Crustal thinning recorded by the shape of the Namurian-Westphalian leucogranite in the Variscan belt of the northwest Massif Central, France

Research Article| July 01, 1991 Crustal thinning recorded by the shape of the Namurian-Westphalian leucogranite in the Variscan belt of the northwest Massif Central, France Michel Faure; Michel Faure 1Département des Sciences de la Terre, CNRA URA 1366, Université d'Orléans, 45067 Orléans, Cedex 2, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar José Pons José Pons 1Département des Sciences de la Terre, CNRA URA 1366, Université d'Orléans, 45067 Orléans, Cedex 2, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Michel Faure 1Département des Sciences de la Terre, CNRA URA 1366, Université d'Orléans, 45067 Orléans, Cedex 2, France José Pons 1Département des Sciences de la Terre, CNRA URA 1366, Université d'Orléans, 45067 Orléans, Cedex 2, France Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1991) 19 (7): 730–733. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0730:CTRBTS>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Michel Faure, José Pons; Crustal thinning recorded by the shape of the Namurian-Westphalian leucogranite in the Variscan belt of the northwest Massif Central, France. Geology 1991;; 19 (7): 730–733. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0730:CTRBTS>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In the western part of the Variscan belt of the French Massif Central, the Guéret massif is an extensional allochthon emplaced to the southeast during Namurian-Westphalian time. The internal structure of the coeval leucogranites surrounding the western edge of the Guéret massif consists of the Plateau d'Aigurande, Brame-St. Sylvestre, and St. Goussaud massifs. These plutons are asymmetric diapirs rooted in the Marche, Bussière-Madeleine, and Arrènes faults, respectively. The plutons indicate diverging extravasation from the Guéret massif. Whatever their shapes, the plutons have a northwest-trending stretching lineation that is also marked in the granite host rocks by retrograde metamorphic minerals. The same extension direction is also inferred from Namurian-Westphalian leucogranites and dikes intruding the Guéret massif. Extension-related granitoids present typical structural patterns such as asymmetric shapes, extravasation from the collapsing area, and persistence of a stretching lineation parallel to the regional extension direction. These features may be used to diagnose crustal thinning. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.