Abstract
Extensional denudation in the western Mediterranean formed deep basins in the core of subduction-related orogenic arcs. It has contributed to the exhumation of metamorphic rocks in the hinterland of the Betics, Apennines, Rif and Tell. However, fewer cases have been described as extensional denudation affecting Foreland Thrust Belts (FTB). Here we describe the extensional collapse of FTBs around the western Mediterranean in response to mantle subduction dynamics in a setting of NW-SE convergence between Africa and Eurasia. The extension of FTBs has occurred at the edges of migrating subduction systems like the Gibraltar, Calabrian and Tunisian Tell-Atlas arcs when lithospheric tearing has propagated under the foreland region. Inboard of Subduction Transfer Edge Propagator (STEP) boundaries continental crust can undergo peeling of its mantle lithosphere driving extension, Si-K-rich magmatism and topographic uplift. This tectonic mechanism has been described as edge delamination in the Betics and Rif. We describe examples of extended FTB’s in the Betics, Rif and Tell and their relation to mantle driven tectonic mechanisms.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Lonergan, L., White, N.: Origin of the Betic-Rif mountain belt. Tectonics 16(3), 504–522 (1997)
Faccenna, C., Piromallo, C., Crespo-Blanc, A., Jolivet, L., Rossetti, F.: Lateral slab deformation and the origin of the western Mediterranean arcs. Tectonics 23(TC1012) (2004). https://doi.org/10.1029/2002tc001488
Platt, J.P., Vissers, R.L.M.: Extensional collapse of thickened continental lithosphere: a working hypothesis for the Alboran Sea and Gibraltar Arc. Geology 17, 540–543 (1989)
Booth-Rea, G., Ranero, C., Martínez-Martínez, J.M., Grevemeyer, I.: Crustal types and Tertiary tectonic evolution of the Alborán sea, western Mediterranean. G-Cubed 8, Q10004 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GC001661
Prada, M., Sallares, V., Ranero, C.R., Vendrell, M.G., Grevemeyer, I., Zitellini, N., Franco, R.: Seismic structure of the Central Tyrrhenian basin: geophysical constraints on the nature of the main crustal domains. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 119(1), 52–70 (2014)
Arab, M., Rabineau, M., Deverchere, J., Bracene, R., Belhai, D., Roure, F., Marok, A., Bouyahiaoui, B., Granjeon, D., Andriessen, P., Sage, F.: Tectonostratigraphic evolution of the eastern Algerian margin and basin from seismic data and onshore-offshore correlation. Mar. Pet. Geol. 77, 1355–1375 (2016)
Carmignani, L., Kligfield, R.: Crustal extension in the Northern Apennines: the transition from compression to extension in the Alpi Apuane core complex. Tectonics 9(6), 1275–1303 (1990)
Balanya, J.C., Crespo-Blanc, A., Azpiroz, M.D., Exposito, I., Lujan, M.: Structural trend line pattern and strain partitioning around the Gibraltar Arc accretionary wedge: insights as to the mode of orogenic arc building. Tectonics 26(2) (2007)
Booth-Rea, G., Jabaloy-Sanchez, A., Azdimousa, A., Asebriy, L., Vazquéz-Vílchez, M., Martínez-Martínez, J.M.: Upper-crustal extension during oblique collision: the Temsamane extensional detachment (eastern Rif, Morocco). Terra Nova 24, 505–512 (2012)
Rodríguez-Fernández, J., Azor, A., Miguel Azañón, J.: The Betic Intramontane Basins (SE Spain): Stratigraphy, Subsidence, and Tectonic History, pp. 461–479. Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins. Wiley, New York (2011)
Barreca, G., Scarfì, L., Cannavò, F., Koulakov, I., Monaco, C.: New structural and seismological evidence and interpretation of a lithospheric-scale shear zone at the southern edge of the Ionian subduction system (central, Eastern Sicily, Italy). Tectonics 35(6), 1489–1505 (2016)
Jimenez-Bonilla, A., Torvela, T., Balanya, J.C., Exposito, I., Diaz-Azpiroz, M.: Changes in dip and frictional properties of the basal detachment controlling orogenic wedge propagation and frontal collapse: the external central Betics case. Tectonics 35(12), 3028–3049 (2016)
Booth-Rea, G., Gaidi, S., Melki, F., Marzougui, W., Azañón, J.M., Zargouni, F., Galvé, J.P., Pérez-Peña, J.V.: Late Miocene extensional collapse of Northern Tunisia. Tectonics 37, 1626–1647 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1029/2017TC004846
Dewey, J.F., Helman, M.L., Turco, E., Hutton, D.H.W., Knott, S.D.: Kinematics of the western Mediterranean. In: Coward, M.P., Dietrich, D., Park, R.G. (eds.) Alpine Tectonics, pp. 265–283. Special Publication Geological Society of London, London (1989)
Govers, R., Wortel, M.J.R.: Lithosphere tearing at STEP faults: response to edges of subduction zones. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 236(1–2), 505–523 (2005)
Booth-Rea, G., Azañón, J.M., Roldán, F.J., Moragues, L., Pérez-Peña, V., Mateos, R.M.: WSW-ENE extension in Mallorca, key for integrating the Balearic Promontory in the Miocene evolution of the western Mediterranean. GeoTemas 16(1), 81–84 (2016)
Mancilla, F.L., Booth-Rea, G., Stich, D., Pérez-Peña, J.V., Morales, J., Azañón, J.M., Martin, R., Giaconia, F.: Slab rupture and delamination under the Betics and Rif constrained from receiver functions. Tectonophysics 663, 225–237 (2015)
Pérez-Valera, L.A., Rosenbaum, G., Sanchez-Gomez, M., Azor, A., Fernandez-Soler, J.M., Pérez-Valera, F., Vasconcelos, P.M.: Age distribution of lamproites along the Socovos Fault (southern Spain) and lithospheric scale tearing. Lithos 180, 252–263 (2013)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Booth-Rea, G. et al. (2019). Extensional Attenuation of Foreland Thrust Belts in the Western Mediterranean. In: Rossetti, F., et al. The Structural Geology Contribution to the Africa-Eurasia Geology: Basement and Reservoir Structure, Ore Mineralisation and Tectonic Modelling. CAJG 2018. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01455-1_46
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01455-1_46
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-01454-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-01455-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)