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Journal of the Geological Society

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Timing of deposition, orogenesis and glaciation within the Dalradian rocks of Scotland: constraints from U–Pb zircon ages

^{1 1}Division of Earth Sciences, Gregory Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
^{2 2}Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QF, UK
^{3 3}British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA, UK
^{4 4}Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA
^{5 5}Present address: Robertson Research International, Tyn-y-coed Site, Llanrhos, Llandudno LL30 1SA
^{6 6}Present address: Research School of Earth Sciences The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
^{7 7}Present address: Department of Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
^{8 8}Present address: Exploration and Discovery Latin America Inc., P.O. Box 0832-1784, World Trade Center, Panama, Republic of Panama

Abstract: The stratigraphical and structural continuity of the Late Proterozoic Dalradian rocks of the Scottish Highlands is re-examined in the light of new U–Pb zircon ages on the tuffs belonging to the Tayvallich Volcanic Formation (601 ± 4 Ma), and on the late Grampian ‘Newer Gabbros’ (470 ± 9 Ma) of Insch and Morven–Cabrach in Aberdeenshire. These age data, together with the existing 590 ± 2 Ma age for the Ben Vuirich Granite, provide key radiometric constraints on the evolution of the Dalradian block, and the implications arising from these ages are critically assessed. Three main conclusions are drawn.

(1) The entire Caledonian orogeny, although short-lived, is unlikely to have affected sediments of Arenig age and a break probably occurs between those Dalradian sediments of late Proterozoic (<600 Ma) age and the Ordovician rocks of the Highland Border Complex.

(2) A period of crustal thickening probably affected some Dalradian rocks prior to 590 Ma. Such an event is indicated by both the polymetamorphic histories of the lower parts of the Dalradian pile and the contact metamorphic assemblages within the aureole of the Ben Vuirich Granite, which are incompatible with sedimentary thicknesses.

(3) Age constraints on global Late Proterozoic glacial activity also suggest that the Dalradian stratigraphy is broken into discrete smaller units. Models involving continuous deposition of Dalradian sediments from pre-750 Ma to 470 Ma are rejected.

KEYWORDS: Dalradian Orogeny, Neoproterozoic, glaciation, U–Pb, zircons

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