Last modified: 23 October 2020
Translation of original French
| Author: | Lucas and St-Onge, 1991 |
| Age: | Paleoproterozoic |
| Stratotype: | None |
| Type area: | Northern part of the Ungava Peninsula |
| Geological province: | Churchill Province |
| Geological subdivision: | Ungava Orogen / Narsajuaq Lithotectonic Domain |
| Lithology: | Plutonic and metasedimentary rocks |
| Category: | Lithodemic |
| Rank: | Complex |
| Status: | Formal |
| Use: | Active |
None
Background
The Narsajuaq Complex was introduced by Charette and Beaudette (2018) to designate geological units mapped during previous work. These units were previously included in the Narsajuaq Arc, which was defined as a cartographic unit in the synthesis of the Ungava Orogen (Lamothe, 2007). However, Charette and Beaudette (2018) have abandoned this definition of the Narsajuaq Arc, considering it more of a lithotectonic domain. The “Narsajuaq Complex” stratigraphic unit was therefore introduced to comply with the North American Stratigraphic Code (2005).
In areas mapped at scale 1:100 000 by the Ministère since 2017, lithologies located in the western part of the Narsajuaq Lithotectonic Domain were instead divided into complexes and suites, the main ones being the Pingasualuit, Tasialuk Allipaaq, Sainte-Hélène and Estre complexes, as well as the Suluraaq, Nallujaq, Navvaataaq and Sanningajualuk suites. Further geological mapping will help define the various units belonging to the Narsajuaq Complex and assign them to separate suites; the Narsajuaq Complex will eventually disappear.
Description
The Narsajuaq Complex consists essentially of three intrusive suites that account for more than 90% of the Narsajuaq Lithotectonic Domain. These three suites consist of: 1) an older plutonic suite (1863-1844 Ma, St-Onge et al., 1992) composed of tonalite gneiss, granodiorite and quartz diorite (pPnaq1); 2) a younger intrusive suite (1836-1821 Ma, St-Onge et al., 1992; Parrish, 1989) composed of quartz diorite (pPnaq2), tonalite and granodiorite (pPnaq3) and monzogranite or syenogranite (pPnaq4); and 3) a late anatectic suite (1803-1800 Ma; Dunphy et al., 1995; Parrish, 1989) composed of syenogranite (pPnaq5) and monzogranite (pPnaq6). With the exception of the late suite with relatively undeformed units, intrusive rocks of the Narsajuaq Complex are generally gneissic or foliated.
The main lithology of the older suite, and of the Narsajuaq Complex as a whole, is a well-banded sequence of tonalite and quartz diorite in which conformable and unconformable granitic veins are found (St-Onge et al., 1992). Units in the older suite have a very homogeneous composition and texture over a length of >250 km. A penetrative tectonic foliation at the granulite facies, parallel to compositional banding at the outcrop scale, characterizes most plutonic rocks of the Narsajuaq Complex (Lucas and St-Onge, 1995).
Narsajuaq Complex 1 (pPnaq1): Gneiss with Tonalite and Quartz Diorite, Granodiorite and Monzogranite Veins
The older plutonic suite consists of unit pPnaq1 gneiss, an assemblage of banded rocks (tonalite and quartz diorite) cut by felsic veins of mostly monzogranitic composition. Gneiss consists of 70-80% biotite ± hornblende tonalite. Locally, there is a dominance of hornblende ± biotite quartz diorite. Bands are decametre to centimetre thick. Diorite layers are usually boudinaged and surrounded by tonalite. Decimetric to metric layers of biotite granodiorite, amphibolite, pyroxenite and peridotite are observed in places. Mafic-ultramafic rocks are in places found as enclaves (St-Onge et al., 1992; Lucas and St-Onge, 1997).
The younger plutonic suite cuts the older plutonic suite as well as metasedimentary rocks of the Sugluk Group. Unlike the older plutonic suite, they consist of isolated kilometric plutons, usually tabular and occurring as sheets. This younger suite contains 50% monzogranite, 35% mafic plutons (quartz diorite and monzodiorite) and 15% tonalite. Plutons in the younger suite show varying degrees of deformation from massive to very foliated. In addition, plutons are composed of various enclaves from the older suite, the Sugluk Group, deep crust lithologies and comagmatic rocks (pyroxenite, diorite, tonalite). Based on the size and degree of homogeneity of the intrusions of the younger plutonic suite, it is believed to have developed in shallow levels of the crust (Lucas and St-Onge, 1997).
Narsajuaq Complex 2 (pPnaq2): Quartz Diorite
Diorite intrusions are primarily located in the southern part of the Narsajuaq Domain, near the tectonic contact with the Cape Smith Belt. The degree of deformation varies from massive to highly deformed, depending on the proximity of collision faults (Lucas and St-Onge, 1997). Quartz diorite intrusions contain pyroxenite, diorite and tonalite enclaves (St-Onge et al., 1992).
