1887
Volume 3 Number 3
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117

Abstract

Abstract

The stratigraphy of the Eocene‐Miocene peripheral foreland basin in Switzerland consists of basal deposits of Nummulitic Limestones and Globigerina Marls representing a phase of deepening, followed by two shallowing‐up megacycles culminating in fully continental sedimentation.

The onset of sedimentation was diachronous and took place on an unconformity surface with increasing stratigraphic gap to the north and west. In the Ultrahelvetic units, which were derived from the south and have a provenance between the Helvetic shelf and the Penninic ocean, the stratigraphic gap is minimal. This restricts the initiation of erosion of the southern European margin due to emersion to post‐Maastrichtian and pre‐late Palaeocene. This coincides with the final closing of the Valais trough and may therefore be interpreted as the point at which continental flexure . started. In the autochthon, the subcrop map of the unconformity surface shows that the regional pattern of subcropping units is oblique to both neo‐Alpine tectonic structures and Helvetic (Mesozoic) passive margin structures. There are local zones of disruption to the broad regional pattern suggesting that the basal unconformity was corrugated. Both the paliaspastic restoration of the autochthon relative to the thrust front during the Palaeocene, and the regional pattern of erosion indicate that the basal unconformity may be due to erosion of a flexural forebulge.

Following deposition of the shallow water Nummulitic Limestones and the deeper water Globigerina Marls, clastic sediments were shed from the orogenic wedge in the south. These turbidites, the Taveyannaz Sandstones, filled both ponded basins at the contemporaneous thrust front and the frontal trench or foredeep. Evidently, early thrusts drove at a shallow level into the embryonic basin as ‘front‐runners’, whereas most shortening and uplift continued to take place within the main part of the orogenic wedge further to the south. Eventually, the frontal palaeohighs, together with the turbidite basins, were buried by the northward emplacement of surface mud‐slides, and sediment depocentres were translated northwards onto the foreland.

The most likely cause of the underfilled ‘Flysch’ stage is the rapid advance of a submarine thrust wedge over the flexed European plate which resulted in (i) low sediment fluxes and (ii) high subsidence rates associated with the rapid migration of the load and depocentre. Later, as the rate of advance slowed and the wedge became subaerially exposed, the basin rapidly filled with coarse‐grained detritus representing the ‘Molasse’ stage.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.1991.tb00124.x
2007-11-06
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. ALLEN, P. A. & ALLEN, J. R. (1990) Basin Analysis: Principles and Applications. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford , 463 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. BATHURST, R. G. C. (1975) Carbonate Sediments and their Diagenesis, 2nd ed.Elsevier, Amsterdam , 658 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. BERLI, S. (1985) Die Geologie des Sommerberges (Kantone St. Gallen und Appenzell). Ber. St. Call. naturw. Ges.82, 112–145.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. BERTRAND, M. (1884) Rapports de structure des Alpes de Glarus et du Bassin Houllier du nord. Bull. Soc. géol. France, 12, 318–330.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. BOILLOT, G., MONTADERT, L., LEMOINE, M. & BIJU‐DUVAL, B. (1984) Les Marges Continentales Actuelles et Fossiles autour de la France. Masson, Paris/New York .
    [Google Scholar]
  6. BREDDIN, H. (1958) Die regionale tektonische Fossil‐ und Gesteinsdeformation in der Molasse der Ost‐ und Mittel‐Schweiz. Eclog. geol. Helv.51, 378–379.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. BREITSCHMID, A. (1978) Sedimentologische Untersuchungen in der eocaenen Hohgant‐serie im Helvetikum nördlich von Interlaken. Eclog. geol. Helv.71, 143–157.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. BURGISSER, H. M. (1980) Zur Mittel‐Miozänen Sedimentation im Nordalpinen Molassebecken: das ‘Appenzellergranit’ ‐ Leitniveau des Hörnli‐Schuttfáchers (Obere Süsswassermolasse, Nordostschweiz). Mitt. geol. Inst. ETH u. Univ. Zürich, N. F.232, 196 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. BURKHARD, M. (1988) L'Helvétique de la bordure occidentale du massif de l'Aar (évolution tectonique et métamorphique). Eclog. geol. Helv.81, 63–114.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. BURKHARD, M. (1990) Aspects of the large‐scale Miocene deformation in the most external part of the Swiss Alps (Subalpine Molasse to Jura fold belt). Eclog. geol. Helv.83, 559–583.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. COLEMAN, J. M. & WRIGHT, L. D. (1975) Modern river deltas: variability of processes and sand bodies. In: Deltas: Models for Exploration (Ed. by M. L.Broussard ), pp. 99–149. Houston Geological Society, Houston , TX .
