MAJOR THRUSTING IN THE GRANITE AND THE ROLE OF LATE INTRUSIONS IN EXPOSING THE DEEPER PARTS OF THE CENTRAL BLOCK OF THE GALWAY GRANITE BATHOLITH

Abstract:New geological mapping in the centre of the Galway Granite at Camus, Co. Galway, reveals a major north—south thrust zone, the Furnace Thrust, typically dipping east at 35°, which thrust up westward deeper-crystallised granite, including two minor late intrusions, on top of a higher-level granite footwall. Al-in-hornblende geobarometry of the footwall and the hanging wall confirms the thrusting. At 2km east of the thrust, both the footwall and the hanging wall of the thrust sheet were later substantially further uplifted by the steeper Shannawona Fault. At 6km east of this fault, the granite contains post-400—395Ma, pre-370—378Ma thrusts that moved south-eastward, so a major block of the deep ∼400—395Ma Megacrystic Granite has been squeezed upward. This granite still farther east was later uplifted more by the steep Shannapheasteen Fault, which is connected with the late (?380Ma) central intrusion of the Shannapheasteen Granite, which pushed its roof upward. The uplift of the Central Block with its deeply crystallised Megacrystic Granite was therefore the result of thrusts and faults connected in a complex way with the coeval intrusive pressures of the late emplacement of the Shannapheasteen Granite and six other late granites. All seven late granites are confined to the Central Block and, having low densities, exerted protracted buoyancy uplift forces. This modifies the previous partly correct, but mechanically difficult, explanation for the origin of the Central Block of the Galway Batholith.