Narsajuaq Complex 3 (pPnaq3): Tonalite or Granodiorite and Monzogranite Veins
Kilometric hornblende-biotite tonalite plutons have intruded in the northern Narsajuaq Domain, north of Sugluk Inlet and on Charles Island. These plutons are tabular, foliated and parallel to banding of the older suite tonalite and quartz diorite. Tonalite is usually medium grained, even grained and contain abundant centimetric to metric enclaves of various composition (Sugluk Group, older suite gneiss, pyroxenite, amphibolite and anorthosite). Biotite monzogranite veins, oriented parallel to or intersecting foliation, cut tonalitic masses (Lucas and St-Onge, 1997).
Narsajuaq Complex 4 (pPnaq4): Monzogranite or Syenogranite and Clinopyroxene Monzodiorite
Monzogranite intrusions alternate with gneiss of the older suite (pPnaq1) and tonalite of the younger suite (pPnaq3). Monzogranite is composed of hornblende, biotite and clinopyroxene, even grained and medium grained. The texture can be megacrystalline towards the centre of intrusions with an abundance of K-feldspar phenocrystals. Monzodioritic intrusions have smaller dimensions (~2 km) along the Narsajuaq Valley, in the southern part of Sugluk Inlet (Lucas and St-Onge, 1997).
Plutonic rocks in this suite consist of small granitic plutons and late-tectonic to post-tectonic, even-grained to pegmatitic veins or dykes. This suite is generally not deformed and not metamorphosed (Lucas and St-Onge, 1997).
Narsajuaq Complex 5 (pPnaq5): Syenogranite
The late suite consists of pegmatitic muscovite ± garnet syenogranite. Syenogranite occurs as undeformed dykes and sills that cut surrounding rocks. The dykes show a conjugate series steeply dipping and oriented NE to NW (St-Onge et al., 1992). A dyke from the Sugluk Inlet area cutting a tonalite of the younger plutonic suite was dated 1758 ±1 Ma (Parrish, 1989).
Narsajuaq Complex 6 (pPnaq6): Monzogranite
In the late suite, one of the monzogranite plutons in the Duquet Lake area, ~2.5 km in diameter, is egg-shaped, undeformed and non-metamorphosed. The pluton zircon U-Pb dating indicates a crystallization age of 1742.2 ±1.3 Ma (Dunphy et al., 1995). It is potassium-rich, hyperaluminous and has geochemical characteristics similar to continental crust-derived granites (Lucas and St-Onge, 1997).
Thickness and Distribution
The Narsajuaq Complex is located in the northern part of the Ungava Orogen, north of the Sugluk Shear Zone.
Dating
Dunphy and Ludden (1998) summarize the ages for each group as follows: 1) the older plutonic suite between 1863 and 1844 Ma, 2) the younger plutonic suite between 1836 and1821 Ma, and 3) the late plutonic suite between 1803 and1800 Ma.
| Suite | Isotopic System | Mineral | Age (Ma) | (+) | (-) | Reference(s) |
| Older plutonic suite (Gneissic suite) | U-Pb | Zircon | 1863 | 2 | 2 | St-Onge et al., 1992 |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1861 | 2 | 2 | St-Onge et al., 1992 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1848 | 5 | 5 | Parrish, personal communication with Dunphy and Ludden, 1994 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1845 | 2 | 2 | Parrish, personal communication with Dunphy and Ludden, 1994 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1844 | 13 | 10 | St-Onge et al., 1992 | |
| Younger plutonic suite | U-Pb | Zircon | 1836 | 0.5 | 0.5 | St-Onge et al., 1992 |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1835 | 1 | 1 | St-Onge et al., 1992 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1835 | 1 | 1 | Parrish, 1989 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1834 | 0.6 | 0.6 | St-Onge et al., 1992 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1830 | 2 | 2 | Parrish, 1989 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1826 | 1 | 1 | St-Onge et al., 1992 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1825 | 3 | 3 | Parrish, 1989 | |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1821 | 1 | 1 | Parrish, personal communication with Dunphy and Ludden, 1994 | |
| Late plutonic suite (Anatectic suite) | U-Pb | Zircon | 1803 | 3 | 3 | Parrish, personal communication with Dunphy and Ludden, 1994 |
| U-Pb | Zircon | 1800 | 2 | 2 | Parrish, personal communication with Dunphy and Ludden, 1994 |
Stratigraphic Relationship(s)
Units of the Narsajuaq Lithotectonic Domain overthrust units of the Kovik Lithotectonic Domain, to the south. These two domains are separated by the Sugluk Shear Zone. St-Onge et al. (1992) and Dunphy and Ludden (1998) suggest a correlation between the older and younger plutonic suites of the Narsajuaq Complex and the intrusions of the Cape Smith Supersuite of the Northern Domain. Intrusion ages are grouped in two distinct periods contemporary to Narsajuaq suites. Geochemical characteristics and similarity in age of Parent Group volcanic rockss and Narsajuaq Complex plutonic rocks suggest that the Parent Group could represent a volcanic equivalent of the Narsajuaq magmatic arc, but with less crustal contamination (Picard et al., 1990; St-Onge et al., 1992; Dunphy et al., 1995; Dunphy and Ludden, 1998).
