Igneous Rock Associations in Canada 3. Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) in Canada and Adjacent Regions: 3 Ga to Present

Earth history is punctuated by numerous periods during which large volumes of mafic magma were emplaced. Such magmas not generated by a 'normal' spreading ridge or by subduction are termed Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs), and consist of continental flood basalts, volcanic rifted margins, oceanic plateaus, ocean basin flood basalts, submarine ridges, and seamount chains. Associated felsic rocks may also be present. LIPs of Mesozoic and Cenozoic age are typically the best preserved. Those of Paleozoic and Proterozoic age are usually more deeply eroded, and consist of flood basalt remnants and a deep-level plumbing system (of giant dyke swarms, sill provinces and layered intrusions). In the Archean the most promising LIP candidates are greenstone belts containing komatiites. Many LIPs have been linked to regional-scale uplift, continental rifting and breakup, and climatic crises. They can be used as precisely dated time markers in the stratigraphic record, and are key targets for Ni-Cu-PGE exploration. LIPs have also become a focus in the debate on the existence and nature of mantle plumes. Canada has a rich record of LIPs. At least 80 candidates are recognized in Canada and adjacent regions, with ages ranging from 3100 to 17 Ma. We review proposed links between the LIP record of Canada and mantle plumes, continental breakup, regional uplift, and ore deposits. However, given that many mafic units in Canada remain poorly characterized, a concerted geochronology campaign with integrated paleomagnetism and geochemistry would be invaluable in expanding the application of the Canadian LIP record to solving major geological problems. RESUME L'histoire de la Terre est ponctuee de nombreuses periodes de mise en place de forts volumes de magma mafiques. De tels magmas qui ne sont pas issus de zones d'expansion « normale » ou de subduction sont appeles Grandes provinces ignees (GPI), et celles-ci sont constituees de basaltes d'epanchements continentaux, de marges de fosse volcaniques, de plateaux oceaniques, d'epanchements de basaltes de bassins oceaniques, de cretes sous-marines, et de chaines de monts sous-marines. Peuvent egalement y etre associees des suites de roches felsiques. Generalement, les GPI du Mesozoique et du Cenozoique sont les mieux preservees. Celles du Proterozoique et du Paleozoique sont generalement plus fortement erodees et sont constituees de vestiges de basaltes d'epanchement et des reseaux de conduits d'origine (reseaux geants de dykes, provinces de filons-couches et d'intrusifs stratifiees). Dans l'Archeen, les meilleurs candidats sont representes par les bandes de roches vertes a komatiites. De nombreuses GPI ont ete associees a des episodes de soulevement regionaux, de derives ou de fragmentations continentales, ainsi qu'a des crises climatiques. Elles peuvent servir de marqueurs temporels stratigraphiques et sont des cibles de premiere importance dans l'exploration de gisements de Cu-Ni-EGP. Les GPI sont aussi devenues des arguments tres consideres dans le debat sur l'existence et la nature des panaches mantelliques. Le Canada possede de riches archives de GPI, et au moins 80 candidatures ont ete isolees sur le territoire canadien et dans les regions adjacentes, leur âge delimitant une fourchette allant de 3 100 Ma a 17 Ma. Nous passons en revue les liens proposes entre la suite des GDI canadiennes d'une part, et celle des panaches mantelliques, des fragmentations continentales, des soulevements regionaux, et des gisements mineraux, d'autre part. Toutefois, vu le pietre etat de caracterisation des unites mafiques au Canada, une campagne de caracterisation geochronologique, paleomagnetique et geochimique serait d'une valeur inestimable pour favoriser l'utilisation des GDI canadiennes pour nous aider a solutionner de grands problemes geologiques.

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