Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pre-Variscan tectonic events and Late Ordovician magmatism in the Central Pyrenees: U–Pb age and Hf in zircon isotopic signature from subvolcanic sills in the Pallaresa massif

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Iberian Geology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Late Ordovician magmatism is well-represented in all massifs of the Eastern Pyrenees and the Catalan Coastal Ranges but has not been reported in the central parts of the Pyrenean Axial Zone. This work shows the first geochronological evidence for Late Ordovician magmatism in the Pallaresa massif. This massif is a large E–W trending antiformal structure cored by Paleozoic rocks with a Variscan tectonothermal overprint. The lower Paleozoic sequence shows an Upper Ordovician succession lying unconformably on older Cambrian–Ordovician beds. Despite Variscan overprint, the Cambrian–Ordovician rocks record evidence of a pre-Variscan penetrative fabric which is not present in the rest of the overlying Paleozoic succession. In the eastern part of the Pallaresa massif, rhyodacitic to dacitic subvolcanic rock forming sills intercalated within the Cambrian–Ordovician succession close to the base of the Upper Ordovician rocks have been identified and sampled. These volcanic rocks have a Variscan penetrative foliation and lack the additional pre-Variscan deformation. U–Pb zircon dating of one these subvolcanic levels by U–Pb CA-ID-TIMS, has provided an age of 453.6 ± 1.5 Ma (Sandbian) and the zircon has given ɛHf450 values between − 2.4 and − 5.9, suggesting a mixed source. These new data strengthen the Paleozoic correlation of the Central and Eastern Pyrenees indicating that the Late Ordovician magmatism in the Pyrenees was associated with a pre-Variscan event responsible for the Upper Ordovician angular unconformity and the presence of a penetrative pre-Variscan deformation affecting the underlying Cambrian–Ordovician sequence. This new data, coupled with the occurrence of Zn–Pb SEDEX o Mississippi Valley type deposits associated with Upper Ordovician rocks, suggest the evidence of extensional tectonic activity during Late Ordovician times.

