Contourites associated with pelagic mudrocks and distal delta-fed turbidites in the Lower Proterozoic Timeball Hill Formation epeiric basin (Transvaal Supergroup), South Africa

Five genetic facies associations/architectural elements are recognised for the epeiric sea deposits preserved in the Early Proterozoic Timeball Hill Formation, South Africa. Basal carbonaceous mudrocks, interpreted as anoxic suspension deposits, grade up into sheet-like, laminated, graded mudrocks and succeeding sheets of laminated and cross-laminated siltstones and fine-grained sandstones. The latter two architectural elements are compatible with the Te, Td and Tc subdivisions of low-density turbidity current systems. Thin interbeds of stromatolitic carbonate within these first three facies associations support photic water depths up to about 100 m. Laterally extensive sheets of mature, cross-bedded sandstone disconformably overlie the turbidite deposits, and are ascribed to lower tidal flat processes. Interbedded lenticular, immature sandstones and mudrocks comprise the fifth architectural element, and are interpreted as medial to upper tidal flat sediments. Small lenses of coarse siltstone–very fine-grained sandstone, analogous to modern continental rise contourite deposits, occur within the suspension and distal turbidite sediments, and also form local wedges of inferred contourites at the transition from suspension to lowermost turbidite deposits. Blanketing and progressive shallowing of the floor of the Timeball Hill basin by basal suspension deposits greatly reduced wave action, thereby promoting preservation of low-density turbidity current deposits across the basin under stillstand or highstand conditions. A lowstand tidal flat facies tract laid down widespread sandy deposits of the medial Klapperkop Member within the formation. Salinity gradients and contemporaneous cold periglacial water masses were probably responsible for formation of the inferred contourites. The combination of the depositional systems interpreted for the Timeball Hill Formation may provide a provisional model for Early Proterozoic epeiric basin settings.     

Erosion-accumulative activity of the bottom currents on the continental rise of Brazil

Several high-resolution “SES 2000 deep” seismic profiles and a core of bottom sediments were obtained in cruises 33, 35, and 37 of the R/V Akademik Ioffe in the area of the Columbia channel (continental rise of Brazil, South America). The analysis of seismic facies and direct correlation of acoustic and lithological data indicates that sedimentation in this area is mostly controlled by the contour current of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW). The gravity flows from seamounts and continental slope only episodically contributed coarser material to the deposition of the muddy contourites. The mixed gravitite-contourite systems consisting of accumulative bodies (drifts) and erosion channels are the results of interaction of these sedimentation processes.     

Distinguishing between fine-grained turbidites and contourites on the Nova Scotian deep water margin

Review of the criteria which have been proposed for distinguishing between the deposits of turbidity currents and bottom currents in deep water sedimentation shows no general agreement on their validity. It is important to compare finegrained turbidites and contourites, to recognize that different turbidity current and bottom current mechanisms exist, and that their deposits may be closely inter-bedded in a continental rise environment. Interbedded turbidites and contourites have been recognized in cores from the deep-water margin off Nova Scotia. The most useful criteria for distinguishing between the two deposits were found to be: (1) fining and sorting trends: perpendicular or parallel to the contours; (2) marked textural differences between interbedded turbidites and contourites indicating differences in source and transport distance; (3) mineralogy and textural composition: regional patterns indicating transport perpendicular or parallel to the contours; (4) grain fabric: indication of downslope or along-slope transport at the time of final deposition; (5) sedimentary structures: turbidites show a structural sequence and evidence of rapid burial; contourites are bioturbated and contain irregular lag concentrations of biogenic sand. Other criteria include grain-size parameters, and the regional setting, distribution and depositional rate of the various facies. With due care these criteria can be applied to other regions. Previously used characteristics of silt-laminae abundance, layer thickness, heavy mineral cross lamination, sorting, and the nature of bed contacts are not applicable to fine-grained turbidites and contourites. Compositional criteria depend on regional features.     

