Tectonic framework of the Celtic Sea and adjacent areas with special reference to the location of the Variscan Front

Structural trends in the Celtic Sea area indicate that Variscan deformation patterns were inherited from Caledonian basement structures, and that the regional fold alignment is arcuate with a regional WSW-ENE direction rather than WNW-ESE (Armorican). There is no lateral structural continuity between Southern Ireland and South Wales-Southwest England. Three major structural provinces arranged en échelon across the Variscan foldbelt are recognised: (a) Southwest England, where there was complex deformation of a major basin; (b) the South Wales-Mendips foreland area, with strong basement/cover interaction and (c) the Southern Ireland graben and flanking platform province. Late Palaeozoic depositional patterns indicate that Southern Ireland and Southwest England were separated by a WSW-ENE trending platform bounded on the north by the inherited Wexford Boundary Lineament and to the south by a previously unidentified major Palaeozoic fault zone, here termed the Bristol Channel Lineament. The South Wales-Mendips Variscan successions accumulated on this intervening Wales-Celtic Sea platform, and were partly influenced by rejuvenated Caledonian fault lines. It is suggested that the northern margin of the Rheno-Hercynian foldbelt (the Variscan Front) be taken along the Bristol Channel Lineament, which can be traced for some 400 km southwestwards towards the Goban Spur on the continental margin. This permits a rationalisation of both tectonic and major facies boundaries in locating the front. It is also suggested that the structurally localised nature of the Southern Ireland basin be recognised by designating it as the Southern Ireland Zone of the Variscan foldbelt.The sites of Mesozoic rifting in the Celtic Sea and adjacent areas, although complex in detail, appear to have been located along the Wexford Boundary and Bristol Channel Lineaments.     

Sources of the allothigenic quartz in the Riphean basal complexes, southern urals

Using an instrumental technique, we carried out a direct comparison of quartz from the Riphean sandstones, sandy fractions from fragments in the Riphean conglomerates and Archean crystalline rocks, which represent the basement inlier of the Russian Platform within the Western Urals (Taratash anticlinorium). It is shown that clastic quartz in the Riphean basal complexes was mainly related to denudation of the Lower Proterozoic platformal cover, whose rocks occur as fragments in the Riphean conglomerates. The probable contribution of eroded crystalline rocks into the Riphean sediments was presumably very insignificant.     

Fractures network mapping using remote sensing in the Paleozoic massif of Tichka (Western High Atlas,Morocco)

The Paleozoic massif of Tichka in the southern part of the Western High Atlas of Morocco constitutes a structural transition between the Meseta and the Anti-Atlas domains. It was affected by a complex network of fractures noticeable at different scales. Using Landsat ETM+ imagery permits detecting the main fracture directions. Various techniques of lineament’s extraction were applied, including the colored compositions, spectral band ratios, and directional filters applied to the principal component analysis. Lineament’s extraction is based on visual interpretation and completed by field observations. The resulted map allows recognizing at least four trending fracture system, with average N-S, NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE orientations. The surrounding rocks of the granitic massif show a high fracture density. Tectonic indicators show that this massif is initially affected by NW-SE Variscan tectonic extension, followed by NW-SE Variscan compression. This regime is being maintained until the late Variscan period corresponding to the relaxation of the NW-SE major Variscan stress. A clockwise rotation of the latter stress, which became N-S to NNE-SSW, related to the late Variscan deformation, is responsible for reworking preexisting faults.     

Les structures de la couverture Néoprotérozoïque terminal et Paléozoïque de la région de Tata, Anti-Atlas centre-occidental, Maroc: déformation polyphasée, ou interactions socle/couverture pendant l'orogenèse hercynienne?

