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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2002; v. 204; p. 179-198;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2002.204.01.11
© 2002 Geological Society of London

Older Orogenic Systems

The relationship between ore deposits and oblique tectonics: the SW Iberian Variscan Belt

Fernando Tornos1, César Casquet2, Jorge M. R. S. Relvas3, Fernando J. A. S. Barriga3 & Reinaldo Sáez4

1 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Azafranal 48. 37001 Salamanca, Spain f.tornos{at}igme.es
2 Dpt. Petrología. Fac. Geologia. Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
3 CREMINER/Dpt Geologia, Fac. Ciências, Universidade Lisboa, Edifíco C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
4 Dpt. Geología. Fac. Ciencias. Universidad Huelva, Spain

The Ossa Morena and South Portuguese Zones of the Variscan Belt of Iberia are interpreted to represent continental fragments that collided during the Variscan orogeny. Oblique northward subduction of an oceanic realm beneath the Ossa Morena Zone and subsequent collision induced thrusting and left-lateral transcurrent motion of crustal blocks and formation of a variety of ore deposits in both terranes. Most of the mineralization is related to dilational openings within thrusts and shear zones, extensional faults and pull-apart basins. A discontinuous diachronous vertical section from exhalative to deep mesozonal hydrothermal systems of Variscan age can be inferred. Volcanic-hosted massive sulphides are formed in third order pull-apart basins, but deeper related extensional structures are the loci for epithermal Hg, fluorite and Pb-Zn vein systems, Cu-Ni magmatic mineralization and iron-rich calcic skarns. Dilational regions along major shear zones also host mesozonal gold-bearing quartz veins. The overall Variscan mineralization pattern is inferred to be representative of an oblique collisional, (transpressional) geodynamic regime.





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Global comparisons of volcanic-associated massive sulphide districts
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2002; 204: 13 - 37.
[Abstract] [PDF]