Hercynian plutonic rocks of Voras Mountain, Macedonia, Northern Greece: their structure, petrogenesis, and tectonic significance

Abstract

We studied the structural, petrological, and geochemical characteristics, as well as the geotectonic setting, of the Hercynian (300 ± 3 Ma) Voras plutonic rocks intrusive into the lower part of the Pelagonian nappe pile (East Pelagonian Zone, EPZ). These rocks are compared with the neighbouring Hercynian Varnountas and Kastoria plutons intruding the tectonic upper Pelagonian part (Korabi West Pelagonian Zone, KoWPZ). Based on modal and chemical compositions, four rock-types can be distinguished for the Voras ploutonic rocks: (1) hornblende-biotite granodiorite to granite (HbBtGrd), (2) biotite granite (BtGr), (3) leucogranite (LGr), and (4) mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) occurring typically in HbBtGrd and BtGr. Aplites intrude HbBtGrd and BtGr whereas xenoliths are rare. The MMEs are metaluminous, while all the other rock-types are slightly peraluminous. Crystallization pressures range from 2.4 to 2.9 kbar for the HbBtGrd and 3.0 kbar for the MME. Field observations, chemical, mineralogical, and petrographical data suggest that theMME and HbBtGrd + BtGr formed as a result of a two-step evolution process. In the first step, a mantle-sourced basic magma with composition similar to the more basic MMEs fractionated (F = 0.40, 60% crystallization) and concurrently mixed with an acid magma, of composition similar to the more acid BtGr. The crystallized mineral assemblage is Qtz38.27Pl27.83Hb14.84Bt10.61Kf6.13Ap2.30Zrn0.02. The process evolved with a low r-value (r = 0.3) giving the more basic HbBtGrd. In the second step, evolved magma (more basic HbBtGrd) fractionated, while simultaneously mixing with the same acid magma, but with higher r-value (r = 0.8), giving the more evolved HbBtGrd and the BtGr after 50% crystallization (F = 0.50) to the phase assemblage Qtz30.07Pl27.75Hb5.59Bt3.33Kf23.26Tit5.86Ap1.91Zrn0.04Mt2.19. We interpret the evolution of the LGr through fractional crystallization; it formed by partial melting of gneisses or felsic charnokites and granoulites. The less evolved MME (basic end-member) had a mantle origin, whereas for the more evolved BtGr (acid end-member) we favour partial melting of gneisses or mafic charnokites. Detailed structural analysis shows a strong, polyphase Alpine deformation which affected the Hercynian Voras ploutonic rocks and is thoroughly imprinted on the host Pelagonian metamorphic basement rocks. No evidence of relict Hercynian structures has been recognized, possibly due to intense reworking by the younger Alpine deformation. We have identified five tectonic events (D1–D5) from the Late Jurassic to recent, that evolved progressively from ductile, synmetamorphic (D1, D2) to semi-ductile (D3), and finally brittle (D4, D5) conditions. Voras plutonic rocks in the EPZ, and Varnountas and Kastoria plutons in the KoWPZ, have similar major and trace element geochemistries, as well as structural evolution; they coevally intruded (Carboniferous) the Pelagonian continent as a single unit. They show similar crystallization pressures and mantle contributions for their genesis; both are related to a volcanic arc geotectonic setting, associated with the subduction of the Palaeotethys Ocean beneath the Pelagonian continental fragment, the latter possibly of Gondwana origin.