A sustained felsic magmatic system: the Hercynian granitic batholith of the Spanish Central System

Abstract

A batholith of around 10,000 km 2 was formed during the Hercynian orogeny in the Spanish Central System (SCS). Geochronological data indicate concentrated magmatic activity during the period 325-284 Ma. This late-orogenic magmatism is essentially granitic with only minor associated basic rocks « 2% in outcrop). The SCS is a remarkably homogeneous batholith showing a restricted range of geochemical granite types without any evolutionary pattern related to time. These peraluminous granites show a limited variation in Na20/K20) (0·6