Petrography, geochemistry and age of the Armina Formation Metaturbidites of the Coppename River, Suriname

Abstract

The Armina Formation along the Coppename River is a part of the 2.26-2.10 Ga Paleoproterozoic Marowijne Greenstone Belt of Suriname. It is in faulted contact with the 2.08-2.05 Ga Bakhuis Granulite Belt. This paper studies the relation between these units based on field observations, petrographic, geochemical and age data. The metaturbidites show a volcanic arc-type setting in the north, and a continental arc setting in the south. No traces of any Bakhuis provenance could be demonstrated in the metaturbidites. Detrital zircons from the Armina metaturbidites show ages around 2162 ± 30 Ma, which is similar to the age of Armina Formation detrital zircons elsewhere in northern Suriname. As Bakhuis sillimanite gneisses also show inherited zircons between 2120 and 2150 Ma, the Bakhuis granulites and Armina metaturbidites protoliths might be coeval and share a common provenance area. Younger granites intruding the Armina metaturbidites show ages of 2005 (Voltzberg), 2004 (Raleigh Falls) and 1990 Ma (Vankaaikisula), slightly higher than most Wonotobo granites in western Suriname.