Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Long-lived basement weak zones and their role in extensional magmatism in the Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon Territory

  • Chapter
Basement Tectonics 8

Part of the book series: Proceedings of the International Conferences on Basement Tectonics ((ICBT,volume 2))

Abstract

In the Ogilvie Mountains of west-central Yukon, intrusive breccias and volcanic rocks are aligned along faults that were active during evolution of the Cordilleran miogeocline. Character of the magmatic rocks provide clues to changing lower crust or upper mantle conditions beneath the western margin of ancestral North America.

The unusually long (Middle Proterozoic to Jurassic) sedimentary record was influenced by episodes of crustal stretching. Extensional events are indicated by proximal clastic sequences deposited in half-grabens during extensional faulting. Igneous rocks associated with each stretching event have been dated: hematitic megabreccia (1270 Ma), bimodal tholeiitic volcanic rocks (750 Ma), Cambro-Ordovician alkalic basalt, and mid-Cretaceous alkalic granites (90 Ma).

Although crystalline basement rocks are not exposed in the northern fold and thrust belt, the combination of inferences from the sedimentary record, ancient structures, and igneous chemistry imply recurring zones of weakness and periodic mantle disturbance beneath the ancient continental margin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abbott, J. G., 1982, Structure and stratigraphy of the MacMillan fold belt: Evidence for devonian faulting; pp. 22–33 in Yukon: Exploration and Geology, 1981: Canadian Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, White-horse, Yukon, Canada, Open File Report (May 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, R. G., 1987, Plutonic rocks in the Dawson map-area, Yukon Territory; pp. 689–697 in Current Research, Part A: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 87-1A, 946 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Archer, A. R., and U. Schmidt, 1977, Mineralized breccias of Early Proterozoic age, Bonnet Plume River District, Yukon Territory: Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Bulletin, v. 71, no. 796, p. 53–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, R. L., G. H. Eisbacher, and P. D. Evans, 1982, Age and stratigraphic-tectonic significance of Proterozoic diabase sheets, Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canda: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 19, p. 316–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, R. T., 1986, Megabreccias in the northeastern Wernecke Mountains, Yukon Territory; pp. 375–384 in Current Research, Part A: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 86-1A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond, C., and A. Kominz, 1984, Construction of tectonic subsudence curves for the early Palaeozoic miogeocline, southern Canadian Rocky Mountains: Implications for subsidence mechanisms, age of breakup and crustal thinning: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 85, p. 155–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ___, M. A. Kominz, and W. J. Devlin, 1988, Complexities in the evolution of the early Palaeozoic passive margin of the southern Canadian Rockies [abstract]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 20, no. 7, p. A197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchfiel, B. C., and A. Davis, 1975, Nature and controls of Cordilleran orogenesis, western United States: Extensions of an earlier synthesis: American Journal of Science, v. 275-A, p. 363–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, K., and J. F. Dewey, 1973, Plume-generated triple junctions: Key indicators in applying plate tectonics to older rocks: Journal of Geology, v. 81, p. 406–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cecile, M. P., 1982, The Lower Palaeozoic Misty Creek Embayment, Selwyn Basin, Yukon and Northwest Territories: Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin, no. 335, 78 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie-Blick, N., and M. Levy, 1988, Late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian evolution of the western United States [abstract]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 20, no. 7, p. A298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaney, G. D., 1981, The mid-Proterozoic Wernecke Supergroup, Wernecke Mountains, Yukon Territory; pp. 1–24 in F. H. A. Campbell (ed.), Proterozoic Basins of Canada: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 81-10, 444 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, H. K. Brueckner, and G. C. Bond, 1988, New isotopic data and a preliminary age for volcanics near the base of the Windermere Supergroup, northeast Washington, U.S.A.: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 25, p. 1906–1911.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisbacher, G. H., 1981, Sedimentology, Tectonics and Glacial Record in the Windermere Supergroup, Mackenzie Mountains, Northwestern Canada: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 80-27, 40 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, 1985, Late Proterozoic rifting, glacial sedimentation, and sedimentasry cycles in the light of Windermere deposition, western Canada. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 51, p. 231–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erdmer, P., and H. Baadsgaard, 1987, 2.2 Ga age of zircons in three occurrences of Upper Proterozoic clastic rocks of the northern Cassiar terrane, Yu8kon and British Columbia: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 24, p. 1919–1924.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evanchick, C. A., R. R. Parrish, and H. Gabrielse, 1984, Precambrian gneiss and Late Proterozoic sedimentation in north-central British Columbia: Geology, v. 12, p. 233–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabrielse, H., 1972, Younger Precambrian of the Canadian Cordillera: American Journal of Science, v. 272, p. 521–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ___, and C. J. Yorath, 1989, DNAG #4: The Cordilleran orogen in Canada: Geoscience Canada, v. 16, no. 2, p. 67–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordey, S. P., in press, Nahanni Map-Area, Yukon and Northwest Territories: Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, L. H., 1972, Geology of Nash Creek, Larsen Creek and Dawson Map-Areas, Yukon Territory: Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir s364, 157 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, G. D., and P. H. Link, 1986, Geochemistry of Upper Proterozoic rift-related volcanics, northern Utah and southeastern Idaho: Geology, v. 14, p. 864–867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, P. F., 1983, Three stage subsidence of the 1.9 Ga Coronation Margin [abstract]. Geological Association of Canada Abstracts with Programs, v. 8, p. A33.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, 1988, Belt basin: A landlocked remnant oceanic basin? (analogous to the south Caspian and Black Seas) [abstract]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 20, no. 7, p. A50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laznicka, P., and R. J. Edwards, 1979, Dolores Creek, Yukon — A disseminated copper mineralization in sodic metasomatites: Economic Geology, v. 74, p. 1352–1370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, D., 1978, Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 40, p. 25–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMechan, M. E., 1981, The Middle Proterozoic Purcell Supergroup in the southwestern Rocky and southeastern Purcell Mountains, British Colombia, and the initiation of the Cordilleran miogeocline, southern Canada and adjacent United States: Bulletin of Candian Petroleum Geology, v. 29, p. 583–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, and R. A. Price, 1982, Superimposed low-grade metamorphism in the Mount Fisher area, southeastern British Columbia — Implications for the East Kootenay Orogeny: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 19, p. 476–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ___, and R. I. Thompson, The Candian Cordilleran foreland belt south of 66°N and its influence on the Western Interior Basin; in W. G. E. Caldwell and E. G. Kauffman (eds.), The Western Interior Basin: Geological Association of Canada, Special Paper, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercier, E., 1989, Evenments tectoniques d’origine compressive dans le Proterozoique du nord de la Cordillere Candienne (montagnes Ogilvie, Yukon): Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 26, p. 199–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monger, J. W. H., R. A. Price, and D. J. Tempelman-Kluit, 1982, Tectonic accretion and the origin of the two major metamorphic and plutonic welts in the Canadian Cordillera: Geology, v. 10, p. 70–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mustard, P. S., J. A. Donaldson, and R. I. Thompson, 1988a, Trace fossils and stratigraphy of the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary sequence, upper Harper Group, Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon; pp. 197–203 in Current Research, Part E: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 88-1E.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, J. A. Donaldson, and R. I. Thompson, 1988b, Precambrian-Cambrian trace fossils of the Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon: Significance to regional correlations [abstract]: Geological Association of Canada Abstracts wtih Programs, v. 13, p. A90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pallister, J. S., 1987, Magmatic history of Red Sea rifting: Perspective from the central Saudi Arabian coastal plain: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 98, p. 400–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parrish, R. R., and R. T. Bell, 1987, Age of the NOR breccia pipe, Wernecke Supergroup, Yukon Territory: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 87-2, p. 39–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roots, C. F., 1987, Regional Tectonic Setting and Evolution of the Late Proterozoic Mount Harper Volcanic Complex, Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon: PhD thesis, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 219 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, 1988, Cambro-Ordovician volcanic rocks of the eastern Dawson map-area, Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon; pp. 81–87 in Yukon Geology, Volume 2: Canadian Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Exploration and Geological Services Division, Whitehourse, Yukon, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, G. M., 1988, The Windermere foredeep: Evidence for Late Proterozoic plate convergenece in the western Canadian Cordillera [abstract]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 20, no. 7, p. A297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sears, J. W., and R. A. Price, 1978, The Siberian connection: A case for Precambrian separation of the North American and Siberian cratons: Geology, v. 6, p. 267–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J. H., 1972, Initial deposits in the Cordillera geosyncline: Evidence of a Late Precambrian (>850 m.y.) continental separation: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 83, p. 1345–1360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ___, 1976, Late Precambrian evolution of North America: Plate tectonic implication: Geology, v. 4, p. 11–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Struik, L. C., 1987, The Ancient Western North American Margin: An Alpine Rift Model for the East-Central Canadian Cordillera: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 87-15, 19 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tempelman-Kluit, D. J., 1979, Transported Cataclastie, Ophiollte and Granodiorite in Yukon: Evidence of Arc-Continent Collison: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 79-14, 27 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. I., 1981, The nature and significance of large “blind” thrusts within the northern Rocky Mountains of Canada; pp. 449–462 in K. R. McClay and N. J. Price (eds.), Thrust and Nappe Tectonics: Geological Society of London, Special Publication 9, 539 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, 1988, Stratigraphy, Tectonic Evolution and Structural Analysis of the Halfway River Map Area (94 B), Northern Rocky Mountains, British Columbia: Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir 425, 119 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, and C. F. Roots, 1982, Ogilvie Mountains Project, Yukon, Part A: A new regional mapping program; pp. 403–414 in Current Research, Part A: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 81-1A.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, and G. H. Eisbacher, 1984, Late Proterozoic rift assemblages, northern Canadian Cordillera [abstract]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 16, no. 5, p. 336.

