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Cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusion and stable C–O isotope study of tectonic breccias from thrusting plane of a thin-skinned calcareous nappe

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Abstract

Basal hydraulic breccias of alpine thin-skinned Muráň nappe were investigated by means of cathodoluminescence petrography, stable isotope geochemistry and fluid inclusions analysis. Our study reveals an unusual dynamic fluid regime along basal thrust plane during final episode of the nappe emplacement over its metamorphic substratum. Basal thrusting fluids enriched in 18O, silica, alumina, alkalies and phosphates were generated in the underlying metamorphosed basement at epizonal conditions corresponding to the temperatures of 400–450°C. The fluids fluxed the tectonized nappe base, leached evaporite-bearing formations in hangingwall, whereby becoming oversaturated with sulphates and chlorides. The fluids further modified their composition by dedolomitization and isotopic exchange with the host carbonatic cataclasites. Newly formed mineral assemblage of quartz, phlogopite, albite, potassium feldspar, apatite, dravite tourmaline and anhydrite precipitated from these fluids on cooling down to 180–200°C. Finally, the cataclastic mush was cemented by calcite at ambient anchizonal conditions. Recurrent fluid injections as described above probably enhanced the final motion of the Muráň nappe.

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Acknowledgments

R. M. is thankful for the financial support from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Agency) and the VEGA (Slovak Scientific Grant Foundation) grant No. 2/0040/08. Reinhold Przybilla is gratefully acknowledged for technical support during mass spectrometric measurements, and reviewers—particularly H. Masson—for their inspiring comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Ďumbierska 1, 974 01, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

    Rastislav Milovský

  2. Geoscience Center, Department of Applied Geology, Georg-August University, Goldschmidtstraße 1, 370 77, Göttingen, Germany

    Alfons van den Kerkhof

  3. Geoscience Center, Department of Geochemistry, Georg-August University, Goldschmidtstraße 1, 370 77, Göttingen, Germany

    Jochen Hoefs

  4. Geological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 840 05, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Vratislav Hurai

  5. Montanuniversität Leoben, Peter-Tunner-Straße 5, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    Walter Prochaska

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Milovský, R., van den Kerkhof, A., Hoefs, J. et al. Cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusion and stable C–O isotope study of tectonic breccias from thrusting plane of a thin-skinned calcareous nappe. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 101, 535–554 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-011-0685-8

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