The western Anti-Atlas was formed by a Precambrian basement in the core of anticlines, surrounded by a Neoproterozoic and Palæozoic cover. The structural study of the Tata regional rocks shows a heterogeneous deformation, characterised especially by two types of folds in two orthogonal directions: north-south to north-northeast-south-southwest-trending and east-west-trending.The north-south structures are present in all of the Palæozoic cover and belong to the major Variscan compression of Late Carboniferous age by a comparison of the other domains of the western Anti-Atlas. Alternatively, east-west folding is assigned only to the lower part of the cover and consists of a ductile heterogeneous deformation, especially marked at the basement-cover interface. These folds are associated with a subhorizontal cleavage, indicating a southern vergence of the structures. A discussion of the age and the tectonic style of these structures is proposed, as well as their significance within the Variscan belt along the northern margin of the West African Craton.     

Position of the Blyb Complex in the pre-Mesozoic crustal structure of the Front Range Zone in the Northern Caucasus

A number of Variscan nappe complexes were recognized in the Late Mesozoic structure of the Front Range Zone of the Greater Caucasus in the 1970s. They consist predominantly of greenstone units and override one another in a consecutive order. The only exception is the upper, Atsgara Nappe, which is composed of crystalline schists, amphibolites, and microgneisses. Crystalline schists, gneisses, amphibolites, and other rocks of the so-called Blyb Complex occur at the base of the nappe packet. The affinity of crystalline rocks of the Blyb Complex to one of the upper Variscan nappes is substantiated in this paper. The Middle Paleozoic rocks, which originally were located below the Blyb Complex in the Front Range structure, overrode its rocks along the surface of the Blyb Thrust Fault in the Early Triassic. Since that time, the crystalline rocks of the Blyb Complex have occupied the lowermost position in the structure of the Front Range. The absence of Upper Paleozoic rocks in the footwall of the thrust fault is due to the fact that, in the Late Paleozoic, the area underlain by the Blyb Complex was an inlier and a source of clastic material. The hanging wall of the Blyb Thrust Fault may be traced farther southward into the Main Range Zone, where it most likely consists of the Laba Group and other rocks. As has been established previously, the lower portion of the Laba Group consists of analogues of the Middle Paleozoic successions of the Front Range Zone, while its upper portion consists of crystalline schists of the Lashtrak Nappe, which occupy a position similar to that of the Atsgara Nappe metamorphic rocks. These relationships suggest that the rock complexes of the Front Range Zone could have undergone repeated displacements due to post-Variscan (Indosinian) tectonic events and overrode crystalline rocks in the Main Range Zone and more easterly areas. Owing to the uplift of the Central Caucasus, they are now eroding. The difference in the metamorphic grade of the Blyb Complex and the rocks of the Atsgara and Marukha nappes is due to the fact the Blyb Complex lies close to the root zones of nappes or belongs to different nappe sheets. The Blyb Thrust Fault pertains to the Indosinian faults that played the main role in the formation of the Front Range structure.     

Geology of the Pedwardine district,Herefordshire and Powys

The stratigraphy of the Pedwardine inlier of Precambrian (Longmyndian), Tremadoc, and what are now shown to be upper Llandovery rocks is described. The inlier is surrounded by Silurian rocks, including upper Llandovery (two very small areas), Wenlock, Ludlow and Přídolí (Red Downton Formation). The Ludlow rocks provide a distal record of the mass movement recorded more fully in the Wigmore Rolls area to the east. The Pedwardine area lies along the Church Stretton Fault Zone. Though ill-exposed, it shows evidence of the history of faulting, including thrusting. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure, mineralogy, and Pb isotopic composition of the As-Au-Ag deposit Rotgülden, Eastern Alps (Austria): significance for formation of epigenetic ore deposits within metamorphic domes

