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Mid-crustal shear zone evolution in a syn-tectonic late Hercynian granitoid (Sila Massif, Calabria, southern Italy)

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Abstract

By means of petrogrological, meso- and microstructural analyses, the fabric of a syn-tectonic late Hercynian K-feldspar megacryst-bearing granodiorite is described in this paper. The granodiorite was emplaced at 293 Ma within migmatitic paragneisses which had reached the regional peak metamorphic conditions at 304–300 Ma. The granodiorite and the migmatitic paragneisses are both affected by the same ductile shear zone. In the core of the shear zone, mylonites show a clear grain-size reduction and microstructures related to deformation at high to medium temperature conditions. Migmatitic paragneisses, foliated granodiorites and mylonites mostly show concordant lineation and foliation orientations. In addition, the preferred orientation of euhedral feldspars in granodiorites indicates that the fabric anisotropy started to develop in the magmatic state. These features strongly suggest that shear deformation was active during crystallisation of granitoids and continued under subsolidus conditions. In wall rocks and mylonites, kinematic indicators such as σ- and δ-type porphyroclasts, S/C fabrics, shear bands and quartz (c) axis orientations suggest a top-to-the-W sense of shear. This is similar to the magma flow direction indicated by the tiling of euhedral feldspar megacrysts in granodiorites. Shear deformation developed, preferentially, by partitioning of strain in the granodioritic crystal mush. Geobarometry indicates that deformation took place at middle crustal levels (P=400–500 MPa). Whole rock-white mica Rb/Sr geochronological analysis of an undeformed pegmatite, crosscutting the mylonitic foliation, provided an age of 265 Ma. Timing of deformation is therefore bracketed between 293 Ma and 265 Ma.

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Acknowledgments

We are deeply indebted to Eckardt Stein and Jörn Kruhl whose constructive criticism and clear comments helped us to improve the original manuscript. This work has been supported by COFIN2001 (resp. G. Piccarreta) research grants and University of Bari research funds (resp. A.Caggianelli). Steoreplots of Fig. 5 were performed with “Stereonet 6” for Macintosh by W. Allmendinger.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Geologia e Geofisica, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70125, Bari, Italy

    D. Liotta

  2. Dipartimento Geomineralogico, Università degli Studi di Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy

    V. Festa, A. Caggianelli & A. Pascazio

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy

    G. Prosser

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  1. D. Liotta
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Correspondence to V. Festa.

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Liotta, D., Festa, V., Caggianelli, A. et al. Mid-crustal shear zone evolution in a syn-tectonic late Hercynian granitoid (Sila Massif, Calabria, southern Italy). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 93, 400–413 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-004-0385-8

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