Archaean and early Proterozoic basement provinces in Greenland

Abstract

Information about the age and plate-tectonic setting of Precambrian basement terrains is of major importance for the evaluation of their mineral potential. The Geological Survey of Greenland (GGU) has therefore over the last two decades collected and published geochronological information on Greenland basement areas, based on whole rock Rb-Sr, Pb-Pb, Sm-Nd and zircon U-Pb isotope data. These isotope data, together with other geochemical information, also yield important clues for the plate-tectonic setting of the investigated terrains. GGU does not have laboratory facilities for isotope work, and most studies were therefore carried out in cooperation with university scientists from Denmark and abroad. This effort has led to the recognition of a number of distinct Precambrian basement provinces. A broad outline of results is given below.