A reconstruction of Iberia accounting for Western Tethys–North Atlantic kinematics since the late-Permian–Triassic

Abstract

Abstract. The western European kinematic evolution results from the opening of the western Neotethys and the Atlantic oceans since the late Paleozoic and the Mesozoic. Geological evidence shows that the Iberian domain recorded the propagation of these two oceanic systems well and is therefore a key to significantly advancing our understanding of the regional plate reconstructions. The late-Permian–Triassic Iberian rift basins have accommodated extension, but this tectonic stage is often neglected in most plate kinematic models, leading to the overestimation of the movements between Iberia and Europe during the subsequent Mesozoic (Early Cretaceous) rift phase. By compiling existing seismic profiles and geological constraints along the North Atlantic margins, including well data over Iberia, as well as recently published kinematic and paleogeographic reconstructions, we propose a coherent kinematic model of Iberia that accounts for both the Neotethyan and Atlantic evolutions. Our model shows that the Europe–Iberia plate boundary was a domain of distributed and oblique extension made of two rift systems in the Pyrenees and in the Iberian intra-continental basins. It differs from standard models that consider left-lateral strike-slip movement localized only in the northern Pyrenees in introducing a significant strike-slip movement south of the Ebro block. At a larger scale it emphasizes the role played by the late-Permian–Triassic rift and magmatism, as well as strike-slip faulting in the evolution of the western Neotethys Ocean and their control on the development of the Atlantic rift.

Kinematics and extent of the Piemont-Liguria Basin – implications for subduction processes in the Alps

“…Mouthereau et al, 2014), which fits with onset of Alpine subduction more to the east (section 2.2) and the Late Cretaceous age of syn-orogenic flysch sediments in the Northern Apennines (Marroni et al, 1992). The proposed Early Cretaceous rotation of Iberia based on paleomagnetic data is strongly disputed due to possible remagnetization of sedimentary rocks (Neres et al, 2012) and incompatibility with the Global Apparent Polar Wander Path (Neres et al, 2013; see also discussion of Barnett-Moore et al, 2016, 2017and van Hinsbergen et al, 2017 and may be explained by intraplate deformation within Iberia, possibly along the Ebro block (Angrand et al, 2020).…”

Seismicity patterns in southwestern France

“…Several types of models are considered [e.g. Choukroune and ECORS, 1989, Olivet, 1996, Sibuet et al, 2004, Jammes et al, 2009, Angrand et al, 2020, giving more or less importance to the North Pyrenean Fault, a Mesozoic left-lateral strike-slip plate boundary fault, and to the Ebro continental block [Angrand et al, 2020]. The large-scale (plurikilometric) sedimentary deposits that cover the Aquitaine basin, the southern Massif Central, and the northern and southern Pyrenean zones date from this period.…”

Decoding low-temperature thermochronology signals in mountain belts: modelling the role of rift thermal imprint into continental collision

“…The Pyrenean orogeny (~84-20 Ma) inverted a complex E-W-to ESE-WNW-trending Mesozoic rift system that formed in response to the opening of the Bay of Biscay associated with the migration northwards of the southern North Atlantic (Tugend et al, 2015;Barnett-Moore et al, 2016;Nirrengarten et al, 2017;Tavani et al, 2018;Angrand et al, 2020;Angrand and Mouthereau, 2021). Rifting developed mainly from late Aptian to early-to-middle Cenomanian (114-97 Ma) through extreme crustal thinning, associated with magmatic activity as well as heat advection and high-temperature-lowpressure metamorphism due to mantle exhumation (Ravier, 1957;Azambre and Ravier, 1978;Ravier and Thiébaut, 1982;Debroas, 1987Debroas, , 1990Golberg and Leyreloup, 1990;Lagabrielle and Bodinier, 2008;Lagabrielle et al, 2010;Clerc and Lagabrielle, 2014;de Saint-Blanquat et al, 2016).…”