pas de résumé

The formation and evolution of metamorphic core complexes has been widely studied using low temperature thermochronometry methods. Interpretation of these data has historically occurred through the lens of the traditional slip rate method which provides a singular rate that unroofing occurs at temporally as well as spatially, and assumes unroofing is dominated by motion on a single master detachment fault. Recently, several new studies have utilized (U-Th)/He ages with a higher spatial density and greater nominal precision to suggest a late-stage rapid increase in the rate of unroofing. This analysis is based on the traditional slip rate method interpretation of broad regions of core complexes that display little to no change in age along the slip direction. An alternative interpretation is presented that instead of a change in slip rate, there may have been a change in the style of unroofing, specifically caused by the transfer of displacement from low-angle detachment faulting to high-angle normal faults. Apatite fission-track (AFT), and apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He (AHe and ZHe) analyses were applied to samples from the Santa Catalina-Rincon (n=8 AHe, and n=9 ZHe) and Harcuvar (n=12 AFT, n=16 AHe, and n=17 ZHe) metamorphic core complexes in an attempt to resolve the possible thermal effects of high-angle normal faulting on core complex formation. Samples from the Harcuvars were taken along a transect parallel to slip direction with some samples specifically targeting high-angle normal fault locations. The AFT data collected here has the advantage of improved analysis and modeling techniques. Also, more than an order of magnitude more data were collected and analyzed than any previous studies within the Harcuvars. The AFT ages include a trend from ~22 Ma in the southwest to ~14 Ma in the northeast and provide a traditional slip rate of 7.1 mm/yr, similar to previous work. However, two major high-angle, detachment-parallel normal faults were identified, and hanging-wall samples are ~3 m.y. older than the footwalls, indicating high-angle normal faults rearranged the surface expression of the distribution of thermochronometer ages to some extent. AHe ages range from 8.1 Ma to 18.4 Ma but in general decrease with increasing distance in the slip direction. ZHe ages generally range between 13.6 Ma and 17.4 Ma. A series of unexpectedly young AFT ages (10-11 Ma), given by three complete samples and distinct population modes in others, suggest that some parts of the range underwent a later-stage unroofing event possibly caused by high-angle faulting. Confined fission-track length distributions were measured for Harcuvar samples and modeled using the modeling software HeFTy to infer thermal histories and calculate local cooling rates. These imply a component of steady cooling in some parts of the range, evidence of a different departure from a single-detachment dominated model. / text

Three studies on Cordilleran foreland basin deposits in the western U.S.A. constitute this dissertation. These studies differ in scale, time and discipline. The first two studies include basin analysis, flexural modeling and detailed stratigraphic analysis of Upper Cretaceous depocenters and strata in the western U.S.A. The third study consists of detrital zircon U-Pb analysis (DZ U-Pb) and thermochronology, both zircon (U-Th)/He and apatite fission track (AFT), of Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous foreland-basin conglomerates and sandstones. Five electronic supplementary files are a part of this dissertation and are available online; these include 3 raw data files (Appendix_A_raw_isopach_data.txt, Appendix_C_DZ_Data.xls, Appendix_C_UPb_apatite.xls), 1 oversized stratigraphic cross section (Appendix_B_figure_5.pdf), and 1 figure containing apatite U-Pb concordia plots (Appendix_C_Concordia.pdf). Appendix A. Subsidence in the retroarc foreland of the North American Cordillera in the western U.S.A. has been the focus of a great deal of research, and its transition from a flexural foreland basin, during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, to a dynamically subsided basin during the Late Cretaceous has been well documented. However, the exact timing of the flexural to dynamic transition is not well constrained, and the mechanism has been consistently debated. In order to address the timing, I produced new isopach maps from ~130 well log data points that cover much of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and northern New Mexico, producing in the process, the most detailed isopach maps of the area. These isopach maps span the Turonian to mid-Campanian during the Late Cretaceous (~93–76 Ma). In conjunction with the isopach maps I flexurally modeled the Cordilleran foreland basin to identify when flexure can no longer account for the basin geometry and identified the flexural to dynamic transition to have occurred at 81 Ma. In addition, the dynamic subsidence at 81 Ma is compared to the position of the hypothesized Shatsky Oceanic Plateau and other proposed drivers of dynamic subsidence. I concluded that dynamic subsidence is likely caused by convection over the plunging nose of the Shatsky Oceanic Plateau. Appendix B. The second study is a detailed stratigraphic study of the Upper Cretaceous, (Campanian, ~76 Ma) Sego Sandstone Member of the Mesaverde Group in northwestern Colorado, an area where