The abandoned As–Au–Ag mining district Rotgülden is located within the eastern Tauern window of the Eastern Alps and was reinvestigated in order to evaluate ore deposition during Alpine/late orogenic tectonic processes. Four major ore types have been recognized: (1) quartz-sulfide veins within Variscan basement rocks; (2) deformed metamorphic massive ores within fold hinge zones (“saddle reefs”) of Permian to Mesozoic cover sequences; (3) ores in tension gashes of the cover sequence; and (4) irregular replacement ore bodies in marbles of the cover sequence. Ore deposition was intimately related to late orogenic exhumation by stretching of footwall sequences within the Tauern metamorphic core complex during late Oligocene and Neogene. Hydrothermal systems developed and metals from apparently distinct sources were deposited under decreasing temperature conditions. Lead is distinctly radiogenic and resembles the lead in Au-quartz veins of the Mesozoic cover sequence of the Hohe Tauern. Received: 24 January 1996 / Accepted: 24 July 1997     

Geochemistry of Neogene sedimentary rocks from Borneo Basin,East Malaysia: Paleo-weathering,provenance and tectonic setting

Multi-element geochemistry and mineralogy are used to characterize the chemical composition, degree of paleo-weathering, provenance and tectonic settings of the Neogene sedimentary rocks of Borneo Basin of east Malaysia. Sedimentary rocks are classified as extremely weathered sandstones (i.e. wacke, arkose, litharenite, Fe-sandstone and quartz arenite). Wacke, arkose, litharenite and Fe-sandstone are characterized by post-depositional K-metasomatism and zircon enrichment through sediment recycling. Geochemical characteristics suggest a mixed-nature provenance for the sandstones and the variable tectonic settings possibly mirror the complexity of the basin. Enriched Cr in quartz arenite and Fe-sandstone are related to the contribution from ophiolite or fractionation of Cr-bearing minerals.     

Episodic and long-lasting Paleozoic felsic magmatism in the pre-Alpine basement of the Suretta nappe (eastern Swiss Alps)

The Suretta nappe of eastern Switzerland contains a series of meta-igneous rocks, with the Rofna Porphyry Complex (RPC) being the most prominent member. We present LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon data from 12 samples representing a broad spectrum of meta-igneous rocks within the Suretta nappe, in order to unravel the pre-Alpine magmatic history of this basement unit. Fine-grained porphyries and coarse-grained augengneisses from the RPC give crystallization ages between 284 and 271 Ma, which either represent distinct magma pulses or long-lasting magmatic activity in a complex magma chamber. There is also evidence for an earlier Variscan magmatic event at ~320–310 Ma. Mylonites at the base of the Suretta nappe are probably derived from either the RPC augengneisses or another unknown Carboniferous–Permian magmatic protolith with a crystallization age between 320 and 290 Ma. Two polymetamorphic orthogneisses from the southern Suretta nappe yield crystallization ages of ~490 Ma. Inherited zircon cores are mainly of late Neoproterozoic age, with minor Neo- to Paleoproterozoic sources. We interpret the Suretta nappe as mainly representing a Gondwana-derived crustal unit, which was subsequently intruded by minor Cambrian–Ordovician and major Carboniferous–Permian magmatic rocks. Finally, the Suretta nappe was thrust into its present position during the Alpine orogeny, which hardly affected the U–Pb system in zircon.     

Petrological and geochronological constraints on regional metamorphism along the northern border of the Bitterroot batholith

Quantitative thermobarometry in pelites and garnet amphibolites from the Bitterroot metamorphic core complex, combined with U–Pb dating of metamorphic monazite and zircon from footwall rocks, provide new constraints on the P – T  – t evolution of footwall rocks. The thermobarometric and geochronological results, when correlated with observations from other regions bordering the Bitterroot batholith, define a regional metamorphic history for the northern margin of the Bitterroot batholith consisting of three distinct events beginning with early prograde metamorphism (M1) coincident with arc-related magmatism and crustal shortening at c .  100–80 Ma. Magmatism and crustal thickening led to regional upper-amphibolite facies metamorphism (M2) and anatectic melting between 64 and 56 Ma. Mineral textures related to high-temperature isothermal decompression (M3), coincident with late stages of magmatism in the Bitterroot complex footwall (56–48 Ma), are only preserved in areas adjacent to extensional structures. The close temporal relationship between peak metamorphism and the onset of footwall decompression indicates that thermal weakening was an important factor in the initiation of Early Eocene regional extension and tectonic denudation of the Bitterroot complex and possibly the Boehls Butte metamorphic terrane. The morphology of the decompressional P – T  – t path derived for Bitterroot footwall rocks is similar to other trajectories reported for Cordilleran core complexes and may represent a transition in the deformational style of core-bunding detachments responsible for exhumation.     