    Google Scholar 

  • ___, E. Mercier, and C. Roots, 1987, Extension and its influence on Canadian Cordilleran passive margin evolution; pp. 409–418 in M. P. Coward, J. F. Dewey, and P. L. Hancock (eds.), Continental Extensional Tectonics: Geological Society of London, Special Publication 28, 650 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. N., M. A. Morrison, A. P. Dickin, and G. L. Hendry, 1983, Continental flood basalts… Arachnids rule OK?; pp. 158–185 in C. J. Hawkesworth and M. J. Norry (eds.), Continental Basalts and Mantle Xenoliths: Shiva Publishing Ltd., Nantwich, Cheshire, UK, 272 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeo, G. M., 1981, The Late Proterozoic Rapitan glaciation in the northern Cordillera; pp. 25–46 in F. H. A. Campbell (ed.), Proterozoic Basins of Canada: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 81-10, 444 p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Canada, 100 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1R8, Canada

    C. F. Roots & R. I. Thompson

Authors
  1. C. F. Roots
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. I. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Sciences and Resources Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Mervin J. Bartholomew

  2. Department of Geology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Donald W. Hyndman

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    David W. Mogk

  4. Department of Geological Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Robert Mason

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Roots, C.F., Thompson, R.I. (1992). Long-lived basement weak zones and their role in extensional magmatism in the Ogilvie Mountains, Yukon Territory. In: Bartholomew, M.J., Hyndman, D.W., Mogk, D.W., Mason, R. (eds) Basement Tectonics 8. Proceedings of the International Conferences on Basement Tectonics, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1614-5_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1614-5_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4703-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1614-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation