Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) (2004) 93:23–43
DOI 10.1007/s00531-003-0363-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
S. Siegesmund · A. Steenken · M. G. L
pez de Luchi ·
K. Wemmer · A. Hoffmann · S. Mosch
The Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith (Pampean Ranges, Argentina):
structural evidences, emplacement and timing of the intrusion
Received: 28 June 2002 / Accepted: 15 September 2003 / Published online: 19 December 2003

Springer-Verlag 2003
Abstract Within the southern part of the Sierra Pam-
peanas (the Sierra de San Luis, Argentina), a series of
extensive intrusive bodies are regarded to post-date the
Famatinian cycle but were emplaced during the Achalian,
a period of heterogeneous deformation along crustal scale
fault zones. The largest of those is the Las Chacras-
Potrerillos batholith that is situated at the northern end of
the transpressive, sinistral Guzmn shear zone. This
composite pluton exhibits three sub-domains that com-
prise two granitoid sub-units each: The southern Potreril-
los stock (muscovite-bearing red granite and biotite-
bearing red granite) and the central (biotite porphyritic
granite and giant porphyritic granite) and northern domain
(equigranular granite and porphyritic granite) of the Las
Chacras stock. The crystallisation ages of the biotite
porphyritic granite is around 381 Ma (U/Pb on zircons
and Pb/Pb on sphene), while the host rock was already
cooled below 350 C at 420 Ma. Thermal modelling
approaches favour a pulsed intrusion with a duration of
1.5 Ma. The emplacement was followed by rapid cooling
below the muscovite cooling temperature. Biotite cooling
ages in different sub-units reflect either a long-lasting
cooling history of approximately 30 Ma (which is
supported by the modelling) or a reheating effect at
around 350 Ma. Devonian-age determinations on the fault
rocks and granitoids point to a syn-tectonic emplacement
of the batholith. The pluton is interpreted to be positioned
at the crossover of sinistral shear zones. The origin of this
NNE directed extensional setting in a transpressive
regime seems to be related to the transfer of displacement
along a secondary set of NNW-trending sinistral faults.
The final emplacement is due to a subsequent ballooning
S. Siegesmund ()) · A. Steenken · K. Wemmer · A. Hoffmann ·
S. Mosch
Geoscience Centre Of The University Of Gttingen (GZG),
Goldschmidtstr. 3, 37077 Gttingen, Germany
e-mail: ssieges@gwdg.de
M. G. Lpez de Luchi
Instituto De Geocronologia Y Geologia Isotopica (Ingeis),
Ciudad Universitaria,
1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
of the batholith following the direction of space creation.
This model is based on the relative timing of the
emplacement sequence and macroscopically visible pla-
nar fabrics in the field as well as magnetic fabric data.
Our results indicate that the emplacement is syn-kine-
matic with respect to the Achalian deformation event.
Keywords Pre-Andean margin of Gondwana · Granite
emplacement · Geochronology · Thermal modelling ·
Sierras Pampeanas Orientales
Introduction
The Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith, located within the
Sierra de San Luis, is one of the largest granite massifs in
the southern Sierras Pampeanas. A NNE–SSW-trending
basement block mostly of Early Paleozoic metamorphic
rocks together with widespread Paleozoic granite mag-
matism characterise the Sierra de San Luis, which is part
of the Sierras Pampeanas Orientales (Eastern Pampean
Ranges, Argentina). Crustal scale mylonitic belts subdi-
vide the basement of the Sierra de San Luis in different
basement domains. In the east, the sinistral transpression-
al Guzmn Shear zone separates the Conlara and Pringles
Metamorphic Complexes, whereas mylonitic rocks in the
west of the Pringles Metamorphic Complex mark the limit
against the Nogol Metamorphic Complex (Sims et al.
1998; Fig. 1). Granitoids of the Sierra de San Luis range
in composition from tonalites to silica-rich alkali-granites.
They can be considered broadly as stocks that are parallel
to the regional penetrative NNE foliation, sheet batholiths
that are parallel to inferred tectonic contacts between
different metamorphic complexes, and granitoids that
form ellipsoidal batholiths and that are discordant with
the regional foliation (Fig. 1). Available radiometric ages
are scarce, but imply that all the granites are younger than
480 Ma, whereas the youngest crystallisation ages are
Devonian. Cooling ages that are Carboniferous were
obtained for ellipsoidal batholiths (Linares and Gonzlez
1990).
24
Fig. 1 Schematic map showing
the Paleozoic units of the Sierra
de San Luis and location of the
studied batholith. Numbers in-
dicate the tonalitic to granitic
intrusions: 1 Las Cienaguitas, 2
La Cinaga granodiorite, 3 El
Pen granite, 4 La Tapera
granite, 5 Ro de La Carpa
granite, 6 Cruz de Caa granite,
7 Cerros Largos granite, 8 La
Capilla Granite, 9 Paso del Rey
(north), 10 Paso del Rey
(south), 11 Tamboreo tonalite/
granodiorite, 12 La Florida
granite, 13 San Miguel gran-
odiorite, 14 Ro Claro granite,
15 Gasparillo tonalite, 16 Las
Verbenas tonalite, and 17 Be-
mberg tonalite (modified after
von Gosen and Prozzi 1998;
Sims et al. 1997; Lpez de
Luchi et al. 2001)

The Sierras Pampeanas have been variously consid-
ered as an ensialic mobile belt (Dalla Salda 1987) or as
terranes that either accreted or developed on a long-lived
convergent continental margin.
Several hypotheses were proposed to explain the
timing and evolution of this margin. Previous ideas
considered that the Sierras Pampeanas belong to a major
collisional orogen, the late Proterozoic to Devonian
Orogenic Belts in which two main metamorphic and
igneous cycles were recognised: Pampean (580?–540 Ma)
and Famatinian (540–330 Ma) (Dalla Salda et al. 1998,
and references therein). On the basis of geochemical
characteristics and their relation to deformational events,
three main groups of granitoids were proposed: a pre-
Famatinian, a Famatinian, and a Late- to Post-Famatinian
group (Lpez de Luchi and Dalla Salda 1997; Lpez de
Luchi et al. 1998). Recently, it is accepted that in the
Eastern Pampean Ranges two main metamorphic and
igneous cycles can be identified Pampean (530?–510 Ma)
and Famatinian (490/470–330 Ma) (Stuart-Smith et al.
1999, and references therein). A third metamorphic and
igneous cycle, the Achalian, that roughly corresponds to
the late to post-Famatinian events, was defined by Sims et
al. (1997). During this cycle, voluminous Devonian
granites intruded the older rocks and are specially

developed in the Sierra de San Luis and Sierras de
Crdoba.
The Post Famatinian or Achalian (400–330 Ma) gran-
itoid group is well represented in the Sierra de San Luis
(Fig. 1) by plutons like La Escalerilla Granite (403 Ma,
zircon SHRIMP age, Sims et al. 1997) and by stocks and
discordant batholiths, i.e. the Batolito de Renca (Lpez de
Luchi 1986, 1993), San Jos del Morro (Lema 1980;
Quenardelle 1995), La Totora (Lpez de Luchi et al.
2002a, 2002b) and the Batolito de Las Chacras-Potrerillos
(Brogioni 1993; Lpez de Luchi et al. 2001).
The largest intrusion is the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
batholith that was originally considered as being formed
by three different porphyritic to equigranular monzo-
granitic/granodioritic plutons of roughly circular shape
aligned in a NW-SE trend (Brogioni 1992).
This work is focused mainly on mapping the pervasive
fabric developed in the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith
during the magmatic to high-temperature sub-solidus
deformation that accompanied and followed the emplace-
ment. The fabrics and the petrographic zoning of the
pluton were systematically mapped by combining field
data, mesoscopic and microscopic structures. The fabrics
were also studied by the low-field anisotropy of magnetic
susceptibility technique (AMS). The magnetic suscepti-
bility, the degree of magnetic anisotropy and the shapes of
the AMS fabric ellipsoids also define patterns that can be
used as a quantitative measure of rock fabrics.
Further constraints on the mode and timing of
emplacement of the sub-units that make up the batholith
were provided by the calculation of new mineral ages on
zircon, sphene, hornblende, biotite and muscovite. The
estimated time of cooling based on the new ages is
improved by using modelling approaches of the thermal
evolution in which the temperature degradation of
different intrusion geometry is simulated.
Geological setting
The Las Chacras-Potrerillos Batholith consists of differ-
ent sub-units which are exposed in an area of around
600 km2 with a NNW-trending major axis of 38 km and a
maximum width of 17 km in the central part (Fig. 2). Re-
mapping of the batholith indicated the existence of six
intrusive units including the granite of Potrerillos (Lpez
de Luchi et al. 2001). The macroscopic fabrics range from
medium-grained to coarse-grained, equigranular to por-
phyritic and vary from foliated to weakly foliated or
locally unfoliated. From north to south the main units
comprise a porphyritic granite (PG), an equigranular
granite (EG), a giant porphyritic granite (GPG), a biotite
porphyritic granite (BPG), and a red granite (RG) that
could be further subdivided in a biotite-bearing (BRG)
and a muscovite-bearing red granite (MRG). The modal
compositions of the entire batholith indicate monzo-
granitic, granodioritic and less abundant syenogranitic
compositions (see Table 2 of Lpez de Luchi et al. 2001).
Concerning the geochemistry all granitoids define an
25
alkalic series. The red granite (RG) is the more SiO2-rich
type and corresponds to a transitional series between
alkali and subalkalic granites (Lpez de Luchi et al.
2001). Aplites, microgranites and pegmatites intrude all
mentioned main units (Fig. 3c). Miarolitic milky white
quartz veins are associated with the RG or are located
inside the biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) close to the
contacts with the RG. Intrusive relations indicated that the
giant porphyritic granite (GPG) post-dated the biotite
porphyritic granite (BPG) because enclaves of the BPG
were found along the contacts between the two granites.
Aplitic dykes that are compositionally equivalent to the
equigranular granite (EG) were locally observed cutting
the contact between the GPG and the BPG, referring to
the EG as the latest intrusion.
The regional structure in the country rocks is a
pervasive NNE-trending foliation that is locally bent,
i.e. parallel to the circular contact of the batholith. On the
contrary, in those areas in which the contact is more
rectilinear, no deflection of the regional foliation is
observed.
The batholith intrudes two metamorphic complexes,
the Conlara to the east and the Pringles to the west
(Fig. 1). To the northeast, the Conlara metamorphic
complex is represented by biotite-schists and fine-grained
green phyllitic schists with some concordantly interlay-
ered leucosomes and scarce quartz-rich schists. Towards
the south they grade into biotite gneisses with concordant
quartz-plagioclase leucosomes. To the south of Las
Chacras and Potrerillos, medium grained gneisses with
either syn-kinematic and post-kinematic pegmatites or
irregular leucosomes are observed (Fig. 3a).
The Pringles complex to the west is represented by
foliated biotite gneisses with isoclinal folded leucosome
layers (Fig. 3b) and biotite-schists with scarce muscovite.
Towards the southwest, the schists become finer grained
and grade regionally into phyllites. Some quartzites and
tourmaline bearing biotite-muscovite schists occur. North
of La Huertita, biotite-bearing tonalitic orthogneisses
were observed.
Xenoliths of the country rock are scarce in the granites.
Metamorphic septa are present in the BPG and locally in
the PG. In the area along the river Lagunas Largas, a huge
septum (500 m in width and 400 m in length) is in contact
with the BPG and the GPG (Fig. 2). Close to the northeast
contact some lamprophyres together with porphyritic
quartz-diorites intrude the country rock along a systematic
WNW to NW trend. Similar dykes were mentioned to the
north of batholith at the contact to the El Hornito pluton
(Ortiz Surez et al. 1997) and in the country rock of the
Renca batholith (Lpez de Luchi 1986).
Lithology of the different sub-units
The biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) constitutes the most
extensive outcropping unit of the batholith (Fig. 2). It
extends like a half-moon, concave towards the NW.
Internal contacts vary from sharp against the giant
26
Fig. 2 Geologic map of the
Las-Chacras-Potrerillos batho-
lith based on field and satellite
image data. Indicated are the
sample localities and results of
K/Ar and U/Pb dating. Abbre-
viations of the different mag-
matic sub-units are as follows:
MRG muscovite bearing red
granite; BRG biotite bearing red
granite; BPG biotite porphyritic
granite; GPG giant porphyritic
granite; EG equigranular gran-
ite; and PG porphyritic granite

porphyritic granite (GPG) and the equigranular granite
(EG; Fig. 3d) to either sharp or gradual with the BRG and
the MRG. Contacts with the country rock are clear-cut
and delineate the central portion of the western and
eastern margins of the batholith. West of Cerro Colorado,
country rock septa from 10 up to 100 m in width are
interlayered with the BPG. K-feldspar megacrysts tend to
be smaller towards the outer borders of the pluton.
Outcrops of BPG close to Potrerillos show a high amount
of quartz and microcline (Fig. 3e).
The giant porphyric granite (GPG) crops out as a
semicircular stock with a sharp southern boundary against
the biotite bearing granite (BPG). In some areas the grain-
size of the K-feldspar megacrysts become gradually
smaller towards the BPG contact. Enclaves of the BPG
are found along the boundary between both granites.
Fig. 3 a Discordant pegmatitic dike within the Conlara metamor-
phic complex to the east of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith. b
Gneissic country rock with numerous concordant leucosome layers
that are partly isoclinally folded. c Steeply inclined aplitic dike
within the biotite porphyritic granite (BPG). d Contact between the
BPG and the equigranular granite (EG). The intrusion sequence of
both sub-units is evidenced by small dikes of the EG that invade the
BPG. The foliation of the BPG is well depicted by the tabular
arrangement of the porphyritic K-feldspars. e Alternating layers of
variable K-feldspar and quartz content close to Potrerillos. f
Microgranular enclave swarm within the granitoids of the BPG.
Long axes of the enclaves are parallel to the magmatic foliation. g
Magmatic to sub-solidus shear zone from the deformed NNE-
trending corridor at the border between the southern and central
domain of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith. h Large zoned K-
feldspar phenocryst with a well-developed albite rim within the
granitoids of the BPG
27
28
The biotite bearing red granite (BRG) constitutes the
main unit of the southern portion of the batholith. The
muscovite bearing red granite (MRG) is a distinct late-
stage sub-unit discontinuously exposed. Brogioni (1992)
considered that the BRG and the MRG have intruded at
the roof of the batholith prior to the biotite porphyritic
granite (BPG). No enclaves were found in the red granite
(RG). The contact of the RG with the country rock is
sharp and often cut by aplite dikes, quartz and tourmaline
veins and pegmatites.
Equigranular granites (EG) crop out in the northern
central area as a NNE-trending elongated unit. The
magmatic contact between the BPG and the EG is sharp
but irregular. Locally, both units are interlayered along
flat-lying surfaces. Dykes of the EG were observed in the
biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) and the (porphyritic
granite (PG). The EG partly comprises larger feldspar
phenocrysts at the contact to the BPG. Because of a high
variation in grain-sizes, the EG and the PG look similar at
the contact.
Two main groups of enclaves can be distinguished in
the batholith i) metamorphic xenoliths and ii) microgran-
ular enclaves of variable size, ranging from monzonites to
syenites. They appear either isolated or as enclave swarms
in the biotite porphyritic granite (BPG), the giant
porphyritic granite (GPG) and the porphyritic granite
(PG) (Fig. 3f). In the western sector of the PG, fine-
grained syenitic stocks or syn-plutonic dykes occur
together with circular aplitic to pegmatitic dykes.
Microstructures
Microstructures in the batholith are mainly magmatic or
sub-magmatic with a local minor high to low temperature
solid-state overprint. Broadly, magmatic features are
characteristic for the equigranular granite (EG) and the
muscovite bearing red granite (MRG). In contrast,
structures of a sub-magmatic to high-temperature solid-
state overprint are observed in the biotite porphyritic
granite (BRG), the PG, the BPG and the GPG. This
deformation increases towards the contacts of each sub-
unit or to the country rock.
Magmatic microstructures are characterised either by a
porphyritic arrangement of large megacrysts in a ground-
mass of subhedral to anhedral crystals (biotite porphyritic
granite, giant porphyritic granite, porphyritic granite and
biotite bearing red granite; Fig. 4a) or by an equigranular
arrangement of crystals (equigranular granite and mus-
covite bearing red granite). A well-pronounced, macro-
scopic, shape-preferred orientation of minerals defines a
planar fabric in the porphyritic types (Fig. 4b). K-feldspar
megacrysts and plagioclase are lath shaped with euhedral
boundaries. Plagioclase laths own an elongation parallel
to the crystallographic <a>-axis, and the (010) plane is
indicated by albite twins. Karlsbad twinned K-feldspars
exhibit an internal zoning with albite rims (Fig. 3h).
Microstructures at high solid fraction, i.e. at the sub-
magmatic stage as defined by Bouchez et al. (1992) are
mainly evidenced by late-stage melt migration into
intracrystal fractures (Fig. 4c) or interstices. Microaplite
(quartz, plagioclase, microcline € myrmekite) could have
formed from the crystallisation of a residual melt that was
channelled and subsequently deformed along high-strain
zones. Microaplites form “pockets” of various shapes and
sizes filling interstices between larger grains or fractures
inside the feldspars (Fig. 4d). The microaplite pockets
have no particular shape, except for a slight shape-
preferred orientation parallel to the magmatic foliation.
They become more abundant and elongate toward the
pluton margins.
In most of the units, cracks of the fractured feldspar
grains are healed by quartz. In the giant porphyritic
granite (GPG), lobate myrmekites that grow out of thin
films of trapped melt protrude into megacrystic K-
feldspars (Fig. 4f). Locally, sub-magmatic fractures filled
with quartz and fine-grained plagioclase mosaics are
found towards the western margin of the GPG.
The coexistence of sub-magmatic and high tempera-
ture solid-state deformation within the marginal parts of
the biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) and the giant
porphyritic granite (GPG) implies a continuous deforma-
tion history.
High-temperature solid-state microstructures are iden-
tified towards the western border of the BPG and GPG.
They overprint the magmatic features but do not change
the overall pattern of the magmatic foliation. In quartz
grains deformation is indicated by a chessboard pattern of
sub-grains (Kruhl 1996) (Fig. 4e) and basal sub-grain
boundaries. Chessboard patterns mark the transition
between sub-magmatic and solid-state deformation
(Paterson et al. 1998). Grain boundary migration is
indicated by lobate boundaries between adjacent quartz
grains (Fig. 4e). Intracrystalline deformation in megacrys-
tic plagioclase is evidenced by sub-grains (Fig. 4h) and
glide twins. Myrmekitic plagioclase develops triple
junctions. This suggests that after the dynamic solid-state
deformation ceased, a period of static recrystallisation
Fig. 4 a Hand specimen of the giant porphyritic granite (GPG) cut
parallel to the lineation and perpendicular to the foliation. The
parallel arrangement of K-feldspar phenocrysts defines the mag-
matic foliation. b Shape-preferred orientation of a quartz interstitial
within the porphyritic plagioclase frame work (biotite-bearing red
granite, BRG). Width of view is about 12 mm. c Sub-magmatic
brittle deformation of plagioclase crystals (black arrows). The
intracrystalline fractures are filled with residual melts composed of
quartz and minor amounts of feldspar. Width of view is about
15 mm. d Trapped aplitic melts within the framework of
porphyritic feldspar crystals. Width of view is about 8 mm. e Core
and mantle structure of a quartz-aggregate. The core still preserves
the chessboard pattern, pointing to temperatures above the a/b
transition, while the marginal parts of the aggregate show intensive
grain boundary migration structures. Scale bar is about 400 mm. f
Myrmekite growth between adjacent plagioclase and K-feldspar
crystals. Width of view is about 2.4 mm. g Slightly deformed
biotite crystal. The replacement by chlorite along the biotite
schistosity denotes to low temperatures during the deformation.
Scale bar is about 100 m. h Ductile intracrystalline deformation
with sub-grain formation in a plagioclase crystal at high temper-
atures. Scale bar is about 50 m
29
30

took place at temperatures of at least 500–550 C. This is

the minimum temperature for the static recrystallisation
of plagioclase (Passchier and Trouw 1996). Recrystalli-
sation in fine-grained mosaics and sub-grains (up to
0.1 mm) are locally developed along microfractures.
Some sites close to the southwestern border of BPG are
characterised by S-C structures (Fig. 3g).
Lower-temperature solid-state microstructures are
most pronounced in the SE part of the pluton affecting
both BPG and BRG. They are characterised by lozenge-
shaped feldspar phenocrysts, quartz ribbons that wrap
around the megacrysts, elongated pockets of microaplite,
and abundant myrmekite and flame pertithes in the
interstitial microcline.
Quartz archives a continuous deformation history
exhibited by grain boundary migration recrystallisation,
chessboard patterns, sub-grain formation and bulging
(Fig. 4e). Plagioclase twinning is discontinuous and glide Fig. 5 Degree of anisotropy (P’) versus bulk susceptibility (Kvol)
twins are common. Crystals are in part bent and some from all measured core samples. Except from the MRG samples,
estimated bulk susceptibilities (Kvol >400
10-6 SI) denote to the
areas exhibit sub-grains. Microfractures are healed by presence of ferromagnetic (s.l.) fabric carriers. Furthermore, the
iron oxides, muscovite and quartz. Kinking in biotite is mapped petrological sub-units are well defined by their ranges in
associated with chlorite replacement (Fig. 4g). bulk susceptibility. Note that a few core samples do not fall inside
their assigned fields

