The Late Devonian Variscan suture of the Iberian Massif: A correlation of high-pressure belts in NW and SW Iberia

•A new allochthonous complex has been identified in the Iberian Massif.•An intra-Gondwana suture is defined by allochthonous units of the Variscan belt.•Late Devonian continental subduction systems of Iberia are structural correlatives.

Correlation of three high-P and low to intermediate-T belts from NW and SW Iberia allows recognition of a single terrane affected by Late Devonian continental subduction during the Variscan orogeny. This terrane is located in the lower part of the allochthonous complexes of NW Iberia, and in a lower position in most of the Ossa Morena Zone that, therefore, emerges as another allochthonous complex of Iberia. The Ossa Morena Complex together with the allochthonous complexes of NW Iberia form a huge rootless nappe that was transported towards the Variscan foreland during final assembly of Pangea.

Graphical abstractDownload full-size image