Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

Setup during HiTech AlkCarb: an online database of alkaline rock and carbonatite occurrences

Aillik

stripes

Occurrence number: 
031-00-154
Country: 
Canada
Region: 
Labrador
Location: 
Longitude: -58.5, Latitude: 54.5
Carbonatite: 
Yes

In the vicinity of Cape Aillik and Cape Makkovik on the Labrador coast and on offshore islands occur numerous gently dipping dykes (? cone sheets) possibly related to a centre beneath Aillik Bay. The dykes are generally less than 1.5 m thick and vary from ultramafic through carbonated varieties to dykes almost wholly composed of carbonate. The ultramafic dykes consist of phlogopite, augite and olivine in a fine grained carbonate-rich matrix. To some varieties the name aillikite has been given. Syenitic dykes of nepheline, albite, pyroxene and amphibole are also found.

Age: 
K-Ar on biotite gave 570 Ma (Currie, 1976a, p. 115).
References: 

CURRIE, K.L. 1976a. The alkaline rocks of Canada. Bulletin, Geological Survey of Canada, 239: 1-228.
KRANCK, E.H. 1953. Bedrock geology of the seaboard of Labrador between Domino Run and Hopedale, Newfoundland. Bulletin, Geological Survey of Canada, 26: 1-45.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith