Intrusion mechanisms in a turbidite sequence: the Voetspoor and Doros plutons in NW Namibia

Two syntectonic plutons of Cambrian age intruded Neoproterozoic metaturbidites in Namibia at the junction of the NS trending Kaoko and EW trending Damara belts. Sinistral transpression in the Kaoko Belt produced km-scale upright D1 folds overprinted by minor D2 folds. D3 is associated with N–S shortening in the Damara Belt. The plutons show two main pulses of intrusion: hornblende syenite intruded late during D1 or during D2 and biotite granite during D3. Each tectonic event produced a strain shadow defined by the shape of folds and the foliation trend around the plutons. The internal igneous fabric and the arrangement of wall rock xenoliths that locally make up 50% of the intrusion mass suggest that the plutons have a disk or wedge shape. A marginal shear zone indicates that one of the syenite intrusions descended during emplacement with respect to the wall rock. Emplacement is therefore inferred to be at least partly accommodated by descent of the intrusion floor. The biotite granite intruded into mega-strain shadows and tension gashes alongside and in the syenite during D3. The plutons show evidence of sinistral solid state rotation with respect to the wall rocks in response to D1–D2 transpression.