# Carboniferous-Permian tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Pelvoux Massif (External Crystalline Massif, Western Alps), with discussion on flow kinematics of the Eastern-Variscan Shear Zone

Kévin Fréville, Pierre Trap, Jonas Vanardois, Jérémie Melleton, Michel Faure, Olivier Bruguier, Marc Poujol, Philippe Lach

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Kévin Fréville, Pierre Trap, Jonas Vanardois, Jérémie Melleton, Michel Faure, et al.. Carboniferous-Permian tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Pelvoux Massif (External Crystalline Massif, Western Alps), with discussion on flow kinematics of the Eastern-Variscan Shear Zone. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 2022, 193, pp.13. 10.1051/bsgf/2022008. insu-03678397v2

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# Carboniferous-Permian tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Pelvoux Massif (External Crystalline Massif, Western Alps), with discussion on flow kinematics of the Eastern-Variscan Shear Zone

Kévin Fréville<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />,<fnref n="3" />,* ID, Pierre Trap<fnref n="2" />, Jonas Vanardois<fnref n="2" /> ID, Jérémie Melleton<fnref n="3" />, Michel Faure<fnref n="1" /> ID, Olivier Bruguier<fnref n="4" /> ID, Marc Poujol<fnref n="5" /> ID and Philippe Lach<fnref n="3" />

Received: 14 June 2021 / Accepted: 19 May 2022 / Publishing online: 22 August 2022

**Abstract** – Based on new structural, petrological and U-Th-Pb geochronological data, a reappraisal of the Variscan tectono-metamorphic history of the Pelvoux Massif (External Crystalline Massif, French Alps) is proposed with the aim to understand the flow pattern and kinematics of the Variscan partially molten crust and the Eastern Variscan Shear Zone. The Pelvoux Massif consists of high-grade metamorphic rocks of middle to lower crust, mostly migmatites, that record a prominent syn-metamorphic deformation event (D₂) characterized by a pervasive NE-SW striking, steeply dipping, S₂ foliation, and a network of anastomosed NS and NW-SE trending shear zones, the kinematics of which indicates a sinistral transpression. Relics of an early syn-metamorphic event (D₁/M₁) related to crustal thickening and top-to-the-east nappe stacking are also reported. Both the D₁ and D₂ features are interpreted as reflecting a NW-SE shortening event, firstly marked by dominant nappe stacking, and secondly overprinted by a sinistral transpression that started at peak metamorphism with the onset of crustal partial melting at ca. 650 °C during the late Visean (ca. 335–330 Ma). Ongoing sinistral D₂ transpression in the partially molten middle-lower crust of the Pelvoux involved strain partitioning between C and C' shear zones and horizontal longitudinal flow in the range 330–300 Ma. Along the anatectic front, vertical shortening and top-to-the-NW shearing (D₃) is coeval with D₂ and argue for southeastward motion of the partially molten crust. The contemporaneity between NW-SE directed transpressional flow and vertical shortening is supported by our radiometric data of D₂ and D₃ and attests for strain partitioning between the suprastructure and infrastructure during horizontal crustal flow under transpressive regime. The exhumation of deep-seated rocks during sinistral transpression followed a near isothermal (ca. 700 °C) evolution down to pressure of ca. 0.5 GPa in the period 325–306 Ma. The sinistral transpression recorded in the Pelvoux Massif might corresponds to an antithetic shear zone coeval with the dextral East-Variscan Shear Zone, proposed for this part of the Variscan orogen.

**Keywords:** Variscan belt / Western Alps / Belledonne-Pelvoux / East-Variscan Shear Zone / migmatite / transpression

**Résumé** – Évolution tectono-métamorphique Carbonifère-Permien du massif du Pelvoux (Massif cristallin externe, Alpes occidentales), avec discussion sur la cinématique de fluage de la zone de cisaillement Est Varisque. Sur la base de nouvelles données structurales, pétrologiques et géochronologiques U-Th-Pb, une réévaluation de l'histoire tectono-métamorphique varisque du massif du Pelvoux (Massif cristallin externe, Alpes françaises) est proposée dans le but de comprendre le style et la cinématique du fluage de la croûte varisque partiellement fondue et de la Zone de Cisaillement Est Varisque. Le massif du Pelvoux est constitué de roches métamorphiques de haut grade, de la croûte moyenne à inférieure, principalement des migmatites, qui enregistrent un événement de déformation syn-métamorphique

<footnote n="1">¹ UMR 7327, Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans, Université d'Orléans, CNRS, 45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² UMR 6249 Chrono-environnement, Université de Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ BRGM-French Geological Survey, 3 Avenue Claude Guillemin, 45100 Orléans, France</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴ Géosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵ Univ. Rennes, CNRS, Géosciences Rennes-UMRS 6118, 35000 Rennes, France</footnote>

<footnote>*Corresponding author: kevin.freville@gmail.com</footnote>
prédominant (D₂) caractérisé par une orientation NE-SW, une foliation S₂ à fort pendage et un réseau anastomosé de zones de cisaillement d'orientation NS et NW-SE dont la cinématique indique une transpression senestre. Des reliques d'un événement syn-métamorphique précoce (D₁/M₁) lié à l'épaississement de la croûte et à l'empilement des nappes à vergence Est sont retrouvées. Les caractéristiques de D₁ et D₂ sont interprétées comme reflétant un événement de raccourcissement NW-SE, d'abord marqué par l'empilement dominant des nappes, qui évolue ensuite en une transpression senestre, initiée au pic du métamorphisme avec le début de l'anatexie crustale dès 650 °C, à la fin du Viséen (335-330 Ma). Dans la croûte partiellement fondue, la déformation transpressive senestre D₂ se partitionne avec la formation de zones de cisaillement C et C' qui accommodent le fluage longitudinal entre 330 et 300 Ma. Le long du front anatectique, un raccourcissement vertical accompagné d'un cisaillement vers le NW (déformation D₃) sont contemporains de D₂ et participent aussi à l'échappement vers le sud-est de la croûte partiellement fondue. La contemporanéité entre le fluage transpressif dirigé NW-SE (D₂) et le raccourcissement vertical à cinématique NW (D₃) est étayée par nos données radiométriques. L'exhumation des roches profondes lors de la transpression senestre a suivi une évolution quasi isotherme (~ 700 °C) jusqu'à une pression d'environ 0,5 GPa dans la période 325-306 Ma. La transpression senestre enregistrée dans le massif du Pelvoux pourrait correspondre à une zone de cisaillement antithétique contemporaine de la zone de cisaillement dextre Est-Varisque.

**Mots clés :** chaîne Varisque / Alpes occidentales / Belledonne-Pelvoux / zone de cisaillement Est varisque / migmatite / transpression

# 1 Introduction

Together with the Maures-Corsica-Sardinia Massifs, the External Crystalline Massifs (ECMs), exposed in the Helvetic Zone of the Western Alpine belt represent the Eastern Branch of the Variscan orogen (Fig. 1). In spite of several geodynamic interpretations (Fernandez et al., 2002; Corsini and Rolland, 2009; Guillot and Ménot, 2009; Rossi et al., 2009; Von Raumer et al., 2013; Faure et al., 2014; Oliot et al., 2015; Faure and Ferrière, 2022), the timing of the main tectono-metamorphic events in the ECMs, and the correlations between these massifs remain poorly constrained mainly because of a strong imprint by late-orogenic transpressional tectonics during Carboniferous time and intense partial melting and plutonism in the midlower crust at that time. Widespread Carboniferous crustal partial melting in response to thermal relaxation (i.e., Alcock et al., 2015; Barbey et al., 2015; Villaros et al., 2018) triggered horizontal flow of the lower and middle crust (Cochelin et al., 2017; Vanderhaeghe et al., 2020) and strain partitioning along strike-slip shear zone and exhumation of migmatitic domes (Vanderhaeghe et al., 1999; Ledru et al., 2001). In the ECMs, the structural and kinematic feature associated with partial melting and magmatism are still elusive.

The Eastern Crystalline Massifs (ECMs) stand out as a complex portion of the European Variscan Belt that was built along a major crustal-scale wrenching corridor, named the East Variscan Shear Zone EVSZ (Fig. 1A; EVSZ; Corsini and Rolland, 2009; Guillot and Ménot, 2009; Rolland et al., 2009; Carosi et al., 2012; Padovano et al., 2012, 2014; Simonetti et al., 2018). The EVSZ is considered as the main structure that accommodated the shaping of the variscan eastern orocline (Fig. 1A; Matte, 2001; Bellot, 2005; Ballèvre et al., 2018). A series of multidisciplinary studies have provided many structural, petrological, and radiometrical data in that part of the East Variscan branch that was affected by the EVSZ (Guillot and Menot, 2009), i.e., the Aiguilles-Rouges and Mont-Blanc Massif (Von Raumer and Bussy, 2004; Von Raumer et al., 2013; Simonetti et al., 2020a), the Belledonne-Pelvoux Massifs (Guillot and Menot, 2009), the

Argentera Massif (Simonetti et al., 2018, 2021), the Maures-Tanneron Massif (Rolland et al., 2009, Schneider et al., 2014; Gerbault et al., 2018, Simonetti et al., 2020b), and Sardinia (Carosi et al., 2012) showing that the EVSZ was responsible for complex strain partitioning in time and space during Carboniferous. Simonetti et al. (2020a) proposed the first detailed picture of the EVSZ with the position, orientation and kinematics of the major branches constituting the regional-scale anastomosed system (Fig. 1B). Because not all ECMs are considered in the EVSZ system, the location, thickness and internal strain pattern of the EVSZ remains elusive as well as the variations of strain regimes and kinematics that are expected to exist at lithospheric scale.

In this contribution we focus on the Belledonne-Pelvoux area that is a large but still poorly understood portion of the ECMs, and absent from the reconstruction of the EVSZ anastomosed system (Fig. 1B). The Pelvoux Massif displays a well exposed section of the late-Variscan low and middle crust mainly composed of migmatites and granites formed in response to a crustal melting event developed at the end of a HT low-to-medium pressure Carboniferous metamorphism (Pecher, 1970; Le Fort, 1973). There, a sinistral kinematics was documented (Strzerzynski et al., 2005) making it unique in the transpressive framework of the ECMs where dextral shearing dominates (Corsini and Rolland, 2009; Guillot and Ménot, 2009; Rolland et al., 2009; Carosi et al., 2012; Padovano et al., 2012, 2014; Simonetti et al., 2018, 2020a).

Presently, the Pelvoux Massif lacks large-scale structural analysis combined with quantified tectono-metamorphic evolution using modern petrological methods. Simonetti et al. (2018, 2020a, 2020b) suggested that dextral transpression in the ECMs was initiated at ca. 320 Ma with the exception of the Argentera Massif where it could have started at ca. 330-340 Ma. In the Pelvoux Massif, rare geochronological data document the protolith age of some orthogneiss, but the syn-metamorphic deformation is still undated. A study of the Pelvoux Massif will help integrating the sinistral kinematics in the general framework of the dextral
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 1.** (A) Location of the External Crystalline Massif (ECMs) within the Variscan framework, modified after Franke et al. (2017). (B) State-of-the art concept showing the possible shear zone pattern along the ECMs and Corsica-Sardigna, in relation with the dextral EVSZ (modified from Simonetti et al., 2020). The studied area, i.e., the Belledonne-Pelvoux Massif, is not yet considered in this scheme.</figcaption></figure>

transpression model of the EVSZ (e.g., Simonetti et al., 2020a) and of the whole Variscan belt (e.g., Ballèvre et al., 2018; Edel et al., 2018).