Resumen

El magmatismo del Ordovícico Superior está bien representado en todos los macizos de los Pirineos Orientales y de la Cordillera Costero Catalana pero no se ha registrado en la parte central de la Zona Axial pirenaica. Este trabajo muestra la primera evidencia geocronológica del magmatismo del Ordovícico Superior en el macizo de la Pallaresa. Este macizo es una gran estructura antiformal de dirección E - O con rocas paleozoicas en su núcleo afectadas por eventos tectonotérmicos variscos. La secuencia del Paleozoico Inferior muestra la sucesión del Ordovícico Superior discordante sobre las capas mas antiguas del Cambro-Ordovícico. Además de la deformación Varisca las rocas pre-Ordovícico Superior registran evidencias de una fábrica penetrativa pre-Varisca que no está presente en el resto de las rocas paleozoicas. En la parte oriental del macizo de la Pallaresa, cerca de la base de la sucesión del Ordovícico Superior, se han identificado y muestreado sills de rocas subvolcánicas, riodacíticas a dacíticas, intercaladas en la sucesión Cambro-Ordovícica. Estos sills tienen una foliación penetrativa Varisca mientras que la deformación pre-Varisca está ausente. La datación de U-Pb sobre zircón de uno de estos niveles subvolcánicos por el método U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS, ha proporcionado una edad de 453,6 ± 1,5 Ma (Sandbiense) y el zircón ha dado valores de ɛHf450 entre − 2,4 y − 5,9 sugiriendo una fuente mixta. Estos datos fortalecen la correlación Paleozoica de los Pirineos Centrales y Orientales indicando que el magmatismo del Ordovícico Superior en los Pirineos estuvo asociado con un evento de deformación pre-Varisco responsable de la discordancia angular del Ordovícico Superior y de la presencia de una deformación penetrativa pre-Varisca que afecta a la secuencia Cambro-Ordovícica subyacente. Estos nuevos datos junto con la existencia de depósitos minerales de Pb-Zn de tipo SEDEX o Mississippi Valley asociados con las rocas del Caradoc apoyan la evidencia de una actividad tectónica extensional durante el Ordovícico Superior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amelin, Y., & Davis, W. J. (2005). Geochemical test for branching decay of 176Lu. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 69, 465–473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2004.04.028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnolas, A., & García-Sansegundo, J. (1992). Caracterización estratigráfica y structural del Paleozoico de Les Gavarres (Cadenas Costero Catalanas, NE de España). Boletín geológico y minero, 103–1, 94–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bea, F., Montero, P., Gonzalez-Lodeiro, F., & Talavera, C. (2007). Zircon inheritance reveals exceptionally fast crustal magma generation processes in central iberia during the cambro-ordovician. Journal of Petrology, 48, 2327–2339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouvier, A., Vervoort, J. D., & Patchett, P. J. (2008). The Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd isotopic composition of CHUR: Constraints from unequilibrated chondrites and implications for the bulk composition of terrestrial planets. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 273, 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2008.06.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvet, P., Lapierre, H., & Charvet, J. (1988). Diversité du volcanisme Ordovicien dans la región de Pierrefitte (Hautes Pyrénées): rhyolites calco-alcalines et basaltes alcalins. Comptes Rendus Académie Sciences Paris, 307, 805–812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardellac, E., Canals, A., & Pujals, I. (1996). La composición isotópica del azufre y del plomo en las mineralizaciones de Zn-Pb del Valle de Aran (Pirineo Central) y su significado metalogenético. Estudios Geológicos, 52, 189–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casas, J. M., Castiñeiras, P., Navidad, M., Liesa, M., & Carreras, J. (2010). New insights into the Late Ordovician magmatism in the Eastern Pyrenees: U–Pb SHRIMP zircon data from the Canigo massif. Gondwana Research, 17, 317–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, J. M., & Fernández, O. (2007). On the Upper Ordovician unconformity in the Pyrenees: New evidence from the La Cerdanya area. Geologica Acta, 5(2), 193–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castiñeiras, P., Navidad, M., Casas, J. M., Liesa, M., & Carreras, J. M. (2011). Petrogenesis of Ordovician magmatism in the Pyrenees (Albera and Canigó Massifs) determined on the basis of zircon minor and trace element composition. Journal of Geology, 119, 521–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castiñeiras, P., Navidad, M., Liesa, M., Carreras, J., & Casas, J. (2008). U–Pb zircon ages (SHRIMP) for Cadomian and Early Ordovician magmatism in the Eastern Pyrenees: New insights into the pre-Variscan evolution of the northern Gondwana margin. Tectonophysics, 461, 228–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavet, P. (1957). Le Paléozoïque de la zone axiale des Pyrénées orientales françaises entre le Roussillon et l’Andorre (étude stratigraphique et paléontologique). Bulletin du Service de la carte géologique de la France, 55(254), 303–518.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauvel, C., Graçon, M., Bureau, S., Besnault, A., Jahn, B.-M., & Ding, Z. (2014). Constraints from loess on the Hf–Nd isotopic composition of the upper continental crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 388, 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2013.11.045.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clariana, P. (2017). Estratigrafía, estructura y su relación con el metamorfismo de la Zona Axial pirenaica en la transversal del Noroeste de Andorra y comarcas del Pallars Sobirá y el Alt Urgell (Lleida). Publicaciones del Instituto Geológico y minero de España. Serie Tesis doctorales Nº 29.

  • Clariana, P., & García-Sansegundo, J. (2009). Variscan structure in the Eastern part of the Pallaresa massif Axial Zone of the Pyrenees (NW Andorra). Tectonic implications. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 180, 501–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clariana, P., & García-Sansegundo, J. (2016). Caracterización de la transición estructural entre unidades metamórficas y no metamórficas en el Paleozoico del Noroeste de Andorra, parte central de la Zona Axial pirenaica. Geotemas, 16(1), 45–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowley, O. G., Floyd, P. A., Franke, W., & Holland, J. G. (2000). Early Paleozoic rift related magmatism in Variscan Europe: Fragmentation of the Armorican Terrane Assemblage. Terra Nova, 12, 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Den Brok, S. W. J. (1989). Evidence for pre-Variscan deformation in the Lys Caillaouas area, Central Pyrenees, France. Geologie en Mijnbouw, 68, 377–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denèle, Y., Barbey, P., Deloule, E., Pelleter, E., Olivier, Ph, & Gleizes, G. (2009). Middle Ordovician U–Pb age of the Aston and Hospitalet orthogneissic laccoliths: Their role in the Variscan evolution of the Pyrenees. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 180(3), 209–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Sansegundo, J. (1996). Hercynian structure of the Axial Zone of the Pyrenees: The Aran Valley cross-section (Spain–France). Journal of Structural Geology, 18, 1315–1325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Sansegundo, J. (2004). Estructura varisca en los Pirineos. In J. Vera (Ed.), Geología de España (pp. 254–258). Madrid: SGE-IGME.