little research has been done on this formation. Its equivalent in the Book Cliffs area in eastern Utah has been rigorously documented and its distal progradation has been contrastingly interpreted as a result of active tectonism and shortening in the Cordilleran orogenic belt ~250 km to the west and to tectonic quiescence, flexural rebound in the thrust belt and reworking of proximal coarse grained deposits. I documented ~17 km of along depositional dip outcrops of the Sego Sandstone Member north of Rangely, Colorado. This documentation includes measured sections, paleocurrent analysis, a stratigraphic cross section, block diagrams outlining the evolution of environments of deposition through time, and paleogeographic maps correlating northwest Colorado with the Book Cliffs, Utah. The sequence stratigraphy of the Sego Sandstone Member in northwest Colorado is similar to that documented in the Book Cliffs area to the south-southwest, sharing three sequence boundaries. However, flood-tidal delta assemblages between fluvio-deltaic deposits that are present north of Rangely, Colorado are absent from the Book Cliffs area. These flood-tidal-delta assemblages are likely caused by a large scale avulsion event in the Rangely area that did not occur or was not preserved in the Book Cliffs area. In regards to tectonic models that explain distal progradation of the 76 Ma Sego Sandstone Member to be caused by tectonic quiescence and flexural rebound in the thrust belt, the first study shows that at 76 Ma, flexural processes were no longer dominant in the Cordilleran foreland, so it is inappropriate to apply models driven by flexure to the Sego Sandstone Member. Dynamic processes dominated the western U.S.A. during the Campanian, and flexural processes were subordinate. Appendix C. In order to test the tectonic vs. anti-tectonic basin-filling models for distal coarse foreland deposits mentioned above, the third study involves estimating lag times of Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous conglomerates and sandstones in the Cordilleran foreland basin. Measuring lag time requires a good understanding of both the stratigraphic age of a deposit and the thermal history of sedimentary basin. To further constrain depositional age, I present twenty-two new detrital zircon U-Pb (DZ U-Pb) sample analyses, spanning Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota. Source exhumation ages can be measured using thermochronology. To identify a thermochronometer that measures source exhumation in the North America Cordillera, both zircon (U-Th)/He, on eleven samples, and apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology, on eleven samples was performed. Typically, the youngest cooling age population in detrital thermochronologic analyses is considered to be a source exhumation signal; however, whether or not these apatites are exhumed apatites or derived from young magmatic and volcanic sources has been debated. To test this, I double dated the detrital AFT samples, targeting apatites with a young cooling age, using U-Pb thermochronology. Key findings are that the maximum depositional ages using DZ U-Pb match existing biostratigraphic and geochronologic age controls on basin stratigraphy. AFT is an effective thermochronometer for Lower to Upper Cretaceous foreland stratigraphy and indicates that source material was exhumed from >4–5 km depth in the Cordilleran orogenic belt between 118 and 66 Ma, and zircon (U-Th)/He suggests that it was exhumed from <8–9 km depth. Double dating apatites (with AFT and U-Pb) indicate that volcanic contamination is a significant issue; without having UPb dating of the same apatite grains, one cannot exclude the possibility that the youngest detrital AFT population is contaminated with significant amounts of volcanogenic apatite and does not represent source exhumation. AFT lag-times are 0 to 5 Myr with relatively steady-state to slightly increasing exhumation rates. We compare our data to orogenic wedge dynamics and subsidence histories; all data shows active shortening and rapid exhumation throughout the Cretaceous. Our lag-time measurements indicate exhumation rates of ~.9–>>1 km/Myr.

The timing of motion on thrust faults in the Idaho-Wyoming-Utah (IWU) thrust belt comes from synorogenic sediments, apatite thermochronology and direct dating of fault rocks coupled with good geometrical constraints of the subsurface structure. The thermal history comes from the analyses of apatite thermochronology, thermal maturation of hydrocarbon source rocks and isotope analysis of fluid inclusions from syntectonic veins. New information from zircon fission track and zircon (U-Th)/He analysis provide constraints on the thermal evolution of the IWU thrust belt over geological time. These analyses demonstrate that the time-temperature pathway of the rocks sampled never reached the required conditions to reset the thermochronometers necessary to provide new timing constraints. Previous thermal constraints for maximum temperatures of IWU thrust belt rocks, place the lower limit at ~110°C and the upper limit at ~328°C. New zircon fission track results suggest an upper limit at ~180°C for million year time scales. ID-TIMS and LA-ICPMS of syntectonic calcite veins suggest that new techniques for dating times of active deformation are viable given that radiogenic isotope concentrations occur at sufficient levels within the vein material.