In this article, we present (i) the detailed finite strain pattern at the transition from the upper crust and the former partially molten crust that crops out in the Pelvoux Massif and (ii) microstructural, petrological and geochronological analyses on samples from the unmolten and molten crust. These results allow us to discuss (i) the P-T-D-t evolution recorded in some high-grade metamorphic rocks; (ii) the geometrical and temporal relationships between deformation, metamorphism, partial melting, and magma emplacement; (iii) the kinematics of ductile flow in the mid-crust. Our findings are compared to those recently obtained on the adjacent Belledonne Massif by Fréville et al. (2018) and Jacob et al. (2021) and enable us to propose a tectono-metamorphic evolution model of the Pelvoux that may represent an antithetic branch of the EVSZ.

# 2 Geological setting

## 2.1 Overview of the Variscan Belt in the Alpine Crystalline Massifs

The Variscan belt formed in response to collision between Gondwana and Laurussia continents, and several Gondwana-derived microcontinents during the Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous (Fig. 1A), (Autran and Cogné, 1980; Paris and Robardet, 1990; Matte, 1991, 2001, 2007; Tait et al., 1997, 2000; Franke, 2000; Von Raumer et al., 2003; Faure et al., 2005; Stampfli et al., 2013). From Late Visean to Early Permian, thermal relaxation and mafic to felsic plutonism enhanced a widespread partial melting of the thickened low-middle crust, that modified gravity vs. boundary stress balance and enhanced a complex intracontinental strain partitioning in a global transpressive regime (e.g., Henk et al., 2000; Rabin et al., 2015; Cochelin et al., 2017).
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 2.** (A) Simplified Geological map of the ECMs. Dashed square shows the extent of Figure 2B. (B) Geological map of the Pelvoux Massif with sample location. Dashed area shows the location of Figure 3.</figcaption></figure>

In its present geometry, the External Crystalline Massifs (ECMs) of the Alps form an arcuate, concave to the East, branch of the Variscan belt that includes, from North to South, the Aar-Gothard, Aiguilles-Rouges-Mont Blanc, Belledonne, Grandes Rousses, Pelvoux, and Argentera Massifs (Fig. 1B) (e.g., Barfety et al., 2000; Guillot and Ménot, 2009). A first-order three-fold subdivision, previously proposed by Bordet and Bordet (1963), and Guillot and Ménot (2009; Fig. 1B), defines the Western, Central and Eastern domains.

The Western domain consists of slightly metamorphosed micaschists and metagreywackes considered as a turbiditic series of Ordovician age (Bordet and Bordet, 1963; Fréville et al., 2018). The central domain, including the SW part of the Aiguilles-Rouges, the SW part of Belledonne Massifs, and the western part of the Pelvoux Massif or Cortical Pelvoux area (Le Fort, 1973; Fig. 2) is made of a stack of several lithotectonic units, namely from top to bottom: (i) the Cambro-Ordovician Chamrousse ophiolite (Carme, 1965a, 1965b, 1970; Bodinier et al., 1981; Ménot, 1987, 1988a, 1988b; Pin and Carme, 1987); (ii) an amphibolitic facies gneiss, micaschists and volcano-sedimentary rocks (VSU, Riouperoux-Livet and Allemont units) overlained by (iii) a weakly

metamorphosed and deformed conglomerate, black schist, and acidic volcanic rocks, named the Taillefer unit (Gibergy, 1968; Ménot, 1988; Fréville et al., 2018).

The Eastern part of the ECMs consists of high-grade rocks of the mid-lower crust with migmatites enclosing several lenses of HP granulites and retrogressed eclogites that crop out in the *Argentera* Massif, the Inner Pelvoux area, the NE Belledonne area, the major part of the Aiguilles-Rouges-Mont Blanc Massif, and the Aar-Gothard Massif (Fig. 1B, Paquette et al., 1989; Abrecht and Biino, 1991; Lombardo et al., 1997; Von Raumer and Bussy, 2004; Ferrando et al., 2008; Compagnoni et al., 2010; Rubatto et al., 2010; Jacob et al., 2021). These three crustal domains are juxtaposed along the Synclinal-Median Fault (SMF) and the Rivier-Belle Etoile Fault (RBEF, Fig. 1B).

## 2.2 Impact of the post-variscan reworking in the Belledonne-Pelvoux area

The Jurassic rifting, coeval with the opening of the Liguro-Piemonte ocean, was responsible for the development of brittle normal faults associated with the local tilting of the Palaeozoic
basement. It was responsible for the individualization of
several Liassic blocks. These are the La Mure and Le Taillefer
blocks within the Belledonne Massif, and Le Rochail,
L'Emparis, La Meije, and Le Combeynot blocks in the
Pelvoux Massif (Fig. 2) (Lemoine et al., 1986; Barfety et al.,
1988; Lemoine, 1988). The Miocene Alpine deformation
inverted the Jurassic normal faults and was responsible for the
development of localized NW-SE trending shear zones with a
top-to-the-NW ductile shearing (Bellahsen et al., 2014;
Bellanger et al., 2014, 2015; Boutoux et al., 2014). The
Alpine shortening in the Palaeozoic basement was coeval
with a weak metamorphic overprint in the prehnite-
pumpellyite to greenschist facies. Outside these localized
Alpine shear zones, the markers of the Pre-Alpine tectono-
metamorphic events are particularly well-preserved in the
Belledonne-Pelvoux area.

## 2.3 Summary of previous P-T-t data on the Pelvoux Massif

In the literature, the Pelvoux Massif is described as two-
fold, with the Cortical and the Inner Pelvoux domains, the
boundary of which is mainly reworked by alpine faulting
(Le Fort, 1973). The Cortical Pelvoux, located in the western
part, consists of an alternation of volcaniclastic rocks and
micaschists with migmatitic gneisses at the base of these series
(Fig. 2). Barrovian metamorphism is attested by kyanite-
staurolite bearing micaschists documented in the Cortical
Pelvoux (Le Fort, 1973) but quantitative thermobarometric
estimates are not available. In the adjacent SW Belledonne, a
MP-HT barrovian metamorphism (M₁) is documented with P-T
conditions at ca. 0.5–0.6 GPa, 600 °C, recorded in staurolite-
bearing micaschists and up to ca. 0.8 GPa, 680 °C for the
migmatitic gneiss in lowest unit (Guillot and Ménot, 1999;
Fernandez et al., 2002; Fréville et al., 2018). The M₁
metamorphism is coeval with a D₁ deformation characterized
by the development of a westward dipping foliation S₁ and E-W
stretching L₁ lineation interpreted as an eastward nappe stacking
event (Fréville et al., 2018). At upper structural level in the
Cortical Pelvoux, a series of micaschists and volcaniclastic rocks
is overlain by black schists and conglomerates, similar to the
Taillefer unit observed in SW Belledonne (Barfety et al., 2000;
Guillot and Ménot, 2009) (Fig. 2).

The Inner Pelvoux is composed of i) migmatites that
developed through partial melting of paragneiss, orthogneiss
and amphibolites, and ii) several generations of granitoids
(Pecher, 1970; Le Fort, 1973). Some mafic lenses (e.g., Peyre-
Arguet, Fig. 2) within migmatitic paragneiss record amphibo-
lite facies P-T conditions of 0.7 ± 0.1 GPa, 650 ± 50 °C, and a
low-pressure granulite facies of 0.5 ± 0.1 GPa, 800 ± 50 °C,
followed by a retrogressive evolution in the greenschist facies
conditions (Grandjean et al., 1996). Granulitic conditions have
also been inferred from the migmatitic gneiss (Pecher, 1970;
Pecher and Vialon, 1970) but without any phase diagram
quantification. Two episodes of partial melting are recognized
with a first low-temperature, cordierite-free migmatite, and a
high-temperature–low-pressure, cordierite-bearing migmatite
(Bogdanoff et al., 1991). In the Inner Pelvoux, the foliation is
mostly steeply dipping to vertical, but superimposed defor-
mation has been invoked (Pecher, 1970; Le Fort, 1973) and the

relationships between partial melting and deformation are still
unclear.

Two groups of granitoids are distinguished, namely two-
mica granites and monzonitic granites (Barfety et al., 1982;
Debon and Lemmet, 1999). Presently, only the two-mica
Rochail and Combeynot granites, and the Turbat-Lauranoure
monzonite have been dated with proposed emplacement age at
343 ± 11 Ma, 312 ± 7 Ma and 302 ± 2 Ma, respectively (U-Pb
on zircon; Canic, 1998; Guerrot and Debon, 2000). N-S to
NW-SE striking, syn-magmatic sinistral C-S fabrics are
described in granitic plutons (Strzerzynski et al., 2005) but
the geometrical and kinematic relationships with their
migmatitic host rocks are poorly understood.

# 3 Structural analysis

## 3.1 Strain patterns in the metamorphic and migmatitic pile

At the scale of the entire Pelvoux Massif, field observations
show that the dominant macroscopic ductile structure is a
steeply dipping foliation, ascribed here to the D₂ event (Figs. 3
and 4). Due to its pervasive character, the D₂ event will be
presented first.

### 3.1.1 The D₂ submeridian sinistral shearing

The majority of this D₂ planar structure is represented by a
gneissic (i.e., solid-state deformation), and a migmatitic
foliation (i.e., suprasolidus deformation). It ranges from NW-
SE to NE-SW with the occurrence of three main directional
populations: ~N30°E, ~N140°E and ~N170°E (Figs. 3 and 4).
The ~N30°E foliation is less represented than the two other
directions and is referred to as S₂ in the following. S₂ is axial
planar to upright folds F2 that deform an earlier weakly
dipping S₁ foliation (see below). S₂ developed in response to
an E-W to NW-SE bulk shortening (Figs. 5A and 5B). In the
Inner Pelvoux, S₂ consists of a migmatitic layering that almost
totally transposes S₁ that is only preserved within F₂ folds
hinges (see next paragraph and Fig. 5C).

The two most developed D₂ planar fabrics are striking
N170°E and N140°E with a high (> 70°) dip angle (Fig. 3).
Both sets show melt-present and solid-state deformation
features (Fig. 5D). When the three directional populations of
planar fabrics, i.e., ~N30°E, ~N140°E and ~N170°E are
observed on the same outcrops, the cross-cutting relationships
clearly indicate that the ~N170°E planar surface is a shear
plane that reworks the ~N30°E directed foliation, and that both
~N30°E and ~N170°E trending planar surfaces are reworked
by the ~N140°E shear zone, as portrayed in Figure 7.

