Tectonothermal history of the Hercynian continental crust of the Serre (southern Calabria, Italy) monitored by Rb–Sr biotite resetting

In the Serre mountains of Calabria, Italy, an exposed section of the continental crust, as left by the Hercynian orogeny, consists of intermediate-lower to upper crustal units. Huge masses of granitoids separate the lower from the upper crustal units. Many mica ages have been obtained from metamorphic and plutonic rocks, which have been interpreted as reflecting continuous cooling or discrete Mesozoic events. A reappraisal of previously determined isotopic data integrated with new Rb–Sr biotite ages is presented and assessed at regional scale to better constrain the post-Hercynian geological evolution of the continental crust of the Serre. The ages cover a wide span of time and form clusters which fit a model involving magmatic, hydrothermal and tectonic events preceding and accompanying the opening and closure of the Tethyan ocean.     

Low-pressure metamorphism of Palaeozoic pelites in the Aspromonte, southern Calabria: constraints for the thermal evolution in the Calabrian crustal cross-section during the Hercynian orogeny

During Hercynian low-pressure/high-temperature metamorphism of Palaeozoic metasediments of the southern Aspromonte (Calabria), a sequence of metamorphic zones at chlorite, biotite, garnet, staurolite–andalusite and sillimanite–muscovite grade was developed. These metasediments represent the upper part of an exposed tilted cross-section through the Hercynian continental crust. P–T information on their metamorphism supplements that already known for the granulite facies lower crust of the section and allows reconstruction of the thermal conditions in the Calabrian crust during the late Hercynian orogenic event. Three foliations formed during deformation of the metasediments. The peak metamorphic assemblages grew mainly syntectonically (S2) during regional metamorphism, but mineral growth outlasted the deformation. This is in accordance with the textural relationships found in the lower part of the same crustal section exposed in the northern Serre. Pressure conditions recorded for the base of the upper crustal metasediments are c. 2.5 kbar and estimated temperatures range from <350 °C in the chlorite zone, increasing to 500 °C in the lower garnet zone, and reaching 620 °C in the sillimanite–muscovite zone. Geothermal gradients for the peak of metamorphism indicate a much higher value for the upper crust (c. 60 °C km^?1) than for the granulite facies lower crust (30–35 °C km^?1). The small temperature difference between the base of the upper crust (620 °C at c. 2.5 kbar) and the top of the lower crust (690 °C at 5.5 kbar) can be explained by intrusions of granitoids into the middle crust, which, in this crustal section, took place synchronously with the regional metamorphism at c. 310– 295 Ma. It is concluded that the thermal structure of the Calabrian crust during the Hercynian orogeny – as it is reflected by peak metamorphic assemblages – was mainly controlled by advective heat input through magmatic intrusions into all levels of the crust.     

A two‐stage exhumation of the Variscan crust: U–Pb LA‐ICP‐MS and Rb–Sr ages from Greater Kabylia,Maghrebides

The significance and role of major shear zones are paramount to understanding continental deformation and the exhumation of deep crustal levels. LA‐ICPMS U–Pb dating of monazites, combined with Rb–Sr analyses of biotites, from an anatectic metapelite from Greater Kabylia (Algeria) highlights the history of shear zone development and the subsequent exhumation of deep crustal levels in the internal zones of the Maghrebides. Monazites give an age of 275.4 ± 4.1 Ma (2σ) dating the thermal peak coeval with anatexis. This age is identical to those recorded in other crystalline terranes from south‐easternmost Europe (i.e. South Alpine and Austro‐Alpine domains) that suffered crustal thinning during the continental rifting predating the Tethys opening. Rb–Sr analyses of biotites yield a cooling age of 23.7 ± 1.1 Ma related to the exhumation of the buried Variscan crust during the Miocene as an extrusive slice, roughly coeval with the emplacement of nappes, and shortly followed by lithospheric extension leading to the opening of the Alboran sea.     

