Caledonian and Baikalian tectonic structures on Varanger Peninsula, Finnmark, Norway, and coastal areas of Kola Peninsula, NW Russia

Abstract

Based on data compiled from biostratigraphy, radiometric dating and palaeomag- netic studies, contractional deformation and low-grade metamorphism in the Neo- proterozoic to earliest Palaeozoic successions of coastal areas of NE Norway and NW Russia have been constrained to two main stages. (1) Late Vendian to Early Cambrian Baikalian deformation, with the mainly NW-SE trending folds, affected Upper Riphean sequences of Rybachi and Srendi in Russia. These structures can be followed into the eastern part of the Varanger Peninsula. (2) Late Silurian the Early Devonian, Scandian deformation and metamorphism, with folds and thrusts of mainly NE-SW trend, are recorded principally in western parts of Varanger,in the Caledonian parautochthon and allochthon. Cross-folds and second cleavages in parts of NE Varanger may also be of Caledonian age.