In the northern and eastern portions of the Emparis and La
Meije Blocks, the N170°E trending and highly penetrative
planar surface forms 100 meters to several kilometers wide
shear zones (Figs. 3 and 4) along which a southward low-angle
plunging L₂ stretching lineation is observed (Fig. 3B). A
sinistral kinematics is deduced from the observation of
sigmoidal minerals or aggregates and the deflection of S₂
(Figs. 3, 5E, 5F and 6A). In the southern part of the Pelvoux
Massif, similar meter to kilometers sized sinistral high-strain
corridors strike mostly ~N140°E (Fig. 3). Where the NW-SE
planar fabric becomes preponderant, the N-S surface is only
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 3.** Structural map of the Pelvoux Massif showing the heterogeneous Variscan strain pattern. Lower-hemisphere Wulff stereographic plots of poles of foliations and strikes of lineation.</figcaption></figure>

preserved within centimeter to meter scale lenticular bodies (Fig. 7A). The mineral and/or stretching lineations are rarely observed; but when it is the case, they are sub-horizontal or moderately plunging (Fig. 3). In some places, within stromatic migmatite, the oblate shape of mafic restites suggests that flattening strain without the development of a preferred stretching direction was dominant (Fig. 6B). At the outcrop scale, some conjugate dextral and sinistral shear bands are also observed (Fig. 6C). Considering the geometric and kinematic features of the D₂ structures, it appears that the N170°E and N140°E planar surfaces might be considered as C₂ and C'₂ shear planes that developed synchronously with S₂ in a bulk sinistral strike-slip regime. This S₂, C₂, C'₂ anastomosing system is observed from kilometer to meter scale (Fig. 3). The presence of leucosome within the S₂, C₂ and C'₂ shear bands attests for the onset of D₂ in a partially molten rock, under supra-solidus conditions (Fig. 5). Diatexite commonly shows rafts and schollens with a high aspect-ratio parallel to the migmatitic foliation arranged either on the C₂ or C'₂ trends (Figs. 6D–6F). In some places, cm-scale elongated cordierite aggregates are preferentially aligned along C₂ and C'₂ planes (Fig. 6F) indicating that low-pressure/high-temperature partial melting was coeval with the D₂ sinistral strike-slip. The D₂ planar surface is also reported within garnet-bearing amphibolites (Fig. 7B) that are interpreted as retrogressed HP granulites (Grandjean *et al.*, 1996).

### 3.1.2 The relictual D₁ structure

The D₂ anastomosed system reworks a nearly horizontal or westward shallowly dipping early foliation, named S₁ (Figs. 3 and 4). Within the Inner Pelvoux, the relictual S₁ foliation corresponds to a gneissic layering and lithological alternations, the attitude of which marks large scale F₂ folds. This is exemplified by the attitude of the La Lavey amphibolite formation in the La Meije block where a low angle (20°–40°) S₁ foliation is observed (Fig. 3). In the Inner Pelvoux, the S₁ foliation only remains as isolated F₂ fold hinges (Figs. 5A and 5B). In the Cortical Pelvoux, a S₁ gneissic layering with a low-angle dip is also recognized. It is worth noting that L₁ lineation is very rare with no clear preferred direction. Generally, the superimposition of S₂ and S₃ over S₁ makes the latter difficult to depict in the outcrop. Relics of S₁ are best recognized at the cm-scale (thin section; Fig. 8B).

### 3.1.3 Late horizontal shearing: D₃ structure

A flat-lying foliation (S₃) superimposed on both the D₁ and D₂ fabrics is observed in the Inner Pelvoux, at m-cm scale, and attributed here to a D₃ deformation (Figs. 3, 4 and 8). The D₂ planar fabric elements (S₂-C₂-C'₂) are involved in the formation of S₃ axial planar F₃ folds, and C₃ shear bands with top-to-the-NW kinematics (Figs. 8 and 9). The attitude of
<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 4.** (A) NW-SE cross-section through the northern part of the Pelvoux Massif. (B) E-W cross-section through the western part of the Pelvoux Massif. (C) W-E cross-section through the central part of the Pelvoux Massif.</figcaption></figure>

leucosome that parallels S₃ and the horizontal axial plane of F₃ folds argue for melt migration during D₃ (Figs. 9A and B). The melt-bearing S₃ foliation cuts across S₂ the upper structural level of the *La Meije* block.

In the *Le Rochail* block, a similar D₃ strain pattern is observed with centimeter-scale F₃ folds, with sub-horizontal axial planes that rework the subvertical S₂ foliation. F₃ fold axes are weakly plunging toward the NW. In the Cortical Pelvoux, a kilometer-scale D₃ decreasing strain gradient can be observed from west to east. The S₃ becomes more penetrative and presents a mylonitic fabric in which a N150-160°E stretching lineation L₃ is observed (Figs. 3 and 8D). Along the L₃ stretching lineation, kinematic criteria (sigmoidal structures, pressure shadow, and shear bands) indicate a top-to-the-northwest sense of shear whatever the observation scale (Figs. 8 and 9). A-type folds with axes parallels to L₃ lineation can be also observed. Accordingly, a similar stretching direction is documented by Jacob (2022) and Jacob *et al.* (2022) in the La Meije Block with the observations of a syn-migmatitic flat-lying foliation documenting a N150-N180 directed horizontal flow that reworks early D₁ and D₂ fabrics.

## 3.2 Strain patterns in the felsic plutons

Within the granitic bodies of the Inner Pelvoux area (e.g., Turbat-Lauranoure, Etages, La Bérarde-Promontoire

plutons), the S₁, S₂ and S₃ were not identified but the two C₂ (~N170°E) and C'₂ (N140°E) structures are recognized. The preferred orientation of feldspar, biotite and shape ratio of mafic enclaves define a ~N160-170°E striking subvertical magmatic foliation. When observed, the stretching lineation is sub-horizontal and trends NNW-SSE as previously described by Strzerzynski *et al.* (2005). In agreement with these authors, we also document the presence of N135-140°E striking and vertical ductile shear bands. These shear-bands rise to C-S-like structures, which reflect a sinistral strike-slip shearing, as best exemplified in the Bérarde-Promontoire and Etages granites (Fig. 3). In agreement with Strzerzynski *et al.* (2005), we consider that the sinistral kinematics was coeval with pluton emplacement. These C₂ and C'₂ planar surfaces that developed under supra-solidus magmatic conditions, appear in continuity with the D₂ structures observed in the country rocks, indicating a syn-D₂ emplacement of those plutons.

In the northern part of the Cortical Pelvoux, the Rochail granite shows a sub-horizontal magmatic foliation inferred from biotite arrangement (Barfety *et al.*, 1988) and does not show subsolidus deformation. The D₂ deformation was not observed in the pluton, and the S₃ foliation wraps around the granite (Fig. 4A). This may indicate that the flat-lying magmatic foliation could be ascribed to S₁ (see discussion below in Sect. 5).
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 5.** Field pictures of D₂ folding and shearing. (A and B) F2 folding of migmatitic S₁ and development of N30°E trending S₂ foliation as axial surface or transposition layering. (C and D) Folding and shearing along the C₂ and C'₂ trend (NS and NW-SE). The folded and sheared foliation is a S₁, S₂ or C₂ planar surface. In photograph 5C, the gneissic protolith was folded when the anatectic melt was present, and the melt also migrated along D₂ shear zone that parallels the axial plane. In 5D, shearing parallel to the axial plane resulted in solid-state recrystallization. (E) Diatexite with a high proportion of leucocratic neosome with metaamfic layers showing D₂ folding and sinistral shearing along a N120°E trending C'₂ syn-melt shear zone. (F) Schollen diatexite with meter scale metaamfic enclaves stretched along N-S direction (C₂) and shearing by a NW-SE trending C'₂ infilled by melt. Location of outcrop photographs is given in Figure 2.

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 6.** Field pictures of D₂ deformation synchronous with partial melting. (A) Sigmoidal quartz-rich resistor within D₂ metatexite indicating sinistral shearing along C₂ directed migmatitic foliation. (B) Oblate metaamfic enclave observed in the XY-section within a stromatic diatexite. (C) Conjugate melt-bearing dextral and sinistral shear bands within heterogeneous diatexite. Main foliation is subvertical and trends ca. N170°E. (D) Schollen diatexite migmatite developed from a hornblende-bearing volcano-sedimentary protolith. (E) Close-up on Figure 6D showing the dioritic to tonalitic composition of the leucoratic material containing various proportions of hornblende, some pyroxenes are also observed. The pen points to a garnet + hornblende rich schlieren. (F) Metatexite migmatite showing two sets of late cordierite-bearing leucosome, one set parallels the main foliation trends (~N15°E, i.e., C₂) and the other one is oblique to the foliation, and oriented ~N135°E (C'₂).

## 4 Petro-chronological results

This section presents U-Th-Pb radiometric analyses of monazite and zircon grains from (1) mylonitic gneiss (samples MCE379 and MCE382b), (2) Al-rich metapelites (samples MCE339v, MCE338 and MCE328), (3) migmatites (samples MCE314, MCE330, MCE140b and MCE313b) and (4) metaamfics (sample MCE304v2) sampled in the Cortical and Inner Pelvoux (Fig. 2; Tab. 1). A petrological description is given for each sample (Fig. 10). Before isotopic analyses, cathodoluminescence (CL) and back-scattered electron (BSE) images were acquired for all zircon and monazite grains, respectively, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to check spot locations with respect to the internal microstructures, inclusions, fractures and physical defects. For monazite, U-Th-Pb analyses were performed by LA-ICP-MS directly in thin section at the University of Montpellier (samples MCE338, MCE314 and MCE382b) and at BRGM

(Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minière) (MCE328, MCE339v and MCE379) (Tab. S1). The analytical protocol for the University of Montpellier followed the procedure described in Bruguier *et al.* (2017) and is presented in Table S2. Manangotry (Poitrasson *et al.*, 2000) and Moacyr (Goncalves *et al.*, 2016) monazites used as calibration and quality control reference materials yielded concordia ages of 552 ± 2 Ma (MSWD = 2.2, n = 38) and 507 ± 2.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.02, n = 14), respectively. The analytical protocol for the BRGM is presented in Table S3 and the Madmon and Namaqualand monazites used as quality control reference materials yielded concordia ages of 514 ± 7 Ma (MSWD = 1.4, n = 10) and 994 ± 17 Ma (MSWD = 1.3, n = 10), respectively.

The zircon U-Pb analyses were performed at BRGM (samples MCE330, MCE304v2 and MCE313b) and at GeO-HeLiS analytical platform (University Rennes 1) (sample
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 7.** (A) Schematic drawing showing the three main trends of the D₂ planar surface arranged in a sinistral S₂-C₂-C'₂ like anastomosed transpressional system. This representative outcrop comes from the Bans valley, southeastern Inner Pelvoux. (B) Picture 7B shows the steeply dipping S₂ cleavage observed within the Peyre-Arguet mafic granulite, retrogressed into amphibolite. Very thin seams of leucosome are located parallel to the compositional layering, and S₂ or C₂ foliation. (C) Picture 7C shows a strongly layered stromatic migmatite that has been reworked by solid-state deformation during sinistral shearing along a C'₂ plane.</figcaption></figure>

MCE140b, Tabs. S1 and S4). Zircon grains were obtained by a conventional mineral separation. The selected grains (~100–200 µm in size) were mounted in epoxy resin and polished down to expose their near equatorial sections. The analytical protocol for the BRGM is presented in Table S3 and the Plešovice zircon (Sláma *et al.*, 2008) used as quality control reference material yielded a concordia age of 340 ± 3 Ma (MSWD = 1.5, n = 24). The analytical protocol for the GeOHeLiS analytical Platform is presented in Table S4 and the Plešovice zircon (Sláma *et al.*, 2008) used as quality control reference material yielded a concordia age of 337.6 ± 2.0 Ma (MSWD = 0.23, n = 15). See Manzotti *et al.* (2016) for more details on the analytical protocol.

