Structural history of ophiolite obduction, Bay of Islands, Newfoundland

The earliest detachment structures are shearing dominated and are preserved in the basal peridotites. They indicate north-directed thrusting. Early accretion occurred in two tectonic situations: 1) at the stage when the basal decollement plane intersected the boundary to the structurally and lithologically diverse Coastal Complex, and 2) at the stage when the basal thrust plane intersected the ocean crust. Deformation switched into the mafic and hydrated footwall lithologies and led to intermittent accretion of mafic oceanic crustal rocks now preserved in the metamorphic sole. -from Authors