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Estre Structural Domain
Structural Label: DSest

First publication: 23 July 2020
Last modification:
Author(s)Vanier and Lafrance, 2020
MethodologyDefined from geological survey and geophysical data
Geological(s) subdivision(s)Churchill Province / Ungava Orogen / Narsajuaq Lithotectonic Domain
Main movementReverse dextral
Deformation styleParallel; mainly foliated to gneissic rocks affected by penetrative deformation of moderate intensity characterized by a continuous, straight and parallel fabric.
Metamorphic facies (mean facies related to main deformation)Granulites

Background and Methodology

This record is based on aeromagnetic maps’ interpretation and information collected from geological survey carried out in the summer of 2019 in the Sirmiq Lake area (Vanier and Lafrance, 2020).

 

Boundaries and Morphology

Widthalmost 12 km
Lengthalmost 30 km
Orientation E-W elongation

 

The Estre Structural Domain (DSest) occupies the NW bank of the Salluit fjord. It is bordered to the west by the Kuuruq (DSkuuu) and Siukkaq (DSsiu) structural domains and extends northward to the Hudson Strait. The shape of the DSest remains to be determined for the southern section since it has not been the subject of field work.

 

Stratigraphic Units Concerned

The Estre Complex is the main stratigraphic unit of the domain, covering almost three-quarters of the area. Other stratigraphic units present are the Sainte-Hélène, Erik Cove and Pingasualuit complexes. Decimetric to metric granitic injections, not mapped at the scale of the present work, have also been routinely recorded. These granitic rocks are attributed to the Paleoproterozoic Sanningajualuk Suite.

 

Structural Characteristics

❯ Main Fabrics

Sn = S2

Rocks of the DSest are affected by a penetrative tectometamorphic foliation, which is accompanied in several places by a certain degree of mineralogical segregation and more or less apparent gneissosity. Lithologies containing >15% quartz regularly contain quartz lenses or bands. Compositional banding characteristic of the Estre and Erik Cove complexes is accentuated by the fact that it is completely parallelized in the planar fabric. Stereographic projections for the DSest were produced by dividing the domain into two subdomains since the structural grain is curved. Thus, the general attitude of the foliation is 312°/17° in the western part and 254°/36° in the eastern part.

Quartz and feldspar srtretch lineations are commonly measurable, as is the mineral lineation defined by the alignment of ferromagnesian minerals. All these measurements determine an average orientation of 112°/10° in the western part and 65°/10° in the eastern part. Subhorizontal inclination of lineations in the DSest contrasts with the dip near the slope line for lineations of the Sources Structural Domain (DSsou). However, a few lineations in the slope line have also been measured; these occur mainly in shear zones.

Metre to decamtre-thick shear zones were also observed in the DSest. These are evidenced by the presence of mylonite and porphyroclastic rocks. The general attitude of the planar fabric is the same as in surrounding rocks, while lineations may be oriented near the slope line or subhorizontal, depending on the shear zone.

Main FabricType of FabricDirection (°)Dip / Plunge (°)Number of MeasurementsComments
Foliation SnTectonometamorphic foliation and gneissosity2543653Eastern part
Linéation LnStretch or mineral lineation651030Eastern part
Foliation SnTectonometamorphic foliation and gneissosity3121741Western part
Linéation LnStretch or mineral lineation1121025Western part

 

❯ Other Fabrics

Not observed.

 

❯ Folds

Does not apply. 

 

❯ Crosscutting Relationships

Not observed.

 

❯ Kinematics

As mentioned earlier, some zones of more intense deformation are present in the DSest. Of these, two show clear kinematics. First, C’-type structures and sigma-type porphyroclasts, present in porphyroclastic mylonite, indicate sinistral movement along a plane oriented 324°/21° and a lineation oriented 114°/11°. This shear zone is located near the southern limit of the DSest. The second is located in the centre of the DSest, at the interface between migmatized metasedimentary rocks of the Erik Cove Complex and granulitic gneiss of the Estre Complex. In this area, the lineation is near the slope line of a mylonite foliation whose attitude is 241°/36°.

TypeDirection (°) (Mean)Dip (°) (Mean)Lineation Plunge in the Fault PlaneApparent MovementKinematic IndicatorsComments
Regional shear3242105SinistralC’ structures and sigma-type porphyroclastsApparent movement defined with the view to the east
Regional shear2413690SinistralCS structures, sigma-type porphyroclastsStrike-slip movement along a moderately dipping structure

 

Deformation Style

Deformation in the DSest is characterized by the presence of penetrative fabrics that extend from one outcrop to the next. The common presence of quartz lenses and bands supports intense deformation. In addition, local intense deformation zones are marked by mylonite. Due to the curve of planar fabrics, the general geometry corresponds approximately to a synform. However, the DSest does not appear to correspond to a synform. Firstly, folding is very uncommon on the scale of the outcrop. Secondly, lineations associated with a regional fold should be oriented close to the axis of the fold shallowly dipping towards the NW. Lineations in the western part of the DSest do not correspond to this criterion. In a case where lineations were pre-existing, they would themselves be affected by folding and would be positioned along a great circle for the whole DSest, which is not the case. For these reasons, the parallel style seems more appropriate for the DSest. Indeed, structural characteristics describe penetrative and parallel fabrics. They are, however, curved in an area, as is the case in the DSsou. The origin of these particular geometries remains uncertain.