Two Al-rich metapelitic samples (MCE339v and MCE338) were investigated for their metamorphic evolutions through petrology and phase diagram calculations. Electron microscope analysis has been performed at the University of Orléans on a CAMECA SX-FIVE. The P-T metamorphic conditions were obtained through calculations of pseudosection diagrams using Perple_X 6.9.1. software (Connolly and Pettrini, 2002; Connolly, 2005; hpver62 database from Holland and Powell, 2011). The considered system was MnO–Na₂O–CaO–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃×–SiO₂–H₂O (MnNCKFMASH). Solution models used in the calculations were garnet, biotite, white mica, staurolite, cordierite, chlorite, chloritoid and melt (White *et al.*, 2014) as well as plagioclase (Fuhrman and Lindsley,
<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 8.** Outcrop photographs and micro-photographs of the D₃ deformation. (A) Folding and transposition of the subvertical S₂ foliation by the flat laying S₃ foliation in the northern part of the *Le Rochail* block. (B) Folding and transposition of the relictual S₁ foliation by the flat laying S₃ foliation in the northern part of the *Le Rochail* block. (C) S₃-C₃ structures showing top-to-the-NW kinematics from sample *MCE382b*. (D) Zoom of the photo E with top-to-the-NW kinematic indicators and schematic block diagram of the outcrop.</figcaption></figure>

1988) and ilmenite (White *et al.*, 2000). Whole rock major element compositions (Tab. 2) were obtained using a PANalytical AxiosmAX X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer at Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland. The P-T conditions of biotite, muscovite and plagioclase equilibrium were estimated using the third model quality factor Qcmp described in Duesterhoeft and Lanari (2020) in order to have a quantitative approach. This factor calculates the fitting between the mineral composition and the composition modelled and takes account of the relative analytical uncertainty of the extracted compositions. The comparison of mineral composition was restricted to MnO, MgO, FeO, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents for biotite, of Na₂O, K₂O, CaO, Al₂O₃, FeO, MgO and SiO₂ contents for muscovite, and of CaO, K₂O, Na₂O, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents for plagioclase.

## 4.1 Gneissic mylonites (samples MCE379 and MCE382b)

The sample *MCE379* is a gneiss from the volcanosedimentary unit of the northern part of the Cortical Pelvoux where the main planar fabric is a composite S₁–₃ foliation (Fig. 4A). It is composed of Qtz + Kfs + Bt with rare garnet and muscovite occurrences and few late white micas (Fig. 10A). It is structured by D₁ shear planes oriented N120°E/30NW, kinematic is not clear because of D₃ superimposition. Quartz

ribbons show undulose extinction and Grain Boundary Migration recrystallization (GBM; Stipp *et al.*, 2002). Monazite is located either in the quartzo-feldspathic matrix (Fig. 10B) or as an undeformed inclusion in biotite marking the S₁ foliation (Figs. 10C and 10D). Monazite grains do not show any zonation in BSE images (Fig. S1) and have U, Pb and Th contents ranging between 1322–3462 ppm, 869–2110 ppm and 22 326–72 038 ppm, respectively, with Th/U ratios between 8.1 and 27.8 (Tab. S1). Twenty-nine analyses were performed on 26 monazite grains within the matrix. Except two discordant analyses, all analyses yield a concordant date at 334.8 ± 3.2 Ma (n = 27; MSWD(C+E) = 1.3) (Fig. 11A).

Sample *MCE382b* is a gneiss coming from the same area as sample *MCE379* (Fig. 2). It is composed of Qtz + Kfs + Bt + Grt + late Ms (Fig. 10E). In this sample, D₃ strain is higher than in sample *MCE379* and the D₃ mylonitic planar fabric is oriented N133°E;30NE with a L₃ stretching lineation trending N120°E. C-S structures and sigmoidal quartz aggregates indicate top-to-the-NW kinematics (Fig. 10E). Quartz crystals are stretched and form quartz-ribbons with undulose extinction and GBM recrystallization.

Fourteen monazite grains from sample *MCE382b* have been analyzed *in situ*, they do not show any zonation (Fig. S1) but display two habitus: monazite included in large biotite marking the S₃ foliation (group 1; Figs. 10G and 10H) and monazite located inside the quartzo-feldspathic matrix (group 2;
<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 9.** Field pictures of D₃ deformation. (A and B) Low-angle S₃ reworking a steep S₂ foliation. Both foliations are melt-bearing and a pegmatitic leucosome parallels C₃ shear bands. The outcrop is located near the Gioberney mountain refuge. (C) Melt-bearing flat-lying D₃ shear zone cross-cutting the steep S₂ foliation. Outcrop photographs A, B C and D are located around the Gioberney mountain refuge, in the La Meige Block. (D) Vertical shortening of S₂ and development of axial planar S₃. (E) Mylonitic S₃ with top-to-the-NW shearing at the base of the Cortical Pelvoux, near Villard-Notre-Dame village. (F) Moderately dipping migmatitic gneiss (MCE 330) showing a solid-state protomylonitic foliation S₃ developed during D₃ shearing and cooling.</figcaption></figure>
<table><caption>**Table 1.** Summary of geographic location, rock types, and U-Pb geochronological results for samples analyzed in this study.</caption><thead><tr><th>Sample</th><th>Rock type</th><th>GPS location</th><th>Mineral dated</th><th>U-Th-Pb age (± 2σ)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><strong>Cortical Pelvoux</strong></td></tr><tr><td>MCE379</td><td>Mylonitic gneiss</td><td>N45°1′23.49" E06°2′33.70"</td><td>Monazite</td><td>334.8 ± 3.2 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE382b</td><td>Mylonitic Grt-gneiss</td><td>N45°1′2.61" E06°2′50.99"</td><td>Monazite</td><td>334.5 ± 3.4 Ma<br>306.0 ± 3.5 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE339v</td><td>Grt-St-Ky-metapelite</td><td>N44°52′52.00" E05°59′17.34"</td><td>Monazite</td><td>346.6 ± 4.8 Ma<br>319.2 ± 6.1 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE338</td><td>Sill-Grt-metapelite</td><td>N44°52′58.84" E06°0′49.10"</td><td>Monazite</td><td>333.2 ± 1.6 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE328</td><td>Ky-St-metapelite</td><td>N44°47′12.12" E06°4′1.62"</td><td>Monazite</td><td>330.7 ± 3.1 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE330</td><td>Roux migmatite</td><td>N44°47′29.86" E06°5′18.09"</td><td>Zircon</td><td>330.5 ± 3.1 Ma<br>590.6 ± 6.2 Ma</td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><strong>Inner Pelvoux</strong></td></tr><tr><td>MCE314</td><td>Peyre-Arguet Crd-migmatite</td><td>N44°50′6.69" E06°22′2.42"</td><td>Monazite</td><td>307.5 ± 1.9 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE313b</td><td>Peyre-Arguet migmatite</td><td>N44°56′4.37" E06°12′55.58"</td><td>Zircon</td><td>451.4 ± 5.2 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE140b</td><td>Etages migmatite</td><td>N44°56′4.37" E06°12′55.58"</td><td>Zircon</td><td>297.8 ± 2.1 Ma<br>317.0 ± 3.6 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>MCE304v2</td><td>Peyre-Arguet metabasite</td><td>N44°50′15.34" E06°21′22.25"</td><td>Zircon</td><td>326.9 ± 9.1 Ma<br>471.3 ± 5.0 Ma</td></tr></tbody></table>

Fig. 10F). Monazite grains from the quartzo-feldspathic matrix (group 2) have U, Pb and Th contents between 740–1016 ppm, 1198–1796 ppm and 15 803–26 505 ppm, respectively, and Th/U ratios of 19.4–36.9 (Tab. S1). Monazite inclusions within large biotite marking the S<sub>3</sub> foliation (group 1) have higher U contents (1241–1997 ppm), similar Pb and Th contents (1063–1478 ppm and 11 914–21 818 ppm), and lower Th/U ratios (6.1–16.4). Two ages can be identified (Fig. 11B), the oldest one is calculated from 7 monazite grains located in the matrix (group 2) that provide a concordant date at 334.5 ± 3.4 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.88). The second one is obtained from 4 grains included within large biotite (group 1) yielding a concordant date at 306.0 ± 3.5 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.39).

## 4.2 Al-rich metapelites (samples MCE339v, MCE338 and MCE328)

Sample MCE339v is a micaschist composed of Qtz + Grt + Ky + St + Bt + Ms + Pl (Fig. 12A) sampled in the middle part of the Cortical Pelvoux (SW of Entraigues village, Fig. 2). It is structured by a pervasive D<sub>2</sub> shear zone oriented N0°E;70E with a horizontal stretching lineation trending N0. Staurolite and kyanite are relictual and are strongly affected by the D<sub>2</sub> shearing. An old foliation, probably S<sub>1</sub>, is preserved in kyanite and garnet (Fig. 12B). Micas and quartz layers form sinistral sigmoids wrapping around garnet porphyroblasts.

Garnet grains show a slight zonation (Fig. 13A) with a core composed of ca. 64% of almandine, 5% of pyrope, 18.5% of grossular and 12.5% of spessartine, and a rim composed of 74% of almandine, 12% of pyrope, 13% of grossular and 1% of spessartine (Tab. 3). Mineral compositions were modified by diffusion processes, as suggested by the smooth compositional zoning (Fig. 13A). Plagioclase is an oligoclase with Ab<sub>76</sub>, and biotite presents a stable composition at X<sub>Fe</sub> 0.57 (Tab. 3). A phase equilibrium diagram was calculated for this sample with a H<sub>2</sub>O content at 1.33 wt%, which corresponds to the saturation

of the sample at the solidus conditions as estimated from a T-X<sub>H2O</sub> diagram (Fig. 13B). The obtained phase diagram defines a large stability field corresponding to the mineral assemblage of sample MCE339v (Qtz + Grt + Ky + St + Bt + Ms + Pl) with temperature and pressure conditions below 600 °C and 0.7 GPa, respectively (Fig. 13C). The phase diagram fails to reproduce the garnet core composition, perhaps due to diffusion process and modification of the initial composition of the garnet core. The Qcmp factor of the plagioclase composition only slightly varies, and its maximal value is 99.8% of fitting with the reference composition (Fig. 13C). This highest Qcmp value (Duesterhoeft and Lanari, 2020) indicates P-T conditions inferior to 650 °C and 0.6 GPa and is well expressed in the stability field of the mineral assemblage (Fig. 13C). The Qcmp factor of the biotite reaches a value of 95% of fitting with the reference composition and indicates temperatures between 525 and 750 °C and pressure conditions between 0.4 and 0.7 GPa and only expressed in the stability field of the mineral assemblage at around 550 °C and 0.5 GPa (Fig. 13D). These results must be taken with caution due to potential diffusion processes that might have affected the mineral compositions and analytical uncertainties on the reference compositions.

