Origin and metamorphism of ultrabasic rocks associated with a subducted continental margin, Naxos (Cyclades, Greece)

Meta-peridotites outcropping at different structural levels within the Alpine metamorphic complex of the Cycladic island of Naxos were studied to re-examine their metamorphic evolution and possible tectonic mechanisms for emplacement of mantle material into the continental crust. The continental margin section exposed on Naxos, consisting of pre-Alpine basement and c. 7 km thick Mesozoic platform cover, has undergone intense metamorphism of Alpine age, comprising an Eocene (M1) blueschist event strongly overprinted by a Miocene Barrovian-type event (M2). Structural concordance with the country rocks and metasomatic zonation at the contact with the felsic host rocks indicate that the meta-peridotites have experienced the M2 metamorphism. This conclusion is supported by the similarity between metamorphic temperatures of the ultrabasic rocks and those of the host rocks. Maximum temperatures of 730–760 °C were calculated for the upper-amphibolite facies meta-peridotites (Fo–En–Hbl–Chl–Spl), associated with sillimanite gneisses and migmatites. Relict phases in ultrabasics of different structural levels indicate two distinct pre-M2 histories: whereas the cover-associated horizons have been affected by low-grade serpentinization prior to metamorphism, the basement- associated meta-peridotites show no signs of serpentinization and instead preserve some of their original mantle assemblage. The geochemical affinities of the two groups are also different. The basement-associated meta-peridotites retain their original composition indicating derivation by fractional partial melting of primitive lherzolite, whereas serpentinization has led to almost complete Ca-loss in the second group. The cover-associated ultrabasics are interpreted as remnants of an ophiolite sequence obducted on the adjacent continental shelf early in the Alpine orogenesis. In contrast, the basement-associated meta-peridotites were tectonically interleaved with the Naxos section at great depth during the Alpine collision and high P/T metamorphism. Their emplacement at the base of the orogenic wedge is inferred to have involved isobaric cooling from temperatures of c. 1050 °C within the spinel lherzolite field to eclogite facies temperatures of c. 600 °C.     

The nature and distribution of fluids during amphibolite facies metamorphism, Naxos (Greece)

On the basis of fluid inclusion evidence, pervasive influx of deep-seated CO₂-rich fluids has been invoked to account for mid- to upper amphibolite facies (M2_B) metamorphism on the island of Naxos (Cyclades, Greece). In this paper, mineral devolatilization and melt equilibria are used to constrain the composition of both syn- and post-peak-M2_B fluids in the deepest exposed levels of the metamorphic complex. The results indicate that peak-M2_B fluids were spatially and compositionally heterogeneous throughout the high-grade core of the complex, whereas post-peak-M2_B fluids were generally water-rich. The observed heterogeneities in syn-M2_B fluid composition are inconsistent with pervasive CO₂-flushing models invoked by previous workers on the basis of fluid inclusion evidence. It is likely that few CO₂-rich fluid inclusions on Naxos preserve fluids trapped under peak metamorphic conditions. It is suggested that many of these inclusions have behaved as chemically open systems during the intense deformation that accompanied the uplift of the metamorphic complex. A similar process may explain the occurrence of some CO₂-rich fluid inclusions in granulite facies rocks.     

Pressure-Temperature-time Evolution of Metamorphic Rocks from Naxos (Cyclades,Greece): Constraints from Thermobarometry and Rb/Sr dating

The Pressure-Temperature-time paths of metapelites sampled on an east-west transect across the structural dome of Naxos (Greece) have been reconstructed on the basis of new geothermobarometric data and Rb/Sr dating, as well as previously published data. One sample from an intermediate structural level records pressure and temperature conditions of 10 kbar, 500°C, corresponding to its exhumation in a highpressure/low-temperature (HP/LT) setting. The corresponding Rb/Sr exhumation age is 29.3±1.3(2s) Ma. Toward the center of the dome, metamorphic assemblages record an increase in peak-temperature and corresponding pressure (from 500 to 700°C, and from 5 to 8 kbar), in a medium-pressure/medium-temperature (MP/MT) metamorphic field gradient. Whole-rock, muscovite and biotite on two samples from deep structural levels define ages of 5.2 and 7.0 Ma, whereas garnets fall outside the isochrons and retain earlier less radiogenic signatures. Rb/Sr data on these two samples demonstrate open system behaviour coeval with, or subsequent to MP/MT metamorphism. The interpretation of the Pressure-Temperature-time paths indicates a time span of 15-20 Ma for dome formation. It also suggests that the HP/LT to MP/MT transition is due to i) heating of deeper parts of the dome through magma injection or ii) either homogeneous (75 %) or localized thinning during dome formation.     

