Geochronology of Paleoproterozoic Augen Gneisses in the Western Gneiss Region, Norway: Evidence for Sveconorwegian Zircon Neocrystallization and Caledonian Zircon Deformation

The Western Gneiss Region, Western Norway, consists of Palaeoproterozoic crust of Baltica ancestry (Baltican Basement), partly subducted to high- and ultrahigh-pressure (HP-UHP) conditions during the Scandian Orogeny between 415 and 395 Ma. The dominant felsic gneisses carry little evidence for the HP-UHP history, but were affected by amphibolite-facies reworking during exhumation. LA-ICPMS and SIMS zircon U-Pb data collected in augen gneiss samples constrain the magmatic and metamorphic geochronology in this crust. Five samples from the eclogite-bearing HP-UHP basement near Molde yield intrusion ages ranging from 1644 ±6 to 1594 ±10 Ma. Two samples of the structurally underlying eclogite-free basement yield ages of 1685 ±18 and 1644 ±13 Ma, and a sample from the infolded Middle Allochthon Risberget Nappe yields an equivalent age of 1676 ±18 Ma. Two samples of the eclogite-bearing basement contain low Th/U neocrystallized zircon with an age of 950 ±26 Ma. This zircon provides the northernmost direct evidence for at least amphibolite-facies Sveconorwegian metamorphism in unquestionable Baltica crust, close to the known “Sveconorwegian boundary” in the Western Gneiss Region.The Western Gneiss Region (1686-1594 Ma magmatism), the Eastern Segment of the Sveconorwegian Orogen (1795-1640 Ma magmatism), and the Idefjorden terrane hosting the type Gothian active margin magmatism (1659-1520 Ma) probably represent three distinct Proterozoic growth zones of Baltica into which Sveconorwegian reworking propagated. Samples of the eclogite-bearing basement lack Scandian neocrystallized zircon, but do show partial recrystallization of zircon. Paired CL and EBSD images indicate that zircon crystals underwent crystal-plastic deformation during the Scandian subduction-exhumation cycle. They illustrate a relationship between crystal-plastic deformation by dislocation creep, fading of oscillatory growth zoning and loss of radiogenic lead

Magma-driven, high-grade metamorphism in the Sveconorwegian Province, southwest Norway, during the terminal stages of Fennoscandian Shield evolution

Recently it has been argued that the Sveconorwegian orogeny in southwest Fennoscandia comprised a series of accretionary events between 1140 and 920 Ma, behind a long-lived, active continental margin characterized by voluminous magmatism and high-grade metamorphism. Voluminous magnesian granitic magmatism is recorded between 1070 and 1010 Ma (Sirdal Magmatic Belt, SMB), with an apparent drop in activity ca. 1010-1000 Ma. Granitic magmatism resumed ca. 1000-990 Ma, but with more ferroan (A type) compositions (hornblende-biotite granites). This ferroan granitic magmatism was continuous until 920 Ma, and included emplacement of an AMCG (anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite-granite) complex (Rogaland Igneous Complex). Mafic rocks with ages corresponding to the spatially associated granites suggest that heat from underplated mafic magma was the main driving force for lower crustal melting and long-lived granitic magmatism. The change from magnesian to ferroan compositions may reflect an increasingly depleted and dehydrated lower crustal source. High-grade metamorphic rocks more than ~20 km away from the Rogaland Igneous Complex yield metamorphic ages of 1070-1015 Ma, corresponding to SMB magmatism, whereas similar rocks closer to the Rogaland Igneous Complex yield ages between 1100 and 920 Ma, with an apparent age peak ca. 1000 Ma. Ti-in-zircon temperatures from these rocks increase from ~760 to 820 °C ca. 970 Ma, well before the inferred emplacement age of the Rogaland Igneous Complex (930 Ma), suggesting that long-lived, high-grade metamorphism was not directly linked to the emplacement of the latter, but rather to the same mafic underplating that was driving lower crustal melting. Structural data suggest that the present-day regional distribution of high- and low-grade rocks reflects late-stage orogenic doming

Crystallographic Evidence of Drastic Conformational Changes in the Active Site of a Flavin-Dependent

The soil actinomycete Kutzneria sp. 744 produces a class of highly decorated hexadepsipeptides, which represent a new chemical scaffold that has both antimicrobial and antifungal properties. These natural products, known as kutznerides, are created via nonribosomal peptide synthesis using various derivatized amino acids. The piperazic acid moiety contained in the kutzneride scaffold, which is vital for its antibiotic activity, has been shown to derive from the hydroxylated product of l-ornithine, l-N5-hydroxyornithine. The production of this hydroxylated species is catalyzed by the action of an FAD- and NAD(P)H-dependent N-hydroxylase known as KtzI. We have been able to structurally characterize KtzI in several states along its catalytic trajectory, and by pairing these snapshots with the biochemical and structural data already available for this enzyme class, we propose a structurally based reaction mechanism that includes novel conformational changes of both the protein backbone and the flavin cofactor. Further, we were able to recapitulate these conformational changes in the protein crystal, displaying their chemical competence. Our series of structures, with corroborating biochemical and spectroscopic data collected by us and others, affords mechanistic insight into this relatively new class of flavin-dependent hydroxylases and adds another layer to the complexity of flavoenzymes.National Center for Research Resources (U.S.) (P41RR012408)National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (P41GM103473

Provenance of Lower Cretaceous sediments in the Wandel Sea Basin, North Greenland

