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U–Pb geochronology of the Eocene Kærven intrusive complex, East Greenland: constraints on the Iceland hotspot track during the rift-to-drift transition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2015

SIGURJÓN B. THÓRARINSSON ,
PAUL M. HOLM ,
SEBASTIAN TAPPE ,
LARRY M. HEAMAN  and
NIELS-OLE PRÆGEL
SIGURJÓN B. THÓRARINSSON*
Affiliation:
Nordic Volcanological Center, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 København K, Denmark
PAUL M. HOLM
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 København K, Denmark
SEBASTIAN TAPPE
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada
LARRY M. HEAMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada
NIELS-OLE PRÆGEL
Affiliation:
Copenhagen University Library, Nørre Allé 49, DK-2200 København K, Denmark
*
‡Author for correspondence: sith@ign.ku.dk
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Abstract

Several major tholeiitic (e.g. the Skaergaard intrusion) and alkaline (e.g. the Kangerlussuaq Syenite) intrusive complexes of the North Atlantic Large Igneous Province are exposed along the Kangerlussuaq Fjord in East Greenland. The Kærven Complex forms a satellite intrusion to the Kangerlussuaq Syenite and includes early tholeiitic gabbros and a series of cross-cutting alkaline intrusions ranging from monzonite to alkali granite. The alkaline intrusions cut the gabbros, and are cut by the outer nordmarkite zone of the Kangerlussuaq Syenite. This study presents the first U–Pb zircon ages from the alkaline units of the Kærven Complex. Fourteen multi-grain zircon fractions have been analysed by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Absolute age differences could not be resolved between the different units, suggesting a relatively rapid succession of intrusions between c. 53.5 and 53.3 Ma. Our compilation of precise radiometric age data shows that most of the alkaline magmatism in the Kangerlussuaq Fjord occurred prior to 50 Ma. Moreover, pre-50 Ma alkaline intrusions and lavas show a SSE-younging trend, which is interpreted as the track of the Iceland hotspot during the rift-to-drift transition of the North Atlantic.

Keywords

Kangerlussuaqzirconsyenitepost-break-upNorth Atlantic Igneous Province
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 153 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 128 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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