Durbachites from the Eastern Moldanubicum (Bohemian Massif): erosional relics of large, flat tabular intrusions of ultrapotassic melts—geophysical and petrological record

Abstract

The results of the airborne survey comprising gamma-ray spectrometry and proton magnetometry, ground gravity survey, and field geological observations (e.g., deep borehole profiles, contact aureole in dolomite marbles, distribution of granitic pegmatites within the Třebic pluton) suggest that the ultrapotassic Třebic and Jihlava plutons are flat intrusions. They intruded distinct deep levels of the crust, 2–4 kbar for Třebic pluton, and 5–7 kbar for Jihlava-pluton. Current thickness of the intrusions is generally less than 2 km, with two exceptions: (1) central part of the Jihlava pluton and (2) a small body near Věžnice, where the estimated depth of tube-shaped stocks of shoshonitic and ultrapotassic gabbros or monzogabbros is around 2.5 km. These stocks could represent feeding pipes of basic and alkaline and dry magmas protruding to the upper crust level. The NE part of the Třebic pluton is a bottom part of this body, whereas the NW corner and the southern promontory of the pluton could represent an upper (roof) part of the intrusion. Small isolated durbachite bodies located within the Moldanubian gneisses and migmatites of the Stražek Unit represent rootless remnants of a former large and flat durbachite body initially extending significantly more to N and NE and eroded since Lower Carboniferous. Discrepancy between the long-wave magnetic and gravity anomalies, and surface geological structure of the eastern part of the Moldanubian Zone indicates a crucial role of the thrust tectonics.