    [Google Scholar]
  12. COVEY, M. (1986) The evolution of foreland basins to steady state: evidence from the western Taiwan foreland basin. In: Foreland Basins (Ed. by P. A.Allen and P.Homewood ), pp. 77–90, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford .
    [Google Scholar]
  13. DEWEY, J. F. (1982) Plate tectonics and the evolution of the British Isles. J. geol. Soc. London139, 371–412.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. ECKERT, H. R. (1963) Die obereozänen Globigerinenschiefer (Stad‐und Schimbergschiefer) zwischen Pilatus und Schrattenfluh. Eclog. geol. Helv.56, 1001–1072.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. ELLIOTT, T., GRAHAM, R. H., GHIBAUDO, G., APPS, G., EVANS, M. & DAVIES, A. H. (1985) A structural and sedimentological traverse through the Tertiary foreland basins of the external Alps of SE France. Int. Symp. on Foreland Basins Exc. Guidebook , 39–73, Fribourg, Switzerland .
    [Google Scholar]
  16. ESCHER, A., MASSON, H. & STECK, A. (1987) Coup géologiques des Alps occidentales Suisse. Rapp. Geol. Service Hydrol et géol. nat.2, 12 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. FLEMINGS, P. B. & JORDAN, T. E. (1989) A synthetic stratigraphic model of foreland basin development. J. geophys. Res.94, 3851–3866.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. FRANK, M. (1930) Beiträge zur vergleichenden Stratigraphie und Bildungsgeschichte der Trias‐Lias Sedimente im Alpingermanischen Grenzgebiet der Schweiz. N. Jb. Min. Geol. Pal.64, 325–426.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. FREY, M., HUNZIKER, J. C., FRANK, W., BOCQUET, J., DAL PIAZ, G. V., JÄGER, E. & NIGGLI, E. (1974) Alpine metamorphism of the Alps. Schweiz. Miner. Petrogr. Mitt.54, 247–290.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. GIGOT, P., GRANDJACQUET, C. & HACCAREL, D. (1974) Evolution tectonsédimentaire de la septentrionale du bassin tertiare de Digne depuis l'Eocene. Bull. Soc. géol. France16, 128–139.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. GOGUEL, J. (1936) Déscription tectonique de la bordure des Alpes de la Bleaune au Var. Mém. Serv. Carte géol. France360 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. GRAHAM, S. A., DICKINSON, W. R. & INGERSOLL, R. V. (1975) Himalayan‐Bengal model for flysch dispersal in the Appalachian‐Ouachita system. Bull. geol. Soc. Am.86, 273–286.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. HEIM, A. (1878) Untersuchungen über den Mechanismus der Gebirgsbildung im Anschluss an die Geologische Monographic der Tödi‐Windgällen‐Gruppe, Schwabe, Basel .
    [Google Scholar]
  24. HERB, R. (1988) Eocäene Paläogeographie und Pälaotektonik des Helvetikums. Eclog. geol. Helv.81, 611–657.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. HOFMANN, F. (1973). Geol. Atlas Schweiz 1:25,000, Blatt 65 Bischofszell. Schweiz Geol Komm., Basel .
    [Google Scholar]
  26. HOFMANN, F. (1988) Geol. Atlas Schweiz 1:25,000, Blatt 86, Wil. Landeshydrologic und geologie. Schweiz Geol. Komm., Basel .
    [Google Scholar]
  27. HOMEWOOD, P., ALLEN, P. A. & WILLIAMS, G. D. (1986) Dynamics of the Molasse Basin of western Switzerland. In: Foreland Basins (Ed. by P. A. Allen & P. Homewood). Spec. Publs int. Ass. Sediment. 8, 199–217.
