From a Continental Margin to an Alpine Dome: 4D Geodynamic Evolution of the Aar Massif
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Abstract
The inversion of crystalline basement units of former passive continental margins is a typical feature of late-stage collisional mountain belts. In this study, a new large-scale 3D geological model of the main lithostratigraphic and structural units of the Aar Massif was built to investigate how the 3D geometry of the passive margin and inherited extensional structures influenced the tectonic evolution during late-stage continent-continent collision. Cross-section restoration of such units and of metamorphic peak temperature data allowed us to reconstruct the 4D geodynamic evolution of the massif during the late-stage Alpine orogeny. Our results show that: (i) The Aar Massif results from the inversion of the unevenly stretched proximal zone of the passive European margin. (ii) 20% of the present-day structural relief of the massif is a legacy of the 3D architecture of the Permian to Mesozoic passive continental margin. Mesozoic rifting structures formed larger-scale basins separated by a central topographic high subdividing the Aar Massif into three SW-NE trending basement blocks. (iii) The inherited spatial variations in graben/basins geometry and associated sediment and crustal thickness variations caused an in-sequence, non-cylindrical exhumation of the Aar Massif, controlled by a dense network of reverse and thrust faults. This interplay between crustal dynamics and crustal inheritance resulted in the uplift and emplacement of the Aar Massif. The results of this study highlight the importance of integrating regional-scale 3D geological modelling in the analysis of complex geological systems, such as orogens. By enabling a comprehensive understanding of their 4D evolution and geodynamic processes, this methodology opens the door to a wide range of applications in tectonics, resource exploration, and hazard assessment.
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References
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