Northwestern Foreland Research Articles

Evolution of E-W strike-slip fault network, the northwestern foreland of Tunisia

The northwestern foreland of Tunisia (El Kef region and its surroundings) is a key area to study the tectonics of main E-W basement strike-slip faults and related structures. To achieve this goal, we used multidisciplinary approaches including field work, paleo-stress analyses and geophysical data. These approaches allowed us to propose a new structural model based on the evolution in space and time of Riedel shear type faults and to highlight their role in the structuring of the study region. During the Mesozoic, E-W normal oblique-slip basement faults (D1: Ghardimaou fault, D2: El Kef-Ouergha fault, D3: Jebel Harraba-Guern Halfaya fault and D4: Tajerouine fault) controlled the architecture and the subsidence of the El Kef Basin within a transtensive setting by block tilting, NE-SW negative flower structures, Triassic salt ascent and deposits thicknesses and facies variations. During the Eocene and Late Miocene, the NW-SE shortening (tectonic inversion) is expressed by the oblique reactivation of the pre-existing E-W faults as dextral strike-slip faults. This reactivation is accompanied by map-scale Riedel shear type faults, where D1, D2, D3 and D4 formed the principal displacement zones (PDZs). The successive movements of these faults cut the study area in several right-lateral shear bands in which subsidiary Riedel fractures (R, R', X, P, T and Y) and NE-SW folds are developed. Fault slip data and fractures analyses, across the study area, show several fracture systems which interact under a NW-SE SHmax. During Quaternary, the NNW-SSE shortening reactivated the preexisting E-W fault networks (PDZs). It also, formed NS left-lateral strike-slip faults, NW-SE grabens, NE-SW reverse faults, and ENE en echelon folds arranged within Riedel shear bands.

The Late Variscan control on the location and asymmetry of the Upper Rhine Graben

The NNE-trending Upper Rhine Graben (URG) of the European Cenozoic Rift System developed from c. 47 Ma onwards in response to changing lithospheric stresses in the northwestern foreland of the Alps. The composite graben structure consists of three segments, each c. 100 km long and 30–40 km wide, but flares to c. 60 km near its southern and to c. 80 km near its northern termination. Normal faulting induced a total extension of 5–8 km of the 1–2 km thick Mesozoic sedimentary Franconian platform and underlying Variscan basement rocks. However, distribution of an up to 3.5 km thick sedimentary graben fill and cumulative displacements near Eastern and Western Main Border fault systems suggest that subsidence of the graben floor and shoulder uplift created strong cross-sectional asymmetries. Cumulative W-down displacements >3 km along strongly segmented transfer faults in the east contrast with E-down displacements 600 km long zone that delimits the trailing edge of a SW-moving lithospheric block. In the URG area, NE–SW-oriented seismic anisotropy at sublithospheric depths of c. 60–80 km suggest active mantle flow in this direction as a possible driving force for the reactivation of pre-graben lithospheric shear zones.

An unusual triangle zone in the external northern Alpine foreland (Switzerland): Structural inheritance, kinematics and implications for the development of the adjacent Jura fold-and-thrust belt

Triangle zones represent typical structural elements of thin-skinned foreland fold-and-thrust belts. Here, we report the results of an in-depth structural analysis of a rather unusual triangle zone at the front of the easternmost Jura fold-and-thrust belt in the otherwise only very mildly deformed Alpine foreland of Northern Switzerland. The investigation is based on the interpretation of recently reprocessed and depth-migrated 2D reflection seismic sections. Classical bed-length and area cross-section balancing methods were used to validate the interpretation and unravel the tectonic evolution of the triangle zone. According to our interpretation the analyzed triangle zone formed along the Baden–Irchel–Herdern-Lineament (BIH-Lineament), a regional Paleozoic normal fault that shows evidence of Cenozoic reactivation. The triangle zone is composed of one major foreland-directed thrust rooting in Triassic evaporites and a back-thrust splaying from it in the Middle Jurassic Opalinus Clay, pointing to the importance of secondary detachments. Steeply dipping secondary reverse faults next to the triangle zone suggest reactivation of pre-existing normal faults. The formation of the thrust triangle is considered to relate to thin-skinned foreland deformation in Late Miocene time. Strain estimations of the thrust triangle along-strike show a laterally very uniform amount of shortening, which is in contrast to the southward adjacent Jura fold-and-thrust belt. We interpret this constant shortening to represent the maximum contractional strain attainable by the specific geometry of the BIH triangle zone. At this point, the complex structure became mechanically ineffective and further shortening led to the formation of new contractional structures in its hinterland. This kinematic hypothesis suggests an early-stage formation of the BIH triangle zone followed by back stepping of the deformation front. As such, it challenges the classical view of a purely forward-breaking sequence for the Jura fold-and-thrust belt in the northwestern foreland of the Alps.

