Saspiturry / Uzel / Ortiz | Evolution of the Pyrenees During the Variscan and Alpine Cycles, Volume 2 | Buch | 978-1-78945-206-8 | www.sack.de

Buch, Englisch, 464 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 826 g

Saspiturry / Uzel / Ortiz

Evolution of the Pyrenees During the Variscan and Alpine Cycles, Volume 2

Synorogenic and Postorogenic Evolution
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-78945-206-8
Verlag: Wiley

Synorogenic and Postorogenic Evolution

Buch, Englisch, 464 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 826 g

ISBN: 978-1-78945-206-8
Verlag: Wiley


This book explores the geological history of the Pyrenees over the past 90 million years, with a particular focus on their compressive and post-compressive evolution. It first presents the overall structure of the mountain range, then examines the development of the northern and southern Pyrenean foreland basins through their sedimentary records, allowing the successive phases of orogenic construction to be identified. Special attention is given to the dismantling of the eastern crustal root in relation to the Oligocene–Miocene opening of the Gulf of Lion.

Evolution of the Pyrenees during the Variscan and Alpine Cycles 2 then highlights the contributions of several innovative approaches used to better constrain the transition from compressive to post-compressive tectonics. These include studies of relief flattening and incision processes; U–Pb geochronology applied to fault-related carbonates; cosmogenic nuclide dating combined with geomorphological analyses; and investigations into the thermal evolution of the Pyrenean rift basins. The book also documents Quaternary glacial fluctuations that affected the Pyrenees.

In conclusion, it presents a geological map of the northern slope of the mountain range at a scale of 1:250,000 and draws attention to the uniqueness of Pyrenean blue corundum.

Saspiturry / Uzel / Ortiz Evolution of the Pyrenees During the Variscan and Alpine Cycles, Volume 2 jetzt bestellen!

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Preface xv

Nicolas SASPITURRY, Jessica UZEL and Alexandre ORTIZ

Chapter 1 Structure of the Pyrenees at the Crustal Scale 1

Antonio TEIXELL and Pierre LABAUME

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Tectonic framework of the Pyrenean belt 2

1.3 Crustal investigations by deep seismic reflection surveys 2

1.3.1 Results of the ECORS profiles across the Pyrenees 3

1.3.2 Contributions by recent geophysical surveys 7

1.4 Significance of high-density bodies at crustal depths 10

1.5 Serial crustal sections for the Pyrenees 11

1.5.1 The ECORS-Pyrenees section 12

1.5.2 The Nestes-Cinca section 14

1.5.3 The Chaînons Béarnais-Jaca section 15

1.5.4 The Basque-Cantabrian Pyrenees section 16

1.5.5 The Eastern Pyrenees section 18

1.6 Models for the crustal structure previous to the Pyrenean orogeny 20

1.7 The nature of the rifted continental margins 22

1.8 Rift inheritance and orogeny 22

1.9 References 26

Chapter 2 Syncompressive Alluvial Conglomerates: Markers of Exhumation in the Eastern Pyrenees 35

Thierry NALPAS

2.1 Introduction 35

2.2 Geological context 36

2.3 Study methodology 37

2.4 Conglomerates of the eastern Pyrenees 38

2.4.1 The North Pyrenean area of Puivert 38

2.4.2 The South Pyrenean sector of Sant Llorenç de Morunys 42

2.4.3 Interpretation 45

2.5 Discussion – clasts as markers of the exhumation of the Pyrenees 47

2.6 Conclusion 49

2.7 References 50

Chapter 3 Tectono-Sedimentary Evolution of the Aquitaine Basin from the Priabonian to the Pliocene 53

Alexandre ORTIZ, François GUILLOCHEAU, Cécile ROBIN, Éric LASSEUR, Justine BRIAIS, Jessica UZEL and Nicolas SASPITURRY