<p>Detrital zircons in Lower Cretaceous sedimentary formations from the Wandel Sea Basin (Kilen, Peary Land) were dated by U–Pb and analysed for Hf isotopes by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Samples from Kilen and Peary Land display a wide range of U–Pb ages, with significant zircon populations at 1.0–1.1 and 1.8–2.0 Ga. Major hiati occur between 2.1 and 2.4 and from 0.48 to 0.91 Ga. Low initial ϵ_Hf values indicate that recycled crust components are significant in Caledonian-aged zircons, and in Palaeoproterozoic (1.8–2.0 Ga) and Neoarchaean zircon populations. Other U–Pb age populations in the studied samples are dominated by zircons with positive ϵ_Hf values indicating a significant contribution of mantle-derived material in these periods. A narrow range of ϵ_Hf values is commonly seen within a given U–Pb age population, and the values seen in the samples are in general correlated with the different age populations and their frequency. One exception is the 1.8–2.0 Ga population, where variations suggest variable sources. The U–Pb and Hf data are consistent with Greenland as the sole source of zircon from the studied sandstones. </p

The Late Mesoproterozoic Sirdal Magmatic Belt, SW Norway: relationships between magmatism and metamorphism and implications for Sveconorwegian orogenesis

The Late Mesoproterozoic Sveconorwegian Province is commonly correlated with the continent-collision related Grenville Province in eastern Canada. Recently, however, the evolution of the Sveconorwegian Province in SW Norway has been strongly debated, casting doubt on a direct correlation between these provinces. Metamorphism in SW Norway has traditionally been interpreted as representing a main collisional event between ca. 1030 and 970 Ma, followed by a contact metamorphic event at 930 Ma. Magmatism has been grouped into a ‘syn-collisional’ suite at 1050–1035 Ma, a ‘post-collisional’ suite at 980–930 Ma, and an anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite (AMCG) suite at 930 Ma. New detailed mapping and geochronology in the area reveal a very different and much more complex evolution, and require re-evaluation of previously presented models. In this paper, we focus on the introduction and description of a newly discovered, ca. 200 km × 50 km magmatic belt, the Sirdal Magmatic Belt (SMB). Previously mapped as granitic gneisses in many areas, the existence of this large, commonly undeformed and unmetamorphosed granitoid batholith was only recognized a few years ago (Slagstad et al., 2013a). Magmatism in this belt between 1060 and 1020 Ma precedes and overlaps the main Sveconorwegian metamorphic event(s) that affected the region. Our observations of cross-cutting relationships between previously metamorphosed gneisses and SMB rocks indicate that at least one episode of amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism occurred in the region during or prior to emplacement. A lack of widespread metamorphic overprinting and common preservation of igneous textures in most of the SMB indicate that high-grade Sveconorwegian metamorphism after ca. 1020 Ma was local rather than regional in SW Norway. The orogenic evolution of SW Norway is characterized by emplacement of large volumes of granitic magma and more localized UHT metamorphism, which is quite different from the widespread, long-lasting metamorphic evolution observed in the Grenville Province, and may point to different tectonic regimes for the two provinces

Geochronology of the Palaeoproterozoic Kautokeino Greenstone Belt, Finnmark, Norway: Tectonic implications in a Fennoscandia context.

Zircon U–Pb geochronological data in 18 samples from Finnmarksvidda and one sample from the Repparfjord Tectonic Window, northern Norway, constrain the evolution of the Palaeoproterozoic Kautokeino Greenstone Belt and neighbouring units in a Fennoscandia context. The Jergul Complex is an Archaean cratonic block of Karelian affinity, made of variably gneissic, tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite–granite plutonic rocks formed between 2975 ± 10 and 2776 ± 6 Ma. It is associated with the Archaean Goldenvárri greenstone–schist formation. At the base of the Kautokeino Greenstone Belt, the Masi Formation is a typical Jatulian quartzite, hosting a Haaskalehto-type, albite–magnetite-rich, mafic sill dated at 2220 ± 7 Ma. The Likčá and Čáskejas formations represent the main event of basaltic magmatism. A synvolcanic metagabbro dates this magmatism at 2137 ± 5 Ma. The geochemical and Nd isotopic signature of the Čáskejas Formation (eNd = +2.2 ± 1.7) is remarkably similar to coeval dykes intruding the Archaean Karelian Craton in Finland and Russia (eNd = +2.5 ± 1.0). The Čáskejas Formation can be correlated with the Kvenvik Formation in the Alta–Kvænangen Tectonic Window. Two large granite plutons yield ages of 1888 ± 7 and 1865 ± 8 Ma, and provide a maximum age for shearing along two prominent NNW–SSE-oriented shear zones recording Svecokarelian transpression. The Bidjovagge Au–Cu deposit formed around 1886 to 1837 Ma and is also related to this NNW–SSE-oriented shear system. The Ráiseatnu Complex is mainly composed of granitic gneisses formed between 1868 ± 13 and 1828 ± 5 Ma, and containing metasediment rafts and zircon xenocrysts ranging from c. 3100 to 2437 Ma. The Kautokeino Greenstone Belt and Ráiseatnu Complex are interpreted as Palaeoproterozoic, pericontinental, lithospheric domains formed during rifting between Archaean cratonic domains. They accommodated oblique convergence between the Karelian and the Norrbotten Archaean cratons during the Svecokarelian orogeny