SHRIMP U–Pb detrital zircon dating to check subdivisions in metamorphic complexes: a case of study in the Nevado–Filábride complex (Betic Cordillera, Spain)

U–Pb dating on inherited detrital zircons has been applied to obtain the probable maximum age of deposition of the detrital protolith of the Nevado–Filábride complex (Betic Cordillera, Spain). Five of eight samples correspond to the lower part of the lithologic sequence of this complex, where radiometric dating of metasediments has not been presented till the present. The youngest age populations in the majority of samples are Carboniferous. The estimation of the maximum age of deposition in the lower and upper units is 349.1 ± 1.6 and 334.6 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively. In addition, samples show common age populations at ca. 490–630 and ca. 910–1010 Ma. Observations agree with the Carboniferous to early Permian U–Pb ages previously obtained in orthogneisses levels which are situated in the upper part of the complex. Combination of the minimum age of deposition deducible from the orthogneisses studies and the maximum ages of deposition obtained from the detrital zircons of this work, allow establishing the deposition of de studied lithological succession comprised between ca. 282 and 349 Ma or a shorter period.