METAMORPHISM OF THE MEGUMA GROUP OF NOVA SCOTIA

Abstract

The Meguma group of lithic greywacke, feldspathic quartzite, slate siltstone, and argillite is Early Ordovician or older in age and has undergone both regional and contact metamorphism. Both types of metamorphism have resulted in recrystallization and locally in orientation of newly formed minerals. Metasomatism and retrogressive metamorphism are subordinate and only locally important. Regionally metamorphosed rocks are divided into greenschist and almandine–amphibolite facies, although some assemblages cannot be assigned with certainty. Locally, biotite and garnet isograds are mappable within the greenschist zone.Relationships between regional metamorphism and structural elements (folding) show that deformation preceded regional metamorphism. Intrusion of granitic rocks has produced a zone of contact metamorphism (hornblende–hornfels facies) that is superimposed upon regional greenschist facies rocks, which shows that granite emplacement occurred after the regional grade was reached. Gold–quartz veins are confined to areas lying in the greenschist zone of regional metamorphism, which suggests that the almandine–amphibolite zone is not favorable.