This study presents geochronological and geochemical data from newly dated Permian granitic orthogneisses associated with the Eclogite-Gneiss unit (EGU) from the southernmost part of the Austroalpine nappe stack, exposed within the Pohorje Mountains (Slovenia). LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages of two samples of the augen-gneisses are 255 ± 2.2 Ma and 260 ± 0.81 Ma, which are interpreted as the age of magmatic crystallization of zircon. In contrast, all round zircons from leucogneisses give Cretaceous ages (89.3 ± 0.7 Ma and 90.8 ± 1.2 Ma), considered as the age of UHP/HP metamorphism. The round zircons overgrew older euhedral zircons of Permian and rare older ages tentatively indicating that these rocks are of latest Permian age, too. Zircon εHf(t) values of the four orthogneiss samples are between − 13.7 and − 1.7 with an initial 176Hf/177Hf ratio ranging from 0.282201 to 0.282562; T
DM
C
is Proterozoic. The augen-gneisses show geochemical features, e.g. high (La/Lu)N ratios and strong negative Eu anomalies, of an evolved granitic magma derived from continental crust. The leucogneisses are more heterogeneously composed and are granitic to granodioritic in composition and associated with eclogites and ultramafic cumulates of oceanic affinity. We argue that the Permian granitic orthogneisses might be derived from partial melting of lower crust in a rift zone. We consider, therefore, that segment of the EGU is part of the distal Late Permian rift zone, which finally led to the opening of the Meliata Ocean during Middle Triassic times. If true, the new data also imply that the Permian stretched continental crust was potentially not much wider than ca. 100 km, was subducted and then rapidly exhumed during early Late Cretaceous times.
The Grobgneis complex, located in the eastern Austroalpine unit of the Eastern Alps, exposes large volumes of pre-Alpine porphyric metagranites, sometimes associated with small gabbroic bodies. To better understand tectonic setting of the metagranites, we carried out detailed geochronological and geochemical investigations on the major part of the porphyric metagranites. LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating of three metagranites sampled from the Grobgneis complex provides the first reliable evidence for large volumes of Permian plutonism within the pre-Alpine basement of the Lower Austroalpine units. Concordant zircons from three samples yield ages at 272.2 ± 1.2 Ma, 268.6 ± 2.3 Ma and 267.6 ± 2.9 Ma interpreted to date the emplacement of the granite suite. In combination with published ages for other Permian Alpine magmatic bodies, the new U–Pb ages provide evidence of a temporally restricted period of plutonism (“Grobgneis”) in the Raabalpen basement Complex during the Middle Permian. Comparing the investigated basement with that of the West Carpathian basement, we argue that widespread Permian granite magmatism occurred in the Lower Austroalpine units. They belong to the high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic S-type series on the base of geochemical data. Zircon Hf isotopic compositions of the Grobgneis metagranites show εHf(t) values of − 4.37 to − 0.6, with TDM2 model ages of 1.31–1.55 Ga, indicating that their protoliths were derived by the recycling of older continental crust. We suggest that the Permian granitic and gabbroic rocks are considered as rifted-related rocks in the Lower Austroalpine units and are contemporaneous with cover sediments.
Many metamorphosed basement complexes in the Alps are polymetamorphic and their origin and geological history may only be deciphered by detailed geochronology on the different members including oceanic elements like ophiolites, arc successions, and continental passive margin successions. Here we present a case study on the Lower Austroalpine Variegated Wechsel Gneiss Complex and the overlying low-grade metamorphosed Wechsel Phyllite Unit at the eastern margin of Alps. The Wechsel Gneiss Complexes are known to have been overprinted by Devonian metamorphism, and both units were affected by Late Cretaceous greenschist facies metamorphism. New U–Pb zircon ages reveal evidence for two stages of continental arc-like magmatism at 500–520 Ma and 550–570 Ma in the Variegated Wechsel Gneiss Complex. An age of ca. 510 Ma of detrital zircons in metasedimentary rocks also constrain the maximum age of metasedimentary rocks, which is younger than Middle Cambrian. The overlying Wechsel Phyllite Unit is younger than 450 Ma (Late Ordovician) and seems to have formed by denudation of the underlying Variegated Wechsel Gneiss Complex. We speculate on potential relationships of the continental arc-type magmatism of the Variegated Wechsel Gneiss Complex and potential oceanic lithosphere (Speik complex) of Prototethyan affinity, which is also preserved in the Austroalpine nappe complex. The abundant, nearly uniform 2.1 Ga- and ca. 2.5 Ma-age signature of detrital zircons in metasediments (paragneiss, quartzite) of the Variegated Wechsel Gneiss Complex calls for Lower Proterozoic continental crust in the nearby source showing the close relationship to northern Gondwana prominent in West Africa and Amazonia.
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