Oxygen-isotope constraints on terrane boundaries and origin of 1.18–1.13 Ga granitoids in the southern Grenville Province

Granitic rocks related to 1.18 to 1.13 Ga anorthosite-mangerite-charnockitegranite plutonism stitch three terranes in the southwestern Grenville Province (Adirondack Highlands–Morin terrane, Frontenac terrane, Elzevir terrane). Because of the refractory nature of zircon (Zrn), analysis of oxygen-isotope ratios of dated igneous zircon from these rocks allows calculation of δ18O values of original magmas even if the rocks were subjected to late magmatic assimilation, postmagmatic alteration, or metamorphism. Documented variability in δ18O(Zrn) for these granitic rocks corresponds to their geographic location. Seven plutons from the central Frontenac terrane (Ontario) have a high average δ18O(Zrn) = 11.8 ± 1.0‰, which corresponds to δ18O magma values of 12.4–14.3‰. In contrast, twenty-seven other plutons and dikes of this suite (New York, Ontario, and Québec) average δ18O(Zrn) = 8.2 ± 0.6‰, with a typical igneous range of 8.6 to 10.3‰ for δ18O magma values. High δ18O values in the Frontenac terrane are some of the highest magmatic oxygen-isotope ratios recognized worldwide, but these plutons are not unusual with respect to whole-rock chemistry or radiogenic isotope compositions. Such high δ18O values can result from mixing between paragneiss (δ18O ≈ 15‰) and hydrothermally altered basalts and/or oceanic sediments (δ18O ≈ 12‰) in the source region. We propose that high-δ18O, hydrothermally altered basalts and sediments were subducted or underthrust to the base of the Frontenac terrane during closure of an ocean basin between the Frontenac terrane and the Adirondack Highlands at or prior to 1.2 Ga.