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Feedback between erosion and active deformation: geomorphic constraints from the frontal Jura fold-and-thrust belt (eastern France)

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Abstract

A regional tectono-geomorphic analysis indicates a Pliocene to recent rock uplift of the outermost segment of the Jura fold-and-thrust belt, which spatially coincides with the intra-continental Rhine-Bresse Transfer Zone. Elevated remnants of the partly eroded Middle Pliocene Sundgau-Forêt de Chaux Gravels identified by heavy mineral analyses allow for a paleo-topographic reconstruction that yields minimum regional Latest Pliocene to recent rock uplift rates of 0.05 ± 0.02 mm/year. This uplift also affected the Pleistocene evolution of the Ognon and Doubs drainage basins and is interpreted as being tectonically controlled. While the Ognon River was deflected from the uplifted region the Doubs deeply incised into it. Focused incision of the Doubs possibly sustained ongoing deformation along anticlines which were initiated during the Neogene evolution of the thin-skinned Jura fold-and-thrust belt. At present, this erosion-related active deformation is taking place synchronously with thick-skinned tectonics, controlling the inversion of the Rhine-Bresse Transfer Zone. This suggests local decoupling between seismogenic basement faulting and erosion-related deformation of the Mesozoic cover sequences.

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Acknowledgments

This project was carried out in the framework of the EUCOR-URGENT project whereby the first author was funded by ELTEM (Universität Basel) and the “Freiwillige Akademische Gesellschaft Basel”. We would like to thank all our colleagues of the EUCOR URGENT team at the Geological Institute Basel. Special thanks are extended to V. Bichet, M. Campy, B. Regent, F. Schlunegger, M. Schnellmann, T. Vietor and A. Wetzel for sharing their experience during joint field trips and discussions. Constructive comments by A. Sommaruga and an anonymous reviewer significantly improved the original manuscript.

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  1. Herfried Madritsch

    Present address: Nagra, Hardstrasse 73, 5430, Wettingen, Switzerland

  2. Stefan M. Schmid

    Present address: Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, FU Berlin, 12249, Berlin, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological-Paleontological Institute, Universität Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Herfried Madritsch, Stefan M. Schmid & Peter A. Ziegler

  2. UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, Université de Franche-Comté, 25030, Besançon cedex, France

    Olivier Fabbri

  3. 51381, Leverkusen, Germany

    Eva-Marie Hagedorn

  4. Institute of Geological Sciences, Universität Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Frank Preusser

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Madritsch, H., Fabbri, O., Hagedorn, EM. et al. Feedback between erosion and active deformation: geomorphic constraints from the frontal Jura fold-and-thrust belt (eastern France). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 99 (Suppl 1), 103–122 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-009-0468-7

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