Differences in the Tectonic Evolution of Basins in the Central‐Southern South China Sea and their Hydrocarbon Accumulation Conditions

To reveal the causes of differences in the hydrocarbon accumulation in continental marginal basins in the centralsouthern South China Sea,we used gravity-magnetic,seismic,drilling,and outcrop data to investigate the tectonic histories of the basins and explore how these tectonic events controlled the hydrocarbon accumulation conditions in these basins.During the subduction of the Cenozoic proto-South China Sea and the expansion of the new South China Sea,the continental margin basins in the central-southern South China Sea could be classified as one of three types of epicontinental basins:southern extensional-foreland basins,western extensional-strike slip basins,and central extensional-drift basins.Because these basins have different tectonic and sedimentary histories,they also differ in their accumulated hydrocarbon resources.During the Cenozoic,the basin groups in the southern South China Sea generally progressed through three stages:faulting and subsidence from the late Eocene to the early Miocene,inversion and uplift in the middle Miocene,and subsidence since the late Miocene.Hydrocarbon source rocks with marine-continental transitional facies dominated byⅡ-Ⅲkerogen largely developed in extremely thick Miocene sedimentary series with the filling characteristics being mainly deep-water deposits in the early stage and shallow water deposits in the late stage.With well-developed sandstone and carbonate reservoirs,this stratum has a strong hydrocarbon generation potential.During the Cenozoic,the basin groups in the western South China Sea also progressed through the three developmental stages discussed previously.Hydrocarbon source rocks with lacustrine facies,marine-continental transitional facies,and terrigenous marine facies dominated byⅡ2-Ⅲkerogen largely developed in the relatively thick stratum with the filling characteristics being mainly lacustrine deposits in the early stage and marine deposits in the late stage.As a reservoir comprised of self-generated and self-stored sandstone,this unit also has a high hydrocarbon generation potential.Throughout those same three developmental stages,the basin groups in the central South China Sea generated hydrocarbon source rocks with terrigenous marine facies dominated byⅢkerogen that have developed in a stratum with medium thicknesses with the filling characteristics being mainly sandstone in the early stage and carbonate in the late stage.This reservoir,which is dominated by lower-generation and upper-storage carbonate rocks,also has a high hydrocarbon generation potential.     

Upper Llandoverian Grogal Sandstones and Aberystwyth Grits in the New Quay area,Central Wales: A possible upwards transition from contourites to turbidites

The lower boundaries of the Aberystwyth Grits Formation and the underlying Grogal Sandstones Formation (new name) in the New Quay area are defined. The Grogal Sandstones Formation is described, and interpreted as a contourite deposit on a continental rise; we believe these are the first rocks in the British Isles to be identified as contourites. The transition within a few tens of metres from Grogal Sandstones Formation contourite facies, displaying bimodal current directions, to Aberystwyth Grits Formation turbidite facies, with unimodal current directions, can be seen well in two places on the coast southwest of New Quay. Regionally, an upward transition from finegrained contourites to turbidites of varying facies can be recognised. Our results are compatible with Ziegler's interpretation of early Upper Llandoverian palaeogeography.     

Lithology and stratigraphy of the Ordovician facies complexes of Gornyi Altai

In the Ordovician time, the transform margin of the Gornyi Altai region consisted of two bathymetric stages: (1) shelf and upper parts of continental slope; (2) foothills and lower parts of continental slope. The first stage includes the shallow-water facies complexes (terrigenous and terrigenous-carbonate schlieren and variegated flyschoid), while the second stage is composed of deep-water (black shale terrigenous) and subflysch gray (carbonate terrigenous) complexes. Model series of the facies complexes established in our work should be taken into account during the geodynamic analysis of fold zones.     