Orientador: Peter Christian Hackspacher / Banca: Norberto Morales / Banca: Sandro Guedes / Banca: Cláudio Riccomini / Banca: Pedro José Nunes / Resumo: Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados obtidos por meio de análises geomorfológicas (Mapa de Níveis de Paleosuperfícies) e termocronológicos (traços de fissão em apatitas e U-Th/He em apatitas) ao longo da Serra do Mar nos setores (1), (2), (3) e (4). As correlações entre as analises geomorfológicas e termocronológicas evidenciaram uma geológica e geomorfológica compreendida entre o Cretáceo Superior e Paleoceno, demonstrando que a evolução das morfologias que compõem a área de estudo estiveram associadas a eventos tectônicos e sucedidos por uma intensa atividade erosiva. De acordo com as datações realizadas utilizando termocronômetros com temperatura de fechamento distintas, estes indicaram que as configurações dos relevos que compõem a Serra do Mar não podem ser associadas apenas aos efeitos das atividades erosivas (recuo de escarpa) e isostáticas, para poderem explicar a homogeneidade entre as idades de traços de fissão e (U-Th)/He em apatitas, sem a presença da atuação tectônica soerguendo e desnivelando parte destes relevos. / Abstract: In this paper the results obtained geomorphological analysis (Map of levels of Palaeosurfaces) and thermochronogical analysis (apatite fission-track and UTh/ He). The correlation between the geomorphologica and the thermochronological analysis evidenced a geological and geomorphological evolution from the Upper Cretaceous to the Palaeocene, showing that the evolution of the morpholoies composing the study area were associated to tectonics events and preceded by intense erosive activity. According to the datings done using thermocronometers with distinct closing temperatures the configuration of the relieves that compose the Serra do Mar can not be associated only to the effects of the erosive (escarpment retreate) and isostatic activities but also to the tectonic motion uplifting and unlevelling part such morphologies, in order to explain the homogeneity between the ages of the fission-track and U-Th/He of apatites. / Doutor

Orientador: Sandro Guedes de Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-31T19:22:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LixandraoFilho_ArnaldoLuis_M.pdf: 11489211 bytes, checksum: 0e5e2fdcd3551b722c60d418964284ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Resumo: O trabalho consistiu em estudar a muscovita como termocronômetro. Por ter pequena quantidade de urânio, abaixo de 5 partes por milhão, a utilização direta é inviável. Dessa forma, irradiamos placas de muscovita com íons de $^{238}U$ moderados por folhas de alumínio (resultando em diferentes energias) e com diferentes ângulos de incidência, com a finalidade de analisar o comportamento da muscovita com traços de íons e também para que esses íons criassem canais com o objetivo de revelar maior quantidade de traços fósseis. Realizamos planejamento utilizando algorítimo D-ótimo para realizar tratamentos térmicos com diferentes tempos e temperaturas, a fim de obter dados de ''annealing'' para a muscovita. Medimos o comprimento dos traços de íons projetados com as seguintes dependências: massa do íon, tempo de ''annealing'', temperatura de ''annealing'', energia de incidência e ângulo de incidência. Os parâmetros energia de incidência, ângulo de incidência e características do íon, não são considerados em nenhum dos modelos disponíveis na literatura. Assim sendo, formulamos um novo modelo empírico para a cinética de ''annealing'': $l = l_0 + a*energia - e^{\left(\frac{temperatura}{b + c*log(tempo)}\right)}$, $l$ sendo comprimento do traço com ''annealing'' e $l_0$ o comprimento sem ''annealing'' e, as constantes $a$, $b$ e $c$ ajustadas a partir dos dados experimentais. As constantes $a$ e $L_0$ são as variáveis relativas ao ângulo de incidência, tipo do íon e energia. Este modelo, além de ter um número menor de parâmetros, com uma simples modificação, $\frac{L}{L_0} = 1 + A.e^{\frac{T}{b}},\ b = B+C.ln(t)$, pode ser aplicado também para traços de fissão confinados. Nesse caso são apenas 3 parâmetros, $A$, $B$ e $C$ e o modelo ajustado possibilita a análise térmica em qualquer mineral que possuir dados experimentais. Neste trabalho mostramos o ajuste para os seguintes minerais: apatita, zircão, epídoto e muscovita. A partir dos traços de íons que sofreram ''annealing'' conseguimos ajustar parâmetros e obtivemos resultados consistentes com trabalhos anteriores. Um deles foi a previsão de \citeauthor{Bigazzi1967} que, possivelmente, utilizou amostras de superfície à 303K. Com esse resultado, validamos que traços de íons podem gerar bons resultados no estudo de ''annealing'' em laboratório e em tempos geológicos. Por fim, desenvolvemos um aplicativo que contempla: o ajuste dos parâmetros do modelo aos dados experimentais de modo automático, a obtenção de índices térmicos (temperatura de fechamento e zona de ''annealing parcial'') independente do mineral e a reconstrução de histórias térmicas para múltiplos minerais a partir de vínculos geológicos, da idade e de uma lista de comprimento de traços confinados. Além dessas características, a inédita ferramenta utiliza interface ''web'' que pode ser utilizada em qualquer plataforma e sistema operacional. Por fim, os resultados significativos foram: novos dados de ''annealing'' de traços de íons em mica muscovita, novo modelo empírico para abordar a cinética do ''annealing'' para traços de íons ou fissão e um aplicativo para tratamento de dados, ajuste, obtenção de índices térmicos e histórias térmicas / Abstract: In this work we studied muscovite as a thermocronometer. Muscovite have low amount of uranium, below 5 parts per million. Because of that