Geochronology of high-pressure rocks on Sifnos (Cyclades,Greece)

Polymetamorphic rocks of Sifnos (Greece) have been investigated by Rb-Sr, K-Ar, and fission track methods. Critical mineral assemblages from the northern and southernmost parts of Sifnos include jadeite+quartz+3T phengite, and omphacite+garnet +3T phengite, whereas the central part is characterized by the assemblage albite+chlorite+epidote+2M ₁ phengite.K-Ar and Rb-Sr dates on phengites (predominantly 3T) of the best preserved high P/itTmetamorphic rocks from northern Sifnos gave concordant ages around 42 m.y., indicating a Late Lutetian age for the high P/T metamorphism. Phengites (2M ₁+3T) of less preserved high P/T assemblages yielded K-Ar dates between 48 and 41 m.y. but generally lower Rb-Sr dates. The higher K-Ar dates are interpreted as being elevated by excess argon.K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages on 2M ₁ phengites from central Sifnos vary between 24 and 21 m.y. These ages date a second, greenschist-facies metamorphism which overprinted the earlier high-pressure metamorphic rocks.     

The lateral boundary of a metamorphic core complex: The Moutsounas shear zone on Naxos,Cyclades, Greece

We describe the structure, microstructures, texture and paleopiezometry of quartz-rich phyllites and marbles along N-trending Moutsounas shear zone at the eastern margin of the Naxos metamorphic core complex (MCC). Fabrics consistently indicate a top-to-the-NNE non-coaxial shear and formed during the main stage of updoming and exhumation between ca. 14 and 11 Ma of the Naxos MCC. The main stage of exhumation postdates the deposition of overlying Miocene sedimentary successions and predates the overlying Upper Miocene/Pliocene conglomerates. Detailed microstructural and textural analysis reveals that the movement along the Moutsounas shear zone is associated with a retrograde greenschist to subgreenschist facies overprint of the early higher-temperature rocks. Paleopiezometry on recrystallized quartz and calcite yields differential stresses of 20–77 MPa and a strain rate of 10⁻¹⁵–10⁻¹³ s⁻¹ at 350 °C for quartz and ca. 300 °C for calcite. Chlorite geothermometry of the shear zone yields two temperature regimes, 300–360 °C, and 200–250 °C. The lower temperature group is interpreted to result from late-stage hydrothermal overprint.     

Fluid record of rock exhumation across the brittle–ductile transition during formation of a Metamorphic Core Complex (Naxos Island,Cyclades, Greece)

