A new sequence of Variscan deformations is proposed for the Palaeozoic rocks of the Central Pyrenees. The non-metamorphic units include south-directed thrust systems and related folds with a poorly developed cleavage. In the metamorphic units north-verging, recumbent to inclined folds (D1), associated with a subhorizontal to south dipping cleavage, are refolded by south-verging, upright to inclined folds (D2), with a subvertical to north-dipping axial plane cleavage, and offset by south-directed thrusts approximately coeval with D2. The structural evolution of these units suggests a subdivision of the Variscan Central Pyrenees into two different regions consistent with the zones known for a long time in the core of the Ibero-Armorican or Asturian arc (northern part of the Iberian Variscan Massif). The structure of the Pyrenean non-metamorphic units has foreland affinities and is comparable to that of the Cantabrian Zone, whereas the deformation observed in the Pyrenean metamorphic units is characteristic of the hinterland and is consistent with the features of the West Asturian–Leonese Zone or Central–Iberian Zone. Since the Pyrenean non-metamorphic units are located southwards of the metamorphic ones and the Variscan thrusts are south-directed, we tentatively correlate the Variscan Pyrenees with the northern branch of the Ibero-Armorican or Asturian arc.

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Resumen: Durante el Neoproterozoico tardío y el Paleozoico, el actual segmento argentino-chileno de la Cordillera de los Andes y desde finales del Paleozoico la Península Antártica, formaron parte del margen suroccidental de Gondwana. Durante este periodo de tiempo, a dicho margen se fue acrecionando un conjunto de fragmentos continentales de tamaño y aloctonía variable, dando lugar en el Paleozoico a seis orogenias de diferente extensión temporal y espacial: Pampeana (Ediacárico-Cámbrico temprano), Famatiniana (Ordovícico Medio-Silúrico), Chánica (Devónico Medio-Carbonífero temprano), Oclóyica (Ordovícico Medio-Devónico), Gondwánica (Devónico Medio-Pérmico medio) y Tabarin (Pérmico tardío-Triásico). Todas estas orogenias son colisionales, salvo la Tabarin y la Gondwánica al sur de los 38º S.Palabras clave: Evolución geodinámica, Paleozoico, Andes argentino-chilenos, Península Antártica, Orógeno Oclóyico, Orógeno Famatiniano, Orógeno Chánico, Orógeno Gondwánico, Orógeno Tabarin.Abstract: During the late Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic times, the Argentine-Chilean Andes, -and since the late Paleozoic the Antarctic Peninsula,- formed part of the southwestern margin of Gondwana. During this period of time, several continental fragments of variable extensión and allochtonie were successively accreted to that margin, resulted in six Paleozoic orogenies of different temporal and spatial extension: Pampean (Ediacaran-early Cambrian), Famatinian (Middle Ordovician-Silurian), Chanic (Middle Devonian-early Carboniferous), Ocloyic (Middle Ordovician-Devonian), Gondwanan (Middle Devonian-middle Permian) and Tabarin (late Permian-Triassic). All these orogenies had a collisional character, with the exception of the Tabarin and the Gondwanan south of 38º S.Keywords: Geodynamic evolution, Paleozoic, Argentine-Chilean Andes, Antarctic Peninsula, Ocloyic orogen, Famatinian orogen, Chanic orogen, Gondwanan orogen, Tabarin orogen.

During the late Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic times, the Southern Andes of Argentina and Chile (21º-55º S) formed part of the southwestern margin of Gondwana. During this period of time, a set of continental fragments of variable extent and allochtony was successively accreted to that margin, resulting in six Paleozoic orogenies of different temporal and spatial extension: Pampean (Ediacaran-early Cambrian), Famatinian (Middle Ordovician-Silurian), Ocloyic (Middle Ordovician-Devonian), Chanic (Middle Devonian-early Carboniferous), Gondwanan (Middle Devonian-middle Permian) and Tabarin (late Permian-Triassic). All these orogenies culminate with collisional events, with the exception of the Tabarin and a part of the Gondwanan orogenies that are subduction-related.

A new gravity survey (1164 gravity stations and 180 samples for density analysis) combined with two new geological cross sections has been carried out in a sector of the Central Pyrenees in order to improve the characterization of basement and cover architecture. From North to South, the study area comprises the southern half of the Axial Zone and the northernmost part of the South-Pyrenean Zone. New gravity data were combined with previous existing databases to obtain the Bouguer and residual anomaly maps of the study area. The two cross sections, oriented NNE–SSW, were built from field data and previous surficial and subsurface data and cross the La Maladeta plutonic complex. The residual anomaly map shows values ranging from −18 to 16 mGal and anomalies mainly oriented N120E. The two 2.5D modelled cross sections show similar observed gravity curves coinciding with similar interpreted structural architecture. Data show a gravity high oriented N120E coinciding with the Orri basement thrust sheet and an important gravity depression, with the same orientation, coinciding with the leading edge at depth of the Rialp basement thrust sheet and interpreted as linked to a large subsurface accumulation of Triassic evaporites. The volume at depth of the La Maladeta and Arties granites has been constrained through gravity modelling. This work highlights that the combination of structural geology and gravity modelling can help to determine the structural architecture of an orogen and localize accumulations of evaporites at depth.