淡色花岗岩的岩石学和地球化学特征及其成因

淡色花岗岩(leucogranite)是一类高铝高硅碱的酸性侵入岩,主要地球化学特征是:SiO2≥72%,Al2O3≥14%,Na2O+K2O~8.5%,富Rb,亏损Th、Ba、Sr,稀土总量较一般花岗岩低(∑REE=(40~120)×10-6),且表现为中等分异的轻稀土弱富集型,一般具有Eu负异常;Sr-Nd-Pb-O同位素指示其岩浆明显的陆壳来源。淡色花岗岩主要发育于陆壳(俯冲)碰撞加厚带,由逆冲折返的俯冲板片变沉积岩部分经过脱水熔融产生。淡色花岗岩可划分为三种不同的岩石类型:(1)二云母型淡色花岗岩,由变泥质岩(或变硬砂岩)在中地壳水平经黑云母(和/或白云母)脱水熔融产生;(2)电气石型淡色花岗岩,由变泥质岩在较低温度下经白云母脱水熔融产生;(3)石榴子石型淡色花岗岩,由长英质下地壳经黑云母脱水熔融产生。源区残留独居石、磷灰石等富REE矿物是淡色花岗岩亏损REE、Th等元素的原因。源岩为变泥质岩及源区残留钾长石是淡色花岗岩亏损Sr、Ba的主要原因。     

拉萨地体东南部整体地壳成分及其成因分析

造山带地壳结构和成分的基本特征对于认识大陆地壳成分演化和区域成矿背景具有重要意义.综合青藏高原拉萨地体东南部地球物理、高温高压岩石物性和岩浆岩地球化学资料,分析该地区地壳整体成分特征,并探讨其可能成因.该地区平均地壳波速显著低于全球大陆和造山带地壳的平均值,表明地壳整体具有中酸性成分,下地壳特征也可由中性岩石(残余体性质的中性含石榴石麻粒岩)解释.拉萨地体东南部整体地壳成分特征应与多阶段长英质化有关,包括碰撞前大陆弧演化阶段(以堆晶或残余体下地壳拆沉为主)和碰撞后高原垮塌阶段(以加厚下地壳拆沉为主,伴随印度古老长英质陆壳物质的俯冲回返/构造底侵).拉萨地体是研究大陆地壳成分演化的绝佳区域,亟待进一步开展多学科综合研究.     

大陆地壳深熔作用中自由水的贡献——以高喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩为例

高喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩是印度与亚洲板块碰撞过程中,地壳深熔作用的产物.尽管自由水对高喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩形成的重要性已被多次报导,但仍存在许多争议.本研究汇编了高喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩的全岩地球化学数据,证明高喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩可以由脱水熔融形成和水致熔融形成.进一步通过热力学模拟获得锆石结晶,并与锆石Ti温度计比较,限定了不...     

Wet or dry? The difficulty of identifying the presence of water during crustal melting

Partial melting of continental crust and evolution of granitic magmas are inseparably linked to the availability of H₂O. In the absence of a free aqueous fluid, melting takes place at relatively high temperatures by dehydration of hydrous minerals, whereas in its presence, melting temperatures are lowered, and melting need not involve hydrous minerals. With the exception of anatexis in water‐saturated environments where anhydrous peritectic minerals are absent, there is no reliable indicator that clearly identifies the presence of a free aqueous fluid during anatexis. Production of Ab‐rich magmas or changes in LILE ratios, such as an increase in Sr and decrease in Rb indicating increased involvement of plagioclase, are rough guidelines to the presence of aqueous fluids. Nevertheless, all indicators have caveats and cannot be unequivocally applied, allowing for the persistence of a bias in the literature towards dehydration melting. Investigation of mineral equilibria modelling of three metasedimentary protoliths of the Kangaroo Island migmatites in South Australia, shows that the main indicator for the presence of small volumes of excess water under upper amphibolite to lower granulite facies conditions (660–750°C) is the melt volume produced. Melt composition, modal content or chemical composition of peritectic minerals such as cordierite, sillimanite or garnet are relatively insensitive to the presence of free water. However, the mobility of melt during open system behaviour makes it difficult to determine the melt volume produced. We therefore argue that the presence of small volumes of excess water might be much more common than so far inferred, with large impact on the buffering of crustal temperatures and fertility, and therefore rheology of the continental crust.     

