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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1984; v. 14; p. 233-243;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1984.014.01.21
© 1984 Geological Society of London

North America

The deformation and metamorphism of Carboniferous rocks in Maritime Canada and New England

Sharon Mosher & Nicholas Rast

Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, U.S.A.
Department of Geology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, U.S.A.

In the northern Appalachians, rocks showing polyphase Variscan/Alleghenian deformation are found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In Canada the deformed succession ranges from Tournaisian to Permian, and in New England from Westphalian to Stephanian.

The same polyphase deformation sequence (F1–F4) involving the same sequential changes in the geometry and vergence of structures can be recognized in New Brunswick and in Rhode Island. This implies that the Carboniferous rocks in both areas were affected by a similar set of stresses in late Carboniferous-Permian times.

The folded succession in both areas is affected by the essentially post-deformational regional metamorphism which reaches garnet grade in New Brunswick and sillimanite grade in Rhode Island. Granites, probably of anatectic origin, cut through the metamorphic rocks in both areas, but are more prevalent in Rhode Island.

In both areas overthrusting can be related to fold episodes, and late transcurrent and normal faults of a brittle-ductile nature cut earlier structures. Although there are several current plate tectonic interpretations of Variscan events in the northern Appalachians, all are speculative and further data are needed.