Paleontology
Does not apply.
References
Publications Available Through SIGÉOM Examine
CHARETTE, B., BEAUDETTE, M. 2018. Geology of the Cape Wolstenholme Area, Ungava Orogen, Churchill Province, Southeast Ivujivik, Quebec, Canada. MERN. BG 2018-03, 2 plans.
LAMOTHE, D. 2007. LEXIQUE STRATIGRAPHIQUE DE L’OROGENE DE L’UNGAVA. MRNF. DV 2007-03, 66 pages and 1 plan.
Other Publications
DUNPHY, J.M., LUDDEN, J.N., PARRISH, R.R. 1995. Stitching together the Ungava Orogen, northern Quebec: geochronological (TIMS and ICP-MS) and geochemical constraints on late magmatic events. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences; volume 32, pages 2115-2127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e95-165
DUNPHY, J.M., LUDDEN, J.N. 1998. Petrological and geochemical characteristics of a Paleoprotérozoic magmatic arc (Narsajuaq terrane, Ungava Orogen, Canada) and comparisons to Superior Province granitoids. Precambrian Research; volume 91, pages 109-142. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301926898000412
LUCAS, S.B. 1989. Structural Evolution of the Cape Smith Thrust Belt and role of out-of-sequence faulting in the thickening of mountains belts. Tectonics; volume 8, pages 655. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/TC008i004p00655/epdf
LUCAS, S.B., ST-ONGE, M.R. 1991. Evolution of Archean and early Proterozoic magmatic arcs in northeastern Ungava Peninsula, Quebec. Commission Géologique du Canada; papier 91-1C, pages 109-119. http://ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/nrcan_rncan/publications/ess_sst/132/132553/pa_91_1c.pdf
LUCAS, S.B., ST-ONGE, M.R. 1992. Terrane accretion in the internal zone of the Ungava Orogen, northern Quebec. Part 2: Structural and metamorphic history. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences; volume 29, pages 765-782. http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/e92-065#.WqvLsfnyhhF
LUCAS, S.B., ST-ONGE, M.R. 1995. Syn-tectonic magmatism and the development of compositional layering, Ungava Orogen (northen Quebec, Canada). Journal of Structural Geology; volume 17, pages 475-491. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/019181419400076C
LUCAS, S.B., ST-ONGE, M.R. 1997. Géologie, Montagne Pinguk, Québec – Territoire du Nord-Ouest; Commission géologique du Canada, carte 1912A, échelle 1/100 000. http://dx.doi.org/10.4095/209062
NORTH AMERICAN COMMISSION OF STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE (NACSN). 2005. North American Stratigraphic Code. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, volume 89, pages 1547-1591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1306/07050504129
PARRISH. R.R. 1989. U-Pb geochronology of the Cape Smith Belt and Sugluk block, northern Quebec. Geoscience Canada; volume 16, pages 126-130. https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/gc/article/view/3609/4123
PICARD, C., LAMOTHE, D., PIBOULE, M., OLIVIER, R.R. 1990. Magmatic and geotectonic evolution of a Proterozoic oceanic basin system: the Cape Smith Thrust-Fold Belt (New Quebec). Precambrian Research; volume 47, pages 223-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0301-9268%2890%2990040-W
ST-ONGE, M.R., LUCAS, S.B., PARRISH, R.R. 1992. Terrane accretion in the internal zone of the Ungava Orogen, northern Quebec. Part 1: tectonostratigraphic assemblages and their tectonic implications. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences; volume 29, pages 746-764. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e92-064
ST-ONGE, M.R., SCOTT, D.J., WODICKA, N. 2001. Terrane boundaries within Trans-Hudson Orogen (Quebec-Baffin segment), Canada: changing structural and metamorphic character from foreland to hinterland. Precambrian Research; volume 107, pages 75-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-9268%2800%2900155-8
Suggested Citation
Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN). Narsajuaq Complex. Quebec Stratigraphic Lexicon. https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/lexique-stratigraphique/province-de-churchill/complexe-de-narsajuaq_en [accessed on Day Month Year].
Contributors
|
First Publication |
Benoit Charette, P. Geo., M.Sc. benoit.charette@mern.gouv.qc.ca; Mélanie Beaudette, GIT, B.Sc. melanie.beaudette@mern.gouv.qc.ca (redaction) Mehdi A. Guemache, P. Geo., Ph.D. (coordination); Pierre Lacoste, P. Géo, M.Sc. (critical review); Simon Auclair, P. Geo., M.Sc. (editing); Yan Carette (HTML editing); Céline Dupuis, P. Geo., Ph.D. (English version). |