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Sansegundo, J., & Alonso, J. L. (1989). Stratigraphy and structure of the southeastern Garona Dome. Geodinámica Acta, Paris, 3(2), 127–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Sansegundo, J., Gavaldá, J., & Alonso, J. L. (2004). Preuves de la discordance de l’ Ordovicien supérieur dans la Zone Axiale des Pyrénées: exemple du Dôme de la Garonne (Espagne, France). Comptes Rendus Geosciences, 336, 1035–1040.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Sansegundo, J., Martín-Izard, A., & Gavaldá, J. (2014). Structural control and geological significance of the Pb–Zn ores formed in the Benasque pass area (Central Pyrenees) during the post-late Ordovician extensional event of the Gondwana margin. Ore Geology Reviews, 56, 516–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Sansegundo, J., Poblet, J., Alonso, J. L., & Clariana, P. (2011). Hinterland-foreland zonation of the Variscan orogen in the Central Pyrenees: Comparison with the northern part of the Iberian Variscan Massif. Geological Society of London, 349, 169–184. (Special Publications).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gil-Peña, I. (2004). Estructura alpina de la Zona Axial. In J. Vera (Ed.), Geología de España (p. 241). Madrid: SGE-IGME.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, W. L., Wang, X., Jackson, S. E., Pearson, N. J., O’Reilly, S. Y., Xu, X., et al. (2002). Zircon chemistry and magma mixing, SE China: In-situ analysis of Hf isotopes, Tonglu and Pingtan igneous complexes. Lithos, 61, 237–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(02)00082-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartevelt, J. J. A. (1970). Geology of the upper Segre and Valira valleys, central Pyrenees, Andorra/Spain. Sheet 10, 1:50000. Leidse Geologische Mededelingen, 45, 167–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isachen, C.E., Coleman, D.S., & Schmitz, M. (2007). Pb MacDat program. http://www.earthtime.org. Last access 2015.

  • Kriegsman, L. M., Aerden, D. G. A. M., Bakker, R. J., den Brok, S. W. J., & Schutjens, P. M. T. M. (1989). Variscan tectonometamorphic evolution of the eastern Lys-Caillaouas massif, Central Pyrenees-evidence for late orogenic extension prior to peak metamorphism. Geologie en Mijnbouw, 68, 323–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krogh, T. E. (1973). A low-contamination method for the hydrothermal decomposition of zircon and the extraction of U and Pb for isotopic determinations. Geochimica et Cos-mochimica Acta, 37, 485–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laumonier, B. (1988). Les groups de Canaveilles et de Jujols (“Paléozoïque inférieur”) des Pyrénées orientales—arguments en faveur de l’âge essentiellement Cambrien de ces séries. Hercynica, 4, 25–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laumonier, B., Autran, A., Barbey, P., Cheilletz, A., Baudin, T., Cocherie, A., et al. (2004). Conséquences de l’absence de socle cadomien sur l’age et la signification des séries pré-varisques (anté-Ordovicien supérieur) du sud de la France (Pyrénées, Montagne Noire). Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 175(6), 643–655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, K. R. (1999). ISOPLOT/Ex. version 2.00: A geochronological toolkit for Microsoft Excel. Berkeley: Berkeley Geochronology Center. (Special Publication, 1a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Martí, J., Muñoz, J. A., & Vaquer, R. (1986). Les roches volcaniques de l’Ordovicien supérieur de la región de Ribes de Freser-Rocabruna (Pyrénées catalanes): caracteres et signification. Comptes Rendus Académie Sciences Paris, 302, 1237–1242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez, F. J., Iriondo, A., Diestch, C., Aleinikoff, J. N., Peucat, J. J., Cirès, J., et al. (2011). U–Pb SHRIMP-RG zircon ages and Nd signatures of lower Paleozoic rifting-related magmatism in the Variscan basement of the Eastern Pyrenees. Lithos, 127, 10–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2011.08.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattison, J. M. (2005). Zircon U–Pb chemical abrasion (“CA-TIMS”) method: Combined annealing and multistep partial dissolution analysis for improved precision and accuracy of zircon ages. Chemical Geology, 220, 47–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezger, J., & Gerdes, A. (2016). Early Variscan (Visean) granites in the core of central Pyrenean gneiss domes: Implications from laser ablation U–Pb and Th–Pb studies. Gondwana Research, 29(1), 181–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montero, P., Talavera, C., & Bea, F. (2017). Geochemical, isotopic and zircon (U–Pb, O, Hf isotopes) evidence of the magmatic sources of the volcano-plutonic Ollo de Sapo Formation, Central Iberia. Geologica Acta, 15(4), 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morel, M. L. A., Nebel, O., Nebel-Jacobsen, Y. J., Miller, J. S., & Vroon, P. Z. (2008). Hafnium isotope characterization of the GJ-1 zircon reference material by solution and laser-ablation MC-ICP-MS. Chemical Geology, 255, 231–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2008.06.040.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz, J. A. (1992). Evolution of a continental collision belt: ECORS-Pyrenees crustal balanced cross-section. In K. R. Mc Clay (Ed.), Thrust tectonics (pp. 235–246). London: Chapman & Hall.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Navidad, M., & Barnolas, A. (1991). El magmatismo (Orthogneises y volcanismo del Ordovícico Superior) del Paleozoico de los Catalanides. Boletin Geológico y Minero, 102, 187–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navidad, M., Castiñeiras, P., Casas, J. M., Liesa, M., Fernández-Suárez, J., Barnolas, A., et al. (2010). Geochemical characterization and isotopic age of Caradocian magmatism in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula: Insights into the Late Ordovician evolution of the northern Gondwana margin. Gondwana Research, 17, 325–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navidad, M. (coord.) (1996). Volcanisme anté-Stéphanien. In A. Barnolas & J. C. Chiron (Eds.), Synthèse géologique et géophysique des Pyrénées (Vol. 1). Orléans-Madrid: BRGM-ITGE.

  • Patchett, P. J., & Tatsumoto, M. (1980). A routine high-precision method for Lu–Hf isotope geochemistry and chronology. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 75, 263–267. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01166766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paton, C., Hellstrom, J., Paul, B., Woodhead, J., & Hergt, J. (2011). Iolite: Freeware for the visualisation and processing of mass spectrometric data. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 26, 2508–2518. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1JA10172B.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Cáceres, I., & García-Sansegundo, J. (2012). Estructura y metamorfismo de la Zona Axial Pirenaica en el sector suroccidental del Macizo del Lys-Caillaouas (Huesca, España). Geotemas, 13, 421–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert, J. F., & Thiebaut, J. (1976). Découverte d’un volcanisme acide dans le Caradoc de la región de Ribes de Freser (Prov. de Gerone). Compte Rendus Académie Sciences Paris, 282, 2050–2079.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roger, F., Respaut, J. P., Brunel, M., Matte, Ph, & Paquette, J. L. (2004). Première datation U-Pb des orthogneiss oceillés de la zone axiale de la Montagne Noire (Sud du Massif central): nouveaux témoins du magmatisme ordovicien dans la chaîne varisque. Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 336, 19–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samson, S. D., D’lemos, R. S., Blichert-Toft, J., & Vervoort, J. (2003). U–Pb geochronology and Hf–Nd isotope compositions of the oldest Neoproterozoic crust within the Cadomian orogeny: New evidence for a unique juvenile terrane. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 208(3–4), 165–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santanach, P. F. (1972). Sobre una discordancia en el Paleozoico inferior de los Pirineos orientales. Acta Geologica Hispánica, 7, 129–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Söderlund, U., & Johansson, L. (2002). A simple way to extract baddeleyite (ZrO2). G3 Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 3(2), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacey, J. S., & Kramers, J. D. (1975). Approximation of terrestrial lead isotope evolution by a two-stage model. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 26, 207–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valverde-Vaquero, P. (2009). Método de datación U-Pb ID-TIMS en el laboratorio geocronológico del IGME (Tres Cantos). In VII Congreso Ibérico de Geoquímica, Soria (España), Comunicaciones, pp. 758–765.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the careful and constructive revisions from J. Mezger and an anonymous review. This study was financed by the projects SICOAN 2004065 (IGME, Spanish Geological and Mineralogical Institute), CGL2006-08822/BTE (Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation) and different projects of the CENMA (Centre d’Estudis de la Neu i de la Muntanya d’Andorra).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), Madrid, Spain

    Pilar Clariana, Pablo Valverde-Vaquero & Aratz Beranoaguirre

  2. Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain

    Alvaro Rubio-Ordóñez & Joaquín García-Sansegundo

Authors
  1. Pilar Clariana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pablo Valverde-Vaquero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alvaro Rubio-Ordóñez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aratz Beranoaguirre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joaquín García-Sansegundo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pilar Clariana.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Clariana, P., Valverde-Vaquero, P., Rubio-Ordóñez, A. et al. Pre-Variscan tectonic events and Late Ordovician magmatism in the Central Pyrenees: U–Pb age and Hf in zircon isotopic signature from subvolcanic sills in the Pallaresa massif. J Iber Geol 44, 589–601 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-018-0076-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-018-0076-0

Keywords

Palabras clave

Search

Navigation