西藏林周县扎雪地区林子宗群帕那组火山岩的地球化学特征及其地质意义

分布于西藏林周县扎雪地区的林子宗群帕那组火山岩,主要由流纹质-粗安质熔岩和火山碎屑岩组成。岩石总体上反映出高Al高K的特点,Al₂O₃的质量分数平均为14.55%,K₂O+Na₂O的质量分数平均为8.78%,K₂O质量分数平均为.77%,K₂O/Na₂O比值平均为2.07,显示了高钾钙碱性-钾玄质火山岩的特征。稀土配分曲线呈轻稀土富集的右倾形式,并具有中等-强烈的负Eu异常。微量元素Rb、Th强烈富集,Ta、Ba、U相对富集,而Y、Yb、Sr等相对亏损。岩石地球化学特征显示了陆壳重熔的特点。研究表明,扎雪地区帕那组火山岩是40 Ma左右陆壳加厚并部分熔融形成的,是印度板块和欧亚板块后碰撞作用的产物。     

Geochronological constraints on the timing of granitoid magmatism, metamorphism and post-metamorphic cooling in the Hercynian crustal cross-section of Calabria

Exposed cross‐sections of the continental crust are a unique geological situation for crustal evolution studies, providing the possibility of deciphering the time relationships between magmatic and metamorphic events at all levels of the crust. In the cross‐section of southern and northern Calabria, U–Pb, Rb–Sr and K–Ar mineral ages of granulite facies metapelitic migmatites, peraluminous granites and amphibolite facies upper crustal gneisses provide constraints on the late‐Hercynian peak metamorphism and granitoid magmatism as well as on the post‐metamorphic cooling. Monazite from upper crustal amphibolite facies paragneisses from southern Calabria yields similar U–Pb ages (295–293±4 Ma) to those of granulite facies metamorphism in the lower crust and of intrusions of calcalkaline and metaluminous granitoids in the middle crust (300±10 Ma). Monazite and xenotime from peraluminous granites in the middle to upper crust of the same crustal section provide slightly older intrusion ages of 303–302±0.6 Ma. Zircon from a mafic to intermediate sill in the lower crust yields a lower concordia intercept age of 290±2 Ma, which may be interpreted as the minimum age for metamorphism or intrusion. U–Pb monazite ages from granulite facies migmatites and peraluminous granites of the lower and middle crust from northern Calabria (Sila) also point to a near‐synchronism of peak metamorphism and intrusion at 304–300±0.4 Ma. At the end of the granulite facies metamorphism, the lower crustal rocks were uplifted into mid‐crustal levels (10–15 km) followed by nearly isobaric slow cooling (c. 3 °C Ma^?1) as indicated by muscovite and biotite K–Ar and Rb–Sr data between 210±4 and 123±1 Ma. The thermal history is therefore similar to that of the lower crust of southern Calabria. In combination with previous petrological studies addressing metamorphic textures and P–T conditions of rocks from all crustal levels, the new geochronological results are used to suggest that the thermal evolution and heat distribution in the Calabrian crust were mainly controlled by advective heat input through magmatic intrusions into all crustal levels during the late‐Hercynian orogeny.     

Tectonic structure and post-Hercynian evolution of the Serre, Calabrian Arc, southern Italy: Geological, petrological and radiometric evidences

Conflicting opinions exist concerning the structure and the post-Hercynian evolution of the Serre. The present paper deals with these topics on the basis of new geological, petrological and radiometric evidence. The composition of the so-called Stilo and Polia-Copanello units has been redefined. The above domains—former sections of upper and lower Palaeozoic continental crust respectively—came into contact, due to transcurrent movements 130–140 Ma ago. A significant vertical component during the transcurrent movements, probably, exhumed the former section of lower crust. The above domains, juxtaposed, were successively involved as a single kinematic body in the Alpine orogenesis. The results enable us to make inferences for the Calabrian Arc evolution and call attention to similarities between an Austro-Alpine element (Stilo + Polia-Copanello) of the Calabrian chain and a South-Alpine sector of the Alps (Ivrea + Ceneri zones).     

Migration-circulation processes and enrichment-mineralization mechanism of lithium-beryllium elements in the continental crust.SCIEI北大核心CSCD

