This Thesis presents the results of a study of the "High Zagros", the most internal part of the Zagros-Fold-Thrust-Belt (ZFTB). On map view, the High Zagros is exposed in two separated domains (Western and Eastern High Zagros respectively) and partly hidden as an under-plated region beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan Domain. The High Zagros is the only place in the ZFTB where the Paleozoic rocks are widely exposed.A primary objective was to reevaluate the structural style and kinematic evolution of the High Zagros. It is shown that the most significant geological elements within this area are large scale faulted detachment folds, associated with a complex system of thrust faults segmented by strike-slip faults. This work suggests that the existence of active Ordovician and/or Silurian décollements led to the development of duplex structures which are confined in the core of the anticlines. A two-step kinematic scenario, similar to the one already proposed elsewhere in the belt, is proposed for the High Zagros. Firstly, a thin-skinned phase led to establish detachment folding over the basal Hormuz salt. Then, a thick-skinned phase resulted in the basement thrusting and allowed the exhumation of Lower Paleozoic succession.After this presentation of the tectonic context of the High Zagros, the thesis focuses on the tectonic significance of the pre-Permian unconformity, which was known through a major hiatus between Cambro-Ordovicien to Early Permian and between Devonian to Permian rocks in the western and eastern High Zagros respectively. It is shown that (1) the High Zagros presents below the unconformity a large "Arch-and-Basin" geometry; and that (2) only extensional features such as normal faults and rotated blocks, without evidence of contractional deformation, can be observed below the unconformity. Thermal uplift of possible Late Devonian is proposed as a probable mechanism explaining both the uplift and the diffuse extensional deformation. This proposal strongly modifies the "classical" interpretation of the pre-Permian hiatus as a far effect of the Variscan Orogeny.Thermal modeling based on maturity data from potential source rocks cropping out in the High Zagros has been performed. The most probable modeled scenario suggests an important heat flow during the Devonian and the erosion of ~3900m of the sedimentary pile prior to the deposition of Permian sequence. This outcome reinforces our interpretation of a thermal uplift scenario responsible for pre-Permian vertical movements. On the other hand, a set of new (U-Th)/He ages obtained from the Lower Paleozoic, Devonian and early Permian clastic rocks show a partial reset of zircon grains. These two results are fairly consistent with the published data describing a major thermo-tectonic event during Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous in the Levant Arch (Israel, Jordan) and suggest a common mechanism at the scale of the Arabian Plate.

The Grasshopper basin of southwest Montana is a complex east-dipping graben containing five unconformity-bounded sequences of Tertiary sedimentary rocks. The Eocene-Oligocene basin lies within the northern Rocky Mountain Basin and Range province. Geologic mapping in five and a half 7.5 minute quadrangles indicates that at least three distinct phases of extension characterize the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Grasshopper basin from approximately 46 Ma toMa. The significant phases of extension in Grasshopper basin were phases 1 and 3. During the first phase of extension (46-27 Ma) the nonplanar Muddy-Grasshopper fault was initiated and 90% of the basin fill was deposited. At least 7 km of dip-slip displacement along this fault controlled the deposition of the Medicine Lodge beds (3.5 km thick) and development of a transverse fold train and a longitudinal anticline. The second phase of extension (late Eocene-early Oligocene) resulted in northwest-southeast trending extensional structures and was probably coincident with deformation along the Lemhi Pass fault (20 km to the southwest). The third phase of deformation (early Oligocene-middle Miocene) dismembered the once larger protobasin into smaller subbasins and tilted the northwest-dipping limb of the longitudinal anticline. The structures formed during this phase have north-south and northeast trends. Little sediment was deposited during phases 2 and 3. Overall >85% E-W extension accrued. Extensional folds are common in Grasshopper basin and formed during all three phases of extension. One orthogonal fold set was recorded. Two-dimensional kinematic analysis of the longitudinal Bachelor Mountain anticline shows that this fold is a double-­rollover that probably developed above a longitudinal ramp in the Muddy-Grasshopper fault. The transverse folds are the result of the changing strike of the downward­-flattening Muddy-Grasshopper fault. A transverse syncline developed above a convex up part of the fault whereas a transverse anticline formed above a concave up part of the fault that reflects changes in the strike of the fault. Three-dimensional inclined shear probably created this geometry.