Post-glacial seismic stratigraphy, central Great Barrier Reef, Australia

A regional programme of continuous seismic (boomer) profiling in the central Great Barrier Reef Province has identified a widespread shallow seismic discontinuity (reflector A) which is interpreted as the pre-Holocene surface. Nine seismic facies units are distinguished primarily on the basis of the seismic records, but also with the aid of additional criteria such as location and surface sediment types. Two units underlie reflector A and are pre-Holocene. These units are interpreted as: (a) Permo-Carboniferous bedrock, and (b) Pleistocene/? Tertiary sediments, consisting of both shelf-wide terrigenous units, and carbonate mounds and platforms under present reefs. Seven units are post-glacial and overlie reflector A. These units are interpreted as: (c) fluvial/estuarine channel fill, (d) relict delta-front deposits, (e) relict transgressive veneer, (f) coastal coarse and (g) fine deposits, (h) modern reef and (i) reef talus. In general post-glacial sediment cover is very thin and in many places on the mid-shelf the pre-Holocene units crop out. Substantial post-glacial accumulations are limited to protected coastal embayments and to offshore reef masses.     

鄂西北上震旦统灯影组沉积相及构造古地理

湖北省丹江口、谷城、郧县及邻区河南浙川等地广泛分布的灯影组碳酸盐岩,几乎均系较深水或深水环境下的产物。按照沉积作用特征将其分为6种成因类型,即重力流沉积、滑坡滑塌沉积、较深水静水沉积)。浅水机械沉积和生物沉积（藻）碳酸盐岩及少量陆源碎屑岩。它们组成了5种不同的剖面结构（岩相序列）。根据各种类型剖面的空间分布对灯影期沉积古地理进行了恢复。该区在灯影期系一总体呈北西向延伸的被动大陆边缘,西北部发育藻礁沉积,推测北部淅川附近存在碳酸盐水下高地。     

Facies control of strata-bound ore deposits in carbonate rocks: The F-(Pb-Zn) deposits in the Alpine Triassic of the Alpujárrides,southern Spain

The strata-bound fluorite-(barite-)Pb-Zn ore deposits occurring within the more than 3,000 m thick Alpujárride Carbonate Formation of the Betic Cordillera, southern Spain, are linked to two defined stratigraphic positions (within the Anisian and at the Ladinian-Carnian transition) and to definite sedimentary contexts. These are highly restricted lagoons isolated from the open sea by calcarenitic barriers with noticeable development of algal mats in their inner margins. Preevaporitic deposition conditions are usually recognized. The ore-bearing horizons are located either at the transition from evaporitic to normal marine deposition (as in the case of the Anisian ore-bearing horizon) or at the transition from normal marine to evaporite deposition (as in the case of the uppermost Ladinian to lowermost Carnian ore-bearing horizon). These vertical facies changes correspond also to the transitions from predominantly terrigenous (continental and/or coastal) sedimentation to marine carbonate sedimentation (Anisian ore deposits) and vice versa (upper Ladinian-lower Carnian). It is proposed that the ore deposits in the Triassic Alpujárride Formation are controlled by certain facies associations in the lagoonal environment. The depositional environment determines the hydrologic regimes responsible for early diagenetic formation of fluorite and of the related ore minerals in a way similar to that of early-diagenetic dolomite. This hypothesis is consistent with field and petrographic observations and with available geochemical and itotopic data reported in other works. The present investigation intends to underline the role played by surface-linked ore formation processes, i.e., by ore-forming processes essentially linked to the environments in which sedimentation and early diagenesis takes place, in the genesis of numerous strata-bound Zn-Pb-(F-Ba) ore deposits in carbonate rocks.     

