SR, ND A136 (1997) 99-122 HERCYNIAN GRANODIORITES AND MONZOGRANITES, MASSIF-CENTRAL, FRANCE

Variations in Sr, Nd and Pb initial isotope ratios of three large Herc ynian granitoid massifs of the French Massif Central are consistent wi th formation of the granitoids by partial melting of the lower crust. The nature of the lower crust of the Massif Central is known from the granulite-facies lower-crustal xenoliths brought to the surface by Ter tiary alkaline volcanics. Studies of the xenoliths have revealed that, during the Hercynian orogeny (360-290 Ma ago), the pre-existing metas edimentary and acid metaigneous lower crust was intruded by basic magm as, causing anatexis. The mantle-derived basic magmas mixed with melts from the pre-existing lower crust, forming the Hercynian granitoids. The peraluminous Gueret and Margeride granitoids, which are very simil ar in their major- and trace-element compositions, have Sr-87/Sr-86(i) (0.7089 to 0.7121) and epsilon Nd-i (-7.5 to -3.9) values which indic ate that they have a high sedimentary component, considered to have be en derived from lower-crustal metasedimentary rocks. However, the gran itoids differ significantly in their initial Pb isotope compositions, with the Gueret granodiorites being less radiogenic, indicating the pr esence of a slightly different crustal source component for the Gueret massif. In contrast, monzogranites from the Millevaches massif are le ss peraluminous and have higher La/Yb-N and lower Sr-87/Sr-86(i) value s (0.7064 to 0.7109). These features, together with the relatively rad iogenic Pb isotope compositions of the Millevaches granitoids, suggest derivation from the acid metaigneous lower crust.