TY - JOUR

T1 - Evolution of a low convergence collisional orogen: a review of Pyrenean orogenesis

AU - Ford, Mary

AU - Masini, Emmanuel

AU - Vergés, Jaume

AU - Pik, Raphael

AU - Ternois, Sébastian

AU - Léger, Julien

AU - Dielforder, Armin

AU - Frasca, Gianluca

AU - Grool, Arjan

AU - Vinciguerra, Constance

AU - Bernard, Thomas

AU - Angrand, Paul

AU - Crémades, Antoine

AU - Manatschal, Gianreto

AU - Chevrot, Sebastien

AU - Jolivet, Laurent

AU - Mouthereau, Frédéric

AU - Thinon, Isabelle

AU - Calassou, Sylvain

N1 - Funding Information: This paper is a contribution to the Orogen project funded by Total, the BRGM and the CNRS. It is also a contribution to the ANR PYRAMID and RGF Pyrénées projects. While all authors have contributed to this work, the opinions are biased toward those of the first author. The authors salute and thank the whole Orogen Community and the innumerable colleagues and experts of the Pyrenean geoscience community. This work has grown from and greatly benefited from discussions with them all. We thank reviewers P. Labaume and A. Casas-Sainz and editor A. Teixell for their constructive reviews that greatly improved the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 EDP Sciences. All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/12/14

Y1 - 2022/12/14

N2 - The Pyrenees is a collisional orogen built by inversion of an immature rift system during convergence of the Iberian and European plates from Late Cretaceous to late Cenozoic. The full mountain belt consists of the pro-foreland southern Pyrenees and the retro-foreland northern Pyrenees, where the inverted lower Cretaceous rift system is mainly preserved. Due to low overall convergence and absence of oceanic subduction, this orogen preserves one of the best geological records of early orogenesis, the transition from early convergence to main collision and the transition from collision to post-convergence. During these transitional periods major changes in orogen behavior reflect evolving lithospheric processes and tectonic drivers. Contributions by the OROGEN project have shed new light on these two critical periods, on the evolution of the orogen as a whole, and in particular on the early convergence stage. By integrating results of OROGEN with those of other recent collaborative projects in the Pyrenean domain (e.g. PYRAMID, PYROPE, RGF-Pyrénées), this paper offers a synthesis of current knowledge and debate on the evolution of this immature orogen as recorded in the synorogenic basins and fold and thrust belts of both the upper European and lower Iberian plates. Expanding insight on the role of salt tectonics at local to regional scales is summarised and discussed. Uncertainties involved in data compilation across a whole orogen using different datasets are discussed, for example for shortening values and distribution.

AB - The Pyrenees is a collisional orogen built by inversion of an immature rift system during convergence of the Iberian and European plates from Late Cretaceous to late Cenozoic. The full mountain belt consists of the pro-foreland southern Pyrenees and the retro-foreland northern Pyrenees, where the inverted lower Cretaceous rift system is mainly preserved. Due to low overall convergence and absence of oceanic subduction, this orogen preserves one of the best geological records of early orogenesis, the transition from early convergence to main collision and the transition from collision to post-convergence. During these transitional periods major changes in orogen behavior reflect evolving lithospheric processes and tectonic drivers. Contributions by the OROGEN project have shed new light on these two critical periods, on the evolution of the orogen as a whole, and in particular on the early convergence stage. By integrating results of OROGEN with those of other recent collaborative projects in the Pyrenean domain (e.g. PYRAMID, PYROPE, RGF-Pyrénées), this paper offers a synthesis of current knowledge and debate on the evolution of this immature orogen as recorded in the synorogenic basins and fold and thrust belts of both the upper European and lower Iberian plates. Expanding insight on the role of salt tectonics at local to regional scales is summarised and discussed. Uncertainties involved in data compilation across a whole orogen using different datasets are discussed, for example for shortening values and distribution.

KW - Collisional orogen

KW - Foreland basins

KW - Foreland systems

KW - Pyrenees

KW - Rift inheritance

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145276139&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/bsgf/2022018

DO - 10.1051/bsgf/2022018

M3 - Article

VL - 193

JO - Bulletin - Societie Geologique de France

JF - Bulletin - Societie Geologique de France

SN - 0037-9409

IS - 2

M1 - 19

ER -