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Background
Work along the Rivière aux Feuilles in Quebec (Percival and Card, 1994), and in three areas farther north (Percival et al., 1995, 1996, 1997) allowed Percival et al. (1992, 2001) to recognize a series of distinct geological and geophysical domains within the Minto Subprovince based on lithological, structural and aeromagnetic differences. Between 1997 and 2003, the work carried out by the Government of Québec under the Far North Program clarified the nature and boundaries of these areas. This work highlighted seven domains and two terranes within the Minto Subprovince.
Description
The Utsalik Domain is part of the Arnaud River Terrane. It is limited to the east by the Douglas Harbour Domain, to the west by the Qalluviartuuq and Goudalie domains, to the south by the Labrador Trough and to the north by the Ungava Trough. It has an arch shape and is ~500 km long and 70 km wide on average. The Utsalik Domain corresponds to a massive regional aeromagnetic anomaly oriented N to NW.
Geology
The Utsalik Domain is characterized in particular by granite, granodiorite and enderbite intrusive suites younger than 2735 Ma (La Chevrotière, Rivière aux Feuilles, Dufreboy, Maurel and MacMahon; 2735-2680 Ma) and present in more than one domain. Only the Lepelle Suite (2725-2720 Ma) is confined to the northern part of the Utsalik Domain. This unit consists of clinopyroxene granodiorite and corresponds to a strong positive magnetic anomaly. The Utsalik Domain also includes a unit of supracrustal rocks dominated by sedimentary rocks (Pelican Complex; 2742-2733 Ma). The only remnants of older rock are the volcano-sedimentary Nantais Complex (2775 Ma) and the Kapijuq Tonalitic Suite (2785-2775 Ma). These units are centred on narrow magnetic troughs <20 km wide and ~100 km long, located in the north of the domain. The western border of the Utsalik Domain is characterized by porphyritic monzogranite and granodiorite sheets (2735-2720 Ma) of the La Chevrotière Suite. The elongated and conformable shape of the sheets, parallel to the regional structural grain, suggests contemporaneous emplacement to deformation. The eastern boundary of the Utsalik Domain approximately corresponds to a large lineament (Messin-ballast; Labbé, 2001) characterized by shear zones and complex folding (Madore et al., 2001; Cadieux et al., 2002). Isotopic data obtained in the Utsalik Domain indicate juvenile sources (TDM <2.93 Ga), with only one sample giving an older model age (TDM = 3.01 Ga) (Leclair, 2008).
References
Publications available through Sigéom Examine
CADIEUX, A.M., BERCLAZ, A., LABBE, J Y., LACOSTE, P., DAVID, J., SHARMA, K.N.M. 2002. GEOLOGIE DE LA REGION DU LAC PELICAN (34P). MRN. RG 2002-02, 50 pages and 1 plan.
LABBE, J Y. 2001. LINEAMENTS CRUSTAUX ET POTENTIEL DE DECOUVERTE DE KIMBERLITES DANS L’OUEST DU NOUVEAU-QUEBEC. MRN. PRO 2001-01, 9 pages.
MADORE, L., LARBI, Y., SHARMA, K.N.M., LABBE, J Y., LACOSTE, P., DAVID, J., BROUSSEAU, K., HOCQ, M. 2001. GEOLOGIE DE LA REGION DU LAC KLOTZ (35A) ET DU CRATERE DU NOUVEAU QUEBEC (1/2 SUD DE 35H). MRN. RG 2001-09, 46 pages and 2 plans.
LECLAIR, A. 2008. CONTEXTE GÉOLOGIQUE RÉGIONAL DU NORD-EST DE LA PROVINCE DU SUPÉRIEUR. DANS : SYNTHESE DU NORD-EST DE LA PROVINCE DU SUPERIEUR. MRNF. MM 2008-02, 198 pages and 8 plans.
Other publications
Percival, J.A., Card, K.D. 1994. Geology, Lac Minto-Rivière aux Feuilles, Québec. Geological Survey of Canada, « A » Series Map 1854A, 1994, 1 sheet. doi:10.4095/194490
Percival, J.A., Mortensen, J.K., Stern, R.A., Card, K.D., Bégin, N.J. 1992. Giant granulite terranes of northeastern Superior Province: the Ashuanipi complex and Minto block. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences; volume 29, pages 2287-2308. doi:10.1139/e92-179
Percival, J.A., Skulski, T., Card, K.D., Lin, S. 1995. Geology, Rivière Kogaluc-Lac Qalluviartuuq region (parts of 34J and 34-O), Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3112, 1 sheet. doi:10.4095/205269
Percival, J.A., Skulski, T., Nadeau, L. 1996. Geology, Lac Couture, Quebec. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3315, 1 sheet. doi:10.4095/208195
Percival, J.A., Skulski, T., Nadeau, L. 1997. Reconnaissance geology of the Pelican-Nantais Belt, northeastern Superior Province. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3525, 1 sheet. doi:10.4095/209271
Percival, J.A., Stern, R.A., Skulski, T. 2001. Crustal growth through successive arc magmatism: reconnaissance U–Pb SHRIMP data from the northeastern Superior Province, Canada. Precambrian Research; volume 109, pages 203-238. doi:10.1016/S0301-9268(01)00148-6