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Cambrian and late Precambrian basaltic igneous activity in the Scottish Dalradian: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

C. M. Graham
Affiliation:
Grant Institute of Geology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW
H. J. Bradbury
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, P.O. Box 6666, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, U.S.A.

Summary

In the evolution of the Scottish Dalradian basin, the climax of widespread tholeiitic magmatism pre-dated or coincided with major basement faulting and the onset of deep marine sedimentation in Lower Cambrian times. Earlier basin-deepening and precursory igneous activity had already occurred. Major and trace element chemistry of low-grade metabasites indicates their affinity with basalts from ocean-spreading centres, or transition to ‘within-plate’ types. Geological evidence favours a tectonic setting for this igneous suite and the Highland Border Series on the NW margin of an actively evolving Lower Cambrian ocean basin, possibly a marginal basin to the Iapetus Ocean System.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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