High precision 147Sm-143Nd geochronology of garnet is performed in two localities to solve problems in tectonics. In Chapter 1, the age of the basal amphibolite unit of the Ballantrae Ophiolite complex in Scotland is dated at 477.6 ± 1.9 million years old. This age constrains the duration of Grampian orogenesis to 12.6 ± 3.1 million years and allows us to conclude that classic metamorphism by overthickening of continental crust cannot account for the very short-lived event in this region. In Chapter 2, we report ages from a Variscan relict (318 ± 130 Ma) to a range of Cenozoic ages from 35.5 ± 2.1 Ma to 9 ± 10 Ma in the Betic Cordillera of southern Spain. This alone indicates prolonged orogenesis in the region. These ages are linked directly to a microstructure known as a Foliation Intersection Axis (FIA). Results are inconclusive, but they generally indicate that there may be a relationship between broad scale plate motion and FIA orientations at a regional scale.

La thèse cherche à caractériser les types de fluides à différents niveaux structuraux et types de déformation. Les résultats de la Sierra Bédar indiquent le rôle d'une saumure enrichie en métaux lors des derniers stades de circulation au sein de la croûte ductile dans un domaine encore isolé des fluides de surface. Cette saumure est plus diluée à l'est dans la Sierra Almagrera et où l'impact du système décrochant va devenir de plus en plus important avec du volcanisme et de nombreux gisements. Dans le domaine fragile, des veines de quartz enregistrent des fluides de surface. Suivent des veines de quartz indiquant la réapparition des fluides métamorphiques sous-jacent. La formation de veines de sidérite-pyrite-galène-barytine montre de plus forte salinité et des rapports Cl/Br indiquant la contribution d'une autre source de saumures secondaires issues cette fois des évaporites messiniennes. Le décrochement a modifié le compartimentage de part et d'autre de la transition fragile-ductile / This thesis aim at characterizing the types of fluids concerned structural levels and style of deformation. Results from Sierra Bedar point out the role played by metal-rich brines during late stages of fluid flows within the ductile crust within a domain was still isolated from surficial fluids. Brine concentration drop in the eastern Sierra Almagrera which was progressively more impacted by the major transcurrent system with volcanism and metal ore deposits. At reaching the brittle domain, quartz veins trapped surficial fluids. Soon after, quartz veins indicating the return of metamorphic fluids. Following siderite-pyrite-galena-barite veins display higher salinities and Cl/Br ratios indicate the contribution of another secondary brine coming from early Messinian evaporites. This major transcurrent tectonics clearly modified the partitioning on both sides of the brittle-ductile transition