The plutonic igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks of southern Liverpool Land, central East Greenland, part of a supposed Caledonian and Precambrian complex

Abstract

Layered metamorphic formations in southern Liverpool Land are disposed in dome-shaped structures with inclinations everywhere gentie. Meta-igneous and meta-sedimentary rock types are represented as well as formations of less clear affinities. Rocks of eclogitic character comprise part of one of the formations which, together with others of the layered succession, passes laterally into a less-deformed complex containing discordant contact relations of plutonic igneous type. The Hurry Inlet granite is a posttectonic, post-metamorphic formation cropping out in the extreme north-west of the area. The earliest detectable events indicate emplacement of granodiorite into sedimentary or metasedimentary formations. Subsequently, these rocks of igneous and sedimentary origin were raised to upper amphibolite or granulite facies with some deformation leading to the prominent layering and including, perhaps, their juxtaposition with eclogitic rocks originating at great depth. Retrogression to 'normal' amphibolite facies followed, with widespread development of hydrous minerals, pegmatites, etc. The position of limited cataclasis with respect to this later stage of metamorphism is not abundantly clear. Emplacement of the Hurry Inlet granite entirely post-dates all of these events.