Current palaeotectonic models see the Alps chiefly as a collisional orogen, ith the Southalpine retrobelt developed only as a post-collisional feature. New structural and geochronological data show, instead, that the continental margin of Africa-Adria was being structured as a doubly vergent orogen during subduction of Alpine Tethys in the Cretaceous, tens of million years before collision with Europe. Subduction is envisaged here to have nucleated in the latest Albian/Cenomanian within the attenuated Adriatic margin. Most continental slivers exhumed as eclogites in the xial part of the Cretaceous orogen contain gabbros and relics of HT/LP metamorphic rocks, indicating inheritance from Permian to Jurassic rifting. Cretaceous shortening in the Southalpine retrobelt is indicated by several lines of evidence, including orogen-derived turbidites and syn-sedimentary compressional activity since the Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous pseudotachylytes dating major S/SE verging thick-skinned thrusts, and widespread fold-and-thrust deformation cut by Eocene plutons and dikes

Zanchetta, S., Garzanti, E., Doglioni, C., Zanchi, A. (2012). The Alps in the Cretaceous: a doubly vergent pre-collisional orogen. TERRA NOVA, 24(5), 351-356 [10.1111/j.1365-3121.2012.01071.x].

The Alps in the Cretaceous: a doubly vergent pre-collisional orogen

ZANCHETTA, STEFANO;GARZANTI, EDUARDO;ZANCHI, ANDREA MARCO
2012

Abstract

Current palaeotectonic models see the Alps chiefly as a collisional orogen, ith the Southalpine retrobelt developed only as a post-collisional feature. New structural and geochronological data show, instead, that the continental margin of Africa-Adria was being structured as a doubly vergent orogen during subduction of Alpine Tethys in the Cretaceous, tens of million years before collision with Europe. Subduction is envisaged here to have nucleated in the latest Albian/Cenomanian within the attenuated Adriatic margin. Most continental slivers exhumed as eclogites in the xial part of the Cretaceous orogen contain gabbros and relics of HT/LP metamorphic rocks, indicating inheritance from Permian to Jurassic rifting. Cretaceous shortening in the Southalpine retrobelt is indicated by several lines of evidence, including orogen-derived turbidites and syn-sedimentary compressional activity since the Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous pseudotachylytes dating major S/SE verging thick-skinned thrusts, and widespread fold-and-thrust deformation cut by Eocene plutons and dikes
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Alps, Cretaceous orogeny, HP metamorphism, doubly vergent orogen
English
2012
24
5
351
356
none
Zanchetta, S., Garzanti, E., Doglioni, C., Zanchi, A. (2012). The Alps in the Cretaceous: a doubly vergent pre-collisional orogen. TERRA NOVA, 24(5), 351-356 [10.1111/j.1365-3121.2012.01071.x].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/39324
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