Evolution of the eastern Waddington thrust belt and its relation to the mid-Cretaceous Coast Mountains arc, western British Columbia

Examination of the history of deformation, plutonism and metamorphism reveals the evolution of the eastern Waddington thrust belt as an early Late Cretaceous northeast verging thrust belt. Mid-Cretaceous Coast plutonic arc is involved in the contraction and has provided heat for metamorphism. Radiometric, thermochronologic and structural data suggest that the thrust belt was active at 87 Ma and the occurrence of peak of postkinematic metamorphism between 82 and 84 Ma. Structured data reveal the involvement of synmagmatic contraction in the development of the arc.