Snowbird/Athabasca granulite terrane

The Snowbird Tectonic Zone (STZ) is a ca. 2800 km geophysically defined lineament that bisects the western Churchill Province, divided it into the northwestern Rae and southeastern Hearne domain (or subprovinces).  The easternmost Rae domain is underlain by an extensive (>20,000 km2) area of high P granulite interpreted to be representative of lower continental crust.

PROJECTS

Localization within the lower continental crust: timing and significance of the Cora Lake shear zone

Sinistral sigma-type garnet porphyroblast in the Cora Lake shear zone

Regan et al., 2014 – CJES manuscript

Evolution of lower crustal behavior

Williams et al., 2014 – EPSL

Leslie et al., 2015 – JSG

Dumond et al., 2018 – Annual Reviews

Partial melting and dissaggregation of a vertical mafic dike at ca. 1.17 GPa and 800 degrees C.

Active margin processes in the lower continental crust during the Neoarchean

Regan et al., 2017a – PC Res

Age and Tectonic significance of the Snowbird Tectonic Zone


Existing geochronology and sample locations for paired U-Th-Pb and Hf analyses in zircon showing no major changes across the Snowbird Tectonic Zone with respect to 2.60 Ga plutonic rocks.  These data demonstrate that the Rae and Hearne domains were likely together at 2.60 Ga.

Regan et al., 2017b

Spatial and temporal evolution of the Angikuni Lake Region, Nunavut

Simplified geologic map of the Angikuni Lake region, modified from Aspler et al (1999)

Age and petrogenesis of the Chipman and Kazan dike swarms, Snowbird Tectonic zone