DISCLAIMER: This English version is translated from the original French. In case of any discrepancy, the French version shall prevail.
Author(s): | Goutier et al., 2001 |
Age: | Neoarchean |
Stratotype: | Reference outcrop 2014-JG-2088, located along the Transtaïga Road; sampled for U-Pb isotopic dating. |
Type area: | SE area of La Grande 3 Reservoir, centre of NTS sheet 33G12 (Bezier Hill). Bezier Hill is now an island as a result of the creation of the La Grande 3 Reservoir. Representative outcrops are visible on the shores of the islands. The main pluton also outcrops along the Transtaïga Road (in sheet 33G05). |
Geological province: | Superior Province |
Geological subdivision: | La Grande and Opinaca Subprovinces |
Lithology: | K-feldspar porphyritic quartz monzodiorite, quartz monzodiorite, monzodiorite and granodiorite |
Category: | Lithodemic |
Rank: | Suite |
Status: | Formal |
Use: | Active |
None
Background
The first mention was used as “Bezier Pluton (Abez)” by Goutier et al. (2001, 2002). This unit was subsequently elevated to the suite rank in the preliminary report prepared by Bandyayera et al. (2013) to group plutons of similar composition. Subsequently, Goutier (2018) added the western end of the main pluton to sheet 33F08, while Goutier et al. (2021) described other similar plutons in sheet 33H12. One of the important features is the emplacement of this suite at the interface between the La Grande and Opinaca subprovinces. Intrusions previously defined as belonging to the Bezier Suite and present only in the Opinaca Subprovince were re-assigned to the Féron Suite. These changes relate to five intrusions on sheets 33G06 and 33G07.
Description
The Bezier Suite defined by Goutier et al. (2001) consists of a K-feldspar porphyritic quartz monzodiorite and local quartz monzodiorite, monzodiorite and granodiorite. The various plutons in this suite are generally well visible on aeromagnetic maps because the delineation coincides with positive magnetic anomalies (Bandyayera et al., 2013). The exception is the pluton found in sheet 33G06. It occurs in an area of low magnetic susceptibility with a few small, poorly defined areas of higher susceptibility. Although its magnetic signature is weaker than other plutons in the Bezier Suite, it has the same lithological characteristics.
One of the determining factors is belongingness in the La Grande Subprovince. The main intrusion cut units in both the La Grande and Opinaca subprovinces. Units located in the La Grande Subprovince previously assigned to the Bezier Suite were re-assigned the Féron Suite.
The rock is greyish to whitish and its fresh surface is greenish to pinkish grey. Its grain size varies from medium to coarse and its structure is massive to slightly foliated. It is characterized by the presence of K-feldspar phenocrystals (6-12%) ranging in size from 0.5 to 3 cm. Feldspars are rectangular to square and zoned; they contain hornblende or biotite inclusions between growth rings. This growth zoning with mineral inclusions is one of the features of the Bezier Suite that distinguishes it from the Radisson Pluton. In addition to being in inclusion in feldspars, hornblende and biotite account for a large proportion of the rock (20-50%). Accessory minerals are magnetite, titanite and epidote.
It is very common to observe centimetric fusiform enclaves of amphibolite and diorite (~3%). Bandyayera et al. (2013) also described the presence of 5% metric enclaves of fine-grained and foliated amphibolite and 3% centimetric angular fragments of mafic to intermediate composition.
Several plutons of a similar nature were identified in the northern region of sheets 33G05, 33G06 and 33G11 (Goutier et al., 2002), in sheets 33G02, 33G07 and 33G10 (Goutier, 2018), 33G09 (Bandyayera et al., 2013), and 33H12 and 33H13 (Goutier et al., 2021).
Thickness and distribution
The Bezier Suite has nine separate intrusions covering an area of approximately 700 km² and spread in eleven sheets: 33F08, 33G05, 33G06, 33G09, 33G10, 33G11, 33G12, 33G14, 33H13 and 33H14.
Dating
The first U-Pb isotopic dating of a K-feldspar porphyritic granodiorite from Guyer Lake (sheets 33G06-33G11) yielded an age of 2674 ±12 Ma (St. Seymour et al., 1989). This pluton and age have been associated with the Bezier Pluton since the few pluton outcrops have similar petrographic characteristics. Since it was not possible to find an outcrop in the coordinate area of sample LE-132 from St. Seymour et al. (1989), a new sample was taken along the Transtaïga Road (outcrop 2014-JG-2088) in the main pluton. The latter gave an older age of 2712.3 ±5.8 Ma. From now on, that age is the one assigned to the Bezier Suite.
Unit | Sample | Isotopic System | Mineral | Crystallization Age (Ma) | (+) | (-) | Reference(s) |
nAbez | 2014-JG-2088A | U-Pb | Zircon | 2712.3 | 5.8 | 5.8 | David, 2019 |
LE-132 | U-Pb | Zircon | 2673 | 12 | 12 | St. Seymour et al., 1989 |
Stratigraphic Relationship(s)
Units of the Bezier Suite cover a large area in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, over a width of 150 km. Moreover, they cut numerous various lithologies. These relationships are highlighted by isotopic dating or field observations.