河南省崤山地区金银矿床控矿构造特征与成矿模式

崤山位于华北陆块南缘,是河南省重要的有色金属成矿区。为进一步明确崤山地区控矿构造特征,分析探讨成矿就位机制,指导崤山地区中深部地质找矿工作,本文对崤山地区矿床地质特征、构造性质等要素进行了分析研究,将崤山地区控矿构造分为拆离断层控矿构造、韧性剪切带控矿构造和张扭性断裂控矿构造三类。①拆离断层沿太古界太华岩群的结晶基底与中元古界熊耳群盖层间发育,带内发育糜棱岩,崤山北部主要含矿石英脉多发育在紧靠拆离断层带下盘的太华岩群中,矿体就位于拆离剪切形成的拆离断层及其次级断裂带中;②韧性剪切带主要位于崤山中西部和北部,早期呈压扭特性,发育绿泥片岩质初糜棱岩、糜棱岩、花岗质超糜棱岩等,申家窑韧性剪切带晚期表现为张性特征,在其下盘发育有多组与其走向一致的羽列状次级断裂构造,矿体就位于韧性剪切带及其下盘羽状次级断裂带中;③张扭性断裂多发育于崤山中东部,断裂内充填有含金石英脉条带,围岩中多具绿泥石化、绿帘石化、钾化、黄铁矿化等,矿体就位于张扭性断裂带中。按照岩体、构造对成矿的作用关系,建立了崤山地区以深源岩浆为流体、以构造侵位为空间的"双控"成矿模式,指出韧性剪切带、拆离断层带中深部及其次级断裂带是寻找脉型金银矿床的有利地段,燕山期中酸性侵入岩体周缘有斑岩型铜钼矿成矿潜力。     

内蒙古达茂旗北部岩浆活动与铜、金成矿作用

内蒙古达茂旗北部岩浆岩分布广泛,以加里东期和华力西晚期为主。加里东期侵入岩以闪长岩、石英闪长岩及斜长花岗岩为主;华力西晚期侵入岩以闪长岩、石英闪长岩、黑云母花岗岩、二长花岗岩及钾长花岗岩为主。经研究发现,铜矿化多与闪长岩、石英闪长岩及花岗闪长岩有关;金矿化多与石英闪长岩、斜长花岗岩及黑云母花岗岩有关;铜、金矿床(点)均产于岩体内或其外接触带的火山岩中,暗示铜、金矿(点)的形成与岩浆活动密切相关。进一步研究发现本区铜、金矿化主要受华力西晚期岩浆活动控制。通过对研究区成矿地质背景的讨论及与斑岩型铜、金矿床地质特征的对比,指出本区具备寻找斑岩型铜、金矿床的潜力。     

