Granite-types in the Hohe Tauern (Eastern Alps, Austria) — Some aspects on their correlation to Variscan plate tectonic processes

Abstract

AbstractThe Zentralgneise in the Hohe Tauern (Penninic Zone, Eastern Alps, Austria) can be interpreted essentially as metamorphosed Late Paleozoic orogenic plutonites with original compositions mainly of granites, granodiorites and tonalites, rarely also of diorites, quartzdiorites, quartzmonzodiorites, quartzmonzonites and quartzsyenites. Most of the granitoids show attributes of “Cordilleran I-type granites” respectively “volcanic arc granites”.Due to their similarity to subduction derived granitoids from present day active continental margins in the Circum-Pacific area, it is assumed, that the I-type granitoids of the Hohe Tauern reflect the influence of a Variscan destructive plate boundary.Among the Zentralgneise also minor amounts of granites with features towards the S-type occur, which are more likely related to collision than to subduction.Seen as a whole, the Late Paleozoic plutonism played probably part in a compressional continental margin and originated during a Variscan subduction-collision ...