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Absolute Age and Temperature Constraints on Deformation Along the Basal Décollement of the Jura Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt From Carbonate U‐Pb Dating and Clumped Isotopes

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Looser, N., Madritsch, H., Guillong, M., Laurent, O., Wohlwend, S., Bernasconi, S. M.·2021·Tectonics
DOI 10.1029/2020tc006439
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Abstract

During its late‐stage evolution, the European Alpine orogen witnessed a northwest‐directed propagation of its deformation front along an evaporitic basal décollement into the foreland. This resulted in the decoupling of the northern Alpine Molasse Basin from its basement and the formation of the Jura fold‐and‐thrust belt. Here, we present the first absolute age and temperature constraints on deformation along this basal décollement using carbonate U‐Pb LA‐ICP‐MS dating and clumped isotope thermometry. We analyzed calcite veins associated with a thrust fault branching off from the basal décollement in the distal Molasse Basin and slickenfibers from thrusts and strike‐slip faults in the eastern Jura Mountains. Our U‐Pb data provide evidence for tectonic activity related to Alpine contraction between 14.3 and 4.5 Ma ago. According to the oldest deformation ages, the propagation of Alpine deformation into the distal foreland along the basal décollement occurred earlier than previously inferred by biostratigraphy, at Middle Miocene (Langhian) times at the latest. Younger deformation ages between 11.3 and 4.5 Ma correspond very well in time with shortening in the Subalpine Molasse and the Central Alps, proving simultaneous tectonic activity along both thrust fronts; i.e., the Jura Mountains and the Subalpine Molasse. Clumped isotopes reveal vein calcite precipitation at temperatures between 53 and 104 °C from fluids with oxygen isotope compositions between −6.2‰ and +9.5‰ reflecting distinct burial settings. Combined, our U‐Pb and clumped isotope data show that the burial conditions in the studied area remained constant between 14.3 and 4.5 Ma indicating that large‐scale foreland erosion did not initiate before 4.5 Ma.

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  • Clumped isotope data for subsurface carbonates have placed new constraints on fold-thrust belt evolution.

    “fold-thrust belt evolution (Looser et al. 2021, Hoareau et al. 2021, Sarkar et al. 2021)”

    From Frontiers of Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometry (2023) · cites this paper as Looser et al. 2021

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Authors
Looser, N., Madritsch, H., Guillong, M., Laurent, O., Wohlwend, S., & Bernasconi, S. M.
Affiliations
  • ETH Zurich (CH)
  • National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Switzerland) (CH)
Corresponding author
Looser, N.
ORCID
Venue
Tectonics
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published
2021-03
Volume
40
Issue
3
ISSN
  • 0278-7407 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-9194
DOI
10.1029/2020tc006439
OpenAlex
W3087959017
Cited by
72
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 15
FWCI
7.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Tectonics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repository for Publications and Research Data (ETH Zurich) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • ETH Zürich Research Collection (cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological Formations and Processes Exploration
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
Keywords
Jura fold-and-thrust belt, basal décollement, clumped isotope thermometry, calcite veins, thrust faulting, strike-slip faulting, Molasse Basin, deformation timing, burial temperature, oxygen isotopes, Miocene, Langhian

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