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.

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 basement exhumation in the Central Alps recorded by detrital garnet geochemistry in foreland basin deposits

Solid Earth ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1581-1595
Author(s):  
Laura Stutenbecker ◽  
Peter M. E. Tollan ◽  
Andrea Madella ◽  
Pierre Lanari
Keyword(s):  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Central Alps ◽  
Drainage Networks ◽  
Northern Alpine Foreland ◽  
Relief Distribution ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin

Abstract. The Neogene evolution of the European Alps was characterized by the exhumation of crystalline basement, the so-called external crystalline massifs. Their exhumation presumably controlled the evolution of relief, distribution of drainage networks, and generation of sediment in the Central Alps. However, due to the absence of suitable proxies, the timing of their surficial exposure and thus the initiation of sediment supply from these areas are poorly constrained. The northern Alpine foreland basin preserves the Oligocene to Miocene sedimentary record of tectonic and climatic adjustments in the hinterland. This contribution analyses the provenance of 25 to 14 Myr old alluvial fan deposits by means of detrital garnet chemistry. Unusually grossular- and spessartine-rich garnet is found (1) to be a unique proxy for identifying detritus from the external crystalline massifs and (2) to occur abundantly in ca. 14 Myr old deposits of the foreland basin. In contrast to previous assumptions, we therefore propose that the external massifs were already exposed to the surface ca. 14 Myr ago.

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.

Low-temperature thermochronology and vitrinite reflectance data reveal longwavelength uplift in the Alpine foreland basin

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Louis ◽  
Elco Luijendijk ◽  
Christoph von Hagke ◽  
István Dunkl ◽  
Ralf Littke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Molasse Basin ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Geodynamic Processes ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
Reflectance Data

<p>Foreland basin sediments mirror the history of an orogeny. Deformation and geodynamic processes in low spatial extend (e.g. dozens of km) can be quantified using kinematic restoration. Processes happening deep underneath an orogen show a large spatial manifestation that is difficult to quantify in time and space. Marine units at surface outcrops show 900 m of net uplift since deposition in undeformed parts of the alpine foreland basin. Existing low-temperature thermochronology data from the Swiss part of the Molasse Basin show a thermal overprint that indicates exhumation of more than 1.5 km. We quantify the wavelength of deep seated processes of the Alpine orogen by generating and analyzing a holistic dataset of the entire alpine foreland basin. In addition to compiling existing data from the western part of the basin we have generated a new apatite (U-Th)/He and vitrinite reflectance data set from the central and eastern part of the basin. The new apatite (U-Th)/He ages in the German part of the basin show exhumation below or close to the detection limit (~1.5 km). Within the folded and thrusted Molasse, exhumation is localized along thrusts and the thermochronological data indicates thrusting between 10 to 20 Ma. Vitrinite reflectance data reveals a trend of exhumation increasing from East to West. Parts of the central German Molasse basin have been exhumed as well. Thus, on the large scale we can see longwave exhumation patterns in the western part of the basin that affect both the deformed and undeformed parts of the basin which cannot only be related to Jura thrusting.</p>

The diagenetic history of Oligocene-Miocene sandstones of the Austrian north Alpine foreland basin

2016 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 418-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.-L. Grundtner ◽  
D. Gross ◽  
H.G. Linzer ◽  
S. Neuhuber ◽  
R.F. Sachsenhofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foreland Basin ◽  
North Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
History Of ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
Diagenetic History

scholarly journals Detailed Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Analysis on Deep Carbonates from the North Alpine Foreland Basin to Constrain Paleofluid Evolution

Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Mraz ◽  
Markus Wolfgramm ◽  
Inga Moeck ◽  
Kurosch Thuro
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusions ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Molasse Basin ◽  
Drill Cuttings ◽  
The North ◽  
North Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
Alpine Foreland ◽  
Alpine Foreland Basin ◽  
Reservoir Evolution

The recent interest on environmentally friendly energy resources has increased the economic interest on the Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks in the North Alpine Foreland Basin, which serves as a hydrogeothermal reservoir. An economic reservoir use by geothermal fluid extraction and injection requires a decent understanding of porosity–permeability evolution of the deep laying Upper Jurassic strata at depths greater than 2000 m. The analysis of paleofluids caught in cements of the rock mass helps to determine the postdepositional reservoir evolution and fluid migration. Therefore, the high- and low-permeability areas of the Upper Jurassic in the North Alpine Foreland Basin referred to as Molasse Basin were analyzed by means of encountered postdepositional cements to determine the reservoir evolution. The cements were sampled at different hydrocarbon and geothermal wells, as well as at outcrops in the Franconian and Swabian Alb. To determine the composition and temperature of the paleofluids, fluid inclusions and cements of the Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks were analyzed by microthermometry and stable isotope measurements. Since drill cuttings are a rather available sample material compared to drill cores, a new microthermometry measurement method was achieved for the around 1 mm drill cuttings. Salinity and formation temperature of paleofluids in fluid inclusions and isotope data are consistent with previous studies and reveal a 5-stage evolution: the main cementation phases are composed of (I) the early diagenesis in limestones (200-400 m, 40-50°C), (II) early diagenetic dolomitization, and (III) burial dolomitization (1-2 km, II: 40-90°C; III: 70-100°C; 40 g/L NaCl equiv.), and (IV) late burial calcification (IIIa: 110-140°C, IIIb: 140-200°C) linked to tectonic features in the Molasse Basin. In the outcrop samples, a subsequent (V) cementation phase was determined controlled by karstification. In the southwest, an increase in salinity of the fluid inclusions in vein calcites, above the salinity of the Jurassic seawater, highlights the influence of basin fluids (diagenetic, evaporitic). In the other eastern wells, vein calcites have precipitated from a low saline fluid of around 10-20 g/L NaCl equiv. The low salinity and the isotope values support the theory of a continuous influence of descending meteoric fluids. Consequently, the Upper Jurassic seawater has been diluted by a meteoric fluid to a low saline fluid (<1 g/L), especially in areas with high permeability. Here, we show how a better understanding of cementation trajectory at depth can help to generate a better understanding of geothermal usability in deep carbonate reservoirs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document