Alleghanian reactivation of the Acadian fold belt, Meguma Zone, southwest Nova Scotia

1997/06/01 by Nicholas Culshaw, Montserrat Liesa · 47 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Carboniferous #Deformation (meteorology) #Fold (higher-order function) #Geochemistry #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #Geological formations and processes #Geology #Geomorphology #Metamorphic rock #Nova scotia #Overprinting #Paleontology #Seismology #Shear (geology) #Shear zone #Sinistral and dextral #Structural basin #Tectonics #Transpression #earthquake and tectonic studies

paper · doi:10.1139/e17-068

published in Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 34(6), 833-847 (NRC Research Press)

openalex publication_date 1997/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Shear zones and northwest-verging folds define a 30 km wide belt of deformation that overprints the Acadian fold belt and telescopes isograds in the Meguma Zone in southwest Nova Scotia. The shear zones appear to form a linked system that accommodated convergence-dominated transpression of the Meguma Zone against an irregular Avalon boundary. Available geochronological data indicate a Mid-Carboniferous (Alleghanian–Variscan) age for the overprinting deformation. The Mid-Carboniferous basement reactivation in southwest Nova Scotia is likely coeval with deformation of Carboniferous strata and reactivation of basement structures (Meguma Group) in the northern Meguma Zone. Together, these Mid-Carboniferous structures may define a wide belt of Alleghanian–Variscan deformation across the northwest (cratonward) margin of the Meguma Zone.

Citations

• Sense of displacement on the Cobequid–Chedabucto fault system, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Deep seismic reflection data from the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine: tectonic implications for the northern Appalachians
• 40Ar/39Ar age of shear zones in the southwest Meguma Zone between Yarmouth and Meteghan, Nova Scotia
• Late Paleozoic collision, delamination, short-lived magmatism, and rapid denudation in the Meguma Terrane (Nova Scotia, Canada): constraints from 40Ar/39Ar isotopic data

Cited by

• Devonian plutons in the eastern Meguma terrane, Nova Scotia, Canada: zircon U–Pb, Lu–Hf, and O isotopic compositions, age, and petrogenetic implications
• Petrology, age, and tectonic setting of the Seal Island Pluton, offshore southwestern Nova Scotia

Related

• Anatomy of a terrane boundary: an integrated structural, geographic information system, and remote sensing study of the late Paleozoic Avalon-Meguma terrane boundary, mainland Nova Scotia, Canada
• Kennetcook thrust system: late Paleozoic transpression near the southern margin of the Maritimes Basin, Nova Scotia
• Cape St. Marys shear zone and the Halifax Group – Rockville Notch Group disconformity, southwestern Nova Scotia: structural development and tectonic significance
• 40Ar/39Ar age of shear zones in the southwest Meguma Zone between Yarmouth and Meteghan, Nova Scotia
• Provenance of the Meguma terrane, Nova Scotia: rifted margin of early Paleozoic Gondwana