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26 pages, 2287 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of Polymetallic Mineralization in the Sila and Serre Massifs (Calabria, Southern Italy)

by Rosa Anna Fregola, Antonio Ciccolella, Vincenzo Festa, Giovanni Ruggieri, Emanuela Schingaro, Fabrizio Tursi and Gennaro Ventruti

Minerals 2023, 13(3), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030439 - 19 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3640

Abstract

We provide an updated overview of the known mineral deposits from the Sila and Serre Massifs in Calabria, contributing to setting their genesis within a complex geologic history, starting from the late-Carboniferous. We summarize the mineralization reported in the literature, with a critical review of the host tectonic units, by taking into account the upgrades in the knowledge of these areas. We also set them in updated geological maps and in stratigraphic columns, highlighting the crustal levels to which they pertain. Despite the geologic and minerogenetic similarities potentially existing with late- to post-Variscan mineral deposits from other regions (e.g., Sardinia and French Central Massif), the scientific literature on the Calabria mineralization is out-of-date and not exhaustive. Moreover, these ore deposits were likely considered not economically attractive enough to stimulate new scientific studies. However, in our opinion, such studies are needed to resolve the main open questions, which rely on deciphering the origin and age of mineralization. Finally, research for critical elements hosted by the Sila and Serre mineralization (e.g., In, Ge and Ga in sphalerites) is a possible interesting new perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Geologic History of Italy: Perspectives from Geochemistry, Geology and Mineralization)

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18 pages, 5651 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ductile Shearing and Focussed Rejuvenation: Records of High-P (eo-)Alpine Metamorphism in the Variscan Lower Crust (Serre Massif, Calabria—Southern Italy)

by Vincenzo Festa, Annamaria Fornelli, Francesca Micheletti, Richard Spiess and Fabrizio Tursi

Geosciences 2022, 12(5), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12050212 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2445

Abstract

In the present study, we unveil the real significance of mylonitic reworking of the polymetamorphic crystalline basement in the Serre Massif of Calabria (Southern Italy). We use a multidisciplinary approach to comprehend the structural, microstructural and petrologic changes that occurred along a, so far, not much considered shear zone affecting the Variscan lower crustal rocks. It was never before studied in detail, although some late Cretaceous ages were reported for these mylonites, suggesting that this shear zone is of prime importance. Our observations reveal now that the formation of the new structural fabric within the shear zone was accompanied by changes in mineral assemblages, in a dominant compressive tectonic regime. During this tectono-metamorphic event, high-P mylonitic mineral assemblages were stabilized, consisting of chloritoid, kyanite, staurolite, garnet and paragonite, whereas plagioclase became unstable. Average peak P–T conditions of 1.26–1.1 GPa and 572–626 °C were obtained using THERMOCALC software. These data question (i) that the Serre Massif represents an undisturbed continuous section of the Variscan crust, as generally suggested in the literature, and (ii) highlight the role of (eo-)Alpine high-P tectonics in the Serre Massif, recorded within mylonite zones, where the Variscan basement was completely rejuvenated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microstructural Analyses of Fault Rocks)

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31 pages, 5693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabric Analysis in Upper Crustal Post-Collisional Granitoids from the Serre Batholith (Southern Italy): Results from Microstructural and AMS Investigations

by Patrizia Fiannacca, Damiano Russo, Eugenio Fazio, Rosolino Cirrincione and Manish A. Mamtani

Geosciences 2021, 11(10), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11100414 - 4 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2732

Abstract

The Serre Batholith in Central Calabria (southern Italy) represents the intermediate portion of a continuous cross-section of late Variscan continental crust. The various granitoid units of the batholith were emplaced at depths between 23 and 6 km through an overaccretion mechanism that, at its upper levels, was marked by the emplacement of two-mica granodiorites and granites (MBG) at c. 295 Ma, followed by weakly peraluminous granodiorites (BAG) at c. 292 Ma. These upper crustal granitoid rocks have recorded tectonic stresses, which affected the batholith during cooling of the magmatic bodies, exhibiting a range of deformation microstructures from submagmatic to low-temperature subsolidus conditions, but without developing an evident meso/micro-structural fabric. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was employed to identify a possible “internal” fabric of the Serre upper crustal granitoids, revealing a magnetic foliation represented by a mainly oblate AMS ellipsoid. Magnetic foliations and lineations are consistent with a stress field characterized by a shortening axis roughly oriented NW–SE. Further studies are in progress to investigate more in depth the relationships between regional tectonic structures and the emplacement of the late-Variscan Serre Batholith granitoids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magmatic Feedbacks on Tectonics)

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