it is impractical to be used as thermocronometer. Thus irradiating it with swift heavy ions of $ ^ {238} U $, moderated by aluminum foil (resulting in different energies) and with different angles of incidence is one way to analyze the behavior of muscovite ion tracks. These tracks can act like channels to the acid, chemical etching, revealing more fossil traces. We carry out experimental planning using D-optimal algorithm do thermal treatments at different times and temperatures in order anneal muscovite tracks. We measured the length of the ion tracks created with the following dependencies: ion mass, annealing time and temperature, impact energy and angle of incidence. The incidence of energy parameters, angle of incidence and ion characteristics are not considered in any of the models available in the literature. Therefore, we have developed a new empirical model for the kinetics of annealing: $l = l_0 + a*energia - e^{\left(\frac{temperatura}{b + c*log(tempo)}\right)}$, $l$ annealed fission track length and $l_0$ fission track length and the constants $a$, $b$ and $c$ adjusted from the experimental data . The constants $a$ and $L_0$ are related to the angle of incidence, type of ion and energy. This model, besides having fewer parameters, with a simple modification, $\frac{L}{L_0} = 1 + A.e^{\frac{T}{b}},\ b = B+C.ln(t)$ may also be applied to confined fission tracks. The adjusted model , with only 3 parameters, $A$, $B$ and $C$, enables thermal analysis in any mineral that has experimental data. We show fitting for the following minerals: apatite, zircon, epidote and muscovite. From the annealed ion tracks we fit the data to get all parameters and obtained results consistent with previous work. One was that we predict that \citeauthor{Bigazzi1967}, possibly, used surface samples with 303 K. With this result, we validate that ions tracks can generate good results using annealing laboratory data extrapolated to geological time. Finally, we developed an application with the following features: automatic model fitting to experimental data, simulation of thermal index (closure temperature and partial annealing) independent of the mineral and the reconstruction of thermal histories for multiple minerals from geological. In addition to these features, the application has web interface and can be used on any platform and operating system. Finally, the most significant results of this work were: new experimental annealing data of ion tracks in muscovite, new empirical model to increase the knowledge of the ion or fission tracks annealing kinetics and an application for data processing, fit and simulation of thermal index and thermal histories reconstruction / Mestrado / Física / Mestre em Física

The role of feedback between erosional unloading and tectonics controlling the development of the Himalaya is a matter of current debate. The distribution of precipitation is thought to control surface erosion, which in turn results in tectonic exhumation as an isostatic compensation process. Alternatively, subsurface structures can have significant influence in the evolution of this actively growing orogen. <br><br>Along the southern Himalayan front new 40Ar/39Ar white mica and apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronologic data provide the opportunity to determine the history of rock-uplift and exhumation paths along an approximately 120-km-wide NE-SW transect spanning the greater Sutlej region of the northwest Himalaya, India. 40Ar/39Ar data indicate, consistent with earlier studies that first the High Himalayan Crystalline, and subsequently the Lesser Himalayan Crystalline nappes were exhumed rapidly during Miocene time, while the deformation front propagated to the south. In contrast, new AFT data delineate synchronous exhumation of an elliptically shaped, NE-SW-oriented ~80 x 40 km region spanning both crystalline nappes during Pliocene-Quaternary time. The AFT ages correlate with elevation, but show within the resolution of the method no spatial relationship to preexisting major tectonic structures, such as the Main Central Thrust or the Southern Tibetan Fault System. Assuming constant exhumation rates and geothermal gradient, the rocks of two age vs. elevation transects were exhumed at ~1.4 &#177;0.2 and ~1.1 &#177;0.4 mm/a with an average cooling rate of ~50-60 &#176;C/Ma during Pliocene-Quaternary time. The locus of pronounced exhumation defined by the AFT data coincides with a region of enhanced precipitation, high discharge, and sediment flux rates under present conditions. We therefore hypothesize that the distribution of AFT cooling ages might reflect the efficiency of surface processes and fluvial erosion, and thus demonstrate the influence of erosion in localizing rock-uplift and exhumation along southern Himalayan front, rather than encompassing the entire orogen.<br><br>Despite a possible feedback between erosion and exhumation along the southern Himalayan front, we observe tectonically driven, crustal exhumation within the arid region behind the orographic barrier of the High Himalaya, which might be related to and driven by internal plateau forces. Several metamorphic-igneous gneiss dome complexes have been exhumed between the High Himalaya to the south and Indus-Tsangpo suture zone to the north since the onset of Indian-Eurasian collision ~50 Ma ago. Although the overall tectonic setting is characterized by convergence the exhumation of these domes is accommodated by extensional fault systems.