Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interaction of two successive Alpine deformation fronts: constraints from low-temperature thermochronology and structural mapping (NW Iberian Peninsula)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The lateral termination of the Alpine-Pyrenean Orogen relief onshore is located in the NW Iberian Peninsula. It overlies a Variscan basement (Iberian Massif), where the sedimentary record of the Alpine tectonic is very scarce. Thus, the characterisation of the tectonic evolution of the lateral termination is difficult and timing and geometries of the main tectonic structures remain unclear. Combining the tectonothermal histories obtained by modelling of the apatite fission-track data (AFT) with structural mapping allows for a comparative study of the different tectonic scenarios and deformation transfer in the lateral termination of an orogen. AFT ages for the studied area vary from 53.5 ± 12.9 and 222 ± 12 Ma (from Late Triassic to Early Eocene). The beginning of the Cenozoic cooling episodes is in agreement with the infilling of the Tertiary basins (Late Eocene or Oligocene). Calculated uplift for the Alpine Orogeny is around 2,400 m. The Cantabrian Mountains were uplifted and emplaced southwards and the main period of exhumation began in the Palaeogene at rates of ~0.02 mm/a and continued during the Neogene at rates of ~0.06 mm/a. However, the Galaico-Leoneses Mountains, located to the south of the studied area, were uplifted and emplaced northwards during the Neogene, showing more rapid uplift rates of ~0.08 mm/a, suggesting that the western termination of the Alpine-Pyrenean Orogen relief is the result of the successive interaction of two Alpine deformation fronts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alonso JL, Pulgar JA (2004) Estructura alpina de la Cordillera Cantábrica: generalidades. In: Vera JA (ed) Geología de España SGE-IGME, Madrid, pp 332–334

  • Alonso JA, Pulgar JA, García Ramos JC, Barba P (1996) Tertiary basins and Alpine tectonics in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). In: Friend PF, Dabrio CJ (eds) Tertiary basins of Spain. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 214–227

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ancochea E, Huertas MJ, Ibarrola E, Snelling E (1992) Diques Basálticos en las Proximidades de Orense Evidencia de Actividad Magmática Cretácica en el Noroeste de la Peninsula Ibérica. Revista de la Soc Geol de España 5:65–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Andeweg B (2002) Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula causes and effects of changing the stress field. Dissertation, VU University Amsterdam

  • Arenas R, Martínez Catalán JR (2003) Low-P metamorphism following a Barrovian-type evolution Complex tectonic controls for a common transition, as deduced in the Mondoñedo thrust sheet (NW Iberian Massif). Tectonophysics 365:143–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbero L (1995) Granulite-facies metamorphism in the Anatectic complex of Toledo, Spain: late Hercynian evolution by crustal extension. J Geol Soc London 152:365–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbero L, Glasmacher UA, Villaseca C, López García JA, Martín-Romera C (2005) Long-term thermo-tectonic evolution of the Montes de Toledo area (Central Hercynian Belt, Spain): constraints from apatite fission-track analysis. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 94:193–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnolas A, Pujalte V (2004) La Cordillera Pirenaica. In: Vera JA (ed) Geología de España IGME-SGE, Madrid, pp 233–343

  • Barrera Morate JL, Farias Arquer P, González Lodeiro F, Marquínez García J, Martín Parra LM, Martínez Catalán JR, Olmo Sanz A, de Pablo Maciá JG, Gallastegui G, Bea F, Villasante Pinto R (1989) Hoja y Memoria del Mapa geológico de España E 1: 200000 no. 17/27 (Ourense/Verín) IGME, Madrid

  • Bea F (2004) La naturaleza del magmatismo de la Zona Centroibérica: consideraciones generales y ensayo de correlación. In: Vera JA (ed) Geología de España SGE-IGME, Madrid, pp 128–133

  • Bellido Mulas F, Brandle Matesanz JL, García Garzón J, Lasala M, Reyes Andrés J (1990) Estudio petrológico y geocronológico del plutón granítico post-cinemático de Neira. Cad Lab Xeol Laxe 15:25–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Cámara P (1997) The Basque-Cantabrian basin’s Mesozoic tectono-sedimentary evolution. Mémoires Société Géologique de France 171:187–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrière KL (2006) Neoproterozoic to Holocene tectonothermal evolution of the southern Cantabrian Mountains NW Iberia, revealed by apatite fission-track thermochronology Dissertation. University of Heinderberg

