Díez Fernández, RubénMartínez Catalán, José RamónGerdex, AxelAbati Gómez, JacoboArenas Martín, RicardoFernández Suárez, Javier2023-06-202023-06-2020101342-937X10.1016/j.gr.2009.12.006https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42426LA-ICP-MS U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from eight siliciclastic samples from the Basal units of the Variscan allochthonous complexes of NW Iberia are used to establish the maximum depositional age and provenance of two tectonically-stacked metasedimentary sequences deposited on the outermost margin of Gondwana, and subsequently involved in the Rheic Ocean suture. Themaximumdepositional ages for the two sequences is latest Neoproterozoic and latest Cambrian, respectively. The age spectra are also used to discuss the paleoposition of the NWIberian basement on the continentalmargin of Gondwana prior to the opening of the Rheic Ocean, which is tentatively placed in northern Africa, between the West African and Saharan cratons. Based on similarities and differenceswith age data fromtheNWIberian autochthon and other allochthonous terranes involved inthe Rheic suture, the relative proportions of Mesoproterozoic zircons in both assemblages are proposed as markers of proximity to the eastern part of the West African craton during late Neoproterozoic and late Cambrian. The geodynamic processes that took place along this part of Gondwana during the late Neoproterozoic, late Cambrian and Early Ordovician are discussed in the light of the LA-ICP-MS results, as well as the sedimentological record, magmatic evolution and plate tectonic setting ofNWIberia. These processes are linked to late Neoproterozoic and Cambro-Ordovician subduction events beneath the northern Gondwanan margin.engjournal articlehttp://www.journals.elsevier.com/gondwana-research/open access552.3NW IberiaVariscan allochthonous terranesDetrital zircons LA-ICP-MSU–Pb datingGeodynamicsPetrología