in the submillimeter to millimeter range are: quartz microcline plagioclase (albite/oligoclase) biotite – also as porphyroclasts, with inclusions of zircon muscovite green hornblende – also as porphyroclasts Accessory minerals are sphene zircon myrmekite The melanocratic facies contains many mafic enclaves and schlieren. The white and the pink facies are a more fine-grained variation of the melanocratic facies, they also lack hornblende and sphene. Their mutual colour difference is due to the coloration of the feldspars, the pink facies most likely being richer in hematite. The leucocratic facies can be regarded as a strongly sheared leucogranite that is very rich in muscovite. The granite therefore possesses a pronounced gradient in deformation and in mineral alignment as one progresses from west to east. Approaching the S-C mylonitic, sinistral Estivaux Fault the little deformed melanocratic facies yields to the strongly deformed leucocratic facies, at the same time the contents in microaplite (representing a residual melt) descend from 20% to merely 5%. The shear sense in the Estivaux granite is uniformly sinistral. Structural organisation The entire Thiviers-Payzac Unit is intensively folded. Similar as in the Génis Unit the folding is tight and upright and the wavelength even somewhat shorter (100 to 125 metres, but can increase in the south to about 200 metres). The more or less horizontal fold axes strike WNW-ESE (N 110, west of the Loyre river). The stratification (S0) is steeply inclined (around 80 °) and north or south dipping. Parallel to the folds axial plane a recognisable schistosity (S1) has developed underlined by newly formed minerals. The tight folding is overprinted by a second fold generation of open folds that have generated a very long wavelength (about 2 kilometers) series of synclines and anticlines. The axis of the first syncline is situated right next to the South Limousin Fault, followed by the first anticline underneath Saint-Mesmin. The second, central syncline is outlined by the trace of the Puy-des-Âges quartzite and the second anticline runs through Saint-Cyr-les-Champagnes. A crenulation lineation has also formed which trends more or less parallel to the folds. Newly formed metamorphic minerals also align themselves preferably in this direction. After reaching the Loyre river the Thiviers-Payzac unit makes a definitive right-hand turn and all the structural elements swing into the NW-SE direction (N 135). This new trend is followed till the unit finally disappears just east of Brive. Metamorphism The Thiviers-Payzac Unit experienced regional metamorphism under low