Detrital zircon ages of Cambrian and Devonian sandstones from Estonia, central Baltica: a possible link to Avalonia during the Late Neoproterozoic

Abstract

Detrital zircon U–Pb ages of Lower Cambrian and Middle Devonian have been determined for sandstone in Estonia through LA-ICP-MS (Nu instruments, Wrexham, UK). Both sandstones have a similar zircon age spectrum with distinct age clusters that reflect the basement geology of Baltica, i.e. 2800–2700 Ma (Kola–Karelia), 1900–1700 Ma (Svecofennian), 1600–1500 Ma (Rapakivi) and 1200–1000 Ma (Sveconorwegian). Noteworthy is a cluster at 750–550 Ma, because rocks of such age are absent within the core of Baltica. The present results suggest a possible link between Baltica and Avalonia/Cadomia during the Late Neoproterozoic.

Keywords::

• Cambrian
• Devonian
• Baltica
• detrital zircon
• U–Pb age
• Avalonia

Acknowledgements

Guido Meinhold and Peter Dahlqvist provided constructive review comments on the original MS. James Dohm corrected the English. T. Sato, D. Kofukuda and R. Hayashi helped in mineral separation. Y. Isozaki was funded by the Japan Society of Promoting Science for this research (no. 20224012). This short paper is a contribution to the IGCP Project 591.