Transpressive duplex and flower structure: Dent Fault System, NW England

Revised mapping along the Dent Fault (northwest England) has improved the resolution of folds and faults formed during Variscan (late Carboniferous) sinistral transpression. A NNE-trending east-down monocline, comprising the Fell End Syncline and Taythes Anticline, was forced in Carboniferous cover above a reactivated precursor to the Dent Fault within the Lower Palaeozoic basement. The Taythes Anticline is periclinal due to interference with earlier Acadian folds. The steep limb of the monocline was eventually cut by the west-dipping Dent Fault. The hangingwall of the Dent Fault was dissected by sub-vertical or east dipping faults, together forming a positive flower structure in cross-section and a contractional duplex in plan view. The footwall to the Dent Fault preserves evidence of mostly dip-slip displacements, whereas strike-slip was preferentially partitioned into the hangingwall faults. This pattern of displacement partitioning may be typical of transpressive structures in general. The faults of the Taythes duplex formed in a restraining overlap zone between the Dent Fault and the Rawthey Fault to the west. The orientations of the duplex faults were a response to kinematic boundary conditions rather than to the regional stress field directly. Kinematic constraints provided by the Dent and neighbouring Variscan faults yield a NNW–SSE regional shortening direction in this part of the Variscan foreland.     

Application of ASTER remote sensing data to geological mapping of basement domains in arid regions: a case study from the Central Anti-Atlas,Iguerda inlier,Morocco

Satellite remote sensing is shown to provide critical support for geological and structural mapping in semiarid and arid areas. In this work, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data were used to clarify the geological framework of the Precambrian basement of the Iguerda Proterozoic inlier in the Moroccan Central Anti-Atlas. In this study, the interpretation of the processed digital data has been ground truthed with geological field data collected during a reconnaissance-mapping program in the Central Anti-Atlas. The Iguerda inlier offers a deeply eroded Precambrian massif dominated by a Paleoproterozoic basement composed of supracrustal metasedimentary units intruded by various Eburnian granitoids. Impressive mafic dyke swarms mainly of Proterozoic age crosscut this basement. Eburnian basement rocks are unconformably overlain by Lower Ediacaran volcanosedimentary rocks of the Ouarzazate Group and Upper Ediacaran–Lower Cambrian carbonates. The applied ASTER analyses are particularly effective in the lithological differentiation and discrimination of geological units of the Iguerda inlier. The spectral information divergence (SID) classification algorithm coupled with spectral angle mapper and maximum likelihood classification effectively discriminates between metamorphic rocks, granitoid bodies, and carbonate cover. SID classification improves geologic map accuracy with respect to the spatial distribution of plutonic bodies and metamorphic units. In addition, Paleoproterozoic granitoids have been well discriminated into separate distinct suites of porphyritic granites, granodiorites, and peraluminous leucogranite suites. This discrimination was initially identified via remote sensing analysis and later ground truthed in the field. This methodology enhances geological mapping and illustrates the potential of ASTER data to serve as a vital tool in detailed geologic mapping and exploration of well-exposed basement of arid regions, such as the Proterozoic of the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco.     

Shallow marine to pelagic sediments from a dismembered ophiolite,Kandra, southern India – Glimpses of ancient subduction zone related sedimentation

A suprasubduction zone oceanic back-arc setting for the Paleoproterozoic Kandra ophiolite complex (KOC) in southern India has been suggested from geochemical signatures. The telescoped segments of thin deformed sedimentary successions of shallow marine to pelagic affinity, overlying a basaltic substrate and preserved within thrust slices of the KOC, are tectonically juxtaposed against the Eastern Dharwar craton margin. In the northern thrust slice (Kandra village succession), about 150 m of sedimentary strata show intercalation of quartz arenite and basaltic flow in the lower part, grading upwards to heterolithic sandstone-mudstone deposited above the storm wave base. In the southeastern part of the KOC (Gurramkonda succession), deep-water greywacke turbidite, pelagic chert, mafic tuff and volcaniclastics, and quartz arenite deposited below the storm wave base, are preserved as thrust bound packets. Intermittent basaltic outpourings punctuated deeper water deposition as evidenced by alternate metachert and metabasalt layers, and emplacement of basaltic rocks along small thrusts which transpose stratification. Craton margin sediments consists of immature, coarse terrigenous clastics intercalated with thin mafic tuff, suggesting influence of mass flow processes giving way to fluvial sedimentation in the lower part of the Udaigiri Group. Further up, fine grained plane laminated siltstone-shale with rippled sandstone lenses grade upward to compositionally mature quartz arenite deposited close to the craton margin, with signatures of tidal- and wave reworking. The association of stratigraphic successions of two contrasting depositional environments in the KOC adds to the spectrum of variation of sedimentary collage of the ocean plate stratigraphy. The Kandra village and Gurramkonda successions of the KOC, possibly represent ancient arc-trench milieu, and shallower part of oceanic marginal basin respectively. Paleoproterozoic subduction-accretion process led to collapse of these basins and tectonic emplacement of the KOC against the Eastern Dharwar craton margin which hosted near shore sedimentary succession of the Udaigiri Group, occurring west of the KOC.     