Transpression and tectonic exhumation in the Heimefrontfjella, western orogenic front of the East African/Antarctic Orogen, revealed by quartz textures of high strain domains

The metamorphic basement of the Heimefrontfjella in western Dronning Maud Land (Antarctica) forms the western margin of the major ca. 500 million year old East African/East Antarctic Orogen that resulted from the collision of East Antarctica and greater India with the African cratons. The boundary between the tectonothermally overprinted part of the orogen and its north-western foreland is marked by the subvertical Heimefront Shear Zone. North-west of the Heimefront Shear Zone, numerous low-angle dipping ductile thrust zones cut through the Mesoproterozoic basement. Petrographic studies, optical quartz c-axis analyses and x-ray texture goniometry of quartz-rich mylonites were used to reveal the conditions that prevailed during the deformation. Mineral assemblages in thrust mylonites show that they were formed under greenschist-facies conditions. Quartz microstructures are characteristic of the subgrain rotation regime and oblique quartz lattice preferred orientations are typical of simple shear-dominated deformation. In contrast, in the Heimefront Shear Zone, quartz textures indicate mainly flattening strain with a minor dextral rotational component. These quartz microstructures and lattice preferred orientations show signs of post-tectonic annealing following the tectonic exhumation. The spatial relation between the sub-vertical Heimefront Shear Zone and the low-angle thrusts can be explained as being the result of strain partitioning during transpressive deformation. The pure-shear component with a weak dextral strike-slip was accommodated by the Heimefront Shear Zone, whereas the north–north-west directed thrusts accommodate the simple shear component with a tectonic transport towards the foreland of the orogen. Keywords: Dronning Maud Land; quartz microfabrics; X-ray texture goniometry; shear zones; mylonites. (Published: 15 June 2016) To access the supplementary material for this article, please see the supplementary file under Article Tools, online. Citation: Polar Research 2016, 35 , 25420, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.25420

Orogenic float of the Venezuelan Andes

The Venezuelan (or Mérida) Andes are a NE-trending intracontinental orogen that started to rise from the Middle Miocene due to the E–W far field convergence between the Maracaibo block to the northwest and the Guyana shield to the southeast. Oblique convergence is responsible for strain partitioning with thrusting along both foreland basins and right-lateral strike–slip faulting along the NE–SW Boconó fault cutting the Venezuelan Andes along-strike. The central part of the belt is also cut by the N–S left-lateral strike–slip Valera fault that connects the Boconó fault, both faults bounding the Trujillo block that escapes towards the NNE. Even though the regional geology of belt is well known, its structure at depth remains a matter of debate. Our work, based on the integration of geological and geophysical data aims to better constrain the deep geometry of faults and the tectonic evolution of the mountain belt. We used the orogenic float model to construct two NW–SE trans-Andean crustal scale balanced sections. The Late Neogene–Quaternary shortening varies from 40 km in the south to 30 km in the north across the Trujillo block, indicating that a quarter of the deformation seems to be absorbed by the tectonic escape process. More importantly, a major reorganization in the crust took place in the Early Pliocene. It is characterized by the imbrication of the Maracaibo crust into the Guyana crust. This resulted in the subduction of the Guyana lower crust and the formation of a NW-vergent basement thrust propagating upwards and surfacing along the Las Virtudes thrust. Rapid uplift of the northern flank of the belt subsequently occurred together with massive deposition of the Plio–Quaternary coarse grained Betijoque formation in the northwestern foreland basin.

OSL-dating the Quaternary landscape evolution in the Vértes Hills forelands (Hungary)

Fluvial, colluvial, and aeolian sediments were dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) on quartz to improve the chronological framework for Quaternary sedimentation and landscape evolution in the forelands of the Vértes Hills (central Hungary). The separated quartz was suitable for age determination based on an OSL SAR protocol. Most samples have asymmetric equivalent dose distributions and OSL ages were calculated by the mean, central, and minimum D e values. Considering geomorphology and earlier age data from the area, the central D e values seem most appropriate for age calculation. A fan on the geomorphological level QV in the western foreland of the Vértes Hills was deposited 79–75 (±8) ka ago. In the south-eastern foreland an alluvial fan on level QIIb is at most 42 ± 4 ka old. Fluvial incision and aggradation occurred 16–10 (±1) ka ago on the geomorphic surface QIIa. Loess is 14 ± 1 ka old, and slope sedimentation was active 11–9 (±1) ka ago. Our OSL data demonstrate that in the north-western foreland of the Vértes Hills wind remained an important agent after the last glacial times, into the early Holocene (9–8 ± 1 ka) and was able to accumulate large aeolian dunes.