  28. HUNZIKER, J. C., FREY, M., CLAUER, N., DALLMEYER, R. D.FRIEDRICHSEN, H., ROGGWILER, P. & SCHWANDER, H. (1986) The evolution of illite 10 muscovite: mineralogical and isotopic data from the Glarus Alps, Switzerland. Contr. Miner. Petrol.92, 157–180.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. HURFORD, A. J. (1986) Cooling and uplift patterns in the Lepontine Alps, South Central Switzerland and age of vertical movements on the Insubric fault line. Contr. Miner. Petrol.92, 413–427.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. JORDAN, T. E. (1981). Thrust loads and foreland basin evolution, Cretaceous, western United States. Bull. Am. Ass. petrol. Geol.65, 291–329.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. KARNER, G. D. & WATTS, A. B. (1983). Gravity anomalies and flexure of the lithosphere at mountain ranges. J. geophys. Res.88, 10449–10477.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. LABAUME, P., SÉGURET, M. & SEYVE, C. (1985) Evolution of a turbiditic foreland basin and analogy with an accretionary prism: example of the Eocene South Pyrenean basin. Tectonics4, 661–686.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. LATELTIN, O. (1988) Les dépôts turbiditiques oligocènes d'avant pays entre Annecy (Haute‐Savoic) et le Sanctsch (Suisse). Thèse No. 949, University of Fribourg, 127 pp.
  34. LAUBSCHER, H. P. (1965) Ein kinematisches Modell der Jurafaltung. Eclog. geol. Helv.58, 232–318.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. LAUBSCHER, H. P. (1987) Die tektonische Entwicklung der Nordschweiz. Eclog. geol. Helv.80, 287–303.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. LAUBSCHER, H. P. & BERNOULLI, D. (1977) Mediterranean and Tethys. In: The Ocean Basins and Margins, Vol. 4A: The Eastern Mediterranean (Ed. by A. E. M.Nairn , W. H.Kanes & F. G.Stehli ), pp. 1–28. Plenum Press, London .
    [Google Scholar]
  37. LEMCKE, K. (1973) Die Lagerung der jüngsten Molasse im nördlichen Alpenvorland. Bull. ver. Schweiz. Petrol. Geol. u.-Ing.39, 29–41.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. LEMCKE, K. (1974) Vertikalbewegungen des vormesozöischen Sockels im nördlichen Alpenvorland vom Perm bis zur Gegenwart. Eclog. geol. Helv.67, 121–133.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. LEUPOLD, W., TANNER, H. & SPECK, J. (1942) Neue Geröllstudien in der Molasse. Eclog. gol. Helv.35, 235–246.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. LOUP, B. (in press) Sea level changes and extensional tectonics in the Lower Jurassic of the Helvetic realm (western Switzerland). In: Sedimentation and Tectonics (Ed. by R. Steel & L. Frostick). Spec. Publs int. Ass. Sediment..
  41. LYON‐CAEN, H. & MOLNAR, P. (1989) Constraints on the deep structure and dynamic processes beneath the Alps and adjacent regions from an analysis of gravity anomalies. Geophys. J. Int.99, 19–32.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. MATTER, A., HOMEWOOD, P., CARON, C., RIGASSI, D., van STUIJVENBRG, J., WEIDMANN, M. & WINKLER, W. (1980) Flysch and Molasse of western and central Switzerland. Exc. Guidebook No. 126A 26th Int. Geol. Congr . Schweiz. Geol. Komm. Wepf & Co. Publ., Basel .
    [Google Scholar]
  43. MIALL, A. D. (1978) Tectonic setting and syndepositional deformation of molasse and other non‐marine/paralic sedimentary basins. Can. J. Earth Sci.15, 1613–1632.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. MILNES, A. G. & PFIFFNER, O. A. (1977) Structural development of the Infrahelvetic Complex, eastern Switzerland. Eclog. geol. Helv.70, 83–95.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. MILNES, A. G. & PFIFFNER, O. A. (1980) Tectonic evolution of the Central Alps in the cross‐section St. Gallen‐Como. Eclog geol. Helv.73, 619–633.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. MOORE, G. F. & SHIPLEY, T. H. (1988) Mechanisms of sediment accretion in the Middle America Trench off Mexico. J. geophys. Res.93, 8911–8927.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. MUGNIER, J. L. & MENARD, G. (1986) Le développement du bassin molassique suisse et l'évolution des Alpes externes: une modèle cinématique. Bull. Cent. Rech. Expl.-Prod. Elf-Aquitaine10, 167–180.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. NAEF, H., DIEBOLD, P. & SCHLANKE, S. (1985) Sedimentation und Tektonik im Tertiär der Nordschweiz. NAGRA Techn. Ber.85–14.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. NEUGEBAUER, N. J., BRÖTZ, R., & RYBACH, L. (1980) Recent crustal uplift and the present stress field in the Alps along the Swiss Geotraverse Basel‐Chiasso. Eclog. geol. Helv.73, 489–500.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. ORI, G. G., ROVERI, M. & VANNONI, F. (1986) Plio‐Pleistocene sedimentation in the Apenninic‐Adriatic foredeep (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). In: Foreland Basins (Ed. by P. A.Allen & P.Homewood ), pp. 183–198. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford .
    [Google Scholar]
  51. ORME, G. R., WEBB, J. P., KELLAND, N. C. R. & SARGENT, G. E. C. (1978) Aspects of the geological history and structure of the northern Great Barrier Reef. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.291, 23–35.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. PARKASH, B., SHARMA, R. P. & ROY, A. K. (1980) The Siwalik Group (molasse) ‐ sediments shed by collision of continental plates. Sediment. Geol.25, 127–159.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. PFIFFNER, O. A. (1977) Tektonische Untersuchungen in Infrahelvetikum der Ostschweiz. Mitt. geol. Inst. ETH u. Univ. Zürich217, 432pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  54. PFIFFNER, O. A. (1978) Der Falten‐und Kleindeckenbau im Infrahelvetikum der Ostschweiz. Eclog. geol. Helv.71, 61–84.
    [Google Scholar]
  55. PFIFFNER, O. A. (1986) Evolution of the north Alpine foreland basin in the Central Alps. In: Foreland Basins (Ed. by P. A.Allen & P.Homewood ), pp. 219–228, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford .
    [Google Scholar]
  56. PFIFFNER, O. A., FREI, W., VALASEK, P., STÄAUBLE, M., LEVATO, L., DUBOIS, L., SCHMID, S. M. & SMITHSON, S. B. (1990) Crustal shortening in the Alpine orogen: results from deep seismic reflection profiling in the eastern Swiss Alps, line NSP 20‐East. Tectonics9, 1327–1355.
    [Google Scholar]
  57. PLATT, J. P., LEGGETT, J. K. & ALAM, S. (1988) Slip vectors and fault mechanics in the Makran accretionary wedge, southwest Pakistan. J. geophys. Res.93, 7955–7973.
    [Google Scholar]
  58. QUINLAN, G. M. & BEAUMONT, C. (1984) Appalachian thrusting, lithospheric flexure, and the Palaeozoic stratigraphy of the eastern interior of North America. Can. J. Earth Sci.21, 973–996.
    [Google Scholar]
  59. RICCI LUCCHI, F. (1986) The Oligocene to Recent foreland basins of the northern Apennines. In: Foreland Basins (Ed. by P. A.Allen & P.Homewood ), pp. 105–139. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford .
    [Google Scholar]
  60. RUTSCH, R. F. (1971) Région‐type et faciès de la molasse. Arch. Sci. Genève24, 11–15.
    [Google Scholar]
  61. SCHAER, J. P., REIMER, G. M. & WAGNER, G. A. (1975) Actual and ancient uplift rate in the Gotthard region, Swiss Alps: a comparison between precise levelling and fission track apatite age. Tectonophys.29, 293–300.
    [Google Scholar]
  62. SCHMID, G. (1970) Geologie der Gegend von Guggisberg und der angrenzenden Subalpinen Molasse. Beitr. geol. Karte Schweiz139.
