High-resolution stratigraphy from the continental record of the Middle Miocene Northern Alpine Foreland Basin of Switzerland

2009 ◽  
Vol 254 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kälin ◽  
Oliver Kempf
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Northern Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin

scholarly journals Revealing exhumation of the central Alps during the Early Oligocene by detrital zircon U–Pb age and fission-track double dating in the Taveyannaz Formation

2020 ◽  
Vol 109 (7) ◽  
pp. 2425-2446
Author(s):  
Gang Lu ◽  
Maria Giuditta Fellin ◽  
Wilfried Winkler ◽  
Meinert Rahn ◽  
Marcel Guillong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Fission Track ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Late Eocene ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Early Oligocene ◽  
Zircon Fission Track ◽  
Northern Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin

Abstract The late Eocene-to-early Oligocene Taveyannaz Formation is a turbidite series deposited in the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (close to the Alpine orogenic front). Double dating of zircons with the fission-track and the U–Pb methods is applied on samples from the Taveyannaz Formation to reconstruct the exhumation history of the Central-Western Alps and to understand the syn-collisional magmatism along the Periadriatic lineament. Three samples from this unit show similar detrital zircon fission-track age populations that center at: 33–40 Ma (20%); 69–92 Ma (30–40%); and 138–239 Ma (40–50%). The youngest population contains both syn-volcanic and basement grains. Combined with zircon U–Pb data, it suggests that the basement rocks of Apulian-affinity nappes (Margna Sesia, Austroalpine) were the major sources of detritus, together with the Ivrea Zone and recycled Prealpine flysch, that contributed debris to the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin. Furthermore, the rocks of the Sesia–Lanzo Zone or of equivalent units exposed at that time presumably provided the youngest basement zircon fission-track ages to the basin. The Biella volcanic suite was the source of volcanogenic zircons. Oligocene sediment pathways from source to sink crossed further crystalline basement units and sedimentary covers before entering the basin from the southeast. The lag times of the youngest basement age populations (volcanic zircons excluded) are about 11 Myr. This constrains average moderate-to-high exhumation rate of 0.5–0.6 km/Myr in the pro-side of the orogenic wedge of the Central Alps during the late Eocene to early Oligocene.

scholarly journals Miocene high elevation in the Central Alps

Solid Earth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2615-2631
Author(s):  
Emilija Krsnik ◽  
Katharina Methner ◽  
Marion Campani ◽  
Svetlana Botsyun ◽  
Sebastian G. Mutz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Molasse Basin ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Pedogenic Carbonate ◽  
Northern Alpine Foreland ◽  
History Of ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin

Abstract. Reconstructing Oligocene–Miocene paleoelevation contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary history of the European Alps and sheds light on geodynamic and Earth surface processes involved in the development of Alpine topography. Despite being one of the most intensively explored mountain ranges worldwide, constraints on the elevation history of the European Alps remain scarce. Here we present stable and clumped isotope measurements to provide a new paleoelevation estimate for the mid-Miocene (∼14.5 Ma) European Central Alps. We apply stable isotope δ–δ paleoaltimetry to near-sea-level pedogenic carbonate oxygen isotope (δ18O) records from the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (Swiss Molasse Basin) and high-Alpine phyllosilicate hydrogen isotope (δD) records from the Simplon Fault Zone (Swiss Alps). We further explore Miocene paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental conditions in the Swiss Molasse Basin through carbonate stable (δ18O, δ13C) and clumped (Δ47) isotope data from three foreland basin sections in different alluvial megafan settings (proximal, mid-fan, and distal). Combined pedogenic carbonate δ18O values and Δ47 temperatures (30±5 ∘C) yield a near-sea-level precipitation δ18Ow value of -5.8±1.2 ‰ and, in conjunction with the high-Alpine phyllosilicate δD value of -14.6±0.3 ‰, suggest that the region surrounding the Simplon Fault Zone attained surface elevations of >4000 m no later than the mid-Miocene. Our near-sea-level δ18Ow estimate is supported by paleoclimate (iGCM ECHAM5-wiso) modeled δ18O values, which vary between −4.2 ‰ and −7.6 ‰ for the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin.

scholarly journals Miocene high elevation and high relief in the Central Alps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilija Krsnik ◽  
Katharina Methner ◽  
Marion Campani ◽  
Svetlana Botsyun ◽  
Sebastian G. Mutz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Molasse Basin ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Pedogenic Carbonate ◽  
Northern Alpine Foreland ◽  
History Of ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin

Abstract. Reconstructing Oligocene-Miocene paleoelevation contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary history of the European Alps and sheds light on geodynamic and Earth’s surface processes involved in the development of Alpine topography. Despite being one of the most intensively explored mountain ranges worldwide, constraints on the elevation history of the European Alps, however, remain scarce. Here we present stable and clumped isotope geochemistry measurements to provide a new paleoelevation estimate for the mid-Miocene (~14.5 Ma) European Central Alps. We apply stable isotope δ-δ paleoaltimetry on near sea level pedogenic carbonate oxygen isotope (δ18O) records from the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (Swiss Molasse Basin) and high-Alpine phyllosilicate hydrogen isotope (δD) records from the Simplon Fault Zone (Swiss Alps). We further explore Miocene paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental conditions in the Swiss Molasse Basin through carbonate stable (δ18O, δ13C) and clumped (Δ47) isotope data from three foreland basin sections in different alluvial megafan settings (proximal, mid-fan, and distal). Combined pedogenic carbonate δ18O values and Δ47 temperatures (30 ± 5 °C) yield a near sea level precipitation δ18Ow value of −5.8 ± 0.2 ‰ and in conjunction with the high-Alpine phyllosilicate δD record suggest that the region surrounding the SFZ attained surface elevations of > 4000 m no later than the mid-Miocene. Our near sea level δ18Ow estimate is supported by paleoclimate (iGCM Echam5-wiso) modeled δ18O values, which vary between −4.2 and −7.6 ‰ for the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin.

The Ries-Steinheim crater pair and two major earthquakes – New discoveries challenging the double-impact theory

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmar Buchner ◽  
Volker Sach ◽  
Martin Schmieder
Keyword(s):  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Impact Theory ◽  
North Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
Impact Ejecta ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
Distance Relationship ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract The Nördlinger Ries and the Steinheim Basin are widely perceived as a Middle Miocene impact crater doublet. We discovered two independent earthquake-produced seismite horizons in North Alpine Foreland Basin deposits. The older seismite horizon,associated with the Ries impact is overlain by in situ-preserved distal impact ejecta, forming a unique continental seismite-ejecta couplet within a distance up to 180 km from the crater. The younger seismite unit, also triggered by a major palaeo-earthquake, comprises clastic dikes that cut through the Ries seismite-ejecta couplet. The clastic dikes were likely formed in response to the Steinheim impact, some kyr after the Ries impact, in line with paleontologic results. With the Ries and Steinheim impacts as two separate events, Southern Germany witnessed a double disaster in the Middle Miocene. The magnitude–distance relationship of seismite formation during large earthquakes suggests the seismic and destructive potential of impact-earthquakes may be significantly underestimated.

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