The Monian ‘Penmynydd Zone of Metamorphism’ in Llŷn, North Wales

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Abstract
In the Mona Complex of Llŷn, a narrow, steep belt of fine grained schists known as the Penmynydd Zone of Metamorphism lies between a deformed melange (Gwna Group) and a unit of gneisses and plutonic rocks (Sarn Complex). Rocks within and adjacent to this Zone are characterized by mylonitic textures. The highest grade Penmynydd rocks on Llŷn reached greenschist and, locally, glaucophanitic greenschist fades conditions. The schist belt is interpreted as a major shear zone formed as the Sarn Complex moved up against the lower grade Gwna Group. A previous interpretation of the schists (Shackleton 1956) as being the result of a prograde metamorphism from sub‐greenschist facies Gwna Group to anatectic granitic and gneissic rocks of the Sarn Complex is rejected.