Fabric determination northern domain comprising the granitoids of equigran-

Field measurements were combined with AMS studies in
10-6 SI appear. The
order to overcome the difficulties of fabric determination
in the field especially for those rocks of low fabric
10-6 SI denotes the increased ore content. Based on
intensity. The anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility
(AMS) was estimated at a limited number of 49 sample
localities.
For the AMS measurement core samples were drilled
10-6 SI up to 13,600
10-6 SI, whereas the
from oriented hand specimen. For the measurement, a
minimum of 4 cores of 40 mm in diameter and a height of
10-6 SI. The red
87% from the diameter per sample locality were used.
The experimental procedure was carried out with a
Kappabridge KLY-2 (manufactured by Geofyzika, Brno)
working at 4
10-4 T and 920 Hz. The detection limit of GPG yield P’ values up to 1.45.
this device is 4
10-8 SI. Each sample was measured in 15 Empirical data indicate that low bulk susceptibilities
directions including the repeated measurement of 6
10-6 SI) together with a total degree of
directions allowing a statistical analysis of the results.
For tensor calculation the ‘ani20bas’ software of Jelinek
(1977) was applied.
Recent publications (e.g., Hrouda and Lanza 1989;
Brun et al. 1990; Bouchez 1997; Siegesmund and Becker
2000; Becker et al. 2000; Steenken et al. 2000; Hutton
and Siegesmund 2001) have shown that the AMS
provides a powerful and fast technique for the fabric
determination in granitoids. Besides the planar fabric that
also is frequently distinguishable in the field, the Kmax
axis of the magnetic fabric ellipsoid yields information on
the linear fabric, either corresponding to the magmatic
flow direction or some late-stage sub-solidus constric-
tional deformation.
Magnetic parameters like Kvol and P’ were determined
in each of the sub-units. Values for Kvol range from
200
10-6 SI to 25,000
10-6 SI in the main batholith. The In the equigranular granitoids of the southern domain the
petrological zoning is well reflected (Fig. 5). In the
ular granite (EG) and porphyritic granite (PG), bulk
susceptibilities generally up to 2,000
exceptional occurrence of bulk susceptibilities up to
7,700
these values the EG and PG can be distinguished from
giant porphyritic granite (GPG) and biotite porphyritic
granite (BPG). The first cover a rather restricted range
from 9,000
granitoids of the BPG enclose the whole measured range
with maximum values up to 25,000
granite (RG) shows very low values. The degree of
anisotropy of the RG and the northern domain is generally
less than 1.12, whilst the granitoids of the BPG and the
(Kvol <450
anisotropy (P’) less than 1.2 could be assigned to
paramagnetic carriers (Rochette 1987). In the case of
the investigated rocks only the muscovite bearing red
granite (MRG) fulfils this criteria.
Directional data
Most of the units are characterised by a magmatic
foliation defined by the preferred orientation of primary
igneous minerals, predominantly K-feldspar megacrys-
tals, plagioclase, amphibole and biotite. The foliation is
variably developed in the centre of the pluton and
increases in intensity towards the western margin of the
BPG and GPG. This intensification is locally accompa-
nied by a minor high-temperature sub-solidus overprint.
 31
Fig. 6 Pole distribution (equal
area projection, lower hemi-
sphere) of the magnetic fabric
axes (Kmax and Kmin) and the
macroscopic foliation poles for
the different domains of the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos batholith.
Magnetic foliation are in good
accordance with the macro-
scopically obtained foliations.
Differences in the pole distri-
bution density of the central
domain have to be assigned to
the limited number of samples
in the eastern sector. Note that
in order to show the consistency
of the magnetic fabric direc-
tions all measured core samples
are depicted

foliation is hardly to recognise apart from a shape-
preferred orientation of quartz aggregates frequently
noticed in the BRG (Fig. 4b).
A first survey on the planar magnetic fabric anisotropy
exhibits a marked conformity with the foliation obtained
from field measurements. Differences in the foliation pole
distributions have to be assigned to the low AMS sample
density (Fig. 6). The depicted foliation trajectories define
roughly three areas at the plutons scale (Fig. 7): NW,
central and SE. In the first a concentric funnel-shaped
foliation pattern is roughly concordant to the contact with
the country rock. The petrographic zoning of the different
magmatic sub-units (EG-PG and EG-BPG) is cross-cut by
the foliation.
In the central area the shape of the batholith is defined
by a NNW trend. A predominantly magmatic foliation
locally exhibits a minor high-temperature sub-solidus
overprint. This foliation is either parallel or cuts across
the internal contacts at different angles despite maintain-
ing a concordant relationship with the plutons western
margin in map view. At the eastern contact of the central
sector the magmatic foliation lies at moderate to high
angles with the contact and bends into parallelism when
traced towards the northernmost sector. The foliation is
steep to inward dipping except for some areas along the
eastern border where an outward dipping foliation is
observed. Country rock septa are parallel to both, the
foliation and the contacts (Fig. 7). In the southernmost
part of the central sector sharp inflections of the foliation
trajectories are locally associated with magmatic shear
zones.
In the SE sector most of the foliation planes are steeply
inclined. Patterns of the foliation trajectories are elliptic
with a major NNE axis. They tend to be parallel to the
external contact but cross-cut internal contacts. Within a
3 km wide NNE-trending belt along the border between
the central and southern domain the heterogeneous high to
low temperature solid-state deformation overprints the
magmatic fabrics and leads to a more penetrative NNE
fabric (Fig. 3g).
In the country rock along the western margin the
foliation is transposed or folded into parallelism with the
pluton several meters from the contact. In other areas the
foliation is crenulated with a lineation that is concordant
with the plutons margin. Along the eastern limit meta-
morphic foliations are bent, locally folded to parallelism
with the magmatic foliation.
Linear fabrics obtained from the AMS measurement
generally show a NNE-SSW trend (Fig. 8). This trend is
most conspicuous in the northern and southern domain,
where Kmax-axes fit along a NNE–SSW-striking great
circle whose maximum assignment indicates the preva-
lence of shallow plunging lineations. In contrast Kmax-
axes within the central part of the batholith exhibit a
scattered arrangement along a NE–SW-striking slightly
SE inclined great circle, depicting a broad variation from
shallowly to steeply plunging lineations (Fig. 8).
32
Fig. 7 Foliation trajectory map
of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
batholith. The constructed tra-
jectories are based on field
measurements and AMS data.
The dip and strike of represen-
tative AMS data are addition-
ally depicted. The interpreted
trajectories define three inter-
connected domes with inward
dipping foliation planes. The
foliation crosscuts internal con-
tacts but parallels the border to
the country rock. Note the
bending of the trajectories at the
border between the central and
southern domain where some
solid-state overprint of the
magmatic structures is estab-
lished

Geochronological investigations one amphibole (AH26) and muscovites from pegmatites

In order to constrain the timing of emplacement and the
subsequent cooling history, several mineral concentrates
of samples from different units of the Las Chacras-
Potrerillos batholith were investigated using U/Pb and K/
Ar techniques.
Zircons were separated from sample AH20 (southern
part of the biotite porphyritic granite) and sphene was
gained from sample AH26 (northern part of the giant
porphyritic granite) to reveal the high temperature history.
K/Ar cooling ages on biotites were obtained from the
same samples (AH20 and AH26) and from the southern
part of the equigranular granite (EG1). Muscovite and
biotite from a large pegmatite vein inside the giant
porphyritic granite (A29) were analysed. Additionally,
(AHX, northern part of the porphyritic granite and AH27,
Conlara metamorphic complex, 2 km to north of the
batholith) were investigated.
The four zircon fractions of AH20 (<80, 80–100, 100–
125 and 125–140 m) yield a U- and Pb.com-content
scattering from 581.96 to 875.66 ppm and 14.57 to
28.33 ppm, respectively.
The four data points plot on a discordia near the upper
intercept, which is 381.5€4.6 Ma (Fig. 9a). This age is
interpreted to be the age of emplacement and crystalli-
sation of the granite of the southern part of the biotite
porphyritic granite.
The alignment of fractions does not show the typical
array of decreasing size fractions yielding apparently

