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Exhumation of the high‐grade metamorphic Seve Nappe Complex and its emplacement between lower‐grade nappes has been related to wedge extrusion in the central Scandinavian Caledonides. To test this hypothesis, the kinematic evolution of the Caledonian nappe pile is studied by systematic structural mapping in central and northern Jämtland, Sweden. Structural data, combined with petrological and quartz microstructure observations, document pervasive top‐to‐the‐ESE, foreland‐directed shearing under progressively decreasing metamorphic grade across the entire nappe pile. Mylonitic foliation, foliation‐parallel boudinage, and abundant top‐to‐the‐ESE and rare, scattered top‐to‐the‐WNW shear‐sense indicators imply foreland‐directed general shear. This deformation regime caused exhumation by concurrent thrusting and vertical ductile thinning. We propose a specific succession of in‐ and out‐of‐sequence thrusts that generated the metamorphic zonation. Our model envisions in‐sequence propagation of thrusts during exhumation of the Seve Nappe Complex, related to subduction of Baltica beneath a volcanic arc within Iapetus. Concurrently, Iapetus subducted beneath Laurentia farther to the west. When Iapetus was closed, Baltica subduction stepped westward and continued beneath Laurentia. The back stepping of subduction at the onset of continental collision caused out‐of‐sequence propagation of the orogenic wedge. Thrusting cut downsection across the existing tectonostratigraphy, emplacing units of lower metamorphic grade above the high‐grade Seve Nappe Complex. This imbrication generated the present metamorphic zonation of the Caledonian nappe pile during sustained convergence between Laurentia and Baltica. Key Points: Top‐ESE shear is pervasive across the metamorphically zoned Caledonian nappe pileMylonitic fabrics indicate sustained foreland‐directed general shear, causing exhumation by concurrent thrusting and vertical thinningBack stepping of Baltica subduction resulted in out‐of‐sequence propagation of orogenic wedge [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report U–Pb zircon ages of c. 700–550 Ma, 262–220 Ma, 47–38 Ma and 15–14 Ma from amphibolites on Naxos Island in the Aegean extensional province of Greece. The zircon has complex internal structures. Based on cathodoluminescence response, zoning and crosscutting relationships a minimum of four zircon growth stages are identified: inherited core, magmatic core, inner metamorphic (?) rim and an outer metamorphic rim. Trace element compositions of the amphibolites suggest igneous differentiation and crustal assimilation. Zircon solubility as a function of saturation temperatures, Zr content and melt composition indicates that the zircon did not originally crystallize in the mafic bodies but was inherited from felsic precursor rocks, and subsequently assimilated into the mafic intrusives during emplacement. Zircon inheritance is corroborated by the complex, xenocrystic nature of the zircon in one sample. Ages of c. 700–550 Ma and 262–220 Ma are assigned to inherited zircon. Available geochemical data suggest that the 15–14 Ma metamorphic rims grew in situ in the amphibolites, corresponding to a high-grade metamorphic event at this time. However, the geochemical data cannot conclusively establish if the c. 40 Ma zircon rims also grew in situ, or whether they were inherited along with the xenocrystic cores. Two scenarios for emplacement of the mafic intrusives are discussed: (i) Intrusion during late-Triassic to Jurassic ocean basin development of the Aegean realm, in which case the 40 Ma zircon rims would have grown in situ, and (ii) emplacement in the Miocene as a result mafic underplating during large-scale extension. In this case, only the 15–14 Ma metamorphic outer rims would have formed in situ in the amphibolitic host rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the long-term landscape evolution of the Albertine Rift in East Africa, low-temperature thermochronology was applied and the cooling history constrained using thermal history modelling. Acquired results reveal (1) 'old' cooling ages, with predominantly Devonian to Carboniferous apatite fission-track ages, Ordovician to Silurian zircon (U-Th)/He ages and Jurassic to Cretaceous apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He ages; (2) protracted cooling histories of the western rift shoulder with major phases of exhumation in mid-Palaeozoic and Palaeogene to Neogene times; (3) low Palaeozoic and Neogene erosion rates. This indicates a long residence time of the analysed samples in the uppermost crust, with the current landscape surface at a near-surface position for hundreds of million years. Apatite He cooling ages and thermal history models indicate moderate reheating