Fluid inclusions trapped in quartz veins hosted by a leucogneiss from the southern part of the Naxos Metamorphic Core Complex (Attic‐Cycladic‐Massif, Greece) were studied to determine the evolution of the fluid record of metamorphic rocks during their exhumation across the ductile/brittle transition. Three sets of quartz veins (V‐M2, V‐BD & V‐B) are distinguished. The V‐M2 and V‐BD are totally or, respectively, partially transposed into the foliation of the leucogneiss. They formed by hydrofracturing alternating with ductile deformation accommodated by crystal‐plastic deformation. The V‐B is discordant to the foliation and formed by fracturing during exhumation without subsequent ductile transposition. Fluids trapped during crystal–plastic deformation comprise two very distinct fluid types, namely a CO₂‐rich fluid and a high‐salinity brine, that are interpreted to represent immiscible fluids generated from metamorphic reactions and the crystallization of magmas respectively. They were initially trapped at ～625 °C and 400 MPa and then remobilized during subsequent ductile deformation resulting in various degrees of mixing of the two end‐members with later trapping conditions of ～350 °C and 140 MPa. In contrast, brittle microcracks contain aqueous fluids trapped at 250 °C and 80 MPa. All veins display a similar δ¹³C pointing to carbon that was trapped at depth and then preserved in the fluid inclusions throughout the exhumation history. In contrast, the δD signature is marked by a drastic difference between (i) V‐M2 and V‐BD veins that are dominated by carbonic, aqueous‐carbonic and high‐salinity fluids of metamorphic and magmatic origin characterized by δD between ?56‰ and ?66‰, and (ii) V‐B veins that are dominated by aqueous fluids of meteoric origin characterized by δD between ?40‰ and ?46‰. The retrograde P–T pathway implies that the brittle/ductile transition separates two structurally, chemically and thermally distinct fluid reservoirs, namely (i) the ductile crust into which fluids originating from crystallizing magmas and fluids in equilibrium with metamorphic rocks circulate through a geothermal gradient of 30 °C km^?1 at lithostatic pressure, and (ii) the brittle upper crust through which meteoric fluids percolate through a high geothermal gradient of 55 °C km^?1 at hydrostatic pressure.     

Origin, HP/LT metamorphism and cooling of ophiolitic mélanges in southern Evia (NW Cyclades), Greece

Basic and ultrabasic blocks within ophiolitic mélanges of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit in southern Evia provide a detailed insight into its ocean floor igneous and hydrothermal evolution, as well as the regional poly‐metamorphism occurring during Alpine orogenesis. The upper structural levels (Mt. Ochi exposures) are dominated by metamorphosed wehrlites, gabbros and highly light rare earth element (LREE)‐enriched pillow basalts, whereas the underlying Tsaki mélange consists of basic protoliths with much less fractionated REE patterns as well as mantle harzburgites. Most of the metabasites show Nb anomalies, indicative of derivation from a subduction‐affected mantle. The igneous bodies were juxtaposed and incorporated into the enclosing sedimentary sequences prior to high‐pressure/low‐temperature (HP/LT) metamorphism (M1). Glaucophane, epidote, sodic clinopyroxene and high‐Si phengite constitute the Eocene M1 assemblage, which is estimated to have formed at >11 kbar and 400–450 °C. High δ¹⁸O values of M1 minerals in Ochi metagabbros indicate that the formation of the high‐pressure assemblage was controlled by infiltration of fluids from the dehydrating host sediments. Cooling during decompression is indicated by an overprinting (M2, Early Miocene) pumpellyite–actinolite facies assemblage in metabasic rocks, calculated to have developed at P<8 kbar and T <350 °C. Possible mechanisms for such cooling include: exhumation from shallower burial levels relative to the eclogites of the NW Cyclades, accretion of colder rocks from below and extensional unroofing by low‐angle normal faults and detachments. The occurrence of sodic augite in the M2 assemblage of Tsaki metagabbros indicates that rocks at the base of the Blueschist Unit cooled faster or longer than their higher level Ochi counterparts. This suggests that differential cooling of the blueschists was enhanced by the underthrusting of colder rock units.     

Isotopic dating of pre-Alpidic rocks from the island of Ios (Cyclades,Greece)

The lower tectonic unit of Ios provides evidence of an at least four stage metamorphic and intrusive history which well might be generalized for large parts of the internal Pelagonian.Metamorphic country rocks of unknown age were intruded about 500 Ma ago, as concluded from a Rb-Sr whole rock (WR) isochron on relic tonalites to granodiorites which largely escaped the polyphase postmagmatic overprints.A Hercynian amphibolite facies metamorphism, during which the igneous rocks were partly recrystallized to orthogneisses, is dated by a lower intercept age of 300–305 Ma of U-Pb determinations on zircons and by three almost concordant Rb-Sr muscovite-WR ages of 295 to 288 Ma.K-Ar analyses on these muscovites and on biotites, and Rb-Sr tie lines WR-biotite and WR with other relic magmatic minerals yielded various apparent ages between 260 and 60 Ma. They are interpreted as mixed ages between a Hercynian cooling age and the two stage Alpidic overprints.White micas formed during the Eocene high P/T and/or Oligocene/Miocene Barrovian-type overprints yielded K-Ar dates ranging from 82 to 26 Ma, as well as a single Rb-Sr date of 13 Ma. These Alpidic dates resemble the more detailed age patterns of other Cycladic islands. But they are not sufficient for an independent dating of the Tertiary evolution on Ios island.     

