Pluton-dyke relationships in a Variscan granitic complex from AMS and gravity modelling. Inception of the extensional tectonics in the South Armorican Domain (France)

The Carnac granitic Complex (South Armorican Domain, Western France) was emplaced during Late Carboniferous times in the deepest Variscan unit, roofed by two major extensional shear zones. Through the acquisition and interpretation of field data, Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility and gravity data, emphasized by petrological and structural observations, we address the emplacement model and possible magmatic processes involved between dyking to massive plutonism in a synkinematic context. Gravity modelling highlights an overall eastward thinning of the pluton, and several deep zones in the western part of the complex, interpreted as the pluton feeder zones. The internal granitic fabric, developed in a sub-solidus state, shows marked planar-linear anisotropy, consistent with a vertical shortening in the WNW-ESE regional stretching regime and eastward magma spreading. This study documents the occurrence of numerous NNE-SSW trending dykes within the eastern part of the pluton, suggesting that this granitic Complex formed by the coalescence of dykes oriented perpendicular to the regional stretching direction, and thus interpreted as large-scale tension gashes. The synkinematic character of the Carnac Complex intrusion, recently dated at ca. 319 +/- 6 Ma, thus times the inception of the late-orogenic extensional deformation experienced in the whole South Armorican Domain. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.