  • Choukroune P, Roure F, Pinet B, ECORS Pyrenees Team (1990) Main results of the ECORS Pyrenees profile. Tectonophysics 173:411–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruijne CH, Andriessen P (2002) Far field effects of alpine plate tectonics in the Iberian microplate recorded by fault-related denudation in the Spanish central system. Tectonophysics 349:161–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Vicente G, Vegas R (2009) Large-scale distributed deformation controlled topography along the western Africa-Eurasia limit: tectonic constraints. Tectonophysics. doi:101016/jtecto200811026

  • Dewey JF, Helman ML, Turco E, Hutton DHW, Knott SD (1989) Kinematics of the western mediterranean. In: Coward MP, Dietrich D, Park RG (eds) Alpine tectonics. Geological Society Special Publications, London, pp 265–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Escuder Viruete J, Arenas R, Martínez Catalán JR (1994) Tectonothermal evolution associated with Variscan crustal extension in the Tormes Gneiss Dome (NW Salamanca, Iberian Massif, Spain). Tectonophysics 238:117–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernàndez M, Marzán I, Correia A, Ramalho E (1998) Heat flow, heat production, and lithospheric thermal regime in the Iberian Peninsula. Tectonophysics 291:29–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Suárez J (1994) Petrología de los granitos peralumínicos y metamorfismo de la Banda Boal-Los Ancares Dissertation. Universidad Oviedo, Oviedo, pp 418

  • Fernández-Suárez J, Dunning G, Jenner JA, Gutiérrez-Alonso G (2000) Variscan collisional magmatism and deformation in NW Iberia: constrains from U-Pb geochronology of the granitoids. J Geol Soc Lond 157:565–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal M, Martin-Suarez E, Heredia N, Rodriguez-Fernandez l R, Martín-Gonzalez F (2010) Rodents from the lower oligocene of the Bierzo Basin (Leon, Spain) N Jb Geol, Palaont Abh. doi:101127/0077-7749/2010/0079

  • Gallastegui G, Cuesta A (2005) Mineralogía y geoquímica de manifestaciones filonianas post-variscas en el NO de la Península Ibérica (Provincias de Lugo y León). Macla 3:85–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallastegui J, Pulgar JA, Gallart J (2002) Initiation of an active margin at the North Iberian continent ocean transition. Tectonics 21:1501–1514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García Abad FJ, Martín Serrano A (1980) Precisiones sobre la génesis y cronología de los relieves apalachianos del Macizo Hespérico (Meseta central espańola). Estudios Geológicos 36:391–401

    Google Scholar 

  • González Lodeiro F, Hernádez Urroz J, Klein E, Martínez Catalán J R, Pablo Maciá JG (1982) Hoja y Memoria del Mapa Geológico de España E 1: 200000 No. 8 (Lugo) IGME, Madrid

  • González-Casado JM, Giner Robles J (2000) Relaciones entre fallas y sismicidad en el Noroeste peninsular. Geogaceta 28:71–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Grobe R, Alvarez J, Glasmacher UA, Menendez R (2010) Low-temperature exhumation history of Variscan-age rocks in the western Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain) recorded by apatite fission-track data. Tectonophysics 499:76–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Alonso G, Fernández-Suárez J, Weil AB, Murphy JB, Nance R, Corfú F, Johnston ST (2008) Self-subduction of the Pangaean global plate. Nat Geosci 1:549–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta A, Pares JM, Cabrera L, Ferrus B, Saez A (1997) Magnetocronología de las sucesiones cenozoicas de la cuenca de As Pontes (La Coruña, noroeste de España). Acta Geológica Hispánica 32:127–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Jabaloy A, Galindo-Zaldívar J, González-Lodeiro F (2002) Paleostress evolution of the Iberian Peninsula (Late Carbonferous to present-day). Tectonophysics 357:159–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juez-Larré J, Ter Voorde M (2009) Thermal impact of the break-up of Pangea on the Iberian Peninsula, assessed by thermochronological dating and numerical modeling. Tectonophysics 474:200–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketcham RA (2005) Forward and inverse modeling of low-temperature thermochronometry data. Rev Miner Geochem 58:275–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketcham RA, Donelick RA, Donelick MB (2000) AFTSolve: a program for multi-kinetic modelling of apatite fission-track data. Geol Mater Res 2:1–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketcham RA, Carter AC, Donelick RA, Barbarand J, Hurford AJ (2007a) Improved measurement of fission track annealing in apatite using c-axis projection. Am Miner 92:789–798