An EMP and TEM--AEM Study of Margarite, Muscovite and Paragonite in Polymetamorphic Metabauxites of Naxos Cyclades, Greece) and the Implications of Fine-scale Mica Interlayering and Multiple Mica Generations

Coexisting white micas and plagioclase were studied by electronmicroprobe (EMP), and transmission and analytical electron microscopy(TEM—AEM) in greenschist- to amphibolite-grade metabauxitesfrom Naxos. The TEM—AEM studies indicate that sub-micronscale (0.01–1.0 µm thick) semicoherent intergrowthsof margarite, paragonite and muscovite are common up to loweramphibolite conditions. If unrecognized, such small-scale micainterlayering can easily lead to incorrect interpretation ofEMP data. Muscovite and paragonite in M₂ greenschist-grade Naxosrocks are mainly relics of an earlier high-pressure metamorphism(M₁). Owing to the medium-pressure M₂ event, margante occursin middle greenschist-grade metabauxites and gradually is replacedby plagioclase + corundum in amphibolite-grade metabauxites.The margarite displays minor ^IVAl_{3 VI}(Fe³⁺, Al) Si_-3 ^VI-_-1 andconsiderable (Na, K) SiCa_-1Al_-1 substitution, resulting in upto 44 mol% paragonite and 6 mol % muscovite in solution. Thecompositional variation of muscovite is mainly described by^VI(Fe²⁺, Mg) Si ^VI Al_-1^VI Al_-1 and _VI(Fe₃₊Al^-1) exchanges, thelatter becoming dominant at amphibolite grade, Muscovite issignificantly richer in Fe than margarite or paragonite. Ca—Na—Kpartitioning data indicate that margarite commonly has a significantlyhigher Na/(Na+ K+Ca) value than coexisting muscovite or plagioclase.Exceptions are found in several greenschist-grade rocks, inwhich M₁-formed mussovite may have failed to equilibrate withM₂ margarite. The sluggishness of K-rich micas to recrystallizeand adjust composidonally to changing P-T conditions is alsoreflected in the results of mus-covite-paragonite solvus thermometry.Chemical data for Ca—Na micas from this study and literaturedata indicate that naturally coexisting margarite—paragonitepairs display considerably less mutual solubility than suggestedby experimental work. The variable and irregular Na partitioningbetween margarite and muscovite as observed in many metamorphicrocks could largely be related to opposing effects of pressureon Na solubility in margarite and paragonite and/or non-equilibriumbetween micas. KEY WORDS: Ca—Na—K mica; margarite; metabauxite; Naxos; sub-micron-scale mica interlayering     

3D geometrical modelling of post-foliation deformations in metamorphic terrains (Syros,Cyclades, Greece)

Superposed to ductile syn-metamorphic deformations, post-foliation deformations affect metamorphic units during their exhumation. Understanding the role of such deformations in the structuration of metamorphic units is key for understanding the tectonic evolution of convergence zones. We characterize post-foliations deformations using 3D modelling which is a first-order tool to describe complex geological structures, but a challenging task where based only on surface data. We propose a modelling procedure that combines fast draft models (interpolation of orientation data), with more complex ones where the structural context is better understood (implicit modelling), allowing us to build a 3D geometrical model of Syros Island blueschists (Cyclades), based on field data. With our approach, the 3D model is able to capture the complex present-day geometry of the island, mainly controlled by the superposition of three types of post-metamorphic deformations affecting the original metamorphic pile: i) a top-to-South ramp-flat extensional system that dominates the overall island structure, ii) large-scale folding of the metamorphic units associated with ramp-flat extensional system, and iii) steeply-dipping normal faults trending dominantly NNW-SSE and EW. The 3D surfaces produced by this method match outcrop data, are geologically consistent, and provide reasonable estimates of geological structures in poorly constrained areas.     