Late Miocene nonmarine sedimentation and formation of magnesites in the Acıgöl Basin, southwestern Anatolia, Turkey

The Late Miocene lacustrine Acıgöl Basin, SW Turkey, formed as an orogen-top, extensional half-graben, with the subaqueous accommodation controlled by the lake level and the bulk accommodation provided by active subsidence along a WSW-trending normal fault at the basin's southern margin. The basin-fill sedimentary succession consists of terminal alluvial-fan facies overlain by ephemeral lake-margin facies and perennial lake facies, with widespread fluvial facies at the top. The distal alluvial-fan facies include massive to stratified sandstones and massive mudstones with intervening nodular dolostones and incipient pedogenic horizons. The lake-margin facies are micritic magnesites passing laterally into peloidal, irregularly laminated magnesites towards the palaeolake margin and overlain by marlstones and dolostones, all with abundant evidence of episodic subaerial exposure (desiccation cracks, pedogenic features, and tepee structures). The perennial lake facies are micritic magnesites passing upwards into clayey dolostones and dolomitic or clayey marlstones. The fluvial facies capping the succession include planar cross-stratified conglomerates (channel-fill deposits), planar parallel-stratified, planar cross-stratified and rippled cross-laminated sandstones (crevasse-fill and crevasse splay deposits), and assemblages of mudstones intercalated with thin sandstone beds (overbank floodplain deposits).The sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical data reveal large variations in the basin's hydrological regime, including short-term oscillations and bulk rise of the lake level, periodical changes in the Mg/Ca ratio and terrigenous mud supply, and a negative covariance of δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C fluctuations. The composition of terrigenous sediment and the chemistry of water supplied to the lake were controlled by the weathering, chemical leaching and erosion of the ultramafic–dolomitic bedrock in the catchment area. The bedrock yielded Mg-rich carbonate solutions that caused the deposition of Mg-carbonates in the lake.Despite short-term lake-level fluctuations, the lake's net water budget remained positive. It is suggested that the region's present-day climate and Mg-rich alkaline lakes can serve as an analogue for the climatic and hydrological conditions in the Late Miocene Acıgöl Basin.     

Sedimentation during carbonate ramp-to-slope evolution in a tectonically active area: Bowland Basin (Dinantian), northern England

The Bowland Basin (northern England) contains a series of carbonates and terrigenous mudstones deposited during the Ivorian to early Brigantian. Two regional depositional environments are indicated by facies and facies associations. Wackestone/packstone and calcarenite facies indicate deposition in a carbonate ramp environment, while lime mudstone/wackestone, calcarenite and limestone breccia/conglomerate facies, often extensively slumped, represent a carbonate slope environment. Stratigraphic relations suggest that the depositional environment evolved from a ramp into a slope through the Dinantian. Two main sediment sources are indicated by the sequence; an extra-basinal terrigenous mud source and a supply of carbonate from the margins of the basin. Deposition from suspension and from sediment gravity flows, in situ production and remobilization of sediment during sedimentary sliding were important processes operating within the basin. Periods of enhanced tectonic activity in the late Chadian to early Arundian and late Asbian to early Brigantian are indicated by basin-wide horizons of sedimentary slide and mass flow deposits. Both intervals were marked by a decline in carbonate production resulting from inundation and uplift/emergence. The first of these intervals separates deposition on a seafloor with gentle topography (carbonate ramp) from a situation where major lateral thickness and facies variations were present and deposition took place in a carbonate slope environment. The second interval marks the end of major carbonate deposition within the Bowland Basin and the onset of regional terrigenous sedimentation.     