锂铍金属是世界关键金属资源,矿床类型多样,成矿作用发生在大陆地壳。但大陆地壳中锂铍元素的迁移-循环规律及不同锂铍矿床间的成因联系尚不清楚。本文系统地总结与梳理了大陆地壳结构与物质循环特征和不同类型锂铍金属矿床间的成因联系,提出大陆地壳锂铍循环-成矿系统的概念与模型,并将大陆地壳锂铍的迁移与循环划分为四个过程:变质过程、深熔过程、花岗岩浆过程、花岗质岩浆岩风化、淋滤与蚀变的浅-表生过程。沉积岩中锂铍元素在变质过程中可富集到一些变质矿物中,一些富锂铍黏土矿物也在变质过程转变成新的富锂铍变质矿物(如绿泥石、云母与堇青石);地壳深熔过程使得锂铍元素从变质矿物中释放出来并聚集在花岗岩浆中,麻粒岩相深熔(如黑云母脱水熔融与堇青石分解熔融)可能是锂铍大规模成矿的主要熔融方式;绝大多数锂铍矿床与花岗岩浆及其岩浆岩有关,是花岗岩浆与花岗质岩浆岩在不同演化阶段与不同方式富集成矿的结果;浅-表生过程对锂铍花岗岩-伟晶岩和流纹岩与流纹质凝灰岩的物理化学改造,可形成盐湖卤水型锂矿床、黏土型锂矿床以及各种次生锂铍矿床。变质过程中锂铍的迁移与富集机制,大型-超大型花岗岩-伟晶岩型锂铍矿床形成条件与关键控制因素等问题,是亟待研究与思考的科学问题。     

Terrestrial geochemistry of Cd,Bi, Tl,Pb, Zn and Rb

About 2000 common magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and rockforming minerals contained in 465 individual samples have been analyzed for 6 trace metals and potassium with high precision, mainly by combined distillation and AAS methods. Estimates of average abundances in the continental crust are: 98 ppb Cd. 82 ppb Bi. 490 ppb Tl, 14.8 ppm Pb, 77 ppm Zn and 98 ppm Rb (K/Rb: 223). These averages are close to the mean concentrations of the 6 elements in sedimentary and in low to medium grade metamorphic rocks. In relation to the upper mantle the earth's crust has very effectively accumulated Rb, Pb, Tl (and Bi). Cd and Zn are equally distributed between the upper and lower crust. Bi, Tl, Rb, Pb and K are accumulated in the upper relative to the lower continental crust by factors between 3.5 and 1.4. This is mainly due to higher concentrations in granites and lower abundances in granulites relative to gneisses and schists. The five metals form large ions with bulk coefficients less than one for the partition between metamorphic rocks and anatectic granitic melts. The major hosts of Rb, Tl, Pb and Bi in rocks are minerals with 8- to 12-coordinated sites such as mica, K-feldspar, plagioclase etc. (except for some preference of Bi for sphene and apatite). As examples of significant correlations those of Pb with Tl, K, Bi and Rb in mafic rocks and of Bi with K, Rb, Tl and Pb in sedimentary rocks can be reported. In granites and gneisses hydroxyl containing Fe²⁺-Mg-silicates are major host minerals for Zn and Cd. Except in some carbonate rocks Cd has no preference for Ca minerals.     

A seismic reflection-refraction experiment across the exposed lower crust in Calabria (southern Italy): first results

Exposed crystalline basement of the Serre Mountains in Calabria presents a tilted block of a nearly complete section of the Hercynian continental lower crust (HCLC). In addition to petrological and structural data from surface mapping, and petrophysical data from the laboratory, a seismic reflection-refraction experiment was conducted in May 1990. This consisted of a 40 km long N-S profile crossing the HCLC and of four short transverse profiles, each recorded using 3-component receivers with an 80 m spacing and explosive sources.
The reflectivity of the outcropping lower crustal units is lower than theoretically predicted from the observed compositional layering. A low-velocity zone, outcropping in the north, and dipping to the south, marks the contact between the HCLC and the underlying Alpine metamorphic units. Below this zone, the deeper crust appears well-structured by strong and continuous, discrete reflections down to 6.5–8 s t.w.t. (presumably the crust-mantle boundary at 19–24 km depth) with a dominant dip toward the south.
Analysis of refracted-wave velocities reveals values systematically lower by up to 30% than laboratory data on rock samples or calculated data from modal analysis. This discrepancy can only partly be explained by the effect of microcracks (10%), the underestimation of the amount of leucosomes (2–5%) and the effect of seismic anisotropy (0–5%). The remaining discrepancy must be attributed to large scale alteration of the rocks due to Apennine tectogenetic events.     

Local equilibrium during the contact metamorphism of siliceous dolomites in Kasuga-mura,Gifu-ken,Japan

Metamorphism to intermediate-pressure granulite grade had a minimal effect on the geochemistry of layered gneisses in central Australia. The overall composition of the terrain is granodioritic and major element compositions have equivalents in igneous and sedimentary supracrustal rocks. K, Rb, Sr and probably Th concentrations, and K/Rb ratios are normal; the initial isotopic composition of Sr shows the usual range of crustal rocks. However, U is strongly depleted and was lost by a pervasive process, probably dehydration, rather than by anatexis. Comparison with other areas in which major chemical depletions and unusually low initial Sr isotopic ratios are postulated leads to alternative interpretations of these areas which do not involve large scale chemical migration. An intermediate composition for the lower crust may result from a high density of basic intrusions rather than chemical processes.     