First evidence for ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphism of eclogites in Pohorje, Slovenia: Tracing deep continental subduction in the Eastern Alps

The first evidence for ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) metamorphism in the Eastern Alps is reported from kyanite eclogites of the Pohorje Mountains in Slovenia. Polycrystalline quartz inclusions surrounded by radial fractures in garnet, omphacite, and kyanite are interpreted to be pseudomorphs after coesite. Abundant quartz rods and needles in omphacite indicate an exsolution from a preexisting supersilicic clinopyroxene that contained a Ca‐Eskola component. Geothermobarometry on the mineral assemblage garnet + omphacite + kyanite + phengite + quartz/or coesite yields peak pressure and temperature conditions of 3.0–3.1 GPa and 760°–825°C, well within the stability field of coesite, thus supporting the microtextural evidence for UHP metamorphism. This records the highest‐pressure conditions of Eo‐Alpine metamorphism during the Cretaceous orogeny in the Alps, implying a very deep subduction of the continental crust to at least 90–100 km depths. The new data are evidence for a regional southeastward increase of peak pressures in the Lower Central Austroalpine, indicating a south‐ to eastward dip of the subduction zone. Subduction was intracontinental; northwestern parts of the Austroalpine (Lower Central Austroalpine) were subducted under southeastern parts (Upper Central Austroalpine). The subduction zone formed in the Early Cretaceous in the northwestern foreland of the Meliata suture after Late Jurassic closure of the Meliata Ocean and the resulting collision, by a forward subduction shift to a Permian rift.

Foreland crustal structure of the New York recess, northeastern United States

A new structural model for the northeast part of the Central Appalachian foreland and fold-and-thrust belt is based on detailed field mapping, geophysical data, and balanced cross-section analysis. The model demonstrates that the region contains a multiply deformed, parautochthonous fold-and-thrust system of Paleozoic age. Our interpretations differ from previous ones in which the entire region north of the Newark basin was considered to be allochthonous. The new interpretation requires a substantial decrease in Paleozoic tectonic shortening northeastward from adjacent parts of the Central Appalachian foreland and illustrates the common occurrence of backthrusting within the region. During early Paleozoic time northern New Jersey consisted of a Taconic orogenic foreland in which cover folds (F1) involved lower Paleozoic carbonate and flysch overlying Middle Proterozoic basement. F1 folds are open and upright in the foreland and more gently inclined to recumbent southeastward toward the trace of the Taconic allochthons. F1 structures were cut and transported by a fold-and-thrust system of the Alleghany orogeny. This thrust system mostly involves synthetic faults originating from a master decollement rooted in Proterozoic basement. Antithetic faults locally modify early synthetic overthrusts and S1 cleavage in lower Paleozoic cover and show out-of-sequence structural development. The synthetic parts of the regional thrust system are bounded in the northwestern foreland by blind antithetic faults interpreted from seismic-reflection data. This antithetic faulting probably represents Paleozoic reactivation of Late Proterozoic basement faults. Tectonic contraction in overlying cover occurred by wedge faulting where synthetic and antithetic components of the foreland fault system overlap. S2 cleavage in the Paleozoic cover stems from Alleghanian shortening and flattening and commonly occurs in the footwall of large overthrust sheets. Paleozoic structures in Proterozoic basement include fault blocks bounded by high-angle faults and low- to moderate-angle shear zones that locally produce overlying cover folds. Broad and open folds in basement probably reflect shear-zone displacement of subhorizontal foliation. Our cross-section interpretations require limited involvement of lower Paleozoic cover folds in the footwalls of major overthrust faults. Palinspastic restoration of F1 folds produces an arched passive-margin sequence. The tectonic contraction for the Valley and Ridge province and southeastern Pocono Plateau is about 25 km, and tectonic wedge angles are 8°–11°.

Granitoid plutonism in the Caledonian orogen of Europe

Summary Granitoid plutonism is a feature of all major segments of the Caledonian orogen in NW Europe and Greenland. Available data on geological setting, age and composition are presented for each segment and are collated for use as the basis for a regional and temporal interpretation of magmatism during the Caledonian. Magmatism close to the northwestern foreland was dominantly alkaline whereas both alkaline and peraluminous compositions are represented on the southern foreland. Within the orogen early magmatism N of the Iapetus suture line was dominantly S-type resulting from crustal anatexis of dominantly metasedimentary rocks, while there is a later shift to predominantly I-type granitoid plutonism. S of the Iapetus suture line plutonism within the orogen in Scandinavia is essentially I-type, whereas in Britain and Ireland it has more S-type characteristics supporting recent propositions of two separate southerly plates. The overall pattern of plutonism contrasts markedly with that of younger subduction-related batholiths.