Pumpellyite-actinolite and greenschist facies metamorphism in lesvos island (Greece)

Summary The southern part of Lesvos island consists of a Late Palaeozoic-Triassic marble-phyllite series with intercalations of mafic metavolcanics which exhibit mineralogies of the pumpellyite-actinolite and greenschist facies. Pumpellyite is developed best in the metabasalts of the south-eastern part and towards the northwestern part of the terrain it gives way to actinolite and/or epidote bearing assemblages. Local variations in CO₂ are suggested to explain the extensive distribution of chlorite-calcite instead of the Ca–Al-silicate bearing assemblages diagnostic of subgreenschist facies metamorphism.The mineral assemblages observed and the comparison of the compositions of co-existing phases with the compositions of minerals from other low-grade metamorphic areas, indicate metamorphism at temperatures in the order of 270–360°C and pressures little lower than 5 kb.

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Pumpellyit-Aktinolith und Grünschiefer-Fazies-Metamorphose auf der Insel Lesbos (Griechenland)

Zusammenfassung Der südliche Teil der Insel Lesbos besteht aus einer Serie von jungpaläozoischen-triassischen Schichten von Marmor und Phylliten mit Einlagerungen von basischen Metavulkaniten, deren Mineralogie beweist, daß sie zu den Pumpellyit-Aktinolith- und Grünschiefern-Fazien gehören.Der Pumpellyit entwickelt sich besser in den Metabasalten des südöstlichen Teils. Gegen Nordwesten zu wird er durch Paragenesen ersetzt, welche Aktinolith oder Aktinolith mit Epidot oder nur Epidot aufweisen. Örtliche Unterschiede im CO₂-Wert erklären, wie angenommen wird, die verbreitete Verteilung der Chlorit-Calzit-Paragenese anstelle der für Sub-Grünschiefer-Fazies charakteristischen Ca–Al-Silikat-Paragenesen.Die Mineralparagenesen, die beobachtet wurden, und der Vergleich der Zusammensetzung der koexistierenden Phasen mit der Zusammensetzung der Mineralien aus anderen Gebieten mit niedrigem Metamorphose-Grad zeigt, daß die Metamorphose hier bei Temperaturen von 270°C bis 360°C und bei einem Druck von etwas weniger als 5 kb stattgefunden hat.

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With 4 Figures     

Tracking fluid flow during deep crustal anatexis: metasomatism of peridotites (Naxos, Greece)

Horizons of ultramafic lenses were metamorphosed with host felsic gneisses at upper amphibolite facies conditions during the M2 event on the island of Naxos, Greece. The synkinematic peak M2 Ol-Opx-Hbl-Chl-Spl assemblage of the Main, migmatite-associated, Ultramafic Horizon (MUH) retains mantle-like chemical and oxygen isotope compositions and thus shows no evidence of infiltration of fluids from the host rocks. A bimodal distribution of temperatures, grouped at 700 and 1,200 °C, is given by oxygen isotope Opx-Ol thermometry in the MUH meta-peridotites and indicates partial oxygen exchange during M2 superposed over previous mantle fractionation. The Agia Ultramafic Horizon (AUH), a coarser-grained and unfoliated peridotite, occurs within sillimanite gneisses in northwest Naxos and contains talc-enstatite and olivine domains. Recrystallization of the AUH peridotite during post-peak M2 infiltration of silica-rich, high '¹⁸O fluids is indicated by lack of deformation, increased activity of silica required to stabilize the talc-enstatite assemblage, extremely high '¹⁸O values of Ol and Opx and (¹⁸O_(Opx-Ol) temperatures of 520-650 °C. The source for these fluids is inferred to be aplitic and pegmatitic dikes emanating from the migmatitic core of Naxos and intruding the AUH. At peak M2 temperatures and during anatexis of gneisses, volumes of fluid were small and fluid composition was locally buffered in the deeper part of the Naxos section. Crystallization of melts within the migmatitic core released siliceous fluids and initiated an episode of retrograde hydrous metamorphism in the overlying sequences, as observed in the AUH.     

