Microstructures of shear zones from selected domains of the Western Tatra Mountains

Abstract

The paper is focused on the meso- and microstructural characteristics of selected shearing zones in the Western Tatra Mts. The domains of crystalline rocks studied (Długi Upłaz Ridge, Rakoń Mt., Zabraty Ridge and Zabrať Pass, Wołowiec Mt., Trzydniowiański Mt., Czubik Mt. and Jarząbczy Mt.) show evidences of heterogeneous shearing with development of shear zones. Four types of shear zones were distinguished: (1) ductile shear zones in gneisses, (2) brittle-ductile complex shear zones, (3) gneisses with clear later brittle deformation; (4) leucogranites, produced by anatexis with later brittle deformation. The development of these shear zones is characterised by occurrences of various types of fault rocks: cataclasites, S-C cataclasites and mylonites. The different shearing-related rocks and structures are interpreted as an effect of protolith diversity and strain partitioning. Shape-preferred orientation is an important structural feature of all the shearing-related rocks.Kinematic analyses revealed generally a southward sense of shearing documented by structures related to brittle conditions and northwards sense of shearing recognised in ductily sheared crystalline rocks.The time relationships between different shear zone types are discussed, leading to the conclusions that the 1st type of shear zone is pure Variscan, the 2nd type is Variscan with Alpine brittle deformation, and the 3rd and 4th types are mainly Alpine brittle deformations of Variscan syntectonic anatectic leucogranites.