Cette thèse présente les résultats d'une étude du Haut Zagros, la partie la plus interne du Zagros plissé. Sur les cartes, le Haut Zagros est présent dans deux régions séparées l'une de l'autre, le Haut Zagros Occidental et Oriental respectivement, et partiellement masqué comme un domaine sous-plaqué sous la Zone de Sanandaj-Sirjan. Le Haut Zagros est l'unique endroit du Zagros où les roches paléozoïques affleurent largement.Un premier objectif était de réévaluer le style tectonique et l'évolution cinématique du Haut Zagros. Il est montré que la caractéristique structurale principale de cette zone est l'existence de plis de décollement faillés, associés à un réseau complexe de chevauchements et de failles décrochantes. Ce travail suggère que l'existence de niveaux de décollement au sein des couches ordoviciennes et/ou silurienne a permis le développement de duplex aux cœurs des anticlinaux. Un scénario tectonique en deux étapes, identique à celui proposé ailleurs dans la chaîne, est mis en avant. Une première phase en tectonique de couverture a permis la formation d'un train de plis de décollement au dessus du sel précambrien d'Hormuz. Le socle est impliqué dans la déformation dans un second tempspermettant l'exhumation des roches du Paléozoïque Inférieur. Après cette présentation du contexte tectonique du Haut Zagros, la thèse se concentre sur la signification tectonique de la discordance pré-permienne dont la manifestation la plus évidente est l'existence d'un très important hiatus sédimentaire allant du Cambro-Ordovicien au Permien dans le Zagros Occidental et du Dévonien terminal au Permien dans le Zagros Oriental. Il est montré que : (1) le Haut Zagros présente sous la discordance une géométrie générale en Arche et Bassin et que (2) seules des structures extensives comme des failles normales et des blocs basculés sont présentes sous la discordance, sans aucune trace de structures compressives. Un soulèvement thermique d'âge possible fini-dévonien est proposé comme mécanisme expliquant à la fois le mouvement vertical et l'extension diffuse. Cette hypothèse modifie considérablement l'interprétation classique associant le hiatus pré-permien à un effet lointain de l'orogenèse varisque.Des modélisations thermiques basées sur des données de maturité de la matière organique provenant des roches-mères potentielles du Haut Zagros ont été réalisé. Le modèle le plus probable suggère un flux de chaleur important pendant le Dévonien et l'érosion de ~3900m de sédiments avant le dépôt du Permien. Ce résultat est en accord avec l'hypothèse d'un soulèvement thermique évoqué plus haut. Par ailleurs, des mesures d'âges (U-Th)/He sur zircon montrent une remise à zéro partielle. Ces deux gammes de résultats sont en accord avec les données publiées suggérant l'existence d'un événement thermo-mécanique majeur au cours du Dévonien terminal et du Carbonifère Inférieur dans l'Arche du Levant (Israël, Jordanie). Un mécanisme commun est suggéré à l'échelle de la Plaque Arabe. / This Thesis presents the results of a study of the “High Zagros”, the most internal part of the Zagros-Fold-Thrust-Belt (ZFTB). On map view, the High Zagros is exposed in two separated domains (Western and Eastern High Zagros respectively) and partly hidden as an under-plated region beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan Domain. The High Zagros is the only place in the ZFTB where the Paleozoic rocks are widely exposed.A primary objective was to reevaluate the structural style and kinematic evolution of the High Zagros. It is shown that the most significant geological elements within this area are large scale faulted detachment folds, associated with a complex system of thrust faults segmented by strike-slip faults. This work suggests that the existence of active Ordovician and/or Silurian décollements led to the development of duplex structures which are confined in the core of the anticlines. A two-step kinematic scenario, similar to the one already proposed elsewhere in the belt, is proposed for the High Zagros. Firstly, a thin-skinned phase led to establish detachment folding over the basal Hormuz salt. Then, a thick-skinned phase resulted in the basement thrusting and allowed the exhumation of Lower Paleozoic succession.After this presentation of the tectonic context of the High Zagros, the thesis focuses on the tectonic significance of the pre-Permian unconformity, which was known through a major hiatus between Cambro-Ordovicien to Early Permian and between Devonian to Permian rocks in the western and eastern High Zagros respectively. It is shown that (1) the High Zagros presents below the unconformity a large “Arch-and-Basin” geometry; and that (2) only extensional features such as normal faults and rotated blocks, without evidence of contractional deformation, can be observed below the unconformity. Thermal uplift of possible Late Devonian is proposed as a probable mechanism explaining both the uplift and the diffuse extensional deformation. This proposal strongly modifies the “classical” interpretation of the pre-Permian hiatus as a far effect of the Variscan Orogeny.Thermal modeling based on maturity data from potential source rocks cropping out in the High Zagros has been performed. The most probable modeled scenario suggests an important heat flow during the Devonian and the erosion of ~3900m of the sedimentary pile prior to the deposition of Permian sequence. This outcome reinforces our interpretation of a thermal uplift scenario responsible for pre-Permian vertical movements. On the other hand, a set of new (U-Th)/He ages obtained from the Lower Paleozoic, Devonian and early Permian clastic rocks show a partial reset of zircon grains. These two results are fairly consistent with the published data describing a major thermo-tectonic event during Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous in the Levant Arch (Israel, Jordan) and suggest a common mechanism at the scale of the Arabian Plate.

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