3.1 Introduction 53

3.2 Definitions and keywords related to foreland basins 56

3.3 Synthesis of structural, sedimentary, paleogeographic and biostratigraphic data from the Aquitaine Basin 58

3.3.1 Main tectonic structures of the Aquitaine Basin 58

3.3.2 Deformation timelines 59

3.3.3 Paleogene sedimentary infill of the Aquitaine Basin 60

3.3.4 Biostratigraphic calibrations 62

3.4 Evolution of sedimentary infill from the Priabonian to the Pliocene 64

3.4.1 Paleogeography of the Late Priabonian (35.1–33.8 Ma) 64

3.4.2 The Oligocene period (33.9–23.03 Ma) 70

3.4.3 The period from the Aquitanian to the Burdigalian (23.03–15.97 Ma) 78

3.4.4 Paleogeography of the Langhian and Serravallian 91

3.4.5 Paleogeography of the Tortonian and Messinian 102

3.4.6 Paleogeography of the Pliocene 107

3.5 Summary of the post-Priabonian tectonic evolution of the Aquitaine Basin 110

3.5.1 The Oligocene, final phase of syn-orogenic structuring 111

3.5.2 The Aquitanian, the transition to a post-orogenic regime 112

3.5.3 From the Burdigalian to the Tortonian, the final major deformation phase in the Aquitaine Basin 114

3.6 Conclusion 117

3.7 References 117

Chapter 4 The Source-to-Sink Evolution of the Jaca Basin (Southern Pyrenees) 131

Marta ROIGÉ, David GÓMEZ-GRAS, Antonio TEIXELL, Xavi COLL and Salvador BOYA

4.1 Introduction and geological background 131

4.2 Chronostratigraphic framework of the Jaca basin 134

4.3 Source area domains during the evolution of the basin 138

4.3.1 Source rock bulk petrology 139

4.3.2 U-Pb zircon geochronology 139

4.3.3 Heavy mineral content 140

4.4 Provenance evolution of the Jaca basin 141

4.4.1 The Early to Middle Eocene basin: Hecho Group turbidites 141

4.4.2 The Middle Eocene to Early Miocene basin: from transitional to terrestrial environments 144

4.5 References 152

Chapter 5 The Western Mediterranean Extension and the Dismantling of the Eastern Pyrenees 161

Antonio TEIXELL and Pierre LABAUME

5.1 Introduction 161

5.2 Origin and timing of extensional deformation 162

5.3 The tectonic dismantling of the eastern Pyrenees mountain chain 165

5.4 References 168

Chapter 6 A “Late Pyrenean” Phase at the Burdigalian/ Langhian Transition (Corbières, France)? 171

Oriane PARIZOT

6.1 Introduction 171

6.2 The eastern north Pyrenean domain: the Corbières region 175

6.2.1 Geological context 175

6.2.2 Geodynamic timeline 177

6.3 Discovery of a new tectonic event at the Burdigalian/Langhian transition in the Corbières 179

6.3.1 U-Pb data 179

6.3.2 Structural data 181

6.4 A “Late Pyrenean” phase at the scale of the orogen? 183

6.5 Origins of the event 186

6.5.1 The Kabylies? 186

6.5.2 The Gulf of Lion? 187

6.5.3 A tectonic event on the scale of the European platform? 188

6.6 Conclusion 188

6.7 References 189

Chapter 7 Planation Surfaces and Post-Compressive Evolution of the Pyrenean Chain 197

Jessica UZEL, Nicolas SASPITURRY and Alexandre ORTIZ

7.1 Geological context 197

7.1.1 Structural domains of the Pyrenees 197

7.1.2 Deep structure of the Pyrenees 201

7.1.3 Formation of the Pyrenean relief 202

7.1.4 Cenozoic climate history of the Pyrenees 207

7.2 Relict planation surfaces and weathering effects in the Pyrenees 208

7.2.1 High-elevation relict planation surfaces 208

7.2.2 Weathering and relict planation surfaces 212

7.3 Origin of the relics of Pyrenean planation surface(s) 215

7.3.1 Age of the relics of the highest planation surface 216

7.3.2 Models for the formation of the Pyrenean planation surfaces 218

7.4 Summary and discussion 225

7.5 References 228

Chapter 8 Dating and Erosion Rates of the Pyrenees: In Situ-Produced Cosmogenic Isotopes 241