滇西昌宁-孟连带三叠纪花岗岩地球化学、年代学及其意义

癞痢头山、云岭和耿马岩体位于昌宁-孟连带的中北段,主要岩性为二长花岗岩,锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果表明,这三个岩体几乎同期侵位于约231Ma。这三个岩体的SiO₂含量为65.65%～67.68%,富钾(K₂O/Na₂O=2.71%～1.42%)和较低钙CaO(1.35%～2.98%),铝饱和指数(A/CNK)为1.10～1.22,富集Rb、Ba、Th、U、K、La和LREE等元素,相对亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、Zr及Hf等高场强元素。这些特征表明3个岩体属于强过铝质高钾钙碱性S型花岗岩。这三个岩体负且变化范围大的锆石ε_Hf(t)值(-26.8～-8.2)和古老的Hf同位素地壳模式年龄(1.2～2.7Ga),表明它们主要来源于古老地壳物质(如含长石和黑云母且贫粘土的杂砂屑岩)的重熔,并有不同程度的幔源物质加入。它们可能侵位于后碰撞背景,可能指示缅泰马微陆块与思茅地块的主体碰撞在232Ma之前(即晚三叠世之前)已经发生。     

Crustal Structure across the Northwestern Margin of South China Sea: Evidence for Magma‐poor Rifting from a Wide‐angle Seismic Profile

We present results from a 484 km wide-angle seismic profile acquired in the northwest part of the South China Sea (SCS) during OBS2006 cruise. The line that runs along a previously acquired multi-channel seismic line (SO49-18) crosses the continental slope of the northern margin, the Northwest Subbasin (NWSB) of the South China Sea, the Zhongsha Massif and partly the oceanic basin of the South China Sea. Seismic sections recorded on 13 ocean-bottom seismometers were used to identify refracted phases from the crustal layer and also reflected phases from the crust-mantle boundary (Moho). Inversion of the traveltimes using a simple start model reveals crustal images in the study area. The velocity model shows that crustal thickness below the continental slope is between 14 and 23 km. The continental part of the line is characterized by gentle landward mantle uplift and an abrupt oceanward one. The velocities in the lower crust do not exceed 6.9 km/s. With the new data we can exclude a high-velocity lower crustal body (velocities above 7.0 km/s) at the location of the line. We conclude that this part of the South China Sea margin developed by a magma-poor rifting. Both, the NWSB and the Southwest Sub-basin (SWSB) reveal velocities typical for oceanic crust with crustal thickness between 5 and 7 km. The Zhongsha Massif in between is extremely stretched with only 6–10 km continental crust left. Crustal velocity is below 6.5 km/s; possibly indicating the absence of the lower crust. Multi-channel seismic profile shows that the Yitongansha Uplift in the slope area and the Zhongsha Massif are only mildly deformed. We considered them as rigid continent blocks which acted as rift shoulders of the main rift subsequently resulting in the formation of the Northwest Sub-basin. The extension was mainly accommodated by a ductile lower crustal flows, which might have been extremely attenuated and flow into the oceanic basin during the spreading stage. We compared the crustal structures along the northern margin and found an east-west thicken trend of the crust below the continent slope. This might be contributed by the east-west sea-floor spreading along the continental margin.     

Au-bearing gabbro-tonalite-granodiorite-granite plutons of the urals: Age,geochemistry, and magmatic and ore evolution

Gabbro-tonalite-granodiorite-granite (GTGG) plutons productive for gold are suprasubduction intrusive bodies formed at an Andean-type active continental margin 410–380, 365–355, and 320–290 Ma ago. The Devonian plutons are situated in the southeastern marginal continental zone, whereas the Carboniferous plutons occur in the northwestern zone. All GTGG plutons are mantle-crustal. Their formation started with hydrous basic magmatism and was accompanied by such magmatism up to the final stage. Mantle-derived amphibole gabbro and diorite experienced partial melting (anatexis) in the lower crust under a pressure of 6–10 kbar, giving birth to the tonalite-granodiorite members of the GTGG series. The latter, in turn, were involved in anatexis with the formation of adamellite and granite, immediately accompanied by hydrothermal gold mineralization. The multistep anatexis is the main petrogenetic process responsible for the gold resource potential of GTGG plutons. In the process of anatexis occurring under high fluid saturation, gold was repeatedly removed from rocks into fluid, facilitating its concentration in ore deposits.     