Evidence for Late Messinian seismites,Nijar Basin,south‐east Spain

The Feos Formation of the Nijar Basin comprises sediments deposited during the final stage of the Messinian salinity crisis when the Mediterranean was almost totally isolated. Levels of soft‐sediment deformation structures occur in both conglomeratic alluvial sediments deposited close to faults and the hyposaline Lago Mare facies, a laminated and thin‐bedded succession of whitish chalky marls and intercalated sands alternating with non‐marine coastal plain deposits. Deformation structures in the coarse clastics include funnel‐shaped depressions filled with conglomerate, liquefaction dykes terminating downwards in gravel pockets, soft‐sediment mixing bodies, chaotic intervals and flame structures. Evidence for soft‐sediment deformation in the fine‐grained Lago Mare facies comprises syndepositional faulting and fault‐grading, sandstone dykes, mixed layers, slumping and sliding of sandstone beds, convolute bedding, and pillar and flame structures. The soft‐sediment deformed intervals resemble those ascribed elsewhere to seismic shaking. Moreover, the study area provides the appropriate conditions for the preservation of deformation structures induced by seismicity; such as location in a tectonically active area, variable sediment input to produce heterolithic deposits and an absence of bioturbation. The vertical distribution of soft‐sediment deformation implies frequent seismic shocks, underlining the importance of seismicity in the Betic region during the Late Messinian when the Nijar Basin became separated from the Sorbas Basin to the north. The presence of liquefied gravel injections in the marginal facies indicates strong earthquakes (M ≥ 7). The identification of at least four separate fissured levels within a single Lago Mare interval suggests a recurrence interval for large magnitude earthquakes of the order of millennia, assuming that the cyclicity of the alternating Lago Mare and continental intervals was precession‐controlled. This suggestion is consistent with the present‐day seismic activity in SE Spain.     

华北地台北缘辽北地区南华系沉积初步研究

中国南华系冰成地层的分布及沉积特点一直为新元古界研究的热点,北方地区是否存在南华系沉积地层仍存在很大的争议,本文通过近3年对辽宁地区新元古代岩石地层单位的野外地质调查、对比与研究,确定了辽宁北部地区在新元古代时期存在冰碛堆积物,并划分出两期冰碛作用阶段,即：新元古代南华纪第一次殷屯冰期,南华纪第二次汎河冰期;其中第一次冰期为一套陆相冰碛堆积,主要岩性为灰紫色块状厚层杂砾岩夹含砾粗砂岩透镜体,分布于辽北铁岭;第二次冰期堆积主要涉及辽北陆相冰水堆积的汎河组。同时确认出永宁组为第一次殷屯冰期前的陆源河流相沉积;陈千户组（陆相）为第一次殷屯冰期和第二次汎河冰期之间的间冰期沉积产物。     

High-P (P = 1.5–1.8 GPa) blueschist from Elba: Implications for underthrusting and exhumation of continental units in the Northern Apennines

The Acquadolce Subunit on the Island of Elba, Italy, records blueschist facies metamorphism related to the Oligocene–early Miocene stages of continental collision in the Northern Apennines. The blueschist facies metamorphism is represented by glaucophane- and lawsonite-bearing metabasite associated with marble and calcschist. These rock types occur as lenses in a schistose complex representing foredeep deposits of early Oligocene age. Detailed petrological analyses on metabasic and metapelitic protoliths, involving mineral and bulk-rock chemistry coupled with P–T and P–T–X(Fe₂O₃) pseudosection modelling using PERPLE_X, show that the Acquadolce Subunit recorded nearly isothermal exhumation from peak pressure–temperature conditions of 1.5–1.8 GPa and 320–370°C. During exhumation, peak lawsonite- and possibly carpholite- or stilpnomelane-bearing assemblages were overprinted and partially obliterated by epidote-blueschist and, subsequently, albite-greenschist facies metamorphic assemblages. This study sheds new light on the tectonic evolution of Adria-derived metamorphic units in the Northern Apennines, by showing (a) the deep underthrusting of continental crust during continental collision and (b) rapid exhumation along ‘cold’ and nearly isothermal paths, compatible with syn-orogenic extrusion.     