Monazite grains from sample MCE339v do not show any zonation, however two populations are recognized: the first one (group 1) is composed of monazite grains not oriented within the S<sub>2</sub> foliation and often included in quartz and sometimes in kyanite (Fig. 12B), displaying U, Pb and Th contents at 2985–6844 ppm, 1894–4304 ppm and 20 221–45 439 ppm, respectively, and medium Th/U ratios (5.1–7.6). The second population (group 2) is composed of monazite grains oriented parallel to the main S<sub>2</sub> foliation in mica-rich layers (Fig. 12C), with higher U and Pb contents ranging at 7069–8247 ppm and 4006–4827 ppm, Th varying in the range 33 668–50 915 ppm. The Th/U ratios are in the range 4.8–6.7 (Tab. S1). Analyses performed on monazite grains from the
<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 10.** Thin-section photographs and BSE images showing structural and petrological relationships of samples MCE379 and MCE382b. (A) Thin-section photograph of sample MCE379 structured by D₁ planar fabric. (B) BSE image of a monazite included in K-feldspar. (C and D) BSE images of monazite grains in mica marking the S₁ foliation. (E) Thin-section photograph of sample MCE382 structured by D₁ planar fabric and D₃ shear bands. (F) BSE image of a monazite included in K-feldspar. (G and H) BSE images of monazite grains in biotite marking the S₃ foliation. Mineral abbreviations from Kretz (1983).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 11.** Monazite U-Pb concordia diagrams obtained by LA-ICPMS. (A) MCE379; (B) MCE382b; (C) MCE339v; (D) MCE338; (E) MCE328; (F) MCE314. Error ellipses and uncertainties in ages are ± 2σ. Dotted ellipses are not considered for the age calculation.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 12.** Thin-section photographs and BSE images showing structural and petrological relationships of samples MCE339v, MCE338 and MCE328. (A) Thin-section photograph of sample MCE339v structured by D₂ planar fabric. (B) BSE image of a monazite oriented parallel with the ancient S₁ foliation preserved in kyanite (white dotted line). (C) BSE image of monazite grains in mica marking the S₂ foliation. (D) Thin-section photograph of sample MCE338 structured by D₁ planar fabric showing elongated garnet grains parallel to the S₁ foliation. (E) BSE image of a monazite included in quartz showing a sigmoidal shape. (F) BSE image of a monazite in micas marking the S₂ foliation. (G) Thin-section photograph of sample MCE328 structured by D₁ planar fabric and D₃ shear bands. (H) BSE image of a monazite elongated parallel to the S₁ foliation included in quartz. (I) BSE image of a monazite staurolite and quartz.</figcaption></figure>

first group yield a concordant date at 346.6 ± 4.8 Ma (n = 7; MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.51) (Fig. 11C), whereas analyses from the second group of monazite grains provide a concordant date at 319.2 ± 6.1 Ma (n = 4; MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.78).

Sample MCE338 is a metapelite sampled in the middle of the Cortical Pelvoux (Fig. 2). It is composed of Qtz + Pl + Ms + Bt + Grt + Sill with scarce tourmaline (Fig. 12D). The main planar fabric is a S₁ foliation showing numerous variscan sigmoidal and C-S structures reoriented by the alpine tectonics. Garnet grains are boudinaged by D₁ with boudin necks filled by biotite, quartz and sillimanite (Fig. 12D). Fibrolitic sillimanite is localized in D₁ structures and in D₁ sigmoid tails, suggesting a syn-D₁ crystallization. A phase equilibrium diagram was calculated for this sample (Fig. 14). H₂O amount was defined at 1.47 wt%, which corresponds to the saturation of the sample at the solidus conditions of the mineral assemblage and was estimated from a T-X<sub>H2O</sub> pseudosection

(Fig. 14B). Garnet grains show a slight zonation (Fig. 14A) with a core composed of ca. 71% of almandine, 12.5% of pyrope, 5.5% of grossular and 11% of spessartine, and a rim composed of 68.5% of almandine, 8.5% of pyrope, 4% of grossular and 19% of spessartine (Tab. 3). Plagioclase is homogeneous in composition with Ab<sub>75</sub>, and biotite presents a stable composition at X<sub>Fe</sub> 0.56 (Tab. 3). The resulting pseudosection (Figs. 11B and 11C) indicates a stability field with the mineral assemblage corresponding to the one observed in the sample (i.e., Pl + Grt + Ms + Bt + Sill + Qtz). Due to its low proportion and variability, grossular was not used to constrain the P-T conditions. The almandine, pyrope and spessartine isopleths of the garnet core cross-cut at 565 ± 30 °C and 0.46 ± 0.04 GPa in the stability field of the observed mineral assemblage (Fig. 11B). Regarding the low volume of garnet in this sample (i.e., inferior to 3 vol%), we did not calculate a new pseudosection removing the garnet core
bulk composition. Isopleths from the garnet rims cross-cuts at 450 ± 30 °C and 0.36 ± 0.02 GPa (Fig. 11B). The best Qcmp values of the biotite and plagioclase do not perfectly fit with these P-T conditions, but their Qcmp remains high at the P-T conditions defined by the garnet core composition (Figs. 14D and 14F). The best Qcmp factor of the muscovite might indicate a higher-pressure stage around 0.7–0.8 GPa before the P-T conditions defined by the garnet core (Fig. 14E).

In the sample MCE338, monazite grains are included in quartz, in biotite and in muscovite-biotite layers (Figs. 12E and 12F). They are mainly parallel with the S₁ foliation (Fig. 12F) and sometimes show syn-D₁ kinematic criteria (Fig. 12E). They do not show zonation on BSE images (Fig. S1). Twenty-eight analyses display U, Pb and Th contents ranging between 1486–5802 ppm, 786–3070 ppm and 7372–33 214 ppm, respectively, with constant Th/U ratios (4.2–6.1; Tab. SE1). By removing discordant data (ja8, ja11, ja15, ja20, ja24, ja27, ja28 and ja29; Tab. SE1), as well as the younger and older analyses (ja13 and ja5, respectively; Tab. SE1), the remaining data points provide a concordia date of 333.2 ± 1.6 Ma (n = 18; MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.83) (Fig. 11D).

Sample MCE328 is a micaschist from the southern part of the Cortical Pelvoux (Fig. 2). It is composed of quartz, muscovite, biotite, staurolite and kyanite (Fig. 12G). The main planar fabric of this sample is a composite S₁-₃ foliation oriented N160°E;25E with a subhorizontal L₃ stretching lineation trending N160°E. The quartz and micas sigmoidal aggregates indicate a D₁ top-to-the-NW sense of shear, while D₃ shear bands indicate top-to-the-SE kinematics (Fig. 12G). Kyanite and staurolite, often surrounded by a white mica-corona, are deformed by the D₃ shear bands. Biotites are commonly chloritized. Monazite grains are mainly located in the quartz-matrix or in biotite marking the S₁ foliation and are typically oriented parallel to the S₁ foliation (Fig. 12H). Some monazite grains also seem included in staurolite (Fig. 12I). They do not show chemical zoning (Fig. S1). The analyzed grains display U, Pb and Th contents ranging between 3761–8639 ppm, 2160–5277 ppm and 24 475–45 307 ppm, respectively, and constant Th/U ratios (5.2–7.1 except one data at 4.0; Tab. S1). As the whole, 17 analyses were performed, among them, 14 are concordant and yield a concordia date of 330.7 ± 3.1 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 1.4) (Fig. 11E).

## 4.3 Migmatites (samples MCE314, MCE330, MCE140b and MCE313b)

The cordierite bearing migmatite MCE314 has been sampled in the Inner Pelvoux Massif (Fig. 2). It is composed of quartz, K-feldspar, muscovite, chloritized biotite and pinitized cordierite. This sample exhibits a highly dipping and N140°E striking S₂ foliation defined by quartz aggregates and phyllosilicates. Subsolidus deformation is rare, and S₂ foliation is mainly a suprasolidus planar fabric. The alpine tectonics induced a low-grade retrogression as shown by chlorite around biotites, and sericite around K-feldspar. Unfortunately, because of alpine retrogression and strong pseudomorphosis of cordierite, pseudosection calculation was not possible. One may consider that cordierite-bearing migmatites are generally formed under low-pressure and high temperature conditions at ca. 0.4–0.6 GPa; 750–850 °C (Barbey et al., 1999; Kalt et al., 1999).

Monazite grains, located within the quartzo-feldspathic matrix, are not zoned and display heterogeneous U and Th contents (3437–10 171 ppm and 5909–86 534 ppm, respectively), relatively constant Pb content (1210–5516 ppm), and heterogeneous Th/U ratios (1.3–20.2) (Tab. S1). Despite this chemical heterogeneity, all analyses are concordant or sub-concordant (except jb7; Tab. S1), and yield a concordia date of 307.5 ± 1.9 Ma (n = 18; MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 1.4) (Fig. 12F).

The Roux migmatite (MCE330), located in the Cortical Pelvoux, is a migmatitic gneiss developed at the base of the VSU (Figs. 2 and 4B). It is composed of quartz + K-feldspar + plagioclase + Biotite + Muscovite and is the equivalent of the Allemont migmatites from the SW Belledonne area (Fréville et al., 2018). The MCE330 migmatite shows a N110°E40 solid-state protomylonitic foliation that erased syn-melting fabrics (Fig. 9F). The preferred orientation of mica and quartz-feldspar aggregates defines S-C fabrics that we attribute to D₃. The CL images of the analysed zircon grains show inherited cores with a typical magmatic concentric oscillatory zoning and metamorphic rims (Fig. S1). Zircon cores and rims have similar U and Pb contents ranging between 247–2605 ppm and 12–140 ppm, respectively (Tab. S1). Thirty analyses have been performed on 30 zircon grains (Fig. 15A). In the Tera-Wasserburg diagram, analyses mainly cluster into two groups. The first one, includes 13 concordant analyses on zircon cores, indicate a late Neoproterozoic age of crystallization. Among them, 9 analyses yield a concordant date at 590.6 ± 6.2 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.95). Two zircon cores show concordant and sub-concordant dates at ca. 1700 Ma and 1800 Ma (Fig. 15A), and two single analyses yield concordant dates at ca. 405 and 380 Ma. The second cluster includes 12 analyses performed on zircon rims and yields a concordia date at 330.5 ± 3.1 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.92) (Fig. 15A).

The Etages migmatite (MCE140b), located in the Inner Pelvoux, forms the country rock of the Etages granite (Figs. 2 and 4A). Composed of chloritized biotite, feldspars and quartz this rock shows a slight C₂ orientation, and it was also superimposed by a low-temperature alpine deformation (Fig. 4A). Euhedral zircon crystals with elongated shapes present oscillatory zonings in CL (Fig. S1). Twenty-eight zircon grains were analysed and they form two age groups (Fig. 15B). The first one is composed of four analyses forming a concordant cluster with low U, Pb and Th contents and Th/U ratios ranging from 0.08 to 0.5 (Tab. S1), that yields a concordant date at 317 ± 3.6 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.38) (Fig. 15B). The second group is composed of 22 analyses with higher U, Pb and Th contents than the first group, but with similar Th/U ratios ranging from 0.06 to 0.5 (Tab. S1). Among this group, numerous analyses show lead loss (Fig. 15B) but ten analyses define a concordant date at 297.8 ± 2.1 Ma (MSWD<sub>(C+E)</sub> = 0.66) (Fig. 15B). In addition, one analysis shows a concordant date at ca. 460 Ma.

The Peyre-Arguet cordierite-bearing migmatite (MCE313b) displays a C'₂ foliation along which the cordierite grains are aligned. Zircon grains display patchy and oscillatory zoning (Fig. S1). Nineteen grains have been analysed and they broadly scatter along the Concordia between 650 and 280 Ma. The most abundant age population is defined by 12 analyses ranging from 481 Ma to 419 Ma with low U (292–1043 ppm) and Pb (19–66 ppm) contents (Tab. SE1). Among this group,
<figure><img src="image_14.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 13.** Thermobarometric modelling of metapelitic sample MCE339v located in the Cortical Pelvoux. (A) Chemical profile of a garnet. (B) T-XH₂O diagram calculated with a pressure of 0.7 GPa, the mineral assemblage of the sample indicates a H₂O content of 1.33 wt%. (C) Pseudosection calculated in the MnNCKFMASH system. (D) Modelling of the Qcmp factor of the mineral composition of biotite based on MgO, FeO, MnO, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ contents (Tab. S2). Bi: Biotite; Mu: muscovite; Crd: Cordierite; Kfs: K-feldspar; Pl: Plagioclase; Gt: Garnet; and: Andalouite; ky: Kyanite; sill: Sillimanite; Opx: Orthopyroxene; q: Quartz; melt: silicate liquid.

7 analyses yield a concordant date of 451.4 ± 5.2 Ma (MSWD(C+E) = 0.66) (Fig. 15C).

## 4.4 Peyre-Arguet garnet amphibolite (sample MCE304v2)

The Peyre-Arguet meta-mafic (MCE304v2) is a garnet-bearing amphibolite from the Inner Pelvoux (Fig. 2) that consists of an amphibole, quartz, plagioclase and garnet assemblage that recorded D₂ deformation. Relics of clinopyroxene have been described by Barfety *et al.* (1982) and Jacob *et al.* (2022). Rutile grains are included within garnet and are replaced by ilmenite in the matrix. Garnet grains are surrounded by plagioclase-amphibole coronas. CL images of zircon included in garnet cores show cores with concentric oscillatory zoning surrounded by near homogeneous rims (Fig. S1). Zircon cores have high U (102–1349 ppm) and Pb (6.8–89.6 ppm) contents compared to rims (U: 3–72 ppm; Pb: 0.1–3.3 ppm) (Tab. SE1). Twenty-nine analyses have been performed on 29 zircon grains that define two clusters (Fig. 13D). The first one, composed of 12 concordant analyses from zircon cores, yields a concordant date at 471.3 ± 5 Ma (MSWD(C+E) = 1.06; n = 11) (Fig. 15D). The second cluster is formed by 11 analyses performed on zircon rims that define a lower intercept at 329.6 ± 9.2 Ma (MSWD = 0.85). Among them, 8 analyses yield a concordant date at 326.9 ± 9.1 Ma (MSWD = 0.85) (Fig. 15D). Several analyses show concordant dates at ca. 379, 385, 409 and 432 Ma, which probably reflect a mixture between an old core (~ 470 Ma) and a younger rim (~ 327 Ma) and are probably therefore without geological meaning.

# 5 Discussion

## 5.1 Pre-Variscan history

Inherited dates at 451.4 ± 5.2 Ma and 460 ± 10 Ma were obtained from magmatic zircon grains of the Peyre-Arguet and Etages migmatites (samples MCE313b and MCE140b; Fig. 15; Tab. S1). This Ordovician record is interpreted as the emplacement age of felsic laccoliths, i.e., the protolith of orthogneisses. Numerous orthogneiss derived from Ordovician protoliths are well documented in the entire Variscan belt (e.g., Melleton *et al.*, 2010; Lardeaux *et al.*, 2014) as within the ECMs (e.g., Schaltegger, 1993; Sergeev and Steiger, 1993; Bussy and Von Raumer, 1994; Bussy *et al.*, 2011; Bussien Grosjean *et al.*, 2017). Even though a continental magmatic arc setting is sometimes suggested, presently, the preferred interpretation for the Ordovician magmatism is rather a rifting episode related to the opening of the Variscan oceans (e.g., Von Raumer *et al.*, 1999, Vanderhaeghe *et al.*, 2020).

Similarly, the magmatic zircon cores from the Peyre-Arguet amphibolite (sample MCE304v2) display an inherited date of 471.3 ± 5 Ma that likely represents the intrusion age of a mafic protolith during the Ordovician crustal thinning, in agreement with inheritance recorded in other metabasites from the ECMs (Paquette *et al.*, 1989; Oberli *et al.*, 1994; Rubatto *et al.*, 2001; Bussy *et al.*, 2011; Jacob *et al.*, 2021, 2022; Vanardois *et al.*, 2022).
<figure><img src="image_15.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 14.** Thermobarometric modelling of metapelitic sample MCE338 located in the Cortical Pelvoux. (A) Chemical profile of a garnet. (B) T-XH₂O diagram calculated with a pressure of 0.5 GPa, the mineral assemblage of the sample indicates a H₂O content of 1.47 wt%. (C) Pseudosection calculated in the MnNCKFMASH system. Modelling of the Qcmp factor of the mineral composition of (D) biotite based on MgO, FeO, MnO, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ contents, (E) muscovite based on Na₂O, K₂O, CaO, Al₂O₃, FeO, MgO and SiO₂ contents, and (F) plagioclase based on K₂O, Na₂O, CaO, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ contents (Tab. S2). Bi: Biotite; Mu: muscovite; Crd: Cordierite; Kfs: K-feldspar; Pl: Plagioclase; Gt: Garnet; and: Andalousite; ky: Kyanite; sill: Sillimanite; Opx: Orthopyroxene; q: Quartz; melt: silicate liquid.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_16.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 15.** Zircon U-Pb Tera-Wasserburg diagrams obtained by LA-ICPMS. (A) MCE330; (B) MCE140b; (C) MCE313b; (D) MCE304v2. Error ellipses and uncertainties in ages are ± 2σ. Dotted ellipses are not considered for the age calculation.</figcaption></figure>

Older detrital and inherited zircon ages from pre-Neo-
proterozoic to Cambrian were also obtained (Fig. 15). Lack of
Mesoproterozoic dates (>1500 Ma; Fig. 15A) point to a
Gondwanian origin, i.e., the West African Craton (e.g.,
Melleton et al., 2010; Linnemann et al., 2014; Gärtner et al.,
2017), and NE Africa-Arabia, Baltica and Amazonia (Stephan
et al., 2019) as possible source regions. In the Cortical
Pelvoux, the Roux migmatite (MCE330) did not record any
Ordovician inheritance, but magmatic zircon cores rather
indicate a Neoproterozoic magmatism at 590.6 ± 6.2 Ma
(Fig. 13A). The Roux migmatite did not originate from the
partial melting of an Ordovician intrusive protolith but from
that of a metasedimentary protolith probably related to Pan-
African (750–600 Ma) or Cadomian (590–540 Ma) orogeneses
(Linnemann et al., 2014). Similar metasedimentary rocks in the
SW Belledonne display inherited zircons at ca. 590 Ma
(Fréville et al., 2018). These Pan-African and Cadomian
inherited zircon ages are common in the South-Western
Variscan belt (e.g., Roger et al., 2004; Melleton et al., 2010;
Schnapperelle et al., 2020) with a possible source region linked

to the north-eastern Gondwana margin (Linnemann et al.,
2014; Couzinié et al., 2014; Von Raumer et al., 2015;
Chelle-Michou et al., 2017).

5.2 Carboniferous crustal thickening (D₁ deformation)

The mineral assemblage Qtz + Bt + Ms + Pl + Grt + Ky + St
from sample MCE339v defines a large stability field with P-T
conditions lower than 0.75 GPa and 625 °C (Fig. 13C). A set of
old monazite grains, some being included in kyanite, yield a
concordant date at 346.6 ± 4.8 Ma that gives a time constraint
for prograde metamorphism (Fig. 16b). In the sample
MCE338, the main assemblage Qtz + Ms + Bt + Pl + Grt +
Sill (Fig. 12D) gives P-T conditions between 550–700 °C and
0.35–0.80 GPa (Fig. 16a). The highest Qcmp factors for
muscovite and biotite give a P-T refinement at ca. 0.6 GPa and
650 °C (Fig. 16a). Garnet grains are also a part of the mineral
assemblage and mark the same planar fabric than micas
(Fig. 12D), but their core compositions are best modelled at
<figure><img src="image_17.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 16.** Geochronological and tectono-metamorphic interpretations for the Pelvoux Massif. (a) P-T-t path of sample MCE338 inferred from the mineral assemblage and mineral compositions and from textural features of monazite. (b) P-T-t path of sample MCE339v inferred from the mineral assemblage and biotite composition and from textural features of monazite. (c) P-T-t conditions from the Pelvoux Massif. P-T-t paths of the Cortical Pelvoux are from this study. P-T data from metabasites of the Inner Pelvoux are from Jacob et al. (2022) and Grandjean et al. (1996). P-T conditions of Crd-migmatites are theoretical and age corresponds to monazite age of sample MCE314 from this study. (d) Geochronological results constraining the ages of D₁, D₂ and D₃ from this study, (Fréville et al., 2018; Fréville, 2016). (e) Inferred tectono-metamorphic evolutions of the Cortical and Inner Pelvoux.</figcaption></figure>
<table><caption>**Table 2.** Bulk-chemical composition in weight percent oxides for samples *MCE339v* and *MCE338*.</caption><thead><tr><th>Oxyde (wt%)</th><th>SiO<sub>2</sub></th><th>Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub></th><th>FeO</th><th>MgO</th><th>CaO</th><th>Na<sub>2</sub>O</th><th>K<sub>2</sub>O</th><th>TiO<sub>2</sub></th><th>MnO</th><th>P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub></th><th>Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub></th><th>NiO</th><th>LOI</th><th>total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><i>MCE339v</i></td><td>67.30</td><td>16.00</td><td>5.95</td><td>2.26</td><td>1.01</td><td>2.09</td><td>3.18</td><td>0.75</td><td>0.07</td><td>0.16</td><td>0.01</td><td>0.00</td><td>2.15</td><td>100.93</td></tr><tr><td><i>MCE338</i></td><td>59.70</td><td>19.00</td><td>7.32</td><td>3.26</td><td>1.09</td><td>2.07</td><td>3.82</td><td>0.93</td><td>0.11</td><td>0.12</td><td>0.02</td><td>0.00</td><td>2.95</td><td>100.39</td></tr></tbody></table>

lower-grade conditions (0.45 GPa and 575 °C; Fig. 14c). Garnet core shows a perfect homogeneous composition (Fig. 14A) that might be the result of diffusion process, which could explain the lower grade metamorphic conditions defined by the garnet core composition. Garnet rim composition yields P-T conditions at 0.35 GPa and 450 °C (Fig. 14c). The mineral composition modelling highlights a retrograde P-T path from the peak of metamorphism at ca. 0.6 GPa and 650 °C to the end of the retrograde path at 0.35 GPa and 450 °C (Fig. 16a). In the corresponding sample *MCE338*, monazite grains are often localized within biotite-muscovite layers (Fig. 12F) and yield a concordant date of 332.2 ± 1.6 Ma (Fig. 11D), which is therefore interpreted as the age of the peak of $M_1$ metamorphism. These two samples present near similar P-T paths (Fig. 16c) with metamorphic conditions slightly higher in the sample *MCE338*, which is consistent with its deeper position into the crust (see Fig. 4B).

In sample *MCE339v*, the relitual $S_1$ foliation preserved in garnet and kyanite is dated by monazite at 346.6 ± 4.8 Ma. Similarly, the $S_1$ foliation in the sample *MCE338* is defined by the alignment of micas and by the orientation of monazite and is dated at 332.2 ± 1.6 Ma. Similar ages are obtained in samples *MCE379*, *MCE382b* and *MCE328* with a main $S_1$ foliation with syn-kinematic monazite grains (Figs. 10–12). These results indicate that a $D_1$ deformation was active at ca. 345–330 Ma (Fig. 16d).

A similar $D_1/M_1$ event is documented in the SW Belledonne area with the well-preserved low angle $S_1$, holding a E-W trending $L_1$ stretching lineation, interpreted as due to an eastward nappe stacking event responsible for crustal thickening coeval with the barrovian metamorphism ($M_1$) (Fernandez et al., 2002; Guillot et al., 2009; Guillot and Ménot, 2009; Fréville et al., 2018). In SW Belledonne Massif, the peak of $M_1$ metamorphism is dated on monazite (LA-ICP-MS) and zircon (SIMS) at around 337 ± 7 Ma and 338 ± 5 Ma respectively (Fig. 16d; Fréville et al., 2018). The $D_1/M_1$ barrovian evolution culminated with the partial melting as observed at the bottom of the VSU in the Cortical Pelvoux and SW Belledonne (Gidon et al., 1980; Barfety et al., 1988; Guillot et al., 2009; Fréville et al., 2018; this study) as exemplified by the “Roux migmatite” that yields a similar concordant age at 330 ± 3 Ma (Fig. 15A) obtained on metamorphic rims of zircons (sample *MCE330* in this study).

The deposition age of the SW Belledonne VSU is dated at 352 ± 1 Ma from a plagioclase-rich leucocratic sill (Fréville et al., 2018). Based on the lithological similarities of these volcano-sedimentary rocks in SW Belledonne and Cortical Pelvoux, we propose that the volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Cortical Pelvoux deposited during the late-Devonian early-Carboniferous rifting and therefore predated the $D_1$ crustal thickening.

Retrogressed eclogites and HP granulites are well documented in others ECMs (e.g., Albrecht et al., 1991;

Von Raumer and Bussy, 2004; Ferrando et al., 2008; Jouffray et al., 2020; Jacob et al., 2021; Vanardois et al., 2022) and yield zircon and rutile ages at ca. 340–330 Ma (Rubatto et al., 2010; Vanardois et al., 2022). Recently, $M_1$ high-pressure peak condition recorded within retrograded eclogites of the NE Belledonne and Inner Pelvoux was constrained at ca. 340–330 Ma (Jacob et al., 2021, 2022). In the Inner Pelvoux, the Peyre-Arguet mafic HP granulite (Barfety et al., 1982) recorded a metamorphic age at 326.9 ± 9.1 Ma (Fig. 15D), confirming that a $D_1/M_1$ crustal thickening event at 350–330 Ma is recorded in both the Pelvoux and Belledonne Massifs (Fig. 16e). Consistently, the sub-horizontal magmatic foliation we recognized in the Rochail granite and dated at 343 ± 11 Ma age (Guerrot and Debon, 2000) is interpreted as a $S_1$ foliation that resulted from crustal thickening.

## 5.3 Sinistral transpression and longitudinal flow ($D_2$ and $D_3$ deformations)

In the Cortical Pelvoux, the $D_2$ tectono-metamorphic event corresponds to a NW-SE shortening responsible for folding of the $S_1$ and formation of the N30°E striking $S_2$ foliation, also documented in the SW Belledonne (Fréville et al., 2018), in the course of $D_1$ contraction. In sample *MCE339v*, from the central part of the Cortical Pelvoux, the $S_2$ foliation is defined by the preferential alignment of biotite for which the highest Qcmp factor indicates temperature conditions above 525 °C and allows us to refine the P-T condition of biotite-bearing $S_2$ foliation at around 0.5 GPa and 550 °C near the kyanite-sillimanite transition (Fig. 13D). Monazite grains included in the biotite-layers (Fig. 12C) yield an age at 319.2 ± 6.1 Ma (Fig. 11C) providing a time constraint for $D_2$ transpression (Fig. 16b).

In the Inner Pelvoux, $D_2$ structures are ubiquitous with the development of penetrative and steeply dipping planar surfaces, such as the $S_2$ foliation, and $C_2-C'_2$ sinistral shear zones, and weakly plunging lineations formed under sinistral strike-slip regime (Fig. 17A). The syn-$D_2$ cordierite-bearing migmatite *MCE314* shows U-Th-Pb data obtained on monazite grains that form a cluster with an intercept at 307.5 ± 1.9 Ma (Fig. 11F). It suggests that the partially molten crust was under high temperature and low-pressure conditions at ca. 308 Ma (Fig. 16c), giving another time constraint for the $D_2$ deformation. In the stages migmatite (*MCE140b*), four zircon grains yield a concordant date at 317 ± 4 Ma (Fig. 13B) that we also relate to the $D_2$ transpression. The Etages migmatite *MCE140b* also gives a concordant date at 297.8 ± 2.1 Ma, like the age of the Etages and the Bérarde-Promontoire syn-$D_2$ plutons (this study; Strzerzynski et al., 2005) dated at ca. 303–299 Ma (Fréville, 2016). Hence, we propose that the timing of the $D_2$ transpression ranged from at least ca. 320 Ma to 298 Ma (Fig. 16d), but it might have started as early as 330 Ma
<table><caption>**Table 3.** Representative chemical compositions of minerals used for themobarometric calculation.</caption><thead><tr><th></th><th>Garnet</th><th>Biotite</th><th>Muscovite</th><th>Plagioclase</th><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>MCE339v</td><td></td><td>MCE338</td><td>MCE338</td><td>MCE338</td><td>MCE338</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Core</td><td>Rim</td><td>Core</td><td>Rim</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Oxydes (wt%)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SiO<sub>2</sub></td><td>36.39</td><td>36.71</td><td>36.38</td><td>36.54</td><td>34.19</td><td>35.05</td><td>46.27</td><td>61.19</td></tr><tr><td>Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub></td><td>20.34</td><td>20.44</td><td>20.48</td><td>20.16</td><td>19.23</td><td>18.45</td><td>36.41</td><td>23.14</td></tr><tr><td>TiO<sub>2</sub></td><td>0.19</td><td>0.05</td><td>0.03</td><td>0.01</td><td>1.66</td><td>1.47</td><td>0.34</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FeO</td><td>29.56</td><td>33.90</td><td>31.96</td><td>30.09</td><td>20.16</td><td>20.48</td><td>1.33</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MgO</td><td>1.27</td><td>2.31</td><td>3.14</td><td>2.02</td><td>8.63</td><td>9.10</td><td>0.69</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MnO</td><td>4.57</td><td>0.86</td><td>4.78</td><td>8.13</td><td>0.05</td><td>0.05</td><td>0.02</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>CaO</td><td>6.62</td><td>5.14</td><td>1.93</td><td>1.31</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.02</td><td>0.03</td><td>4.83</td></tr><tr><td>Na<sub>2</sub>O</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>0.11</td><td>0.18</td><td>1.31</td><td>8.61</td></tr><tr><td>K<sub>2</sub>O</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>8.51</td><td>8.99</td><td>9.62</td><td>0.11</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>98.94</td><td>99.41</td><td>98.70</td><td>98.26</td><td>92.54</td><td>93.79</td><td>96.02</td><td>97.88</td></tr><tr><td>Mol cations</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Si</td><td>2.97</td><td>2.97</td><td>2.97</td><td>3.02</td><td>2.68</td><td>2.72</td><td>3.05</td><td>2.79</td></tr><tr><td>Al</td><td>1.96</td><td>1.96</td><td>1.98</td><td>1.96</td><td>1.78</td><td>1.69</td><td>2.83</td><td>1.24</td></tr><tr><td>Ti</td><td>0.01</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td></td><td>0.09</td><td>0.02</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fe<sup>2+</sup></td><td>2.02</td><td>2.30</td><td>2.14</td><td>2.05</td><td>1.32</td><td>1.33</td><td>0.07</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fe<sup>3+</sup></td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.05</td><td>0.03</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mg</td><td>0.16</td><td>0.28</td><td>0.38</td><td>0.25</td><td>1.01</td><td>1.05</td><td>0.07</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mn</td><td>0.32</td><td>0.06</td><td>0.33</td><td>0.61</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ca</td><td>0.58</td><td>0.45</td><td>0.57</td><td>0.11</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.00</td><td>0.24</td></tr><tr><td>Na</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>0.02</td><td>0.03</td><td>0.17</td><td>0.62</td></tr><tr><td>K</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>0.85</td><td>0.89</td><td>0.81</td><td>0.01</td></tr><tr><td>X<sub>Fe</sub></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>0.57</td><td>0.56</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>End members</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>71.89</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>An</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>27.34</td></tr><tr><td>Orth</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>0.77</td></tr><tr><td>Prp</td><td>5.13</td><td>9.21</td><td>12.66</td><td>8.35</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Alm</td><td>65.26</td><td>74.09</td><td>70.77</td><td>68.69</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Grs</td><td>18.87</td><td>14.49</td><td>5.51</td><td>3.85</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sps</td><td>10.45</td><td>1.96</td><td>10.97</td><td>19.07</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

(Fig. 16e). In the SW and NE Belledonne Massif, the onset of the D₂ transpression with the development of S₂ occurred after the peak of pressure at 330 Ma (Fréville et al., 2018; Jacob et al., 2021), a period that corresponds to the onset of partial melting in the lower crust. In both Pelvoux and Belledonne Massifs, the transpression is more pervasive in the anatectic crust (Fréville et al., 2018; this study). Melt-enhanced strength drop may have impacted stress distribution and initiated transpressional strain in the deep crust with the preferential appearance of the steeply dipping S₂ cleavage in the partially molten middle-lower crust, while NW-SE contraction was accommodated by upright to SE-verging D₂ folding in the upper-middle crust (Fig. 17).

