LOWER CRUSTAL REJUVENATION AND GROWTH DURING POST-THICKENING COLLAPSE: INSIGHTS FROM A CRUSTAL CROSS SECTION THROUGH A VARISCAN METAMORPHIC CORE COMPLEX

S. COSTA* & P.F REY**

*Max-Planck-Institut fur Chemie, Abteilung Geochemie, Postfach 3060, 55020 Mainz, Germany

**GeoForschungsZentrum, Telegrafenberg C2, 14473 Potsdam, Germany

In: GEOLOGY (1996), Vol.23, pp. 905-908.

ABSTRACT

The Variscan lower crust of Europe acquired its main features (seismic layering, intrusion of mantle-derived magmas, granulite-grade metamorphism) at the same time the upper-crust underwent post-thickening extension through gravitational collapse. We suggest that post-thickening collapse is a geodynamic process which contributes to the growth and differentiation of continental lithosphere in collapsed mountain belts.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work has been partly supported by an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship to S. Costa and ATP-ECORS grant 891705 to P. Rey. We thank S. L. Goldstein, K. Mezger, W. Todt and N. White for their comments, and, P. Bird and P. Coney for their reviews.

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