Occurrence of High Level Magma Intrusives and Associated Mineralization near Gani Inlier,Kurnool Sub-Basin,Cuddapah Basin,India

An ensemble of spatially associated high level magma intrusives comprising dykes, laccolith and vent have been identified near Gani inlier in the Kurnool sub-basin. Geological setting, morphology of igneous intrusives and their relationships with the sediment cover have been documented. Diabase in laccolith, dykes and vesicular basalt in vents are prominent rocks and have been subjected to extensive deuteric alterations viz. saussurtisation and uralitisation. It is envisioned that the basic magma was intruded as dykes in strike-slip fault domain, outpoured through the vents as vesicular basalts at the intersection zones of cross faults. The vertical ascending melt was deflected as a sheet due to fault control at a sub-surface level of ～700m along the lithological discontinuities in country rock sediments. The sheet to laccolith transition has resulted in the uplift of older Tadpatri Formation as an inlier amidst the Neoproterozoic Kurnool sediment cover. The localization of iron ore and copper mineralization adjacent to intrusives is attributed to late stage melt-fluid activity associated with the igneous activity. Based on field relationships it is suggested that the high level magmatic activity had occurred after the Kurnool sedimentation in this part of the Kurnool sub-basin.     

Petrogenesis of Mafic to Felsic Plutonic Rock Associations: the Calc-alkaline Querigut Complex, French Pyrenees

The Quérigut mafic–felsic rock association comprisestwo main magma series. The first is felsic comprising a granodiorite–tonalite,a monzogranite and a biotite granite. The second is intermediateto ultramafic, forming small diorite and gabbro intrusions associatedwith hornblendites and olivine hornblendites. A U–Pb zirconage of 307 ± 2 Ma was obtained from the granodiorite–tonalites.Contact metamorphic minerals in the thermal aureole providea maximum emplacement pressure of between 260 and 270 MPa. Petrographiccharacteristics of the mafic and ultramafic rocks suggest crystallizationat <300 MPa, demonstrating that mantle-derived magmas ascendedto shallow levels in the Pyrenean crust during Variscan times.The ultramafic rocks are the most isotopically primitive components,with textural and geochemical features of cumulates from hydrousbasaltic magmas. None of the mafic to ultramafic rocks havedepleted mantle isotope signatures, indicating crustal contaminationor derivation from enriched mantle. Origins for the dioritesinclude accumulation from granodiorite–tonalite magma,derivatives from mafic magmas, or hybrids. The granitic rockswere formed from broadly Proterozoic meta-igneous crustal protoliths.The isotopic signatures, mineralogy and geochemistry of thegranodiorite–tonalites and monzogranites suggest crystallizationfrom different magmas with similar time-integrated Rb/Sr andSm/Nd isotope ratios, or that the granodiorite–tonalitesare cumulates from a granodioritic to monzogranitic parent.The biotite granite differs from the other felsic rocks, representinga separate magma batch. Ages for Quérigut and other Pyreneangranitoids show that post-collisional wrenching in this partof the Variscides was under way by 310 Ma. KEY WORDS: Variscan orogeny; Pyrenees; Quérigut complex; epizonal magmatism; post-thickening; mafic–felsic association     

