Complex shape of the Palaeoproterozoic Serpovidny refolded mega-sheath fold in northern Fennoscandia revealed by magnetic and structural data

The Serpovidny large-scale synform located in the Arctic zone of the north-eastern Fennoscandian Shield was studied with geological mapping and structural analysis, and its core with a ground detailed magnetic survey. This is a tight to isoclinal mega-sheath fold with the strongly thinned lower limb, almost undeformed upper limb, and the ՙcat's eye՚ core. The innermost rift-related sequence of the fold core is a synformal anticline, whilst limbs are composed of Palaeoproterozoic Keivy Group (metamorphosed redeposited products of mainly deep chemical weathering) and form a syncline. The Serpovidny mega-sheath fold formed during progressive non-coaxial, high strain deformation in simple shear/general shear regimes and a northward thrusting under mid-crustal conditions. This mega-sheath fold evolved from a NNE-verging anticline originated at the base of a nappe transported north-northeastwards from the Palaeoproterozoic Imandra-Varzuga Rift-Belt during the 1.9 Ga Lapland-Kola collisional orogeny. After a thrusting of this nappe onto the Keivy Group, one anticline plunged into these rocks and was transformed into the NNE-closing Serpovidny mega-sheath fold. Its geometric parameters and/or kinematic evolution are close to those of mega-sheath folds in Cretaceous rocks in the Oman Mountains, large-scale synformal anticlines in the Helvetic nappes in the Alps, and a Caledonian nappe in northwest Ireland. [Display omitted] •Palaeoproterozoic Serpovidny synform studied with magnetic and geological mapping.•This is an asymmetric tight to isoclinal mega-sheath fold with the ՙcat's eye՚ core.•Its core is a synformal anticline with weakly deformed upper and thinned lower limbs.•This formed in simple shear/general shear regime at mid-crustal collision conditions.•Its geometry and kinematic evolution are close to those of Phanerozoic sheath folds.