in Jurassic to Cretaceous times. Together with the cooling age distribution, a possible Albertine high with a distinct relief can be inferred that might have been a source area for the Congo Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rwenzori Mountains (Mtns) in west Uganda are the highest rift mountains on Earth and rise to more than 5,000 m. We apply low-temperature thermochronology (apatite fission-track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) analysis) for tracking the cooling history of the Rwenzori Mtns. Samples from the central and northern Rwenzoris reveal AFT ages between 195.0 (±8.4) Ma and 85.3 (±5.3) Ma, and AHe ages between 210.0 (±6.0) Ma to 24.9 (±0.5) Ma. Modelled time-temperature paths reflect a protracted cooling history with accelerated cooling in Permo-Triassic and Jurassic times, followed by a long period of constant and slow cooling, than succeeded by a renewed accelerated cooling in the Neogene. During the last 10 Ma, differentiated erosion and surface uplift affected the Rwenzori Mtns, with more pronounced uplift along the western flank. The final rock uplift of the Rwenzori Mtns that partly led to the formation of the recent topography must have been fast and in the near past (Pliocene to Pleistocene). Erosion could not compensate for the latest rock uplift, resulting in Oligocene to Miocene AHe ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract P–T conditions, mineral isograds, the relation of the latter to foliation planes and kinematic indicators are used to elucidate the tectonic nature and evolution of a shear zone in an orogen exhumed from mid-crustal depths in western Turkey. Furthermore, we discuss whether simple monometamorphic fabrics of rock units from different nappes result from one single orogeny or are related to different orogenies. Metasedimentary rocks from the Çine and Selimiye nappes at the southern rim of the Anatolide belt of western Turkey record different metamorphic evolutions. The Eocene Selimiye shear zone separates both nappes. Metasedimentary rocks from the Çine nappe underneath the Selimiye shear zone record maximum P–T conditions of about 7 kbar and >550 °C. Metasedimentary rocks from the overlying Selimiye nappe have maximum P–T conditions of 4 kbar and c . 525 °C near the base of the nappe. Kinematic indicators in both nappes are related to movement on the Selimiye shear zone and consistently show a top-S shear sense. Metamorphic grade in the Selimiye nappe decreases structurally upwards as indicated by mineral isograds defining the garnet-chlorite zone at the base, the chloritoid-biotite zone and the biotite-chlorite zone at the top of the nappe. The mineral isograds in the Selimiye nappe run parallel to the regional S[sub R] foliation, parallel the Selimiye shear zone and indicate that the Selimiye shear zone formed during this prograde greenschist to lower amphibolite facies metamorphic event but remained active after the peak of metamorphism. [sup 40] Ar/[sup 39] Ar mica ages and the tectonometamorphic relationship with the Eocene Cyclades–Menderes thrust, which occurs above the Selimiye nappe in the study area, suggests an Eocene age of metamorphism in the Selimiye nappe. Metasedimentary rocks of the Çine nappe 20–30 km north of the Selimiye shear zone record maximum P–T conditions of 8–11 kbar and 600–650 °C. An age of about 550 Ma is indicated for amphibolite facies metamorphism and associated top-N shear in the orthogneiss of the Çine nappe. Our study shows that simple monophase tectonometamorphic fabrics do not always indicate a simple orogenic development of a nappe stack. Preservation in some areas and complete overprinting of those fabrics in other areas apparently occur very heterogeneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linkage between the development of south-facing Cretan graben and large-scale detachment faulting in the southern Aegean is unknown. Widespread Serravallian deposits in the Ierapetra graben of Crete supply constraints to Middle Miocene graben development in the southern Aegean. The Ierapetra graben, and by inference the Cretan graben in general, were hitherto believed to have formed as a result of sinistral transpression during N–S shortening. We argue that the formation of the Cretan graben is due to N–S extension. The south-dipping, N–S-extending Kritsa normal fault served as the master fault controlling graben development in the Ierapetra graben. The Kritsa normal fault is either an antithetic fault related to the top-N Cretan detachment or a synthetic fault associated with the top-S Ios detachment. The overall geometry and timing relationships lead us to favour a connection with the Ios detachment, which in turn implies a large-scale displacement on the Ios detachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]