坦桑尼亚滨海盆地陆坡峡谷沉积特征及其控制因素*

东非陆缘深水盆地具有巨大油气资源潜力,但对陆坡峡谷沉积特征研究较少,制约有利储集层预测。本研究利用三维地震资料,对东非坦桑尼亚滨海盆地陆坡峡谷开展精细研究。结果表明:(1)研究区陆坡发育多条大型海底峡谷;上陆坡处,坡度较陡,峡谷内以侵蚀作用为主,沉积物主要局限在褶皱推覆带的翼部;褶皱推覆带之外的下陆坡区,坡度变缓,峡谷末端发育席状砂质沉积及砂泥混杂的碎屑流沉积,同时在峡谷北侧发育向北延伸的泥质漂积体;在陆坡边缘,发育海底滑塌,形成块体搬运沉积。(2)峡谷沉积受陆源物质供给、褶皱推覆带、北大西洋底流以及陆坡边界断层等因素控制。受东非裂谷海域分支活动影响,研究区陆架窄、陆坡陡,陆源物质可迅速通过陆架,进入陆坡峡谷:与河流相连的峡谷,物源充足、规模较大,有沉积物发育而没有与河流直接相连的峡谷物源有限、规模较小,峡谷内无明显沉积;褶皱推覆带通过改变海底地形来控制峡谷内沉积分布,褶皱翼部发育沉积,核部则以侵蚀为主;褶皱推覆带外,北大西洋底流与峡谷末端重力流发生交互作用,细粒物质被搬运至峡谷北岸形成漂积体;陆坡边缘断层活跃,峡谷被断层切割,形成断崖,并引发海底滑塌,陆坡处不发育水道及朵体沉积,陆源物质通过峡谷被搬运至更深的深海盆地内。     

Sedimentology of a lacustrine fan-delta system, Miocene Horse Camp Formation, Nevada, USA

A 1600-m-thick succession of the Miocene Horse Camp Formation (Member 2) exposed in east-central Nevada records predominantly terrigenous clastic deposition in subaerial and subaqueous fan-delta environments and nearshore and offshore lacustrine environments. These four depositional environments are distinguished by particular associations of individual facies (14 defined facies). Subaerial and subaqueous fan-delta facies associations include: ungraded, matrix-and clast-supported conglomerate; normally graded, matrix- and clast-supported conglomerate; ungraded and normally graded sandstone; and massive to poorly laminated mudstone. Subaqueous fan-delta deposits typically have dewatering structures, distorted bedding and interbedded mudstone. The subaerial fan-delta environment was characterized by debris flows, hyperconcentrated flows and minor sheetfloods; the subaqueous fan-delta environment by debris flows, high- and low-density turbidity currents, and suspension fallout. The nearshore lacustrine facies association provides examples of deposits and processes rarely documented in lacustrine environments. High-energy oscillatory wave currents, probably related to a large fetch, reworked grains as large as 2 cm into horizontally stratified sand and gravel. Offshore-directed currents produced uncommonly large (typically 1–2 m thick) trough cross-stratified sandstone. In addition, stromatolitic carbonate interbedded with stratified coarse sandstone and conglomerate suggests a dynamic environment characterized by episodic terrigenous clastic deposition under high-energy conditions alternating with periods of carbonate precipitation under reduced energy conditions. Massive and normally graded sandstone and massive to poorly laminated mudstone characterize the offshore lacustrine facies association and record deposition by turbidity currents and suspension fallout. A depositional model constructed for the Horse Camp Formation (Member 2) precludes the existence of all four depositional environments at any particular time. Rather, phases characterized by deposition in subaerial fan, nearshore lacustrine and offshore lacustrine environments alternated with phases of subaerial fan-delta, subaqueous fan-delta and offshore lacustrine deposition. This model suggests that high-energy nearshore currents due to deep water along the lake margin reworked sediment of the fan edge, thus preventing development of a subaqueous fan-delta environment and promoting development of a well-defined nearshore lacustrine environment. Low-energy nearshore currents induced by shallow water along the     