<br><br>Along the Indian-Tibetan border the poorly described Leo Pargil metamorphic-igneous gneiss dome (31-34&#176;N/77-78&#176;E) is located within the Tethyan Himalaya. New field mapping, structural, and geochronologic data document that the western flank of the Leo Pargil dome was formed by extension along temporally linked normal fault systems. Motion on a major detachment system, referred to as the Leo Pargil detachment zone (LPDZ) has led to the juxtaposition of low-grade metamorphic, sedimentary rocks in the hanging wall and high-grade metamorphic gneisses in the footwall. However, the distribution of new 40Ar/39Ar white mica data indicate a regional cooling event during middle Miocene time. New apatite fission track (AFT) data demonstrate that subsequently more of the footwall was extruded along the LPDZ in a brittle stage between 10 and 2 Ma with a minimum displacement of ~9 km. Additionally, AFT-data indicate a regional accelerated cooling and exhumation episode starting at ~4 Ma. <br><br>Thus, tectonic processes can affect the entire orogenic system, while potential feedbacks between erosion and tectonics appear to be limited to the windward sides of an orogenic systems. / Welche Rolle Wechselwirkungen zwischen der Verteilung des Niederschlags, Erosion und Tektonik während der Entwicklung des Himalayas über geologische Zeiträume gespielt haben bzw. heute spielen, ist umstritten. Dabei ist von besonderem Interesse, ob Erosion ausschliesslich in Folge tiefkrustaler Hebungsprozesse entsteht und gesteuert wird, oder ob Regionen besonders effektiver Erosion, bedingt durch isostatische Kompensation, die Lokation tektonischer Deformation innerhalb aktiver Orogene beeinflussen können. <br><br>Entlang der südlichen Himalayafront ermöglichen neue thermochronologische 40Ar/39Ar-Hellglimmer- und Apatite-Spaltspur-Alter die Bestimmung der Exhumationspfade entlang eines 120-km-langen NE-SW-gerichteten Profils, dass quer durch die gesamte Sutlej-Region des nordwestlichen, indischen Himalayas verläuft. Dabei deuten die 40Ar/39Ar-Daten in übereinstimmung mit früheren Studien darauf hin, dass zuerst das Kristallin des Hohen Himalayas und anschliessend, südwärts propagierend, das Kristallin des Niederen Himalayas während des Miozäns exhumiert worden ist. Im Gegensatz dazu weisen die neuen Apatit-Spaltspur-Alter auf eine gleichmässige und zeitgleiche Exhumation beider kristallinen Decken entlang des Sutlejflusses. Dieser 80x40 km weite Bereich formt einen elliptischen, nordost-südwest orientierten Sektor erhöhter Exhumationsraten während des Pliozäns und Quartärs. Innerhalb des Fehlerbereichs der Spaltspurmethode zeigen die Alter eine gute Korrelation mit der Höhe, zeigen aber gleichzeitig keine Abhängigkeit zu bedeutenden tektonischen Störungen, wie die "Main Central Thrust" oder dem "Southern Tibetan Fault System". Unter der vereinfachten Annahme konstanter Exhumationsraten deuten zwei verschiedene Höhenprofile auf Exhumationraten in der Grössenordnung von ~1,4 &#177;0,2 und ~1,1 &#177;0,4 mm/a bei einer durchschnittlichen Abkühlrate von ~50-60 &#176;C/m.y. während des Pliozäns bzw. Quartärs hin. Der anhand von Spaltspuraltern bestimmte Sektor verstärkter Exhumation korreliert mit dem Gebiet, das während des Holozäns hohen Niederschlags-, Erosion- bzw. Sedimenttransportraten ausgesetzt ist. Daher vermuten wir, dass die Verteilung von jungen Spaltspuraltern den regionalen Grad der Effiziens von Oberflächenprozessen und fluviatiler Erosion wiederspiegelt. Dies deutet auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen Erosion und der Lokalisierung von Hebung und Exhumation entlang der südlichen Front des Himalayas hin, und zeigt gleichzeitig, dass die Exhumation nicht einfach über die gesamte Front gleichmässig verteilt ist.<br><br>Trotz der Wechselwirkungen zwischen Exhumation und Erosion, die möglicherweise die Entwicklung der südlichen Himalayafront beeinflussen, beobachten wir auch tiefkrustale tektonische Exhumation in ariden Gebieten nördlich des Hohen Himalayas, die vermutlich im Zusammenhang mit plateauinternenen Deformationsprozessen steht. So haben sich zum Beispiel mehrere metaplutonische Gneissdomkomplexe zwischen dem Hohen Himalaya im Süden und der Indus-Tsangpo Suturzone im Norden seit der Indien-Asien Kollision vor ca. 50 Millionen Jahren entwickelt. Obwohl die Dome sich grossräumig in einem kommpressiven Spannungsfeld befinden, werden sie lokal entlang von Extensionsstrukturen exhumiert. Bis heute sind die Ursachen für die Entstehung dieser Prozesse umstritten.<br><br>Entlang der Indisch-Tibetischen Grenze erstreckt sich der fast vollkommen unbeschriebene Leo-Pargil-Gneissdomkomplex (31-34&#176;N/77-78&#176;E) innerhalb des Tethyschen Himalayas. Neue Geländekartierungen, strukturelle und geochronologische Daten der westliche Flanke des Leo Pargil Domes dokumentieren, dass dieser sich entlang zeitlich verbundener Abschiebungssysteme in einem extensionalen Regime entwickelt hat. Im Gelände wird der Dome von einem mächtigen Störungssystem begrenzt, die "Leo Pargil Detachment Zone" (LPDZ). Durch den tektonischen Versatz entlang der LPDZ liegen heute niedriggradig metamorphe Sedimentgesteine im Hangenden neben hochgradigen Gneisen in Liegenden. Unabhängig von der Probenlokation entlang des aufgeschlossenen Störungssystemes ergeben alle neuen 40Ar/39Ar-Hellglimmeralter um die 15 Ma und deuten auf ein regional wichtiges Abkühlungsereignis hin. Im Gegensatz dazu deuten die neuen Apatit-Spaltspuralter (AFT) auf eine kontinuierliche Exhumation der hochmetamorphen Einheiten im Liegenden der LPDZ unter sprödtektonischen Bedingungen zwischen 10 und 2 Ma hin, bei einem minimalen Versatz von ungefähr 9 km. Desweiteren deuten die Apatit-Spaltspur-Daten auf überregionale beschleunigte Abkülhlungs- bzw Exhumationsphase seit 4 Ma.<br><br>Daraus kann gefolgert werden, dass die tektonischen Prozesse die Entwicklung des gesamten Gebirges beflussen können, während potenzielle Wechselwirkungen zwischen Erosion und Tektonik auf die luvwärtigen Gebirgsflanken beschränkt zu bleiben scheinen.

