Geology of the Alps

The Alps, with their outstanding outcrop conditions, represent a superb natural laboratory for many geological processes, and have played a crucial role in the history of geology. This book gives an up-to-date and holistic overview of the key aspects of Alpine geology. After a brief presentation of the plate tectonic framework, the rock suites are discussed, starting with the pre-Triassic crystalline basement, followed by Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary sequences. The lithological description of the rock types is supplemented by a discussion of their paleogeographic and plate tectonic contexts. The book goes on to describe the structure of the Alps (including the Jura Mountains and the Alpine foreland to the north and south) illustrated by numerous cross-sections. The evolution of the Alps as a mountain chain incorporates a discussion of the Alpine metamorphic history and a compilation of orogenic timetables. The final sections cover the evolution of Alpine drainage patterns and the region s glacial history. Readership: The book is essential reading for students and lecturers on Alpine courses and excursions, and all earth-scientists interested in the geology of the region.

The Alps, with their outstanding outcrop conditions, represent asuperb natural laboratory for many geological processes, and haveplayed a crucial role in the history of geology. This book gives anup-to-date and holistic overview of the key aspects of Alpinegeology.After a brief presentation of the plate tectonic framework, therock suites are discussed, starting with the pre-Triassiccrystalline basement, followed by Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoicsedimentary sequences. The lithological description of the rocktypes is supplemented by a discussion of their paleogeographic andplate tectonic contexts.The book goes on to describe the structure of the Alps(including the Jura Mountains and the Alpine foreland to the northand south) illustrated by numerous cross-sections. The evolution ofthe Alps as a mountain chain incorporates a discussion of theAlpine metamorphic history and a compilation of orogenictimetables. The final sections cover the evolution of Alpinedrainage patterns and the region's glacial history.Readership: The book is essential reading for studentsand lecturers on Alpine courses and excursions, and allearth-scientists interested in the geology of the region.

Preface viii1 The Alps in their Plate Tectonic Framework 11.1 Older Mountain Chains in Europe 21.2 Break-up of Pangaea and Opening of the Alpine Tethys 81.3 The Alpine System in Europe 121.4 Structure of the Alps 14References 202 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Alps 232.1 The pre-Triassic Basement in the Black Forest and Vosges 252.2 The pre-Triassic Basement of the External Massifs 29External Massifs in the Western Alps 30External Massifs in the Central Alps 32External Massifs in the Eastern Alps 372.3 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Penninic Nappes 392.4 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Austroalpine Nappes 402.5 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Southern Alps 432.6 Palaeozoic Sediments in the Eastern and Southern Alps 49The Palaeozoic in the Carnic Alps 49The Palaeozoic of the Greywacke Zone 51The Palaeozoic of the Innsbruck Quartz Phyllite 512.7 The Variscan Orogen at the Close of the Palaeozoic 542.8 Post-Variscan Sediments and Volcanics of the Permian 58The North Swiss Permo-Carboniferous Trough 58The Permo-Carboniferous in the Helvetic Nappe Complex 59The Permo-Carboniferous in the Penninic Nappe Complex 62The Permo-Carboniferous in the Austroalpine Nappe Complex 64The Permo-Carboniferous in the Southalpine Nappe System 66References 683 The Alpine Domain in the Mesozoic 713.1 The Mesozoic Rock Suites 72The European Continental Margin 72Oceanic Arms between the Baltic and Africa 81The Adriatic Continental Margin 903.2 Plate Tectonic Evolution 95Triassic: Epicontinental Platforms 95Jurassic: Opening up of Oceanic Arms 97Cretaceous: Opening and Closing of Oceanic Arms 116References 1254 The Alpine Domain in the Cenozoic 1294.1 The Cenozoic Sedimentary Sequences 1314.2 Late Cretaceous and Paleogene Flyschs 1364.3 Eocene-Oligocene Flyschs 1404.4 Oligocene-Miocene Molasse in the Northalpine Foreland Basin 1434.5 Oligocene-Pliocene Sediments in the Po Basin 1474.6 The Jura Mountains 1484.7 Intramontane Basins 1494.8 Plutonic and Volcanic Rocks 1494.9 Tectonic and Palaeogeographical Evolution 154References 1655 Tectonic Structure of the Alps 1695.1 The Western Alps 173The Jura Mountains 178The Subalpine Chains of the Dauphinois 179The Penninic Nappes and their Contact with the Adriatic Continental Margin 1865.2 The Central Alps 192The Jura Mountains 200The Molasse Basin 204The Helvetic Nappe System 209The Penninic Nappe System 231The Austroalpine Nappe System 240The Southalpine Nappe System 2425.3 The Eastern Alps 245The Molasse Basin 251The Helvetic Nappe System 255The Penninic Nappe System 257The Austroalpine Nappe System 258The Southalpine Nappe System and Dolomites 2645.4 The Deep Structure of the Alps 265References 2756 Tectonic Evolution of the Alps 2816.1 Alpine Metamorphism 283Regional Distribution of Alpine Metamorphism 283High-Pressure Metamorphism 286Temperature-Dominated Regional Metamorphism 290Contact Metamorphism 2916.2 The Cretaceous Orogeny 2946.3 The Cenozoic Orogeny 2966.4 Uplift and Erosion 322References 3307 The Latest Steps in the Evolution of the Alps 3357.1 Miocene and Pliocene Drainage Patterns 3377.2 Pleistocene Glaciations 3427.3 Recent Movements and Seismicity 3487.4 Rockslides, Creeping Slopes, Erosion by Modern Rivers 355References 364Index 367