Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Gravity anomalies, block-faulting and Andean-type tectonism in the Eastern Churchill Province

Abstract

Evaluation of the tectonic evolution of Precambrian terrains may be greatly enhanced by selecting appropriate analogues from Phanerozoic examples where the geological history is better understood and where a knowledge of current geodynamic processes is sometimes available. The Churchill Structural Province in the eastern Canadian Shield apparently has a close analogue in the central Andes of Peru where the Nazca plate continues to thrust below the South American plate. We propose that this provides the basis for a tectonic framework that explains several geological features both within the Churchill Province and at the adjacent boundaries with the Superior and Nain provinces.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Taylor, F. C. Can. J. Earth Sci. 8, 579–584 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kearey, P. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 28, 371–378 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dewey, J. F. & Burke, K. C. A. J. Geol. 81, 683–692 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gibb, R. A. & Thomas, M. D. Nature 262, 199–200 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Stephenson, R. A. thesis, Carleton Univ. (1974).

  6. Thomas, M. D., Halliday, D. W. & Stephenson, R. Gravity Map Ser. 157–161 (Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa, 1978).

  7. Taylor, F. C. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 68–43 (1969).

  8. Taylor, F. C. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 70–24 (1970).

  9. Taylor, F. C. Map geol. Surv. Can. 1439A (1977).

  10. Taylor, F. C. Map geol. Surv. Can. 1441A (1977).

  11. Dimroth, E. & Dressler, B. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 78–10, 215–236 (1978).

  12. Myers, J. S. Nature 254, 672–674 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cobbing, E. J. Tectonophysics 36, 157–165 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Cobbing, E. J. J. geol. Soc. Land. 135, 207–218 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Barazangi, M. & Isacks, B. L. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 57, 537–555 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jackson, G. D. & Taylor, F. C. Can. J. Earth. Sci. 9, 1650–1669 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Dimroth, E., Baragar, W. R. A., Bergeron, R. & Jackson, G. D. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 70–40, 45–142 (1970).

  18. Dimroth, E. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 81, 2717–2741 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Seguin, M. Can. J. Earth Sci. 6, 1365–1379 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Leech, G. B., Lowdon, J. A., Stockwell, C. H. & Wanless, R. K. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 63–17 (1963).

  21. Wanless, R. K., Stevens, R. D., Lachance, G. R. & Edmonds, C. M. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 66–17 (1967).

  22. Bridgwater, D., Watson, J. & Windley, B. F. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A273, 493–512 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Morgan, W. C. Pap. geol. Surv. Can. 74–54 (1975).

  24. James, D. E. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 82, 3325–3346 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Stauder, W. J. geophys. Res. 80, 1053–1064 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Burchfiel, B. C. & Davis, G. A. Nature 260, 693–694 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thomas, M., Kearey, P. Gravity anomalies, block-faulting and Andean-type tectonism in the Eastern Churchill Province. Nature 283, 61–63 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/283061a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/283061a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing