611
Geologische Rundschau 79/3 l 611-626 I Stuttgart 1990
Provenance and depositional environment of Rhenohercynian synorogenic
greywackes from the Giessen Nappe, Germany.
By E A. FLOYD, Keele, B. E. LEVERIDGE,Exeter, W. FRANKE,Giessen, R. SHAIL, Keele and W. D6R~, Giessen*)
With 8 figures and 2 tables
Zusammenfassung
Die Giei~ener Decke (sfid6stliches Rheinisches Schiefer-
gebirge) l~if~tslch in eine n6rdliche (oberdevonische) und
sfidliche (?unterkarbonische) Grauwackenserie unterglie-
dern, die sich auch in ihrer Sedimentologie sowie durch
tdeinere Unterschiede in Ger611bestand, Schwermineral-
spektrum und Gesamtchemismus voneinander abgrenzen
lassen.
Petrographische und geochemische DateD lassen sich
nach Diskriminations-Diagrammen aus der Literatur be-
stimmten Liefergebiets-Typen znordnen. Danach stam-
men beide Grauwacken-Serien yon fiberwiegend sauren
Gesteinen eines *continental arc<<. Nach den bekannten
geologischen Dated ist jedoch die Entstehung eines voll
entwickelten ,,magmatic arc<< am Sfidrand des rhenoher-
cynischen Beckens wenig wahrscheinlich; wir rechnen
deshalb damit, daI~ saure Gesteine aus einem pr~ivarisci-
schen basement am Aufbau des Liefergebietes beteiligt
waren und zusammen mit Sedimenten und basischen
Magmatiten den Stoffbestand der Grauwacken bestimmt
haben.
Abstract
The Giessen Nappe of the south-eastern Rhenish
Massif can be subdivided into a northern group and
southern group of Frasnian-?Lower Carboniferous grey-
wackes that differ slightly in their sedimentology; clast
petrograph34 heavy mineral assemblages and bulk geo-
chemistry.
Petrographic and geochemical tectonic setting discrimi-
nation diagrams indicate that both the northern and the
southern Giessen Greywacke groups were derived from a
*) Authors' addresses: E A. FLOYD, Department of Geo-
logy, University of Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, U.K.,
B. E. LEVER~D6E,British Geological Survey, 30 Pennsyl-
vania Road, Exeter, EX4 6BX, U.K., W. F~-~x~, Institut
fiir Geowissenschaften und Lithosphiirenforschung,
Justus-Liebig-Universit~t, D-6300 Giessen, FRG, R.
SHA~L, Department of Geolog~ University of Keele,
Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, U.K. and W. D6~r~ Institut Rir
Geowissenschaften und Lithosph~irenforschung, Justus-
Liebig-Universit~it, D-6300 Giessen, FRG
Manuscript received: 2Z 9. 89; accepted: 4.5.90
predominantly acidic continental arc source. However,
due to the nature of basin development, generation of sig-
nificant volumes of acidic arc material as a result of
southwards directed subduction of Rhenohercynian ocea-
nic crust is considered unlikely. A large part of the arc
source may have been contributed by earlier, predomi-
nantly acidic, Precambrian terranes together with minor
basic igneous and sedimentary components.
R&um~
La nappe de Giessen, dans la pattie sud-est du Massif schis-
teux rh~nan, peut &re subdivis& en une s&ie septentrionale
(D&onien sup&ieur) etune s&ie m&idionale (Carbonif~re
inf&ieur?) de grauwackes qui different quelque peu par leur
s~dimentologie, la p&rographie des clastes, les min&aux den-
ses et la g~ochimie en roche totale.
L'application des diagrammes de discrimination p&rogra-
pbiques et g~ocbimiques indiquent que les deux s&ies d&i-
vent d'un arc continental essentiellement acide. Toutefois, les
donn&s g~ologiques (caract~res du d&eloppement du bassin)
rendent improbables la formation d'un volume significatif de
mat&iaux d'arc acides ~. ia bordure sud du bassin rb~no-
hercynien. Dans ces conditions, Dons pensons que Ies roches
acides dont l'&osion a fourni la mati~re des grauwackes fai-
saient pattie d'un socle pr&varisque, en m~me temps que des
s~diments et des magmatites basiques subordonn&s.
KpaTKoe coRep~KaHHe
FHCCeHCKFII~IYIOKpOB(IOFO-BOCTOqHa~qaCTb PefmCKHX
c~am~eBbrx top) y~aercz no~pa3gear~TL na ceBeprly~o
(BepxRe~eBOHCKym) n m~3ayro (nm~neKap6oHcKyro?)
CBnTSI rpayBaKKOB, KOTOp~m neCKO~KO pa3~rrqaroTc~
na OCltOBaHrlH!aX Mm~epaJlo-neTponorrmecKoro COCTaBa
no I4"-XFaJIbKe, 1IO COCTaBy T~)KeYlbIXlvlKr-/epa~lOBH 1~o
xrn~r~3MT.
FfeTporpadpriqecxHe n reoxi~rlqecxae ~ani~sm pa3pe-
maroT ycTanOBnTb C noMombro ancKpnMrrrmi~rmrmhix
~HarpaMM, rlpHBe~eHHl~IXB aHTepaType, n THIIbI o6na-
CTeI~I CHOCa. HO, ~ICXOg~ I~3 reoJiorrmeci<r!x ~armslX,
H3BeCTHLIXcerogrLq, nponcxo~en~Ie Bnoane pa3BnTo~I
MaFMaTHqecKo~I~u~rrHHa ro~GqoMKparo peHorepIglHCKO-
ro 6accefiHa, Ka~KeTCn Ma3IO BepO~THI~IM. IIO3TOMy
aBTOpbI ilpe~rloaaraloT, nTO tGAC~IhleIIOpO~lMH3 ~o-rep-
612 P.A. FLOYDet al.

tInncKoro qbyrfaaMerlTa npmnlMaart yqacTrte B o6pa3oBa-

clastic sedimentation, which possibly commenced
HHH o6~IaCTn cnoca ri BMeCTe C ce~ItlMeHTaMII1~I6aaHqec-
during the Lower Devonian, was fully developed in
KHMH MaFMaTHTaMH npe~Ionpe)~eaHJm COCTaB rpayBaK- the Frasnian, and continued without interruption
KOB.
into the Upper Carboniferous (see reviews by
Introduction MATTHEWS, 1977a, b; ENGEL & FRANKE, 1983;
The external Rhenohercynian Zone occurs on FRANKE & ENGEL, 1986; SELWOOD & THOMAS,
the northern flank of the Variscan Belt in Europe 1986). The flysch clastics were derived from an ac-
and it can be confidently traced from the Harz tive plate margin to the south of the Rhenohercyni-
Mountains via small isolated outcrops into the an Basin - the Normannian High in the Channel
Rhenish Massif and the Ardennes (Fig. 1). Al- area and the Mid-German Crystalline Rise in cen-
though the presence of the Paris Basin and English tral Europe (see review in HOLDER & LeVeRIDGE,
Channel intervene, the Palaeozoic outcrop of S.W. 1986a).
England can be identified as a lateral equivalent of The mineralogical composition of the Rhenoher-
the Rhenohercynian sequences in central Europe cynian greywackes in S.W. England and Germany
(MATTHEWS, 1977a, b; FgAl~rds & ENGEL, 1982; exhibit a similar decrease in feldspar content with
HOLDER & LEVERIDGE,1986a). time (WmTELES;1984; ENGEr etal., 1983c). Olisto-
The Rhenohercynian Basin is situated at the sou- liths and/or tectonic slices underlying Frasnian
thern margin of the Old Red Sandstone Continent, flysch in allochthonous units (see below) exhibit an
which was formed by the Caledonian collision of almost identical conspicuous suite of Ordovician
Laurentia with Baltica (forming Laurussia), and the to Lower Devonian lithologies (Fe.A~qKE& ENGEL,
subsequent accretion of a >,Mid-European,, plate to 1982; HOLDER & LEVeRIDGE, 1986b). In general,
the composition of the clastic sediments permits
the southern margin of Laurussia. Rhenohercynian
the lateral continuity of the source region to be
extension occurred within the formerly continuous
tested, and also to characterize its tectonic setting.
Mid-European plate from late Silurian to early
Carboniferous (Fl~ANKE,1989a, b for plate tectonic
considerations).
The sedimentary record of the Rhenohercynian Objectives and methods of the study
Basin is dominated by thick sequences of Old Red The object of this paper is to determine the na-
Continent-derived fluvial and shallow-marine cla- ture and origin of turbidite-dominated, synorogenic
stic sediments. Reef and platform carbonates were sandstone sequences within the Giessen Grey-
formed on the clastic shelf, during periods of re- wacke. The approach involves the combined use of
duced clastic input, from late Middle Devonian to petrographic and geochemical data to characterize
Frasnian and during the Lower Carboniferous. The the provenance and depositional environment of
continuity of the Carboniferous Limestone Facies the greywackes. A number of studies have demon-
from the British Isles to Germany are an example strated that sandstone compositions are related to
of these relationships along the strike. Crustal ex- the plate tectonic environment and that framework
tension is also reflected in the gradual encroach- mode proportions can be used to discriminate
ment of hemipelagic facies over the neritic realm to between different plate settings (ScHwAB, 1975;
the north, and in the development of an important DICKINSON & SUCZEK, 1979; IIVGERSOLL& SuczEK,
synsedimentary bimodal acid-basic submarine vol- 1979; DICKINSON & VALLOIVI, 1980; MAYNARD
canism (FLOYD, 1982a, b, 1983; WeDePOHL etal., etal., 1982). In a similar manner, the bulk chemical
1983). Metabasalts with chemical features similar to composition of turbiditic sandstones has been used
mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) are found within to determine the tectonic environment (BHATIA&
allochthonous units in both S.W. England and Ger- TAYLOR, 1981; BHATIA, 1983; BHATIA • CROOK,
many, and suggest that the Rhenohercynian exten- 1986) and the nature of the source material (e.g.
sion attained at least the narrow-ocean stage TAYLOR & McLENNAN, 1981, 1985; SAWYER,1986;
(FLOYD, 1982b, 1984; ENGELetal., 1983a, b; GR6S- ROSER & KORSCH, 1988) using discriminant func-
SER & D6RR, 1986; PLATEN,in preparation). tion analysis and stable trace elements.
Plate convergence is documented in tectonic The Giessen Greywacke is confined to the tecto-
deformation and metamorphism migrating north- nically-late Giessen Nappe (ENGEL etal., 1983b)
wards from early Devonian to Upper Carbonifer- and is divided into a northern and a southern
ous (DoDsON & Rex, 1971; AHReNDT etal., 1983; group of turbidites (BIRKELBACH etal., 1988)
WeBeR, 1984; D*NELEX;1986). These activities are (Fig. 2). Data from the Devonian Gramscatho
also reflected in a northward shift of synorogenic Group of south Cornwall (FLOYD & LEWRIDGe,
 Provenance and &positional environment of Rhenohercyniansynorogenicgreywackes
T T T
S S
% s~ Is •
s s~gl s .
9 7"
+*+ + +r ++~: ~+~*+ +~
I00 km
i ~
9 (Ir0ro BR.GM. 1980a & b)
Fig. 1. Geologicalsketch map with the positions of the Giessen Nappe and S. Cornwall coarse clastics in relation to
major tectonic features in the northwest European Variscides. MOL, Moldanubian Zone; ST, Saxothnringian Zone;
RH, RhenohercynianZone.
1987; SHAIL & FLOYD, 1988), which also contains
an allochthonous sequence of greywackes (within
the Carrick Nappe; HOLDER & LEVERIDGE,1986b;
LEVERIDGE, etal., in press) enable an along-strike
comparison with the Giessen Greywacke material
of broadly similar age (FLOYD et al., in press).
A total of 58 samples collected from the Ta seg-
ments of the Giessen Greywacke turbiditic sand-
stones from both the northern and southern groups
were petrographically analysed by point-counting
techniques (minimum of 500 points) employing the
Gazzi-Dickinson technique (INGERSOLL et al.,
1984) with traditional methods. The Gazzi-Dickin-
son method, in which grains or crystals > 0.031 mm
are assigned to the monocrystalline parameter
rather than to that of the larger lithic or poly-
crystalline grain, reduces compositional depend-
ence upon grain-size and thus more closely reflects
the provenance. The same samples were analysed
by XRF spectrometry for major and trace el-
ements. Of these, 17 were also analysed for the rare
earth elements (REE), Cs, Hf, Sc, Ta, Th and U.
Selected framework mode and geochemical data are
shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectivelT~
Geological setting of the Giessen Greywacke
The Giessen Greywackes occupy an area of
approximately 250km 2 in the southeastern part of
613
s s s A (2 " A +++,+, +~+
..... y0o o0 o.0,,
~ Crystalline rocks
~ must
Basemenl Lithologies in bofehule~ ~ gl'anlle m, aLl00n gn0iss: 0, 0qeiSS;
q, quartzile: s, sans sandslone & slate: x, schisl
the Rhenish Massif (Fig. 2). Recent investigations
(see ENGEL etal., 1983b) confirmed a nappe con-
cept for this unit presented originally by KOSSMAT
(1927). Although the Giessen Nappe attains a maxi-
mum preserved thickness of about 200m, the
occurrence of similar rocks along-strike suggests
that the greywackes form part of a more extensive,
and probably much thicker nappe unit (the Gies-
sen/Harz Nappe in Fig. 1). The clastic sequences of
the H6rre unit and their equivalents further east
(Kellerwald of the eastern Rhenish Massif; Tanner,
Sieber and Acker/Bruchberg units of the Harz
Mountains) probably represent more external parts
of the same large-scale allochthonous unit (ENGEL
etal., 1983b; WALLISER& ALi3ERTI, 1983).
The Giessen Nappe rests with a subhorizontal
thrust contact upon a parautochthon composed of
Lower Devonian neritic clastics (in the south),
Eifelian hemipelagic shales, Givetian basaltic vol-
canics, Givetian/Frasnian reef limestones (central
part), and Famennian through to Lower Carbonife-
rous hemipelagic sediments and basaltic volcanics
(northern part). The nappe carries tectonic slices of
metabasalts at its base, which exhibit geochemical
characteristics of MORB (WED~POHL etal., 1983;
GROSSER & D6RR, 1986; PLATEN, in preparation).
The marginal (basal) part of the nappe is marked
by exotic Palaeozoic rocks (,,Pal/iozoikum der
Linder Mark<<) west of Giessen, which comprise
614 E A. FLOYDet al.

Sample number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Field number GN-1 GN-3 GN-6 GN-8 GN-16 GN-13 GN-18 GN-23 GN-28 GN-55

Max g r a i n s i z e 1.5 1.3 0.4 2.0 1.5 1.7 1.0 0.6 0.8 1.8
Average size 0.07 0.08 0.04 0.15 0. I0 0.15 0.I0 0.06 0.08 0.20

Matrix % 29.2 9.7 19.0 9.6 34.2 11.3 15.2 21.4 19.6 13.2

Qm 25.2 38.4 36.0 36.4 22.6 11.3 27.0 22.0 28.8 29.0
Qp 0.6 1.0 0.4 0.8 2.2 0.4 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.6
F 23.2 21.4 22.2 29.6 13.6 31.9 22.8 25.0 24.0 23.6
Lv 2.0 5.9 3.6 5.8 4.8 6.1 6.2 5.4 7.6 9.8
Lv(m~ta) 1.4 8.5 2.6 2.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 1.4 2.0 2.0
Ls 2.6 3.0 4.0 1.9 2.4 2.3 2.8 0.8 1.6 2.4
Ls(meta) I0.0 6.4 6.6 8.9 13.4 10.9 21.0 12.8 Ii.0 17.2
Other phases 6.0 5.6 5.4 4.9 3.8 6.9 2.4 10.2 4.6 2.2
Table 1. Grain size (in mm), proportion of matrix and framework mode parameters (as %) for greywackesfrom the
northern (samples 1-5) and the southern (samples 6-10) groups of the Giessen Greywacke. Gazzi-Diekinsonmethod
data.

Ordovician quartzites, Silurian marls and ortho-
cone limestones, as well as Lower Devonian neritic
clastic and carbonate sediments (KrGEL, 1953;
BAHLBURO, 1985). These rocks were interpreted by
ENGEL etal. (1983b) as tectonic slices, but new out-
crops revealed that at least the Silurian rocks are
olistoliths embedded in a mixed siliciclastic/carbo-
nate mass flow sequence (BIRK~LBACHetal., 1988)
probably of Lower Devonian age.
In most of the area the lowest stratigraphic mem-
ber of the nappe is a sequence of black, grey and
red shales and radiolarian cherts, with a primary
thickness varying between 5 and 50m. This con-
densed pelagic sequence has yielded conodonts of
Emsian, Eifelian, Givetian and Frasnian ages (BIR-
r~LBACH etal., 1988; D6RR, 1986). Locally; inter-
calations of effusive MOR-like metabasalt were
dated as Eitelian by conodonts at one locality in
the overlying radiolarian chert. The pelagics are
conformably overlain by the Giessen Greywacke,
whose deposition started within the Frasnian and
continued at least into the early Famennian (see
below). The Giessen Nappe sequence as a whole
can be interpreted as a segment of Rhenohercynian
ocean floor covered by early flysch, which was
subsequently obducted and thrust over the par-
autochthon to the northwest.
The rocks of the Giessen Nappe were deformed
by a major phase of folding with associated cleav-
age and faulting, although subsequent weak crenu-
lation cleavage fabrics are locally present. Facing
and vergence of tight to close mesoscopic folds
gently inclined to the southeast indicate tectonic
transport northwestwards. The folding preceded
formation of the Giessen Nappe as the boundary
thrust transects the early structures of both the
allochthon and parautochthon.
The Giessen Greywackes are divided into two
geographical groups separated by a thrust (Fig. 2).
The northern group of sandstones is largely the
right way-up, whereas the southern group is predo-
minantly inverted suggesting the presence of a
major fold nappe within the flysch sequence. The
two portions of the Giessen Greywacke (Fig. 2)
also differ in their sedimentolog~ heavy mineral
assemblages and age (BIRm~LBACH etal., 1986;
D6RR, 1986). The northern part consists of classical
turbidites with well-developed Tabc-beds and fre-
quent shaly interbeds. It is in this northern part
that the stratigraphy of Devonian pelites and over-
lying Upper Devonian greywackes has been estab-
lished. In the southern part the pelitic rocks at the
base of the nappe were never dated. The grey-
wackes yielded detrital conodonts of Frasnian age
(ENGEL etal., I983b), which are consistent with the
age of the northern greywackes, but might well
have been reworked from older rocks. At one loca-
lity; the southern Giessen Greywacke yielded plant
fragments which suggest a Lower Carboniferous
age (HEm~INGSEN, 1962). The southern greywackes
are more proximal in their sedimentological charac-
ter (bed thicknesses up to 10m, frequent pebbles)
and reflect deposition from high-density turbidity
currents. In the southern suite, the heavy mineral
assemblages are dominated by garnet, some zircon,
minor rutile and tourmaline, whereas that of the
northern suite is characterized by zircon, rutile and
tourmaline (DrRr,, 1986).
 Provenanceand depositionalenvironmentofRhenohercyniansynorogenicgreywackes 615

M a j o r o x i d e s i n wt.%, t r a c e e l e m e n t s i n ppm. L O l , loss-on-ignition (I020=C)

Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
F i e l d no GN-I GN-3 GN-6 GN-8 GN-16 GN-13 GN-18 GN-23 GN-28 GN-55

Si02 67 21 74;48 76.10 73.01 70.29 72.26 73 22 66.55 72.04 76.~6

TiO= 0 85 0.81 0.73 0.65 0.79 0.74 0 76 0.86 0 71 0.63
A220~ 15 2b 11.70 10.18 12.66 14.37 12.76 13 II 14.47 12 89 11.56
FezO=i 6 06 5.05 5.73 4.36 5.06 4.34 3 16 5.28 4 31 3.63
MnO 0 03 0.03 0.06 0.04 0.04 0.05 0 03 0.05 0 04 0.02
MgO 2 16 1.08 I.i0 1.60 1.64 1.94 1 20 2.72 1 63 1.19
CaO 0 49 0.81 0.98 0.41 0.37 0.67 0.54 1.13 0 76 0.30
Na20 2.39 1.45 1.26 3.42 2.13 2.83 2.73 2.67 2.72 2.80
K~O 2.31 1.78 1.30 1.53 2.44 2.05 2.16 2.53 2.15 1.46
P~O= 0.16 0.15 0.14 0.1b 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.16 0.16 0.15
LOI 3.21 2.55 2.62 2.12 3.20 2.25 2.37 3.13 2.40 1.95
Total 100.12 99.90 100.19 99.94 100.48 100.06 99.44 99,55 99.81 100.15

Ba 525 394 337 469 538 832 748 737 638 413
Ce (XRF 56 85 90 33 63 67 62 55 46 35
Cr 114 109 60 119 98 116 114 114 88 71
Cu 39 7 8 6 24 12 i0 30 14 II
Ga 23 12 10 ii 14 15 17 18 15 15
La (XRF 38 34 38 12 34 16 34 33 17 30
Nb 10 ii I0 5 8 7 8 ii 7 7
Nd (XRF 34 31 39 29 31 17 40 27 31 30
Ni 54 30 29 50 49 47 30 51 40 33
P~ 13 17 12 Ii 19 17 15 13 21 9
Rb 98 73 56 57 91 66 76 87 72 57
Sr 104 85 82 201 142 309 211 253 281 151
V 147 91 90 93 123 ii0 103 139 !21 77
Y 27 31 30 23 23 21 22 22 21 24
Zn 56 85 66 339 93 66 59 58 66 152
Zr 211 452 458 179 187 259 226 217 204 200

Cs 5.5 3.3 3.3 2.4 5.1 3.2 4.7 5.9 4.5 2.4
H~ 5.7 13.2 13.6 5.2 5.5 7.6 6.5 5.8 5.6 5.6
Sc 14.5 I0. i 9.8 11.6 14.1 13.6 10.5 12.9 10.1 9.3
Ta 0.96 1.12 1.01 0.78 0.82 0.88 0.87 0.88 0.89 0.88
Th 9.8 11.5 10.9 6.6 8.5 10.5 8.4 8.85 8.3 7.4
U 3.65 2.93 2.69 2.83 2.68 2.89 2.46 2.96 2.80 2.54

La 30.65 32 64 33.76 26.41 29.24 20.35 32.92 30.45 24.19 26.88

C~ 60.57 65 6 6 68.75 51.07 57.09 49.94 56.23 57.11 49.85 52.02
Pr 7.19 7 76 7.96 5.76 6.82 3.77 6.69 6.24 4.52 5.98
Nd 29.0O 29 70 30.90 25.40 28.00 20.30 29.20 28.50 23.20 25.60
Sm 5.33 5 60 5.66 4.51 5.05 3.67 4.87 5.01 4.06 4.69
Eu 1.15 1 14 1.17 I.II 1.20 0..90 1.15 1.20 0.98 1.15
Gd 5.17 5.54 5.76 4.71 4.95 3.90 4.85 4.93 4.06 4.85
Dy 4.39 4.77 5.00 3.72 3.80 3.36 3.65 3.85 3.29 3.67
Ho 0.93 1.01 1.08 0.80 0.80 0.73 0.79 0.82 0.73 0.77
Er 2.73 3.06 3.23 2.03 2.19 2.21 2.15 2.25 2.03 2.13
YD 2.49 2.81 2.98 2.02 2.09 2.06 2.09 2.14 1.93 1.92
Lu 0.40 O.46 0.48 0.34 0.34 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.33 0.32

Table 2. Representative chemical analyses of greywackes from the northern (samples 1-5) and southern (samples 6-10)
parts of the Giessen Nappe, German~

Petrographic features
The Giessen nappe sandstones are predominant-
ly greywackes, although about one third of those
studied are subgreywackes with < 15 % matrix. The
rocks are not significantly altered and the frame-
work grains are clearly defined. The sandstones are
poorly sorted with grains generally showing a ran-
dom size distribution. Maximum grain-sizes are in
the medium sand to granule range, whereas mean
616 P.A. FLOYDet al.

f
.4
/

/:
,4

JJ
o o ~ ..

~)Giessen
Netzlar

i'.
4-

. ~~176 !iii!!~; ..... .:::::i ""

:~: .' .::: . . . . :-. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

o 9 ............ ::: ..~.iiiii!iii!ii. .:iii

OBut
~5km
zbacl,~:""I~
!!iii!iiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiii
?iiiiili??ii?ii?????i?iiii~iiiiiiiiiii! ??!!!?i??i!ii?!!:::!::::::

Fig. 2. Geological map of the Giessen area with the position of the Giessen Nappe and the relative distribution of the
northern and southern groups.

grain sizes are an order of magnitude smaller in the rounded; a rumor proportion of monocrystalline
fine sand and very fine sand range. Modal grain grains are euhedral crystals.
sizes of some of the northern group sandstones are Sedimentary fabrics were variously affected by
in the coarse silt range. Grains are angular to well deformation, although in some samples there is
 Provenance and depositional environmentof Rhenohercyniansynorogenicgreywackes 617

Giessen-nappe to be a product of grain rotation. A degree of syn-

tectonic remobilization and crystallization is indi-
cated by white mica and chlorite growth within
?Lower Carboniferous anastomosing pressure solution laminae. Atypical
greywackes for ancient greywackes, and despite cleavage fabric
development, the origin of the matrix is not parti-
Upper Devonian cularly obscure. For example, fine silt components
greywackes similar to the framework are identifiable and finer
undifferentiated phyllosilicates constitute a rela-
tively minor proportion of the matrix. Metamor-
olistostromes, ?MJddle Devonian phic crystallization of this material did not general-
('Lindener Mark" PalaeozoJcs) ly produce a strong preferred orientation fabric.
The sandstone frameworks comprise quartz (Q),
Upper Emsian throug~ feldspar (F) and lithic (L) grains in approximately
Lower Frasn~an pelagic equal proportions by the Gazzi-Dickinson method.
shales and cr~erts Quartz is present as monocrystalline (Qm) and
polycrystalline (Qp) grains. Monocrystalline
quartz, small proportions of which are euhedral
MOR-type-Basalts crystals or show magmatic resorption features, are
generally clear and commonly show mild strain ex-
tinction. Polycrystalline grains include strained
monocrystalline quartz composed of sub-grains,
fragments derived from quartz schist, vein quartz
Autochthonous and chert. Acid plagioclase (P) and subordinate
K-feldspar (K) constitute the feldspar component.
Upper Devonian & The lithic grains (in order of abundance) are meta-
Lower Carboniferous morphic (Lm), volcanic (Lv) and sedimentary (Ls).
Metamorphic grains comprise metasediments
(slate; chlorite-, biotite-, muscovite-schists and
Middle Devonian quartzite) and low grade greenschist facies metavol-
canics, together with rare amphibole schists of
mafic rock parentage. Apart from a variety of
microlitic and feldspar-phyric basalts, rhyolites and
Lower Devonian sparce intermediate rocks, the volcanic lithics (Lv)
include quartz and feldspar porphyries and rare
fine-grained granite. Sedimentary lithics are mud-
Lower Devonian through stone, siltstone and fine sandstone, including
Lower Carboniferous slates orthoquartzite.
('S(Jdliche Randfazies')

Framework mode analysis

O samples
The division of the Giessen Greywacke into dis-
tinct northern and southern groups, which is based
on different field characteristics and on the heavy
little microscopic evidence of tectonic effects. The mineral contents of the sandstone (D6RI~, 1986;
framework grains of many samples show a crude BIRKELBACHet al., 1988), is only partially reflected
preferred orientation broadly parallel to cleavage in their modal compositions. Recalculated modal
with discontinuous widely spaced pressure-sol- means and Gazzi-Dickinson (G-D) parameters (in
ution laminae developed around larger grains. In brackets) are Q37(45)F32(32)L31(23) for the northern
some subgreywackes, grains h a v e modified group and Q32(38)F29(31)L39(31) for the southern
pressure-solution contacts and quartz grains show group. The compact fields of variation described by
undulose extinction indicative of ductile strain. The one standard deviation on the Q-F-L diagram
intragranular strain is less significant in the grey- (Fig. 3 a) indicates that these means reflect composi-
wackes and any preferred grain orientation appears tional differences. The northern group is relatively
618 P.A. FLOYDet al.

a) 0 b) Op

,. ., ,,

F B'asemenl Uplift L Lvm Lsm

c) Lm d) Lm

itte~
/ . . . . . / \ \. "\ \Continental

Lv Ls Lv Ls
Fig. 3. Plot of Giessen greywacke data from the northern (N) and southern (S) groups in various discriminatory frame-
work mode diagrams.
(a) Q-F-L provenance discrimination diagram (DicKiNSON etal., 1983) with plots of Gazzi-Dickinson means and
standard deviation polygons.
(b) Discrimination of fields of active tectonic sources DICKINSON8r SUCZI~K,1979) with Gazzi-Dickinson total lithics
and polycrystalline grains.
(c) Fields of variation linking lithic composition, provenance and depositional setting (INGERSOLL& SUCZ~X,1979).
(d) Lm-Lv-Ls plots for whole of Giessen Nappe with means and standard deviation polygons recorded by traditional
method (dashed lines) and Gazzi-Dickinson method (solid lines).

enriched in quartz, whereas the southern group is
relatively enriched in lithics with constant feldspar
contents.
Comparison of modal and G-D means for the
northern group indicates that there is minimal feld-
spar, but significant proportions of quartz grains
>0.031ram within the fine-grained lithics, The
proportion of quartz available from its source is
greater than for the southern group which has a
higher lithic content. This suggests that the higher
quartz content was not released by breakdown of
lithic components during transport of a sand of
similar composition to the southern greywackes.
The higher quartz and lower lithics of the northern
group seems not to be simply a function of its
more distal character and finer grain-size, but re-
 Provenance and &positional environment of Rhenohercyniansynorogenicgreywackes 619

flects a different input into the depositional basin. or more generally represent the dilution effect of
However, partial grain populations of the frame- fine matrix by rock clasts and quartz. A phyllosili-
works show little difference between the composi- cate-dominated matrix will have relatively high
tions of the group. abundances of LIL elements which are progressively
Considering polycrystalline quartz with the reduced as the proportion of clasts is increased.
lithic component, the mean (G-D) proportions of Thus, broadly linear correlations within the Gies-
all lithics for north and south are Qp4Lvm39Lsms7 sen greywackes between A1203-K20 and K20-Rb
and Qp4Lvm37Lsms9 respectively (Fig. 3b). Mean involving dominantly fine matrix-associated el-
proportions of labile lithic components only; are ements reflect the dilution effect of clasts, within a
for the north group: Lv25Ls12Lm63 and for the matrix of essentially similar composition through-
south group: LvzsLsTLm6s(Fig. 3c). The only dif- out the sample set.
ference of note is the higher relative proportion of Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show a
sedimentary lithics in the northern group. Thus, al- characteristic increase in the light REE and the
though the absolute proportion of lithics is higher presence of a small negative Eu anomaly; not dissi-
in the southern group, the relative proportions of milar to the North American Shale Composite
fine lithic subpopulations remains similar through (NASC) and characteristic of continental-derived
the sequence. The plot of the labile lithics for the rocks.
entire Giessen Nappe (Fig. 3d) by both traditional The two groups of turbidites cannot be distin-
and G-D methods is identical. Thus, although guished in a satisfactory manner using the chemical
quartz and feldspar phenocrysts from the volcanics, data, as absolute abundances of elements are broad-
and coarser quartz from metamorphics and sedi- ly similar within the groups when the standard de-
ments are counted with the monocrystalline frame- viation about the mean is taken into account. Small
work in the G-D method, each lithic category is re- differences are mainly governed by plagioclase
duced by the same proportion as the modal abun- which influences the Sr content, and the heavy
dance, an indication that framework modes are in- mineral assemblage which influences the Zr, Y, Ti
dependent of grain-size. and heavy REE content. For example, the northern
No major changes in the provenance and the group invariably has a Sr content of <140ppm
sand dispersal system for both groups is indicated. which largely reflects the abundance of low-Sr
Fine-grained metamorphic rocks and a variety of albite-oligoclase clasts relative to the southern
volcanic rocks supplied the bulk of lithic compo- group. The influence of minor heavy minerals is
nents. The amount of volcanics is less than half the demonstrated by the often high abundances of Zr,
metamorphics in the lithic subpopulations and the Y and Ti in some of the northern group turbidites
phenocryst contribution from source volcanics to reflecting the observed presence of zircon and
the main monocrystalline populations is not signi- futile (DbRR, 1986).
ficantly different. There is rio direct evidence of a
coarse metamorphic source for these grains. The
larger proportion of quartz in the northern group Provenance and tectonic discrimination
without a concomittant proportional increase of
(a) Framework mode evidence
feldspar, that might accompany the dissection of a
The use of discriminatory ternary plots of flame-
plutonic basement, suggests an additional contribu-
work modes to distinguish between different plate
tion from quartzose sediment or sedimentary
tectonic settings is fairly well established (DICKIN-
rocks.
SON & SUCZEK, 1979; I~GERSOLL& S~SCZEK,1979).
Most studies confirm the validity of the diagrams
Geochemical characteristics
(e. g. MAYNARDet al., 1982; GeRGrN & INGERSOLL,
Most of the greywackes are quartz-intermediate, 1986), although they have limitations which can
carbonate-free sandstones with SiO2 between 70- lead to erroneous determinations of tectonic
76wt.%, a Na20/K20 ratio of about 1.0-1.5 and setting. A fundamental assumption is that the tec-
low CaO and MgO. Variability and correlations tonics controlling the development of a deposi-
within trace element abundances, such as the asso- tional basin are intimately associated with both the
ciation of Ti, V, Nb, Zr, Y and the heavy REE, nature and the availability of lithologies within the
largely reflect the presence of heavy mineral acces- source region(s) of that basin, if this relationship
sories. On the other hand, large-ion lithophile holds true, the tectonic setting of a particular basin
(LIL) elements, like K, Rb, Ba, Sr, are mainly gov- may be classified by the sediment type(s) derived
erned by either the distribution of clastic feldspar from the adjacent source region. However, this as-
620 P.A. FLOYDet al.
sumption may not always be valid. VELBEL(1985)
has demonstrated how the source tectonics and
depositional basin tectonics can be dissociated by
sedimentary or tectonic transport across tectonic
boundaries. MACK (1984) has recognized ~error po-
pulations~,, such as those sands deposited in the
transition between tectonic regimes or those sub-
ject to depositional reworking, where the simple
relationship described above may break down. A
further way in which the above relationship may be
invalidated is if extensive post-depositional modifi-
cation has occurred (SHAIL& FLOYD, 1988). How-
ever, the petrographic study indicates that dia-
genetic, low-grade metamorphic and microstruc-
tural features have not modified the Giessen Grey-
wacke framework modes to any significant extent.
The validity of the fundamental relationship be-
tween source and depositional basin in our study
will be assessed later.
The Giessen Greywacke framework mode data
plot near the centre of a Q-F-L diagram (Fig. 3a)
essentially within the deeply eroded or dissected
magmatic arc field, although there is some overlap
into the recycled orogen field. The Qp-Lvm-Lsm
diagram (Fig. 3b) utilizes lithic subpopulations to
differentiate the active tectonic regimes and also in-
dicates an arc source for the Giessen Greywackes.
In addition, mean values of monocrystalline grains
from three samples selected for K-feldspar staining
are Qm51P40K9 typical for sandstones of magmatic
arc provenance (DIcKInSON & SUCZEK, 1979). The
presence of a high proportion of metasedimen-
tary lithics indicates the continental nature of the
arc source. The Lm-Lv-Ls diagram (INGERSOLL&
SUCZEK, 1979) is probably the least reliable indi-
cator of tectonic setting. The Giessen Greywacke
means with their high metamorphic lithic compo-
nent not only fall outside the arc related fields, but
also outside the fields of other active settings
(Fig. 3c).
(b) Geochemical evidence
Elements which are present in stable clasts and
minerals released by erosion and rapidly transport-
ed to the site of deposition via turbidity currents
may provide evidence of the chemical nature of the
source material. Most high field strength (HFS)
and transition trace elements, together with Th and
the REE are quantitatively transported from source
to sink and in conjunction with framework mode
analysis (see above) can be used to identify the
source region (TAYLOR& McL~NNAN, 1981).
The combination of low transition trace element
abundances and high LIL contents for the Giessen
Greywackes suggest they were derived from a pre-
cursor of broadly acidic composition. The distribu-
tion of Ni-TiO2 and K-Rb indicate derivation of the
greywackes from a mainly acidic magmatic source
(Fig. 4), even though sedimentary and metamorphic
clasts are observed to be present. An acidic source
of generally upper continental crust composition is
suggested by chondrite-normalized REE patterns
which are similar to the North American Shale
Composite (NASC) that is considered typical of
materials derived from continental sources (Fig. 5).
The similarity of the REE patterns for the northern
and southern greywacke groups implies that their
sources were essentially the same in bulk composi-
tion. Differences in the absolute abundances of the
REE reflect the relative proportions of fine-grained
matrix present.
As a source region for both greywacke groups,
typical continental crust, largely composed of
acidic magmatic rocks, is a broad generalization.
Multi-element diagrams (Fig. 6) normalized against
an average upper continental crust composition
(from TAYLO~& McLENNAN, 1981) show a number
of additional chemical features as indicated below.
In this diagram elements have been listed from
right to left in order of increasing ocean residence
times, such that elements to the right are generally
stable (low residence time) and quantitatively trans-
ferred to the depositional area, whereas those to
the left are generally mobilized during weathering
(long residence time) and then selectively adsorbed
from solution at the site of deposition. The stable
element group from Th to Yb (Fig. 6) indicates
that the source was of generally upper continental
crust composition, although the major negative
Nb-Ta anomaly is indicative of acidic-intermediate
rocks in magmatic arcs. This chemical signature
implies that the source was dominated by acidic
rocks characteristic of a magmatic arc, which is
supported by the framework mode data. The other
major feature shown by Fig. 6 is a large V-Cr-Ni
positive anomaly (coupled with a minor Ti anom-
aly) which is indicative of a mafic component in the
greywackes that could correspond to some of the
observed metamorphic and volcanic clasts. Al-
though these transition trace elements are also
characteristic of a argillaceous sediments, the pro-
gressive relative depletion of the soluble element
group (Ba to K), also concentrated in such rocks,
diminishes the relative importance of this clast type
to the overall chemistr~
The bulk chemistry o~ the greywackes suggests
that the source was predominantly composed of
acidic arc rocks with a minor input of mafic ma-
terial. A simple two-component mixing model
 Provenance and depositional environment of Rhenohercynian synorogenic greywackes 621

2 /
IMMATURESEDIMENTS /

/-

H-

-IJ-

,, o~~ :,

..~ MATURE SEDIMENTS

~3
l r r I 1 1 I 1
~3 pprn NI :2~3~

- // /'~
/
/ ,., ~ /
- /~q(~ /
/ x /
/. ~x /
/ a /
/ mx /

l- _ I ~~ /

- "-~s- - ~ acid+infermediafe
Y ~ magmaficprecursors

O,::L
I I [ I I I I I / I I I l I I I I
l~ pprn RB
Fig. 4. Chemical identification of the Giessen Greywacke as derived from magmatic precursors of predominantly acidic
composition. TiO2-Ni diagram trends and fields from FLOXD et al. (1989); K-Rb diagram from FLOXO & L~I~IDG~ (in
press). Crosses = northern group; squares = southern group.
622 R A. FLOYDet al.