The date for the formation of the Benton Uplift, Ouachita orogeny, is bracketed by Carboniferous synorogenic sediments deposited to the north and Late Pennsylvanian to Early Permian isotopic dates from the weakly metamorphosed rocks within the uplift. We address the largely unknown structural history between these two constraints by presenting an improved 3-dimensional kinematic model using better constrained retrodeformable sections. These new sections are based on all surface and subsurface data, new zircon fission track dates and thermal maturation data including new ‘crystallinity’ data to constrain the maximum burial depth. Concordant zircon fission track ages range from 307 ± 18.8 Ma to 333.4 ± 38.9 Ma or from the Late Devonian to Early Permian. Maximum ‘crystallinity’ of both illite and chlorite indicate these exposed rocks experienced a temperature of ~300°C across the eastern Benton Uplift. This temperature is consistent with reconstructed burial depths using cumulative stratigraphic thickness without having to call on structural thickening. Comparing coarse and fine clay fractions, computed temperature for the fine clay fraction is less by ~100°C than that of the coarse clay fraction. This difference is the same for all formations studied. This uniform difference in temperature may indicate cooling of the orogen as it deformed or more than one thermal event.

Die hier präsentierte Studie umfasst detaillierte Untersuchungen zur thermochronologischen, strukturellen sowie morphologischen Entwicklung der Östlichen und Westlichen Sierras Pampeanas in Argentinien, zwischen 26°S to 34°S südlicher Breite. Kapitel 3 diskutiert thermochronologische Daten (Apatit Spaltspuren, Zirkon und Apatit (U-Th)/He) sowie K-Ar Illit-Datierung an Störungsletten aus der Sierra de Comechingones sowie Ar-Ar Alter an Vulkaniten des vulkanischen Gürtels von San Luis (Östliche Sierras Pampeanas). K-Ar Illitalter belegen den Beginn spröder Deformation vor etwa 340 Ma. Thermochronologische Daten dokumentieren geringe Exhumationsraten seit dem späten Paläozoikum sowie eine maximale Exhumierung von etwa 2,3 km seit der späten Kreidezeit. Ar-Ar Datierungen an vulkanischen Gesteinen des San Luis Vulkanischen Gürtels ergeben Alter zwischen 7,54 Ma und 1,91 Ma. Dies belegt ein ostwärts gerichtetes Fortschreiten der magmatischen Front, welches mit einer Verflachung des Subduktionswinkels der Nazca Platte unter die Südamerikanische Platte vor etwa 11.2 Ma assoziiert wird. Darüber hinaus deuten die hier präsentierten thermochronologischen Daten an, dass der Anteil Andiner Exhumation und Hebung an der Gesamthebung und Exhumation der Sierras Pampeanas von geringer ist als gemeinhin angenommen. Kapitel 4 präsentiert Ergebnisse von Niedrig-Temperatur thermochronologischen Untersuchungen sowie K-Ar Alter retrograd gewachsener Illite aus spröden Störungszonen der Sierra de San Luis (Östliche Sierras Pampeanas). K-Ar Illitalter belegen eine lang andauernde Aktivität spröder Deformation welche unmittelbar nach dem Ende der Chanic Phase der Famatinischen Orogenese vor etwa 320 Ma einsetzte und zeitlich mit dem Übergang von duktilen zu spröden Deformationsmechanismen übereinstimmt. Jüngste Illitlater liegen zwischen 222-172 Ma. Diese können als Abkühlalter des Grundgebirges unter die zur Illitbildung benötigten Temperaturen interpretiert werden, jedoch nicht als Ende der spröden Deformation. Diese Interpretation wird von den Ergebnissen thermochronologischer Untersuchungen bestätigt. (U-Th)/He Datierungen an Apatiten und Zirkonen, sowie Apatit Spaltspuranalysen dokumentieren die Exhumation seit dem Perm, welche möglicherweise in Verbindung zur San Rafael Orogenese steht. Die ermittelten Abkühlalter belegen geringe Exhumationsraten sowie die damit einhergehende lange Verweildauer der Proben in den Temperaturbereichen der partial annealing bzw. parial retention zone von Apatit und Zirkon (PRZA, PRZZ und PAZA). Die finale Abkühlung auf Oberflächentemperaturen fand im Verlauf des Jura und der späten Kreide statt. Die Abkühlgeschichten der Sierra de San Luis und Sierra de Comechingones werden in einem Entwicklungsmodel zusammengefasst, welches signifikante Unterschiede in der thermischen Entwicklung beider Gebirgszüge offenbart. Kapitel 5 diskutiert die thermochronologische Entwicklung der Sierra de Pie de Palo, einem ausgeprägten Höhenzug in den Westlichen Sierras Pampeanas. Thermochronologische Untersuchungen zeigen das die strukturelle Entwicklung der Sierra Pie de Palo bereits im späten