Abstract
The Connemara region of the western Irish Caledonides records the evolution of a short-lived mid-Ordovician (c. 475-463 Ma) continental magmatic arc that intruded into Dalradian metasedimentary rocks during regional ductile deformation. New U-Pb geochronological data for intermediate intrusive phases and anatexis in southern Connemara are consistent with the relative age succession suggested by field relationships. Calc-alkaline plutons (quartz diorites) were emplaced into the Dalradian sequence and into the Connemara Gabbros at about 467 ± 2 Ma, coeval with anatexis, which was manifested by a 467 ± 2 Ma granitic pegmatite and 468 ± 2 Ma leucosome formation in a metapelite. Metasomatic diopside rocks from west-central Connemara and a calcsilicate rock from southern Connemara yield U-Pb titanite dates of c. 462 ± 2 Ma and 463 ± 2 Ma, respectively. These dates postdate the metamorphic peak by at least five million years and indicate titanite crystallization at a late stage during the metamorphic history. On the basis of U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar geochronological data we conclude that the cooling history of southern Connemara following anatexis was simple and brief, at a minimum rate of 35°C Ma-1 between 468 and 460 Ma, and 14°C Ma-1 between 460 and 450 Ma.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1217-1230 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of the Geological Society |
Volume | 156 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Ar/Ar
- Connemara
- Deformation
- Magmatism
- Metamorphism
- U-Pb
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology