Variscan exhumation of a subducted Paleozoic continental margin: The basal units of the Ordenes Complex, Galicia, NW Spain

A structural and metamorphic study was carried out in the basal units of the Ordenes Complex in Spain, thought to represent a subducted part of the Paleozoic margin of Gondwana. According to their metamorphic evolution, this part of the margin was subducted at the onset of the Variscan Orogeny, beco...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martínez Catalán, José Ramón, Arenas Martín, Ricardo, Díaz García, Florentino, Rubio Pascual, Francisco J., Abati Gómez, Jacobo, Marquínez, Jorge
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:1996
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/58114
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/58114
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:551.25
Varisman
Paleozoic
Continental margin
Galicia
Geodinámica
2507 Geofísica
Descripción
Sumario:A structural and metamorphic study was carried out in the basal units of the Ordenes Complex in Spain, thought to represent a subducted part of the Paleozoic margin of Gondwana. According to their metamorphic evolution, this part of the margin was subducted at the onset of the Variscan Orogeny, becoming part of an accretionary complex developed below a colliding element built previously. Variations in the PT conditions of the first high-pressure metamorphic event along the units indicate a polarity of the subduction to the west. Subsequent underthrusting of more continental material blocked the subduction and triggered the ascent and exhumation of the basal units, whereas the convergence continued. Recumbent folds and thrusts de ve loped along with successive normal detachments. Compressional and extensional structures were synchronous or alternated in time and together induced the thinning and tapering of the orogenic wedge and its lateral spreading. The unroofing took place locally under an inverted temperature gradient caused by a detachment which carried a part of the hot mantle wedge above the subduction zone over the subducted units.