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Lead isotopic composition of Hercynian granitic K-feldspars constrains continental genesis

Nature volume 291, pages 460–464 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Lead isotope compositions have been determined in many K-feldspars from granitic rocks emplaced during the Variscan (Hercynian) orogeny sensu lato (around 300 Myr) in various parts of Europe and the eastern US. The ratios show a regular geographical pattern with μ contours arched around southern France and parallel to the Atlantic coast of the US. This distribution parallels predriftpalaeogeographical zones during the Palaeozoic. The lead isotope pattern of Variscan granitic rocks is similar to that of some orogenic volcanic suites but is better explained by crustal melting than by an Hercynian mantle-crust material mixing. The continental crust from these areas must be older than 3,000 Myr. Large scale fluid circulation in the crust during orogenic processes apparently explains the observed geographical patterns of lead isotopes.

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  1. Annie Michard Vitrac & Francis Albarede

    Present address: Centre de Recherches Petrographiques et Gèochimiques and Ecole Nationale Superieure de Gèologie, 54500, Vandoeuvre, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Géochimie-Cosmochimie, Institut du Physique du Globe et Département des Sciences de la Terre, 4 Place Jussieu, 75230, Paris, 5, France

    Annie Michard Vitrac, Francis Albarede & Claude J. Allègre

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  1. Annie Michard Vitrac
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  2. Francis Albarede
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  3. Claude J. Allègre
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Vitrac, A., Albarede, F. & Allègre, C. Lead isotopic composition of Hercynian granitic K-feldspars constrains continental genesis. Nature 291, 460–464 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/291460a0

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