LITHOS, cilt.41, ss.135-150, 1997 (SCI-Expanded)
Metagabbros in the core series of the Menderes Massif, for some time considered as post orogenic Miocene intrusives, revealed a strong poly-metamorphic history. The metagabbro bodies exhibit a pronounced zonation. Within their cores, igneous minerals are still preserved. Coronitic textures are interpreted as results of a high temperature, possibly granulitic overprint. The outer parts of the metagabbro bodies mostly consist of strongly to completely retrograded gamet-amphibo-lites, but occasionally contain relies of eclogites. Petrologic investigations confirmed a high pressure overprint and allowed preliminary P, T estimates (650 degrees C, equal to or greater than 1.3 GPa). The intensity of the HP metamorphism seems to rise from south to north within the Menderes basement, thus pointing to a northward subduction as the cause. The age of the high pressure event still awaits clarification. However, its very existence reanimates the question, how close the relationship between Menderes and the Cyclades evolution might have been. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.