Dynamics of shallow late-Variscan gold mineralization: the Le Châtelet Au-arsenopyrite quartz veins,Massif Central,France

The Le Châtelet gold deposit is unique among the mined deposits of the French Variscan basement in that the gold is not free but caught up in the arsenopyrite crystal lattice. Microstructural analysis shows that the Au-arsenopyrite quartz veins are hosted by north-trending dextral strike-slip faults resulting from NNE-SSW compression during the early Stephanian (around 300 Ma). Textural study indicates that vein emplacement was due to sequential dynamics related to spasmodic strike-slip movements along these brittle structures (seismic regime). The classic sequence begins with the slow crystallization of sulphide-free comb quartz followed by a co-deposition of microcrystalline quartz and needles of Au-arsenopyrite; the rapid crystallization of the Au-arsenopyrite-bearing microcrystalline quartz was due to a sudden drop in fluid pressure. The veins correspond to dilational jogs formed by a suction pump mechanism during a late phase of the Variscan orogeny; they were trapped in migmatite about 1 km below surface.     

The effect of fluid composition on the behavior of well cemented, quartz-rich sandstone during faulting

Previous studies [O'Kane, A., Onasch, C.M., Farver, J., 2007. The role of fluids in low-temperature, fault-related deformation of quartz arenite. Journal of Structural Geology 29, 819--836; Cook, J., Dunne, W.M., Onasch, C.M., 2006. Development of a dilatant damage zone along a thrust relay in a low-porosity quartz arenite, Journal of Structural Geology 28, 776–792] found that quartz arenite within two fault zones in the Appalachian foreland thrust belt displays very different structural styles and histories despite deforming at similar pressures and temperatures during the Alleghanian orogeny. A comparison of the grain-scale deformation and fluid histories using transmitted and cathodoluminescence microscopy and fluid inclusion microthermometry, shows that fluid composition was a controlling factor for causing these differences. The Cove fault zone deformed in the presence of aqueous fluids, first a CaCl₂ brine and then an iron-rich fluid. The precipitation of quartz cement from the brine kept pace with brittle deformation, maintaining overall rock cohesion in the fault zone. The introduction of iron-rich fluids caused a switch from precipitation to dissolution of quartz, along with precipitation of goethite. In a damage zone along a backthrust in the Cave Mountain anticline, early deformation occurred in the presence of an aqueous fluid from which quartz was precipitated. The latest deformation, however, occurred in the presence of a methane-rich fluid, which inhibited the precipitation of quartz cement producing porous breccias and open fractures despite deformation at 6 km depth. Fluid composition not only affected cementation in the fault zones, but also the selection of grain-scale deformation mechanisms. Therefore, it is a controlling factor in determining the behavior and strength of these fault zones.     

Late Cretaceous exhumation history of an extensional extruding wedge (Graz Paleozoic Nappe Complex, Austria)

Late Cretaceous structures within the eastern Graz Paleozoic Nappe Complex define an extruding wedge with north-eastward directed thrusting in eastern portions and strike-slip shear along the margins. Stacking structures are overprinted by south-westward directed extension with low-grade metamorphic rocks in the hangingwall and high-grade basement rocks in the footwall. Pressure–temperature and structural data are obtained from successively opening quartz veins that record various stages of progressive deformation and metamorphism. Fluid inclusion data and related structures show that during extension isothermal decompression from ca. 550°C and 8 kbar down to ca. 450°C and 2 kbar was related to exhumation of rocks from deep crustal levels. The data point to a high geothermal gradient and explain condensed paleo-isotherms due to ductile normal faulting in the eastern areas of the Graz Paleozoic Nappe Complex. The investigated Late Cretaceous structural elements suggest that the Graz Paleozoic Nappe Complex decoupled from the surrounding basement units and operated as a large-scale extension–extrusion corridor that evolved prior to Miocene extrusion tectonics in the Eastern Alps.