 

Metamorphic Characteristics

Based on macroscopic and thin-section observations, the main deformation in the DSest occurred under granulite facies metamorphic conditions. First, the presence of migmatitic banding parallel to foliation or gneissosity indicates that partial melting was synchronous to the penetrative planar fabric (Sawyer, 2008). Since orthopyroxene is present in the mobilisate of the Estre Complex, the granulite facies has been reached during migmatization.

At the textural scale, quartz present in rocks of the Estre Complex is characterized by heteroganular aggregates of amoeboid to interlobed grains. These aggregates form lenses or discontinuous bands, with some coarse grains having chessboard extinctions. Quartz also regularly has edges pinched by biotite flakes. All these textures are typical of quartz recrystallization by grain edge migration (Guillope and Poirier, 1979; Urai et al., 1986; Jessel, 1987). This mechanism usually occurs at temperatures >500°C (Kruhl, 1998; Stipp et al., 2002). Chessboard extinctions are known to occur at > 600°C (Lister and Dornsiepen, 1982; Mainprice et al., 1986). Garnet and orthopyroxene, the minerals associated with the metamorphic peak, show syn-kinematic textures.

 

Alterations

Not observed.

 

Geophysical Characteristics

The aeromagnetic signature of the DSest is characterized by regularly and closely alternating positive ridges and moderate troughs. This pattern gives the DSest a banded appearance. Geological contacts and structures are parallel to banding defined by aeromagnetic ridges.

 

Chronological Markers

The only known geochronological markers in the DSest are granitic intrusions associated with the Sanningajualuk Suite. A sample of granitic dyke possibly belonging to this suite, and cutting foliation, was collected by Parrish (1989). Its crystallization age at ~1753 Ma corresponds to the minimum age of its deformation. However, there is no constraint as to the maximum age of deformation.

 

References

Publications Available Through Sigéom Examine

DAVIS, D.W., SUTCLIFFE, C.N., 2018. U-Pb Geochronology of Zircon and Monazite by LA-ICPMS in Samples from Northern Quebec. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. MB 2019-01, 113 pages.

INTISSAR, R., BENAHMED, S., D’AMOURS, I., 2014., Levé magnétique et spectrométrique aéroporté de la partie nord de l’Orogène de l’Ungava, Province de Churchill. MRN. DP 2014-03, 10 pages and 410 plans.

VANIER, M.-A., LAFRANCE, I., 2019., Géologie de la région du lac Sirmiq, Orogène de l’Ungava, Nunavik, Québec, Canada. MERN. BG 2020-02, 1 plan.

Other Publications

ESSELL, M.W., 1987. Grain-boundary migration microstructures in a naturally deformed quartzite. Journal of Structural Geology; volume 9, pages 1007-1014. doi.org/10.1016/0191-8141(87)90008-3

GUILLOPE, M., POIRIER, J.P., 1979. Dynamic recristallization during creep of single crystaline halite: an experimental study. Journal of Geophysic Research; volume 84, pages 5557-5567. doi.org/10.1029/JB084iB10p05557

KRUHL, J.H., 1996. Prism- and basal-plane parallel subgrain boundaries in quartz: a microstructural geothermobarometer. Journal of Metamorphic Geology; volume 14, pages 581-589. doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1314.1996.00413.x

LISTER, G.S., DORNSIEPEN, U.F., 1982. Fabric transitions in the Saxony granulite terrain. Journal of Structural Geology; volume 4, pages 81-92. doi.org/10.1016/0191-8141(82)90009-8

MAINPRICE, D., BOUCHEZ, J-L., BLUMENFELD, P., TUBIÀ, J.M., 1986. Dominant c slip in naturally deformed quartz: Implication for dramatic plastic softening at high temperature; volume 14, pages 819-822. doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1986)14<819:DCSIND>2.0.CO;2

SAWYER, E.W., 2008. Atlas of migmatites. NRC Research press, 2008. 371 pages.

STIPP, M., STÜNIZ, H., HEILBRONNER, R., SCHMID, S.M., 2002. The eastern Tonale fault zone: a natural laboratory for crystal plastic deformation of quartz over a temperature range from 250 to 700 °C. Journal of Structural Geology; volume 24, pages 1861-1884. doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8141(02)00035-4

URAI, J.L., MEANS, W.D., LISTER, G.S., 1986. Dynamic recrystallization of minerals. Mineral Rock Deformation Laboratory Studies; volume 36, pages 161-199. doi.org/10.1029/GM036p0161

Suggested Citation

Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN). Estre Structural Domain. Quebec Structural Lexicon. https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/lexique-structural/domaine-structural-estre_en/ [accessed on Day Month Year].

Contributors

First publication

Marc-Antoine Vanier, Jr. Eng., M.Sc. marc-antoine.vanier@mern.gouv.qc.ca; Isabelle Lafrance, P. Geo., M.Sc. isabelle.lafrance@mern.gouv.qc.ca (redaction);

Ghyslain Roy, P. Geo. (coordination); James Moorhead, P. Geo., M.Sc. (critical review); Simon Auclair, P. Geo., M.Sc. (editing); André Tremblay (HTML editing); Céline Dupuis, P. Geo., Ph.D. (English version) 

 

 

25 septembre 2020