Deformation in foreland basins of the western Alps ( Pelvoux massif, SE France ); significance for the development of the Alpine ARC

Abstract

This thesis documents the Late Tertiary structural evolution of the Champsaur-Prapic area and Soleil Boeuf area to the southeast and south of the Pelvoux basement massif in the western Alps (Hautes-Alpes, southeastern France). These remnants of the Alpine foreland basin are located at a critical zone in the kinematic pattern of the external Alpine arc, between the northern Subalpine chains with predominant WNW-NW-directed deformation and the WSW- SW-directed deformation in the southern Subalpine chains. The investigated areas record the transition between the northern and southern Subalpine chains. The data will be discussed in the context of the formation of the external Alpine arc and a new mechanism for arc formation is proposed based on analogue sand-box experiments.