Geochemical evidence for arc-type volcanism in the Aegean Sea: the blueschist unit of Siphnos, Cyclades (Greece)

Blueschists, eclogites, chlorite–actinolite rocks and jadeite-gneisses of the blueschist unit of Siphnos have been investigated for their geochemical composition. Their protolith nature is characterised and a geodynamic model for the pre-metamorphic evolution of these metavolcanic rocks is proposed on the basis of immobile elements, especially trace elements and rare earth elements (REE).

The protoliths of the eclogites are characterised as calc-alkaline basalts, andesites and Fe-rich tholeiites evolving in an island-arc setting. Trace element data indicate that subducted marine sediments were assimilated in the magma chamber, enriching the protoliths in LILE and Pb. Produced in the early stage of back-arc basin opening, a protolith with affinities to both island-arc and MORB formed the precursor of the chlorite–actinolite rocks. They were created by low degrees of partial melting of very primitive magmas, akin to spinel-peridotites and have affinities to boninites, probably through melting of the peridotitic mantle wedge. Tholeiitic basalts and andesites with N-MORB affinity, especially in their REE-patterns, were then produced by partial melting, possibly in an embryonic back-arc basin. These rocks were the protoliths of the blueschists of Siphnos. Their enrichment in some LILE and Pb indicates a N-MORB source contaminated by marine sediments, probably shales or other Pb-rich sediments. Because the jadeite-gneisses show affinities to MOR-granites and volcanic arc granites, intrusion of their protoliths in a back-arc environment is likely. The protoliths of the quartz-jadeite gneisses are rhyodacites/dacites and rhyolites, those of the glaucophane-jadeite gneisses were andesites.

The proposed geodynamic model, solely based on geochemical data, is consistent with geochemical data from neighbouring islands, though those rock units show much higher chemical variability. Consistent with geotectonic models, which are based on structural and geophysical data, the volcanic protoliths of the Siphnos blueschist unit reflect the transition from subduction to spreading environment and record in detail: subduction, formation of an island-arc, and the evolution of a back-arc basin.     

Yria (western Naxos island,Greece): Sea level changes in Upper Holocene and palaeogeographical reconstruction

The Saint Georgios coastal zone, located at the W coast of Naxos, the largest island of the Central Aegean Sea, was investigated in order to determine the palaeo-geography, sea level changes and their effect to the palaeo-environment of western Naxos island and to human activity. Detailed geomorphological mapping, study of micropaleontological and sedimentological characteristics and dating analyses of the Late Holocene of St. Georgios coastal zone were conducted.

To obtain information about the Holocene stratigraphy under the recent alluvial cover, three boreholes followed the detailed geomorphological mapping. Microfaunal analysis took place and five samples of plants, shells, peat and charred material were also collected from several layers of the sedimentary sequence and were dated using AMS and conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. The sea-land interactions during Upper Holocene, in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analysis on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the palaeo-geographic evolution of the landscape and its impact on the archaeological sites. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 6144 BP have been verified.     

Evolution of the blueschist and greenschist facies rocks of Sifnos,Cyclades, Greece

The metamorphism on the island of Sifnos is characterized by the Eocene development of a coherent highpressure blueschist terrane and an early Miocene greenschist facies overprint. This study documents the metamorphic evolution of the blueschist assemblages, still preserved in the northern parts of the island, and their subsequent transformation into greenschists in the central and southern parts.The oxygen isotope geothermometry is based on calibrations for quartz, pyroxenes and magnetite (Matthews et al. 1983a) augmented by revised calibrations for the minerals muscovite ( _Qz–Mu=1.55×10⁶ T _–2), epidote ( _Qz–Ep= 1.56+1.92 _ps)10⁶ T _–2), and rutile ( _Qz–Ru=4.54×10⁶ T _–2).Oxygen isotope analyses of minerals from the Blueschist unit of northern Sifnos give consistent fractionations which are independent of rock type. An average temperature of 455° C was obtained, although the scatter in temperatures deduced from the various geothermometers suggests that equilibration occurs under slightly changing physicochemical conditions. Analyses of minerals and whole rocks shows that pervasive equilibration in the presence of a common metamorphic fluid has not occurred.The minerals and whole rocks of the greenschists of central Sifnos are systematically enriched in ¹⁸O relative to the blueschist assemblages. Chemical data indicate that the greenschist overprint was accompanied by a metasomatic enrichment of Ca²⁺ and CO₂. The petrologic, isotopic and chemical evidence favour a metamorphism governed by the infiltration of ¹⁸O-CO₂ enriched aqueous solutions. It is reasonable to assume that this is connected with the Miocene magmatic activity observed throughout the Cyclades. The marbles separating the Blueschist from the Greenschist unit probably acted as barriers to fluid infiltration into the blueschists and were responsible for their preservation.The pressure of the blueschist metamorphism is estimated at 14±2 kbar, corresponding to a depth of ca. 50 km. The structural style and stratigraphy of Sifnos are suggestive of the subduction of a continental margin sequence. It is clear that the considerable tectonic depression may be associated with continental collision and underthrusting.     

