Controlled source seismic methods were employed in this study to investigate the reflectivity and velocity structure of two Hercynian orogens – the Uralides and Variscides. Conventional common depth point (CDP) sections from five reflection seismic campaigns and a velocity model obtained from tomographic inversion of wide-angle observations were the main datasets studied from the Middle Urals. These were complemented with the near-vertical seismic sections and velocity models from the Southern Urals. In the Variscides, conventional CDP processing, along with non-standard processing and synthetic data modeling, were used to obtain and interpret reflection seismic images of the Southwestern Iberian crust. Although, the Uralian and Variscan belts were formed in Late Paleozoic time in apparently similar plate collisional settings, a comparison of the seismic results show that the crust of these two orogens looks quite different at depth. In the Urals, collision of Baltica with Asian terranes (Siberia and Kazakhstan) resulted in a highly diversely reflective crust of 40-45 km thickness. The axial zone of the orogen is characterized by a high velocity crustal root of diffuse reflectivity and an imbricated Moho, with a crustal thickness reaching 55-60 km. The Moho discontinuity is marked by a sharp decrease in reflectivity and is well imaged in most locations except in the crustal root zone. The Southwestern Iberian Variscan crust is 30-35 km thick and is characterized by a highly reflective two-layered structure that resulted from collision of Luarussia and Gondwana, including terranes in-between them. This type of crustal structure is very similar to those imaged in other regions of the Variscan belt in the Europe. The Moho discontinuity is flat and appears to be the deepest reflection. This thesis compares the deep structure of the two orogens and interprets mountain building processes related to late Paleozoic plate movements.

Les Vosges sont caractérisées par la présence de nombreuses intrusions et extrusions magmatiques d’affinités variées. Elles constituent donc un excellent site d’étude pour contraindre, par la datation et la géochimie, l’évolution des évènements de ce segment de l’orogène Varisque. Ce travail révèle ainsi deux successions d’évènements magmatiques identiques, décalées dans le temps, caractérisent les domaines Moldanubien (360 à 320 Ma) et Saxothuringien (335 à 295 Ma). Ces successions d’évènements magmatiques résultent de deux processus majeurs. L’avancée des croûtes continentales subduites et sous-plaquées au niveau du Moho sous les blocs continentaux permet le passage du magmatisme calco-alcalin au magmatisme calco-alcalin riche en potassium. L’apport de chaleur par désintégration des éléments radiogéniques (K, U et Th) présents dans ces croûtes continentales subduites permet, dans un premier temps, la formation du magmatisme magnésio-potassique en profondeur. Dans un second temps, elle permet la formation du magmatisme d’origine crustale par l’intrusion du magmatisme magnésio-potassique, riche en K, U et Th, à la limite croûte moyenne - croûte supérieure. Ces successions d’évènements magmatiques et particulièrement, la présence des granites magnésio-potassiques, relient clairement les Vosges à la partie Est de l’orogène Varisque (Forêt Noire, Massif de Bohème, Alpes et Corse-Sardaigne). / The Vosges Mountains are characterized by the presence of numerous magmatic intrusions and extrusions of varied affinities. Accordingly, they constitute the best site to investigate, by dating and geochemistry, the evolution of the events affecting this segment of the Variscan orogeny. Two successions of identical magmatic events, shifted in the time, are identified, characterizing both Moldanubian (360 to 320 Ma) and the Saxothuringian (335 to 295 Ma) domains. These successions of magmatic events result of two major process. The progress of subducted and underplated continental crusts at Moho depth under continental blocks permits to shift from calc-alkaline to high potassic calc-alkaline magmatism. The radiogenic heat production from latter underplated continental crusts, in a first time, permits to generate magnesio-potassic magmas at depth. Then, this radiogenic heat permits to generate crustal magmas by intrusion of magnesio-potassic magmas rich in K, U and Th at mid-upper crust boundarie. These successions of magmatic events and particularly, the presence of the magnesio-potassic granites, imply a strong link between the Vosges Mts. and the eastern part of the Variscan orogeny (Black Forest, Bohemian Massif, the Alps and Corsica Batholith).

5 English abstract The introduction of the thesis represents a profound research of current knowledge and survey results to date about the geodynamic tectonic boundary development of the Teplá- Barrandien unit/Moldanubian senzu stricto and the Královský Hvozd unit in the Šumava Mountains. It also describes in detail lithology of the Královský Hvozd unit and historical as well as contemporary opinions of the tectonometamorphic development of the Královský Hvozd unit and adjacent Moldanubian unit and Teplá-Barrandien unit. The research part of the thesis brings results of the analysis of the Královský Hvozd unit tectonic development in relation with the tectonic development of broader surrounding area. The research combines field structural data, detailed microstructure data acquired from collected samples and results of studying deformation mechanisms on orthogneiss samples from the Královský Hvozd unit using the EBSD (Electron Back Scattered Diffraction) performed on partly recrystalised quartz aggregates. The research output is a construction of a tectonic development model of the Královský Hvozd unit and the adjacent area. Four main deformation events (D1-D4) were determined on the basis of structural record and their time sequence in the rocks of the Královský Hvozd unit. On the basis of kinematic...