Fig. 8 Lineation map of the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos batholith.
The lineation in the northern
and southern domain has a pre-
dominately NNE–SSW trend
with variably shallow to mod-
erate plunges. A high variation
in trend and plunge of the
lineation is proved for the cen-
tral domain
younger ages. This may be due to the fact that the <80 m
fraction is contaminated by fragments of bigger crystals.
Sample AH26 (northern part of the giant porphyritic
granite) was chosen for U/Pb dating on sphene, because
these minerals typically yield concordant ages. The two
sphene fractions came out to be inverse discordant
plotting above the concordia. This can only be realised
by the loss of U, which is very unlikely in non-
metamorphic granitic rocks. Therefore, we conclude that
U loss had occurred during the dissolution of the
minerals. Ions of Ca and HF probably have reacted to
Ca-fluorides that have incorporated or fixed some of the
U. Consequently, the apparent U/Pb age has to be
rejected.
The corresponding Pb/Pb age is presented in Fig. 9b.
The derived Pb/Pb age of 379 Ma corresponds very well
33
to the above-mentioned U/Pb age of 381.5 Ma, but must
interpreted with great caution concerning the big analyt-
ical error of €69 Ma. In any case, the Pb/Pb analysis on
sphene and the U/Pb age on zircon point to a Mid
Devonian time for the intrusion and crystallisation of the
Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith.
The K/Ar ages on biotite and hornblende from samples
of the Las Chacras- Potrerillos batholith yielded the ages
given in Table 1.
The biotite ages are interpreted to reflect the time of
cooling below the closing temperature of 300€50 C
(Purdy and Jger 1976; McDougall and Harrison 1999).
Within limits of error, all ages indicate this cooling to
have taken place around 350 Ma. Sample AH 20 was
analysed in duplicate leading to a slightly higher value for
the second run.
34

The K/Ar age of the hornblende (AH26) points to the

Fig. 9 a Concordia diagram of zircon fractions from the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos batholith (sample AH20, southern part of the
biotite porphyritic granite; BPG). Lower intercept is set to 0 Ma. b
Isochron plot of 207Pb/206Pb ratios. Sphene fractions (<140 m and
>140 m) of sample AH26 (northern part of the giant porphyritic
granite; GPG)
same time, but yields astonishingly, the youngest age of
all. In general, the K/Ar closing temperature for amphi-
boles having undergone moderate cooling rates is
suggested to be 500€50 C (Hanson and Gast 1967;
Harrison 1981). Detailed investigations have shown that
the retentivity of amphiboles for 40Ar* can be affected by
numerous factors, e.g. structure and chemical composi-
tion of the minerals (see discussion in McDougall and
Harrison 1999). A significantly lowered retentivity
for 40Ar* and therefore a significantly lowered closing
temperature has been proved, e.g. by inclusions of
phyllosilicates (Onstott and Peacock 1987) or exsolution
of cummingtonite with hornblende (Harrison and Fitz
Gerald 1986).
Comparable cooling ages of around 350 Ma were
found in a large pegmatite (15 to 20 m wide) inside the
giant prophyritic granite (GPG). Surprisingly, the biotite
from this sample came out to be slightly older than the
muscovite (Table 1).
Additionally, three coarse grained samples of mus-
covite from pegmatites were analysed. AH27 was taken
from a pegmatitic vein within the Conlara Fm., approx-
imately 2 km from the northern contact to the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos batholith. AH24 was sampled in the
Conlara Complex, approximately 8 km south of the
batholith. The muscovite cooling ages of 422 and 430 Ma,
respectively, clearly demonstrate that cooling below the
closing temperature of 350€50 C (Purdy and Jger 1976)
in the neighbouring host rock had taken place about 40 to
50 Ma before the emplacement of the batholith. The
coarse grained muscovites of AHX (pegmatite within the
PG) yielded a cooling age of 381 Ma. This is within limits
of error the age of crystallisation derived by U/Pb
techniques for the biotite porphyritic granite.

Table 1 Analytical results of the K/Ar age determinations on muscovites, biotites and amphiboles of the granitic and pegmatitic rocks of
the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith and its gneissic country rocks
K/Ar–Age determinations, Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith
Ar-Isotopic abundance Spike-isotopic composition Decay constants (1/a) Potassium
40 40 40
Ar 99.6000% Ar 0.0099980% le 5.810E-11 K 0.011670%
38 38
Ar 0.0630% Ar 99.9890000% l b- 4.962E-10 K2O/K 0.8302
36 36
Ar 0.3370% Ar 0.0009998% Atomic weight (g/mol)
Standard temperature pressure (STP) l total 5.543E-10 Tot Ar 39.9477
40
0C 760 mm Hg Molar volume Ar 39.9624
Normal Atmosphere (DIN 1343) (ml) 22,413.8 Total K 39.1027
273.15 K 1013.25 mbar
40 40
Rock unit Sample mineral K2O (Wt%) Ar* (nl/g) Ar* (%) Age (Ma) 2s-Error 2s-Er-
STP (Ma) ror (%)
Biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) AH 20 Bi 9.40 117.94 97.42 352.3 7.4 2.1
Biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) AH 20 Bi 9.40 121.56 98.31 362.1 7.6 2.1
Conlara metamorphic complex AH 24 Mu 10.52 164.75 88.67 430.0 10.4 2.4
Giant prophyritic granite (GPG) AH 26 Hbl 1.38 16.87 98.13 345.2 11.5 3.3
Giant prophyritic granite (GPG) AH 26 Bi 8.73 108.69 99.62 349.8 7.0 2.0
Pegmatite in Conlara met. complex AH 27 Mu 10.33 158.17 86.59 421.5 9.9 2.4
Pegmatite in GPG A 29–01 Mu 10.97 135.78 97.42 348.0 7.5 2.2
Pegmatite in GPG A 29–01 Bi 9.54 121.31 98.14 356.6 7.4 2.1
Pegmatite in porphyritic granite (PG) AH X Mu 10.26 140.30 94.51 381.0 9.1 2.4
Equigranular granite (EG) EG 1 Bi 9.52 118.07 98.40 348.6 7.1 2.0
 35
Fig. 10 Results from the ther-
mal model of an assumed single
intrusion event for the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos batholith.
The main purpose of this sim-
ulation run is the estimation of
the magnitude of the magma
volume that is needed to sup-
port a cooling history of 30 Ma
years. a Vertical cross-section
along the long axis of the
modelled batholith. The thick-
ness of the laccolith shaped
body is 8 km. The white dashed
line marks the horizontal mon-
itoring plane of part b in this
figure. b Thermal development
of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
batholith. Ambient temperature
aggregate to 270 C in a depth
of 10 km. Spacing of isotherms
is made every 30 C. Note that
after 30 Ma (isotherm at
290 C) of cooling a tempera-
ture of about 300 C is still
archived in the core of the
batholith. The black line at
0.5 Ma indicates the monitored
profile for temperature degra-
dation in Fig. 11a

