Paleotemperature investigation of the Variscan southern external domain: the case of the Montagne Noire (France)

The Montagne Noire located in the southern part of French Massif Central represents northern South-Variscan Foreland. It is subdivided into three parts. granite-migmatite Axial Zone dome surrounded by non- or weakly metamorphosed Paleozoic sedimentary series. Both and flanks are deformed km-scale, south to southeast facing recumbent folds thrusts sheets. Raman Spectroscopy Carbonaceous Material (RSCM) method, carried out low-grade metamorphic rocks flank Noire, yielded temperatures comprised between 400 °C near dome, 230 domain. Three geothermometers were used cover this temperature range. RSCM comply qualitatively with previous estimates based on illite crystallinity, conodont color alteration, fluid inclusions same area, which document a increase towards dome. isotherms cut across different nappe contacts oriented parallel margin Zone. This distribution supports idea that thermal structure was acquired during emplacement. emplacement burial series totally overprinted doming event. In addition, domain relatively remote from measurements significantly higher than crystallinity. discrepancy points sensitivity short-lived events possibly because more efficient kinetics carbonization reaction. On other hand, high analysed far Zone, 300 360 could be explained presence granitic plutons under foreland basin.