Ophiolites of different Paleozoic ages occur in North-West (NW) Iberia in a rootless suture representing the remnants of the Rheic Ocean. Associated allochthonous terranes in the hanging- and foot-walls of the suture derive from the former margins, whereas the relative autochthon corresponds to the Paleozoic passive margin of northern Gondwana. The Paleozoic tectonic evolution of this part of the circum-Atlantic region is deduced from the stratigraphical, petrological, structural and metamorphic evolution of the different units and their ages. The tectonic reconstruction covers from Cambro-Ordovician continental rifting and the opening of the Rheic Ocean to its Middle to Upper Devonian closure. Then, the Variscan Laurussia–Gondwana convergence and collision is briefly described, from its onset to the late stages of collapse associated with the demise of the orogenic roots.

A correlation between allochthonous units exposed in the NW Iberian Massif and the southern Armorican Massif is carried out based on lithological associations, structural position, age and geochemistry of protoliths and tectonometamorphic evolution. The units on both sides of the Bay of Biscay are grouped into Upper, Middle and Lower allochthons, whereas an underlying allochthonous thrust sheet identified in both massifs is referred to as the Parautochthon. The Lower Allochthon represents a fragment of the outermost edge of Gondwana that underwent continental subduction shortly after the closure of a Palaeozoic ocean which, in turn, is represented by the Middle Allochthon. The latter consists of supra-subduction ophiolites and metasedimentary sequences alternating with basic, mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-type volcanics, with inheritances suggesting the proximity of a continental domain. Seafloor spreading began at the Cambro-Ordovician boundary and oceanic crust was still formed during the Late Devonian, covering the lifetime of the Rheic Ocean, which is possibly represented by the Middle Allochthon. The opening of the oceanic domain was related to pulling apart the peri-Gondwanan continental magmatic arc, which is represented by the Upper Allochthon.

An integrated interpretation of the late Paleozoic structural and geochronological record of the Iberian Massif is presented and discussed under the perspective of a Gondwana-Laurussia collision giving way to the Variscan orogen. Compressional and extensional structures developed during the building of the Variscan orogenic crust of Iberia are linked together into major tectonic events operating at lithosphere scale. A review of the tectonometamorphic and magmatic evolution of the Iberian Massif reveals backs and forths in the overall convergence between Gondwana and Laurussia during the amalgamation of Pangea in late Paleozoic times. Stages dominated by lithosphere compression are characterized by subduction, both oceanic and continental, development of magmatic arcs, (over- and under-) thrusting of continental lithosphere, and folding. Variscan convergence resulted in the eventual transference of a large allochthonous set of peri-Gondwanan terranes, the Iberian Allochthon, onto the Gondwana mainland. The Iberian Allochthon bears the imprint of previous interaction between Gondwana and Laurussia, including their juxtaposition after the closure of the Rheic Ocean in Lower Devonian times. Stages governed by lithosphere extension are featured by the opening of two short-lived oceanic basins that dissected previous Variscan orogenic crust, first in the Lower-Middle Devonian, following the closure of the Rheic Ocean, and then in the early Carboniferous, following the emplacement of the peri-Gondwanan allochthon. An additional, major intra-orogenic extensional event in the early-middle Carboniferous dismembered the Iberian Allochthon into individual thrust stacks separated by extensional faults and domes. Lateral tectonics played an important role through the Variscan orogenesis, especially during the creation of new tectonic blocks separated by intracontinental strike-slip shear zones in the late stages of continental convergence.Financial support has been provided by the Spanish project CGL2012-34618, funded by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain).Peer reviewe

The Variscan metamorphic evolution of the autochthonous domain of NW and Central Iberia is characterized by a Barrovian gradient followed by a high-temperature–low-pressure (HT/LP) event associated with voluminous granite magmatism. The structural, metamorphic and magmatic histories of the region are described briefly and the relations between them are explained. A coherent model for evolution of the continental crust is proposed using published radiometric ages, thermal models and seismic reflection profiles. The metamorphic evolution, including the high-temperature event, is explained by crustal thickening resulting from the Gondwana–Laurussia collision followed by a period of thermal relaxation and a long-lasting extensional stage. The fact that the highest temperatures were reached in the core of the Central Iberian arc, partly occupied by remnants of a huge allochthonous nappe stack, is discussed in relation to both the emplacement of the allochthon and subsequent oroclinal bending. The overburden provided by the allochthonous pile was decisive in triggering the high-temperature event. Orocline development mostly occurred later and had no significant effect on the metamorphic evolution, although it was important for the present localization of gneiss domes and granitoids. The possible role of the mantle in supplying additional heat to explain the HT/LP event is also discussed. It would seem that little mantle contribution was needed and there are no strong arguments for mantle delamination, although some kind of mantle–crust interaction is expected beneath the hot regions presently occupying the core of the Central Iberian arc.

In situ uranium-lead dating (LA-SF-ICP-MS and SIMS) and Lu-Hf isotope analyses (LA-MC-ICP-MS) of zircon from eclogite facies rocks from the basal units of the Variscan Belt in Galicia constrain their magmatic and metamorphic evolution and give some clues about the nature and origin of the involved basement. The samples studied are two felsic gneisses, two eclogites, and one eclogitic gneiss of intermediate composition (metatonalite). Oscillatory-zoned zircon cores from the felsic samples gave a main clustering of U-Pb ages at 493 ± 2 and 494 ± 2 Ma, and some older ages that represent inherited cores. Zircon grains from the intermediate and one of the mafic rocks show no inherited cores and yielded ages of 494 ± 3 and 498 ± 6 Ma, respectively, interpreted as time of protolith crystallization. Variably developed homogeneous zircon rims in one felsic gneiss yielded an age of 372 ± 3 Ma, and very tiny zircons of one eclogite gave 350 ± 2 Ma, both of which we interpret as metamorphic ages. The new age data demonstrate that the calc-alkaline magmatic suite described in the basal unit is ca. 20 Ma older than the alkaline to peralkaline plutonic suite of the same unit (dated at 472 ± 2 Ma; Rodríguez et al., 2007), and thus probably represents a distinct geologic event. Overgrowth rims are interpreted as metamorphic on the basis of their Lu/Hf and Th/U ratios. The 372 ± 3 age is considered as dating the high-pressure (high-P) metamorphism, and is essentially in agreement with previous Ar-Ar and Rb-Sr data. This high-P metamorphism marks the initial early-Variscan subduction of the Gondwana margin. The inherited zircon ages and Hf isotopic composition of zircons point to a considerable input of crustal material with West African Craton provenance to the felsic magma.