Metamorphic evolution of the Attic Cycladic Metamorphic Belt on Naxos (Cyclades, Greece) utilizing 40Ar/39Ar age spectrum measurements

Abstract ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectrum analysis of phengite separates from Naxos, part of the Attic Cycladic Metamorphic Belt in Greece, indicates that cooling following high-pressure, low- to medium-temperature metamorphism, M₁, occurred about 50 Ma ago. Phengite has ⁴⁰Ar* gradients that suggest that part of the scatter observed in conventional K–Ar ages was caused by diffusion of radiogenic argon from the minerals during a younger metamorphism, M₂. In central Naxos, this metamorphism (M₂) has overprinted the original mineral assemblages completely, and is associated with development of a thermal dome. Excellent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateaus at 15.0 ± 0.1 Ma, 11.8 ± 0.1 Ma, and 11.4 ± 0.1 Ma, obtained on hornblende, muscovite and biotite, respectively, from the migmatite zone, indicate that relatively rapid cooling followed the M₂ event, and that no significant thermal overprinting occurred subsequent to M₂. Toward lower M₂ metamorphic grade, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of hornblendes increase to 19.8 ± 0.1 Ma; concomitantly the proportion of excess ⁴⁰Ar in the spectra increases as well. We propose that the peak of M₂ metamorphism occurred beween 15.0 and 19.8 Ma ago. K–Ar ages of biotites from a granodiorite on the west coast are indistinguishable from those found in the metamorphic complex, and hornblende K–Ar ages from the same samples are in the range 12.1–13.6 Ma. As the latter ages are somewhat younger than most ages obtained from the metamorphic complex, intrusion of the granodiorite most likely followed the peak of the M₂ metamorphism. The metamorphic evolution of Naxos is consistent with rapid crustal thickening during the Cretaceous or early Tertiary, causing conditions at which supracrustal rocks experienced pressures in the range 900–1500 MPa. Transition to normal crustal thicknesses ended the M₁ metamorphism about 50 Ma ago. The M₂ metamorphism and granodiorite intrusion occurred during a period of heat input into the crust, possibly related to the migration of the Hellenic volcanic ar°C in a southerly direction through the area.     

Granitoid rocks of Naxos,Greece: regional geology and petrology

Granitic gneiss in a Miocene extensional core complex on Naxos locally preserves primary igneous textures. On an outcrop scale, these include mafic enclaves; in thin section, feldspar phenocrysts contain unoriented accessory mineral inclusions. The gneiss is interpreted as having a Hercynian granite protolith. Contrary to previous accounts, migmatites are rare in the gneiss. The granite is geochemically similar to post-collisional extension-related granites and differs from the predominant granodiorites found in the Hercynian basement of northwestern Greece. An I-type hornblende–biotite granite pluton was emplaced during Miocene extension in western Naxos. It is a typical subduction-related pluton emplaced under conditions of back-arc extension. The pluton is cut by later leucogranite that geochemically resembles the granite dykes that cut the migmatites. In northern Naxos, minor leucogranite intrusions are of two geochemical types. One is everywhere deformed and geochemically resembles the leucogranite that cuts the Western pluton. The other is variably deformed and new geochronology shows that it has an age of 10 Ma. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.