    [Google Scholar]
  63. SCHMID, S. (1975). The Glarus overthrust: field evidence and mechanical model. Eclog. geol. Helv.68, 247–280.
    [Google Scholar]
  64. SIEGENTHALER, C. (1974) Die Nordhelvetische Flysch‐Gruppe im Sernftal (Kt. Glarus). PhD thesis, Univ. Zürich, 83 pp.
  65. SINCLAIR, H. D. (1989) The North Helvetic Flysch of Eastern Switzerland: foreland basin architecture and modelling. Unpubl. DPhil. thesis, Oxford University.
  66. SINCLAIR, H. D., COAKLEY, B. C., ALLEN, P. A. & WATTS, A. B. (1991) Simulation of foreland basin stratigraphy using a diffusion model of mountain belt uplift and erosion: an example from the central Alps, Switzerland. Tectonics10, 599–620.
    [Google Scholar]
  67. SINCLAIR, H. D. (1991) Thrust control on turbidite stratigraphy and sedimentation: the Taveyannaz Sandstones of eastern Switzerland. Sedimentology, in press.
    [Google Scholar]
  68. STÁUBLE, M. & PFIFFNER, O. A. (1991) Processing, interpretation and modelling of seismic reflection data in the Molasse Basin of eastern Switzerland. Eclog. geol. Helv.84, 151–175.
    [Google Scholar]
  69. STOCKMAL, G. S. & BEAUMONT, C. (1987) Geodynamic models of convergent margin tectonics: the Southern Canadian Cordillera and the Swiss Alps. In: Sedimentary Basins and Basin‐Forming Mechanisms (Ed. by C Beaumont & A. J. Tankard), pp. 393–411. Mem. Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. 12.
  70. STOCKMAL, G. S., BEAUMONT, C. & BOUTILIER, R. (1986) Geodynamic models of convergent margin tectonics: transition from rifted margin to overthrust belt and consequences for foreland basin development. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol.70, 181–190.
    [Google Scholar]
  71. STYGER, G. A. (1961) Bau und Stratigraphie der nordhelvetischen Teriärbildungen in der Hausstock‐ und westlichen Kärpfgruppe. Mitt. Geol. Inst. ETH u. Univ. ZürichC/77, 151 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  72. TANNER, H. (1944). Beitrag zur Geologie der Molasse zwischen Ricken und Hörnli. Mitt. geol. Inst. ETH u. Univ. ZürichC/22, 108pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  73. TRÜMPY, R. (1960) Paleotectonic evolution of the Central and Western Alps. Bull. geol. Soc. Am.71, 843–908.
    [Google Scholar]
  74. TRÜMPY, R. (1969) Die helvetischen Decken der Ostschweiz: Versuch einer palinspastischen Korrelation und Ansätze zu einer kinematischen Analyse. Eclog. geol. Helv.62, 105–142.
    [Google Scholar]
  75. TRÜMPY, R. (1971) Sur le Jurassique de la zone Helvétique en Suisse. Ann. Inst. geol. publ. hung.54/2, 369–382.
    [Google Scholar]
  76. TRÜMPY, R. (1980) Geology of Switzerland, a guide book. Part A: an outline of the geology of Switzerland, Wepf, Basel , 104 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  77. van STUIJVENBERG, J. (1979) Geology of the Gurnigel area (Prealps, Switzerland). Matéariaux pour la Carte Géologique de la Suisse, Comm. geol. Suisse, N. S.151, 111 pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  78. von TAVEL, H. (1937) Stratigraphie der Balmhorngruppe mit Einschluss des Gemmipasses (Berner Oberland). Mitt. Natf. Ges. Bern1936, 43–120.
    [Google Scholar]
  79. VUAGNAT, M. (1952) Pétrographie, répartition et origine des microbrèches du Flysch nordhelvétique. Matériaux pour la Carte Géologique de la Suisse97, 1–103.
    [Google Scholar]
  80. WEGMANN, R. (1961) Zur Geologie des Flyschgebiets südlich Elm (Kt. Glarus). Diss. Univ. Zürich.
  81. WEIDMANN, M. (1984) Paléokarst éocène dans l'Autochthone chablaisien (VS et VD). Bull. Murithienne102, 119–127.
    [Google Scholar]
  82. WILTSCHKO, D. V. & DORR, J. A. (1983) Timing of deformation in overthrust belt and foreland of Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol.67, 1304–1322.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.1991.tb00124.x
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error