Paläozoikum einsetzte und von jeher durch tektonisch kontrollierte Erosion geprägt wurde, welche sich im Verlauf des Mesozoikums aufgrund extensionaler Tektonik zwar verlangsamte, jedoch andauerte. Die heutige Topographie des Gebirgszuges bildete sich im Zuge Andiner Kompression im Verlauf des Späten Mesozoikums und Paläogens durch die Hebung und damit einhergehender Denudation einzelner Grundgebirgsblöcke. Die mit der Hebung assoziierte Deformation schritt dabei von Ost nach West voran. Der Gesamtbetrag vertikaler Hebung seit dem frühen Paläozoikum kann auf ca. 3,7-4,3 km eingegrenzt werden, wobei die Gesamtexhumation etwa 1,7-2,2 km bei einer Exhumationsrate von 0,03-0,04 mm/a beträgt. Kapitel 6 stellt eine Methode zur Interpretation von K-Ar Illit Feinfraktionsaltern aus Störungsletten aus nichtsedimentären Gesteinen vor. Gemäß der vorgestellten Methode werden die ermittelten K Ar Illitalter in Kombination mit den Untersuchungsergebnissen unabhängiger Parameter, z.B. Illitkristallinität, Illit-Polytypie und Polytyp-Quantifizierung, Korngröße, Tonmineralogie, K-Ar Abkühlaltern des Nebengesteins sowie mit Ergebnissen thermochronologischer Untersuchungen (AHe, ZHe, AFT) evaluiert. Dieser Interpretationsansatz wird im Rahmen einer regionalen Studie innerhalb der Östlichen Sierras Pampeanas exemplarisch angewandt. Im Zuge dessen wurde eine große Zahl von Störungsletten systematisch beprobt und analysiert. Ermittelte K-Ar Illitalter decken die Zeitspanne vom Devon bis in die Kreidezeit und dokumentieren eine lang anhaltende Phase bruchhafter Deformation in der Region. Alter >320 Ma sind synchron mit einer Periode kompressiver intra-Platten Tektonik, während Permische und Triassische Alter mit einer Periode flacher Subduktion der Farallon Platte unter die Südamerikansche Platte assoziiert werden können. Darüber hinaus belegen die K-Ar Illitalter ein von Nord nach Süd Fortschreiten der spröden Deformation in den Sierras de San Luis und Comechingones. Die Integrität und Konsistenz der analysierten Daten belegt die Leistungsfähigkeit und tektonische Signifikanz der hier vorgestellten Methode, welche somit einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Entschlüsselung komplexer Abkühlungs- und Deformationsereignisse bieten kann. Jedoch kann gezeigt werden, dass die Aussagekraft der hier vorgestellten Methode stark von der Abkühlgeschichte des Untersuchungsgebietes abhängt. Kapitel 7 präsentiert thermochronologische Daten aus den gesamten Sierras Pampeanas. Darüber hinaus werden alle verfügbaren thermochronologischen und geochronologischen Daten zur Abkühlgeschichte der Sierras Pampeanas diskutiert und in ein Abkühlmodell zusammengefasst. Die Daten belegen eine Abkühlung unter 200°C im Verlauf des Karbons. Im Verlauf des Perms und der Trias schritt die Abkühlung von West nach Ost fort, räumlich und zeitlich einhergehend mit dem fortschreiten eines flachen Subduktionsereignisses der Farallon-Platte unter die heutige Südamerikanische Platte. Mesozoische Riftereignisse und damit einhergehende Sedimentation und Versenkung zeigen nur lokal Einfluss auf die ermittelten Abkühlalter. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die zum Verlust der Altersinformation der thermochronologischen Systeme notwenige Versenkungstiefen nur entlang der schmalen, räumlich eingeschränkten Kretazischen Riftbecken erreicht werden. Die finale Abkühlung auf Oberflächentemperaturen verlief diachron in den nördlichen und südlichen Sierras Pampeanas. So können im Norden Neogene Alter beobachtet werden, während die südlichen und westlichen Sierras Pampeanas spätestens seit der Kreide bzw. frühen Paleogens auf Oberflächentemperaturen abgekühlt waren. Letzteres deutet auf die Existenz einer positiven Topographie in den südlichen Sierras Pampeanas, bereits vor dem Einsetzen Cenozoischen Andinen Kompression und der im Neogenen einsetzenden flachen Subduktion der Nazca-Platte hin. Dies wiederum wiederspricht der allgemein akzeptierten Hypothese, dass die Exhumation und Hebung der Sierras Pampeanas allein mit der Neogenen flachen Subduktion der Nazca-Platte in Verbindung stehen. Im Gegensatz dazu wird vorgeschlagen, dass diese Neogenen Prozesse lediglich zu einer Überprägung und Akzentuierung des bereits existierenden Reliefs führten. Diese Vermutung kann durch die Berechnung auffallend niedriger Denudationsraten in den Östlichen und Westlichen Sierras Pampeanas von 0,010 0,024 km/a gestützt werden, welche auf stabile Bedingungen, zumindest seit der späten Kreidezeit, hindeuten.