Diploma thesis - Kateřina Schlöglová - 2011 1/2 English abstract Granulites of the Rychleby Mts. represent relics of high-pressure eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks that are scattered in various crustal and mantle segments of the Variscan orogen in central Europe. These rocks may provide important insights into early stages of Variscan plate convergence and burial as well as exhumation mechanisms. We use mineral assemblages and chemistry to reconstruct the pressure-temperature paths, mechanisms of melting, and conditions of mineral preservation of high-pressure granulites, as well as whole- rock geochemistry to aid in interpretation of granulite precursors and their geodynamic setting. The mafic granulites consist of garnet, omphacite, two feldspars, and quartz with accessory rutile and zircon. The peak assemblage was partly replaced by pargasitic amphibole and biotite. Garnet grains are zoned from Grs36Py10Alm54 (core) to Grs20Py38Alm42 (rim), and host inclusions of phengite, omphacite, unmixed feldspars, kyanite, and rutile. Omphacite composition varies from Di44Hd14Jd42 (inclusions in garnet) through Di63Hd20Jd17 (porphyroblasts) and Di63Hd24Jd13 (symplectitic intergrowths with plagioclase). Reintegrated composition of the feldspar porphyroblasts is Or43Ab53An04. The felsic granulite variety is composed...

Variscan dike swarms associated with the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex (CBPC) at the boundary between the Teplá-Barrandian and Moldanubian Units of the Bohemian Massif represent one of the most interesting geological phenomena. Frequency of dykes and their chemical variability do not have any comparable analogy in the whole European Variscides. This work is focused on the study of dyke rocks in the NE periphery of CBPC in geologically very complicated area with intrusions of predominantly deformed granitoids, contact metamorphosed sediments and magmatic rocks of "Islet Zone" with different protolith ages (forming remnants of the original roof of CBPC), deformed basic rocks of uncertain origin and age. The area extends up to the western boundary of the northernmost part of the Moldanubian high-grade metamorphic complex, the boundary itself being also tectonically problematic. Several localities with dyke rocks under study are situated in the area east of Senohraby (SE of Prague), on the northern side (right coast) of the Sázava river, and extend up to the area of Stříbrná Skalice. This area is rich in dykes of gabbro to diorite porphyry accompanied in some places with tonalite (rarely quartz diorite) porphyry and more rarely with amphibole lamprophyres (spessartite). Significantly younger dykes...

The South Portuguese Zone (SPZ), which host world-class massive sulphide deposits, forms the southern fold-and-thrust belt of the Iberian Variscan orogeny. This thesis focuses on seismic-reflection and seismic-refraction processing efforts on a subset of the IBERSEIS deep seismic-reflection data set aiming at resolving the SPZ upper crust in high resolution. A comparison of different crooked-line seismic-reflection imaging schemes showed that a processing sequence involving dip-moveout corrections, a common-midpoint projection, and poststack time migration of common-offset gathers provided the most coherent images considering the crooked acquisition geometry. Correlation with surface-geological data allows four units of different reflection character to be identified: the ~0–2 km deep Upper Carboniferous Flysch group, the highly reflective ~2–4 km thick and up to ~5 km deep Volcano-Sedimentary Complex (VSC) group, and two deep Paleozoic metasedimentary units, with the shallower Phyllite-Quartzite group exposed in an antiform. Prominent diffracted energy was enhanced using a modified Kirchhoff imaging routine. High reflectivity and distinct diffractions mark extensive dike bands at 6–12 km depth, possibly related to the intense hydrothermal activity that led to the formation of the ore-bearing VSC group. Source-generated noise obscures potential signals from depths shallower than ~500m depth on the seismic-reflection sections. P- and SV-wave first-arrival traveltimes were inverted for velocity models imaging the shallowest crust. Overall, the velocity models correlate well with surface-geological data marking high (>5.25 km/s) and uniform P-velocities for the Flysch unit in the southern SPZ. A prominent P-wave low-velocity body (~4.5 km/s) is resolved where the Phyllite-Quartzite unit forms the core of an antiform. P-velocities fluctuate the most in the northern SPZ with Flysch group units exhibiting high velocities (>5.25 km/s) and VSC group bodies showing intermediate velocities (~5 km/s). Low VP/VS-ratios (~1.8) computed for the southern profile part are interpreted as less deformed Flysch-group units, whereas high VP/VS-ratios (~1.9) indicate fractured units.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT The Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous kinematic evolution of the Teplá-Barrandian/Moldanubian boundary The Staré Sedlo complex (SSC) is a relic of meta-igneous arc-related pluton in the southern part of the Sedlčany-Krásná Hora roof pendant, intruded by granitoids of the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex along the boundary of Teplá-Barrandian (TBU) and Moldanubian units (MU), Bohemian Massif. The SSC mainly comprises deformed orthogneisses of calc-alkaline granodiorite to tonalite protoliths of Late Devonian age (380−365 Ma; Košler et al., 1993) that were commonly mingled with minor basic magmas. Locally preserved subhorizontal intrusive contacts of the orthogneisses against their meta-sedimentary host rock indicate that these magmas intruded as a sill complex. The SSC preserves a rather unusual flat-lying subsolidus foliation (dip <40ř) associated with subhorizontal ~NE-SW-trending mineral lineation. Mesoscopic structures, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), and deformational microstructures indicate prolate shape of the strain ellipsoid with dominant coaxial pure shear regime. The solid state microstructures record cooling of the orthogneiss protolith down to the ambient greenschist facies conditions followed by its static recrystallization due to the intrusion of the younger...