Adjacent Unit | Contact Type | Evidence | Typical Outcrops |
Prior to Bezier Suite |
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Langelier Complex | Intrusive and tectonic | Intrusions in units of the Langelier Complex |
2000-ST-3177 2000-ST-3178 |
Laguiche Complex | Intrusive and tectonic | Monzodiorite dykes in paragneiss; paragneiss enclaves in monzodiorite; paragneiss underlying monzonites; deformation of paragneiss near contacts |
2016-MC-1694; 2016-MC-1692; 2016-RH-7467; 2016-RH-7472; 2000-MC-5177 |
Guyer Group | Intrusive and tectonic | Quartz monzodiorite dykes in units of the Guyer Group |
2011-CD-3016; 2000-JG-1608 |
Yasinski Group | Dating | Older package | |
Contemporaneous to the Bezier Suite |
|||
Duncan Intrusions | Dating | Similar ages | |
Coates Suite | Dating | Similar ages | |
Subsequent to the Bezier Suite |
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Ekomiak Formation | Dating | Younger package | |
Magin Formation | Dating | Younger package | |
Keyano Formation | Dating | Younger package | |
Mistassini Dyke Swarm | Intrusive | Younger package; cuts the Bezier Suite | 2016-RH-7465 |
Senneterre Dykes | Intrusive | Younger package; cuts the Bezier Suite | 2011-GM-5283 |
Shpogan Dykes | Intrusive | Younger package; cuts the Bezier Suite | 2009-PB-4016 |
Lac Esprit Dykes | Intrusive | Younger package; cuts the Bezier Suite | 2000-JG-1654 |
Paleontology
Does not apply.
References
Publications available through SIGÉOM Examine
BANDYAYERA, D., BURNIAUX, P., CHAPON, B., 2013. GEOLOGIE DE LA REGION DU LAC MAGIN (33G09), DE LA COLLINE CAPTEL (33G15) ET DU LAC FONTAY (33G16), BAIE-JAMES, QUEBEC. MRN, UQAM; RP 2013-01 , 32 pages, 3 plans.
BANDYAYERA, D., BURNIAUX, P., MORFIN, S., 2011. GEOLOGIE DE LA REGION DU LAC BRUNE (33G07) ET DE LA BAIE GAVAUDAN (33G10). MRNF; RP 2011-01, 25 pages, 2 plans.
DAVID, J., 2019. Datations U-Pb dans les provinces du Supérieur et de Churchill effectuées au GEOTOP en 2014-2015. MERN, GEOTOP; MB 2019-03 , 24 pages.
GOUTIER, J., 2018. Géologie de la région du lac Ewart, sous-provinces de La Grande et d’Opinaca, à l’est de Radisson, Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, Québec, Canada. MERN; BG 2018-10 , 2 plans.
GOUTIER, J., DION, C., OUELLET, M C., DAVIS, D W., DAVID, J., PARENT, M., 2002. Géologie de la région du Lac Guyer (33G/05, 33G/06 et 33G/11). MRN; RG 2001-15 , 55 pages, 3 plans.
GOUTIER, J., DION, C., OUELLET, M. C., 2001. Géologie de la région de la colline Bezier (33G/12) et du lac de la Montagne du Pin (33G/13). MRN; RG 2001-13 , 55 pages, 2 plans.
GOUTIER, J., GIGON, J., BURNIAUX, P., DION, C., TALLA TAKAM, F., CHARTIER-MONTREUIL, W., BANDYAYERA, D., 2021. Géologie de la région du lac de la Corvette, Eeyou Istchee Baie-James. MERN; RG 2020-01, 69 pages, 1 plan.
Other publications
ST. SEYMOUR, K., TUREK, A., DOIG, R., KUMARAPELI, S., FOGAL, R. 1989. First U-Pb zircon ages of granitoid plutons from the La Grande greenstone belt, James Bay area, New Quebec. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences; volume 26 (5), pages 1068-1073. https://doi.org/10.1139/e89-088
Suggested Citation
Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN). Bezier Suite. Quebec Stratigraphic Lexicon. https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/lexique-stratigraphique/province-du-superieur/suite-de-bezier_en [accessed on Day Month Year].
Contributors
First publication |
Alban Duvernois, M.Sc.; Jean Goutier, P. Geo., M.Sc. (redaction) Mehdi A. Guemache, P. Geo., Ph.D. (coordination); Pierre Lacoste, P. Geo., M.Sc. (critical review); Simon Auclair, P. Geo., M.Sc. (editing); Céline Dupuis, P. Geo., Ph.D. (English version); Ricardo Escobar Moran (HTML editing). |