U-Pb zircon dating of metaigneous rocks from the Nordbreen Nappe of Svalbard's Ny-Friesland suggests their affinity to Northeast Greenland

SIMS U-Pb zircon dating of metaigneous rocks of the Nordbreen Nappe from the West Ny-Friesland terrane (Eastern Basement Province of Svalbard) yields crystallization ages of 1,761 +/- 4 Ma for a felsic metatuff and 1,373 +/- 4 Ma for a metagabbro dyke. The Palaeoproterozoic age of the metatuff is similar to previously obtained ages for various felsic rocks from the study area, whereas the Mesoproterozoic age of the metagabbro has not been thus far documented on Svalbard. However, a similar age pattern has been reported from Northeast Greenland. Therefore, we conclude that the West Ny-Friesland terrane can be correlated with age equivalent units of Northeast Greenland. We also explore similarities and dissimilarities between the study area and other terranes of Svalbard and speculate on regional-scale correlations. Together, the presented new ages provide critical piercing points in palaeogeographic reconstructions of the relatively poorly understood circum-Arctic region.