i=..
-.<:-:-_. ;::
t-
o
e-
6N-1 Northern group
(M

5N-10 ~, Southern group

-I .I I
0
_J
9 5N'2BJ

U
OJ
I
L
Ik
I I
6
Z
I
E
~
I
D
U]
I
~
[9
I
.0
~-
I
~
0
I
0
I
I
L
W
I
E
~-
I
.0
>-
D
I
I

Fig. 5. Rare earth element plot showing the similarity of chondrite-normalized patterns for selected greywacke samples
from both the northern and southern groups. A small negative Eu anomaly occurs with Eu/En* = 0.65-0.80.

(between acidic and mafic end-members) does not, known how applicable the Australian data set
however, entirely accomodate the data scatter and a might be to other areas, both groups of Giessen
third Cr-bearing component, such as shale, is re- greywackes plot in the continental island arc field
quired (Fig. 7). (Fig. 8) and accordingly indicate a dissected mag-
Recent work by BHATIA & CROOK (1986) on matic arc as the source terrain (BHATIA& CROOK,
Australian Palaeozoic greywackes suggests that 1986, Table 1). A similar conclusion was reached
stable trace elements can be used to discriminate using normalized multi-element patterns (Fig. 6)
their tectonic environment. Although it is not yet and framework mode analysis (Fig. 3).

Northern group
w,--

Southern group

/7'~.

. 9 /\ ..,J \
r-

8
k~
-f
E

.1 l l l l l I l l l l l l l l I I I I I I
.a L >- I11 U s
~ om o z ~ z I ~ k- N A O UI H
Fig. 6. Multi-element plot normalized against an average upper continental crust composition (TAYLOR& MCLENNAN,
1985) for samples from the Giessen Greywacke. Both the northern and southern groups have similar patterns reflecting
comparable source compositions characterized by marked negative Nb-Ta and positive V-Cr-Ni anomalies.
 Provenance and depositional environment of Rhenohercynian synorogenic greywackes 623

clastic input has a dissected magmatic arc pro-

Ulfrabasic venance, but fresh volcanics could also suggest
penecontemporaneous arc activi~ This observation
could imply the availability of both high- and low-
level arc material during erosion in a similar way to
the well-established N W Pacific arcs mentioned
above.
\
n, However, it has been proposed that the Rheno-
U- I~ Share hercynian belt had only a short rifting and ocean-
E_ Basatt ization history prior to closure (Fm~Nrd~, 1989a,b).
&
n

L.A

.~//...~Upper continental crust

Acidic arc
I I I I I I I l
p#m SC/TH 5

Fig. 7. Element ratio diagram depicting possible source

,>end-member,< compositions (averages from literature)
and their proportional influence on the compositional
range within the Giessen Greywackes. Crosses = north-
ern group; squares = southern group.

Discussion of the tectonic setting

The petrographic and chemical discrimination
diagrams both suggest that the source for the Gies- TH SC
sen Greywackes was dominated by acidic rocks
characteristic of a continental island arc. The chem- TH
istry also suggests minor source contributions from
mafic and argillaceous components. Although the
petrographic discrimination diagrams generally in-
dicate a dissected continental magmatic arc source,
the data sets (Figs. 3a and b) also plot towards the
recycled orogen field, whereas the data in Fig. 3c
plots outside all of the presently identified fields.
These discrepancies could be a function of a
greater metamorphic lithic and quartzose source
input than would normally be expected from a
continental island arc. This does not necessarily in-
validate such a tectonic setting. The Q-F-L and
Qp-Lvm-Lsm diagrams for the Giessen data show
similarities with Tertiary and Holocene forearc
sands in the N W Pacific (GERGEN • INGERSOLL,
1986). The closest comparison may be made with
examples from the Astoria Fan, situated in a sub- SC ZR*~ ,i
duction setting near the Washington-Oregon
Fig. 8. Chemical discrimination of the tectonic environ-
Trench, and the Gulf of Alaska, between the Aleu- ment for the Giessen Greywackes. Fields (after BHATIA&
tian Trench and the Queen Charlotte Transform. CROOK, 1986): A = oceanic island arc; B = continental
These areas have mixed source terranes of plutonic, island arc; C = active continental margin; D = passive
metamorphic and volcanic rocks involving trans- margin. Crosses = northern group; squares = southern
port across terrane boundaries. The earliest Giessen group.
624 E A. FLOYDet al.
If this is the case, then the development of a major
arc system related to southwards directed subduc-
tion of Rhenohercynian oceanic crust is unlikely. A
possible explanation for such a strong continental
arc provenance is that it was inherited from an
earlier (late Precambrian) crustal generation and
accretion event unrelated to contemporaneous Her-
cynian activity. Also, the Giessen greywackes are
petrographically and geochemically very similar to
the Gramscatho Group greywackes of comparable
age in S.W. England (FLOYD & L e w R m c r , 1987;
FLOYD et al., in press). This implies that the deposi-
tional and tectonic environment, as well as their
provenance, could have been of the same general
nature along the length of the Rhenohercynian
zone during the Devonian.
Conclusions
1. The Giessen Greywackes can be divided into
two geographically distinct tectonic units (northern
and southern groups), which display various sedi-
mentological, heavy mineral, petrographic and
minor chemical differences that allows them to be
distinguished. The northern group features fine-
grained distal turbidites with relatively high quartz
contents and higher proportions of sedimentary
clasts in the lithic component, abundant detrital
zircon, and low Sr coupled with high Zr and Y
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