Late-to post-orogenic exhumation of the Central Pyrenees revealed through combined thermochronological data and modelling

Gibson, M., Sinclair, H.D., Lynn, G.J. and Stuart, F.M. (2007) Late-to post-orogenic exhumation of the Central Pyrenees revealed through combined thermochronological data and modelling. Basin Research, 19(3), pp. 323-334. (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2117.2007.00333.x)

Abstract

Apatite (U-Th)/He and fission track thermochronometry have been combined with 3D thermal modelling to constrain the late-to post-orogenic exhumation history of the Central Pyrenees, Spain. Data from four masifs immediately north and south of the present drainage divide of the mountain belt reveal a diachroneity in the transition from syn-to post-orogenic forcing of exhumation. Immediately south of the drainage divide, rapid exhumation of ~1.5mm year-1 decelerated after ~30Ma to ~0.03 mm year -1. A similar transition occured immediately north of the drainage divide at the same time. Further south, in the core of the Axial Zone antiformal stack of the Pyrenees, rapid (~1mm year-1), syn-orogenic exhumation continued to ~20Ma, but slowed to ~0.1-0.2 mm year-1 soon after that time. This order of magnitude decrease in exhumation rates across the orogen records the diachronous transition into a post-orogenic state for the mountain belt. These data do not record rejuvenation of exhumation in Late Miocene or Pliocene times driven either by large-scale base-level change or an evolution to more erosive climatic conditions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stuart, Professor Fin
• Authors: Gibson, M., Sinclair, H.D., Lynn, G.J., and Stuart, F.M.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Basin Research
• Publisher: Blackwell
• ISSN: 0950-091X
• Published Online: 28 August 2007