixture of juvenile arc magmas and an evolved (likely basement) source. Depleted mantle model ages of 1.2 to 1.6 Ga point to a Mesoproterozoic or older age for this source. Metasedimentary rocks yielded –6 to –8.3 εNd(500) values and 1.6 to 1.8 Ga model ages, indicating an isotopically evolved source (or sources) that included Paleoproterozoic or older material. The εNd(500) values and model ages of the intermediate and felsic and metasedimentary rocks indicate that the basement to the Nashoba terrane is Ganderian rather than Avalonian. The Nashoba terrane therefore represents a Ganderian arc/back-arc complex similar to the Cambrian Penobscot arc/back-arc seen in Maritime Canada and Newfoundland, and particularly in the Annidale and New River terranes of southern New Brunswick. This correlation has not previously been recognized in southeastern New England. The Ganderian affinity of the Nashoba terrane also extends Ganderia farther SE in New England than previously established and indicates that the Nashoba terrane did not originate as a separate oceanic arc/back-arc complex or microcontinent.

  • Appalachians
  • Sm/Nd
  • Penobscot arc
  • early Paleozoic
  • Peri-Gondwanan terrane
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American Journal of Science: 317 (4)
American Journal of Science
Vol. 317, Issue 4
1 Apr 2017
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Geochemical evidence for a Ganderian arc/back-arc remnant in the Nashoba Terrane, SE New England, USA
Andrew Kay, J. Christopher Hepburn, Yvette D. Kuiper, Ethan F. Baxter
American Journal of Science Apr 2017, 317 (4) 413-448; DOI: 10.2475/04.2017.01

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Geochemical evidence for a Ganderian arc/back-arc remnant in the Nashoba Terrane, SE New England, USA
Andrew Kay, J. Christopher Hepburn, Yvette D. Kuiper, Ethan F. Baxter
American Journal of Science Apr 2017, 317 (4) 413-448; DOI: 10.2475/04.2017.01
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • INTRODUCTION
    • BACKGROUND
    • MAJOR AND TRACE ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY
    • Sm-Nd ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY
    • DISCUSSION
    • CONCLUSIONS
    • ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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Keywords

  • Appalachians
  • Sm/Nd
  • Penobscot arc
  • Early Paleozoic
  • Peri-Gondwanan terrane

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