The Galicia–Ossa-Morena Zone: Proposal for a new zone of the IberianMassif. Variscan implications

Abstract

Correlation of a group of allochthonous terranes (referred to as basal, ophiolitic and upper units) exposed in theNW and SW of the Iberian Massif, is used to propose a new geotectonic zone in the southern branch of theVariscan Orogen: the Galicia–Ossa-Morena Zone. Recent advances in SW Iberia identify most of the formerOssa-Morena Zone as another allochthonous complex of the Iberian Massif, the Ossa-Morena Complex, equiva-lent to the Cabo Ortegal, Órdenes, Malpica-Tui, Bragança and Morais complexes described in NW Iberia. Thenew geotectonic zone and its counterparts along the rest of the Variscan Orogen constitute an Internal VariscanZone with ophiolites and units affected by high-P metamorphism. The Galicia–Ossa-Morena Zone includes aVariscan suture and pieces of continental crust bearing the imprint of Ediacaran–Cambrian events related tothe activity of peri-Gondwanan magmatic arcs (Cadomian orogenesis). In the Iberian Massif, the general struc-ture of this geotectonic zone represents a duplication of the Gondwanan platform, the outboard sections beingjuxtaposed on top of domains located closer to the mainland before amalgamation. This interpretation offersan explanation that overcomes some issues regarding the differences between the stratigraphic and paleontolog-ical record of the central and southern sections of the Iberian Massif. Also, equivalent structural relationships be-tween other major geotectonic domains of the rest of the Variscan Orogen are consistent with our interpretationand allow suspecting similar configurations along strike of the orogen. A number of issues may be put forward inthis respect that potentially open new lines of thinking about the architecture of the Variscan Orogen.