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Uummanaq Suite
Stratigraphic label: [ppro]uma
Map symbol: pPuma
 

First published: 23 October 2020
Last modified:

 

 

 

  DISCLAIMER: This English version is translated from the original French. In case of any discrepancy, the French version shall prevail. 

Informal subdivision(s)
Numbering does not necessarily reflect the stratigraphic position.
 
None
 
Author: Vanier and Lafrance, 2020
Age: Paleoproterozoic
Stratotype: None
Type area: Ivujivik area (NTS sheet 35K)
Geological province: Churchill Province
Geological subdivision: Ungava Orogen / Narsujuaq Lithotectonic Domain
Lithology: Tectonic gneiss
Category: Lithodemic
Rank: Suite
Status: Formal
Use: Active

Background

The Uummanaq Suite was introduced by Vanier and Lafrance (2020) following results of geochronological analysis sampled by Charette and Beaudette (2018). These authors had previously assigned rocks of the Uummanaq Suite to Archean rocks of the Sainte-Helène Complex (Ashn3). However, the Paleoproterozoic age of emplacement, and the location of the Uummanaq Suite exclusively north of the Naujaat Shear Zone, allowed its reassignment to a new and distinct unit.

 

Description

Tectonic gneiss of the Uummanaq Suite have a granitic or granodioritic composition. They contain numerous locally porphyroclastic pinkish granitic bands. These bands generally account for 10% to 20% of the surface area of outcrops, but can reach 35% in places. Gneiss are light grey and pinkish grey in areas where banding is more pronounced. They contain millimetric to centimetric layers of K-feldspar porphyroclastic mylonite generally representing <10% of the lithology. The mylonitic fabric emphasizes an intense deformation which is characterized by tight isoclinal folds whose axial plane is parallel to the fabric. The latter is associated with strong flattening as well as stretching (L/S tectonite). Layers of migmatized quartz diorite have been described on some outcrops.

At the sample scale, the rock is generally granodioritic; however, there are also compositional variations marked by diffuse granitic bands. In areas with a highly banded appearance, the unit contains conformable syenogranite bands, in sharp contact, as well as millimetric to centimetric K-feldspar porphyroclasts giving a local augen appearance. In more homogeneous areas, millimetric plagioclase porphyroclasts are uniformly distributed in the matrix.

In thin section, deformation results in an oriented granoblastic texture and quartz bands having subgrain extinction. The main ferromagnesian minerals include biotite and hornblende in variable amounts, which are concentrated in fine discontinuous laminae. Grain size reduction is in places associated with these laminae. Generally, the Uummanaq Suite contains many secondary minerals associated with mafic laminae, such as sphene, epidote, opaque minerals and apatite.

Thickness and Distribution

The Uummanaq Suite forms kilometre-thick, elongated and folded masses, north of the Naujaat Shear Zone.

Dating

Dating of a granitoid sample (outcrop 2017-BC-6068) indicates a Paleoproterozoic age for the emplacement of the Uummanaq Suite.

Unit Sample Number Isotopic System Mineral Crystallization Age (Ma) (+) (-) Inherited Age (Ma) (+) (-) Reference(s)
pPuma 2017-BC-6068A U-Pb Zircon 1901 8 8 1957 9 9 Davis and Sutcliffe, 2019

Stratigraphic Relationship(s)

Tectonic gneiss of the Uummanaq Suite are in fault contact with metasedimentary rocks of the Erik Cove Complex. They are cut by pegmatitic intrusions of the Sanningajualuk Suite.

Paleontology

Does not apply.

References

Publications Available Through SIGÉOM Examine

CHARETTE, B., BEAUDETTE, M. 2018. Geology of the Cape Wolstenholme region, Ungava Orogen, Churchill Province, Southeast Ivujivik, Quebec, Canada. BG 2018-03, 1 plan.

DAVIS, D.W., SUTCLIFFE, C.N. 2019. U-Pb Geochronology of Zircon and Monazite by LA-ICPMS in Samples from Northern Quebec. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. MB 2019-01, 113 pages.

VANIER, M A., LAFRANCE, I. 2020. Geology of the Sirmiq Lake area, Ungava Orogen, Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. MERN. BG 2020-02, 1 plan.

 

Suggested Citation

Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN). Uummanaq Suite. Quebec Stratigraphic Lexicon. https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/lexique-stratigraphique/province-de-churchill/suite-uummanaq_en [accessed on Day Month Year].

Contributors

First publication

Benoit Charette, P. Geo., M.Sc. benoit.charette@mern.gouv.qc.ca; Isabelle Lafrance, P. Geo., M.Sc. isabelle.lafrance@mern.gouv.qc.ca (redaction)

Mehdi A. Guemache, P. Geo., Ph.D. (coordination); Abdelali Moukhsil, P. Geo., Ph.D. (critical review); Simon Auclair, P. Geo., M.Sc. (editing); Céline Dupuis, P. Geo., Ph.D. (English version); Ricardo Escobar Moran and André Tremblay (HTML editing).

 
19 novembre 2020