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketcham RA, Carter AC, Donelick RA, Barbarand J, Hurford AJ (2007b) Improved modeling of fission-track annealing in apatite. Am Miner 92:799–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López Fernández C (2008) Actividad sísmica, zonación sismotectónica y peligrosidad sísmica en el noroeste de la Península Ibérica. Nova Terra 35, O Castro

  • López Martínez N, Fernández Marrón M, Peláez-Campomanes P, a Zarzuelo A (1993) Estudio paleontológico en las cuencas terciarias de Galicia. Rev Soc Geol España 6:19–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez Catalán JR, Pérez Estaún A, Bastida F, Pulgar JA, Marcos A (1990) West Asturian-Leonese zone: structure. In: Dallmeyer RD, Martínez-García E (eds) Pre-Mesozoic geology of Iberia. Springer, Berlín, pp 103–114

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez Catalán JR, Arenas R, Abati J, Sánchez Martínez S, Díaz García F, Fernández Suárez J, González Cuadra P, Castiñeiras P, Gómez Barreiro J, Díez Montes A, González Clavijo E, Rubio Pascual FJ, Andonaegui P, Jeffries TE, Alcock JE, Díez Fernández R, López Carmona A (2009) A rootless suture and the loss of the roots of a mountain chain: the Variscan belt of NW Iberia. C R Geosci 341:114–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Díaz JJ, Capote R, Tsige M, Villamor P, Martín-González F, Insua-Arévalo JM (2006) Seismic triggering in a stable continental area: the Lugo1995–1997 seismic sequences (NW Spain). J Geodyn 41:440–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín-González F (2005) Tectónica Alpina, Neotectónica y Sismotectónica en la terminación occidental de los relieves cantábricos (Macizo Ibérico) Marco tectónico de las crisis sísmicas de Lugo. Dissertation. Universidad Complutense Madrid

  • Martín-González F (2009) Cenozoic tectonic activity in a Variscan basement: evidence from geomorphological markers and structural mapping (NW Iberian Massif). Geomorphology 107:210–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín-González F, Heredia N (2008) ¿Cómo finaliza la estructura de la Cordillera Cantábrico-Pirenaica hacia el Oeste? Geo-Temas 10:373–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-González F, Heredia N (2011) Complex tectonic and tectonostratigraphic evolution of an Alpine foreland basin: the western Duero Basin and the related tertiary depressions of the NW Iberian Peninsula. Tectonophysics 502:75–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín-González F, Capote R, Barbero L, Insua JM, Martínez-Díaz JJ (2006a) Primeros resultados de huellas de fisión en apatito en el sector Lugo-Ancares (Noroeste de la Península Ibérica). Geogaceta 40:79–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-González F, Insua JM, Capote R, Martínez Díaz JJ (2006b) The seismic sequences of Sarria-Triacastela-Becerreá (1995-1997): Geological constraints In: 5 Asamblea-Hispano Portuguesa de Geodesia y Geofisica, Proceedings, ISBN: 84-8320-373-1

  • Martín-González F, Capote R, Barbero L, Insua JM, Martínez-Díaz JJ, Heredia N (2008) Historia tectonotermal Mesozoica y Cenozoica del NO peninsular establecida mediante termocronología de huellas de fisión en apatitos. Geotemas 10:1567–5172

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Serrano A (1989) Rasgos generales y problemática de las superficies de erosión en Galicia. Cuad Lab Xeol Laxe 14:7–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Serrano A (1994) El relieve del Macizo Hespérico; génesis y cronología de los principales elementos morfológicos. Cuad Lab Xeol Laxe 19:37–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Serrano A, Mediavilla R, Santisteban JI (1996) North-western Cainozoic record: present knowledge and the correlation problem. In: Friend PF, Dabrio CJ (eds) Tertiary Basins of Spain. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 237–246

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz JA (1992) Evolution of a continental collision belt: ECORS-Pyrenees crustal balanced section. In: McClay KR (ed) Thrust Tectonics London, Chapman and Hall, pp 235–246

  • Muñoz JA (2002) Alpine tectonics I: the Alpine system north of the Beltic Cordillera: The Pyrenees. In: Gibbons W, Moreno T (eds) The geology of Spain. Geological society, London, pp 370–385

