Evidence from the U-Pb-Hf signatures of detrital zircons for a Baltican provenance for basal Old Red Sandstone successions, northern Scottish Caledonides

Rob A. Strachan, Hugo K. H. Olierook, Christopher L. Kirkland

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    213 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The provenance of Devonian Old Red Sandstone (ORS) continental successions in the northern Scottish Caledonides is poorly known: were they derived locally or from more distal sources? The integration of U-Pb and Hf isotope analyses in detrital zircon crystals reduces potential ambiguities arising from non-unique age populations and yields information on the crustal evolution of source terranes. Samples of basal ORS successions yield zircon U-Pb age groupings of c. 1800–1500 and c. 1200–900 Ma, with minor Neoarchaean, Tonian, Ediacaran and Ordovician contributions. SW Baltica provides the best match for detrital zircon ages and Hf isotopic signatures, and much of the >900 Ma zircon population was probably recycled from Neoproterozoic successions. εHf(t) values in c. 1800–1000 Ma grains reflect the assembly of Nuna, development of a long-lived retreating subduction system along its margin, and Grenville collisional orogenesis. These basal ORS successions were likely deposited within the same regional fluvial system as coeval sedimentary rocks in the Midland Valley, draining an area of positive relief in SW Baltica where continental convergence continued through the Early Devonian.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberjgs2020-241
    JournalJournal of the Geological Society
    Volume178
    Issue number4
    Early online date16 Feb 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2021

    Keywords

    • U-Pb-Hf
    • detrital zircon
    • Caledonian
    • Old Red Sandstone
    • provenance

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Evidence from the U-Pb-Hf signatures of detrital zircons for a Baltican provenance for basal Old Red Sandstone successions, northern Scottish Caledonides'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this