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The relationship between crustal magmatic underplating and granite genesis: an example from the Velay granite complex, Massif Central, France

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

B. J. Williamson ,
H. Downes  and
M. F. Thirlwall
B. J. Williamson
Affiliation:
B. J. Williamson, Department of Geology, Birkbeck College,University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX,U.K.,; and Department of Geology, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, U.K.
H. Downes
Affiliation:
H. Downes, Department of Geology, Birkbeck College,University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, U.K.
M. F. Thirlwall
Affiliation:
M. F. Thirlwall, Department of Geology, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College,University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, U.K.
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Abstract

The Velay granite pluton (Massif Central, France) is the youngest (304 ± 5 Ma) and largest (∼6,900 km2) of the major Massif Central monzogranites/granodiorites and was formed nearly 50 Ma after the cessation of Hercynian continental collision (Pin & Duthou 1990). It is a highly heterogeneous pluton consisting of I-type, high-Sr granites (Sr = 500-900 ppm) with low (+35 to +41) and high (-3 to -5), at its centre, grading into S-type and mixed I-S-type heterogeneous granites of more normal Sr content (100–420 ppm) and higher (+40 to +210) and lower (-3·8 to -7.3) at its margins.

The metasedimentary lower crust of the Massif Central was underplated/intruded by mafic mantle-derived magmas between 360 Ma and 300 Ma. From 300-280 Ma (Downes et al. 1991) underplating led to partial melting and granulite facies metamorphism of the underplated material (represented by felsic and mafic meta-igneous lower crustal xenoliths, = –11 to +112, = +2·2 to 8·2, Downes et al 1990). The partial melts assimilated mainly schist but also felsic gneiss and older granite country rock material ( = +100 to +300, = - 5 to -9) to produce the heterogeneous granites. Plagioclase and biotite were accumulated at the base of the intrusion which was intruded to high levels to form the high-Sr granites.

Keywords

underplatingI-typeS-typeFrench Massif CentralHercynian
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 83 , Issue 1-2: Second Hutton Symposium: The Origin of Granites and Related Rocks , 1992 , pp. 235 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1992

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