Unravelling a long-term multi-event thermal record in the cratonic interior of southern Finland through apatite fission track termochronology

G.R. Murrell, P.A.M. Andriessen

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Apatite fission track thermochronology (AFTT) has been applied to the Precambrian basement rocks of southern Finland in an attempt to detect within the long-term thermal history, thermal manifestations in the cratonic interior of tectonic events at the craton margin. The likely subtle magnitude of these manifestations means that AFTT is a useful technique for such a study due to its low temperature sensitivity. A total of 10 samples have been analysed, generating AFTT ages, length statistics and thermal models. Ages range from 313 ± 22 to 848 ± 60 Ma and mean track lengths range from 11.0 ± 1.6 to 13.3 ± 1.8 μm. The data suggests the presence of thermal overprinting of an earlier cooling event. Thermal modelling produces similar results for all samples and typically contains the following major events: (1) two phases of Late-Proterozoic cooling, (2) Late-Silurian re-heating, (3) Cenozoic cooling. The first phase of Late-Proterozoic cooling is interpreted to be due to aulacogen inversion as a result of stress propagation from the collisional tectonics of the Sveconorwegian orogeny. The second phase is discussed in relation to passive margin formation and possible asthenospheric diaper induced relief and exhumation. The Late-Silurian re-heating coincides in time with a proposed Caledonian foreland basin. The Cenozoic cooling is interpreted to represent the latest exposure resulting from North Atlantic Margin formation induced uplift and associated denudation. © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)695-707
    Number of pages12
    JournalPhysics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part A: Solid Earth and Geodesy
    Volume29
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2004

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Unravelling a long-term multi-event thermal record in the cratonic interior of southern Finland through apatite fission track termochronology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this