Université de Fribourg

Tectonics of the Neuchâtel Jura Mountains: insights from mapping and forward modelling

Rime, Valentin ; Sommaruga, Anna ; Schori, Marc ; Mosar, Jon

In: Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 2019, vol. 112, no. 2, p. 563–578

This study focuses on a geological section in the Jura Mountains across the villages of Travers, La Brévine in Switzerland, and Morteau in France. Field mapping was conducted to complement and densify existing data. A kinematically and geometrically consistent forward model has been developed to understand and interpret the observed surface structures. The proposed solution features a...

Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries

The last erosional stage of the Molasse Basin and the Alps

Schlunegger, Fritz ; Mosar, Jon

In: International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2011, vol. 100, no. 5, p. 1147-1162

Université de Fribourg

The last erosional stage of the Molasse Basin and the Alps

Schlunegger, Fritz ; Mosar, Jon

In: International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2011, p. 1-16

We present a synoptic overview of the Miocene-present development of the northern Alpine foreland basin (Molasse Basin), with special attention to the pattern of surface erosion and sediment discharge in the Alps. Erosion of the Molasse Basin started at the same time that the rivers originating in the Central Alps were deflected toward the Bresse Graben, which formed part of the European Cenozoic...

Université de Fribourg

Surface processes versus kinematics of thrust belts: impact on rates of erosion, sedimentation, and exhumation – Insights from analogue models

Bonnet, Cécile ; Malavieille, Jacques ; Mosar, Jon

In: Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France, 2008, vol. 179, no. 3, p. 297-314

The mechanical equilibrium of an orogenic wedge is maintained thanks to interactions between tectonic processes and surface processes. To better constrain the influence of erosion and sedimentation on the evolution of orogens, we performed a series of analogue models based on the tapered wedge principle, varying the amounts of erosion and sedimentation. The models develop by frontal accretion in...

Université de Fribourg

Interactions between tectonics, erosion, and sedimentation during the recent evolution of the alpine orogen: analogue modeling insights

Bonnet, Cécile ; Malavieille, Jacques ; Mosar, Jon

In: Tectonics, 2007/26/TC6016/doi:10.1029/2006TC002048

On the basis of a section across the northwestern Alpine wedge and foreland basin, analogue modeling is used to investigate the impact of surface processes on the orogenic evolution. The basis model takes into account both structural and lithological heritages of the wedge. During shortening, erosion and sedimentation are performed to maintain a critical wedge. Frontal accretion leads to the...

Université de Fribourg

Subduction and obduction processes in the Swiss Alps

Stampfli, G. M. ; Mosar, Jon ; Marquer, D. ; Marchant, R. ; Baudin, T. ; Borel, G.

In: Tectonophysics, 1998, vol. 296, p. 159

The significance of the Briançonnais domain in the Alpine orogen is reviewed in the light of data concerning its collision with the active Adriatic margin and the passive Helvetic margin. The Briançonnais which formerly belonged to the Iberian plate, was located on the northern margin of the Alpine Tethys (Liguro-Piémont ocean) since its opening in the early-Middle Jurassic. Together with the...

Université de Fribourg

Scandinavia’s North Atlantic passive margin

Mosar, Jon

In: Journal of Geophysical Research, 2003, vol. 108, no. 8, p. 2360

The tectonics of the eastern passive margin of the North Atlantic are reexamined. The Scandinavian North Atlantic passive margin includes not only the offshore exploration and basin domain but also large portions of the onshore domains of the Scandinavian Caledonides. Combined information from structural geology, potential field data, regional geology, basin development, and geomorphology...

Université de Fribourg

Present-day and future tectonic underplating in the western Swiss Alps: reconciliation of basement / wrench-faulting and décollement folding of the Jura and Molasse basin in the Alpine foreland

Mosar, Jon

In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1999, vol. 173, no. 3, p. 143-155

The western Alps form a geodynamically active mountain belt showing the typical features of an evolving orogenic wedge with its pro-wedge geometry to the NNW and its retro-wedge structures to the SSE. Renewed tectonic underplating of European continental crust occurred after the orogenic wedge underwent major dynamic disequilibrium following the break-off of the southward subducting slab of the...