The denudation history of the Argentera Alpine External Crystalline Massif (Western Alps, France-Italy): an overview from the analysis of fission tracks in apatites and zircons

Bigot-Cormier, Florence; Sosson, Marc; Poupeau, Gérard; Stéphan, J. F.; Labrin, Erika

doi:10.3166/ga.19.455-473

Cited by 59 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The exhumation history derived for the Pelvoux massif is consistent with recent thermochronological data from several other external crystalline massifs, which also indicate a phase of rapid exhumation between ∼6 and 9 Ma in the Mont Blanc [ Leloup et al , 2005; Glotzbach et al , 2008], Aar [ Vernon et al , 2009] and Argentera [ Bigot ‐ Cormier et al , 2006] massifs, followed by slower rates. A significant (∼100%) increase in relief since ∼1.0 Ma, has been inferred in the Mont Blanc [ Glotzbach et al , 2011] and Aar [ Valla et al , 2011b, 2012] massifs.…”

Section: Study Areassupporting

confidence: 83%

Exhumation and relief development in the Pelvoux and Dora‐Maira massifs (western Alps) assessed by spectral analysis and inversion of thermochronological age transects

et al. 2012

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[1] We have used dedicated sampling and analysis of apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) thermochronological data sets in an attempt to quantify relief evolution and exhumation rates in the Pelvoux and Dora-Maira massifs (western European Alps). A dual approach comparing spectral analysis and thermal-kinematic model inversion was applied. We sampled age-elevation relationships at a range of topographic wavelengths along two north-south transects crossing these massifs. For the 40-km-long Pelvoux transect we report 35 new AFT ages that range between 3.0 AE 0.4 Ma and 12.6 AE 1.0 Ma, and 8 new AHe ages between 3.5 AE 1.5 and 4.7 AE 0.7 Ma. The Dora-Maira transect spans a distance of 60 km and includes 28 (23 new and 5 previously published) significantly older AFT ages, which vary between 13.1 AE 0.2 and 27.3 AE 0.3 Ma. Inferred exhumation rates of 0.7 km m.y.À1 since $8 Ma in the Pelvoux and only 0.1 km m.y. À1since $20 Ma in Dora-Maira are consistent between methods as well as with previous estimates, although they are associated with large uncertainties due to imperfect sampling and analytical errors. Neither massif displays clear evidence for relief change during the intervals constrained by the data. Data from the Dora-Maria massif suggest moderate recent relief increase, whereas the results from the Pelvoux are inconclusive but could imply relief decrease. Our study highlights the difficulties of applying thermochronology techniques to constrain relief changes. We show that an unreasonable number of samples is needed to perform reliable spectral analysis of age-elevation transects and discuss the overall limitations of both techniques to address relief evolution. We suggest that a more efficient approach would be to apply thermal-kinematic model inversion to relatively small study areas using spatially distributed sampling and multiple thermochronometer analyses per sample.Citation: Beucher, R., P. van der Beek, J. Braun, and G. E. Batt (2012), Exhumation and relief development in the Pelvoux and Dora-Maira massifs (western Alps) assessed by spectral analysis and inversion of thermochronological age transects, J. Geophys.

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Section: Study Areassupporting

confidence: 83%

Exhumation and relief development in the Pelvoux and Dora‐Maira massifs (western Alps) assessed by spectral analysis and inversion of thermochronological age transects

et al. 2012

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“…Bigot-Cormier et al 2006;Malusá et al 2005Malusá et al , 2006Wölfler et al 2008); (c) correlation among fault-rock types, deformation mechanisms, hydrothermal regimes and low-temperature geochronometers (Malusá et al 2009); (d) thermochronological analyses of low-temperature systems at short distance across fault zones (Murakami et al 2002;Tagami and Murakami 2007); (e) combination of some of these approaches (Siebel et al 2010). In this work, we will follow the approach that near-surface brittle faulting may lead to thermal anomalies by infiltration of hydrothermal fluids or frictional heating (e.g., Maddock 1983;d'Alessio et al 2003;Otsuki et al 2003;Wölfler et al 2010).…”

