Quantifying the diagenetic impact in the late Ediacaran and early Palaeozoic of the Avalon Peninsula using illite “crystallinity”

The Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, defined as type zone Avalonia, is believed to have been impacted by several orogenetic and deformation events since Neoproterozoic. Previous studies determined that lowest degree metamorphism reached in successions was prehnite–pumpellyite or greenschist facies. We sampled measured 13 mainly clastic sedimentary sections ranging from late Ediacaran Early Ordovician analyzed illite “crystallinity” 331 samples using Kübler index. Our results show occurrence diagenetic zones relates lithology, age burial depth, regional setting. Samples adjacent fault bounding Holyrood Horst experienced highest (anchizone) study area. thermal alteration occurs high stratigraphic at centre horst structure where shallow conditions are preserved. Fault zones, which were probably active during least Acadian Orogeny, may served potential paths for hot fluids areas horst, whereas remained almost unaffected any metamorphic overprint. impact decreases Bonavista west area facies anchizonal diagenetic. lower than those major regions Avalonia south area, namely mainland New Brunswick Maine eastward Europe, but part consistent with a few other such Mira Terrane Antigonish Highlands Nova Scotia.