Elter, F. and Pandeli, E. 2005.   Structural-Metamorphic Correlations Between Three Variscan Segments In Southern Europe: Maures Massif (France), Corsica(France)-Sardinia(Italy), And Northern Appennines (Italy). In: (Eds.) Rodolfo Carosi, R Dias, David Iacopini, and Gideon Rosenbaum, The southern Variscan belt, Journal of the Virtual Explorer, Electronic Edition, ISSN 1441-8142, volume 19, paper 1, doi:10.3809/jvirtex.2005.00119

Structural-Metamorphic Correlations Between Three Variscan Segments In Southern Europe: Maures Massif (France), Corsica(France)-Sardinia(Italy), And Northern Appennines (Italy)

F. M. Elter

Dip.Te.Ris., University of Genova – Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova (Italy).

E-mail address: <elter@dipteris.unige.it>.

E. Pandeli

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence and CNR- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Section of Florence - Via G. La Pira, 4 – 50121 Florence (Italy).

E-mail address: <pandeli@geo.unifi.it>.

Abstract

Correlations of the geological elements between different segments of the Variscan Belt in southern Europe (Maures Massif, Corsica-Sardinia Block, Northern Apennines) allow to define a common structural-metamorphic evolution from Early Carboniferous syn-collisional event to the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian, extensional shearing events. In particular, the composite extensional tectonism in the Maures Massif (e.g. the Grimaud Fault) and Sardinia (e.g. the Posada-Asinara Line) consists of two shearing events: a ductile event in the amphibolite facies and and a following ductile (greenschist facies)/brittle and brittle event. During the latter event, syn-tectonic magmatism took place. The correlation of the pre-Alpine successions of the Northern Apennines with ones of the Central and NE Sardinia suggests a possible continuation of the Posada Valley Zone and the Posada-Asinara Line within the Tuscan segment of the Variscan belt. Also on the basis of paleogeographic data, we suggest that, during the Carboniferous-Permian times, the Maures Massif, Corsica-Sardinia block and the Tuscan part of Adria (Northern Apennines) were likely adjacent in the southern part of the Variscan Belt.

Keywords: Variscan Orogeny, Tectono-metamorphic evolution, Maures Massif, Corsica-Sardinia, Northern Apennines