An insight into a gneiss core of the Orlica–Śnieżnik Dome, NE Bohemian Massif: new structural and U-Pb zircon data

Abstract

The Orlica–Śnieżnik Dome in the Sudetes, the NE Bohemian Massif, embraces two formations of felsic gneisses of controversial origin and evolution. Our study shows that despite similar geochemical signatures, they carry systematic minor differences in mineral, isotope, zircon and geothermobarometric characteristics. Four variants of the Gierałtów gneisses include migmatites and have a longer structural history than the Śnieżnik augen orthogneisses. U-Pb SHRIMP analyses yielded U-Pb ages of ~500 Ma for cores and ~498 Ma for wide outer parts of zircon grains in the twice-folded Gierałtów gneisses, and an age of ~500 Ma for a discordant neosome vein. Neoproterozoic metasediments were among precursors of the lithologically diversified Gierałtów Gneiss Formation. First deformation, metamorphism, and migmatisation of these rocks occurred at 515–475 Ma and overlapped with the development and emplacement of a porphyritic S-type granite precursor to the Śnieżnik Gneiss Formation. The metagranite (= Śnieżnik augen orthogneiss) embraced migmatitic xenoliths. Zircon grains from such xenoliths revealed distorted and replaced cores which yielded U-Pb ages that dispersed around 507–487 Ma, whilst wide darker poorly zoned outgrowths yielded ages from ~343 Ma to ~325 Ma (mean ~340 Ma). These outgrowths were interpreted as a record of Carboniferous metamorphism assisted by rich Zr- and U-carrying fluids. The Variscan metamorphic overprint was heterogeneous, and variously affected rocks of the two gneiss formations.