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Ceccato, A.; Menegon, L.; Warren, C. J. and Halton, A. M.
(2020).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2020.104057
Abstract
The occurrence of pre-collisional structural and metamorphic fabrics may control the development of new structures during subsequent orogenic deformation. Structural, petrological and geochronological analyses have been performed on selected samples collected along a NW-SE cross section of the Kalak Nappe Complex (KNC) exposed on Kvaløya Island (Finnmark, Norway), in order to define pre-Caledonian or Caledonian affinity of deformation fabrics. Nappes within the KNC experienced different pre-collisional tectonometamorphic histories, resulting in contrasting pre-Caledonian fabrics, which in turn controlled orogen-scale strain partitioning and metamorphic re-equilibration during Caledonian shortening. Caledonian deformation during top-to-SE-directed thrusting occurred at 550–675 °C and 0.8–1.0 GPa in the presence of fluid. Suitably-oriented pre-collisional fabrics were firstly exploited as zones of localized shearing internal to the Nappe and subjected to metamorphic re-equilibration during shortening. Fold geometry during Caledonian thrusting was also controlled by the orientation of pre-Caledonian fabrics. SE-verging asymmetric folds were developed after minor tilting of pre-Caledonian upright folds with orogen-parallel hinge in the hinterland consistently with top-to-SE shearing. Shear-parallel folds displaying orogen-perpendicular hinge lines resulted from top-to-SE general shearing of pre-collisional upright folds showing pre-collisional orogen-perpendicular hinge lines. Caledonian metamorphism appears to have been accompanied by infiltration of radiogenic 40Ar-rich fluids, which affected the Ar isotopic system in synkinematic micas.