中国东南部花岗岩成因与地壳演化

中国东南部不同时代花岗岩类的分布十分广泛 ,各类花岗岩的出露面积达 2 0 0 0 0 0km2 以上。其中 ,前侏罗纪花岗岩大部分具有较低的ε(Nd ,t)、较高的Ni(87Sr) /Ni(86Sr)和较古老的Nd模式年龄 ,相似于周围的前寒武纪基底变质岩。因此 ,它们的主体属壳源型 ,其成因可能主要同华夏地块与扬子地块之间的多次碰撞拼贴有关 ,由当时被加厚的地壳在降压条件下部分熔融形成。燕山期花岗岩在中国东南部分布最广。其中 ,呈东西向展布的燕山早期花岗岩 (南岭花岗岩 )被认为是与印支运动有联系的后造山花岗岩组合 ,多数具壳源型特征。而主要分布于东南沿海的燕山晚期花岗岩则不同 ,它们具有较高的ε(Nd ,t)、较低的Ni(87Sr) /Ni(86Sr)和相对年轻的Nd模式年龄 ,反映其源区中含有较多的地幔组分。它们的形成可能同太平洋板块俯冲、玄武岩浆底侵以及由此引起的地壳深熔和壳幔混合有关。根据花岗岩的Nd模式年龄以及地壳岩石中继承锆石U Pb年龄 ,认为中国东南部地壳具幕式生长特征 ,古—中元古代为主要的生长期。     

北山地区古元古界北山岩群中长英质脉内锆石U- Pb年龄及其地质意义

深熔作用是大陆地壳分异、元素迁移富集的重要地质过程。位于中亚造山带南缘的北山地区,笔者等对前寒武系北山岩群进行了研究,结果表明该岩群普遍经历了角闪岩相变质及深熔作用,长英质浅色脉体分布广泛,却鲜有文献报道。绵山地区出露的古元古代北山岩群斜长角闪岩及相关的长英质浅色脉体的野外地质特征、相互关系共同指示了北山岩群变质地层经历了部分熔融,熔体在原地分凝聚积。锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测定结果表明,顺北山岩群变质地层片理产出的长英质浅色脉体锆石n(²⁰⁶Pb)/n(²³⁸U)加权平均年龄约为370 Ma,表明深熔作用发生时间为晚泥盆世;一测点的n(²⁰⁷Pb)/n(²⁰⁶Pb)年龄为1623±12 Ma,与前人报道的北山岩群测年结果高度相近,虽此年龄值不足为证,但结合产出特征,可能指示长英质浅色脉体的源岩为北山岩群。此外,北山岩群中深熔作用普遍发育,露头可见大量的石榴子石、电气石、云母类矿物,指示区内部分稀有元素成矿潜力巨大。     

The deep structure of the central Alps inferred from both geophysical and geological data

Gravity surveys of the past century established that mountains have roots, seismic refraction lines shot in the second half of this century confirmed the downbulge of the Moho under the Alps, and recent reflection traverses provided new details on the behaviour of crustal layers in the deep part of the Alps. However, geophysical data are ambiguous geologically. For models of the root in terms of rock distribution to be tectonophysically acceptable, they must be the retrodeformable result of kinematic sequence that fits the geological surface data. For a cross-section through the Swiss Alps based on refraction data and somewhat modified by the recent reflection traverses, a kinematic model compatible with large-scale geological data may be obtained by the superposition of three Neogene phases with alternating vergence. Although Alpine collision is largely dextrally compressive in the central Alps, the N-S component may be discussed in a cross-section. Particularly puzzling geophysical features include a high-velocity body in the middle crust and the disappearance of the layered foreland crust in the root. In order to account for these phenomena, it is proposed that the crustal root is interpreted as the result of complex reshuffling of middle and lower crustal masses as well as large-scale phase transformations. The mid-crustal highvelocity body is interpreted as a delaminated section of the lower crust of the Adria plate that was wedged into the middle crust of the Alps in the middle Miocene. The disappearance of the foreland lower crust is attributed to eclogitization attendant on the subduction of continental crust. Material balance estimates suggest that during Alpine collision large volumes of continental crust have disappeared through subduction.