  • Ortega LA, Aranguren A, Menéndez M, Gil Ibarguchi JI (2000) Petrogénesis, edad y emplazamiento del granito tardi-Hercínico de Veiga (Antiforme del Ollo de Sapo, Noroeste de España). Cuad Lab Xeol Laxe 25:265–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagés JL, Hacar MP, Alonso A (2001) Problemática de la Formacion Las Médulas y sus implicaciones morfotectónicas (El Bierzo y SE de Galicia). Geogaceta 30:99–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedreira D (2004) Estructura cortical de la zona de transición entre los Pirineos y la Cordillera Cantábrica. Dissertation. Universidad de Oviedo Oviedo

  • Pulgar JA, Gallart J, Fernández-Viejo G, Pérez Estaún A, Álvarez-Marrón J, Group ESCIN (1996) Seismic image of the Cantabrian Mountains in the western extension of the Pyrenean belt from integrated reflection and refraction data. Tectonophysics 264:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ries AC (1979) Variscan metamorphism and K-Ar dates in the Variscan fold belt of S Brittany and NW Spain. J Geol Soc London 136:89–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rock NMS (1982) The Late Cretaceous Alkaline Province in the Iberian Peninsula and its tectonic significance. Lithos 15:111–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santanach P (1994) Las cuencas terciarias gallegas en la terminación occidental de los relieves pirenaicos. Cuad Lab Xeol Laxe 19:57–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Santiesteban JI, Mediavilla R, Martín Serrano A, Dabrio CJ (1996) The Duero Basin: a general overview. In: Friend PF, Dabrio CJ (eds) Tertiary Basins of Spain Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 183–187

  • Schärer U, Kornprobst J, Beslier MO, Boillot GGJ (1995) Gabbro and related rock emplacement beneath rifting continental crust: U-Pb geochronological and geochimical constrainsts for the Galicia passive margin (Spain). Earth Planet Sci Lett 130:187–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sell I, Poupeau G, Casquet C, Galindo C, González-Casado JM (1995) Exhumación alpina del bloque morfotectónico Pedriza-La Cabrera (Sierra de Guadarrama, Sistema Central Español). Geogaceta 18:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava SP, Roest WR, Kovacs LC, Oakey G, Levesque S, Verhoef J, Macnab R (1990) Motion of Iberia since the Late Jurassic: results from detailed aeromagnetic measurement in the Newfoundland Basin. Tectonophysics 184:229–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teixell A (1998) Crustal structure and orogenic material budget in the west-central Pyrenees. Tectonics 17:395–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Téna-Dávila M, Capdevilla R (1975) Mapa Geológico de España 1: 50,000 Hoja 72 (Lugo) IGME, Madrid

  • Truyols J, García Ramos JC, Casanovas-Cladellas ML, Santafe-Llopis JV (1991) El Terciario de los alrededores de Oviedo. Acta Geológica Hispánica 26:229–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderhaeghe O, Teyssier C (2001) Crustal-scale rheological transitions during late-orogenic collapse. Tectonophysics 335:211–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vegas R, De Vicente G, Muñoz-Martín A, Palomino R (2004) Los corredores de fallas de Regua-Verín y Vilariça: Zonas de transferencia de la deformación intraplaca en la Peninsula Ibérica. Geotemas 6:245–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Yepes Temiño J, Vidal Romaní JR (2003) Morphogenesis of the Orense Plains (NW of Spain). Cad Lab Xeol Laxe 28:263–283

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project has been partially supported by Consolider CSD2006-041 and Research Group RNM-160 of the Regional Andalusian Government. The authors wish to thank G. Gutierrez Alonso and an anonymous reviewer for their comments and suggestions that have contributed to the improvement of the final version of the manuscript. The authors also want to express their appreciations to M. Brummitt and A. Gould for critically reading the manuscript and making several useful remarks.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área de Geología. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. C/Tulipán, s/n. Móstoles, 28933, Madrid, Spain

    F. Martín-González

  2. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510, Puerto Real, Spain

    L. Barbero

  3. Departamento de Geodinámica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    R. Capote

  4. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, 33005, Oviedo, Spain

    N. Heredia & G. Gallastegui

Authors
  1. F. Martín-González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Barbero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Capote
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Heredia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Gallastegui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Martín-González.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martín-González, F., Barbero, L., Capote, R. et al. Interaction of two successive Alpine deformation fronts: constraints from low-temperature thermochronology and structural mapping (NW Iberian Peninsula). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 101, 1331–1342 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-011-0712-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-011-0712-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation