Extensional tectonics in the Hercynian Armorican belt (France). An overview

International audienceA synthesis of existing geological, structural and geophysical data shows that the south Armorican Hercynian belt was marked by syn-convergence crustal thinning and dextral wrenching that were in part coeval in late Carboniferous times. Our kinematic model is further supported by new structural data and 40Ar/39Ar ages on synkinematic leucogranites. Extension and strike-slip followed earlier crustal thickening and exhumation of high-pressure metamorphic units in late Devonian-early Carboniferous times. Crustal extension led to the development of core complexes cored by migmatites and crust-derived granite laccoliths. At this time, the South Armorican shear zone acted as a transfer zone separating the extending domain of South Brittany from the non-extending domain of Central Brittany submitted to dextral wrenching. The overall structural pattern and attached kinematics are compared with recent numerical models and illustrated by a 3D interpretative model that integrates geological and deep seismic reflection data (ARMOR 2 profile)