From this data, the following scenarios can be
discussed: Around 380 Ma ago the Las Chacras-Potreril-
los batholith has intruded its host rocks of which at least
the Conlara Complex was significantly cooler than
350 C. Rapid cooling of the batholith below 350 C is
indicated by the muscovites of sample AHX no matter
whether this pegmatite belongs to the intrusion itself or
was incorporated from the host rock and reset. This
cooling should have taken place within the limits of K/Ar
analyses (€9 Ma). It is suggested that the biotites
originally had their cooling below the closing temperature
only some Ma afterwards. Around 350 Ma ago the whole
batholith was reheated to temperatures high enough to
reset the biotites without opening the isotope system of
the muscovites. This event of heating was accompanied
by new pegmatitic intrusions documented in sample A
29–01. A further indication for isotope resetting in the
biotites is the scattering of analysis in sample AH20 in
which some of the biotites seem to have preserved older
age information.
A similar case is reported by Wemmer and Ahrendt
(1997). The basement rocks of the German Deep Drilling
Project (KTB) also had undergone early cooling (370 Ma
on muscovite) after HP/LT metamorphism and a stage of
reheating linked to HT/LP metamorphism that was
documented in resetting and scattering of the K/Ar ages
on biotites (320 to 300 Ma according to Wemmer and
Ahrendt 1997).
A second explanation of the set of data could be given
by different cooling rates in the northern and southern
part of the batholith. In this case the northern part would
have cooled below 350 C rapidly, whereas the largest
part (from sample EG 1 to the south) was kept hot for
36
Fig. 11 a Temperature development of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
batholith and its country rock for a single intrusion event. The black
dashed line marks the contact plane of the batholith. Maximum
temperatures are not archived due to the chosen time steps and grid
size of the simulation run. Temperatures in the country rock will be
affected up to a distance of 8 km. b T-t history for a single intrusion
event of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith. Temperatures are
read from the core of the pluton. Also shown are the results from
geochronological investigations. It is indicated that the whole range
of K/Ar-biotite cooling ages could fit the obtained cooling path,
while the K/Ar-hornblende could not be explained. Taking the
errors into account, muscovite ages also fit to the cooling path.
Note that the unexpected high muscovite age of 381 Ma was
obtained from a sample close to the northern margin of the pluton,
where the temperature decrease is even faster
another 30 Ma leading to cooling ages of around 350 Ma
for all investigated minerals.
Thermal modelling
One main task in order to establish an emplacement
model for the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith concerns
the geometry and consequently the magma volume of the
body. This problem may be solved by thermal modelling
using a finite-difference approximation of mutually
coupled equations describing the heat conduction in a
solid medium. Physical rock parameters were adjusted to
ambient P–T conditions, in particular the thermal con-
ductivity. For further details concerning the mathematical
and numerical procedures of the used simulation code
SHEMAT the reader is referred to Clauser (1988) and
Clauser and Villinger (1990). Despite the outlined limits
of static thermal modelling in an active tectonic system
(Kosakowsky et al. 1999; Siegesmund et al. 2002;
Steenken et al. 2002) it is assumed that a good approx-
imation on the magnitude of the batholith can be yielded.
Furthermore, the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith em-
placed during the Achalian event and therefore post-dates
the main Famatinian cycle in the Sierra de San Luis (Sims
et al. 1997). Therefore it is expected that changes in the
physical environment due to the vertical displacement
along regional fault lines or rapid exhumation rates are of
minor relevance.
Only little is known about the geological environment
at the emplacement time of the batholith. Detailed
investigations of the contact metamorphic aureole are
lacking. Therefore, constraints on the intrusion depth and
melt temperature are hardly to resolve. However, K-Ar
muscovite cooling ages on widespread pegmatites in the
country rocks of the batholith indicate that the basement
was cooled below 350€50 C prior to 420 Ma. Also, rare
K-Ar biotite cooling ages in the southern part of the Sierra
de San Luis suggest that cooling of the basement is
decoupled from the thermal degradation of the hot
magma. Hence, it has to be assumed that the batholith
invaded a crustal level cooler than 300 C. On the basis of
a surface heat flow of 70 mW/m2, as typically observed in
a post orogenic setting, and a radioactive heat production
rate of 2.0 W/m3 in the upper 15 km of the crust, a depth
for the 300 C isotherm of about 11 km is calculated. The
reduced heat flow at the Moho aggregates to 30 mW/m2
(Midgley and Blundell 1997).
For the environment of the model a 3D crustal section
through the continental crust of 30 km thickness is
selected. This section is divided in a migmatitic composed
upper and a gabbroic lower crusts, whose boundary is set
to a depth of 15 km. A thermal conductivity of 2.4 W/
m*K is assigned to the upper crust, whereas for the lower
crust a value of 2.5 W/m*K is assumed. The specific heat
capacity varies from 0.87 kJ/kg*K to 1.0 kJ/kg*K,
respectively (see Cermk et al. 1982). The radioactive
heat production rate for the lower crust is neglected. For a
first series of simulation runs three different shaped
magma chambers were embedded into this environment
ranging from a 4 km and 8 km thick laccolith shaped to a
more spherical shaped body with a vertical thickness of
16 km. The thermal conductivity of the granitoids is set to
2.85 W/m*K, while the radioactive heat production rate is
3.3 W/m3 (see Cermk et al. 1982). The emplacement
temperature of the melt is 750 C. For temperature
monitoring, a horizontal plane at a depth of 10 km is
chosen with ambient temperatures aggregating to 270 C.
It is assumed that the equatorial planes of the first two
models ascent up to a depth of 11 km. In the latter case of
the more spherical shaped body, the equatorial plane is
situated at a depth of 15 km whereas the highest part of
the intrusion is at a depth of 7 km. Consequently, the
recent outcrop width of the batholith represents a smaller
section of the actual diameter in depth. Support of the
geometry of the first two models is provided by structural
field observations and AMS data. Both indicate steeply
dipping foliations in the marginal areas of the pluton
 37
Fig. 12 Thermal simulation of
a more reasonable emplacement
scenario of the Las Chacras-
Potrerillos batholith. a From
field observations it is indicated
that the different stocks of the
pluton invade each other. Sharp
contacts suggest a stepped in-
trusion sequence that started
with the emplacement of the
Potrerillos Stock in the south,
followed by the intrusive units
of the central Las Chacras
batholith and ceased with the
ascent of the porphyritic granite
(PG) and the equigranular
granite (EG) in the northern
domain. b Thermal develop-
ment of the pulsed intrusion
sequence. Again, for monitor-
ing, a horizontal plane in a
depth of 10 km with ambient
temperatures of 270 C is de-
picted. The timing between the
different pulses is set to a
maximum value of 0.5 Ma, re-
sulting in a total intrusion his-
tory of 1.5 Ma. Contrasting to
the single intrusion model tem-
peratures clearly above 300 C
will be archived in the northern
part of the pluton. The black
lines (I and II) mark the two
temperature profiles of Fig. 13a

suggesting that the recent erosion level cuts the pluton
close to its equatorial plane. In the case of the latter model
an outward dip of the foliation might be expected.
In order to discriminate between the cooling history
and different geometry of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
batholith isotopic ages have to be considered. The thermal
degradation of the batholith is archived by zircon
crystallisation ages (382€5 Ma) as well as hornblende
(345€12 Ma) and mica cooling ages. Muscovites exhibit
ages of around 381 and 348 Ma, respectively, whereas
biotite ages cover a range from 362€8 Ma within the
granitoids of Las Chacras up to 349 €7 Ma within the
equigranular granite (EG). Those ages indicate a cooling
interval of approximately 30 Ma from 750 down to
300€50 C.
From the first laccolith geometry of a vertical diameter
of 4 km, it is apparent that the provided magma volume is
not sufficient to support the obtained cooling interval.
Temperatures attain ambient temperatures within a period
of 5 Ma years. In contrast, the 8-km-thick laccolith is able
to maintain temperatures above 300 C in the centre for a
period of 30 Ma (Fig. 10). However, the asymptotic T-t
history indicates a rapid temperature decrease during the
first 5 Ma years of cooling, when a temperature within the
upper limit of the biotite closure range is already reached.
Final temperature degradation takes place at significantly
reduced cooling rates (Fig. 11a) allowing the whole
spectrum of K/Ar-biotite cooling ages to fit the cooling
path. Within error, muscovite cooling ages will also be
supported. The problem arises from the obtained horn-
blende cooling age at 345€12 Ma. The assigned closure
temperature of 550€50 C prevents the fit on the
modelled cooling path, even when the error is taken in
account (Fig. 11b).
In a second simulation step the geometry and intrusion
sequence is adapted to a geological more reasonable
scenario. From field observations it is apparent that the
different sub-domains invade each other pointing to a
polyphase intrusion starting with the red granite (RG) in
the SE that is followed by the main batholith comprising
38

