A new anorthosite/gabbro complex at Nûgssuaq, central West Greenland

Abstract

As part of the GGU activity in the Disko Bugt region, central West Greenland (Kalsbeek, 1989), the authors carried out helicopter-supported geological reconnaissance mapping and stream sediment sampling for geochemical mapping in the area between Jakobshavn Isfjord and Qarajaq Isfjord (fig. 1). A considerable part of the season was spent in the eastern part of the Nûgssuaq peninsula, partly to complete the stream sediment sampling initiated in 1986 (see Steenfelt, 1988) and also because previous geological field work in eastern Nûgssuaq was very limited. The existing geological map at a Rapp. Grønlands geol. Unders. 145. 16-20 (1989) scale of 1:500 000 covering Nûgssuaq is almost entirely based on interpretation of aerial photographs. During the field work large occurrences of hitherto unknown anorthosite/gabbro rocks and supracrustal sequences were discovered in the gneiss terrain. Both the anorthosite/gabbro and supracrustal units appear to be tectonically interleaved with strongly foliated, flat-Iying or shallowly south-dipping orthogneisses, which themselves contain numerous shear zones suggesting substantial subhorizontal movements.