The structure and structural dating of the Carn Chuinneag intrusion, Ross-shire

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Synopsis: The Carn Chuinneag intrusion is a foliated granite pluton emplaced in the Moine rocks of the Northern Highlands of Scotland, containing large irregular inclusions of amphibolite. Minor sheet-like apophyses at the margin of the pluton extend into the Moine country rocks. The emplacement occurred after D 1 in static conditions and the Moinian envelope was distended. Structure contours suggest that the intrusion was originally a sheet-like pluton about 4 km (2.48 miles) thick. D 1 structures which are ubiquitous in the Moinian over a wide area surrounding the granite are entirely absent from the pluton. The widespread foliation of the pluton and sheet-like apophyses is equivalent to S 2 in the Moine rocks, and it is folded by major and minor scale D 3 folds closely similar in style to D 3 folds developed in the Moinian both inside and outside the granite aureole. D 4 deformed the whole of the pluton and its Moinian envelope. D 1 and D 2 structures of the Carn Chuinneag area and the Moine Thrust belt at Loch Eriboll are considered to be correlatives. Thus, pre-granite D 1 structures are inferred to be post-Arenig in age.