Petrology, Thermochronology and Structural Evolution of Metamorphic-Core Complex

Dear Colleagues,

Metamorphic core complexes (MCCs) are crustal-scale dome-shaped structures associated with the extensional or diapiric structural exhumation of mid- to lower-crustal rocks on continental and oceanic settings. These rocks have been exhumed through the brittle–ductile transition by a crustal-scale normal-sense brittle–ductile shear zones and/or discrete brittle detachment faults and structurally juxtaposed against upper-crustal rocks with markedly different tectonothermal and/or metamorphic histories. While the initiation and geometric evolution of MCCs remain controversial, they have been documented in a plethora of continental and oceanic tectonic settings, ranging from syn- and post-orogenic in nature in collisional belts, back-arc, rifted and hyperextended continental margins, to oceanic spreading centers. Lower-plate rocks in metamorphic core complexes are often characterized by intense ductile and brittle deformation, progressive exhumation, metamorphism, and magmatism. Brittle faulting, magmatism, and the dynamic thermal evolution in metamorphic core complex can also lead to hydrothermal fluid circulation and ore deposit formation. Novel and integrated approaches, including field-based, analytical, numerical, and analogue models, are shedding new light on the geometric, mechanical, temporal, and thermal evolution of MCCs. The main subjects of this Special Issue include but are not limited to:

1. Geometric and structural evolution of the MCC footwall and hanging wall;
2. Petrological and hydrothermal or metasomatic evolution MCCs;
3. Mechanical and thermal evolution of MCCs;
4. Pressure–Temperature evolution of footwall and hanging wall rocks;
5. Syn- and post-tectonic magmatism and MCCs;
6. Ore formation and deposition in MCCs and detachments.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Konstantinos Soukis
Dr. Christina Stouraiti
Prof. Dr. Daniel Stockli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• metamorphic core complex
• detachment
• mylonite
• low-T thermochronology
• syn-extensional intrusives
• fluid circulation
• ore formation