Section: Methods Used For Thermochronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Polyphase movement on the Lavanttal Fault Zone (Eastern Alps): reconciling the evidence from different geochronological indicators

et al. 2011

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The Lavanttal Fault Zone (LFZ) is generally considered to be related to Miocene orogen-parallel escape tectonics in the Eastern Alps. By applying thermochronological methods with retention temperatures ranging from *450 to *40°C we have investigated the thermochronological evolution of the LFZ and the adjacent Koralm Complex (Eastern Alps). 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating on white mica and zircon fission track (ZFT) thermochronology were carried out on host rocks (HRs) and fault-related rocks (cataclasites and fault gouges) directly adjacent to the unfaulted protolith. These data are interpreted together with recently published apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th)/He ages. Sample material was taken from three drill cores transecting the LFZ. Ar release spectra in cataclastic shear zones partly show strongly rejuvenated incremental ages, indicating lattice distortion during cataclastic shearing or hydrothermal alteration. Integrated plateau ages from fault rocks (*76 Ma) are in parts slightly younger than plateau ages from HRs ([80 Ma). Incremental ages from fault rock samples are in part highly reduced (*43 Ma). ZFT ages within fault gouges (*65 Ma) are slightly reduced compared to the ages from HRs, and fission tracks show reduced lengths. Combining these results with AFT and apatite (U-Th)/He ages from fault rocks of the same fault zone allows the recognition of distinct faulting events along the LFZ from Miocene to Pliocene times. Contemporaneous with this faulting, the Koralm Complex experienced accelerated cooling in Late Miocene times. Late-Cretaceous to Palaeogene movement on the LFZ cannot be clearly proven. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar muscovite and ZFT ages were probably partly thermally affected along the LFZ during Miocene times.

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“…These values are deduced from vitrinite reflectance, assuming a mean geothermal gradient of 25°C to 30°C/km (Labaume et al, 2009). During the Miocene, basement thrusting uplifted the Argentera and Barrot massifs (Bigot-Cormier et al, 2006;Sanchez, 2010), and related erosion resulted in the exhumation of the Grès d'Annot (Labaume et al, 2008).…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of fault rock foliation on fault zone permeability: The case of deeply buried arkosic sandstones (Grès d'Annot, southeastern France)

Cavailhès¹,

Sizun²,

Labaume³

et al. 2013

Bulletin

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We describe the structure, microstructure, and petrophysical properties of fault rocks from two normal fault zones formed in low-porosity turbiditic arkosic sandstones, in deep diagenesis conditions similar to those of deeply buried reservoirs. These fault rocks are characterized by a foliated fabric and quartz-calcite sealed veins, which formation resulted from the combination of the (1) pressure solution of quartz, (2) intense fracturing sealed by quartz and calcite cements, and (3) neoformation of synkinematic white micas derived from the alteration of feldspars and chlorite. Fluid inclusion microthermometry in quartz and calcite cements demonstrates fault activity at temperatures of 195°C to 268°C. Permeability measurements on plugs oriented parallel with the principal axes of the finite strain ellipsoid show that the Y axis (parallel with the foliation and veins) is the direction of highest permeability in the foliated sandstone (10 -2 md for Y against 10 -3 md for X, Z, and the protolith, measured at a confining pressure of 20 bars). Microstructural observations document the localization of the preferential fluid path between the phyllosilicate particles forming the foliation. Hence, the direction of highest permeability in these fault rocks would be parallel with the fault and subhorizontal, that is, perpendicular to the slickenlines representing the local slip direction on the fault surface. We suggest

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The denudation history of the Argentera Alpine External Crystalline Massif (Western Alps, France-Italy): an overview from the analysis of fission tracks in apatites and zircons

Cited by 59 publications

References 34 publications

Exhumation and relief development in the Pelvoux and Dora‐Maira massifs (western Alps) assessed by spectral analysis and inversion of thermochronological age transects

Exhumation and relief development in the Pelvoux and Dora‐Maira massifs (western Alps) assessed by spectral analysis and inversion of thermochronological age transects

Polyphase movement on the Lavanttal Fault Zone (Eastern Alps): reconciling the evidence from different geochronological indicators

Influence of fault rock foliation on fault zone permeability: The case of deeply buried arkosic sandstones (Grès d'Annot, southeastern France)

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