La marge sud péruvienne est située au niveau d’une zone majeure de subduction océan continent depuis au moins le Paleozoique inférieur. C’est dans ce cadre que s’est formé l’un des plus importants orogènes du monde : les Andes Centrales. En effet, l’épaisseur crustale y est >60 km et ce sur une importante surface. Cependant, on considère actuellement que ce surrépaississement a été acquis incrémentalement seulement depuis ~30 Ma. Dans le but de comprendre comment et quand ce surrépaississement est apparu, la majeure partie des études précédentes s’est focalisée sur l’évolution de l’arc magmatique et sur l’histoire de la déformation, du soulèvement et de l’érosion de la zone d’arrière arc. Cependant, l’évolution tectonique et thermique de l’avant arc reste mal connue bien que cette zone soit susceptible de bien enregistrer les changements liés à la dynamique de subduction.Cette thèse à pour objectif de mieux contraindre l’évolution thermique et les couplages entre les processus magmatiques, tectoniques et sédimentaires depuis 200 Ma dans l’avant-arcactuel du sud du Pérou. De nouvelles données géo-thermochronologiques couplées à une nouvelle carte tecto-stratigraphique éclaircissent l’évolution de la marge péruvienne depuis le Jurassique. Trois périodes clefs sont analysées dans ce mémoire : le début de l’épaississement crustal, les déformations de l’avant-arc associées à la formation de l’Orocline bolivien et l’épaississement crustal de l’orogène des Andes Centrales pendant le Néogène.Nous montrons que l’épaississement crustal a probablement commencé entre 90 et 50Ma après plus de 200 Ma d’amincissement, et ce a la faveur d’une évolution en trois étapes :croissance initiale (90-74 Ma), « flare-up » (74-62 Ma) et effondrement extensionnel (62-50Ma). L’extension a ensuite prédominé dans l’avant-arc tout en diminuant progressivement jusqu’à ~30 Ma. Par ailleurs, nous mettons en évidence d’importantes zones de faillesnormales orientées perpendiculairement à la marge sud-péruvienne et qui délimitent de grands blocs basculés vers le nord-ouest. Ces déformations révèlent une extension parallèle à l’orogène dans l’avant arc pendant le Paléogène, probablement due à la formation de l’Orocline bolivien par rotation antihoraire de blocs rigides. Enfin, les traits géomorphiques visibles dans la zone cotiere du sud du Pérou permettent de définir deux périodes de soulèvement de la surface (entre 23 et 10 Ma et depuis ~4.5 Ma), séparées par une période de subsidence (entre ~10 et ~4.5 Ma). La même chronologie ayant été décrite sur le versant Amazonien de l’orogène, nous proposons que cette évolution soit due à des variations à grande échelle de l’épaisseur crustale ; le soulèvement de la surface étant provoqué par addition à la croûte de magma d’origine mantellique et la subsidence par un flux de matériel crustal ductile depuis les zones précédemment sur-épaissies. / The southern Peruvian margin has been located above a major ocean-continentsubduction zone since at least the Early Paleozoic, resulting in the formation of one of thelargest orogens in the world: the Central Andes, where crustal thickness is >60 km over a largearea. This overthickening is currently thought to have occurred incrementally only during thelast 30 Ma. To understand how and when crustal overthickening was acquired, most of theprevious studies have focused on the magmatic arc evolution and on deformation, uplift anderosion history of the backarc. The tectono-thermal Cenozoic evolution of the forearc remainspoorly known, whereas it is a zone prone to recording changes in subduction dynamics.The objective of this dissertation is to address the thermal evolution and the couplingbetween magmatic, tectonic and sedimentary processes over the past 200 Ma in the presentdayforearc of southern Peru where the crust thickens from ~30 km along the coastline tomore than 60 km under the present-day volcanic arc. New geo- and thermochronological datacoupled to a novel geological map illuminate the evolution of the south Peruvian margin sincethe Jurassic. Three key periods of the margin evolution are addressed in this dissertation: theonset of crustal thickening, the deformations associated in the forearc with the formation ofthe Bolivian Orocline and the Neogene crustal thickening of the Central Andean orogen.We show that crustal thickening likely began between 90 and ~50 Ma after more than200 My of lithospheric thinning during a three step evolution of the magmatic arc as follows:growth (90-74 Ma), flare-up (74-62 Ma), extensional collapse (62-50 Ma). Extension prevailedin the forearc since then and waned until ~30 Ma. In addition, we evidence important normalfault zones striking perpendicular to the southern Peruvian margin that delineate largenorthwestward tilted blocks. This deformation reveals orogen parallel extension in the forearcduring the Paleogene likely due to the formation of the Bolivian Orocline by counterclockwiserotation of rigid blocks. Finally, geomorphic features in the coastal area of southern Perureveal two periods of surface uplift (~23 to 10 Ma and since ~4.5 Ma), separated by a period ofsurface subsidence (from ~10 to ~4.5 Ma). The same chronology has been described on theAmazonian side of the Central Andean orogen. We thus propose that this evolution is due tolarge-scale crustal thickness variations; surface uplift being triggered by addition of mantlederivedmagmas to the crust and subsidence by ductile flow away from the previouslyoverthickened crust.