La formation de la croute continentale est une des conséquences majeures de la différenciation de la Terre. Les avancées récentes dans la compréhension de ce phénomène résultent de l’amélioration des techniques analytiques permettant la mesure in situ des compositions isotopiques en U-Pb-Hf-O de grains de zircon, minéral abondant dans les roches crustales. Cette étude reconstitue l’histoire du segment de croute affleurant dans l’est du Massif Central français (MCF), portion de la chaine Varisque d’Europe de l’Ouest, dans le but d’évaluer les limites d’utilisation des zircons pour retracer l’évolution crustale. L’origine et la signification géodynamique des principales unités lithologiques du MCF ont été étudiées en combinant les approches classiques de la pétrologie avec des données isotopiques U-Pb-Hf-O acquises sur zircon. Deux incohérences majeures existent entre nos résultats et les conclusions tirées de l’étude des zircons considérés hors de leur contexte pétrologique, approche généralement suivie pour analyser l’évolution crustale. Les âges modèles calculés à partir des données Hf suggèrent une importante croissance crustale au Mésoproterozoique dans le MCF, en contradiction avec le fait que 60% de la croute locale soit d’âge Néoproterozoïque. De plus, 5 à 10% de la croute du MCF a été formée durant l’orogènese Varisque sans que cela ne soit enregistré par le zircon. Dans les deux cas, ces incohérences résultent du caractère hybride des signatures isotopiques portées par les zircons. Celles-ci ne peuvent être correctement détectées et interprétées qu’en disposant de données pétrologiques complémentaires sur les roches contenant les grains analysés / The formation of the continental crust is a major consequence of Earth differentiation. Understanding how the crust formed and evolved through time is paramount to locate the vast mineral deposits hosted therein and address its influence on the global climate, ultimately affecting the development of terrestrial life. Recent advances on the topic of continental crust evolution benefited from improvements of analytical techniques enabling in situ measurements of U-Pb- Hf-O isotope compositions in zircon, a widespread accessory mineral of continental igneous rocks. The time constrains derived from the U-Pb chronometer coupled with the petrogenetic information retrieved from Hf-O isotope signatures are currently used to unravel the diversity and succession of magmatic events affecting the continental crust at the regional and global scales. This study reconstructs the evolutionary path followed by the crust segment today exposed in the eastern part of the French Massif Central (FMC), a portion of the Variscan belt of Western Europe, with the aim to investigate the potential flaws of the zircon record of crust evolution. In this scope, the origin and geodynamic significance of the constituent FMC lithological units are tackled by combining conventional petrological observations with zircon U-Pb-Hf-O isotope data. The results obtained following this integrated approach are then confronted to the conclusions that would have been drawn solely from zircon isotopic signatures, taken out of their petrological context, as is commonly performed in studies investigating crust evolution. The oldest rocks of the FMC correspond to Ediacaran (590_550 Ma) meta-sediments deposited in back-arc basins along the northern Gondwana margin. Such basins were fed by a mixed detritus originating from the adjacent Cadomian magmatic arc and a distal Gondwana source, presumably the Sahara Metacraton. Partial melting of these meta-sediments at the Ediacaran/Cambrian boundary led to voluminous S-type granitic magmatism, pinpointing a first major crust reworking event in the FMC. The origin of anatexis likely stems from the transient thickening of the hot, back-arc crust caused by the flattening of the Cadomian subduction. Subordinate melting of the depleted backarc mantle at that time is also documented. During the Lower Paleozoic, rifting of the northern Gondwana provoked coeval crust and (limited) mantle melting. Mantle-derived igneous rocks show markedly diverse trace element and isotopic signatures, consistent with a very heterogeneous mantle source pervasively modi_ed by the Cadomian subduction. Finally, the Variscan collision resulted in crustal melting as evidenced by the emplacement of S-type granites and the formation of migmatite domes, the spatial distribution of which being partly controlled by the crustal architecture inherited from pre-orogenic events. Synchronous intrusion of mafic mantle-derived magmas and their differentiates testify for Variscan post-collisional new continental crust production in the FMC. Two major inconsistencies exist between these results and the zircon record. First, zircon Hf model ages would point to substantial Mesoproterozoic crust formation in the FMC whereas more than 60% of the crust is actually Neoproterozoic in age. Second, new additions to the continental crust volume during the Variscan orogeny are not recorded even though 5 to 10% of the exposed crust formed at that time. The origin of both discrepancies inherently lies in the mixed isotopic signature carried by many zircon grains. Such equivocal information can only be detected when additional petrological constrains on the zircon host rocks are available and provide guidance in interpreting the zircon record of crust evolution