Vincent REGARD, Sébastien CARRETIER and Sandrine CHOY

8.1 In situ-produced cosmogenic isotopes 241

8.1.1 History 241

8.1.2 The main in situ-produced cosmogenic isotopes used in Earth sciences 242

8.1.3 Differential equation governing the concentration of a cosmogenic isotope at the surface 243

8.2 Dating the exposure of a rock to cosmic rays 250

8.2.1 Dating glacial polished bedrock surfaces and moraines to establish the chronology of deglaciation 250

8.2.2 Dating of exposure of alluvial deposits 254

8.2.3 Uncertainty in exposure dating 257

8.3 Quantification of the denudation rate in the Pyrenees 257

8.3.1 Calculation of denudation rates from cosmogenic isotopes 257

8.3.2 Application in the Pyrenees 258

8.3.3 Uncertainty in denudation rates 260

8.4 Burial dating of a rock 260

8.4.1 Calculation of a burial age from a pair of cosmogenic isotopes 260

8.4.2 Application in the Pyrenees 262

8.4.3 Uncertainty on burial datings 262

8.5 Summary: cosmogenic isotopes in the Pyrenees 263

8.6 References 263

Chapter 9 Post-Compressive Incision of the Pyrenean Valleys: Insights from Karst Records 267

Amandine SARTÉGOU and Didier L. BOURLÈS

9.1 How can we trace the post-compressive evolution of the Pyrenean chain? 267

9.2 Karst in the Pyrenees 269

9.2.1 Pyrenean karsts, witnesses of paleoenvironments since the Paleozoic 270

9.2.2 The eastern Têt valley and its relation with the Mediterranean domain 270

9.2.3 The upper Aude valley and its relation with the Sault plateau 273

9.2.4 The valleys of the Ariège and their large networks 275

9.2.5 The karsts of the central Pyrenees and the Basque country 276

9.3 How to record valley incision with karsts 277

9.3.1 Epiphreatic model and chronology of valley excavation 277

9.3.2 Karst: sediment trap and witness of landscape evolution 280

9.4 How to date sediments trapped in karst 282

9.4.1 Use of cosmogenic burial durations 26 Al/ 10 Be: a validated method for Plio-Quaternary evolution 282

9.4.2 Use of the 10 Be- 21 Ne pair: a major analytical development for reconstructing the Miocene evolution of valleys 283

9.4.3 Relationship between cosmogenic burial durations and the position of the base level at a given instant 284

9.5 Main results from the study of karsts 285

9.5.1 Incision rates of the upper Têt valley since the Burdigalian 285

9.5.2 Aude valley: between tectonic influence and Mediterranean influence 287

9.5.3 Ariège valley: impact of tectonics and glaciations 288

9.5.4 The valleys of the central and western Pyrenees: a promising outline 289

9.6 Drivers of incision of the Pyrenean valleys from the Miocene to the present 290

9.6.1 The valleys of the eastern Pyrenees connected to the Mediterranean 290

9.6.2 The valleys of the western Pyrenees connected to the Atlantic and subject to glaciations 292

9.6.3 Lessons from the karsts 293

9.7 Conclusion and prospects 294

9.8 References 295

Chapter 10 Evolution of the Geothermal Gradient from Cretaceous Rifting to Pyrenean Compression (Western Pyrenees) 301

Nicolas SASPITURRY, Thierry BAUDIN, Abdeltif LAHFID, Laurent GUILLOU-FROTTIER, Benoit ISSAUTIER, Philippe RAZIN, Alexandre ORTIZ and Jessica UZEL

10.1 Introduction 301

10.2 Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Mauléon Basin from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic 304