Near the anatectic front, we have recognized a S₃ subhorizontal planar fabric affecting the former S₁ and S₂ foliations (Figs. 8, 9 and 17). In sample MCE382b located in the Cortical Pelvoux, 4 monazite grains included in undeformed biotite marking the S₃ foliation (Figs. 10G and 10H) yield a concordant date at 306 ± 3.5 Ma (Fig. 11B). The record of the D₃ deformation in monazite is probably dependent on D₃ strain localization. Thus, we propose that the ca. 306 Ma age is a reliable one for the D₃ deformation in the Cortical Pelvoux (Fig. 16d). Our results suggest that during the Late Carboniferous, the D₂ and D₃ deformations were

partly synchronous (Fig. 16d) and therefore attest for strain partitioning during a same tectonic event responsible for longitudinal flow of the middle-lower crust. We interpret the top-to-the-NW shearing along S₃ as a local accommodation of a southeastward horizontal flow of the partially molten lower crust during sinistral transpression. Recently, Jacob (2022) and Jacob et al. (2022) also show that in the central Inner Pelvoux (La Lavey area) the S₁ foliation is reworked by a syn-migmatic flat-lying foliation showing evidence for a NW-SE, i.e., N150-N180 directed horizontal flow. These authors argue that the horizontal flow was coeval with a sinistral shearing along a N140-N170 directed high-strain corridor (D₂) characterized by a vertical shortening of the D₂ planar fabrics by the syn-magmatic flat-lying foliation. This is consistent with our own field observations of the S₃ foliation, made in the same La Meije block, a few kilometers to the SE (Fig. 3). The contemporaneity between NW-SE directed transpressional flow and vertical shortening in that part of the la Meije block is supported by our radiometric data of D₂ and D₃ and attests for strain partitioning between the suprastructure and infrastructure during horizontal crustal flow under transpressive regime as commonly described in the Variscan belt (Aguilar et al., 2014; Cochelin et al., 2017, 2021; Rabin et al., 2015; Trap et al., 2017).
<figure><img src="image_18.png" /><figcaption>**Fig. 17.** Sketch showing the strain partitioning in the Belledonne-Pelvoux orogenic crust suffering bulk NW-SE directed contraction (black arrows). The upper unmolten crustal level recorded folding, while the partially molten lower domain recorded lateral flow and sinistral transpression.</figcaption></figure>

<table><caption>**Table 4.** Summary of tectonic and metamorphic events recorded in the Belledonne-Pelvoux area.</caption><thead><tr><th>Event</th><th>Belledonne SW</th><th>Cortical Pelvoux</th><th>Inner Pelvoux</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>D3</td><td>Structure</td><td>Low angle S3 +/- mylonitic Horizontal axis F3 fold and a-Type F3 fold Top to NE shearing</td><td>Low angle S3 +/- mylonitic Horizontal axis F3 fold</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>P-T</td><td>Retrograde amphibolite facies 0.45-0.35 GPa-450-50 °C</td><td>High-T migmatite Cordierite bearing migmatite</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Age</td><td>ca. 306-298 Ma</td><td>ca. 306-298 Ma?</td></tr><tr><td>D2</td><td>Structure High angle S2 N030E Upright fold NE-SW axis NE-SW L2</td><td>High angle S2 N030E High angle C2 N-S High angle C'2 N150E Folded S2, Horizontal axis</td><td>High angle S2 N030E Upright fold NE-SW axis High angle C2 N-S High angle C'2 N150E NS to NE-SW L2</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>P-T</td><td>Low-T migmatite</td><td>Low-T migmatite</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Age</td><td>ca. 330-298 Ma</td><td>ca. 330-298 Ma</td></tr><tr><td>D1</td><td>Structure Low angle S<sub>1</sub> Recumbent fold to the east E-W L1</td><td>Mark the lithological limits low angle S<sub>1-3</sub></td><td>Mostly erased Relictual S<sub>1</sub> in F<sub>2</sub> fold hinge</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>P-T</td><td>Amphibolite facies Grt-Bt + melt 0.6-0.8 GPa-600-630 °C</td><td>No evidence</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Age</td><td>ca. 339 ± 5 Ma</td><td>ca. 340-330 Ma? (HP stage, Jacob et al., in review)</td></tr></tbody></table>
<figure><img src="image_19.png" /></figure>

**Fig. 18.** Sketch map of the anastomosed network of dextral shear zones of the EVSZ with local conjugate sinistral shear zones in the Pelvoux Massif. Ante-alpine positions of the ECMs (black arrow) are from Bellahsen et al. (2014), except the Argentera Massif. Positions of the Maures-Tanneron, Corsica and Sardinia Massifs are from Edel et al. (2014, 2018). Blue arrow represents the present orientation in reference to the north. AG: Aar-Gothard; Arg: Argentera; AR-MB: Aiguilles-Rouges-Mont-Blanc; Bell: Belledonne; BSZ: Barrabisa Shear Zone; EBSZ: Emosson-Bérarde Shear Zone; FMSZ: Ferrière-Mollière Shear Zone; GF: Grimaud Fault; MF: La Moure Fault; PAL: Posada-Asinara Shear Zone; Pelv: Pelvoux; PVSZ: Porto Vecchio Shear Zone.

## 5.4 Kinematic flow at the scale of the EVSZ

At large scale, the shape and strike of the EVSZ and how it connects to other major shear zones of the Variscan belt framework is not straightforward (e.g., Ballèvre et al., 2018; Chardon et al., 2020; Simonetti et al., 2020a). In most of previous studies, the authors proposed that the EVSZ runs from the Aar-Gothard, Aiguilles-Rouges-Mont-Blanc, Belledonne Massifs, and to the Argentera, Maures-Tanneron and Corsica-Sardinia Massifs with a main trend that changes from NE-SW to N-S respectively (Fig. 1; e.g., Guillot et al., 2009; Padovano et al., 2012; Duchesne et al., 2013; Simonetti et al., 2020a) that consider a post-Variscan counterclockwise rotation of the Argentera Massif of about 90° that is not recorded within the Permian sedimentary cover (Bogdanoff and Schott, 1977; Sonnette et al., 2014). The major rotational movements described in the internal Alps are accommodated by trans-current faults that did not affect the ECMs (Collombet et al., 2002). Any rotation of the Argentera Massif may have occurred prior to the deposition of Permian sedimentary rocks deposits and at these times the rotation in the southeastern part of the Variscan belt is clockwise (Edel et al., 2014, 2015). Following the work of Edel et al. (2014, 2018) that consider the rotation of the Maures-Tanneron-Corsica-Sardinia block, we propose an alternative geometry for the EVSZ with the individualization of several branches forming the anastomosed network (Fig. 18).

The large-scale transpression is a strain feature the whole ECMs have in common, with a general dextral kinematics (Von Raumer et al., 1999; Von Raumer and Bussy, 2004; Simonetti et al., 2018, 2020a; Jacob et al., 2021) except in the Pelvoux Massif where it is sinistral (this study, Strzerzynski et al., 2005; Jacob et al., 2022). Our results argue that the sinistral shearing in the Pelvoux Massif was active between at least ca. 320 Ma and 300 Ma. Similar ages have been reported for the dextral transpressional shearing in the Aiguilles-Rouges-Mont-Blanc Massifs (Simonetti et al., 2020a; Vanardois, 2021), in the Argentera Massif (Sanchez et al., 2011; Simonetti et al., 2018, 2021), in the Maures-Tanneron Massifs (Rolland et al., 2009; Corsini and Rolland, 2009), in Sardinia and Corsica (Giacomini et al., 2008; Carosi et al., 2012). Since dextral and sinistral shearing were synchronous, we propose that at the scale of the ECMs, the sinistral shearing in the Pelvoux Massif corresponds to an antithetic domain within the dextral dominated shear zone network (Fig. 18). During the Late Carboniferous times, the average antithetic C' shear zone strikes N140-150E in the Pelvoux Massif while dextral shear zones trends ca. N30E in the Aiguilles-Rouges-Mont-Blanc Massif and Belledonne Massif (e.g., Simonetti et al., 2020, Jacob et al., 2021). Vanardois (2021) argue that N30E directed dextral deformation in the Aiguilles-Rouges Massif (Fig. 18) corresponds to 1–2 km wide synthetic C' shear zones in a regional-scale (> 10 km) N-S directed shear zone system. The strain pattern of the Aiguilles-Rouges Massif is made of a S-C-C' dextral framework with NW-SE-directed S planes, N-S directed C planes and N30E directed C' planes (Fig. 18; Vanardois 2021). In that scheme, the average obtuse angle between synthetic C' and antithetic C' shear direction might be around 105° ± 10° (Fig. 18) that is consistent with geometry and flow kinematics of a typical ductile shear zone (Fossen et al., 2012; Gillam et al., 2013) even if anticlockwise back-rotation between NE-SW dextral corridors is considered.

## 6 Conclusions

Our field work, structural, thermobarometric, and geochronological results argue that the Belledonne and Pelvoux Massifs share the same Carboniferous tectono-metamorphic evolution. The Belledonne-Pelvoux area experienced a D₁ event related to crustal thickening during the Eastward nappe stacking event in response to E-W to NW-SE contraction. The D₁/M₁ episode ended with the onset of crustal partial melting at ca. 650 °C during Late Visean time. Ongoing NW-SE bulk shortening is responsible for sinistral D₂ shearing in the partially molten middle-lower crust (i.e., Inner Pelvoux) with the strain partitioning between C and C' shear zones and horizontal longitudinal flow in the range 330–300 Ma. Field and radiometric data argue for contemporaneity between D₂ and D₃ and attest for vertical strain partitioning between the suprastructure and infrastructure during horizontal crustal flow and strike-slip shearing, as commonly described in the Variscan belt. Within the orogen scale dextral East-Variscan Shear Zone, the sinistral transpression recorded in the Pelvoux Massif corresponds to an antithetic strain domain. Plate-scale kinematics and compatibility of crustal shear zones from west to east of the variscan belt are beyond the scope of this paper.
## Supplementary Material

Figure S1. Zircon cathodoluminescence and monazite back-scattered electrons images from studied samples.

Table S1. U-Pb analyses for dated samples.

Table S2. Operating conditions for the LA-ICP-MS equipment for Montpellier.

Table S3. Operating conditions for the LA-ICP-MS equipment for BRGM.

Table S4. Operating conditions for the LA-ICP-MS equipment for Rennes.

The Supplementary Material is available at http://www.bsgf.fr/10.1051/bsgf/2022008/olm.

*Acknowledgments.* The authors thank the Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans (ISTO), BRGM, the Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, and the Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en Région Centre (OSUC) for their financial support. We also gratefully acknowledge the French RENATECH network and its FEMTO-ST technological facility that partly supports this work.

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**Cite this article as:** Kévin Fréville, Pierre Trap, Jonas Vanardois, Jérémie Melleton, Michel Faure, Olivier Bruguier, Marc Poujol, Philippe Lach. 2022. Carboniferous-Permian tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Pelvoux Massif (External Crystalline Massif, Western Alps), with discussion on flow kinematics of the Eastern-Variscan Shear Zone, *BSGF - Earth Sciences Bulletin* 193: 13.