the biotite porphyritic granite (BPG) and giant porphyritic

granite (GPG). Due to the sharp contact between these
two units it is assumed that the emplacement happened in
two steps also. Finally, the northwestern domain consist-
ing of porphyritic granite (PG) and equigranular granite
(EG) intrudes the main batholith in the north. Magmatic
contacts and the lack of a dominating solid-state defor-
mation suggest that the pulses were juxtaposed prior to
final solidification. From the first simulation run, it is
indicated that near solidus temperatures will be reached
rapidly within 0.5 Ma. In order to show the maximum
difference between a single intrusion and a poly-phase
intrusion sequence this value is adopted for the timing of
the different magma pulses (Fig. 12). Similarly to the
modelled single intrusion temperatures above 300 C will
be archived during the total cooling interval. The
temperature development after 0.5 Ma years of cooling
exhibits a much more abrupt chilling of temperatures
along the plutons border. This trend is adapted to a
smoother one during continued cooling (Fig. 13a). A
striking difference concerns the cooling history of the EG
and PG sub-units. These units are assumed to emplace
1.5 Ma after the first intrusion event in a yet already
tempered basement. As a result the bend of the asymptotic
T-t history is shifted towards higher temperatures of about
360 C, slightly outside the biotite closure temperature
range (Fig. 13b). From this it is suggested that a pulsed
intrusion history is a reasonable model to explain the wide
gap between the zircon crystallisation age and the range
of K/Ar-biotite cooling ages.
Furthermore, the possible temperature effects in the
country rocks of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith
should be regarded. Due to the chosen grid size of the
model, temperatures at the contact plane of the batholith
are difficult to estimate. According to the thumb rule of Fig. 13 a Temperature profiles through the main Las Chacras
Jger (1959), a contact peak temperature of 510 C could batholith (I) and the Northern domain (II). Temperatures will be
be predicted. Since information on the contact metamor- elevated up to a distance of 10 km from the contact. Note that after
phism is lacking, this value could not be verified. Thermal 30 Ma temperatures of the northern domain are slightly higher than
in the profile cross cutting the central Las Chacras batholith. II A
models on different intrusive bodies have shown that the weak bent (black arrow) denotes the interleave of the two migrating
contact temperature is not affected by different emplace- temperature fronts due to the stepped intrusion sequence. b T-t
ment scenarios but by the temperature of the magma and history in the core of the central domain (black dots) and the
the host rock (Steenken et al. 2002). However the northern domain (grey dots). Opposing to the cooling path of the
extension of the contact aureole will change. In case of central part of the Las Chacras batholith the temperatures of the
northern domain remain above 20 C higher during the prolonged
the modelled single intrusion, a temperature shift of at final temperature degradation. Likewise to the single intrusion
least 10 C has to be expected up to a distance of 8 km model the K/Ar-hornblende cooling age falls out of the modelled
from the contact (Fig. 10). In contrast, the pulsed temperature range
intrusion sequence will variably increase the extent of
the contact aureole depending on the location of temper-
ature monitoring (Fig. 13a). Temperatures between 300 Discussion on the emplacement
and 400 C could be expected in both scenarios within a
border zone of 6 km. In order to give a brief idea on the In order to address the more qualitative problem of the
influence of contact metamorphism around the batholith, far-field controls on the emplacement of the Las Chacras-
the temperature progression within the geological envi- Potrerillos pluton, the regional framework has to be
ronment along the northeast of the Las Chacras-Potreril- considered. A main set of NNW- and NNE-trending
los batholith is depicted (Fig. 14). ductile shear zones of Cambrian, Ordovician and Devo-
nian ages are recognised in the Eastern Sierras Pam-
peanas.
Mid-Paleozoic resumption of convergence on the
western margin of Gondwana is evidenced by a wide-

Fig. 14 Influence of contact metamorphism in ambient country
rock of the pulsed Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith. Two sets of
isotherms are depicted showing the extension of the contact aureole
and temperature development inside the batholith 1.5 Ma (grey
solid lines) and 5 Ma (white dashed lines) after the emplacement of
the first magma batch
spread compressive deformation in the Sierras Pampeanas
(Sims et al. 1997). This Devonian cycle is referred to as
the Achalian and would be defined by the collision of the
Chilenia terrane with the Precordillera terrane (Sims et al.
1998; Astini 1996). Deformation is partitioned between
domains of west-directed thrusting and strike-slip with
extension beyond the western Sierras Pampeanas (Sims et
al. 1998; Astini 1996).
In the Sierras de Crdoba Sims et al. (1998) reported
Ar/Ar mica ages ranging from 358 to 451 Ma for the
NNW-trending Guamanes shear zone. In addition, a
Devonian reactivation of the Ordovician Los Tfflneles
shear zone (Martino et al. 2002) was proposed by Rapela
et al. (1998) based on K-Ar amphibole ages of 365 to
373 Ma. In the Sierras de Comechingones Devonian ages
are also assigned to the NW-trending Las Lajas shear
zone and to Las Albahacas shear zone (Sims et al. 1997).
The NW oriented shear zones are also well documented
by strong linear trends of moderate to highly magnetic,
strike-parallel anomalies (Sims et al. 1997). In the Sierra
de San Luis (Fig. 1) the NNE shear zone along the eastern
contact of La Escalerilla pluton (Ar/Ar muscovite age of
374.7€0.5 Ma) and the NNE Guzmn shear zone (Ar/Ar
muscovite ages of 375–351 Ma) were described (Sims et
al. 1997). WNW-ESE-oriented lamprophyric dykes and
39
tourmaline-epidote veins appear in the basement of
Conlara metamorphic complex (Rosello et al. 1999).
Therefore, these spatial and temporal evidences argue
for a fault controlled ascent of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
pluton at the cross-over of NNW- and NNE-trending
conjugate shear zones as result of the kinematic transition
from contractional to transcurrent tectonics. We suggest
that the two shear zones acted together to create some
kind of conduits in a transtensional setting that allowed
the ascent of melts from the magma source region.
Evidences of a deep seated structure come from the
widespread association of all the Devonian batholiths
with lamprophyre magmas, the source of which can be
traced into an enriched mantle (Lpez de Luchi 1996).
Timing of the sub-unit intrusion
Field observation and structural data suggest that the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos Batholith is a pulsed, composite
intrusion (Fig. 15). The relative timing of the different
batches is established on the base of contact relationships
and the occurrence of granitoid enclaves. Those evidences
are weak for the southern domain. The red granite (RG)
exhibits transitional or sharp contacts against the biotite
porphyritic granite (BPG). The observation of enclaves
that might belong to the RG within the granitoids of BPG
(Brogioni 1992) leads to the assumption that the southern
domain pre-dates the emplacement of the central domain.
Anyhow, the occurrence of BPG enclaves within the giant
porphyritic granite (GPG) and the fact that dykes of
equigranular granite (EG) penetrate all sub-units of the
central and northern domain, denote to a clear intrusion
sequence, starting with biotite porphyritic granite (BPG)
that is followed by giant prophyritic granite (GPG),
porphyritic granite (PG) and finally equigranular granite
(EG). However, the relative timing of the intrusion of PG
with respect to BPG is not clearly defined. The contact
plane between the BPG and EG is shallowly dipping as
indicated in some creeks, where in the lowermost levels
the BPG underlies the EG. Hence, the equigranular
granite (EG) appears as a cover intrusion that runs over
the granitoids of the central domain.
Due to the complex processes in the formation of
magmatic fabrics, the question arises at which stage
between magma ascent and final emplacement the fabric
pattern was developed. From all available data it is
apparent that the foliation post-dates the compositional
zoning and as a consequence thereof it was formed during
a late stage of the emplacement history. The foliation is
decoupled from the NNE-trending regional fabrics in the
country rock. Anyhow, information on the structural
development in the country rock with respect to the
emplacement of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith is
scarce. On the basis of satellite images a narrow margin of
approximately 2 km around the pluton is characterised by
a deflected strike of the foliation (Brogioni 1992) leading
to its parallelism to the plutons border. From thermal
modelling it seems likely that this ductile deflection is the
40
Fig. 15 An illustration showing
the syn-tectonic emplacement
of the Las Chacras-Potrerillos
batholith. a Schematic block
diagrams to show the proposed
major controls on ascent and
emplacement. b Schematic de-
piction of the major tectonic
strike slip faults connected with
the ‘space-creation’ for the
magma ascent. The develop-
ment of a secondary set of
NNW-trending sinistral strike
slip faults leads to the counter
clockwise step over of the sin-
istral displacement along the
Ro Guzmn shear zone. As a
consequence thereof, NNE-di-
rected crustal extension will
allow the formation of magma
conduits and subsequent magma
accommodation in some kind of
pull-apart structure

