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Placing limits to shortening evolution in the Pyrenees: Role of margin architecture and implications for the Iberia/Europe convergence
Author(s) -
Mouthereau Frédéric,
Filleaudeau PierreYves,
Vacherat Arnaud,
Pik Raphaël,
Lacombe Olivier,
Fellin Maria Giuditta,
Castelltort Sébastien,
Christophoul Frédéric,
Masini Emmanuel
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
tectonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.465
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1944-9194
pISSN - 0278-7407
DOI - 10.1002/2014tc003663
Subject(s) - geology , continental margin , subduction , lithosphere , fission track dating , paleontology , tectonics , margin (machine learning) , passive margin , mesozoic , collision , seismology , rift , structural basin , computer security , machine learning , computer science
Estimating shortening in collision belts is critical to reconstruct past plate motions. Balanced cross‐section techniques are efficient in external domains but lack resolution in the hinterland. The role and the original extent of the continental margins during the earliest stages of continental convergence are debated. Here we combine existing and new sequentially restored cross sections in the central Pyrenees, with Iberia/Europe (IB/EU) plate kinematic reconstructions and new apatite fission track, zircon (U‐Th)/He, and U/Pb ages to discuss higher and lower bounds of crustal shortening and determine the amount of distal margin sutured during collision. We show that after extension in the Albian (~110 Ma), a 50 km wide extremely thinned crustal domain underwent subduction at 83 Ma. Low‐temperature data and thermal modeling show that synorogenic cooling started at 75–70 Ma. This date marks the transition from suturing of the highly extended margin to collision of the more proximal margin and orogenic growth. We infer a relatively low crustal shortening of 90 km (30%) that reflects the dominant thick‐skinned tectonic style of shortening in the Pyrenees, as expected for young (Mesozoic) and weak lithospheres. Our proposed reconstruction agrees with IB/EU kinematic models that consider initially rapid convergence of Iberia, reducing from circa 70 Ma onward. This study suggests that plate reconstructions are consistent with balanced cross sections if shortening predicted by age‐dependent properties of the continental lithosphere is taken into account.