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Neoproterozoic and Cambro-Ordovician magmatism in the Variscan Kłodzko Metamorphic Complex (West Sudetes, Poland): new insights from U/Pb zircon dating

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Abstract

The Kłodzko Metamorphic Complex (KMC) in the Central Sudetes consists of meta-sedimentary and meta-igneous rocks metamorphosed under greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions. They are comprised in a number of separate tectonic units interpreted as thrust sheets. In contrast to other Lower Palaeozoic volcano-sedimentary successions in the Sudetes, the two uppermost units (the Orla-Gołogłowy unit and the Kłodzko Fortress unit) of the KMC contain meta-igneous rocks with supra-subduction zone affinities. The age of the KMC was previously assumed to be Early Palaeozoic–Devonian, based on biostratigraphic findings in the lowermost tectonic unit. Our geochronological study focused on the magmatic rocks from the two uppermost tectonic units, exposed in the SW part of the KMC. Two orthogneiss samples from the Orla-Gołogłowy unit yielded ages of 500.4±3.1 and 500.2±4.9 Ma, interpreted to indicate the crystallization age of the granitic precursors. A plagioclase gneiss from the same tectonic unit, intimately interlayered with metagabbro, provided an upper intercept age of 590.1±7.2 Ma, which is interpreted as the time of igneous crystallization. From the topmost Kłodzko Fortress unit, a metatuffite was studied, which contains a mixture of genetically different zircon grains. The youngest 207Pb/206Pb ages, which cluster at ca. 590-600 Ma, are interpreted to indicate the maximum depositional age for this metasediment. The results of this study are in accord with a model that suggests a nappe structure for the KMC, with a Middle Devonian succession at the base and Upper Proterozoic units at structurally higher levels. It is suggested here that the KMC represents a composite tectonic suture that juxtaposes elements of pre-Variscan basement, intruded by the Lower Ordovician granite, against a Middle Palaeozoic passive margin succession. The new ages, combined with the overall geochemical variation in the KMC, indicate the existence of rock assemblages representing a Gondwana active margin. The recognition of Neoproterozoic subduction-related magmatism provides additional arguments for the hypothesis that equivalents of the Teplá-Barrandian domain are exposed in the Central Sudetes.

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Acknowledgements

This study benefited from the financial support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for the Zentrallaboratorium für Geochronologie in Münster and grants nos 2022/W/ING/01 and 4685/PB/ING/02 provided by Polish Committee for Scientific Research. Constructive reviews by Ph. Matte and F. Corfu helped to improve the quality of our presentation and are greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Wrocław, pl. M. Borna 9, 50-204 Wrocław, Poland

    Stanisław Mazur & Krzysztof Turniak

  2. Institut für Mineralogie, Zentrallaboratorium für Geochronologie, Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 24, Münster, Germany

    Michael Bröcker

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  1. Stanisław Mazur
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Correspondence to Stanisław Mazur.

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Mazur, S., Turniak, K. & Bröcker, M. Neoproterozoic and Cambro-Ordovician magmatism in the Variscan Kłodzko Metamorphic Complex (West Sudetes, Poland): new insights from U/Pb zircon dating. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 93, 758–772 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-004-0417-4

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