10.2.1 The Cretaceous rifting phase: formation of the hyper-extended Mauléon Basin 304

10.2.2 The Pyrenean compression phase: inversion of the Cretaceous rift basin and building of the orogenic prism 307

10.3 RSCM thermometry, an overview of the method and its use in the Pyrenees 309

10.3.1 Methodology and analysis tool 311

10.3.2 History of the application of the RSCM method in Pyrenees 312

10.4 The geothermal gradient: definition 314

10.4.1 The rifting context 315

10.4.2 The orogenic context 317

10.4.3 The erosional context 318

10.5 Mesozoic to Cenozoic evolution of the geothermal gradient of the Mauléon Basin: application of RSCM thermometry 320

10.5.1 Thermal peak age in the Mauléon Basin 322

10.5.2 Cretaceous paleogeothermal gradients estimated from RSCM thermometry 322

10.5.3 Distribution of the geothermal gradient from the proximal to distal domain of the Mauléon Basin during the Cretaceous 326

10.5.4 Evolution of the geothermal gradient during Pyrenean compression 328

10.6 Numerical thermal modeling of the Mauléon Basin 330

10.6.1 Opening of the Mauléon Basin 331

10.6.2 Stage of synorogenic sedimentation 332

10.6.3 Stage of continental collision and erosion 333

10.6.4 Postcollisional quiescence 334

10.7 References 335

Chapter 11 Pleistocene and Holocene Glacial Fluctuations in the Pyrenees 343

Magali DELMAS

11.1 Introduction 343

11.2 From the first cartographies to a relative chronostratigraphy of Pyrenean glacial margin deposits 345

11.2.1 A long sequence of moraine deposits into three sedimentary units 345

11.2.2 Confrontation between polyglacialists and monoglacialists (1950s–1960s) 347

11.2.3 Rehabilitation of polyglacialism and repositioning of the fronts contemporary with the maximum ice extent of the last glaciation 350

11.3 Radiocarbon dating contribution 353

11.3.1 Chronological model established on the north-facing slope 354

11.3.2 A chronological model confirmed on the southern slope? 361

11.4 Recent diversification of dating methods 368

11.4.1 The contribution of OSL ages 368

11.4.2 The contribution of in situ-produced cosmogenic isotopes 370

11.5 Conclusion 392

11.6 References 394

Chapter 12 Digital Geological Map of the Northern Slope of the Pyrenees at 1:250,000 Scale 407

Bernard MONOD

12.1 Construction of the digital geological map of the northern slope of the Pyrenees 407

12.1.1 Work of the RGF 408

12.1.2 Map legend, structures and contour smoothing 408

12.2 Presentation, organization and dissemination of the map data 409

12.2.1 Presentation of the main cartographic features of the Pyrenees 409

12.2.2 Organization of the data composing the digital map 410

12.3 Dissemination and availability of the digital geological map data at the 1:250,000 scale 415

12.4 References 415

Chapter 13 The Corundums of the Albitites Related to the Urdach Lherzolites: Lapidary Enhancement 417

Jean-Éric ROSE, Pierre MONCHOUX, Philippe DE PARSEVAL, Christian PIN, Thierry AIGOUY, Didier BÉZIAT and Guillaume ESTRADE

13.1 The magmatic albitites related to the lherzolites 417

13.1.1 Structural characteristics 419

13.1.2 Mineralogical characteristics 419

13.1.3 Geochemical characteristics 422

13.1.4 Genetic hypothesis for the Urdach albitites 423

13.1.5 Possible origin of corundum xenocrysts and polycrystalline inclusions in alkaline basaltic provinces 424

13.1.6 A unique example of emplacement related to the Pyrenean orogeny 424

13.2 Corundum 425

13.2.1 “Primary” corundum crystals 425

13.2.2 “Secondary” corundum crystals 426

13.3 The value of the “amateur” perspective in science 427

13.3.1 Field research and sample selection 428

13.3.2 Value of lapidary work prior to scientific analysis 428

13.4 References 430

List of Authors 433

Index 437


Nicolas Saspiturry is a teacher–researcher specializing in the tectonic– sedimentary and thermal evolution of sedimentary basins. He has devoted much of his work to the Pyrenees.

Jessica Uzel has a doctorate in geology and a degree in life, earth and universe sciences. She specializes in the post-compressive evolution of the Pyrenean domain.

Alexandre Ortiz has a doctorate in geology. He specializes in the syn- to post-compressive evolution of the North Pyrenean foreland basin.



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