Geology of the Alps

Adrian Pfiffner received his first degree and his PhD from the ETH Zurich. Between 1979 and 1986 he was a researcher at the University of Neuchatel, and was appointed Professor of Geology at the University of Bern in 1986. His research concentrated on deformation mechanisms in rocks, nappe tectonics, the structure of the Alps incorporating deep seismic profiling, and the structure of the Central Andes of Peru.

Preface viii 1 The Alps in their Plate Tectonic Framework 1 1.1 Older Mountain Chains in Europe 2 1.2 Break-up of Pangaea and Opening of the Alpine Tethys 8 1.3 The Alpine System in Europe 12 1.4 Structure of the Alps 14 References 20 2 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Alps 23 2.1 The pre-Triassic Basement in the Black Forest and Vosges 25 2.2 The pre-Triassic Basement of the External Massifs 29 External Massifs in the Western Alps 30 External Massifs in the Central Alps 32 External Massifs in the Eastern Alps 37 2.3 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Penninic Nappes 39 2.4 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Austroalpine Nappes 40 2.5 The pre-Triassic Basement of the Southern Alps 43 2.6 Palaeozoic Sediments in the Eastern and Southern Alps 49 The Palaeozoic in the Carnic Alps 49 The Palaeozoic of the Greywacke Zone 51 The Palaeozoic of the Innsbruck Quartz Phyllite 51 2.7 The Variscan Orogen at the Close of the Palaeozoic 54 2.8 Post-Variscan Sediments and Volcanics of the Permian 58 The North Swiss Permo-Carboniferous Trough 58 The Permo-Carboniferous in the Helvetic Nappe Complex 59 The Permo-Carboniferous in the Penninic Nappe Complex 62 The Permo-Carboniferous in the Austroalpine Nappe Complex 64 The Permo-Carboniferous in the Southalpine Nappe System 66 References 68 3 The Alpine Domain in the Mesozoic 71 3.1 The Mesozoic Rock Suites 72 The European Continental Margin 72 Oceanic Arms between the Baltic and Africa 81 The Adriatic Continental Margin 90 3.2 Plate Tectonic Evolution 95 Triassic: Epicontinental Platforms 95 Jurassic: Opening up of Oceanic Arms 97 Cretaceous: Opening and Closing of Oceanic Arms 116 References 125 4 The Alpine Domain in the Cenozoic 129 4.1 The Cenozoic Sedimentary Sequences 131 4.2 Late Cretaceous and Paleogene Flyschs 136 4.3 Eocene Oligocene Flyschs 140 4.4 Oligocene Miocene Molasse in the Northalpine Foreland Basin 143 4.5 Oligocene Pliocene Sediments in the Po Basin 147 4.6 The Jura Mountains 148 4.7 Intramontane Basins 149 4.8 Plutonic and Volcanic Rocks 149 4.9 Tectonic and Palaeogeographical Evolution 154 References 165 5 Tectonic Structure of the Alps 169 5.1 The Western Alps 173 The Jura Mountains 178 The Subalpine Chains of the Dauphinois 179 The Penninic Nappes and their Contact with the Adriatic Continental Margin 186 5.2 The Central Alps 192 The Jura Mountains 200 The Molasse Basin 204 The Helvetic Nappe System 209 The Penninic Nappe System 231 The Austroalpine Nappe System 240 The Southalpine Nappe System 242 5.3 The Eastern Alps 245 The Molasse Basin 251 The Helvetic Nappe System 255 The Penninic Nappe System 257 The Austroalpine Nappe System 258 The Southalpine Nappe System and Dolomites 264 5.4 The Deep Structure of the Alps 265 References 275 6 Tectonic Evolution of the Alps 281 6.1 Alpine Metamorphism 283 Regional Distribution of Alpine Metamorphism 283 High-Pressure Metamorphism 286 Temperature-Dominated Regional Metamorphism 290 Contact Metamorphism 291 6.2 The Cretaceous Orogeny 294 6.3 The Cenozoic Orogeny296 6.4 Uplift and Erosion 322 References 330 7 The Latest Steps in the Evolution of the Alps 335 7.1 Miocene and Pliocene Drainage Patterns 337 7.2 Pleistocene Glaciations 342 7.3 Recent Movements and Seismicity 348 7.4 Rockslides, Creeping Slopes, Erosion by Modern Rivers 355 References 364 Index 367