Intrusion level of granitic massifs along the Hercynian belt: balancing the eroded crust

Abstract

Hercynian granitoid intrusions form a long (3200 km) belt comparable in size to other batholiths in the world. Six massifs have been selected which encompass Cabeza de Araya (Extremadura, Spain), Guitiriz (Galicia, Spain), Pontivy and Mortagne (Brittany, France), La Marche (Massif Central, France) and Fichtelgebirge (Bavaria, Germany). Detailed gravity surveys over these massifs and subsequent inversion provide their shape at depth. Correlation of the deeper zones with internal structures determine the place of the root zones. The shape of the massifs is examined along the strike of the chain. The emplacement of individual massifs is controlled by local tectonics. Most granites are not deeply rooted, but one massif (Cabeza de Araya, Spain) shows a root zone presently as deep as 14 km. Most have about half of their volume in the first 3 km below the present surface. Estimates of the magma volume transferred result in 1500 km 3 issued from one specific feeder, yielding a total of 70,000 km 3 of magma intruded all along the chain. The depth of emplacement of the granitic massifs does not show any significant trend along the strike of the chain. The shallower massifs in the French Massif Central correspond to more deeply eroded areas in the center of the chain. Their root zone, as well as the change in the dip of the walls, are presently observed at depths ranging between 4 and 6 km in Hercynian granites. Both variations are interpreted as being related to the brittle/ductile transition at the time of emplacement. Gross thermal considerations place the transition at its former place during magma emplacement, indicating that the upper crust has not been eroded by more than 6–8 km. This estimate severely contrasts with models involving a doubled crust.