Alpine Corsica Metamorphic Core Complex

Abstract

Alpine Corsica is an example where superficial nonmetamorphic allochtonous units rest upon a highly strained metamorphic complex. Early ductile deformation under high pressure‐low temperature (HP‐LT) conditions is due to the westward thrusting of oceanic material onto a continental basement as shown by previous studies. New thermobarometric estimates yield minimal peak HP‐LT metamorphism conditions of 11 kbar at 400°C. The early deformation is overprinted by a ductile deformation with an eastward sense of shear postdating or contemporaneous with mineral recrystallizations in the greenschist facies conditions. Early compressive thrust contacts are reworked as east dipping ductile normal faults and the less competent units display only eastward shear criteria. The upper units are affected by an extensional brittle deformation, and east dipping brittle normal faults bound to the west the early to middle Miocene Saint‐Florent half‐graben. The greenschist metamorphic event lasted until 33 Ma, which is contemporaneous with the beginning of the extension in the Liguro‐Provençal basin. We interpret the second deformation stage as the result of a ductile extension following the overthickening of the crust due to the westward thrusting. Extension reduces the thickness of the crust so that upper units free from early P‐T conditions are brought into close contact with a HP‐LT metamorphic core complex. The geometry of the late extension is controlled by that of the early compressive thrust.