Time, place and mode of propagation of foreland basin systems as recorded by the sedimentary fill: examples of the Late Cretaceous and Eocene retro-foreland basins of the north-eastern Pyrenees

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between tectonics and sedimentary fill has been studied in two syncontractional basins of the western Corbières (eastern North Pyrenean retro-foreland basin). The Late Cretaceous basin formed during c. 10–12 Ma as a result of left-lateral transpressional deformation, and is composed of forward-younging sub-basins characterized by reworking of the forelimbs of growing fold-propagation folds. Thrust-wedge advance and cratonward migration of the platform are recorded by a deepening-upward stacking pattern indicating increased regional subsidence with a limited contribution of the submarine orogen. Tectonic quiescence and erosional unloading lasting 29–30 Ma are recorded by a shallowing-upward stacking pattern, and fluvial sedimentation issued from widespread sources in the emerging inner orogen. The Early to Middle Eocene basin formed as a result of pure shortening normal to the range. The marine Early Eocene basin developed during c. 2 Ma by widening of a single basin provoked by the two-step propagation of a basement duplex. This is recorded by growth-stratal patterns and coarsening-upward depositional sequences indicating the increasing contribution of the emerged orogen. The Middle Eocene continental deposits infilled two sub-basins working synchronously and were transported by alluvial fans with a provenance in the inner orogen, during decreasing thrust-wedge advance and increasing erosional unloading.