珠江口盆地惠州凹陷南部珠江组混合沉积作用

珠江口盆地惠州凹陷南部珠江组下部广泛发育陆源碎屑岩与碳酸盐岩的混合沉积。通过测井、地震和岩心等资料综合研究了工区混合沉积的岩石学特征、沉积模式和分布规律。研究认为工区混合沉积可分为相缘混合和原地混合,相缘混合主要是在浅海三角洲相和碳酸盐岩台地相边界的结合部位、在低能水动力环境下的细粒陆源碎屑与泥晶碳酸盐的混合沉积,原地混合主要是在三角洲前缘高能水动力条件下的砂级硅质碎屑颗粒与碳酸盐生物碎屑的混合沉积。原地混合沉积对储层的储集性能和渗流特征有显著影响。描述了原地混合沉积的泥岩—碳酸盐岩—砂岩—碳酸盐岩—泥岩相层序,并讨论了陆源碎屑注入、古地形、海平面升降及三角洲迁移等影响透光带范围的因素是如何控制研究区的混合沉积分布的。     

鄂尔多斯盆地南缘奥陶系平凉组等深流沉积*

鄂尔多斯盆地南缘奥陶系平凉组发育石灰岩、泥岩和砂岩,夹放射虫硅岩及凝灰岩,深水原地沉积、重力流沉积及等深流沉积发育。等深流沉积主要为砾屑、砂屑、粉屑、灰泥及粉砂—砂质等深积岩。粉屑等深积岩顶部发育波痕及生物扰动,波痕不对称,迁移方向明显,波长1~5,cm,波高0.2~0.5,cm。等深流沉积具有灰泥等深积岩、粉屑等深积岩、砂屑等深积岩及砾屑等深积岩叠置组成的完整及不完整的细—粗—细沉积层序,厚度几毫米至数厘米。该层序既可由多层叠置而成,也可由单层组成或在相邻泥质纹层或缝合线之间直接出现,并存在向上变粗的逆递变和向上变细的正递变厚度不对称特征。等深流从东向西,大致平行于斜坡运动。平凉组下部发育深水原地沉积和重力流沉积,上部则发育深水原地沉积和等深流沉积。等深流沉积主要受构造运动、相对海平面升降、古地貌、流体能量及运动路径的影响。     

HP/LT metamorphism in the Volparone Breccia (Northern Corsica, France): evidence for involvement of the Europe/Corsica continental margin in the Alpine subdution zone

The Alpine belt in Corsica (France) is characterized by the occurrence of stacked tectonic slices derived from the Corsica/Europe continental margin, which outcrop between two weakly or non‐metamorphic tectonic domains: the ‘autochthonous’ domain of the Hercynian basement to the west and the Balagne Nappe (ophiolitic unit belonging to the ‘Nappes supérieures’) to the east. These slices, including basement rocks (Permian granitoids and their Palaeozoic host rocks), Late Carboniferous–Permian volcano‐sedimentary deposits, coarse‐grained polymict breccias (Volparone Breccia) and Middle Eocene siliciclastic turbidite deposits, were affected by a polyphase deformation history of Alpine age, associated with a well‐developed metamorphic recrystallization. This study provides new quantitative data about the peak of metamorphism and the retrograde P–T path in the Alpine Corsica: the tectonic slices of Volparone Breccia from the Balagne region (previously regarded as unmetamorphosed) were affected by peak metamorphism characterized by the phengite + chlorite + quartz ± albite assemblage. Using the chlorite‐phengite local equilibria method, peak metamorphic P–T conditions coherent with the low‐grade blueschist facies are estimated as 0.60 ± 0.15 GPa and 325 ± 20 °C. Moreover, the retrograde P–T path, characterized by a decrease of pressure and temperature, is evidence of the first stage of the exhumation path from the peak metamorphic conditions to greenschist facies conditions (0.35 ± 0.06 GPa and 315 ± 20 °C). The occurrence of metamorphic peak at high‐pressure/low‐temperature (HP/LT) conditions is evidence of the fact that these tectonic slices, derived from the Corsica/Europe continental margin, were deformed and metamorphosed in the Alpine subduction zone during their underplating at ～20 km of depth into the accretionary wedge and were subsequently juxtaposed against the metamorphic and non‐metamorphic oceanic units during a complex exhumation history.