Paleomagnetic Study of Paleoproterozoic Units from Amazonian Craton

Author(s)

Franklin Bispo dos Santos

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Astronômico e Geofísico (IAG/SBD)
• Defense date: 2012-05-03

Examining board members

Manoel Souza Dagrella Filho; Moacir José Buenano Macambira; Igor Ivory Gil Pacca; Augusto Ernesto Rapalini; Eric Tohver

• Advisor: Manoel Souza Dagrella Filho

Abstract

The Amazonian Craton is an important component in Paleoproterozoic reconstructions, however, paleomagnetic data for this craton are yet scarce. Aiming to decipher the involvement of the Amazonian Craton in the Contiental cycle evolution, paleomagnetic studies were carried out in four Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic geological units. The chosen units are the volcanic rocks from the Surumu Group (1,980-1,960 Ma, U-Pb), the Avanavero mafic sills (ca. 1,780 Ma, U-Pb), both from the northern Roraima State (Guyana Shield), and the Nova Guarita dyke swarm and Guadalupe mafic intrusive, both from the northern Mato Grosso State (Central- Brazil Shield). 40Ar/39Ar determinations on biotites from samples belonging to four Nova Guarita dykes yielded well-defined plateau ages whose mean 1,418.5 ± 3.5 Ma is interpreted as the age of dyke intrusion. U-Pb (SHRIMP) determinations on rocks from the Guadalupe mafic Intrusive indicate a minimum age of 1,530 Ma for this unit. Paleomagnetic analysis performed on more than 1,100 specimens by thermal and alternating magnetic field (AF) treatments revealed stable characteristic remanent magnetizions (ChRM) for all geological units: (1) northwestern directions with positive inclinations were isolated for samples from the Surumu Group (mean: Dm = 298.6°, Im = 39.4°, N = 20, alpha95 = 10.1°, K = 11.4), which were interpreted to be primary. (2) Southeastern directions with low downward/upward inclinations were isolated for the Avanavero rocks, for which a mean direction was calculated: Dm=135.6°, Im = -2.1° (N=10, alpha95 = 15.9°, K = 10.2°). A positive baked contact test attests for the primary origin of this ChRM direction, which was probably acquired at about 1,780 Ma ago; (3) both south/southwestern directions with downward inclinations or northeastern directions with upward inclinations were isolated for the Nova Guarita dykes. A positive baked contact test attests for the primary nature of the ChRM directions (Dm = 220.5°, Im = 45.9°, N=19, alpha95=6.5°, K = 27.7) which most probably correspond to a termo-remanent magnetization (TRM) acquired at ca. 1,419 Ma ago; 10 (4) both northwest/northeastern directions with downward inclinations or outhsoutheastern directions with upward inclinations were isolated for rocks from the Guadalupe intrusive, whose mean direction is: Dm=356.6°, Im=59.4°, (N =10, alpha95=10.2°, K = 23.2). The age of this component is yet uncertain. U-Pb geochronology suggests an age of (or older than) 1,530 Ma for these rocks, however, a remagnetization effect at Cambrian times (520 Ma) cannot be rolled out as these directions are very similar to those found for younger geological units in the Amazonian Craton and Sao Francisco Craton. Four new paleomagnetic poles for the Amazonian Craton were obtained from these magnetic components, which are located at: 234.8°E, 27.4°N (A95=9.8°) (GS pole, Surumu Group), 27.5°E, 45.8°S (A95=11.5°) (AV pole, Avanavero), 245.9°E, 47.9°S (A95=7.0°) (NG pole, Nova Guarita) and 306.2°E, 38.9°N (A95 = 13.7°) (GUA pole, Guadalupe). The 1,960 Ma Surumu pole contributes to better define the APW path traced for the Guyana Shield in the time interval between 2,070 Ma and 1,960 Ma. Comparison of this APW path with that traced for West-Africa Craton for the same time interval suggests that these two cratonic blocks were linked together, in a paleogeography where the Guri (Guyana Shield) and Sassandra (West-Africa Craton) shear zones are aligned, as suggested by previous models. The Avanavero pole is consistent with the proto-Amazonian Craton and Baltica link as in the SAMBA (South America-Baltica) model at ca. 1,780 Ma ago, as previously proposed based on geological evidence. In the scenario proposed here for the Columbia Supercontinent at 1,780 Ma ago, the West-Africa Craton was linked to the proto-Amazonian Craton in the same configuration as suggested by Paleoproterozoic (1,960-2,000 Ma) paleomagnetic data (see above). Actual eastern Laurentia was linked to northern Baltica. Siberia was located at the actual Arctic Coast of Laurentia, and proto-Australia at the western coast of Laurentia, in a position similar to that of SWEAT model. Although available 1,780 Ma paleomagnetic data from North China and India indicate low paleolatitudes for these two blocks, their positions in the supercontinent Columbia are yet uncertain. In our model, North China is located beside Siberia, and India beside proto-Australia, based on geological evidences. Other cratonic blocks, such as Congo-Sao Francisco, Kalahari and Rio de la Plata were not included as no 1,780 Ma paleomagnetic poles are presently available for them. The paleomagnetic poles presently available for Baltica and Laurentia, show that these two blocks remained as a single continental mass since 1,830 Ma up to at least 1,270 Ma. However, the 1,419 Ma Nova Guarita pole and the recently published 1,416 Ma Indiavai pole from the Amazonian Craton, when compared with poles of similar age from Baltica and Laurentia suggest that the proto-Amazonian Craton had already broke-up from the Columbia Supercontinent at that time. Alternatively, the difference in the position of the 1,420 Ma poles from the proto-Amazonian Craton and those from Baltica/Laurentia, may be explained by dextral transcurrent movements between the Guyana Shield and the southern part of the Amazonian Craton at times later than 1,420 Ma. If so, this great continental mass, formed by proto-Amazonian Craton, Baltica and Laurentia may have remained as a single continental block for at least 400 Ma. (AU)