result of the temperature input of the pluton. The lack of
contact metamorphism is supported by equivalent tem-
peratures.
Fabric development in the granitoids must be analysed
on the light of the interaction between the internal
magmatic processes and the regional stress field. If the
results indicate that fabrics were acquired at the sub-
magmatic stage it comes out that the meaning of
lineations as indicators of magma flow remains question-
able. A lineation pattern in equigranular granite (EG) that
is almost devoid of any near-solidus or sub-solidus
overprint, roughly parallels the lineation pattern in the
adjacent porphyritic granite (PG). Therefore, as in EG
lineations would reflect the magmatic flow direction.
Similarly, sub-parallel shallowly to moderate NNE
plunging lineations in the SE sector might be related to
the magmatic flow direction (Fig. 6)
The regional tectonics combined with the sinistral
displacement along the Guzmn shear zone argue for a
fault controlled emplacement in a transpressional setting.
The development of a secondary set of NNW-trending
sinistral shear zones leads to the counter-clockwise off-set
of the Guzmn shear zone (Fig. 15). In fact, no
continuation of this lineament to the north of the Las
Chacras-Potrerillos batholith has been reported yet. It
might be conceivable that sinistral displacement to the
north of the pluton is accommodated by the mylonitic
shear zones to the west along the border between the
Nogol and Pringles Complexes.
Continuation of the NNE-directed sinistral transpres-
sive displacement is accompanied by some high angular
extension along the NNW-trending displacement transfer
faults. As a consequence thereof crustal weakening will
allow the creation of conduits for the individual magma
ascents and subsequent magma accommodation in kind of
a ‘pull-apart’ structure. Hence, the observed lineation
pattern of the southern and northern domain is assumed to
reflect the NNE opening of the ‘pull-apart’ structure
either as the response to the magmatic flow direction or to
the regional constrictional strain field. This model is also
supported by the eccentrical foliation patterns of the
northern and southern domain with NNE-trending long
axes (Fig. 7). It is suggested that the final inflation in
some kind of a ballooning process due to the buoyancy of
the huge magma volume of the sub-domains follows the
direction of space creation (e.g. Hutton and Siegesmund
2001).

Additionally, foliation trajectories in the northern
sector of the central domain appear to be depressed by
the late-stage emplacement of equigranular granite and
porphyritic granite (Fig. 7). Equally the lineation pattern
is not related to the supposed direction of inflation. The
lack of any pervasive solid-state overprint in the northern
sector of this domain denotes to the sub-magmatic stage
for this deformation.
A late stage overprint of the (sub-)magmatic structures
by high to low temperature solid-state deformational
features is recorded along the NNE-trending belt sepa-
rating the central and southern domain. Narrow (1 cm to
10 m) shear zones are the latest-formed ductile structures
in the western part of BPG and adjacent BRG. They are
moderately to steeply dipping and NNE to NNW striking.
Both, sinistral and dextral strike-slip zones are common.
This suggests a continuous transition from the homoge-
neous (sub-)magmatic to the more heterogeneous sub-
solidus deformation at even low temperatures. This
testifies that lateral displacement along the regional shear
zones outlasted the emplacement of the Las Chacras-
Potrerillos batholith. This is in accordance with the
obtained age spectra for the activity of the Guzmn shear
zone (Sims et al. 1997).
Conclusion
The Devonian Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith was
emplaced during a critical time in the tectonic evolution
of the Sierra de San Luis. Available structural and
isotopic information indicate that magma ascent and
emplacement were controlled by a set of NNW and NNE-
trending shear zones.
The batholith is made up by six sub-units that represent
a pulsed magmatic intrusion. Microstructures in the
batholith are mainly magmatic or sub-magmatic with a
local minor high to low temperature solid-state overprint,
sub-magmatic to high-temperature solid-state microstruc-
tures are observed in biotite bearing red granite (BRG),
porphyritic granite (PG), biotite porphyritic granite (BPG)
and giant porphyritic granite (GPG). This deformation
increases towards the contacts of each sub-unit and to the
country rock. Most of the units are characterised by a
magmatic foliation defined by the preferred orientation of
primary igneous minerals. The foliation, which is variably
developed in the centre of the pluton, increases in
intensity towards the western margin of biotite porphyritic
granite (BPG) and giant porphyritic granite (GPG) and
post-dates the compositional zoning. Therefore foliation
development took place during a late stage in the
emplacement history. A first survey on the planar
magnetic fabric anisotropy exhibits a marked conformity
with foliation obtained from field measurements. Linear
fabrics obtained from the AMS measurements generally
show a NNE-SSW trend. This trend is most conspicuous
in the northern and southern domain, where Kmax-axes fit
along a NNE–SSW-striking great circle whose maximum
assignment indicates the prevalence of shallow plunging
41
lineations. In contrast, Kmax-axes within the central part of
the batholith exhibit a scattered arrangement along a NE–
SW-striking slightly SE inclined great circle, depicting a
broad variation from shallowly to steeply plunging
lineations.
The crystallisation age of the biotite porphyritic
granite is 382 Ma. Since the cooling ages of muscovite
from pegmatites are around 420 Ma in the Conlara
complex, it follows that the country rock was already
cooled around 350 C at the time of the intrusion of the
Las Chacras-Potrerillos batholith. Rapid cooling of the
batholith below 350 C is indicated by the muscovites of
sample AHX (around 381 Ma) that is confirmed by the
thermal modelling. Cooling ages on biotite that were
calculated for equigranular granite, biotite porphyritic
granite and giant porphyritic granite are around 350 Ma.
An approximation on the 3D extension of the magma
body is estimated by thermal modelling. This model is
based on the long lasting cooling interval of 30 Ma from
the zircon crystallisation down to the biotite closure
temperature and the assumption that changes in the
geological environment during the Devonian compression
are of minor importance. It is deduced that a batholith
with a vertical diameter of about 8 km could provide
sufficient heat to explain the ascertained biotite cooling
ages.
Space for the pluton and magma ascent must have
been controlled by a combination of processes: (1)
generation of fractures allowing the creation of magma
conduits and inflation, (2) the counter clockwise step-over
of sinistral displacement along the Guzmn shear zone by
a secondary set of NNW-trending strike-slip faults
forwards the magma accommodation in a NNE–SSW-
directed extensional setting, (3) subsequent ballooning of
the batholith follows the direction of space creation.
Our model for the emplacement also allows us to
envisage the possibility of underplating of the more mafic
magmas that are represented by the different enclaves and
would provide the heat source by extensive crustal
melting evidenced by this batholith. Our results indicate
that the emplacement is syn-kinematic as far as the
Devonian compression is concerned. Therefore, previous
ideas that considered the Devonian batholiths as post-
tectonic should be revisited.
Acknowledgments The authors are thankful to the DAAD –
ANTORCHAS program and the DFG (Si 438/16–1) for the
financial support. Fruitful discussion concerning the interpretation
of the ages with B. Hansen and S. Pawlig is highly acknowledged.
Preparation of thin sections and AMS samples was kindly
performed by E. Llambias and the laboratory staff at the INGEIS
(Buenos Aires). The paper has been improved by the helpful advice
of the reviewer H. Miller (Munich). A. St. thanks the DFG for the
research scholarship STE 1036/1–1.
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